Filles de Fer

It’s that time of year. The beginning, that is. Resolution time. I actually managed to achieve all of my 2007 resolutions (including run a 1/2 marathon and then a full marathon by the end of the year), so I’m hoping that 2008 will be just as successful. Here’s the list:

1. Run a faster marathon Now that I’ve gotten a 26.2 under my belt, I’d like to shoot for a PR. I’m not going to resolve to get a Boston qualifying time, but if I can beat last year’s Chicago time, I’ll be a happy kid.
2. Run a smarter marathon I got hit pretty hard by Chicago. I’m not going to beat myself up over it (who didn’t get hit hard by that race?), but I am going to make some changes in my training plan this year. More heat training, smarter hydration practices (I may even buy one of those belts. Maybe.), and better pre-race rituals. Eating cake and staying up late the night before a race? Not gonna happen in ‘08.
3. 70.3 This is the year of the Half-Ironman. Run-bike-swim is my new mantra. I don’t care if I come in last place, as long as I finish that event, I’m golden.
4. Race for a cause Selfishness is so 2007. This year, I’m going to run at least one race for a charity.

Happy Christmas, everyone! I hope Santa filled your stockings with lots of nice toys. I found some fabulous tri-themed goodies under my tree this year:

Insulated water bottles At first, I thought Cap was trying to suggest that we take the bikes outside this winter, but then I remembered that insulation works both ways. These bottles keep cold drinks cold. I’ve always been a fan of cool or lukewarm water over ice cold, but Cap reminded me that my 70.3 is at the end of July, and in addition to keeping hydrated, I’ll need to keep myself cool (Chicago Marathon, anyone?).

A bike computer Definitely something that I needed, but wouldn’t have bought for myself anytime soon. I’d held off on buying one of these because my focus was on keeping my balance, figuring out the gears, and getting used to being in the saddle. Tracking my stats seemed like a secondary objective. But, now that I have a computer, I’ll have the equivalent of my Nike+ for the bike – I can log cadence, wattage, and mileage, and I’ll be able to set benchmarks for my training.

A wetsuit My parents are fabulous. When I told them a year ago that my New Year’s resolution for 2007 was to do a half-marathon in May and a marathon by the end of the year, they thought I was crazy. They know I’m stubborn, but didn’t entirely expect me to train for either event, much less finish. How do they feel about 2008’s resolution of a 70.3? Well, they’re making sure that I won’t be too chilly during that swim in Lake Michigan! They’re coming to visit at the beginning of January, and we’ll be going wetsuit shopping.

A day planner La Roommate got me another something that I wouldn’t have picked up myself, but which will be super super valuable – a pretty little day planner made by Graphic Image. I just filled in the dates of the races I know I’m doing in 2008 (Flying Pig Marathon, Spirit of Racine Triathlon, Chicago Marathon), and I’ll be using the week-at-a-view agenda to log training stats. Sure, this info goes in my Outlook, but I like to have a hard copy of everything, too! This particular planner also has maps of major cities, so if I decide to go for a run in Prague, or swim off the Gulf coast, I can log those. Oh yeah, and the cover is shiny.

[I’m writing this away from home, so I don’t have everything in front of me right now. I’ll update this post later with specs and photos]

…until SORT!

Yep, in 9 short months, I’ll be attempting my first 70.3! I think this is probably the farthest ahead I’ve started really planning for an event. I signed up for my first half-marathon 4 months before the race, but only really trained for two weeks (oops). My first marathon was about 5 months later. So, yeah. Combine those two, and that’s how far away my 1/2 IM is. I’ll need it too…70.3 is no joke!

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.

We interrupt all of these Chicago Marathon posts to bring you this important announcement: 

It’s official…I’m all registered for SORT! The 1/2 Ironman is on for next July. K, have you signed up yet?

I can’t wait to start shopping for a bike and a wetsuit…