Do Tread on Me

Today I realized I am....gasp....becoming set in my ways!  When did this happen?  I tried to switch tire brands on my bike today and just couldn't do it!!

I took my bike into the shop for a tuneup and new tubes and tires.  My trusty mechanic recommended a set of Schwalbe tires (right, below) that have proven durability and would be good all around.  When we looked at the sample, I noticed there was no tread, they were slick, where my current tires have a pretty good tread pattern.  We discussed the fact that on bike tires it's less of an issue since so little is on the pavement.  Logically, I get it.  But then he sized me up and said, you know, you are so used to looking at these tires that I think it will just bother you to look down and see a slick tire, so if for no other reason than that you probably should go with what you have.  I realized he was right!!

Hundreds of road tires on the market and we ordered the exact same tires as last year - Continental Grand Prix 4-Season (left, below). Maybe it is all in my head, but yeah, I do like seeing that tread and it's gotten me through the last year - through gravel, rain, cold, sun, heat, and a bit of snow. I'd better hope they never stop making them.

I trust my equipment. Which is why it would take a lot for me to replace my entry-level aluminum road bike that has gotten me this far.

Airing my (dirty) laundry

Scenes like this one in my laundry room make me laugh. The workout clothes get washed separately from the lowly "everyday" clothes and hung to dry with great love, care, and respect.

My work and everyday clothes?  It's a survival-of-the-fittest approach.  If you can't survive the washer and dryer and then go directly to my body without ironing, I'm not interested. And dry cleaning? Forget it. Who has time for that nonsense?

This is why I will never be nominated for "best dressed" at the office. That and the fact that I won't wear shoes that might negatively impact the health and wellness of my feet.

I am a no-frill, no-nonsense girl.  This point is driven home when I see folks in the pool and gym locker room who take 30, 45 minute to primp for work and have bags of products, appliances, and things that I don't even recognize.

My transition time? About 8 minutes to shower, get dressed, dry my hair, and fly out the door. Who has time for that other stuff?

Frustrating Heart Rate Monitor Issues

Heart Rate Data - Normal "redline" for me is low to mid 170's

Is it just me or do other people have issue with their heart rate monitors?  (Please, feedback wanted...)

I have two Garmins - a Forerunner 405 for running and the Edge 305 on my bike.  I have several heart rate Garmin heart rate monitors - the older style and the newer one you can swim in.  On occasion they flake out, like today!  Check out the data below.  I'd be coasting down a hill and watch my HR soar to 240, then watch it plummet with no rhyme or reason.  I can't seem to nail down the problem but I admit to not being very good with my experimental controls.  I've had lots of theories:

• my clothing produces static
• interference from iPod
• air too warm, too cold
• I am too sweaty, not sweaty enough
• band is too tight, not tight enough.
• is it when I am aero or sitting up?
• Does my skin get bunched up?
• it's the monitor (hence the reason I have several)
• it is my electromagnetic personality 
• perhaps I have a metal plate in my head, unbeknownst to me
• I'm actually an alien or some kind of cyborg

For a while I was paranoid that something was wrong with me, and I'd take my pulse just to be sure.  Now I try a few clothing or position adjustments, but mostly try not to let the data distract me from the job.

The monitor I used today I'd been using on the bike trainer and I had been gaining confidence that it was pretty reliable. Until today, out in the elements.

Other than the data issue, it was a pretty good ride despite being in the mid-30s with something freezing pelting me at the very end. This was one of my favorite routes but they tar-and-chipped a big section of it last fall and it's rough and slow now.  It's still beautiful with creeks, farms, animals, and many opportunities to play guess-the-roadkill.

My chain slipped off once and I was skipping some gears, time to get it into the shop....

Love the names - "Half Acre of Rocks" etc.

Typical elevation chart in the Blue Ridge Mountains!!

Is this any way to have to dress for a late MARCH bike ride?!

Birthday Deadlifts

Today I am 44!  Not such a big milestone for a triathlete, right?  No new age group with that number!

It's a gorgeous warm sunny day, and I kicked it off with the birthday tradition started three years ago by my trainer, doing 135# deadlifts with the number of reps equal to my age. The limiting factor there was oxygen more than strength, you end up almost hyperventilating by syncing breathing with the lifts.  It's a fun tradition that I hope to keep up for many many years to come.





The solid back and core workout was followed by a scheduled visit to my chiropractor where I popped and cracked from stem to stern.  I'm knocking out some work, then bugging out for that little brick ride/run. Then off to get kids from school and haul them around to CrossFit, cello, and Karate for several hours.

I have SO much to be thankful for on this day and every day.  I appreciate my family, friends, and community and am blessed to live in comfort and work at a job I love in such a great college town.  I'm grateful and humbled, particularly in light of all the hardship, natural disasters, wars, and personal struggles that face so many others around the world.  We're all just a step away from that. When I'm in a pool, out on the bike, or running freely, I try not to take for granted the opportunities that I have been given.

It's shaping up to be a pretty nice birthday!!

Signs of Spring in my Triathlon World

Yay!!  Spring is here in Blacksburg, Virginia.  How do I know? Well, the daffodils, obviously! No, the real signs are that the underground triathlon network seems to be surfacing again. All winter, we hibernated in pool lanes, on trainers, and on treadmills, quietly putting in the miles and laps to nowhere.

But we are back, baby!!   Back on the roads and tracks and before long in the lakes! Other signs of spring in my triathlon world:

• The level of chit-chat has increased at the pool - what's your first race, how's your training coming...
• My first brick workout is scheduled for tomorrow, just a baby "briquette" really, but a start.
• Just made lodging reservations with two girlfriends, Tanya and Jennifer, at a B&B for the Bath County Triathlon in June...this makes race season seem real!
• My friend Krista is already threatening to get me out for a lake swim the minute the water hits 55 degrees. I've countered with a threat of swimming in a suit of bubble-wrap. I am such a wimp with the cold.
• I had my first run on the Virginia Tech cross-country course on Sunday.  It's wide open now, but by summer, all but the running path will be corn, corn, and more corn.
• Tanya and I got out for a road ride together Saturday - her first of the season.  She had on shorts, a shirt, and a light jacket.  I had on my leg warmers, two pairs of socks, neoprene shoe covers, mid-weight gloves, two tops, and a bright yellow wind breaker.  Like I said, spring or not, I am such a wimp with the cold.
• Swim workouts include sighting practice again.  My thoughts turn to whether gains made in the pool will translate to the races, what is my swim strategy, and honing in on my race pace.
• Coach Jim has had to put on his spring pre-race season sports psychologist hat again :-)
• It's nearly time to take the bike in for new tubes and tires plus a tune-up to get 'ol Ace RACE READY.  I have a great mechanic who is a retired engineer.  (My dentist is a former engineer too.  I suppose as an engineer I should be able to work with my own bike.  But not my own teeth. I'll leave both to the experts.)

I have my race schedule set through June and then it's a little less defined.  I want to wait a bit and see how things feel and how I progress. It's strange because I'm such a planner.  This time last year I had my entire year mapped out.

One footnote - I finally canceled my Boston flight and sweeet hotel reservation I had at the Sheraton near the finish line.  I had toyed with going for the weekend to scope it out for next year, even though not running would kill me. Then we got our tax return back from the accountant it seemed prudent to stay home and think of ways to save money!!

Happy Spring everyone!  Hope you are feeling good and ready to roll!!