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Transition Runs!

Race time is here!!!! By now athletes have logged countless miles cycling/running, and yards in the pool building up for this season. Often the small details of racing are not practiced or forgotten within training plans and now is a perfect time to implement them…So on to the transition run!

On your next tempo run, wear the shoes that you plan on racing in. If you don’t plan on wearing socks on race day, then don’t for this tempo run. Shoes will feel different without socks, and come race day it will be horrible if your hard training efforts over the winter are ruined by a painful blister.

If you notice a “hot spot” or rubbing, there are a few products on the market that can help. The first is to apply an anti-chaffing product like TRISLIDE to the inside of the shoe where the rubbing takes place. You can also spray your feet at the beginning of the event, but I highly recommend the shoes–so maybe apply to both.

Some athletes have found purchasing some moleskin and putting a small piece inside the upper of the shoe also helps. This product works well with shoes that are not smooth on the inside and have stitching that rubs. If you make any adjustments, make sure to try them out again before race day.

Adding some powder inside the shoe will also…

Categories: Triathlons
Tags: Running, Training, TRISLIDE

3/14/2011

triathlete

GPS Coordinates

39.4616432,-87.4072266

Avi-Bolt II Review

I am really impressed with this shoe! I guess I should start by saying that like most people I’m a little nervous when it comes to change, especially when it comes to equipment or gear, but Avia made a great shoe with the Avia-Bolt II (and it’s on sale!!). It fits like a glove and offers the right amount of cushion, breathe-ability, and performance that athletes expect from their shoes. The shoes are exceptionally light at 8.5oz and for a guy just under 6 foot weighing 175lbs, a traditional “race flat” doesn’t always offer the padding I need for long course racing and my joints can really feel it. The air mesh upper allows for your feet to stay cool when pounding the pavement hard. This feature also allows for some of the weight that would normally be on the top of the shoe to be in the sole and cushioning.

Avia uses a guidance scale which takes into account arch type and pronation. Click here to learn more about this scale. These shoes are a “1″ on the Avia Degree of Guidance.

The black material has some shine to it which looks super awesome while you run, and is reflective in low-light conditions.

The shoe offers Avi-Grip heel and tongue, which at first I thought might rub, but because of the fantastic liner, there are no issues. This grip will allow for…

Categories: Athletes, Product Reviews, Running, Triathlons
Tags: avi-bolt II, avi-bolt III, avia, rev3, ryan oilar, trakkers

1/26/2011

triathlete

GPS Coordinates

Terre Haute, IN

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comment

My little girl is in the hospital

Allie watching her mommy race.

As a parent, you don’t ever want to be told that there is anything medically wrong with your kids. Now, we don’t have two-legged kids, but have Murphey & Allie, a chocolate lab and golden retriever. And yes, they are our kids!!! They have birthday parties, Christmas stockings, cook-outs, invite friends to stay the night, stay the night with their friends, play, etc…

Allie and her brother Murphey cuddling

I’ve had Allie since college and she was always a riot to have around! She loved the volleyball pit at the fraternity house and looked forward to the year end Pi Kappa Alpha party “Luau” held just before finals in the Spring each year. During the bigger parties, I would put a hiking backpack (specific for dogs) on her and stuff it full of beer. She’d walk around the party being every one’s friend….and magically my beer would disappear, but she loved all the attention!

Today Emily took Murphey for his acupuncture appointment and had the vet look at Allie’s bump on her hip. We had the vet look at it before and they thought it was just a fatty cell, but now it’s larger-much larger. Anyway, the vet said they rate tumors on a scale of 1-3, with 3 being the most aggressive. He believed this to be a 3. So the decision was to leave Allie at the hospital

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Categories: Family & Friends

12/21/2010

triathlete

GPS Coordinates

Terre Haute, IN

Trakkers 2011!!

The complete team will be announced shortly for 2011!!! From the sounds of things, the pros and the age-group teams are going to be crazy awesome!!!!!

Check back soon….for the announcement!!

Categories: Athletes, Team

12/3/2010

triathlete

GPS Coordinates

Terre Haute, IN

Holiday Gift Ideas For Your Athlete

It’s that time of year, and if you are still looking for some great ideas that are relatively inexpensive AND that will be used and appreciated by the athlete in your life, “here are a few of my favorite things….”

The Cateye Double Wireless is great! It’s sleek, easy to use, and if I can set it up, anyone can. Doing low cadence-strength training sessions or fast spinning drills? Now you can ensure that you are pedaling at that cadence with this device. The computer easily attaches to your stem, but if you have aerobars, you may want to pick up the Profile Design Universal Computer Mount. Another added benefit to this model is the magnet is connected to your rear wheel, so you are able to still monitor your distance and speed while riding on indoor trainers!

It’s winter in the northern hemisphere!!! That means dry skin, especially if you happen to go outdoors. I have super sensitive skin, and HATE lotions that are heavy and greasy. Zia makes an oil-free lotion that will keep your face moisturized throughout the season, without causing breakouts for sensitive dudes like me.

Winter time means swimming inside! This means lots of chlorine, which is hard on your hair and skin. That’s where TRISWIM comes in! Their products of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotions work to remove the harsh chlorine and eliminate that crazy odor. For

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Categories: Product Reviews, Tips
Tags: all3sports, rev3, tri-slide, Tri-Swim

11/11/2010

triathlete

Getting to the start line is a challenge

GPS Coordinates

Terre Haute, IN

Getting to the start line is a challenge

We loaded up on Tuesday, election day, and headed to the polls to do our duty….I figure if you don’t participate, then you can’t complain….So, after Emily and I cast our ballots just shortly after 6am we headed south to Panama City Beach, Florida for the race.

I am not the most organized person, but when it comes to race stuff, I get pretty freaked out when I can’t find things. A tad type A???? Perhaps. Nutritional items being one of them, so I thought I’d share how I pack all the goods. I just use an empty shoe box and fill it. It works great because everything is together, the box is strong enough it won’t get squished, and I don’t get gooey stuff on my clothes. Ever put on a race kit that has sticky gel stuff all over it….? Yummy!!!

This was during a time when this crazy cold front blew the jet stream down and the entire middle of the country was cold! We made it about 2 hours south when, “BOOOOM!!!!!!” I ran over something, but didn’t really think much of it. Well, turns out I shouldn’t be trying to take my sweat shirt off while driving; the low tire pressure light came on and CRAP! I had a flat tire!

For those of you that know me personally, you know I am no Bob Villa or mechanic. As a matter of

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Categories: Triathlons

11/5/2010

triathlete

GPS Coordinates

Terre Haute, IN

Happy Halloween!!

I love Halloween!!!! The scary, the goblins and ghouls, haunted houses and jack-o-lanterns, but this year I was a little disappointed with the my neighborhood.

I think I live in a pretty typical subdivision with houses and kids, friendly neighbors, etc. but not very many people handed out treats…and not very many kids came around. What the..?

The time that had been set for going house to house was 6pm-9pm by the elected peeps and I think that’s fine, but my wife and I noticed some of our neighbors had their porch lights off during that time (the sign to little ones that no body is handing out candy) and then just like clockwork, at the stroke of 9pm, their porch lights came on. What the hell??? Not like we are the nosey neighbor type, it was just pretty obvious because there were so few houses handing out candy. Some of these people even have kids or are grandparents.

Anyway, Emily and I have don’t have any two legged kids, just the fuzzy four-legged ones and we were pretty disappointed with the turnout and the participation in our hood. I know some think Halloween is the crazy satanic holiday, and if that’s you, checkout the History Channel’s take…..

For those little goblins, dinosaurs, ladybugs, baseball and football players, and princesses who stopped by our house and said, “Trick or Treat!” please remember that we gave a treat and I’d

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Categories: Triathlons

10/22/2010

triathlete

GPS Coordinates

39.4616432,-87.4072266

Saucony AMP Pro Recovery Tight

If you’ve looked around in our sport, you’ve noticed this trend of compression. Compression shorts and especially compression socks. There are all sorts of companies claiming the benefits and importance of compression socks, and to be quite honest, I’ve been a bit of a skeptic and not very fond of the new fashion statement. They kind of remind me of the tube socks of the ’80s pulled up, or the leg warmers of the Jazzercise era…but science says it works. While I still may not be a fan of sporting the socks with shorts, I have become a fan of compression.

Saucony has released a new line of compression and it is amazing!! As of now, you won’t be seeing me in the compression materials walking around or racing, but I’ll wear them under clothes for recovery. I’ve been hitting some pretty big training blocks the last few weeks in my preparation for Ironman Florida, and have been sleeping in the Saucony AMP Pro Recovery Tights.

Since, I’ve gone to sleep with tired legs only to wake refreshed and ready for another big training day. When trying to decide on a size, if you are at the lower end of one size, you may want to go ahead and size down. When I first tried these on, I though my legs were going to get really hot, but they actually breath pretty well.

The video below from Saucony will…

Categories: Product Reviews, Tips, Training, Triathlons, Videos
Tags: compression, recovery, saucony, trakkers

9/30/2010

triathlete

GPS Coordinates

Sandusky, OH

Cedar Point–Ultimate Rev3 Venue!!

The last race of the Rev3 series for 2010….

The day before the race, First Endurance VP of science and technology & nutritional guru, Robert Kunz stopped by the Trakkers booth to increase our knowledge. I felt like Luke when he first meets Yoda…a bit lost, but after some “training” Robert really helped to explain the science behind their products and why they are important to endurance athletes.

Soon after I took this picture, Robert made the FE water bottle levitate with his mind!!!!

After our nutritional session, some of the Trakkers team decided to hit the roller coasters!!! Seriously, a person wouldn’t come to Cedar Point without hitting the rides….plus…for all the athletes, the park was included. That’s some serious bad ass SWAG!!

Some team peeps before we took to the rides!

On our first ride, I thought it would be cool to bust out the phone and snap some pics…….then as I was taking the picture a voice from the heavens (or the speaker box) shouted, “Please put away your cameras and video recording devices!!! It is a crime to film a ride in the state of Ohio!!” Oopsie, busted…..but luckily, I didn’t have to go to jail that day.

What goes up, must come down!!

The race site really was awesome and Emily was a riot on the rides!! Her face would get completely white and

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Categories: Events, Race Reports
Tags: cedar point, rev3 cedar point

7/26/2010

triathlete

GPS Coordinates

39.4616432,-87.4072266

Don’t Drink The Water!!!

This last weekend I was getting ready for a long ride on my TT bike and was feeling a bit lazy about taking off the Speedfil bottle that had been on there for about a week. I used it last weekend in the Evergreen triathlon with my rocket fuel (EFS & PreRace) mixture, and then went on two other rides early in the week, and just added some water to it with out cleaning it out….ya you see where this is going!

So, on Saturday I gear up, air up the tires, and see that I still have some liquid in the bottle….hmmmm? It’s been in the garage with this 90+ degree weather we’ve been having, and as I’m airing up the tires, I catch a hint of rotten milk…..

Of course I stick my nose down to the straw to see if that nastiness is coming from my water bottle and YUP it is! But like a dumb ass, I decide I must taste the fluid to see if it’s really bad, or just smells.

It was bad!!! Really bad!!! With just the small gulp that I had in my mouth, I could feel chunks in the water….yummy!! I removed the cover to look inside the bottle and there was a tropical rain forest growing in it. I started gaging at the smell and then threw up the water I just swallowed. The smell…oh the smell, it was…