Bike Trainer

After I posted about my plan to purchase an indoor bike trainer yesterday I did some research on the different models. I would like to have a basic model that is not too loud since we live in an apartment building. My three cats will also greatly approve of a trainer that doesn't sound like a vacuum. I checked out the different online shops and forums and basically found two models that I liked. One was a little bit more elaborate with a computer included that tracks your sessions, the other one is similarly built but doesn't include the computer. After going back and forth between the two and watching several video-reviews on them, I settled on the version sans computer. I already have a computer hooked up to my bike and figured that the information I'd get through the trainer's computer would merely double the ones I am already getting.

Finally the thing is ordered and I hope to receive it early next week. I am eager to try it out and will let you know how I like it!

2012

Well, well... I am realizing that I am not a daily blogger. But whenever I get around to posting here, I enjoy sharing my thoughts and training efforts with you. 

So, here's what's been going/what will be going on:

First of all I turned 30. This makes me have to change the "about" section of this blog. This is hopefully going to be the year of my first (and second) completed triathlon, completed half-marathon, and relay-marathon. The first event is actually going to be the half-marathon in early April and my twelve week training plan for that will start in 1.5 weeks. Although I have been steadily running, I am excited to officially start my half-marathon training soon. If you ask me now, I find it quite hard to imagine that I will be ready to run a half marathon in about 4 months from now. Crazy! But I am a training-plan person and know that I will stick to it once I start. I guess it kind of has a placebo effect on me because I am positive that I will feel ready to go the distance when I have stuck with and completed the training plan.

For christmas I got myself the new and improved p90x program which is fittingly called p90x2! I have finished the first week of the 90 day program and am hooked. I like the challenge this routine poses for me after I have gotten used to the moves in the previous sequel. I am going to have to see how often I will be able to fit in one of the workouts since I will be running about 4 times a week and I will also be cycling and swimming. In any case, it's a great supplemental workout and since I like it so much, I am sure that I will make time to fit it in here and there.

I asked people to give me money for my birthday because I still need a lot of equipment for the triathlon. There's so much stuff I need and I just couldn't decide what to do with the extra cash I got. I am definitely going to need a triathlon suit and wet suit for the races, but I will have rare use for them during training. My road bike definitely needs to be a little pimped and I would like to get aero-bars and proper bike shoes. Right now it's just so cold outside and I am mostly using my stationary bike. Having said that I have come to the conclusion that I will use the b-day money for a indoor bike trainer that holds my actual bike. That way I will be able to use my bikey and I can work on my my position and set up. I have also found a series of indoor-bike-training-videos that I would like to purchase. That way I should be able to get through the second half of the winter with some nice cycling-sessions.

As you can see or read, I am totally pumped and ready to go! 2012 here I come!

Training Recap

This weekend was a special one as far as my training goes because it included two 'first times'. As I've told you in my last post I started off this weekend doing my first brick workout on Friday. It was a beautiful, sunny day and I did a 1:50 h bike ride followed by a short 10 minute run. I dropped my bike off, changed into my running gear and dashed outside the door for the run. I know that I am not a fast runner but I felt as if I was going incredibly fast at first- way too fast. I had read before that coming off the bike, the runner's legs want to go faster than they should and that it takes some time to adjust the rhythm. I experienced that and found that I was just starting to feel more comfortable when I was almost finishing my jog around the block. I was still happy to be done after two hours of working out and am looking forward to getting more experienced at my bricks in the months to come.

Saturday morning I went for a swim at a local public pool that I had not been to before. It opened at 8 am and I was there shortly after. There were already quite a few swimmers, but it wasn't crowded and everybody could comfortably swim in their own lane. My plan called for a 25 minute swim only but I was so glad to be having so much space in the pool that I stayed in the water and did the full 1.5 km (0.9 mile) Olympic distance swim for the first time. It took me 45 minutes and afterwards I was very pleased with my work outs so far. Although I was considering to take Sunday off, I did a short 40 minute run first thing in the morning. It was another beautiful warm morning and I just enjoyed to be out in the still sleepy and quiet city. The fellow joggers and people walking their dogs in the park all seemed to be fairly content themselves. At least that's the impression I got and it sent me off to a perfect fall-Sunday.