Compression Gear

He should try a compression scarf next.

I was recently asked if I use compression gear.  My answer is, "No, but I would."  

Compression gear has several purposes.  1. It helps channel blood flow you get the good stuff in and the bad stuff out faster.  Old people use it to improve circulation.  2. It reduces vibration, which in turn causes fatigue.  3. It can protect you from UV rays, so you don't get sunburned.

All around it's good stuff.  I had some compression socks, but my feet are so ginormous that they hurt.  I'm a little more inclined to try some of the ones that go from your ankles to your knees instead.

So that's really about it.  And make sure to check out the Epic5 going on right now!

Hump-day Update (Humpdate?)

Man, I should post on here more often, just as a "brain dump" to help process things and let everybody know what's going on.

Let's see, what's the latest...

• Angela Naeth got second at St. Croix.
• I had to take a couple of days off from training.  I was getting pooped!
• "The Honey Badger" workout is now posted for $1.99.  It's awesome!
• Coaching client Tom made a suggestion that I should contact my athletes within a day of their race to help with any questions.  DUH!  I shoulda thought of that.  I'm all about communication and customer service, so I'd going to be stoked to do it.
• I've been swimming with the Swimsense watch.  Holy crap, it's awesome.
• I managed to run a sub 8' pace in zone 2.  That's nuts!  Let's hope it's for real.
• The local bike race got cancelled due to fussiness of local roadies (Surprise!).
• There's a two hour "swim-a-thon" weekend after next.  I'm going to try to get into that.
• I owe H2O Audio an unboxing video of their contact headphones (I LOVE THEM) and a waterproof arm band.

Ok, that's it for now.  Stay solid!

Podcast - Interview with Angela Naeth

Click Here to Listen to the Show!

This episode of the ZenTri Podcast features an interview with pro triathlete Angela Naeth.  We talk about our recent race, nutrition and equipment, and training techniques of the pros.  

We also do a This Week in Awesome, Training Log, and much more!  

Next show features an interview with Ben Greenfield about HR monitors and power meters, so stay tuned!

And here's your This Week in Awesome - 

Click here to listen or download!

New Wheels: When Is It Time to Upgrade and How Much Do I Spend?

Today's post is an article written by Charlotte Baxter in Tuscaloosa.  Thanks Charlotte!

One of the things that has caused me a lot of stress as I have developed into a more serious Triathlete is meeting “the group” for rides and seeing the wide variety of wheels everyone sports—seemingly all much lighter, faster, and more amazing than my own. It’s easy to spiral into feelings of self-doubt and envy, but in truth it’s not necessary to spend tons of cash outfitting yourself to be an age group competitive Triathlete. Forget everybody else, when do you need to upgrade? And how much do you need to spend?

So that you can contextualize my recommendations, I’ll give you an idea of my ability. (Note: If you are looking to find yourself in Tuscaloosa or jockeying for a prize purse, or if you recently won the lottery, then have a field day with your Zip wheels and velociraptor helmets, this article is not for you.) I tackled my first sprint Tri three years ago and currently compete in approximately four of those per year, 1-2 Olympics, and one Half Iron. In the smaller regional races I can win my age group and I remain competitive when the field gets bigger (for example, in April’s Nautica South Beach Tri, a national event, I placed 5^th in my age group). So I’m good but not great. In other words, probably a lot like many of you.

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Getting Started

Today's post is an article written by Brandon Dunson, a ZenTri-coached triathlete in the Dallas area.  Thanks, Brandon!

Bridging the gap from talking to walking.

If you are looking for a reason to put a workout off for a day or two, which turns into a week or two, you don’t have to look very hard. Anyone can see that it is hot outside this time of year, not to mention I need new running shoes and some more comfortable shorts. The treadmills at the gym are pretty old, they are always occupied and don’t even have TVs! I would ride my bike but the tires are flat and I’m scared to ride in traffic. If there was a pool in my neighborhood, I would definitely swim more because I don’t have time to drive across town to swim. It gets dark so early and I can’t run in the dark. My ipod battery is dead. I just don’t have time.

I have exhausted every one of these excuses as a way to inhibit myself from becoming what I want to be. Why do I do that to myself? No one forces me to train five days a week - I want to do that. I love the way I feel after a swim, so why do I try so hard to keep myself from feeling better? I don’t have an answer to those questions, but I have found a few things that help me achieve my goals. I’m sure there will be another struggle just around the corner, but there is always a way to climb that hill and learn a little more about preparing for the next one.

As a beginner in the world of running and an infant in the world of triathlon, I remember a time not so long ago that I spent more of my week reading about other people running and training than I did on my own. There were lots of articles describing how elite athletes changed up the monotony of long workouts and how to improve your Ironman swim split by five minutes. When I wasn’t reading about other people’s active lifestyle I was sharing this information with others; not passing them off as my own experiences mind you, just casually talking endurance sports with people who probably wished I would stop talking and start running...away from them.

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