Today marks three weeks in Germany. And in my quest to figure out how to train properly, I have been to 4 different pools so far. I've learned inportant things, like the difference between "freibad" (outdoor) and "hallenbad" (indoor) pools, as well as how to navigate the locker rooms. I was assuming that the pools would be similar to the ones in Poland. I was incorrect.
I went to pool #1 on the first Sunday here. I was pretty pumped...it was the closest one and had a 50m pool. So after a 2+ mile walk, I get there to find that the 50m pool is roped into two 25m sections to allow diving, meaning that there isn't even a wall on the far side. And the shallower section is filled with small children, so it was like swimming in a minefield. After swimming about 500m, I trudged home, discouraged.
Pool #2 involved taking the post shuttle bus to another kaserne and then walking about a kilometer. Except I got lost, so it wound up taking about 45 minutes to get there. But once I did, the front desk lady was very helpful, and the pool itself is pretty good. At least this one had lane markers!
Pool #3 required me to take a taxi. Not that it was far, but it was a bit long to walk and would have involved about 50 minutes on the bus. Also a nice facility, but their lane setup was a bit bizarre. They had double-width lanes, meaning that there was a legitimate passing lane in the center. Unfortunately, there were still people doing the breaststroke in the "schnellbahn." Breast stroke seems to be the default method of swimming here.
I drove to pool #4, now that I have a car. There were basically no lane markers here. At one point, there were so many people in our half of the pool that I had to wedge myself between two other swimmers and had to repeatedly avoid head-on collisions with one lady doing a stroke I can only describe as "backwards flail." I cannot tell you how many times I considered cutting this workout short, but I ultimately finished.
On Monday, I'm going to swim with a local tri club, who has lanes reserved in the evenings. I am really hoping that this will be a better situation...but stay tuned.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Working out in transit
For the past month or so, we've been nomadic. I choose to use that word since it has a better connotation than "homeless." But same thing -- living at hotels or crashing with family/friends. I miss the convenience of my bike trainer being available 24/7 or knowing where the good run routes are. But that isn't an excuse to not work out.
My bike is currently packed up and in transit with the rest of our stuff, but running and swimming are great options. Compared to cycling, the amount of equipment needed for these is minimal, which is great when you also have an airline weight restriction.
Swimming:
Sure, you need a pool. Usually hotel pools aren't meant for swimming laps. But Swimmers Guide is a great resource for finding local pools. And swimming wins in the "least packing space required" award.
Running:
Unless you're smack dab in the middle of an industrial area, running is probably your most reliable option. I was trying to come with a list of all the countries I've run in; I think I'm up to nine (US, Poland, UK, Estonia, Sweden, France, Austria, Germany, Ukraine.) I haven't been able to find a good program that will map all my GPS locations on a broad scale.
Here are some helpful tips I've discovered:
1. A GPS is a big help. Plan out your runs and load them so you know where you're going. (A handjammed map will get sweaty.) And please set your home location before you set out. I would still be stuck in rural France if I didn't do this.
2. People in some areas will look at you like you are crazy. Ignore them.
3. Running is a great way to get a "once over" orientation to an area. Then you can focus your touristy time better!
Crosstraining:
Maybe the weather is too cold/hot/wet for running. If your hotel has a fitness center, this might be the best choice. But beware, not all fitness centers are created the same. One hotel we stayed at recently had a 15 year old stairmaster and a recumbent bike with the resistance permanently set at the max. So I'd advise checking it out before assuming that you can do your workout there. Maybe you'll decide it isn't too cold/hot/wet outside.
Happy travels!
My bike is currently packed up and in transit with the rest of our stuff, but running and swimming are great options. Compared to cycling, the amount of equipment needed for these is minimal, which is great when you also have an airline weight restriction.
Swimming:
Sure, you need a pool. Usually hotel pools aren't meant for swimming laps. But Swimmers Guide is a great resource for finding local pools. And swimming wins in the "least packing space required" award.
Running:
Unless you're smack dab in the middle of an industrial area, running is probably your most reliable option. I was trying to come with a list of all the countries I've run in; I think I'm up to nine (US, Poland, UK, Estonia, Sweden, France, Austria, Germany, Ukraine.) I haven't been able to find a good program that will map all my GPS locations on a broad scale.
Here are some helpful tips I've discovered:
1. A GPS is a big help. Plan out your runs and load them so you know where you're going. (A handjammed map will get sweaty.) And please set your home location before you set out. I would still be stuck in rural France if I didn't do this.
2. People in some areas will look at you like you are crazy. Ignore them.
3. Running is a great way to get a "once over" orientation to an area. Then you can focus your touristy time better!
Crosstraining:
Maybe the weather is too cold/hot/wet for running. If your hotel has a fitness center, this might be the best choice. But beware, not all fitness centers are created the same. One hotel we stayed at recently had a 15 year old stairmaster and a recumbent bike with the resistance permanently set at the max. So I'd advise checking it out before assuming that you can do your workout there. Maybe you'll decide it isn't too cold/hot/wet outside.
Happy travels!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Farewell to Kansas!
We are on our way to a new adventure: three years in Europe! As excited as I am to go back, there is always the problem of assembling a new "team." So as a list for others in the Leavenworth area, here are the outstanding people who were critical to my success last season.
Leavenworth Triathlon Club
Bob and George welcomed me in with open arms and were a great source of encouragement, information, and inspiration. I really enjoyed the monthly meetings with such a wonderful group of friends. I could have totally used a club like this when I was starting out in triathlons. Bob Garven was my coach for the 2012 season and definitely one of the reasons for my great results.
Santa Fe Trails Bike Shop
The group rides were a great way to get to know people and improve my cycling at the same time! I credit Brendan for encouraging me to join the race team, where I discovered that crits are great training and cycling races are blissfully low-key. Lamont and Lance were awesome mechanics who were always looking out for my ride and helping me when I got a little too into maintenance. They have set a high bar for what an LBS should be...
Deenise Thorsen at Body Kneads
I came to realize the value of preventative maintenance massages when I was in Poland, where my massage guy was really effective, but lacking in atmosphere. So I was so happy to find Deenise, who was just as effective, but with a very relaxing room in her house out in the country. She also shares many of the same culinary tastes as me and has been an excellent resource for homeopathic remedies. Going to her was a win, win, win situation.
Dr. Walters at Mid-America Chiropractic
Another smart idea was setting up regular chiropractic work every few weeks. Dr. Walters did a great job of noticing what had changed over time and getting me straightened out. Since the aero position is not one found in nature, it makes sense to have someone who can unfold you as necessary.
Dr. Shonkwiler at Spine and Sport Physical Therapy
It was kind of a hike to go out to St. Joseph, but Dr. Fred made it worth it. After our various discussions about posture and mechanics, I have a new appreciation for the importance of technique and body position. They got me back on the road after my (first) bike crash so I didn't miss the rest of the 2011 season.
Mike at BikefitRX
I've mentioned Mike before in my AAA#1, but I still think he's pretty great.
So thank you to every who supported/helped/encouraged/cheered for me during my time at Leavenworth. I will miss all of you!
Leavenworth Triathlon Club
Bob and George welcomed me in with open arms and were a great source of encouragement, information, and inspiration. I really enjoyed the monthly meetings with such a wonderful group of friends. I could have totally used a club like this when I was starting out in triathlons. Bob Garven was my coach for the 2012 season and definitely one of the reasons for my great results.
Santa Fe Trails Bike Shop
The group rides were a great way to get to know people and improve my cycling at the same time! I credit Brendan for encouraging me to join the race team, where I discovered that crits are great training and cycling races are blissfully low-key. Lamont and Lance were awesome mechanics who were always looking out for my ride and helping me when I got a little too into maintenance. They have set a high bar for what an LBS should be...
Deenise Thorsen at Body Kneads
I came to realize the value of preventative maintenance massages when I was in Poland, where my massage guy was really effective, but lacking in atmosphere. So I was so happy to find Deenise, who was just as effective, but with a very relaxing room in her house out in the country. She also shares many of the same culinary tastes as me and has been an excellent resource for homeopathic remedies. Going to her was a win, win, win situation.
Dr. Walters at Mid-America Chiropractic
Another smart idea was setting up regular chiropractic work every few weeks. Dr. Walters did a great job of noticing what had changed over time and getting me straightened out. Since the aero position is not one found in nature, it makes sense to have someone who can unfold you as necessary.
Dr. Shonkwiler at Spine and Sport Physical Therapy
It was kind of a hike to go out to St. Joseph, but Dr. Fred made it worth it. After our various discussions about posture and mechanics, I have a new appreciation for the importance of technique and body position. They got me back on the road after my (first) bike crash so I didn't miss the rest of the 2011 season.
Mike at BikefitRX
I've mentioned Mike before in my AAA#1, but I still think he's pretty great.
So thank you to every who supported/helped/encouraged/cheered for me during my time at Leavenworth. I will miss all of you!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Going out in a blaze of glory...
Well, Redman was about 4 weeks ago. Perfect conditions, great course, tough competition, this race had it all. Except that I didn't finish.
To make a long story short, I went over my handlebars at an aid station around mile 11. (I was probably going too fast, but I don't remember exactly what happened.) I woke up in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with a concussion and some intravetricular bleeding.
I had a few minor scrapes, but no other problems. My helmet was toast, but my bike and wheels were fine. Louis Garneau did give me a replacement helmet for free, which is surprising considering that the product is "meant" to be used.
I am now allowed to do the following for exercise: 1) walk and 2) ride the trainer for no more than 30 minutes at a time. Quite a change from my previous training regimen. So I have lots of spare time on my hands now.
But it was the end of a very successful season, so I'm very thankful that I was generally OK and can give myself the time to recover. Big thanks to the Redman volunteers for their quick thinking!
(One side note on the Redman race itself: If you live anywhere near Oklahoma City and want a half or full IM event, you should consider this one. This was the first race I have done twice. Well run, but a lot less stress that the WTC events and you don't need to sign up a year in advance.)
To make a long story short, I went over my handlebars at an aid station around mile 11. (I was probably going too fast, but I don't remember exactly what happened.) I woke up in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with a concussion and some intravetricular bleeding.
I had a few minor scrapes, but no other problems. My helmet was toast, but my bike and wheels were fine. Louis Garneau did give me a replacement helmet for free, which is surprising considering that the product is "meant" to be used.
I am now allowed to do the following for exercise: 1) walk and 2) ride the trainer for no more than 30 minutes at a time. Quite a change from my previous training regimen. So I have lots of spare time on my hands now.
But it was the end of a very successful season, so I'm very thankful that I was generally OK and can give myself the time to recover. Big thanks to the Redman volunteers for their quick thinking!
(One side note on the Redman race itself: If you live anywhere near Oklahoma City and want a half or full IM event, you should consider this one. This was the first race I have done twice. Well run, but a lot less stress that the WTC events and you don't need to sign up a year in advance.)
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Totally worth it...
The trek to Vegas was fraught with peril -- my pedals and skewers fell out of my bike case at the KC airport and then the hotel didn't have my reservation. Yikes! But I was lucky that the Ravella (which is a fabulous hotel, by the way) still had rooms available. And JT's Bicycles in Henderson carries Speedplay Zeroes. Crises averted.
Here's my bike setup, complete with the necessary replacement parts:
But getting to the start line healthy and then surviving 70.3 miles on a brutally hot course has it's rewards.
Here's my bike setup, complete with the necessary replacement parts:
But getting to the start line healthy and then surviving 70.3 miles on a brutally hot course has it's rewards.
Sure, the giant finisher's medal was cool. (Look at that thing -- it's like a boxing title belt!)
But I have to admit that my picture with Faris has to be the highlight.
Anything that cools you down is also a big plus. The people manning the hoses and aid stations deserve sainthood.
(They were polite enough to check that people wanted to be sprayed down. My response was usually "bring it!")
What a great experience -- incredible competitors, a challenging course, and a great result. Can't really ask for more.
Next stop: Oklahoma City for my last race of the season, Redman Half!
Monday, August 20, 2012
An unlikely breakfast
People usually wonder what I eat before races. My usual routine is baked sweet potatoes at 3 hours before race time. They're especially good with tahini, or almond butter, or cinnamon.
But since I've got three out of town races in September, this could have thrown a wrench in my plans. So before today's race, I tested out my brilliant idea:
Baby food.
Specifically, two jars of Gerber #3 sweet potatoes. 120 cals, 25g carbs, and 3g of fiber each. Don't need refrigeration and travel friendly.
Granted, not the most enjoyable breakfast, but it worked great. That is a huge relief!
But since I've got three out of town races in September, this could have thrown a wrench in my plans. So before today's race, I tested out my brilliant idea:
Baby food.
Specifically, two jars of Gerber #3 sweet potatoes. 120 cals, 25g carbs, and 3g of fiber each. Don't need refrigeration and travel friendly.
Granted, not the most enjoyable breakfast, but it worked great. That is a huge relief!
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