Sharrows in Austin!

Austin is part of a Federal program to install sharrows in streets.

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/110209sharrows_10-68802522.html

In a true mark of genius, they are not telling anybody what they are for to see if people can "figure it out". 

Logo Tattoo Contest? For Reals!

I announced on Twitter yesterday that anybody that gets the new ZenTri logo designed by Molly B. tattooed on their body will receive free coaching for a year.  I'll also throw in the option of getting the official ZenTri Podcast logo.  Here are the two image options:

Gusano (who has suffered a severe bike accident-related brain injury in the past) said that he would get the tattoo, but on the bottom of his foot.  Upon request, he also supplied us with this following highly-detailed graphic representation of how the ZenTri logo is both "epic" and can be used to "kick others n face."

 In yo Face! Ommm...

It is important to study the image to fully understand every facet of ways that having this free podcast logo on your body for the rest of your life can make you an amazing triathlete.  Two that I immediately picked up on:

1. More muscles.  You'll notice that the stick figure of Gusano is much more buff than the other.
2. Required triathlete elitism. Gusano even went out of his way to point out that the other person is not Gusano, while the one with the arrow and "Gusano" really is Gusano, should you have any doubts who is receiving the ass-kicking. Hint - it's not Gusano.

This offer is for real, btw.  I have to agree to the logo and the placement prior to getting it done.  AND you have to get somebody to take a video of the work being done so we can post it on youtube, along with the other class-act stuff we do.

This is Nasty

I wish I had taken a pic before I stirred it up.  

• Old Folgers decaf freeze dried crystals, so old that it's like chunky rocks.
• Too much stevia.
• Spoonful of macca root powder.

Take all that and mix it into a cup of water in the "nuker" (microwave) and you got something special.  And by special, I mean something that you spent time on, so you kinda have to drink it even though it tastes like leftover ass.

Off the Beaten Path

I spent a little time this weekend off-roading. The upsides include a whole lot of relaxing nature and no cars. The downside is that you can't get a consistent workout like you do on the road.

I can't wait to get my mountain bike that's on layaway and go ride the trails at the nearby national forest. There is supposed to be an insane amount of mileage available, that I could hopefully go all day long.

This weekend, I rode my hybrid-ish 29er through some serious mud and did some scientific testing. I say "ish" because most hybrids are total poser POS bikes you wouldn't try anything on, but this one is pretty decent with a bitchin frame. Anyway, the larger wheel diameters are truly amazing, even with semi-slick narrow commuter tires on them. All I had to do was sit back over the rear wheel and I could easily motor through some very deep mud.

The next test yeilded some awesome results as well. I could pedal straight at a standard street curb and the bike would go right over it without pulling up on the handlebars whatsoever. This shows how little resistance logs and rocks pose towards the bike. Very impressive.

So, I can't wait to go get the new bike. I still have a long ways to go on payments, though. I've bought many bikes on layaway, and it does keep you out of debt while providing motivation to keep saving money towards your goal.

Sent from my iPhone

Podcast - Ironbaby 2009!

Click HERE to listen.

Chalk marks in driveway to count the 8+ loops of running.

Join in for the biggest ZenTri episode of the year - The IronBaby self-supported Ironman!  I take you along for the ride as I swim 2.4 miles at a local pool, bike 112 miles around my town, and then finish it off with 26.2 miles of running around my neighborhood. 

Swam next to the Texas A&M women's swim team.

That's right, a self-supported Ironman!  It's an amazing experience and I encourage you to try it yourself. This is my third and each is better than the last.

Roxy joining in on the run.

Not only was the race free, we raised over $1200 for charity.  And there was lots of carnage along the way.  I had to get out of the way for guys training to be Navy SEALs, a hellacious front came through on the bike, I wrecked, flatted, and so much more.

Kai biking with me on the run.

I cap off the show with some other great audio.  Not only did I record some night trail running in a lightning storm, I also captured the sounds of backpacking through the national forest with my son and dad.

Here's a link to the official page and race course times.  Enjoy the show and let's see you out there with me next year!

SHOWNOTES:

• Prepping all the gear.
• Course is measured, but using GPS as backup just in case.
• Driving to swim with Emily.
• There should be a Mom App on the iPhone.
• Roxy is angry with us.
• Emily threatens to shove me into a mailbox. She is so sweet!
• Race review with werewolves and Kai.
• Night trail running with friends.
• Backpacking with three generations of studs in the Sam Houston National Forest.
• Grading your races by "Happiness Index".

Click HERE to listen.