Santa's Bag of Triathlete Goodies

So Christmas has passed and Santa was good to me for sure.  My Christmas pretty much encompassed the sport that has become my second life.  Below is all the present's my many Santa's got me :)

Timex Global Race Trainer Watch

This watch is amazing considering all the features it has.  My major concern for 2013 was pacing and this watch will make sure I stay on it with its built in GPS.  Furthermore, it can be used during each leg of a triathlon as it is water resistant and has a multisport feature that is more than ideal.  This feature allows me to setup up a desired brick workout, and easily transition from one different page on the watch display to the next sport.  I cannot wait for the snow to melt so I can take this bad boy outside.

Synergy Endorphin Wetsuit

Somehow Santa knows my size exactly because on Christmas morning I tried this on and it fit like a glove.  Unfortunately I cannot tell you exactly how great this product is, however I can tell you that it 'forces' your body into a proper alignment for the freestyle stroke.  On the tag/warranty card it stated that this suit may not feel right vertically as it is meant for horizontal positioning... interesting feature.

Aqua Sphere Kaiman Goggles

I was suffering from irritation and rubbing around my eye sockets from my previous Speedo swim goggles so Santa decided to hook me up with some new ones.  Lets put it like this, Aqua Sphere knows exactly what they are doing when they design goggles.  They have absolutely no plastic pieces near or around your eye socket - just rubber.  Not only does these goggles give you more peripheral vision, they are so comfy I could wear them everyday.  I would classify these guys as the Audi of the swim goggle market.

4 GB Waterproof MP3 player

Last, but not least, is my brand new companion for solo swim workouts.  I do not enjoy my swim training and I find myself looking at the clock more and more hoping that I can get out of the pool sooner rather than later.  My new toy from Santa is this little Chinese Gem (as that is where they come from - no manufacturers name on the box) that will keep me focused the whole way through my swims.  The countless laps will breeze by with this mp3 player that came with waterproof earbuds with interchangeable earbuds so you can get a secure fit.  Furthermore, you can even strap this mp3 player to your goggle strap and it will not go anywhere.

The Suffering has Begun

The winter is approaching and I will confess - I am not a die hard outdoors-man.  As soon as the temperature dips into the single digits, I seem to find myself training inside more and more.  It is due to combination of the frigid temperatures and the quality of workout.  Personally, I find I am capable of greater workouts inside from late fall to early spring.  I do not think the people who run outside when it is cold are crazy - it just does not pick my fancy.  Rather feel my fingers and toes constantly…

ANYWAYS… So now that I have become a hermit for the season, I needed new ways to stay motivated inside during the countless hours of training.  This is my first season of owning an indoor bike trainer (my beloved Cycle Ops Super Magneto Pro) and so I have gained the opportunity to consistently train on my bike.  Furthermore, it has given me many more opportunities to train since I do not need travel.  Bonus!

My indoor cycling has been accompanied by the amazingly cheap workout software TrainerRoads.  It has been my training buddy and my support.  TrainerRoad’s premade workouts have been having me push my boundaries time and time again, and breaks up the monotony of just ‘spinning’ my legs for extended periods of time.

Not only does TrainerRoads have hundreds of structured workouts to choose from, they have created workouts to coincide with video workouts.  Primarily, TrainerRoads have integrated The Sufferfest – a compellation of workout videos utilizing real footage of international cycling races.  The name of series explains the torture you endure.

“At Sufferfest Studios, we make the hardest, most exciting, most get-on-your-bike-and-suffer-your-ass-off cycling training videos in the world. And we strive to deliver the best customer service in the industry. The Sufferlandrian community deserves nothing less.”

Trust me, they do just that.  I have obtained the series of videos and let me tell you, they will make the strongest of riders quiver.  I have even questioned my efforts during previous workouts - like as if I may not have been trying hard before.  The seamless integration into TrainerRoads allows riders to have target powers to attain for the variety of intervals.  Furthermore, the on screen prompts during the video make you dig deeper.  The official race footage that Sufferfest Studios uses for all their videos make the experience far more realistic than any other workout I have done. 

I recommend you check out TheSufferfest series – your workouts will never be the same again.  They are the definition of suffer. Their slogan says it all: 

"I will beat my ass today to kick yours tomorrow."

Here are links to my first two Sufferfest Sessions, and the will not be my last!

Revolver

Angels