ZenTri Podcast 534 - Road Rash is Cool

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Kids can give us grown ups a lesson in how to be a bad ass.  They get knocked around and get right back up.  Here is Kai showing me how proud he is of his bloody elbow after a bike wreck.  I told him that he is able to look at it that way because of how he was raised.  I put him on a bike at age two.  When he fell down and started crying, I would put the bike back under him and say, "Big boys can cry all they want, but they cry on the bike.  Get right back on the bike."  Even though I got a lot of squinty-eyed looks from Emily for that, it's paid off.  He's as tough as nails.  Little nails, but still... nails.  Ok, maybe thumbtacks.

On this episode, we cover a lot of ground.  Nurse Emily tells us how to take care of road rash, I give you a Swimming Workout of the Week, and I detail how to get an epic amount of training volume with a busy family and full-time job.

Back to our regularly scheduled blog post, above is a pic I took of the cockroach races that happen in my pool's locker room.  I wish I could say this was a one-time event.  Unfortunately, not so much.

Out on the trails, I shot a pic of how a Suunto Ambit looks on a mountain bike -

The cool thing here is that you only need to buy one training computer, and then you can move it between bikes, runs, kayaks, airplanes, and probably even sex dungeons.  I don't know if the Ambit has "sex dungeon mode", but I tend to underestimate it's abilities.  I'm not sure what that mode would measure, but the graph would certainly be interesting to check out.

On with more graphs and measuring, below is a screen shot of the Sweet Beat app running on my iPhone.  It calculates HRV, or Heart Rate Variability.

I have been talking about this HRV stuff a lot on my recent shows.  This app measures HRV and graphs for you how well you are recovering and if you should keep training or not.  I love it.  What I don't love is having to additionally use a Wahoo HR strap, an ANT+ adapter, an additional Steve Jobsian "We changed the port shape so now you'll need another adapter for your ANT+ adapter" adapter, (Welcome to the Apple Ecosystem Sex Dungeon - you can't leave) and then the waiting-for-three-minutes-for-it-to-work-while-you-have-to-stand-still-and-breathe-all-weird part.  It's at that point where I'm thinking, "This is all a little too much."

Adapter.

Podcast Episode 533 - Bacon and Eggs

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(My bike taking a break on the long ride from the podcast.)

We cover a lot of ground on this episode. After a quick reintroduction for new listeners about who I am, I play a clip from This Week in Tech where Dan Benjamin talks about his failing health in spite of being vegetarian.

It was really unusual, but also familiar to me as a triathlete that eats tons of carbs.  I have no opinion about it, mostly because I am not sure of it myself.  Interesting listen for sure.

(Typical sunset on latest evening runs)

I also talk about how triathletes swim/bike/run versus how single-sporters swim/bike/run.  Here's the article that I mention that outlines the differences.

Beets?  Anybody say beeeeeeeeeets?  I just struck up a relationship with Beet It, who makes beet juice shots.  Here's why.

And finally, here's a video of the smoke ring I talked about on the podcast when a transformer blew up...

And as always, lots of other goodies inside.  Everybody stay safe out there and enjoy!

ZenTri Podcast 532 - Back on the Bike

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Just to kick it off with something interesting, here is a photo of my feet after running 11.5 miles in these flip-flops.  It wasn't bad at all!  Ok, now I've got your attention....

This show is a throwback to when I used to record on the bike.  I've gotten so many requests to do another one, I strapped the mic on and recorded two hours of joyriding down the shoulder of a Texas Tollway just south of the Mega-opolis called Tyler.  I record these in stereo, so they are a total trip.  You get the full effect of a big rig blasting by within inches, and so much more.  This episode, I got caught in a downpour.  Very cool stuff indeed.

Here's a photo I took of the tollway.  Local drivers got it shut down to cyclists because they think it's unsafe.  As you can see, I am terrified for my life with that 10-foot wide shoulder and car every 5 minutes.  I biked on it anyway.

Some of the other roads I biked on are very pretty and hilly.  Great training grounds for cycling and running around here!

We were in Tyler for Emily's high school reunion.  While parking at a mid-day function we spotted this car.  I couldn't resist getting a pic of it. 

Ironically, non-contextual camoflouge does the opposite of it's intended purpose and screams, "I'M RIGHT HERE!"

Finally, here's a photo of me and Gary on the podium after placing 2nd and 1st at our local tri.  Very cool times, indeed.

On the show I talked about a huge variety of topics.  Here's a list of links for you to check out:

• Tri Aggieland sprint results (2nd AG, 16th overall)
• Heart Rate Variability using iThlete HRV http://myithlete.com/
• I found a cheaper one using different hardware here - http://sweetbeat.com
• Numbers from my flip-flop run http://www.movescount.com/moves/move16130216
• Numbers from recording on bike ride - http://www.movescount.com/moves/move16180429
• The SOS Triathlon - http://sostriathlon.com/
• The Willpower Instinct audiobook

 Enjoy and post a comment if you like the bike audio!

ZenTri Podcast 531- Tour de SoCal

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(View of my daily run route starting at the hotel.)

On this episode of the ZenTri Podcast, Morgan and I drive up to L.A. and record shows with Vinnie Tortorich and with Rich Roll.  It was a week to remember!

(Doing some walking meditation while waiting for Morgan to pick me up.)

My show includes great interviews with Vinnie, Anna Vocino, Julie Piatt (Rich's wife), and Morgan himself.  Each one is really solid.  And I almost forgot, I threw in an interview with a San Diego food critic as well.

(Looking down Bachman Dr., where I was doing hill repeats.)

My daily run route had me doing one-mile hill repeats up a 10% grade, three times per run.  Sometimes I did it twice per day.  And as always, I throw in a bunch of useful tips.  This time, I covered good ideas for the traveling triathlete.

A couple of my favorite finds were these two books (Above and Below).  Both essential for the typical dad age-grouper. :)

Pay attention to the end of the show.  If you hang around, you'll hear a very funny chat between me and Morgan about inappropriate swimwear.  Enjoy!

On the Road!

I'm on a work trip in SoCal, enjoying the weather and taking the opportunity to catch up with some old and new friends.  On Sunday, Morgan and I swung up to L.A. and recorded two short podcasts with Vinnie Tortorich and a long one with Rich Roll.  

Vinnie was a blast and Rich was deeeeeeeeeep - just like I hoped.  I also scored an interview with Rich's wife, Julie.  I have to say, she's intense.  Not intense in the way she talks to you, but intense in the way she makes your mind explode as you look inward and discover what makes you tick.  I don't know if Rich found her at a yoga studio or in a cave on top of a mountain under a sign that said, "Oracle."

Keep your eyes open and look for some incredible audio coming your way from all of us in our own ways soon.  My interview with Rich is already up.  Now, back to work.

"After enlightenment, chop wood."