Morning Run 01/14
Another cold run. 3 degrees on returning home. Cold, puffy, icicle face above. 60 minutes today. 45 minutes on trainer yesterday.
Endurable Me.
Archive for January, 2007
Shedding Skin and a New Journey Begins
Ran this morning. Forty-five minutes. According to the weather site, it was a ripe 1 degrees (or I guess degree) when I got home. It was cold for sure, but I didn’t think it was that cold. If I had checked before the run I probably would have skipped it and missed a cool and unique experience.
Immediately stepping outside my lungs contracted and I started coughing. The Air perhaps too crisp and pure for my lungs. Lungs that have been exposed to the unpure at times — in their 37 years of supporting me. It was like taking in a drag of a cigarette down by the creek behind the school when I was thirteen. The immediate recoil of my lungs stated emphatically,
get the hell out - don’t need that stuff.
I must say it hurt a little when my lungs rejected the purity of the cold Air this morning. Almost stating,
This is too good, you don’t deserve it. Go back inside and sit on your butt.
Fortunately I forged on, the mind battling the body. And after a few minutes the lungs accepted the oxygen and sucked it in deeply and with vigor. And the Elements knew I was for real, not to be taken lightly.
I ran along the River, which immediately brought to mind my theme/motivation trailer for this year’s Ironman. The River was flowing, but flowing with hundreds of ice formations breaking apart and reflecting the morning sun into my eyes. A smoky mist was rising off the surface, like a scene from a movie — the morning mist, smoke coming off the marsh, soldiers on horses (and Triathletes on bikes) — silouettes coming through the fog.
The Air I breathed out forming condensation on my two-week growth beard, then freezing. Mini icicles burrowing into my facial hair. The slightest change of facial expression causing a crackling effect, I could feel it break free from literally freezing.
I journeyed beneath an underpass, on the River’s edge. The sun reflecting off the water and ice and radiating through the opening on the other side. Like a train’s bright light coming out of a tunnel, at first startling — then I just paused and marveled at what I have access to. The Universe itself pulling me forward, making training and the long, hard journey to becoming an Endurable Athlete an experience that is special and memorable. As if it was speaking directly to me, saying…
It’s o.k., the journey will be long and hard, but if you pass the tests and forge ahead I’ll give you moments like these to keep you going. We’re in this together. Have faith.
As I continued, and rose above the River, it gave the appearance of a snake — long and winding. Steam coming off it’s back as it basks in the sun. The ice formations breaking and flowing off down River — the snake shedding it’s skin and sliding out of it — preparing for a new year. Starting fresh and beginning a new Journey.
I too am that snake, shedding the old skin to build a new, stronger me. Basking in the sun, enjoying the pureness of the morning, how good it feels to breathe in fresh air — to start anew as 2007 begins.
Another endurance journey is afoot — and you reader are encouraged and more than welcome to join me!
So, to quote myself…
We are endurable! Get pumped boys and girls, 2007 is going to Rock!
Checking In; Team Updates
Well day eight of 2007 and so far so good. Been sticking with my diet for the most part. Again diet for me is making sure my calories are correct for the day and that I get more of them from protein (fish, chicken, lean meats) and less from sugar, wheat/flour, and dairy. Had a little off the wagon moment on Saturday as I enjoyed some bread and a couple beers. But beyond that, I’ve been pretty good. Even brought a small snack size cracker jacks to the movies this weekend instead of my usual small popcorn. The software I’m using to track calories gives me a pretty good look into how much crap is in a lot of stuff. Just excess carbs or empty calories.
The software I’m using is Calorie King. I like it because it’s very basic and they have a version for Mac OSX. So I just pull it up and plug in what I ate, it gives me the nutritional breakdown and I’m done. You can set the percentages for your diet and it’ll show you how your doing. For example if you need a base of 2,000 calories a day and you use a 40/40/20 diet, then it’ll tell you exactly how many grams of protein/carbs/fat you need each day and as you plug in your meal it’ll update and show what you have left. Anyway i think it’s good because it’s making me more aware of what I’m putting into my system, a component of my training I’ve lacked in the past.
Some Team Updates
I’ve finally got through evaluating several different companies for the racing kits. I’ve decided to go with quality over branding. Meaning I’ve chose to order from a company that makes quality triathlon apparel and then heta transfer our logos on the clothing. As opposed to choosing a company that allows you to brand and color scheme the whole kit but may not be the best performance wear available. Matt tried the stuff on and said it’s the best he’s worn, so coming from a pro (and knowing other pros wear it) I think it’s the best decision. You guys will be fast! I’ll announce the supplier soon.
Still working on sponsors for the team. A little more difficult than I thought. Takes a long time for people to get back to you in this industry, maybe everyone’s out on their bikes? So since the overwhelming majority of voters were o.k. with sponsors, I’m still going to try and get some to help lower cost of kit or provide discounts on products and samples.
Been working on a new version of the site that will have a team section. The section will have a team photogallery, team roster, mapped location of members so easier to connect with one another, trying to come up with a race schedule piece, a new blog aggregator that just pulls in posts from team members, and then news, race-reports, columns etc from Team members and sponsors.
Here’s where I keep getting stumped, and hoping for some input from you guys. I tried for weeks and months to get this new system to play with the current forums/registration system, but just not going to happen and pulling my hair out. So this new Team section will only be available for team members. Everyone can read and see it, but only Team members can participate: post photos to team gallery, get mapped, get special sponsor discounts, be eligible for raffled off product, etc. And I have to manually set them up since it’s on a different registration system.
So, the issue - maybe… We have thousands of members in the forums and thousands more readers. I don’t want to create a Team that makes the others feel like they aren’t a part of the community. There is the free access community and everyone is part of that family but I want the Team to be something more, a way to extend the Trifuel brand and what we’re all about beyond the virtual and into the real world. Thus offering some of the things you may get from a local club. However, i can’t manage this for tens of thousands of readers. It’s only manageable for a subset of those who are serious about being a part of the team concept. So initially my though is everyone who buys a kit is on the team and that’s the differentiator. But, I don’t want to have a price tag of $60 dollars to be on the team. Many can’t afford that but may still want to be an active contributor and supporter of the team. As well many race under their local team colors and our Team isn’t meant to compete with that, rather to offer something to those that don’t have that available or that want to support what we’re building.
So in looking at the local club model, I’m thinking of maybe just asking for a recurring yearly fee like they do. But maybe just $20. So it’s very affordable to be on the team and take advantage of Team benefits and race with your buddies without the expense. And I’d price the kits so that the $20 bucks came back to those who wanted to race in team colors. So, $19.95 a year for Team membership and then you’d get $20 bucks off you kit purchase. So a wash for those already buying a kit, but a way for others to be a part of the team as well.
So other than creating a subset of loyal users that would be easier to manage and give access to product discounts and raffles, I think it would also act as a filter and keep out some of the pure marketers that occasionally show up in the forums. Basically trying to keep the quality of Trifuel as high as possible.
So more thoughts on the $19.95 membership benefits:
- 10-15% discount on Trifuel swag (t-shirts, socks, etc)
- Listing and participation in Team section
- Maybe a special forum just for Team members
- Eligibility for product give-aways and raffles
- Discounted Kits
- Maybe ability to comment directly on articles and news on the site
- Close up Trifuel.net blogs to Team members only (of course anyone currently with one can keep it regardless), so a free blog and I’d just manage that blog site for Team members only
- Perhaps even make Trifuel ad free for Team members. So no more ads on articles, news, forums, just maybe smaller sponsor logos.
So now where would the $19.95 go?
- Maybe someday if we get enough recurring members we can hire an official Team manager to help organize re-world events. That would be cool.
- Offset costs of managing Team site
- Flow money into get togethers or team camps
- Banners and/or booths at select races
- monthly product raffles
- maybe hiring coaches or specialists to answer Team questions and be a Team training consultant.
- Better original content for the site. Maybe podcasts or video training segments
- Allow me to spend more time trying to get better sponsors and deals for the Team
Anyway, I know that’s was just a lot to absorb. A big thanks if you got this far 
. This is what I struggle with, trying to wear a business hat and getting Trifuel to the next level of a valued product and brand, while maintaining the open grass roots community feel that the name was built on. I trust and appreciate the feedback I get from you readers, so please let me know your thoughts.
300 and 140.6
I’m a huge movie fan. Can’t get enough. So, my jaw dropped a bit when I saw this trailer at the theater recently.
The name of the movie is 300, from the graphic novelist Frank Miller (Sin City). If you like epic period pieces with battle scenes, heros, heroins, etc., this looks like it won’t disappoint. All that high intensity battle stuff with some seriously cool looking special effects.
So, why post about it on my Triathlon blog? Watch it. See if you don’t get pumped up when the soundtrack kicks in and the battle scenes begin. This is my Ironman Wisconsin anthem. Something to keep me pumped up.
Spartans, tonight we dine in hell.
Try replacing that with…
Ironmen, today we dine in hell.
Or better yet…
Trifuelers, today we dine in hell!
I dine in Hell each time I attempt a Half Iron or longer race. I choose to do so. It hurts, it’s agony at times, it’s suffering without question — but I enjoy it.
Before this battle is over, the world will know that few stood against many.
We are the few. Those who stand against the many that have become sedentary. We battle to set ourselves apart from the average person, perhaps our former selves. We set examples. We overcome. We are endurable.
Get pumped boys and girls, 2007 is going to Rock!
Check out extended versions on Movie site. Click Media then Trailers along the bottom.
Day 1, Blog Post 1
Well I’m doing great so far this year. First day of the year and I ran this morning and am now posting on my training blog. Patting myself on the back. Also haven’t been crazy working lately so hopefully that will continue. Going to Texas for a week and getting out of my normal routine was good. I feel rejuvinated and ready to start cranking on my projects this week.
Today I’m working on putting together the tools and plan for a better nutritional year. Evaluating some software that will track calories broken out by protein, fat, carbs. Also allows me to set targets for percentage breakdown.
Trying a new rotation diet with higher protein levels, based on principles from Paul Chek. He believes in Metabolic Typing and therefore different people should be on different diets based on body types and how you process foods.
Metabolic Typing is a means of formulating a specific diet for an individual, based on their genetic makeup. Many diets seek to provide a “one-size-fits-all” approach to what one should consume. Metabolic Typing advocates believe we are all different and therefore no standard diet applies. — from Wikipedia
So, according to my worksheets I’m a protein type and thus should be consuming more protein and less carbs. Don’t mistake this as being Atkins like, it’s just a different breakdown for good foods. So I’ll be doing 45% protein, 35% carbs, and 20% fats. He also advocates for organic, high quality meats. Then there is a rotation of foods so you’re not eating the same thing everyday. I believe the thinking behind this is to help flush out the system and improve metabolism and breakdown of foods. So you can’t eat rice or drink milk everyday, and by doing so your body can process all of it before you add more — so no buildup/storage of excess. I’ll also continue to limit my intake of dairy. Matt’s cut out wheat and says he feels great, so might try that as well, but that would mean no beer. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll try short term to check it out.
Back to the software… So evaluating one that will allow me to plug in that 45/35/20 and then track foods and their calorie breakdown and protein/carb/fat percentages. This way I can maintain the metabolic typing diet and track my calorie intake. I’ll elaborate as I continue trying things out. Time to get back to plugging in some meals and foods I can eat to create a basic meal plan.
Until next time.
The endurance life and blog of Tribro. My journey to a more endurance lifestyle and Ironman WI ‘07.