Thought i'd do a blog entry about a few odds and ends -
Have been meaning for a while to put on my blog some info about podcasts I listen to from itunes.
Triathlon/ultra/swimming/running/swimming/cycling –
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Age Grouper – triathlon couple of age groupers
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Simplystu – high energy triathlon podcast
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Zen and the art of triathlon – Brett – easy going
guy from texas, brilliant podcast; guy just chats away about his life and
sprinkles in odd stuff about triathlon and other bits and pieces he gets up
too. Even if you’re not fitness person, I would recommend, my favourite!
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Ultradad – self explanatory
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Ultrarunner – bit highbrow / serious /
interviews ect with proper elite runners
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Trail runner nation – as above
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Endurance Planet – 2nd favourite. Anything
endurance related, loads of interviews and inspirational stories etc. since new
owner taken over ‘ben greenfield’ more nutrition focused with more adverts,
however still very good. If downloading try to download the early episodes from
creator ‘Kevin’ some great episodes
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Training bible coaching – very techy
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Tri swim coach - techy
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Fredcast – cycling news
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Phedippidations – prob a joint 2nd
favourite , average joe runner, very easy going
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Quadrathon – English bloke now living in America,
average joe, easy listening
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Run the ultras
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Running with the pack- couple of age groupers –
good
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Get your geek on – they don’t podcast anymore,
but this is one of my first triathlon podcasts I listened to. Worth downloading
old episodes if you can for inspiration
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100mileultrarunning
‘Do’ drink and run
When relying on fluid intake over long runs I usually do
a pre drop off, of a bottle somewhere usually for when I pass by. Eg leave a
bottle in plastic bag in hedges at a ten mile point into a fifteen mile run. I have
done it this way for two reasons, I really dislike carrying bottles in my hand
and also I still haven’t got to the stage where I really need a hydration pack
to run with as I rarely do long runs. Also I never really thought it was too
much hassle to leave a bottle in hedge enroute to my starting point. Despite this
I have always had a fear if a dog or a rat or something wee’d or something on
the bottle. Also one time on a long run the bottle was lifted and put in nearby
bin before I got to it and I suffered due to no fluid intake. I decided I would
try this new product by camelbak. Its pretty good as the way it works is that
your natural hand position whilst running naturally closes slightly thus
holding the grip, so you don’t actively have to tense your fingers as in normal
carrying of a bottle. To be honest I didn’t really think it would work that
well, though I have taken it out and tested it and it works a treat. I heard on
an ultrarunning podcast a guy runs with two of these. One with energy drink,
the other hand bottle just plain water, thus he take a sip from each when
running. The other thing he said was that if he falls when running, the bottles
actually act as a kind of protection from hurting his hands when running.
New bike - Trek
Hopefully this bike will do me a fair few yrs and im
looking forward to getting good use out of it. I will continue to use the Giant
bike for commuting etc but the Trek will be more training specific.
Unfortunately I had bad experience one day after getting
bike. Within 20 mins of taking it out up the Carryduff Ballynahinch road I began
testing out the rear brake for the first time. Immediately when doing this the
rear end spun out from under me and I had fall. Cut my leg and hand a bit.
Was a bit of a scare at the time and I wasn’t best
pleased at the various scuff damage caused to the bike. I later took it back to
the bike shop but they said that there was no faults with the bike. After shop
staff advised that they could not find anything wrong with bike and Trek rep
would be reluctant to assist.
After all this feedback I was told I could collect the
bike again but there was no reason that they would be replacing my bike as in
their opinion there was nothing wrong with it.
I agreed then reluctantly to collect bike the next day.
Before I finished the call I asked them to take bike out themselves for a test
run on the road instead of merely looking over the bike in the shop itself. The
mechanic advised that he could do this for me. Half an hour later the shop
advised that yes the back end did spin out for them too when testing on the
road itself.
After this the bike mechanic ended up loosening the cable
and advising me from now on to use both brakes at same time to avoid same
happening again. I tested the bike again after getting it back. Unfortunately the
rear wheel when the rear brake is applied still spins out dangerously. Seems a
bit strange for this to happen so I will continue to test out and see if I need
to ask about it again in first service check in about a month’s time.
Apart from this problem the bikes a dream to ride and
feels a lot more responsive and lighter, thus capable of higher speeds I predict.
Still, I have only been on it a couple of times in last week so early days and
hopefully in future I can give it a better review.
Garmin 410 Review
Got the Garmin forrunner 410 a while back. It’s my first
GPS heart rate monitor. It has a lot of features for biking and running
including the cool virtual partner function, but it is also garmins first
effort at a touch bezel interface. To be honest its not that user friendly and a
lot of work when your switching from one thing to another and you have a lot of
ups and down movements using bezel which half the time doesn’t work or you end
up getting lost in the numerous menu fields. The main good thing going for it
is the GPS function as opposed to my previous footpod sensor I used before it. The
problem with the footpod is that its not as accurate as I would like it to be. The
FR60/70 for example may say I did a 11.5 miler when the GPS may say I did 10
miles. Ok, I may be a bit of a fuss pot, but I like to be accurate. A couple of
other probs is you practically need to recharge the 410 watch to your computer
after every couple of runs as battery life is poor and also it can take a
minute or so to find a satellite when all you want is to start running and your
patiently waiting for satellite to be found outside. I would advise others if
getting their first garmin, not to get this model and to go with the FR60 which
was the first one I used for a couple of yrs. Although not 100 percent
accurate, I think it was more accurate than the FR70 if going for a push button type monitor. I loved
it as my first HRM. The only reason I started to upgrade is because I wanted a
HRM to use with bike and also could use for future interval pacing.
Talking of pacing, I did my first test of lactate tests
for running and swimming.
I will do a test for biking soon and work out my zones
then I will start to look into how I use these training zones to apply for
training. To date I still just basically just go for a swim/bike or run with no
interval training whatso ever. I never push myself when running and average HR
is about 165 when running and I only do 20 or 30 laps when going swimming. As for
biking, I have never really tested speed as road cycling clubs would do the
likes of time trials. That’s not to say maybe in the future I might join a
cycling or running club.
In addition to the garmin I would also use my trusty
iphone for workouts. The phone is pretty good when running as u can listen to
music with or without headphones and a very good app I use is ‘Mapmyfitness’
app which is gps cycling/running monitor which you can upload to website post
workouts and review. Pretty good especially as you can look at the maps online
like mapmyrun website.
As we are approaching the end of summer and soon the
darker evening will be drawing in I came across this reflective vest in Lidl
for £4 and thought it might come in handy. Its quite reflective; photos with
and without flash to show effect –
Books
Listened to decent audiobook recently ‘Lance – its not about the bike’
It was pretty short read and I was reading it at the time
big Lance was stripped of his tour title. Its a good book and in it he talks
about his cancer struggle and then briefly talks about his entry into
competitive biking finishing with his first tour win. Whether he is a drug cheat
or not, I don’t really care too much as I don’t follow cycling, but I do
recognise him as a cancer campaigner champion primarily
If getting into triathlon, this book is a lot better that
I expected. Bestseller for newbe triathletes. About a normal bloke Andy getting
into triathlons and his journey to becoming an ironman. Great fun to read,
quite funny and down to earth kind of guy, well written and he has a decent
facebook page which I now follow as well.
Went down to Dublin recently to pick up a book from some
woman selling books
Yes! I met the amazing Chrissie Wellington! It was a great inspirational talk she gave and is a true ambassador to the sport and for women generally on what can be achieved. The crazy thing she pretty much talks about her OCD complex when it comes to training. She trains herself into the ground, then trains some more and then after all the training she goes crazy analysing any weakspots on her training. She appears to be very hard on herself and thus is probably one of the most determined sports athletes out there. The other thing about her is after consistently winning every ironman race she enters (by huge margin / no Olympic torso finish photoshoot needed for Chrissie) Chrissie then decides to jack in triathlon and go and so some international development work that she was involved in before triathlon came along. The reason..because now she has can use her newfound status as (famous) athlete to promote worthwhile project work in developing countries. Hats off to Chrissie!
As for what iv done training wise since last event not
much. The odd run 4 or 6 milers usually with a couple of ten milers. My next
door neighbour Neil did well doing his bit on this year’s Marathon relay and
recently asked could he do a few training runs with him so I have been doing
the odd 4 miler around Carryduff with Neil. Have so say this is first time
having a running partner and its good craic and can make the run go faster as
we chat away on our runs.
No plans as of yet as what events to do next. Me and
Caroline kept busy with our new wee addition of beautiful Aimee Elizabeth born
3 August 7 lbs 7. She is adorable and has already been told by daddy that when
she grows up she is going to be out running with me, whether she likes it or
not J
Until next time.. catch up later and enjoy being out
there tp://facebook.com/
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