Archive for category Tools and Gear
First Swims in my New Wetsuit
Posted by sheila in Tools and Gear, Training on July 2, 2009
Me on the left & Nina (Twitter friend) on the right at Santa Monica Ocean Swim.
So I bought an xTerra Vortex 3 last Friday, June 26, 2009. And I was eager to try it out. Wanted to make sure it fit properly and was easy to move around and swim in it. So I planned to go to Huntington State Beach on Monday and get in a short ocean swim.
The original plan was to hit the beach before noon, short swim, picnic lunch with Jenny on the beach, play and relaxation time before heading home. Unfortunately, due to a comedy of errors, we didn’t actually get to Huntington until 3 PM. I talked to the Life Guard briefly, put my wetsuit on, and ventured out.
In watching the surf before I suited up, the breakers hadn’t looked too large to me. So about 20 minutes later I was wading into the surf. Life guard had said water temp was 62˚. It didn’t feel cold to me at all, especially with the suit on. Waves still looked ok, and I proceeded out to my chest. I felt the cold water coming through the suit at the zipper on the back. Just interesting, not a problem. Kept going and got out past most of the breakers. But there was one row left to get past, and they seemed pretty big. I was not comfy with it. I decided to go back in and try ocean swimming in my suit another day.
In Which Sheila Brings Home a Wetsuit for Keeps
Posted by sheila in Tools and Gear on July 1, 2009
Jenny at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas after Wetsuit Purchase
So I’ve been going back and forth over the whole wetsuit thing for a while now. To buy one or not? Finally decided to buy one. Then which one to buy? And how to buy? Or to rent?
Basically, I plan to do enough tris that rental costs would add up quickly and be more than a purchase price. Plus I want to have the suit available to me for practice and to become comfortable in it. And even though I have a few friends who’ve done a number of tris with no suit, I have so many people encouraging me to get one not just for warmth, but for bouyancy as well, that I decided to go ahead and buy.
Early in June someone on Twitter posted a sale link to xTerraWetsuits. Half price deal on some of their popular, top-of-the-line suits (sale ends June 29, 2009 but Read the rest of this entry »
Wetsuit adventures or Sheila vs. The Wetsuit
Posted by sheila in Tools and Gear on June 25, 2009
So as a result of one of my previous posts/questions here about whether to buy a wetsuit online or mailorder, I was urged by several people on Facebook and Twitter to NOT do that and to go to a local shop and try suits on. Someone else also suggested using wetsuitrental.com as a good alternative to try a suit and have the rental fee go towards the purchase of a used suit. Which sounds good.
So today I went to the San Dimas location of Incycle Bikes. I called first to ask if I could come in to try on wetsuits, and they said, “Sure.”
When I walked in I was asked if I needed help by the same guy I’d talked to on the phone. He sized me up visually and decided I should wear an xsmall. Which kind of surprised me, because Read the rest of this entry »
Should I Buy a Mail Order Tri Wetsuit?
Posted by sheila in Tips and Advice, Tools and Gear on June 20, 2009
So I am planning to buy a tri wetsuit at some point this summer. I’m always the cautious type, who generally buys from local vendors (rather than mail order), especially clothing, so that I can try it on and make sure it fits. But this is such a good deal on a wetsuit… regularly $400 for half price ($199). Seems like good quality. XTerra brand. On sale until late June. 30-day money back guarantee, and size switch options/guarantee. I’m usually between 115-117 pounds (trying to take it down a few) and 5’3”, so I just fit into the WS size, on the borderline really with WM.
Vortex 3 Fullsuit $199 (Reg. $400)
I’m so nervous about choosing the wrong size or something that doesn’t fit me right. I’ve never tried on ANY wetsuit before, nor obviously swum in one. What should I do? Buy this one? Or give it a miss and go to a local tri shop and get fitted for one there? Help? Advice?
Triathlon Checklist
Posted by sheila in Race Events, Tools and Gear on June 12, 2009
So when I was preparing for my first triathlon last week, I made up a checklist of my gear. To make a list I searched Google on the phrase “triathlon checklist” and used these sites for my list:
racechecklist.com — Triathlon Race Day Checklist
Triathlon Packing Checklist | Triathlon
http://www.triathica.com/resources/triathlon_checklist.pdf (PDF)
So from the above, I came up with this list for my first Sprint Distance Tri:
Wear these things in the morning:
- tri suit (tri top/tri shorts)
- socks/shoes (running shoes for me)
- sunscreen
- body glide (I actually forgot to put this on but didn’t matter)
- Boston jacket (wear any jacket you like)
- watch (Garmin 305)
Bring these things in a bag
- hat/cap for the run
- sunglasses (for bike/run)
- sweatshirt (for after)
- crocs (after race shoes)
- flip flops (slip on sandals)
- sunscreen
- goggles
- extra pair goggles
- swim cap (they give you one but…)
- race belt
- water bottles, filled (one to drink from in transition, one to clean feet with)
- bike bottle, filled
- sweat pants (for after race)
- bicycle
- bike helmet
- toilet paper (we were told they run out sometimes)
So I went over that list above twice before we got in the car and drove away. And my hubby still had to remind me to bring the bike helmet at the last second!
Electrolyte and Refueling Products
Posted by sheila in Tools and Gear, Uncategorized on May 1, 2009
Today on Twitter someone mentioned SaltSticks as one of the products she plans on using for this weekend’s upcoming Eugene Marathon. She really likes this product, says she uses 3 per race. So, hubby ordered some today and we will probably be trying them out in the warmer weather as we train this summer for the San Francisco Half Marathon (1st half).
Other interesting products also mentioned…
Endurolytes tablets.
Nuun. electrolyte beverage.
The nuun looks really interesting. I will want to try that too.
The athlete I was following says she takes GU at miles 5, 10, 15, 17…and 20. Plus some of the saltsticks tables (3 per race) and nuun. I don’t know how she can eat that much GU during a race, and that late in the race, too! I usually take Clif Bloks at miles 4, 9, 13, 17 and then that’s about as much as I can handle. I have trouble after mile 20 digesting anything. Plus, my understanding is that carbohydrates eaten after mile 20 don’t even get processed in time to do any good before the end of the race. GU makes me nauseous.
For marathons and extra long training runs, especially in warm weather, I had been using the margarita flavor of Clif Bloks, because they have a much larger salt component. It has seemed to work, but these other products look interesting and I will try them out.
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Daily Mile Training
Upcoming Races
Sheila Runs- Swimming Facilities and Programs at Mount SAC August 18, 2010
- Kicking Drills for Triathlon August 13, 2010
- Why do swim drills? Don’t you hate them? July 29, 2010
- Strawberry Fields Olympic Triathlon – Race Report July 26, 2010
- Exchange between a cyclist and a motorist July 25, 2010
- Ocean Swim Entry/Exit Tips July 10, 2010