Highlights

Not much happening at the moment.  Base training, writing training plans, looking into a few masters swim programs.  Kicking it into gear because my first half ironman is in 12 weeks.

We (Kevan and I) bought a CycleOps Powerbeam Pro to share between the two of us to train.  I'm looking forward to some sufferfest power training sessions at home.  The best part?  Unlike outside or the computrainer studio it really doesn't matter what I train in.  Aside from silly outfits and good times it means that I can train with power, which is an immensely helpful training tool.  I'm pretty excited.

Still training to PR the Cox Half Marathon, still on track for that.  Trying to figure out my newest shoe confusion. I've been training in the K Swiss K-Onas for about two months and I really like them, and I get a little calf pain.  Which I've credited to inefficient running form because I'm a pronator and not really a natural runner.  I bought Nike Free Runs on a whim at an expo last week to wear during TRX, run drills and to walk around in because I like the idea of minimalist shoes.  The foot strengthening idea seems great and I need to work on that to help with my pronation issues.

After hard intervals on the Computrainer on Tuesday night I ran afterwards with a friend in them at his pace, which would be a little easier for me.  I figured easy pace I could focus on form and see how the shoes felt without risking any kind of strain.  We did an easy 5k with a negative split at the end and I finished faster and feeling better than I had with the K-Onas.  I chalked it up to sometimes just changing shoes worked for me.

I am reticent to try new shoes after The Great Saucony Kinvara Incident of 2011 where I got new shoes for my birthday...  Minimalist, light, nicely constructed shoes.  My birthday happened to fall on a Wednesday which is group run night, 7 hilly miles through Providence's East Side.  I had done it at least 10 times before.  Long story short I wasn't made for those shoes and ended up in Physical Therapy.

So I ran the dreaded Wednesday night run in the Frees at a good pace, pain free.  I ran mid to forefoot and felt good.  And I have to say I woke up with minimal soreness and no calf pain to boot.  So I'll probably try and figure out what's happening via the internet and then if that fails go to Rhode Runner and consult them.

And I'm happy to say that I'm actually on the right bike and don't need to upgrade to a new and shiny Kestrel 4000, because turns out it may not be an upgrade for me after all.  I had a little new bike fever/envy via the Kestrel team and the Eleonore Rocks crowd and it was cured.  I'm always glad and grateful to know people with great bike knowledge that can help me decode these kinds of things.  Bike fit is so finicky and I'm so happy and comfortable with the Airfoil that it's a relief to not have to switch over.

So that means we make the Airfoil better.  I am having a hard time with race wheels.  Silly, tiny wheels.  I want to find something other than Zipp or HED but unless something else falls from the sky I would probably have to go that route.  Not that they aren't great wheels I'm just sure there are other options for me.  A lot of the little manufacturers I looked at that have great reviews just don't make wheels in my size.  So that may be a next year kind of thing.  I have a friend who'll let me borrow, so there is that.  A solution for this season.  But I would like to own.  It's one of those things that I won't feel like a real triathlete until I get race wheels.  Fancy bike and training wheels.  Sad.

Ok, it's a day off time to go walk my dog and then ride the bike for a couple of hours when it gets a touch warmer.  Just need to figure out where.