The TriathleteNut

Garmin Forerunner 101

Donna got me the Garmin Forerunner 101 Wrist-Mounted GPS Personal Training Device for Valentine’s Day this year. It was a great present and a big surprise.

I’ve used it three times. Twice on a run and once on a bike. It makes training just a little bit more fun. But what’s next to wear as I train? I have a Timex HRM, an iPod on occasion, and now a Garmin GPS!

The Garmin Forerunner 101 is the entry level of Garmin Fitness GPS products and it lists at $114 but Target had it for $100 with a personal Garmin Mug. Not bad.

For $60 more you can get the Garmin Forerunner 201 which runs on rechargeable batteries and links to your PC. But as an entry level GPS for walkers and runners (like myself) its perfect. I use EXCEL to log my swim, bike and run data anyway and its easy to just enter the data by lap, time and speed. I use forumals to calculate anything else I need.

This model runs on 2AAA batteries which is fine. It can store lap histories for up to two years. There’s also a track back feature to get back to your start point by following the little digital display map. Virtual Trainer helps you achieve certain goals, it can let you know if you’re hitting a certain speed slow or fast, it’ll pause if you are at a stop light if you want, and it fits comfortably on your wrist. You can also get a handlebar mount so you can attach it to your bike.

A great toy for the Beginner Triathlete or exercise walker and occasional runner! I highly recommend it!

28m 49s 3.19 miles 9m 02s /mile

My first sub 7 minute mile.

I ran 3 miles today. The first mile started on a steep incline followed by a gradual decline. At the 1 mile mark I was at 6:55! I followed that with two more miles at 8:27 & 8:51 then cooled down.

I was so pumped when I looked at my Garmin GPS and found out I did a sub 7 minute mile. My goal is to run a 5K (3 miles) in 19 minutes and 30 seconds – a 6:30 mile average.

Is it possible? Am I crazy? That’s like sprinting!

Enough about that.

I left work at 4:00 and there was NO traffic. I got home in 20 minutes! Nobody was in… Jake had a commercial audition for Mervin’s today by the way… and they weren’t home yet so I took advantage. In a rush - I got on some workout clothes, filled a bottle of water, slipped on my shoes, grabbed my Garmin Forerunner 101 GPS that Donna got me for Valentines Day and off I went.

(my product review)

The weather was perfect. Clear, crisp, cool weather in Southern California a couple of hours before the sun set. It was awesome.

I took on the hill once again charging up like it was nothing. And then halfway up it became something. I aimed for the top and slowly but surely I got there. I continued my run when my Garmin beeped to indicate the one mile mark: 6:55. I ran at a more than comfortable pace in order to achieve the other sub 9 minute miles. (RPE 8 of 10)

It was a tough run. Not the terrain, but the breathing. It sucks having asthma. I’m on Advair right now but didn’t use my Albuterol before the run. I should have but didn’t think I needed to. I was gagging, coughing up and spitting out mucous for the whole 3+ miles! It was torture. Usually, after a mile or so, the mucous is gone and I’m breathing fine. Today it was never ending.

I need to learn how to spit.

I’ve never been a spitter. I don’t spit well. Driving down the freeway and the need to spit arises it’s a chore to get it out of the window. It ends up on the side of my car. So I don’t spit. I admire those that can spit fifteen feet and more. I need to learn. Can anyone give me some helpful techniques?

I need to spit to get rid of all that phlegm when I run and bike. The other day I spit to my right while biking and it ended on my sleeve. Today I spit out in front and it went straight down to my pant leg. It’s gross. You see my dilemma.

All this because of asthma.

It’s really a challenge to be an endurance athlete when you can’t breath. It’s the hardest part of the whole thing – dealing with asthma.

Hopefully these allergy shots I’ll be getting will help control it better. It’s worth the try.

I get really nervous and anxious when I click on the ‘submit’ button in order to register for a Triathlon. The first time I did it my stomach went upset and I had to take a couple of deep breaths. It’s weird committing to something like this. But I did it. Two Triathlon registrations are submitted, paid for and now training for.

· UCLA – IronBruin Triathlon - Sunday April 9, 2006
    Race: 4 Mile Run | 10 Mile Bike | 400 Meter Swim

AND

· Xterra Wetsuits Spring Sprint Triathlon - Sunday May 7, 2006
    Race: 1/4 Mile Swim (400 meters) | 9 Mile Bike | 3 Mile Run

I’m really excited about the Xterra Triathlon in May. We’ll be going to San Diego and it will be my first open water swim. The UCLA one is going to be a tough one for me. It’s backwards (Run – Bike – Swim) for one. The Run is four miles versus the 5K I am use to. And the bike ride is not flat. If you have driven around UCLA it’s not a flat campus. Going up Sunset blvd North of Campus is not going to pleasant. But I’m still going to do it.

I have at least one a month through October.

· Redondo Beach Sprint Triathlon - Sunday June 11, 2006
    Race: 1/2 Mile Swim (800 meters) | 6 Mile Bike | 2 Mile Run

· July TRI for FUN Sprint Triathlon. - Saturday July 8, 2006
    Race: 1/2 Mile Swim (800 meters) | 16 Mile Bike | 3 Mile Run

· Solano Beach Triathlon - Sunday July 30, 2006
    Race: 1/4 Mile Swim (400 meters) | 9 Mile Bike | 3 Mile Run

· Imperial Beach Triathlon & Duathlon - Sunday August 27, 2006
    Race: 1/2 K Swim (500 meters) | 15 K Bike | 5K Run

· Jamba Juice Triathlon on Mission Bay - Sunday October 1, 2006
    Race: 500 Meter Swim | 15 K Bike | 5K Run

I have to look into some vitamin supplements – calcium and potassium pills… something to help with cramps. I’d like to make sure I do not go through the same hell I went through before.

I ordered two pics from Byron Moore Photography. I got them on CD the other day so here they are.

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21m 41s 500.00 meters 4m 20s /100 meters

Exercise Sets Min reps Max reps Min Wt. Max Wt.
ABS Crunches (FB) 3 50 50 0 0
CHEST Pushups (FB) 3 15 15 0 0

It felt great to get back to the gym. It’s been nearly two weeks long.

I couldn’t wait to get into the pool so I finally did it! And I did five hundred meters with rest in between every 50. This is my first swim since the day after my triathlon on Feb 13th. I worked on drills and did a couple of laps trying to be real tall, swim ‘downstream’, and through a tiny hole.

Yeah - everything I read in my Total Immersion book along with the techniques Stephen taught me.

Tomorrow a run and some hard weight training!

I hate tying my shoe laces! You can never get it the same way every time. And a concern during Transition stages of a triathlon is tying your shoes. It’d easier to slip them on and run.

That’s when I found… “Yankz”.

www.yankz.com

I tested these out on one pair of shoes but haven’t raced in them yet. I have trained a couple of miles on them and really like them. I especially like them for every day use as I slip my shoes on when leaving the house and easily slip them off as I enter the house. And the tension on the laces are perfect. They aren’t too tight nor are they lose - and it didn’t take a long time to fine tune them.

I’m definately going to use them for my next race.

The only thing I don’t like is that the ends of the laces fray after you cut the excess off. There’s got to be a way to keep it together but I haven’t found out yet.

Another one I’d like to try are: Lock Laces.

But until then, Yankz are doing their job! Try em!

I did it. I got some work in. And I went for broke. I decided to tackle that hill I have yet to even come to. It’s not a long hill but long enough. The incline on the west side is pretty tough but the East side is a little less steep, it’s longer and a speedy ride down. Both are different. I figured the steeper side of this hill would be the one to just go for. And I did.

I took my bike out on the street for the first time. Traffic is scary. Looking behind me is scary. Getting unsnapped out of my pedal is scary. And getting snapped back in and trying to remember to make sure I’m in the right gear before stopping was scary.

But all is well.

I warmed up for about a mile then approached the hill tentatively.

Half way up I was thinking I can do this.

A few feet later I was thinking, I can do this like next time. This is far enough.

I didn’t want to use the easiest gear so I stayed on the 3rd gear.

Anyway, I took a look behind to see if it was clear to make the u-turn and roll back down.

Then the whole mental battle was in full effect.

Stuff like, “I’ve only biked 50 miles since Decmember, I’m still a beginner”, “I’ve been sick for two weeks give it a rest”, “I don’t need to do this now - It’s only a test”, “I’ll work up the distance, this is far enough.”

Then I stood on the pedals and started to work.

I had to get into a lower gear. The cranks weren’t spinning like those gears on a tripple crankset. But this bike really wasn’t made for climbing. And I hung in there. But as I got twenty, eighteen, fifteen feet from the top I was still thinking I had to step down from the bike and go easy.

Willpower won and I got to the top. Mind you this wasn’t a mile climb. It wasn’t even a quarter mile. Maybe an eight of a mile if anything. But it was a big accomplishment for me and my bike - “The JakeABella”. What’s a good name for me new bike?

And I coasted down the long backstretch which was real good test for my brakes since I’ve rarely used them to any real degree of pressure since getting my bike in December.

I sped down Chevy Chase then went up another two smaller hills for a very short 3.5 mile bike ride that took about sixteen minutes. My legs were shot. My breathing was labored. But my workout was in the books.

And I was tired for the rest of the day.

It felt damn good to workout after spending about two weeks on my butt!

I also did some research on Clinchers and Tubular tires since I went with some Spinnergy Tubular wheel set for $500. The price is damn cheap. These wheels, albeit used, could sell for $900. New… around $2000. The only problem is I might be better off training on the stock wheels with the bike versus these more aerodynamic wheel set. Plus, I don’t know how to change the back wheel!!! I’d have to have my LBS change it at least two weeks before an event so I can get some miles on them before a Tri.

In doing research I found that the cheapest ZIPP 303s are like $1700. I’m sure there are used older models out there. 650c wheels are harder to find actually. I don’t know why.

I have yet to sign up for the UCLA IronBruin but I think I can handle the bike portion now. I just need to do the hill three times a day at least twice a week and I’ll be ready.
16m 25s 3.50 miles 12.79 miles/hr

No workout again today. But definately it should start up again tomorrow.

On another note… I just did it. I put a deposit down for a new bike…

A 2005 FELT S32 for $1088. Of course I spent some money on upgrades like Spinnergy wheels (used $500), a carbon Profile Design aerobar ($150) and some really nice Red Look Pedals ($179) and some red tubular tires ($80). $2000!!!

Not bad for a bike with great reviews!

CatEye Micro Wireless

Need a bike computer that doesn’t have wires? This is the one for you. Bike computers range from $20 to $200. This one is a great computer that runs around $45. I got it at Velo Pasadena during their yearly sale for around $25! It was a serious bargain and an toy for every cyclist. If you’re a Moutain Biker its perfect because there are no wires to deal with.

Here’s a list of functions:
- Current Speed
- Maximum Speed
- Average Speed 1
- Elapsed Time 1
- Trip Distance 1
- Average Speed 2
- Elapsed Time 2
- Trip distance 2
- Odometer
- Odometer reset
- Clock

This is another product I’ve been very happy with. Especially because I got it for such a great deal!

Again… No training today. I’m looking forward to doing some on Sunday.

We might go to the last stage of the Amgen Tour of California at Redondo Beach. It’s a circuit race and they say it should be really fun. Alot of people are showing up to the race!

I want to swim, bike and run! I can’t wait for my next tri. I think I’m going to sign up for the UCLA Iron Bruin after all.