"This Looks Safe"

Enjoy watching the crashes of the Tour de France? Then you'll love the tangible danger of this vid:

No crashing in this take, though.  

The best part is the supportive spouse stating confident comments like -

"This looks safe."

"Are you going to wear a helmet?"

It's part of a discussion thread you can find here.  Join in!

Podcast - Death and Pavement

Hey there, Tri-studs and Studettes!  We've got another great episode of the ZenTri podcast for you. I take you with me on some epic training and discuss the Zen approach to dying and the benefits of training on rough pavement.  Give it a listen and get out there!

Shownotes:

• H2O Audio sponsorship!
• Signed up for IMTX.
• Started eating a little meat.
• Zen approach to death.
• Out on the bike.
• Deer and tree frogs.
• How to not let rough roads get you down.
• How to use tire pressure to smooth out your ride.
• Voicemails.

Click here to listen!

New Show Sponsor - H20 Audio!

ZenTri is proud to announce a sponsorship deal with H2O Audio!  Just click on the link above to check out all their waterproof gear.

I've been using their iPhone case and Surge headphones for two weeks and love it.  

More later.  I'm on the way to the beach to go hurricane surfing product testing. :)

Turn Your Biomechanical Lemons Into Sweet Positive Lemonade

by Bob Calabritto
Exclusively for ZenTriathlon

I recently suffered from the onset of I.T. band friction syndrome. As many of you know, it’s a debilitating injury for any athlete, especially Triathletes.  The prospect of facing this injury was at first quite deflating: I was in the midst of some great training progress, I had a race twenty days away, and I didn’t want to face the reality of complete lower-body rest, which, is essentially the precise antidote for ITBS.  Simply put, I was majorly bummed. All of a sudden I had two injuries; the one to my knee, and the one to my deflated ego.

Injury is a matter of course for endurance athletes. Regardless of how much preventive measure is incorporated in the training plan, minor setbacks will creep up, particularly if, like me, you’re well past those spritely years of invincibility.  It’s how you deal with the psychology of the injury that makes a difference. Can you turn your biomechanical lemons into sweet positive lemonade?  Of course you can!

The first step is to overcome your negative state. Instead of harping on the blues of the injury, just accept it; even thank it for coming into your life - I know that sounds tutti-fruity, but there is psychology and Zen associated with that action that goes far beyond the scope of this article.  At the very least, accept it, thus dispelling the negative thoughts from both your conscious and subconscious mind. If you have lingering negative thoughts about the injury, they will demotivate you from realizing the potential of what you can accomplish when in an altered physical state, and that potential is enormous.

I honestly feel that my injury was a sort of blessing. I was recently telling Coach Brett how I needed to really focus on my swim, train more in the pool and concentrate on my swim technique.  Two days after that conversation, I am forced to train exclusively in the water. That’s the sort of thing I am talking about when I say to make the most of the situation. Baring a few very serious, debilitating injuries, there are always ways to improve your performance when you are on the D.L. and you should try to avoid thinking of these training sessions as less important or substitutes for your normal training. Think of them now as your cornerstone sessions for the time being and execute them with the same fervor and enthusiasm you would any other session.   Your body and your mind will be thankful for your effort and you won’t miss a beat in your overall fitness.   

Be Excellent and Train Smart

Bob Calabritto is a former Athletic Trainer at Louisiana State University (LSU), he holds a Masters Degree in Sports Medicine and is a Certified Life Coach focusing on Personal Excellence and Wellness, he is an NLP Practitioner and contributor to a number of health and wellness initiatives. Follow bob @XLNTU on twitter or for Personal Coaching emailbob@creativebali.com

Six Things to Consider Before You Buy New Gear

It's not the lens protectors still on the goggles that made Rick look fruity.

Most people just get the cheapest and most immediate gear to get the job done.  We've all had that talk with the person at work wanting to buy a bike for commuting and is only willing to spend $99.  Bad idea.

Here's a simple run-down on a great checklist to use before you buy a new piece of equipment:

1. Buy or read some triathlon magazines and pay close attention to the ads.  Look at what the different manufacturers are claiming about their goods.  You can learn a lot that way.
2. Talk to other triathletes and ask how simple, reliable, and good-feeling their equipment is.
3. Get access to a pro or elite triathlete and find out what they are using and why.
4. Visualize yourself using the new item.  Is it more simple and easier to use than the last one?  Most importantly, does it give you more time to train?
5. How will you get it repaired or replaced if it breaks?
6. Price should be the last item on your checklist, once fit, form, and function are taken care of.

Now, the final thing to do is DON'T BUY IT.  Wait a week and see if it was really that important.  It probably wasn't.