Zoggs in the Family

Our whole family loves our Zoggs! We are a family of swimmers/triathletes and you won't see us in the water without our Zoggs! I am wearing the Predator Flex Ultra Reactor. They are my favorites!

Ricky is 10 years old. He has been a part of swim team for 5 years. He has participated in 5 triathlons - 2 of those being open water. He is wearing the kid's Zoggles.

Everett is 9 year old. He has also been on the swim team for 5 years and has participated in 5 triathlons - 2 of those being open water. He is wearing the Predator Flex.

Sawyer is 6 years old. He has been on the swim team for 2 years. He has participated in 2 triathlons - 1 being open water. He is wearing the kid's zoggles.

Emerson is almost 5 years old. He has been on the swim team for 1 year. He is not old enough to participate in triathlons yet, but he can't wait! He is wearing the kid's zoggles.

Little man is such a great swimmer! Here he is wearing the Predator Flex.

Emerson was born to swim! Here's another shot of him wearing the Predator Flex.

Check out Zogg's Goggles at www.zoggsusa.com!

#zoggs #zoggsusa #flexfactor #zoggallday

Finis Duo - Underwater MP3

I'm very excited about the Finis Duo! The underwater MP3 player exceeded my expectations. It was pretty simple to download music to the device. The most time consuming aspect was I used iTunes and had to convert the files to MP3 files, but instructions were in the manual and simple to follow. I found the manual on the Finis website. http://www.finisinc.com/Duo

The Duo secures to your goggles and rests along your cheekbones. I liked this a lot as ear buds are not comfortable to me.

I was blown away by the sound quality! The sound was so clear!! Even underwater where I expected it to sound muffled it was very crisp!

Swimming laps sometimes becomes tedious to me, but listening to music on the Duo helped break up the monotony! I really look forward to being able to listen to music as my swims will be getting longer and longer with Ironman training.

Post Bike Stretch

Are you sore between the blades post bike ride or even post swim? Or do you just feel tension in your upper back? Here are a few stretches that can help you open up your back and relieve some of that tightness.

Lay on your back on a foam roller. Put your arms out in a T. Open up your chest and just relax and stretch for about a minute. 

Then continue with a T, a Y, and an I. Open to a T and bring arms up and together for 10 reps. 

Then bring arms out to a Y and together for 10 reps. 

And finally bring arms into an I position and together for 10 reps. 

Do 3 sets. I found this really helps relieve the stress in my upper back post workout. Simple and easy to do yet effective! Let me know if this helps!!

New Wave Swim Buoy

The New Wave Swim Buoy is a safety float and also has a drybag for storing your keys, phone, etc. if you don't want to leave them on the shore. It comes in two sizes - 15 liter and 20 liter. It comes in orange, pink, yellow, and neon green. The swim buoy is highly visible making it a must have for swimmers, triathletes, kayakers, and snorklers. 

It is easily inflatable. You simply twist open the top, blow it up, and twist the top to close. I am asthmatic and cannot blow up a balloon, but this was a piece of cake. You buckle the device around your waist. The instructions are very simple and easy to follow. 

Keep in mind this is a security device not a safety device.

I have the 15 liter in pink and in yellow.

You can purchase a device at www.newwaveswimbuoy.com or on www.amazon.com/shops/NewWaveGear.

I would say the biggest selling point to me is the visibility factor. Many members of Strike Force Racing team use the New Wave Swim Buoy. When we are out in an open water swim we can easily spot each other. This is helpful for keeping an eye out for each other and also for sighting purposes. It's much easier to stay on course following the bright buoy in front of you. But more importantly we are visible to the boaters in the area. From the shore I personally witnessed a boat go around my teammates. I hate to think what could have happened if they didn't have the buoys and were unable to be seen. And it was great that even from the shore we could still spot our teammates at a good distance.

USAT and Ironman Certified Coach Gena Alvarez of Strike Force Racing always trains along side her athletes. She loves her New Wave Swim Buoy!

I was concerned there would be drag in the water or pulling at the waist using this device. I didn't feel a thing. In fact I would completely forget it was there. It was great too because my coach stops at the buoys occasionally to give instructions or feedback and you have the buoy to rest on if you need.

Another big plus for the swim buoy is the confidence it gives you out in the open water. My teammate Sam is trying to face her fear of open water. Many of us start off timid or downright fearful out in the open water. Some overcome this fear and some continue to struggle to face it. I gave her a buoy to try out and it gave her the confidence she needed to get out there. She was sold and is getting one of her own! 

And yet another bonus is the security it offers your kiddos as well. Emerson is not yet 5 years old. He could swim with it attached no problem. And he could use it to rest or kick back when he needed. 

This little guy just might be my ticket to Kona someday!!

The Fit Wanderluster

Do you learn about a place and think right away that you want to run there? Do you take runcations? I love traveling to new places and exploring them thru running. 

If I had to pick my favorite place I've ever run I'd have to say it was in Henley-on-Thames, England. It's a posh little town along the Thames River where rowing is the popular sport. When I run there I feel like I am running in a fairy tale!

So as I run thru my neighborhood today I imagine myself there!!

Where is your favorite place you have run? 

Check out @thefitwanderluster as she runs in amazing places! And for her apparel line check out www.thefitwanderluster.com.

Running Bleachers

Running bleachers breaks up monotony and gives you some variety in your workout. It also gets your heart rate up so it is a good cardio workout! Pushing off the bleachers engages your quads and glutes and provides a great strength workout for your legs. So next time you hit the track throw in a bleacher workout! Even 5 minutes can make a difference!!

What workout is on your agenda for today? Have a great Monday ya'll!!

Running Gait Analysis

It's not good when you sit down to discuss your running gait analysis with 4 people and as soon as they start the video you hear gasps, and oh no's, and aww man. 

It turns out my form is causing all kinds of  problems. I have bilateral issues, but more significantly on the left inside. I have a right hip drop that forces out my left hip. I have issues with ankle flexion. I over pronate a bit. My arches are falling. There is left Glute muscle weakness. On a positive note I at least have good knee flexion. So that's something! 

These deficiencies explain my IT Band injury, Plantar's Fasciitis flares, and multiple stress fractures. 

It seems my issues are more structural than mechanical. And there are things I cannot change that exacerbate the issues such as my scoliosis and spondyliothesis. I was referred to a specialist for custom orthotics and told we really need to focus on strengthening these areas to prevent injury. I brought several pairs of my Zoot shoes with me and it seems like my issues were consistent with each shoe. So the shoes were great, the only suggestion was to pick one model and stick with it rather than vary from model to model between training runs. 

They did express concerns about increasing my volume for a 140.6. So obviously I'll do whatever it takes to get there!

You can see some of my issues in this still.

Have you ever had a running gait analysis done? What did you learn?