Gear review: Waterfi waterproof iPod shuffle

I tested out my new waterproof iPod shuffle at the pool today. Going in circles in the pool gets a little boring, so I though a little music would help. Enter Waterfi, a company specializing in waterproofing iPod shuffles.

Waterfi takes standard Apple iPod shuffles and fills all the empty spaces with waterproof and corrosion proof substances. The shuffle looks just like any other shuffle, but it can join you in the pool and still work. I got the bundle with the H2O Audio Flex waterproof headphones and velcro strips for mounting the headphones and shuffle onto goggles for a complete pool solution.

Today was the first day I took it to the pool with me and it worked perfectly. It was amazing listening to music in the pool while doing my drills. The buttons on the shuffle are slightly stiff from the waterproofing, but still functional. When it first came there was excess goopy stuff around some of the lines and holes in the casing, but that rubbed off quickly and it really does look like any other shuffle. I went with the red color, which is beautiful, and very visible in the bottom of my gym bag.

The headphones weren't completely comfortable, but I have more ear bud sizes to try. If those don't work, I might look into bone conduction headphones.

Check it out at www.waterfi.com.

And back to training!

I know, I know, I've been gone a while.. But I have really good reason. My life was pretty well taken over with EMT class through about mid-December. But I passed, and I am now certified with the National Registry and Virginia!

Now that I'm not in EMT class two nights and one weekend day a week, I have time to get back to training. During class, I pretty much just snuck in a run once in a while, but just didn't have time for much more than that.

You'll see a few more posts from me in the next couple days as I create my annual training plan!

Gear review: Mizuno Breath Thermo

The running store near me (aptly named The Running Store) had a Mizuno event today demoing the breath thermo running clothes that generate heat while wicking moisture.

Dave, from Mizuno, had little packets of lint-looking material. He explained that the material is the breath thermo material they weave into the clothing. The theory behind the material is that not only do you get cold because of the air temperature, but then when you sweat, you get more cold. He then put the material in my hand and squeeze some water on top of it. The material immediate soaked up the water and seemed to expand slightly. Most surprisingly, it was warm! (And no, the water itself was not warm.) Dave explained that the material reacts to water (sweat) and actually generates heat, in the neighborhood of one to two degrees.

Dave then showed me some products. I chose the Breath Thermo Layered Tights and the Breath Thermo Stretch Crew. I also got a hat, headband, and gloves. The gave me a free gift with purchase of a lovely bright orange vest with reflective striping.

This evening I went for a run with my new gear. I wore the tights, the crew shirt, and the headband, along with the bright orange goober vest (which still some ningcumpoop in an SUV decided not to see). The vest has a nylon solid, but thin, front and mesh back. The air temperature was in the low 40s. Yesterday in similar temperature, I wore Under Armor tights, short sleeve base layer, long sleeve half-zip, and a cheap jacket and was just a tad bit too warm.

Tonight, I was actually very comfortable. The first five minutes (walking) was a little chilly, but a quickly started warming up once I started running, and I stayed warm for the rest of my run. I think I would be warm in just the pants and shirt down to the high 30s.

The clothing is soft and comfortable, although I will probably remove the tag in the pants because it started itching. The sizes do seem to run small. I generally wear a small or medium in tops and medium or large in pants. I got the medium top and large pants, but they are probably still a bit too small. They are snug when on, but I though ok from the inactive dressing room try on. Once I was running the pants rode down a bit and the top rode up a bit. That meant the one part of my body that was cold was my midriff area.

Overall, I am very happy with the Mizuno breath thermo clothing. Hopefully losing a few pounds will solve the issue with the pants riding down and the shirt up.

Graduation time

Tonight was my last night of adult intermediate swim class at the gym and rather than suggesting I sign up for the next session of classes, the instructor directed me to talk to the masters class coach.

So, Thursday night I will try the training session with the Sunfish Masters Club and see if I like it. I am very skeptical that I will be able to finish the whole thing, but the coach says that's ok.

Today I passed a road block!

Between being sick and my EMT class I haven't been quite on top of the training and I hit a bit of a road block with week 4 of the Zen Labs 10k training app. This is the first week with more running than walking (even including the warm up and cool down). It has a total of 16 minutes of jogging and increased the longest jogging segments to 5 minutes.

After about 2 weeks and 5 attempts at it, tonight I finally finished the whole thing without any unplanned walking breaks! I did pull my speed back just a bit, so next time I'll try to push the speed back up a bit.

Gear review: UR Sportswear

A friend recommended UR Sportswear running shorts, so I picked up a couple through a daily deal website.

I started running with them this week and love them! They stay in place really well and are so comfortable. Instead of pulling at my shorts the whole run, I actually just forgot about them.

When I first pulled them out, they looked really really short, but when on, they are a reasonable length. I ordered two pair in different colors, in eggplant and jade. The colors are bright and attractive.

Based on the size charts, I ordered a size large. This is the only thing I'm not perfectly happy with. I probably could have gone with a medium, but the larges aren't way too big, so they'll work. Check them out at UR Sportswear.

I'm the fast one?

The first week of swim class has gone well. My body remembers much more than I expected it to, and the instructor even called me the fast one and even suggested I check out the masters swim class! I did 250 yards Tuesday and 400 on Thursday. Not amazing, but it's a start.

Thoughts on a training plan...

I have been thinking about how to set up a training plan for myself, and I think I've decided to keep it very loose with a few main goals through the end of the year, and then devise a more structured plan going forward from there.

Here are my goals for the remainder of the year:

• Be able to swim for 45 consecutive minutes
• Complete a 10k running course
• Continue biking up to an hour or hour and a half at a time

At this point, I can bike an hour to hour an a half without any issues, so I will simply be maintaining that level while increasing my running and swimming abilities.

I am placing no emphasis on speed. I simply want to be able to put in a reasonable amount of time in each discipline. I believe this will give me a good base in all three disciplines to build on. Starting with the beginning of the year, I can work on speed intervals and increasing distance.

When did I last swim?

Hopefully tomorrow (if I'm well enough), I will go swimming.

I've said before that I haven't swam in a couple decades. When I was a kid, I was in the Grand Ledge Swim Club. I looked up the plaque they gave me the last year I was in the club for Most Improved Swimmer and found that it was in 1994. So basically, it's been 18 years since I have swam.

By the way, most improved is a really relative concept. When you are as terrible as I was, there's only one way to go - up!

Book Review: Fearless Swimming For Triathletes

I purchased Fearless Swimming for Triathletes: Improve Your Open Water Skills thinking that it would contain tips and tricks for open water swim and thought I'd read it before I start my swim lessons in case there are any habits I should develop early while still in the pool.

It was a quick read - I completed it in an evening, but I should have read it much faster, by skipping the whole first section and starting on page 82. If you don't already have a fear associated with open swim (sharks, cold water, deep water, dying, etc, etc, etc) and don't particularly want one, SKIP THE FIRST SECTION!

While the title really should have warned me that the book would be about getting over fears, I guess I assumed it would be tips to not be timid or nervous, not tricks to get over all out panic, including a run down of every reason you could be panicked.

I think I have more anxiety about the swim now than I did before I read the book!

There was some helpful information in the second section, but probably not anything you couldn't find on a website.

Being sick is no fun...

I caught a cold while in London that quickly because bilateral sinus and ear infections on the 8 hour flight. Hopefully I will be ready to train by Saturday, but in the meantime I'm doing a lot of sleeping.

I'm not gone!

I haven't posted in a while, but I'm not gone! I took my grandma back to England to visit family for a couple of weeks. However, in great progress for me, I actually went running three times while on vacation!

Now that I am back from vacation, I am ready to start really training and figuring out a plan. My first steps today were to order some books from Amazon and sign up for a gym with a pool. When I signed up for the gym, I also signed up for swim lessons that begin next week.

Stay tuned for swim updates and book reviews.

Contacts

So far I have been focused on training on running, but I also need to work on swimming. To do that, however, I need to be able to see!

I have a weak residual prescription after having lasik done. I used to wear contacts, but switched to glasses about 7 years back because my eyes were drying out staring at a computer monitor all day at work. Today I saw my eye doctor and got contacts. I managed to wear them for about 6 hours today before they started to bug me.

I also ordered swim suits and caps and will be joining a gym with a pool in a few weeks.

Road ID

Last night I ordered another Road ID. For those that haven't seen a Road ID yet, it is ID that is rugged enough to wear while riding, running, or swimming, and comfortable enough to wear 24-7. Identification information is laser engraved on a stainless steel plate that comes in several forms - for the wrist, ankle, shoe, and dog tags style. They also have an option where a website and phone number along with serial and pin numbers are engraved on the tag that are used to access extensive contact and medical information.

I've been wearing a Road ID for several years. I started with the Wrist ID Sport, upgraded to the Wrist ID Elite, and now wear the Wrist ID Slim. The Wrist ID Slim is so comfortable that I never take it off. Road ID lets me carry all of my information on me in case of an accident on my bike, in my car, or any where in between.

Road ID is also a company I respect. They create a quality product at a reasonable price and provide excellent customer service, and always with good humor.

If you don't have a Road ID yet, I suggest you order one. And if you use the code ThanksPatrisha18316368 in the next 30 days, you can get $1 off. (Code can be used a total of 30 times, so act fast!)

Visit www.roadid.com to learn more and order your Road ID.

Progress!

So great to see progress already!

I forgot to put my water bottle in the fuel belt as I headed out for my run, which with my asthma, is generally a recipe for disaster. I noticed about 7 minutes in. I decided to keep going, but back off on the intensity a bit.

Amazingly, not only did I finish the workout without problems, but I even slightly increased my distance!

Can't wait to see what I can do on Friday when I have my water with me and I can really push myself.

First running lesson

I am a cyclist. I have my cycling gear down to a science, but I'm quickly learning I have some to learn when it comes to running. When I am cycling the air flow over me dries the sweat on my face. When I am running, the salty sweat drips down into my eyes, stinging quite a bit.

So today I picked up some cheap sweat bands to see if that will solve the problem.

Now to go test them!

UPDATE: It did seem to help, even if I did feel rather dorky in it.

Starting point

I anticipate loosing a few pounds and firming up this year, so I thought I would post my starting point.

Weight: 159
Chest: 37
Waist (narrowest part): 27
Abdomen (belly button): 33
Hips: 42

This is a big improvement over where I was at 3 1/2 years ago, but I put about 10lbs back on this year, so the first goal is to get those back off.

The first challenge: Running

I have never been a runner. Never. I was a goalie in the obligatory season of soccer in elementary school cause the goalie doens't need to run. I never did finish a mile without walking some in middle school gym class. In high school I was on the diving team.

I always blamed my asthma- that it's just too hard to find a running pace that doesn't get to my lungs. However, with all the biking I've done in the last few years I am beginning to realize that the asthma, while sometimes a limiting factor, doesn't actually stop me if I don't want it too.

I have recently tried running a bit. But, now I need to run half a marathon. After swimming 1.2 miles and biking 56 miles. That's way more than a bit of running.

I am starting my running training using an application I have downloaded to my iPhone. Zen Labs has several running applications designed to take you from couch potato (when it comes to running, I definitely qualify as a couch potato) to a 5k, 10k, half, or full marathon.

I have used the 5k application for a few weeks before and generally liked it. I have now upgrade to the 10k app. In 14 short weeks, it says I will be able to run a 10k.

Check out the application, and check back with me to see if I make it!

Zen Labs 10k Trainer

Superior Man Tri

So here's the tri I'm signed up for: Superior Man Tri

Description from 2012:

On August 26th, 2012, triathletes from around North America will find out what it takes to be a Superior Man! The inaugural Superior Man Triathlon will challenge even the heartiest of endurance athletes as they “Escape from the Vista Fleet” into the Bay of Lake Superior.

The 2012 Superior Man Triathlon is a long distance triathlon featuring a 1.2 mile rectangular swim from the Vista Fleet to Bayfront Festival Park, and fast bike and run courses along the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior of 56 and 13.1 miles.The transition area inside Amsoil Arena and finish line under the arches of Bayfront Park are just feet apart, set against the beautiful backdrop of Lake Superior and Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge.

A journey begins...

I have signed up for the Superior Man Triathlon on August 25, 2013 in Duluth MN. The countdown on the official web site says I have 357 days before the big event. Just under one year to get ready for what will be one of the biggest challenges of my life. This will be my training log and diary for the year leading up to the triathlon.

The Superior Man Tri is a long distance triathlon, also referred to as a half-ironman distance. I will swim 1.2 miles in Lake Superior (cold!), bike 56 miles, and run 13.1 miles (really? a half marathon??).

I'm not too concerned about the bike portion, but I haven't swam in about two decades and I've never really been a runner...

Check back in once in a while and see how I'm doing!