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March 9, 2007
There IS Hope!
The song is true - the sun will come out tomorrow! :) Today it was 50 degrees and sunny here in old Pittsburgh, PA! And it made me soooooooo happy. I didn't even get to run or ride in it but just to feel the sun on my face when I was walking to my car or walking Roxy after work - ah...what a wonderful thing! After what feels like the worst winter ever (although I know it's hasn't been), this day was much needed. I'm sure it won't stay this warm or nice but this will at least hold me over for another week or two. Must. Get. To. April! :)
This morning I swam:
3000 yds total @YMCA
wu: 250 easy, 6x75 w/15 sec rest (50 easy/25 fast)
ms: 8x150 w/30 sec rest as 100 mod/50 fast (2:04, 2:04, 2:03, 2:01, 2:01, 2:00, 2:00, 1:59), 3x200 pull w/30 sec rest as easy/mod/fast (3:22, 3:12, 3:07), 10x50 alternating rest of 5 sec/30 sec (all in :38-:39)
I was so excited to not have to swim anything over 200 yds - I needed a break from those long repeats! Although much like doing 200s on the track after doing mile repeats or 1000s, the 150s were still very challenging given the fact that I was "sprinting" that last 50 of each. Regardless I felt pretty good. And I received a little piece of encouragement from one of the other YMCA "regulars". He's a very good swimmer and as I was getting out of the water he was asking me about upcoming races, etc... He asked how my training was going and I told him about the running and riding, etc... And then he told me he thought I looked very good in the water. I'm sure he doesn't know the difference (just like the old lady in the street telling you as you run by that you're as fast as a cheetah!) but it was just what I needed to hear. Funny how a little encouragement at the right time by the right person can go a long way. :)
Anyway, after work I headed back to the YMCA for a lifting session and then home to Roxy for a walk. That dog is wild without exercise! It was so nice outside though that I didn't care one bit about trotting around with her for 30 minutes.
In other news I received a Fuel Belt in the mail today! As part of the Mark Allen triathlon team we get some "support" in the form of equipment. We mostly get very nice discounts (wholesale prices) from the sponsors (which I am very thankful for too - you wouldn't believe how much less expensive wholesale prices are!) but occasionally something will show up in the mail that you didn't order. Today was a Fuel Belt! I've never used one of these before but I had been considering it (most especially if and when I ever move up to the full Ironman distance). I'm going to try it on my long run on Sunday. They look annoying to wear but when I was trotting around the house with it you can't really feel it that much at all. We shall see!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Posted by beth at March 9, 2007 6:43 PM
Comments
My sweetie swears up and down on his fuel belt. He loves it, can't get enough of it.
It doesn't work right with me, though. I have a short torso, so the smallest part of my waist is not too far below my chest. Whereas, I wear pants and shorts waists many inches below this spot. But, waist-type things like the fuel belts ride up to that small point in my waist, way too high for my liking.
Good luck trying yours on your long run!
Posted by: Meghan at March 9, 2007 9:18 PM
I got one of those fuel belts for long runs last year -- not enough water fountains where I run, and boy does it get hot down here in the summer. By the end of October, I was celebrating that I could finally get by without it. Like Meghan, it had a tendency to ride up on me, especially when it started to get empty towards the end of the run. And I learned quickly that it pays to rotate through the various bottles rather than drinking all of one at once -- the belt gets lopsided and starts twisting around if you're not careful to drink evenly.
It wasn't awful, but I'm not looking forward to wearing it again this summer. On the other hand, there really aren't any good alternatives -- I *really* hate carrying water bottles, even the ones that strap on to your hands.
Posted by: B at March 9, 2007 9:41 PM
Whenever I've worn my fuel belt, I've barely noticed it after two or three miles. My problem is that if you twist the caps too far when you put them on the bottles, they crack, and then the bottles leak.
Posted by: brian at March 10, 2007 11:47 AM
Like Meghan, I have a short torso and my fuel belt would ride up. Also, watch the lids. Sometimes I would end up with water all over me because one of the lids leaked. Thank goodness, I only carried water, or it would have been a sticky mess!
Posted by: L at March 10, 2007 12:28 PM
i was a fuel belt person for a year. but i hated. i thought i had to use it though. (i was a new runner so i just did what people told me to do!)
now i am a water carrier. i can't carry enough so i usually have to refill along the way. i like carrying one-but it gets annoying when i have to carry water and two power bars with me all in my hands.
keep us posted!
Posted by: Audrey at March 11, 2007 3:23 PM