Feeling good and ready to play + Pearl Izumi Road Elite II review

I finally got over my cold and went back to working out.  Last weekend I went for a bike ride on my usual route.Google Route  This was the first long ride with my new shoes and clips (review below).  I knew that there was a good possibility that with the shoes and not being sick that I would be able to drop my time on my 26 mile route.  I also decided to give it a little extra push and see exactly how fast I could go.  The ride went well, I pushed it the whole time and felt relatively fast.  When I got home I was excited and looked at my Blackberry to see exactly how fast I was......... the F*#@'n phone didn't record the workout.  I'll admit it, I didn't handle it as well as I should have.  I usually use a program on my phone call BIM (bones in motion) Active.  It said that I ran out of space and it couldn't record.  I have now downloaded miCoach from Adidas.  It seams to be a better program plus I can link my route for posts directly from the Adidas site.  

This week I also went for a 6 mile run.miCoach Map  It is embarrassing that I haven't ran very much since the 1/2 marathon, but I wanted to focus on the bike while the weather was still good. I generally run in the morning or during the day, but this time I started my run after dinner around 6:00 PM.  The run felt pretty good except for a brief time at about mile 2 I had a side cramp, but I was able to stop for a minute and take a break with some deep breaths and it went away. 

GEAR REVIEW

PEARL IZUMI ELITE ROAD II

First I have to admit that this is my first pair of cycling shoes so I don't have a reference to compare them to.  That being said, after 4 rides I have a pretty good idea of what I think of these shoes.
Comfort
These shoes are pretty comfortable.  I have moderately narrow feet with an average arch and there are not any parts of the shoes that rub my feet in the wrong way or hotspots while I ride.  The 3 strap design allows me to adjust them to a tight and comfortable position within the shoe.
Design
The three strap design works well to lock the foot in place.  The buckle does well with the tightening the foot even further if needed.
Performance
Overall these shoes work as I expected.  My first ride my right foot went numb after about a mile.  It seems like on my other rides that it my foot goes numb initially but then recovers after about 3 miles.  If I were to guess I would say that the problem is with poor circulation in my feet rather than the shoes. 

PAID $180 Pearl Izumi outlet in Park City



SHIMANO 105 Pedal PD-5700

I did a lot of research when looking for the right pedal.  The conclusion was that Shimano was a solid pedal that was easy to get in and out of.  Given that this was my first experience in clipping into pedals I felt that Shimano was a good option.  The 3 Shimano options that I was considering were the 105, Ultegra and Dura-Ace.  When comparing the 3 together the 105 and Ultregra were basically the same pedal.  From what I could tell the only difference was 5 grams and black paint (I suspect the paint is where the 5 grams comes from).  The difference in cost however was about $40.  The Dura-Ace was double the cost of the 105's and had better parts and was lighter.  At the end of the day I decided that I would go with the 105's and save myself the extra cost.  After all I did just drop $180 for the shoes.  So far clipping into the pedals has been pretty good.  I have only had 1 almost tip over.  As for performance they stay tight to the shoe and allow a decent amount of float.  I kept the tension setting at the stock setting and it seems to work well.
PAID $90 at Sports Den 

That is it for today's post.  I will follow up with reviews on the shoes and pedals when I log more time in them.

Salt Lake 1/2 Marathon

Me again looking slow

Me after the race with Alexis, Gavin and Cole

Well as expected the race was hard. I was still not feeling good when I started and it didn't get much better by the end.  The good news is that I made my goal of being under 2 hours @ 1:56:20.63.  I was 18th of 26 in my division and 180th of 392.  I think that if I was feeling better I would have come in closer to 1:45 minutes. 







Here are the top 10 things I learned from the race:

1.  If you are sick it is going to suck.
2.  It will take twice as long to recover from your cold if you do it anyway. (still sick)
3.  I really don't care about being sick.
4.  Hill/speed work might be a bad idea 3 days before a race.  ( I really felt it when running up the hills)
5.  I don't like my New Balance 1065's.  They are too heavy for longer runs.  That being said I didn't have any blisters.
6.  The people who are fast are really fast.  I pretty much lost site of them by the 3rd mile.  I have a long ways to go.
7.  On the downhill I was running at my goal pace of 7min/mile for about a mile.  Wow that would be hard to go 26 miles that fast.  I need to be at least 10 - 15 lbs lighter.
8.  I need to have my wife take pictures at the beginning of the race rather than the end.  I always look so tired when I finish.
9.  I had too much gear on.  I had a Garmin GPS watch, my Blackberry in an armband for music, and a Camelback for water. 
10.  I need to run more, sprint more, do hills more, and train harder.  Finishing isn't a big deal but finishing strong is.

Well that's about it.  I haven't written lately because I have been sick and not doing a lot of working out.  Immediately after the race I went to Village Sports Den and picked up my bike an rode it home.  It felt great to ride all downhill after the race.

Last weekend I went for a 26 mile bike ride on my favorite route.  I go from my house up to Wasatch blvd. and go south to about 8200 south and go back.  I keep feeling like I am better but that bike ride almost killed me.  I thought I was going to throw up multiple times and I wasn't even going that hard.  I am going to try and go on a ride tomorrow and hopefully it will be better.
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Out of the water and on to land

It is 5:30 am and I am sitting on a bus on my way to another race. This race is the Salt Lake 1/2 marathon. A lot of things have changed from my last post including the purchase of a new bike! As bad as ot might sound I have not been back in the water since the last race. I have been running off and on for the past few weeks including a 10 mile run with my father in-law. That was an interesting run. We stopped at mile 6 for an espresso.
Today I am feeling sick. I have been fighting off a cold all week. Usually when I get sick it goes straight to my lungs. This time I only started coughing last night. Over the years I have done numerous dumb things in training before a race. On wednesday I decided to take the family to sugarhouse park to run hills for speed work. It seemed like a good idea at the time but my legs are still sore. I bet I will pau for it on the uphill portion of the race. I am 100 percent focused mentally for this race. Hopefully that will overcome the 80 percent my body wants to give.

Race Results and the plan from here on out.

Swimming on hold, ready to run!

With  the swim behind me I am turning my focus to running.  On Labor Day there is the Salt Lake Half Marathon which is basically my favorite run in Emigration canyon.  On the other hand Davis County is having a sprint triathlon.  I am torn between the two.  I currently have a lot of my stuff for sale to pay for a bike on KSL.com http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=231&userid=746790.  If I get a bike in the next few weeks then I think I will go for my first triathlon, otherwise the fun half marathon.  I only ran once this week and again today.  On Tuesday I ran about 6 miles at about a 9 min mile.  Today I ran 10 miles with my father in-law.  Today''s run wasn't very hard because John had to stop about every mile to a mile and a half.  Honestly I didn't mind at all.  I was only slightly motivated today.  The funny thing about today's run is that around mile 6 John stopped at a coffee shop for a shot of espresso.  My stomach doesn't like coffee prior to a run, let alone in the middle of one. My goal for the week is going to be a run on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday again.  Probably do this type of distance, 5 miles recovery run, 8 mile pace run, 5 mile speed run,   6 mile technique run, and 12 mile pace run again on Sunday.   I will then mix weeks with 1/2 runs and 1/2 bike and gradually work up to 20 mile runs on my pace day.  Given that I don't have any experience in biking I guess I will work on those workouts when I have a bike.   

Race Results and next year plans.

The race results were posted this week at Deercreeekopenwater.com I came in 7th place as I remembered.  I have decided that I will swim the 10K next year.  The 10K looks like a better race and I will be in better shape then.  I am not trying to make myself look better but if they divided it up into age categories then I would have placed a lot better. All of the people that beat me were 6 to 15 years younger than me.  So this year I will say that I did really well for the 30 and over division.  Next year age doesn't matter. 

Race Day Success!

It was early for me to get up at 5:00 AM but the excitement of doing something completely new allowed me to ignore the fact I only had 6 hours of sleep.  I had prepared all of the things I needed for the race the night before so my only concern was to get some food and coffee in me.  I had a cinnamon bagel with peanut butter as the spread, and packed 2 more bagels in case I got hungry later.  I brewed coffee poured my mug and went outside to wait for Greg.  Our plan was to leave my house at 5:45 to be at the lake by 6:45.  I waited until about 5:50 and I sent Greg a text, " R U up".  A couple of minutes went by and I began to get nervous.  Even if I drove up to the race myself I couldn't compete without a paddler.  Then I got the text back, " be there in a few minutes".  I was very relieved.  Greg indeed showed up a couple of minutes later and by that time I had finished my coffee.  We decided to stop by Einsteins Bagels on the way.  I refilled my coffee and Greg got himself some food and we were on our way.  It is interesting how peaceful it is that early on a Saturday morning. I can't remember the last time I was up that early on a weekend.  The traffic was minimal and we made it up to Deer Creek in about 45 minutes.

Greg and I.  Greg was the only person with a paddle board

When we got to the lake it was about 7:00 AM and we had to get ready pretty fast because the safety meeting was at 7:30.  We unloaded Greg's paddle board and went to the pavilion where they were handing out the race packets.  This was my first swimming race outside of college and I wasn't sure what to expect.  When we got to the pavilion it was clear that it was going to be like any running race.  They were handing out gift bags and numbers.  I was really glad that they allowed us to use permanent markers rather than having us safety pin a bib to our chest like they do in running. That could hurt!  Once we had all of our gear ready we went down to the boat dock where they were doing the safety meeting and the start of the race.  There was supposedly 70 racers but it was hard to tell given that each racer had a paddler while there were a lot of people it was hard to tell who was going to race.  The safety meeting basically went over the course, and reminded the paddlers to NOT run over swimmers.  I guess it was a problem last year.

They divided us into 4 heats, the 10 mile race at 8:00 AM, 10K at 8:05, 5K at 8:10, and the 1 mile at 8:15. The race started in the water at the "start/finish" buoy.  They would do a quick photo and then start the race.  I watched the 10 mile and 10K race start and headed into the water.  I put on my cap, goggles, and earplugs and was ready to race!  The water was a nice 74 degrees and I was glad that I didn't wear a wetsuit. My goggles immediately fogged up and I could hear the announcer say, "15 seconds to the start".  I quickly pulled them off and rinsed them out and put them back on. Then, " 5 seconds to the start".  The goggles were still  fogged. Oh well it was too late now.  Then the starting horn went off and I was on my way.

The beginning of the race was like swimming in a school of fish.  Lots of splashing, and lots of body parts were flopping around.  Not that it mattered I could hardly see a thing with my goggles.  I remember thinking, "it is kinda scary swimming in open water".  After about 20 seconds of swimming I found a good pace and all "scary" thoughts were gone.  I was in race mode.  My goggles were still so fogged up that I couldn't see the shore to give me a heading. It was also difficult to see because the sun had just come up and we were swimming directly into the sun.  The best I could do is see the splashing of the person in front of me, so I followed the splash.  After about 400 meters I quickly pulled down my goggles and tried rinsing them again.  It was a little better, but not much.  The race was to a buoy at the end of the bay and back.  When I got about half way I couldn't see the splashing anymore and I started to feel like I was alone.  I was pretty sure I didn't pass anybody but I couldn't see people in front or behind me.  I yelled at Greg, "am I losing"?  He laughed and said that there were about 5 people in front of me and a whole bunch way behind me.  I continued to swim in the general direction of where I guessed the buoy was.  Greg signaled to me a few times that I was too far to the left or right and I made adjustments.

I could start to see a lot of kayaks up ahead and I concluded that I must be close to the turn around point. I was hoping that I wouldn't run into any other swimmers as they were on the way back but I really didn't see any.  I passed a couple of swimmers that were swimming the 10 mile race as I approached the buoy.  Once I made the turn around I adjusted my goggles again, and this time I could see!  I think that the fact that I wasn't swimming into the sun anymore made a huge difference.  I thought that I would feel pretty tired at the half way point.  Surprisingly I felt just fine.  That was a good and a bad thing.  Now that I could see I started swimming a little faster.  I occasionally  passed a 10 mile or 10K swimmer on the way back.  I had a really good grove going on and felt strong.  Now that I could see it was a lot better experience.  I dare say that I was having a really good time. I swam with my strong pace until I came to the 1 mile turnaround point.  I had been waiting for that buoy all the way back.  I knew that I was only 800 meters from the finish so I picked up my pace.  I had way too much energy for that part of the race.  Sure my arms were tired, but I expected to be tired like I get when I run marathons or even a hard day of training and I wasn't.  I finished strong and got out of the water feeling fine.

Getting out at the finish with Greg behind me.

My wife and kids were there at the finish to greet me and we hung out to hear how I did.  After about 30 minutes they had the results.  I came in 5th place for the men, and 7th overall.  My time was one hour and 15 minutes.  That was exactly at a 1:30/100 meter pace.  Ironically that was what I was training for.  I had been doing sets of 100 meters on 1:30 for the past 2 weeks.  Next year I will try and train a little faster, but this race was perfect.  I now know what I need to do in order to get a better time next year.

Greg and I after the race

Overall it was a great experience.  I learned that I need to make a change in my goggles so that I can see.  Also, given that I wasn't completely tired by the end of the race I should have gone out harder or swam the 10K.  Next year I will be faced with trying to swim a faster 5K or swim the 10K.  I think in 2012 I will do the 10 mile.  Tomorrow I am going to talk about the gear I did used yesterday including my new tri-suit.

Race Day!

Just about to leave for the hour drive to Deer Creek.  Greg should be here any moment so I must be brief. 
Yesterday I ended up buying a Trisuit rather than a jammer.  I will explain tomorrow.  My right arm hurts a little bit more than yesterday so I hope I can stretch it out.   I am excited, nervous, anxious, and a little hungry.  Tomorrow's post will be interesting.  Well off to the race!

1 Day before the race

Yesterday I went to buy a "brightly colored swim cap" as required by the race and ended up stopping by a bike shop or two.  Well to be honest I went to four bike shops (OCD).  In conversation with the different bike junkies they all asked the same question, "aren't you nervous to swim in open water"?  This is something that I have heard from multiple people.  It has started to make me think that I should be nervous.  So I am nervous that I am not nervous, what the hell?  I have debated about doing a lake swim today just to get out the jitters, but I think that if I do get spooked I would rather do it in a race environment where I can't back out.  After all I am going to get a T-shirt, and I would feel stupid if I didn't finish. 

I am going to make a change to my gear today.  It goes against my master plan of not changing anything that I normally do, but my wife asked me last night about what I needed for the race.  I told her that now that I have the swim cap I didn't need anything.  I then went into what I want to buy someday as I progress.  I mentioned things like a wetsuit, trisuit (suit that you can use for swimming, biking, and running) and of course all my new bike gear including a bike.  It got me thinking that the suit I have now, a drag suit, perhaps isn't the best suite for a race. The purpose of a drag suit is to slow you down.  So back to Poco Loco I go for a new suit today.  I buy all my swimming stuff there because my former coach owns the joint and they are a great swim shop. 

GEAR-
Today I am going to go and buy a "jammer" swim suit.  I have never used one and I hope that it works out.  The one I am looking at is a  TYR Alliance Team from Poco Loco.  I will give it a review after the race.

HOW I FEEL TODAY -
Today I don't feel as stiff as I did yesterday.  I decided not to swim at all yesterday and do lots of stretching instead.  I think it helped a lot. I do have a small grinding feeling still in my right shoulder and my forearms still feel a little weak.  I distinctly remember what felt like a tear in both of my forearms on Tuesday during my long set of 100's.  If I were to guess I bet they will be ok tomorrow during the race, but will be in some good pain by tomorrow night.

TODAY's OCD -
I am getting a new suit today, and yes I have to stop by a bike shop.  I think that I have narrowed it down to the Specialized Roubax elite. It is a fully carbon fiber bike with shimano 105 components.

I have done a lot of research about the best bang for buck and for a major brand this bike seems to fit the bill.  That being said it is $1,700.  Wow, I get goose bumps even typing that amount of money.  It's more expensive than my dirt bike and it doesn't even have a motor.  I guess I really need to sell my motorcycle stuff to justify buying a bicycle. 

An article I found about the open water swim this saturday

Well it pretty much sums up what I am doing.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700055905/Endurance-swimmers-test-the-limits-in-open-waters.html?pg=1

2 Days before race day

It has been 13 years since the last time I had a swim race.  It will also be the first time I have ever swam in open water.  Also, to top it off it is also 3 times longer than any race I have ever done.  Why am I  doing it?  I guess to prove that I can. It is the start of a long journey into multiple long distance races. 

The water in Deer Creek Reservoir  is going to be cold, but when I swim long distances I get really hot so hopefully it won't be that bad.  My friend Greg Joyner owner of Cold Water Company will be accompanying me with a paddle board or a kayak. The Deer Creek Open Water race is actually 4 different races, a 1 mile swim, a 5K, 10K, and 10 mile swim.  I really want to try the 10 mile swim but I am pretty sure after 5 miles my arms would fall off and I would sink to the bottom, so for safety I am going to start with the 5K.  I think that by this time next year I will be in good enough shape to swim the 10K.  Then maybe the following year the 10 mile.

GEAR-
I have 1training suit that I bought a couple of months ago and 2 pairs of Swedish goggles.  Today I am going to go and buy a swim cap because it is required.  Personally I can't stand caps but what do you do?  The race allows for wet suites but I am going to brave the cold without one. I have 2 choices in colors for goggles, my dark brown ones I use for swimming outside and my red ones.

HOW I FEEL TODAY -
Today I feel stiff.  I know I pushed it too hard earlier this week and hopefully it won't come back to bite me on race day.  I am going to do about a 40 minute swim today and do about 1500 meters with  1 set of 5 100's on 1:30 to maintain my pace.

TODAY's OCD -
Still looking for a bike.  I am in the process of selling 2 motorcycles and all of my gear to buy a decent road bike.  I don't want to race in a triathlon without a road bike.  Yes, I can use my mountain bike but that would be like taking a VW Jetta in NASCAR race.  Sure, it will make it around the track, but it isn't the right tool.