My Response to IRONMAN’s SwimStart Initiative Announcement
I think this is in response to the deaths that have occurred… I think it’s a wise choice to be proactive about educating folks on the anxiety of the swim start so they can be aware and try to plan for the experience. It won’t end up a complete surprise, even though you don’t really know until you’re in the thick of it.
I am actually a professionally trained classical musician… Throughout school, we would PUT ourselves into anxious situations, or run up and down a flight of stairs to get the heart rate going, and we would have to perform. What it did was teach us how to manage the stress and anxiety of the situation and perform so the audience had NO idea we were nervous… Because they were paying to see a performance, not us sh*t our pants!
So, this is why I am able, with my 2:05 ish IRONMAN swim (hopefully faster this year!), to be on the very start line of the swim start - HECK NO AM I SWIMMING AN EXTRA 50-100 YARDS! I just know to expect that I’ll have to hold my breath for 4+ strokes and that it’s going to be cray cray. And, I remind myself that it’ll all calm down… Especially as I begin going off course! 
Swim Breakthrough!
Ironman Foundation – Newton Running Ambassador Triathlon Team
I’m honored to have been chosen among HUNDREDS of applicants to be on the Ironman Foundation – Newton Running Ambassador Triathlon Team! I’m excited to have the opportunity to give back to the wonderful communities that host IRONMAN events!
This goes without saying, but I also cannot thank enough the following folks for being in my SAG wagon this year:TrainingPeaks, Core Power, CycleOps Power, Timex Factory Team, Nuun Hydration & The Running Institute – CHICAGO!
THANK YOU!
cc: Ironman Foundation, Inc., Newton Running
Tip of the Day: Get Motivated to Work Out!
The following post by me was published by Core Power earlier this week…
Here’s a great tip on getting motivated to work out from our CP friend, Ken Chin!
Are you like me? Do you wake up and try to justify that you should really just stay there in bed, under the covers in darkness, where nobody will know that you didn’t get your workout in? Do you need a big kick in the @$$ to get out the door to get your fitness on?
If you are, welcome to the club! If not, quit your judgment this very second!
I envy my best friend Matt. No matter how much sleep he does or doesn’t get, he’s up at the same time each morning doing his assigned workout. Here’s some food for thought: Matt missed only FOUR workouts last season during his Ironman training. And do you know what type of workouts he missed? They were the OPTIONAL strength training ones! The ones that weren’t any of the three disciplines of triathlon! I don’t even want to begin tallying inTrainingPeaks how many workouts I missed!
How does he do it?
I’ve picked his brain many times on this subject but I never get a clear answer other than, “I just do.” Now, isn’t that helpful?
NO!
So, being that he couldn’t provide me with an acceptable answer (aren’t I nice friend?), I’ve been left to find ways to get MYSELF motivated and get my workouts done.
Let’s start with the very first step: sign up for a race! That will help you establish purpose for your workouts and you’re not just doing a workout to “keep your base.” Yes, keeping your base is important when there is no race on the horizon, but many of us require a goal. So get that out of the way, first, and it’ll give you a more solid why as to the purpose of your workout.
Next, find a group to train with! Groups can give you peace of mind which comes from knowing that you’re suffering through the workout together. And of course, there’s the social aspect of meeting new people and sharing your progress with each other. It’s just nice knowing that you’re not alone on your journey!
Finally, what are you going to do on those days when you don’t have the group workout? Recruit buddies from the group! More than likely, you’ll link up with another athlete with similar strength in each discipline–it may even be the same person! Plan to link up with each of them to get the workout done together! Suddenly, you’re not alone! Cool, eh?
This is how I do it. Just be careful not to recruit buddies that will enable you to bag the workout, resulting in you both having beer and pizza instead! I’ve been there too! 
CHEERS!
-Ken
Now it’s your turn!
On those days when you don’t feel like it, how do you motivate yourself to work out?
Let us know in the comments, via Twitter or on Facebook!
You can follow Ken on Twitter and also like him on Facebook. You can also check out his blog, daRevoluCHIN.com
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Combining Weights and Cardio for Endurance Athletes
Combining Weights and Cardio for Endurance Athletes @timexsports
Combining Weights and Cardio for Endurance Athletes
when #paleo becomes a #fail-eo
i have to be honest…
i am a rebellious person.
when i’m told not to do something, i typically want to do the opposite because i want to prove that i’m in control and not you. the same can be said when it comes to food.
since moving toward a paleo “lifestyle” in november 2012, it has definitely had an impact on controlling weight gain through the holidays and winter, coupled with non-ironman training type cardio.
going paleo, to me, has different depths. you can go ALL in (or have to due to medical conditions), where you are looking at specific chemicals in the products, how the animals you’re eating were fed, etc. or, you can go a little simpler, as i am. what are the key elements of paleo that i, personally, try to keep an eye on?
avoid sugar.
avoid grains.
avoid dairy.
avoid processed foods.
too many items in the ingredients list = no no.
notice how i said “avoid” above?
it all sounds pretty easy, right?
NO!
i WANT that bag of chips. i WANT that cupcake in the office kitchen. i WANT those french fries! i WANT that sushi! AND, I’LL HAVE THEM! those are the times that you DON’T see me posting pictures on Instagram because i’m ASHAMED!!!
but, there you have it… i’m human! i have those cravings and the fact that i’m not SUPPOSE to have them, makes me want to have them even MORE! REBELLION!
but once you read Paleo Diet for Athletes, you learn that those “non-optimal” foods are typically “ok” during stages III & IV of recovery! so, workout and ye shall be rewarded! the longer the workout, the longer stage III is! read the book so you fully understand!
so, ken… what’s your point?
my point is that it’s perfectly fine that i rebel. yes, i should do less of it. and, that’s a work in progress. i’m working on focusing on those foods as “rewards” and “integral for recovery” post-workout. so, i don’t really HAVE to rebel as much as i want to, especially because my training has started to ramp up significantly lately with the LA Marathon in March.
how do YOU rebel? what’s YOUR weakness?
Improving Core Strength in Endurance Athletes
Improving Core Strength in Endurance Athletes
Improving Core Strength in Endurance Athletes
2012 Ironman World Championship
2012 Ironman World Championship
2012 Ironman World Championship
2012 Kona Report: New Ironman Timex Watches Revealed
2012 Kona Report: New Ironman Timex Watches Revealed #IMKona
2012 Kona Report: New Ironman Timex Watches Revealed
