My new ride...

The secret's out... I picked up what I got on my important errand last week and I'm ready to reveal. No, it's not a dog (though I wish), nor is it $4K wheels or a motorcycle (mom- still not sure why thought I bought a motorcycle!?!). Check it out... it's my new Cervelo P3C - all ready to kick some serious butt out on the race course! This bike is SWEET! I got a crazy deal on it and being the last one in my size, I couldn't pass the offer up, it was like it was meant to be. I might be a total poser, but I'm crazy excited. I'll spare you the time of listing every last detail about the Cervelo P3C but I got fitted to a comfortable aerodynamic position and I am ready to ride. Only minor changes might be switching the saddle and adjusting the stem (we didn't cut it yet - waiting to get some miles in to make sure this is the right fit). How seriously awesome is this bike?!?!?!?!?!?!

I'm in love.

Runnin' with some Tunes...

For the last couple of training seasons- this is Justin by the way- I've been hooked to my iPod during workouts. An easy search of google displays all of the research done on the effects of music and exercise: increased endurance, increased adrenaline (can be a really bad thing when going long distances), distraction from fatigue, and increased mental capacity are just a few.

Broken down to a more basic level, certain songs get me fired up to work out...and its not always hard rock/metal. My iPod ranges from rock to techno to pop rap and country. Depending on whether I'm running (rock- love me some Metallica and Drowning Pool though not ashamed to crank up a little Leona Lewis for long runs), biking (techno- usually stick with Tiesto or popular song remixes) or swimming (I listen to country on my way to the pool and sing the songs while swimming) determines the type of music.

Unfortunately, all triathletes know music is not an option during races...makes it a little harder than in marathons where you can blast angry hate music to drown out the pain. So for this year's training I decided I'd skip the music during most workouts. I've found it took some time to get used to- at first I become more aware of all the little aches and pains, I'd get really bored and distracted, and motivation seemed lower. Now, I concentrate more on better form, I have more consistent efforts, and I can actually hear whats going on around me.

Last night, motivation was low and the body was tired so I resorted to a little Three Days Grace: Lets Start a Riot. That always gets the HR up. For those that want to follow the science when picking their songs, here's the suggestions from a performance study:
For a stroll walker going at a pace of around 3 miles an hour, a remixed track has a count of 115 to 118 B.P.M.; for a power walker going 4.5 m.p.h., the count is 137 to 139 B.P.M., while the B.P.M. for a runner elevates to 147 to 160.
The article lays out some of their favorite songs for pace:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/fashion/10fitness.html?_r=2&sc

Why we missed yesterday's workout:

We skipped Thursday's workout due to a very important errand that had to be run (though we did get up early this AM to kick out a bike workout to make up for yesterday).

So what's this important errand, you ask? CAN'T TELL! ...at least not yet but I'll be making a SICK purchase in the next week and you'll have to wait until then to find out on what. I'm holding off on telling cause I need to reveal with a picture and all... till then! (BTW, Liz here)

Training is going strong

(Hi All, Liz here) Yesterday was another long run - 2.5 hrs covering just under 16 miles. I've been told to keep my HR below 155 on these runs, which has forced me to go slower than I usually would, but I'm not complaining - just as long as I can go fast when racing. I was pretty pumped for yesterday's run and early into it a song played on my shuffle that got me running way too hard. I forced myself to turn the music down and concentrate on my run pace.

So that Justin could enjoy some carbs for dinner in his post workout window (he's in recovery week), he met me 25 minutes into the route of his run and we finished the last 25 minutes together and cooked up a delicious chicken marsala over pasta meal.

Awhile back I said I was going to do a before and after shot to compare what the Charles River looks like during winter vs. spring/summer. Well, here is you winter - taken a few weeks back (6:15PM and 40 degrees):


Spring/summer coming soon...

And, as side note, I've decided to give up on tracking my training log. There are too many spreadsheets I have to continuously update that adding this one just wasn't working out (as if you couldn't tell - the last time I updated it was 2/16). Sorry!

Strange

Hey All (its Justin...we've been asked to identify who's writing)-

So in my attempts to convince Liz moving South would be a good idea (which it would be!) I usually roll through the usual pros and cons of the North and South. The South is friendlier, cheaper, newer, better weather but is also more commercialized- everything is a chain-, not as aesthetic/quaint as New England, and there's a lot of sprawl...no good public transportation and no walking. The North is expensive, old, unfriendly, COLD but it also historic/quaint, lots of jobs, typically easy to get around and its where we've called home for a combined 33 years. I could go on but I'll leave it to these basic stereotypes.

This past weekend is finally making me start to question the kindness aspect of my argument. Being in Boston has added a little burliness to my personality but unprovoked I usually still say hi to strangers, wave to passing bikers, and offer help to those that look like they need it.

In my post a couple of weeks ago, I unfortunately ate some asphalt while down in Atlanta and despite biking on a busy sidewalk and next to a busy road, no one offered helped or stopped to see if I'd get up. Not sure what I expected but I was expecting something...

This past weekend, Liz and I were all set to do a 4 hour, approximate 60 mile ride through the Mass towns of Concord, Weston, and Lincoln...for those that don't know Mass well these towns are known to be very snobby and upscale. Great places to bike because the scenery is beautiful and the drivers are scared to get their BMWs too close to your bike (somewhat similiar to Ridgefield). Around mile 40 Liz got her second flat of the day and that was enough to deplete our repair supplies. She was able to hobble another 4 miles to Main Street Concord but it was still 16 miles from our car (it was now 7:30, pitch dark, and dropping into the low 30's).

As we're trying to figure out the best way to get back to our car with the bikes, an older gentleman came by and started talking to us. After some brainstorming the man came straight out and offered the keys to his car while he ate dinner down the road. For the record, I TRUST NO ONE...this was weird. Didn't help that his name is definitely a male porn star name (since he was nice and I found it was his real name, I'll leave it out of the post). After much convincing, Liz and I went to the car expecting a POS but instead were treated to a Lexus SUV.

The entire ride to our car Liz and I were waiting for the police to show up and arrest us for grand theft auto or something. To our surprise, we got to our car unaccosted and eventually returned his keys while him and his wife were having drinks at the restaurant. He wouldn't accept anything besides thanks and a promise to pass along the favor to someone else (very "Pay It Forward" though I'd still never loan my car to a stranger).

When we got home, I got a little "stalkerish" and googled his name (also knew where he worked from our conversation). To my surprise, I was able to find a lot on him...apparently he's quite the philanthropist (works with the homeless), policital (lots of donations), and well off (a SVP at a major investment firm)- WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED THIS GUY WOULD BE NICE, MAYBE EVEN TOO TRUSTING!

So until I walk out the door today and bump into the usual A'hole, I'll have to admit some yankees aren't so bad...

What'd we do this past weekend?

(Liz here!) This past weekend turned out to be a great weekend weather-wise. Sunny and “warm” both days. We took the road bikes out on Saturday for a 50 mile ride through the surrounding towns of Walden Pond and saw lots of other bikers out. It was nice to see everyone back at it.

Sunday, Boston celebrated St. Patty’s day, a holiday neither of us celebrates, but we decided to take the road bikes out for the cooler of the two days on an easy leisure ride along the Harbor Walk, which leads you through Southie, where the St. Patty’s day parade was. There were tons of people out, and it was great seeing everyone having a good time, enjoying the day and nice weather. I am really looking forward to the spring and summer, if you couldn’t tell! On our way home we stopped for some quick seafood at a local restaurant which is always delicious… and we each might have had a piece of cornbread, too (yum!).

The last two weeks I’ve been slacking. I haven’t been motivated to workout and the new nutrition plan has gotten me down. I miss eating whatever I want whenever I want. We slipped big time this past weekend and got a good yelling at from Rachel who was not happy to see our food logs on Monday morning. I was in recovery week last week but because I didn’t feel like I had anything to recover from, I upped my workouts and did an hours worth of workouts each day. I didn’t want to do too much as the next two weeks are longer hours and I didn’t want to tire myself too soon. This week, I’m back at it. Eating is back on the “core” diet and I got a great strength ride and long swim in yesterday. Tonight we do a long run – 2.5 hrs! Thankfully, it’s 60 degrees out, which only motivates me more to get out the door and run! I’m hoping this newly found motivation sticks with me…

JoJo LOVES YOU!

When in doubt, never forget:

(This store window brought a smile to our faces while on a walk in Boston)