Filles de Fer

I just noticed that someone found this blahg via a Google search for “my butt hurts from cycling.”

Me too, friend. Me too.

It’s almost November, which means
(a) It’s starting to get cold outside.
(b) There are 9 months left until the Spirit of Racine Triathlon.
(c) It’s NaBloPoMo time.
(d) All of the above.

Ok, the real answer is (d), but this post is mostly my way of saying that I’ll be participating in NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month. Every day during the month of November, there will be a new post!

This morning, I actually clipped in and tried out my new road bike on the streets. I was secretly hoping that I would have a naturally perfect sense of balance, but I’m not that lucky - I fell 3 times. I’m ok with clipping in and riding…it’s just the clipping out that’s a problem. I need to pay more attention to where my feet are, and not clip out when my right foot is way up at the top. At least I fell onto a pile of leaves instead of plain pavement!

I’ve decided that my bike’s name is Trixie. She’s pink, expensive, and causes trouble.

The newest issue of Triathlete magazine has a great article about cycling gear for beginners (it’s on p164 of the November 2007 issue, in case you care to read it). Was it coincidence that I picked up this magazine while I was on my little cycle-spree at Performance? Let’s take a look at Tech Support’s recommendations, and see how I’m doing…

Safety

Helmet – I’ve got one. It’s not fancy, it wasn’t expensive, but it fits and it’s functional. Could I buy a better helmet? Sure. That’s for later, when I haven’t just bought a new bike.
Glasses – Negator. I really need a pair. I like Cap’s Nike glasses, but that’s another purchase that’s being set aside for next payday.
Lights – I don’t have these yet, but I won’t be doing any night riding anytime soon. The goal right now is to get comfortable on the bike, and that will be happening during daylight hours.

Fitting

Lucky for me, I know some kids who really love bikes, and who know what to look for in terms of fit. While I was practicing clipping in and out of my new pedals, Foss made some adjustments and the bike is a great fit. Ideally, I’ll get some narrower handlebars soon – I’m only 5 feet tall, so even the women-specific bars are a little wide for my short arms. I’m also looking into getting a shorter stem, but with narrower handlebars, the current stem height is just fine. I think I’ll know what I need after a few rides.

Clipless pedals and shoes

Pedals – Got ‘em. My pedals are Forte Carve MTB. Mountain bike pedals, but that makes sense given the shoes I got. They’re multi-release pedals, and I’m pretty comfortable clipping in and out of them so far. Sure, they’re not pink, but style points come later
Shoes – I bought these along with my pedals/cleats. I’m kind of in love with my new cycling shoes. They’re Pearl Izumi Vagabond M4 women’s shoes. Technically, they’re mountain bike shoes, but I chose them because the thicker tread makes them easier to walk in (with the cleats on) than the other shoes I tried on. I really like that cycling shoes come in European sizes – these ones are a perfect fit.

Gloves, socks, jersey and shorts

Gloves – I went girly and got pink gloves. Pink bike, pink gloves…I’m sure a pink jersey is going to happen eventually! The gloves are by Pearl Izumi, and they’re comfy.
Socks – Have them. SmartWool is my favorite. When I was buying my most recent pair of running shoes, I let the sales girl at Running Away convert me from New Balance to Mizuno, and from regular cotton socks (which get super gross after a long run!) to SmartWool.
Jersey – I don’t have a jersey yet. I really love the women’s designs by Twin Six, though.
Shorts – Check. I think they look totally silly, but I have the paneled cycling shorts with the funny little padding in the butt. Pearl Izumi again, because I seem to be in love with them.

Flat-repair kit

I don’t have tools yet, and I don’t know how to fix anything. This is what happens when you’re a newbie and your cycling coach is just lucky enough never to have blown a tire. Guess what I’m going to learn ASAP?

Lubricant and cleaners

What’s the point of having a pretty pink bike if it’s dirty? I should probably get a small kit, but the nice thing about getting my bike at Performance is that they will do the following for free, for as long as I own my bike: adjust and lube the brakes, gears, and drive train, adjust the bottom bracket, headset, and hubs, and true the wheels.

Floor pump

I don’t have one, but Cap does. I’ll probably get my own pump eventually, but for now I’ll just borrow his.

Water bottle cages and bottles

I have these! Hydration is a huuuuge priority of mine. Mine are standard terralite cages, but I had to fight the urge to spend 60 bucks on carbon fiber cages to shave precious seconds off my times (joooooooooke).

Cycling computer

I don’t have one yet, but I’ll probably pick one up this winter. The plan is to log lots of hours on the trainers while having extended tournaments of Madden, Mortal Kombat, and NBA Jam.

Triathlon-specific gear

Cycling
I opted for a road bike over a tri bike for two very simple reasons: (1) it’s my first bike, and it’s much easier to justify spending the couple-hundred dollar price difference on accessories rather than on tri-specific features, and (2) the only tri bikes I could find in the bike shops I went to were way too big for me.
I might get aerobars eventually, and if I really get addicted to triathlons, I might splurge on a tri bike, but for now, a road bike is just fine.
Swimming
I’m browsing around for wetsuits now. I’m not sure whether I want a tri suit or a standard wetsuit, but I’m sure the folks at Running Away will be able to offer up advice on the matter.

I’ll need better goggles eventually, but since my swim workouts are currently taking place in the pool at my school’s fitness center, I’ll wait to upgrade those until I start swimming in Lake Michigan.

One piece of equipment that I am lacking? A swim cap. I broke the one I’d been using, and I haven’t replaced it yet.
Running
I love my Mizuno Wave Rider 10s. Favorite. Running shoes. Ever. I was super-loyal to New Balance for years, but I’m definitely a Mizuno convert now.

I bought a pair of shorts at the Chicago Marathon expo, and I can’t recall which brand they are, but they’re phenomenal at moisture-wicking.

It’s getting colder out, and I’ll be layering soon. I used to own a few pairs of running tights, but I can’t seem to find them. Leggings from Gap work just as well, though.

I’ll admit that I usually wear a plain t-shirt instead of a moisture-wicking shirt. I own a few dri-fit shirts, but they’re just not as comfortable. I’ll gladly take suggestions if anyone knows of moisture-wicking shirts which are even remotely as soft as an American Apparel tee.

I am totally enamored of the Nike+ system. It’s really a great motivational tool – I love tracking my mileage and comparing runs. I’m not naturally gifted at determining things like how far I’ve gone, my pace, or even how long I’ve been running. That makes me a huge fan of the fact that I can just press the center button during a run and find out all of those details.

Ian Buchanan (who wrote the article) sums up my feelings about all of these recent purchases quite well: “While it costs a little money to get set up right, it will pay off as you enjoy riding your bike more and will thus ride more often. Isn’t that what it is all about in the first place?” You are correct, sir. If I’m going to do 70.3 in about 9 months, this equipment is going to get a lot of use.

Today, I’m doing a unique event: The first ever Nike+ Women’s Half Marathon. I’ll be running 13.1 miles this morning, along with thousands of other women (and men) all over the country. It’s a nice distance for two weeks after Chicago, and I like that I can run wherever I want (my course will be loops and loops around Wrigleyville). Bonus? It’s all for a great cause: the event benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Run together! 

Post-race thoughts:

This was a nice Sunday long run. I think it felt more like a long run than a race because I couldn’t see the other runners. Then again, running is kind of a solitary sport, so should that even matter?

I ran it at a comfortable pace, and I felt really great afterwards. No soreness, and I could even walk up and down stairs without wincing! That might sound silly, but I think it’s a pretty major step – after my first half-marathon and after my 20-mile run, my muscles hurt like mad, and stairs were not even an option.

Extra bonus? Aside from that wicked fast 20-miler (which I’m still hesitating to call a fluke, but am not sure I could repeat anytime soon), this run was the fastest half-marathon I’ve ever done. I like that!

alright so the half-ironman seems like it’s far away, but it’s really not.  This means it’s time to crack down and do some serious training.  I ran 10 miles on Saturday and that really hit me hard.  That’s not even the full 13.1 miles w/ the addtional biking and swimming involved!  Any tips on training would def be of great help.  I really have to start eating right and make sure not to over do it on the training.  I will defeat you half-ironman, and will make it out alive!

I have a road bike!

It’s a Fuji Finest 2.0, and it’s pink. That’s right…I have a pink bicycle.

I found her at Performance Bicycle, and I can tell that the dudes in that store are going to be serious enablers for my endurance sport addiction. Keith, who helped me pick out the bike, does ultracycling events, and completely “gets” the desire to push oneself to athletic limits. I didn’t really know what I was looking for, so I just told him that I was new to cycling, and that I want to do triathlons. He explained the difference between road bikes and tri bikes - apparently, it’s not just about aerodynamics. Tri bikes have different geometry that forces you to pedal differently, in such a manner that transitioning from biking to running is much more seamless. Sounds exciting, but the only tri bikes they had in the store were way too big for me. I needed a small (47cm or smaller) bike, and I wanted a women-specific model.

My bike was also obscenely cheap (for a road bike…it still took a huge chunk out of my paycheck!). I love the off-season and the fabulous, fabulous sales it brings. Performance has a nifty little membership card that gets you some wicked discounts on top of the sale, and I got the bike, a pair of shoes, cleats, pedals, water bottles and cages, a saddlebag, gloves, and shorts for less than I was expecting to spend on the bike alone. Umm, amazing.

I’m still getting used to the bike - like I said, I’ve never been on a road bike, just my electric blue fixie. I need a name for this one…any suggestions? (I’ll post a photo later)

It’s time to start shopping for a road bike.

This will be interesting. The only bicycle I’ve ever owned* is my vintage 1969 Schwinn Catalina. It’s a cruiser. If I go more than a few miles on it, my butt hurts. It’s electric blue, and I found it on Craigslist…I have no idea how to shop for a bicycle. I have a vague idea of how much it will cost, and that I want a road bike versus a mountain bike or a tri bike, and that I’m supposed to get the pedals that you clip into, but that’s about all I know.

I’ve been pointed to Cycle Smithy on Clark by some cyclist friends and two (2!) strangers on the train. I think I’ll check it out this week.

*I’m not going to count the one that my parents bought me when I was a snotty little brat who didn’t want to ride bikes. It didn’t really get any use until my younger sibs co-opted it.

My first offical post! Get excited ppl! haha 

So yesterday on my bike ride–which was quite splendid by the way–made me realize why I absolutely love Chicago. 

1) Chicago works out!  There’s always so many ppl doing some kind of physical activity on the lake shore trail.  It’s kinda nice not to be the only one running out on the street and getting gawked at.

2) The scenery is beautiful…you have the beach and the lake and can enjoy the waves rolling in.  It is also very pretty when the sun rises.  Then w/ the turn of the head you can watch the cars go by and admire all the buildings.

3)  All different sorts of ppl: ~oriental woman jamming out to whatever she was listening to while riding her bike (made me wonder what she was listening to cuz I wanted to jam out like her!), girl running w/ white fuzzy ear muffs (I soo what a pair!), man sitting out on the steps by the beach talking to a seagull, and the seagull was staring directly back at him w/ his head slightly cocked to one side…it was if he understood what the man was tellling him (it was pretty precious if I might add), some kids makin a skateboardin video (trying to be like Tony Hawk I suppose), woman running w/ no movement of the arms whatsoever…made me wonder if there was a new style of running I was unaware of,  old couple running together (it was so adorable and cute…I want to be like them…more power to them esp at their age!), emo kid playing basketball, oh and how could I forget the OH! so cute guys!  (I’ll have their babies anyday! haha), and the list could go on!

4) Water fountains (Bonus!!!)

5) bike tune up shop - how cool is that?  I’ve never seen one of those before!

Besides for biking, I ran 10 miles today.  And boy was I tired after that run.  It was great running weather, that’s for sure.  I love this time of year for running…it’s just cold enough you don’t sweat like crazy, and ur legs are cold, sometimes even numb and for me I can run farther and not feel the pain (even though that could be a dangerous thing).  I also LOVE my running shoes. Those rootbeer/chocolate/latte asics are awesome!  I seriously want to go and buy the whole stock of them!  It’s goin to be quite sad when they have to retire.  But there will be others!  So will the sidewalks and such be clear of snow in the winter?  I’m thinking if they are…outside is the place for me! There is no way I can run 10 miles on a treadmill…10 min maybe haha.

 Oh btw bike riding reminds me of something…but I’ll keep my post PG haha

I want to go for a nice, long run. That’s all I want in the world.

Why, oh why, do I fill up my calendar so much that I can’t have my long run until at least Monday? I don’t need to go out to dinner with friends. I don’t need to spend the day at work.

What I need is to put on my shoes and shorts and go.