Living in Michigan in the summer as a triathlete is an amazing experience. It's so rewarding after a long winter of trudging through the snow and cold to finally reach the world of sunshine, warm temperatures, and many hours of daylight.
I have the good fortune of living on a lake. It's been fantastic this year in particular because of our early spring warm-up. I've been able to swim at 6:00 a.m. before work and have had the whole lake to myself, with the exception of an occasional fisherman. How cool is it to be starting out in the pre-dawn light and return with the sun blasting between the houses and dancing on the water?
We have some great cycling options around here as well. There is enough varied terrain that I can choose what type of ride I want. In addition, we have many country roads less traveled, as well as many roads with nice shoulders.
Running options are great where I am because there are hills, flats, paved roads, gravel roads, and we are only two miles from a high school track.
Furthermore, there are more triathlons, running races, and cycyling events than you can possibly do in one season. You need to pick and choose what events you want and the competition is usually solid wherever you go.
Michigan is a great place to train and race. So, if you seek a pleasant triathlon-friendly peninsula, look about you.
Peace,
~Sam
My Book
Find at Amazon.com
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
JUST DO IT.
Apparently when Nike came up with the slogon, Just Do it, in the '80s they were on to something. Really, the phrase applies to many situations, but I'm thinking about running in particular. Matt Fitzgerald provides some interesting insights in his article in Triathlete Magazine's June 2010 edition, entitled, How To Hit Your Stride, HINT: TURN OFF YOUR BRAIN, SCIENTIFIC AND REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE INDICATES THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR STRIDE IS TO NOT THINK ABOUT IT. I thought it reflected my thinking from an early blog entry; Information Overload, What Works Best for You.
In short, he revealed a study from the Journal of Sports Sciences, and what I got from it is summaraized when he notes, "There is evidence that consciously meddling with your stride might indeed make it less efficient instead of more effient." Certainly there is much more to this article, but after reading The Pose Method of Running and trying out Newton running shoes and listening to podcasts about barefoot running, I am still in favor of not only doing what works for me, but to have a reasonable training plan, which will allow me to progress intellegently as to avoid overuse injuries and Just Do It. Please understand however that I am not knocking different methods and equipment. There are many people who are thrilled with The Pose Method and barefoot running. I can also say that Newton running shoes are of good quality. These methods and shoes simply didn't work for ME. There, now you see,Triathlete Magazine's Swimsuit Issue does have valuable information in it. I'm just sayin'.
In short, he revealed a study from the Journal of Sports Sciences, and what I got from it is summaraized when he notes, "There is evidence that consciously meddling with your stride might indeed make it less efficient instead of more effient." Certainly there is much more to this article, but after reading The Pose Method of Running and trying out Newton running shoes and listening to podcasts about barefoot running, I am still in favor of not only doing what works for me, but to have a reasonable training plan, which will allow me to progress intellegently as to avoid overuse injuries and Just Do It. Please understand however that I am not knocking different methods and equipment. There are many people who are thrilled with The Pose Method and barefoot running. I can also say that Newton running shoes are of good quality. These methods and shoes simply didn't work for ME. There, now you see,Triathlete Magazine's Swimsuit Issue does have valuable information in it. I'm just sayin'.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
GU HAS A NEW FLAVOR COMING SOON!
Mandarin Orange! I just received my samples yesterday in the mail. Good stuff with a little punch, but not overwelming. It should spark your workout or keep you going.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Ada Time Trial Results from 5-17-10
In my first TT of the season I earned a time of 36:42. This week was my second go at it. The results are below. Both times mean I was averaging about 24.5 mph. Going 25 mph would be outstanding! Either way, it's good clean fun and a great workout.
MEN'S CLASS
1 Tom Burke 0:31:23
2 Dan Korienek 0:32:23
3 Jimi Minnema 0:33:36
4 Jeff Haney 0:35:05
5 Craig Rawlings 0:36:07
6 Brian Bangma 0:36:07
7 Chuck Grzanka 0:36:14
8 Kim Lee 0:36:29
9 Sam Wilkinson 0:36:44
10 Dave Ryskamp 0:37:18
...46 (Total)
MEN'S CLASS
1 Tom Burke 0:31:23
2 Dan Korienek 0:32:23
3 Jimi Minnema 0:33:36
4 Jeff Haney 0:35:05
5 Craig Rawlings 0:36:07
6 Brian Bangma 0:36:07
7 Chuck Grzanka 0:36:14
8 Kim Lee 0:36:29
9 Sam Wilkinson 0:36:44
10 Dave Ryskamp 0:37:18
...46 (Total)
Monday, May 17, 2010
Seasonal Expectations
More often than not I enter my triathlon season injured. It's not planned, it's not contrived, and it's not desirable. In spite of monitoring my training and working on my weaknesses, it happens. This year I'm coming into my season relatively UNinjured. This is not to say that I don't experience aches and pains. Nor is this to suggest that I am allowed to ignore my usual suspects (ie. tight calves, tight I.T. Band, etc.). However, it does set me up for having high expectations. Too many seasons I have looked back saying, "Man, I wonder what I could have done if I wasn't injured". Well, now is that time and so my expectations are high. Right now I can train to swim far and fast, I can train to cycle far and fast, and I can train to run far and fast. As a result, my expectations are high.
Furthermore, I'm going back to the kind of season I used to take on which involves a full season of racing. I am excited about this and I hope to race strong, healthy, and confident.
Next year, I will reduce my number of races and look again to Ironman, but for now, it's time to put the hammer down and go.
Let's do this!
Furthermore, I'm going back to the kind of season I used to take on which involves a full season of racing. I am excited about this and I hope to race strong, healthy, and confident.
Next year, I will reduce my number of races and look again to Ironman, but for now, it's time to put the hammer down and go.
Let's do this!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Getting My Head in the Game
"He's a good practice player" is something you don't really want to hear as an athlete. This season so far, my training workouts seem to have exceeded my performance output in races. I don't think I've lost my "killer instinct" or my "eye of the tiger" if you want to call it that, but I haven't felt like I've really "gone there" or made myself hurt to the point where I know there was just nothing else I could give.
Yeah, I know, I've only done two races and there is plenty of racing to be done, but it's also been two races and they were worth my best effort. Unfortunately I left both races questioning whether or not I gave my best effort. I don't want to leave ANY race wondering whether or not I gave my best effort. That should never be in question. I should always give my best effort.
I need to feel the hurt I feel when I know I'm giving it my best when I'm on the race course. I need to get back in it. My intensity seems to have been set aside on some level during my events. I need to feel the fire in my gut and get my head in the game.
I've evaluated my performances I've done so far and now is the time to look forward to the next. I will take the lessons I have learned and put together a strong effort. So now I'm looking at the Double Time Triathlon where I will try to find the competitor within me that needs to stand up and be counted.
Yeah, I know, I've only done two races and there is plenty of racing to be done, but it's also been two races and they were worth my best effort. Unfortunately I left both races questioning whether or not I gave my best effort. I don't want to leave ANY race wondering whether or not I gave my best effort. That should never be in question. I should always give my best effort.
I need to feel the hurt I feel when I know I'm giving it my best when I'm on the race course. I need to get back in it. My intensity seems to have been set aside on some level during my events. I need to feel the fire in my gut and get my head in the game.
I've evaluated my performances I've done so far and now is the time to look forward to the next. I will take the lessons I have learned and put together a strong effort. So now I'm looking at the Double Time Triathlon where I will try to find the competitor within me that needs to stand up and be counted.
Monday, May 3, 2010
GU and Me, So Happy Together
GU Energy provided the Performance Energy Sampler free of charge for me to use to review and the opinions that follow are mine.
My expereince with GU started somewhere around 1992. I recall my friend Mark (Roach) introducing me to this gel called GU. He offered it to me while we were in the middle of a 13-mile trail run. I thought it was interesting, but being old school, I was skeptical. Later, I started using GU for my other long runs and later when I started competing in triathlon. I can't tell you how many long runs, long rides, and events GU products have gotten me through. I tried different gels over the years, but GU seemed to have just the right boost, texture, and taste, and it became my brand of choice.
In 2006 I saw an add from GU in Triathlete Magazine. They were accepting applications for people to represent their product and spread the word of GU. I was rather excited about this possibility. I composed my first "athletic resume" and hopefully submitted it to GU. A few weeks later I learned I was accepted into their ambassador program and of course I was elated.
Since this time GU has provided me with their product both free and at a reduced rate and it has been a great partnership as I spread the word of the value of GU products, and I am able to continue to use my favorite sports nutrition product at a reduced rate to fuel my passion.
Over the years GU has evolved and has devloped a sports drink. Orginally called GU20 and most recently GU Brew. They now offer both an electrolyte and a recovery drink option in a variety of flavors. Honestly, at first I still preferred Gatorade for my electrolyte replacement (remember...old school), but after using it a few times, I really appreciated the taste and its function. I found it to be much "lighter" than Gatorade, which makes it easy to go down and it satisfies my thirst.
The GU Brew recovery drink I tried for the first time this year and it seems to help. I use this almost exclusively for after long or hard efforts. For me, it is prudent to mix it before my workout so it is readily available when I return.
GU also developed a product called GU Chomps. These have a "fruit snack" or "gummy" texture, but they are bigger and contain the same type of boost one would get from taking two GUs. What I like about the Chomps is that they're a nice alternative to GU gels when I feel like I've had my fill of gel for the day, or if I simply want to change it up a bit. From my experience they are easy to chew and they go down well.
Roctane is another item GU has created which is a "Super GU" of sorts because it packs a bigger punch than the average GU. I use these for critical events or workouts. I trust the "normal" GU gels, but this one gives me a mental edge.
Another cool feature of GU products is they offer a large range of flavors. A few weeks ago on Facebook, GU asked what "our" favorite flavor of GU was and the responses indicated a wide variety.
Recently GU sent me a promotional package of what they will be offering athletes in stores. It is a GU, Performance Energy Sampler. It provides GU gels of all flavors and types, GU Chomps, and GU Brew (both Electrolyte and Recovery). Furthermore, inside the package it provides a couple suggestions for combinations for how you might use it. Truly, the combination of GU you use on a given day varies, but until you try it out, you just don't know what might work for you or how you might respond.
GU has afforded me many opportunities, so am I partial? ...heck yeah. However, as I have mentioned before, I have tried many other gels and nutrition products, and I suggest you do the same when you get samples in race "goodie bags," etc. You might just discover, as I have however, that GU is the superior brand.
So, if you have not tried all of GU's products or are curious about the different flavors, I recommend you give the GU, Performance Energy Sampler a try. It will be on shelves in your local running stores soon.
Get your GU on and get out there!
Peace,
~Sam
My expereince with GU started somewhere around 1992. I recall my friend Mark (Roach) introducing me to this gel called GU. He offered it to me while we were in the middle of a 13-mile trail run. I thought it was interesting, but being old school, I was skeptical. Later, I started using GU for my other long runs and later when I started competing in triathlon. I can't tell you how many long runs, long rides, and events GU products have gotten me through. I tried different gels over the years, but GU seemed to have just the right boost, texture, and taste, and it became my brand of choice.
In 2006 I saw an add from GU in Triathlete Magazine. They were accepting applications for people to represent their product and spread the word of GU. I was rather excited about this possibility. I composed my first "athletic resume" and hopefully submitted it to GU. A few weeks later I learned I was accepted into their ambassador program and of course I was elated.
Since this time GU has provided me with their product both free and at a reduced rate and it has been a great partnership as I spread the word of the value of GU products, and I am able to continue to use my favorite sports nutrition product at a reduced rate to fuel my passion.
Over the years GU has evolved and has devloped a sports drink. Orginally called GU20 and most recently GU Brew. They now offer both an electrolyte and a recovery drink option in a variety of flavors. Honestly, at first I still preferred Gatorade for my electrolyte replacement (remember...old school), but after using it a few times, I really appreciated the taste and its function. I found it to be much "lighter" than Gatorade, which makes it easy to go down and it satisfies my thirst.
The GU Brew recovery drink I tried for the first time this year and it seems to help. I use this almost exclusively for after long or hard efforts. For me, it is prudent to mix it before my workout so it is readily available when I return.
GU also developed a product called GU Chomps. These have a "fruit snack" or "gummy" texture, but they are bigger and contain the same type of boost one would get from taking two GUs. What I like about the Chomps is that they're a nice alternative to GU gels when I feel like I've had my fill of gel for the day, or if I simply want to change it up a bit. From my experience they are easy to chew and they go down well.
Roctane is another item GU has created which is a "Super GU" of sorts because it packs a bigger punch than the average GU. I use these for critical events or workouts. I trust the "normal" GU gels, but this one gives me a mental edge.
Another cool feature of GU products is they offer a large range of flavors. A few weeks ago on Facebook, GU asked what "our" favorite flavor of GU was and the responses indicated a wide variety.
Recently GU sent me a promotional package of what they will be offering athletes in stores. It is a GU, Performance Energy Sampler. It provides GU gels of all flavors and types, GU Chomps, and GU Brew (both Electrolyte and Recovery). Furthermore, inside the package it provides a couple suggestions for combinations for how you might use it. Truly, the combination of GU you use on a given day varies, but until you try it out, you just don't know what might work for you or how you might respond.
GU has afforded me many opportunities, so am I partial? ...heck yeah. However, as I have mentioned before, I have tried many other gels and nutrition products, and I suggest you do the same when you get samples in race "goodie bags," etc. You might just discover, as I have however, that GU is the superior brand.
So, if you have not tried all of GU's products or are curious about the different flavors, I recommend you give the GU, Performance Energy Sampler a try. It will be on shelves in your local running stores soon.
Get your GU on and get out there!
Peace,
~Sam
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)