Author Archives: scottsoapbox

Tri Shorts Testing

Posted on by

Today was my last big ride before the race and the official wet test of my new running shorts.  There are actual tri-unitards that the pros use.  I personally don’t like them A) they run well in excess of $100 B) they have a bike pad in them.  Bike pads are great for biking – not so great for running. I recently added true bike shorts to my workout arsenal.  I have learned that once you cross about 20 miles on a bike, better shorts become more necessary.  So while I use bike shorts for long bike rides, they don’t work well for multisport – at least for me personally.

Anyway my new running shorts featured a very breathable tech short with a pseudo-spandex compression short underneath.  In order to simulate race conditions I thoughly soaked the shorts before my ride today.  They passed with flying colors – by mile 2 they were as dry as my sweating would allow and induced zero chaffing.  They are made by Asics, cost $40, and come in a few colors.  Check your local running shops for them.

I tried several different clothing solutions, but this was by far the best and I wholeheartedly recommend them to tri-beginners not ready for the unitard duck waddle running.  I was glad to find them as my race is only a week away.

  •  Bike 21 miles – 1:26:08 (14.7mph, 968cals) a hilly course was choosen as the race course is hillier than most.

Tri Training Concerns

Posted on by

As race day is beginning to loom large, I set out to do another full prep day.  My goal was to average 15mph on the full bike length and see how well my run would stack up after that.  I happily exceeded my bike speed goal and started off the run well.  I was staying just ahead of my virtual partner which I had set at a 12 min mile pace up until mile 4.  At that point I experienced some bad leg cramping that slowed me to a not to fast walk.  After a mile at that pace the last loop of the trail was abandoned.  This cramping incident has me worried about race day as I will also be swimming for 30+ minutes in addition to the bike before the run.  Some walking mixed with the run is fine, but painfully slow walking (ha ha) will really hurt my overall time.

  • Bike 26.77 miles – 1:42:36 (15.7mph, 1225cals)
  • Run 5.37 miles – 1:15:07 (14min mile pace due to cramping, 536cals)

Tri Training Update

Posted on by

I’ve had several people comment on my lack of preparation for my upcoming triathlon event.  Truth is the lack has actually been in the posting not the training so here’s a recap from my garmin training buddy:

June 11th

  • Bike 16 miles – 1:12:25 (16.0mph, 671cals)
  • Swim 34 minutes continuous* (396cals)

June 14th

  • Bike 27.73 miles – 2:03:28 (13.5mph, 1175cals)
  • Run 2.23 miles – 24:49 (11:09pace, 262cals)

June 17th

  • Bike 26.57 miles – 1:47:40 (14.8mph, 1193cals)
  • Run 2.17 miles – 26:23 (12:10pace,  249cals) run cut short due to leg cramp

June 22nd

  • Bike 19.14 miles – 1:20:12 (14.3mph,  810cals)

June 25th

  • Swim 40 minutes continuous (466cals)
  • Run 6.2 miles – 1:35:53 (treadmill intervals)

*Since the swim course is down river, actual swim distance is difficult to calculate accurately.  By looking at previous race data, I estimate my swim time should be in the 30-35 minute range. This is at a conservative pace since my main goal for the swim is not speed but efficiency. (Online references have breaststroke at 700 calories an hour at my weight range)

Seattle: Ban Beach Bonfires Due To Global Warming

Posted on by

Seriously, this is for real:

Park department staff is recommending reducing bonfires at the two beaches this summer and possibly banning them altogether next year.

The park board will hear the recommendation Thursday, and the city plans to run public-service announcements and hand out brochures later this month about the effects of bonfires on global warming.

According to a memo to the park board from the staff released Thursday, “The overall policy question for the Board is whether it is good policy for Seattle Parks to continue public beach fires when the carbon … emissions produced by thousands of beach fires per year contributes to global warming.”

Under the proposal, the department in July would reduce the number of fire rings at Alki from six currently to three and at Golden Gardens from 12 to seven.

Then later this year, the department would consider banning bonfires or requiring fees and permits to reduce the number of bonfires next year.

Now if you’re not either screaming at the computer screen or laughing hysterically right now, you have no idea what is going on.  First the laughing: a bonfire has about the the global environmental impact of a butterfly fart.  I’m sorry but this really needs to be put into perspective for those of you that didn’t pay attention in science class.  If small fires could wipe out the climate on this planet – we wouldn’t have even made it to the industrial revolution.  (wow think of the eco-sins we could have avoided then!)  Also all of the bonfires in the entire state of Washington over the last 20 years combined into one Texas A&M style bonfire it would still be insignificant compared to a single forest fire.

The screaming: this is not an honest attempt to stop the hoax of global warming! This is an attack on personal freedom.  Anyone with actual scientific knowledge would concede the fact that a bonfire is near the bottom of any list of polluters.  A bomb delivered to a single factory in China would offset the carbon emissions of all the bonfires in America for the next 100 years or so.  Its not about pollution its about control.

Also of note: the Park Service is taking no steps to ban wild fires in the area.  But since that neither grows government power nor chips away at personal rights – no ban was really expected.