Zen and the Art of Triathlon

Blog Moved to www.zentriathlon.com!

2006-07-15T04:46:00.000-07:00

Hey, tri-studs! I went ahead and bought the zentriathlon.com domain and build a blog there. I'll miss the Blogger site, but we all have to grow up and leave the house someday. You can play audio right from the new blog. Drop on in and leave a comment!

Hate Mail to Barnes and Noble

2006-06-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

I sat down with my laptop to do a ton of work at Barnes and Noble on Sunday morning, assuming that they had free wireless internet (this is 2006, right?), only to be confronted with a "please pay ATT Wireless $3.95 for two hours" page. I can go to my local ice skating rink and get free wireless, so why would such a progressive bookstore be asking for such a steep rate? I was very irritated, especially because I had dragged a 1.5 year old in there with me and all my crap to do some work. I bitched about it at work and found that lots of people knew about this and NOBODY liked it. Of course, the only way to initiate change is to let people know. Here's a copy of my complaint form to B&N. Wake up!

"I was very disappointed to find out that your store in College Station, TX charges for wireless internet. I lugged my child and laptop in there for coffee and to buy a magazine and get some work done when I found out that it costs almost 4 dollars for two hours of access. I (and everyone else) am already paying for internet at home and I'm not going to pay more, especially when I can get it for free at almost every other business I go to. I packed up my child and laptop and went to Coffee Station instead and spent my money there. I also was telling people at work and in my neighborhood about this situation and they said that even DAIRY QUEEN has free wireless internet. Please quit charging for it so that I may go back to your store and spend my money while doing my work and not feel like I'm getting ripped off. You'll attract far more customers that way than charging for it."

I feel bad for airing my complaint to everybody, but it was very annoying to drive there, drag everything in, then have to do it all over again to go to a place with coffee and free internet. Let's hope they open up their access and quit charging for what's free everywhere else and losing business over it. I know it'll change someday soon anyway, but the sooner the better.

Dinner with the Triathlete Family

2006-06-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Join me, Emily, and Kai for dinner as I try to hold the house down and record a podcast at the same time. (Click Here to Listen!)

The infamous Triborg 5000 starts off the show with his recommendation on pre-race fine dining, followed by audio from IronJay describing what sounds to be a terrible injury from racing. But, that's not even the beginning. I also play "He is Lance" and is dedicated to the listener who, much like Emily, has a huge crush on Mr. Armstrong. Giggles!

I've also got a high quality recording from Jumpy doing the Batavia Triathlon along with some friends. I picked out Chuck Norris's Beard in that group and then Jumpy interviews the race winner. Next, I've included audio from Scott and his review of the Skyline-Harlem Criterium in Harlem, NY. Lastly, I've got Jetpack's first attempt at recording himself and I have to say it's pretty good. It's got bits of him trying to transition from bike to run and also of his mother fretting over his safety. I think we've all been there!

Intermingled in all that audio I talk about a variety of subjects. I blab about weight loss, alleycat racing, and so much more. One of the subjects is sunscreen, and you gotta check out this video from 20/20. It features one of my pet peeves, the inability to pause or rewind, so here's the goods: You want sunscreens with one of the following ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, or parsol 1789... but try to use products with the first two. Avobenzone degrades very quickly, but you can look for a stabilizer (for the avobenzone) called "helioplex" available in just these two products - Aveeno continuous Protection sunblock lotion and Neutrogena Age Shield. There's one ingredient the rest of the civilized world is using that isn't available in the U.S.A called Mexoryl, but we're either too good or too stupid to use it safely in the States. Damned dirty UVA rays!

Hold on a moment, I'd like to have a technical segment here. I've been watching the releases of MP3 players forever and a very good one has just come out. Getting one of the highest reviews possible from CNET, the Creative Zen V will be on shelves probably in mid July. It's one of the few players I'd recommend for triathletes that performs on par (actually better) than the iPod Nano. 1, 2, and 4 gig models will be available and they are all flash-based, so you can really beat the suckers up and they'll keep rockin'. They are small and lightweight, so they're perfect for running and biking and don't get in the way when traveling or just carrying along with you during the day. I'm saving up for one right now. (Prices range from $119 to $229.) With and OLED screen and the ability to play video, FM radio, record line-in, and record memos, this baby has the Nano beat on price and functions. The only detractor is that it currently won't function as an external drive. That could change with a firmware update, so we'll see how that pans out. Check out a full review here.

Don't forget to listen to the end of the podcast to find out what "sebaka" means and how I found out.

Injury and Prevention (of the Lower Leg)

2006-06-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hey, Tri-studs! Coach Adam joins us for another phone chat session podcast, but this time he brings along "Eskimo" who works for Biomotion; a company that analyzes injury through motion analysis. We have a variety of other guests on the line as well and the show runs a very informative hour and a half long. Click here to listen.

Another famous friend who pops in is the Tri-Geek Kahuna. Hear him talk about his calf injury and discover some ideas about how to treat his problem. You can always hear more of his own podcast show at Tri-Geek Dreams.

Audio has been piling in, including lots of stuff from listeners and even music samples from my own family, so I've Also, we should welcome Cara and Elizabeth back from their trip abroad. Hear some funny details of their experiences by checking out intransitduo.com

Jetpack Arrives!

2006-06-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Join me for a scorching bike ride as I play "Pent Up" by CBA, some voice
mails, hold an initial review of the Adeo, and then go running with the
one and only Jetpack.

Listen to the Podcast here!

I first heard CBA's "Pent Up" at the tail end of a Slashdot Review
podcast a couple weeks ago. I was very impressed with the tune's
Zen-like sounds and depth, especially the asian flute and buddhist monk
chants. You can download this song yourself at garageband.com

Voicemails include one from a listener in Chicago and a second one from
Jetpack saying he might come visit.

The Adeo is an audio-GPS from Motionlingo and certainly one of the most
interesting gadgets I've seen. I'm still testing it, but I can say that
this is the GPS for you if you listen to MP3s and don't like to have a
bulky GPS on your wrist. I can see lots of variations of this
technology coming in the future. Make sure to listen to the podcast to
hear the Adeo call out information as I'm working out. More review yet
to come! Here's a pic of the unit -

Lastly, Jetpack arrived in town and we went for a 5k run. We recorded it for the podcast and all of us stayed up late talking about triathlon, surviving cancer, and lots more. Jetdriver wants to try to do my next self-supported ironman with me, so I'm going to organize it around his schedule sometime this November.

Emily and I are getting ready to go tubing down the Guadalupe River with her family, so I've gotta cruise. I'll leave you with a funny picture from Jetdriver's visit. He had a "I do my own stunts" shirt that Kai and I had as well!

Huck Hosts!

2006-06-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

The only thing the Zentri Army likes to hear more than me being chased by dogs down a lonely Texas highway is the sweet voice of Mrs. Zentri giving me attitude. We sat down and I gave her the reigns to the show. I supplied her with some talking points and how to move the show along, but the rest is pure "Huck". Click here to listen!

Emily is a triathlete, extremely competitive with others, a mom, and also has type 1 diabetes. I really enjoy having her on the show because she brings the female perspective with vigor. "Huck" is training for her first Olympic distance race this July (Ironhead Dallas Triathlon) and may possibly do her first Half IM this fall at Lake Conroe. Being diabetic, nutrition poses a difficult obstacle, but that's all part of the game.

Listen closely and you can hear what it's like living with another competitive personality in the house. If she's not cutting me off, she's accusing me of hogging the show. Emily also gets tired of being refered to as the wife of a triathlete when she is one herself. If you have any personal questions for her, drop her a message at erhodes at rocketmail.com. No belly button piercing recommendations allowed! ;)

Show notes are as follows -

Breast cancer ride PSA

Brett's and Huck's workouts.

Audio from Syd. Also, he'll be sending us audio from biking in the lava
fields in hilo hawaii.

Cav's thread about getting married.

Voicemail about leather running outfit.

Time on Triscoop/computer vs. family.

Belly dancing/tattoos and piercings.

Underground racing.

Jumpy's test audio

Race in Grand Prairie-July 16th (olympic). Ironhead Dallas Triathlon

Tetetimetrial interview about Alcatraz coming soon.

2 new suprise sponsors

Big apple classic criterium coming from scott soon.

Down Time

2006-06-02T03:36:00.000-07:00

A very compelling aspect of Zen is the breaking down of something large and looking for its essence in the smaller pieces. Where is the "quality" in a bicycle, for example? Another Zen skill is to take a large task and break it up into smaller bits, and to complete those smaller tasks with your utmost skill to make the large task more enjoyable. A good analogy is that when you have to wash a bunch of dishes and you don't really care to, wash each dish attentively and with care, as if you are washing just that dish and that dish alone. "When you wash dishes, only wash dishes." When you focus, you can find great enjoyment in completing a task well. We can all recall Mr. Miagi telling Daniel-son to repair his fence one paint stroke and one nail hammering at a time and how that helped Daniel grow as a competitor.

When you get tired of training, do you ever step back and just enjoy life for a few days? Take enjoyment in completing mundane tasks with your best effort at focusing? I did and recorded what happened in this podcast.

I first took on a job that I'm not particularly adept at: car repair. My wife's car wasn't starting on a regular basis, so I approached the problem with focused attention. My driveway ended up a mess of tools, cables, and acidic fluids that most of us drink (Coke), but the job was done, and done with an actual bit of beauty if I might say so myself. I have a long history of doing work but not cleaning up after myself, so this is where I applied Zen the most: A job is not done until you put everything away.

Next, I rewrapped my bike's bar-tape. I completed the task diligently and correctly, using electrical tape to finish off the wrapping, just like I should've done the first time. I now look forward to this weekend's ride instead of dreading the ever-shifting bar tape and the hard spots it reveals.

With those two tasks out of the way, I sat down and recorded myself talking to Prof. Erich and later to him and Coach Adam while using VOIP. (You can call me and leave up to a two minute voice mail at 512-CRY-DELI, btw.) With no stress hanging over my head, I captured the sounds of multiple triathletes having fun with no pressures of training. You might say these are the sounds of Triathletes in the Wild. Very silly at times, but quite entertaining. Hang in there til the end and you'll get a big dose of 80's rock trivia.

I also held the first ever Virtual Triathlon in Second Life (S.L.) S.L. is a virtual reality realm that is very cool, but regrettably takes a relatively powerful or modern computer to handle. The members of the Zentri Army that could make it jumped off the end of a yacht, swam around a sailboat, then returned to the marina. We then got on our virtual bikes and raced along an oceanside road, dumping the bikes to finish out the course while running across some high bridges. It was truly bizzare, but there was most definitely some competitive juices flowing. Participants were asking when the next one will be held, so I'm announcing that we'll do another on June 13th. Here's a picture of us at the finish line!

This podcast also includes audio from Moonpie and Tetetimetrial as they called the "Deli-Line" after completing a local tri, a voicemail from a triathlete in Stockholm, Sweden, and audio from Scott as he rode in a 100+ mile fundraiser ride on the East Coast. You guys and gals that send me audio really make my day. I'll say it over and over again; you are what make the show so interesting!

I've gotten some more audio in the inbox, so I gotta cruise and start putting together another podcast. Emily is talking about hosting the next show, which should be a big hit with her fans.

If you're interested in being in the next Virtual Triathlon, shoot me an email at texafornia at gmail.com for details. Strangely enough, you have to train for it, which might be a good way to busy yourself if you have some Down Time of your own.

Are You a Triathlete or Just a Swimmer, Biker, and Runner?

2006-05-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

On occasion, I take my listeners with me to the Tyler, TX area for "Hill Training Camp". You can join me on this podcast to hear me do one of my classic train of thought diatribes as I cruise about a yet-to-be-finished highway in the middle of the woods.

Tyler is quite hilly and I love torturing myself on the terrain whilst riding my fixed-gear bike and running barefoot over surfaces that could barely be qualified as paved. The mix of deep woods, narrow roads, the rare passing car, and evil dogs is something I live for. If you have relatives that live in a hilly area, go pay them a visit!

I recorded this podcast on a hot, windy day; the second day of my new training format. I was reading Wes Hobson's article on training misconceptions (You can read that here) and was particularly struck by #6. He's basically telling us to quit training like swimmers, bikers, and runners and to train like triathletes instead. Being your ever-loyal tri lab rat, I put it to the test.

I usually run long on Saturday and bike long on Sunday. A long run for me consists of 6 miles in the morning and another 6 in the evening. This method is supposed to be as good as doing all 12 at once and gives you a lot more options in planning your day and support while in the field. My long bike is anywhere from 50 to 70+ miles in the brutal Texas heat, parusing about on wild-ass country roads with 70 mph speed limits and no shoulder, often in the upper 90's and high humidity, the more the better. I only take one pit stop, two if you're lucky. This is known by my buddies as "The Ride of Truth" or "The Church Ride" because if you're not in shape, you're going to find out the truth about yourself under that blazing sun or you'll calling out for God or one of his associates for help or to kill the idiot who suggested this ride. It's doable, but screw up and you'll melt because the latter 35 miles have no stores along the way. Yay, pain!

While I love my epic battle with the futility of living in a furnace every Sunday morning, I thought I'd do the Wes Hobson thing and train like a triathlete. First change: Bricks! I think every triathlete should be asking him/herself "How can I be doing more bricks?" I've been doing this a lot lately and finding it very rewarding. I run after I surf (exhausting!), bike to swim laps at the pool, run home after working all day, and run home from swimming. I don't do it all the time, but I'm sure doing it a lot more than I used to. Second move: Switch up these biking and running torture sessions into two much more useful brick torture sessions.

You see, If I bike 2 hours and then run 6 miles on both Saturday and Sunday, I'm getting in the exact same volume as I was before, but it's much more beneficial on race day. I'm sure I won't be able to do it all the time, but wouldn't this fall under the catagory of smarter training? Not sure? Let me tell you how it went and you decide.

First off, all my my running and biking to and from work and swimming has already made me feel more balanced. I'm not totally beat down from just one thing and then switching gears completely to take on the next task. I feel more solid and capable of taking on mixes of workouts than ever before. It's strange, but I actually feel like a triathlete instead of somebody who's competent at swimming, biking, and running.

This weekend's bricks were the clincher. Saturday, I cruised up and down steep hills on my fixie for two hours and then hit the pavement with my bare feet for a 6 mile run. I was a full mile into the run before I realized "Oh! I'm supposed to be in pain or at least uncomfortable because this is a brick run!" Truth is, I totally forgot. No pain, all gain. I cruised up and down those Tyler grades at a comfortable 9-9.5 minute mile while easily staying under 150 BPM.

Sunday was a different story. I went into it thinking it'd be the same as Saturday, but I was very wrong. The Tyler hills don't happen that often for me, so my calves were woefully sore and talking back to me as soon as I started running off the bike. That and the exhaustion from Saturday's drill and the afore mentioned bike ride began to really kick in. I immediately began trying to rationalize my way out of this mistake of a workout. Can I cut it short? How about walking? Nobody cares, so walking's cool, right? And the heat. Damn that heat.

It's then I realized how beneficial this workout truly was. I was feeling right then how I feel at an emotional downturn during a race. I knew it was only six miles and I was capable of doing it, so it was time to turn down the screws and do some pain training. I plodded along in the Sun, not allowing myself to stop except for a few really steep grades that sent my HR way too high, sipping away at my gatorade and imagining I was out on a half IM course. I've run the entire 13.1 half IM course before, so I can do 6 miles now. Experience is an amazing coach.

Let's compare the results: I could've run 12 miles one day, then biked 4 hours or more on tired legs the next. Tough, but what's the point? Method number two had me simulating race conditions EXACTLY, albeit with a much lower heart rate. I also spent 2 hours doing brick runs. That's enough said right there.

I'm hoping to switch to method number two more often than not. I get pretty peeved that I train so hard only to blown away on the run during a half IM. I really admire those speed demons, but I think there's more to it than just genes. I think that if I do this often enough, I can bump up the distances a little and be on the freakish side of good in just a few months. I'd like to see myself doing 3 hour bike rides and 10 mile brick runs eventually. Crazier things have happened.

Other notes about this show: I talk about Moonpie's overuse injury and Jetdriver's first half IM. Music featured is "No One Understands" by Berman, found on the Podshow Music Network.

Outpacing Cycling's Elite

2006-05-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

If you're a fan of outright endurance over speed, you'll love this podcast. Gregg and I joined up with our local cycling group for their weekly 50 miler ride and we were put to the test. Now, these dudes and dudettes aren't newbies or slackers. To their credit, each one is very fast on the bike, possibly every one of them faster than me or Gregg. Not only that, but the ATM cycling team was enforce, all matching in their maroon jersies.

The group numbered almost 20 riders, all on very nice bikes and all very obviously very fast. There were three things about me that they didn't know (and probably didn't care about): 1. I was not interested in going fast. This was "below 150 HR ride" for me. 2. I'd ridden this course with these dudes before, long ago, and I knew that they stopped for rather long periods at least once. I don't like to stop. Period. 3. I'm a triathlete and I've been training forever to not have to stop. Triathlons are long periods of time-trial style riding and there are no breaks, even in the shelter of a peleton. I don't need to stop.

Oh, and in case there's any doubt about my insanity... I was riding my 1985 fixed gear. And I already ran 3 miles that morning and was planning on running another 3 later in the day.

So we start off and everything's cool. These guys just putt along for the first 9 miles or so, which is fine. It's good to warm up those muscles. Besides, my HR was already 134 and that's ok. Eventually, they start picking up the pace. I manage two pulls at the front before I'm so far over the max of my target HR that I give up the ghost. These dudes were MOVING. I think we were cruising along at 24/25 at that point.

I drop off the back and don't feel embarrassed. I know these guys are fast and riding faster than I wanted to. That and I'm very limited on my top speed riding a fixie. Gregg kept up with them for a short distance longer and then he fell off as well. He said that he wouldn't be able to keep up that kind of pace and make it the whole ride. Totally understandable.

I consoled Gregg by telling him I'm just cruising along at 150 BPM and it's overall a better base training method than what the others were doing. Besides, they stop at a gas station at the turnaround point and sit there for a long time. We'll surely catch them then.

So, now we get to the meat of the story - the part that illustrates the difference between pure cyclists and triathletes. Pure cyclists ride with lots of time in pacelines and at insane speeds, spending a vast amount of time taking turns sheltering each other from the wind. They also rarely carry more than two waterbottles. Anything more is considered bulky and not efficient and rightly so. Just take a look at what pro cyclists have on their bikes in a race vs. what a triathlete has on his/her bike in a photo in Triathlete Magazine. In contrast with the pro cyclist, the Ironman's bike has fuel all over it, often literally taped to the frame.

So there Gregg and I are, alone, riding along with me calling out my HR numbers for the both of us, and with our Camelbaks loaded with fluid and Bento Boxes holding fuel. We're also riding side by side, as many triathletes do, taking the wind head on as the pack of cyclists that dropped us are undoubtedly riding in a paceline and making much better time than us. I don't like to ride in a paceline. I like to ride full on into the wind because I'm not out there to cover the distance as fast as possible. I'm out there to work my body and every bit of resistance is good.

We roll into Caldwell, TX and pass the peleton. They're chilling at the gas station, bikes piled up in the parking lot. I told Gregg that he could stop and break with them, but I'm going to keep going. "It'll drive them CRAZY if we don't stop and we're out in front of them." Gregg stayed with me.

So we're riding back, going with the wind, and keeping it under 150. Gregg isn't as much of a student of the "below 150 for base" school as I am, so he's pulling ahead of me, but keeping me in sight. He pulls over to pee, so I catch him and we chat a bit. I tell him that we will be incredibly lucky to get much farther before the peleton runs us down. We ride, no peleton. We go farther, still no peleton. I tell him that we'll be lucky to make it to Twisters, a local gas station, before they catch us. That's at about mile 42 of the ride. I keep looking over my shoulder to watch for the immenent pack and their crushing speed.

With Twisters about a mile away on the horizon, I see the peleton. They are riding with the wind and staggered apart. The fastest guys have broken off the front and are hammering hard. I yell to Gregg "Here they come!" and he shouted back in confirmation that he'd seen them as well. We'd make it to Twisters before them, but no farther. I told Gregg that I'm not stopping. I want to see how far I can get before they catch me. Gregg sticks with the crazy man on the fixie.

We turn at Twisters and get on the home stretch of highway. I turn back to look and the peleton had disappeared! They had stopped at Twisters! Gregg and I finish out the ride with me nervously looking over my shoulder, but they never appeared again.

Triathletes take a lot of ribbing from cycling purists that we're slower than they are and we have "too much crap" on the bike. While this may be true, we can rightfully claim that they ride sheltered most of the time and often don't have the mental toughness to ride as long as us, fueling atop the bike along the way. A cyclist may "drop" a triathlete like a sack of potatos, but the triathlete is nearly sadistic in the amount of abuse he/she will take before getting off the bike or, God forbid, resting in the draft of another cyclist.

I hope this story gives some support to those tri-geeks out there who've been chastized by others for riding differently on our odd-looking bikes. No cyclist is better than another. We train differently for different reasons. You never know if the guy you passed sucks or if he's going to run 10 miles after getting off the bike and is just pacing himself. Here's the stats from the ride -

53 miles
Upper 80's with strong winds
Bike - 1985 Kuwahara fixed gear, 48x18 ratio
Avg HR - 145
Avg MPH - 17.3
Zero stops.
Fuel on the bike - 70 oz of water with salt added, 20 oz of gatorade with salt added, 2 cliff shots, one bite of Cliff Bar.

Oh yeah, ran 3 miles before, and another 3 miles that evening. TRIATHLON!

Coach Adam's Chat, Part 1.

2006-05-12T04:50:00.000-07:00

We recorded this week's Coach's Corner teleconference and I'm putting the first half of it in this week's podcast. Click Here to Listen. I also play a voicemail from the UK and announce the first ever virtual triathlon in Second Life. Details are still to come, but you better get in there and practice!

Tri-de-Mayo Sprint Triathlon

2006-05-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

What's better than doing a sprint triathlon? How about a sprint triathlon in your own town and having pros show up and start in your wave?

Today's podcast is the audio review of the Tri-de-Mayo, a rather small sprint tri with some big names. When there's only 300 people, pros like Jamie Cleveland and Andrea Fisher really stand out. Click here to listen!

As you can guess, this show has some great audio from the race. It includes interviews with Jamie and Andrea, a pre and post race commentary by myself and my beautiful co-host Emily, and a couple of voicemails. It is a definite "dont miss" show that will remind you of your own racing experiences.

There's two other issues we need to chat about. First, Zentri has been inducted into the Race Athlete Performance Network. The RAPN is a collection of the best podcasts and blogs about endurance sports and will hopefully result in some revenue! I've spent a lot of time on our mothership site (www.raceathlete.com) and the content is really good.

Second, I mentioned on this show that I received a ice pack from Snow Pack (www.snowpackusa.com) It's actually pretty darn cool! I must admit that I'm not an ice-user, so I was struggling with a reason to test it out. Well, I was really sore after this race and used it on my shin and instep. It worked pretty darn good! The big selling point is that the stuff has a consistancy of snow and molds to fit your body.

Ok, enough of that. Check out the show and visit www.raceathlete.com!

MS 150 show!

2006-05-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

I cobbled together the audio I recorded from the MS 150 into a show and you can check it out here. It was a great experience and I want to thank all those that donated, especially www.teamforkids.org. The ride totalled 175 miles and traveled from Houston to Austin over two days.

I decided to be weird (big suprise) and do the whole thing on a single-speed road bike geared at 48 x 18. There was much consternation by certain folks that I wouldn't be able to make it, and I found that laughable. EVERYTHING used to be done on single-speeds, including the Tour de France, and those bikes used to weigh 50 lbs. Check out the show to find out if I was able to climb the steep hills on day two without falling off my bike!

Ironman Australia Podcast!

2006-04-27T04:51:00.000-07:00

Hey, tri-homies! I finally got all the audio from Cav and got the time to assemble it into a podcast. (Click here to listen). It's great stuff from inside the mind of a first time Ironman who pulled it off in 11 hours! I also included two voicemails from the Tour de Georgia. Wow!

The intro music is the song EOF from Computer Science rapper MC Plus+. Check out his website at www.mcplusplus.com. It's great stuff. Here's an email I got from him just yesterday -

"Brett B,What up homie? Of course you can play it patna. I really appreciate thatyou are feelin' what MC Plus+ is trying to do. Please play it and I'd appreciate if you could tell people that they can donate money so I can getthis second album to happen.Look out for the second album coming this summer.Much Love,MC Plus+"

The next podcast will be the audio from the MS 150 bike ride and then I'll have audio from a sprint triathlon. W00t!

Halfway through the MS150 and relaxing

2006-04-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

Hey, yos! Halfway through the MS150 and relaxing in a team tent.
Riding singlespeed, which has been fun so far, but 'morrow is going to
be really hilly. Gregg's doing everything short of betting money that
I'm gonna have to walk some of the hills in particular. He doesn't know
about my Tyler hill training! More later.
--thirdcoast

MS150 Prepping

2006-04-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

Howdy, Yos!

I'm packing up tonight to do the MS150 (a looooooooooong bike ride) and I thought I'd update my blog. Wow, I've done a ton of podcasts since I last updated. Here's the list -

The Key to Pyramids

I dump a bunch of voicemails on ya from the Boston Marathon, Singapore, and the Tour de Georgia.

This House of Ironman is Built with Bricks

I play tons of voicemails as I cruise the Texas countryside and almost get hit by a car.

Coach Adam Holds Class

Coach Adam holds a conference call and answers training questions for over an hour.

Gizmo chat with Moonpie and Jetdriver

Moonpie and Jetdriver call in from sun-soaked Florida as they prepare for a sprint triathlon.

What Would Buddha Do?

Join me for a 9 mile run on a deserted Texas highway as I get dehydrated, sick, then talk about stuff I really don't know anything about. Bloopers at end.

Hope all this entertains you as you get some killer workouts in. Out!

Triscoop Review and Killer Junebugs

2006-04-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

I've got two podcasts for you. The first is a Triscoop Review where Herr Professor and I sit down and chat about what's new on www.triscoop.com. We introduce the new Race Database! Check it out and submit and check out races all over the world.

A few days later, I went out on a brick workout. You can listen to it by clicking here. I recorded the entirity of the bike ride and a few minutes after the barefoot run. I was attacked at the end by a rabid junebug the size of 16 pregnant watermelons, so don't miss it. I play several voicemails, talk about how to ride in a group, and babble on and on about HR, all while riding on country roads.

GET ON YOUR BIKE AND RIDE!

2006-03-31T21:03:00.000-08:00

Hey, Yos! I recorded myself while going for a night ride, blabbing about all things Triathlon. Turned out pretty sweet! Check it out here. Song is "Bike Ride" by ScanLan from the Podshow Music network.

Bluebonnet Express Part 2

2006-03-26T18:57:00.000-08:00

Wuzzup, wizzles? The second part of the Bluebonnet is a killer 90 minutes long (Click here to listen) and this is the part with the bike wreck and surfing audio. Don't miss out on the part where Emily calls me "anal" and then starts mocking my voice.

I'm putting together the audio from doing the Simply Stu triathlon and recalling today's bike ride - 18.43 miles in exactly one hour in rolling hills, high wind, ON THE KUWAHARA! Gregg was snickering at me when we were saddling up, but I didn't here any more snickering after we got rollin'. TRACK BIKES ARE FAST!!!

Looking for a group to start training with and a real reason to get your tri on? Check out Coach Adam's Teamforkids.org.

Bluebonnet Express Part 1

2006-03-19T07:30:00.000-08:00

I recorded so much audio for my latest show, I'm going to have to break it up into two parts. Part 1 (Click here to listen) contains clips from me trying to ride my fixed gear bike for the first time, Emily and I prepping you for the Bluebonnet, and then some audio from the ride itself.

The Bluebonnet Express is a local fundraiser ride which draws about 1600 folks of all cycling abilities. Riders have an option of 25, 46, or 62 miles. We had sustained 22 mph winds that day and I rode a single-speed (48x18) for the 46 mile trip. Next week's show will contain a wreck from the ride and a "ride review" from Emily and myself. ENJOY!

Triscoop Review - Crouching Chuck Hidden Norris

2006-03-14T20:07:00.000-08:00

Moonpie joined me for a long Triscoop review where we chatted about a vast number of triathlon topics and it all came crashing down when we saw that Drew was shaving himself and posting pictures online. I also dish out the story of how I came within 6 inches of Chuck Norris a few weeks ago.

Listen in to get the dirt on the possibility of a Triscoop Podcast Network. What do you think?

March 5 Triscoop Review with Emily

2006-03-05T20:21:00.000-08:00

Hey, tri-studs! Emily sat down with me on Friday evening and poured over Triscoop.com in great detail. This is definitely the Metrosexual episode... or the Aerosexual... We talked about leg shaving, speedos, even vasectomies (gives me chills). Cav pipes in from down under to give us his experience in the speedo-happy land of Oz.

The Kuwahara bill has pushed us into the red, so we had to cut short our 5k race we were going to do and go run on our own instead. This weekend was one of the greatest ever, with us swimming, running, and biking to our hearts' content. I think I'll record a 'cast tomorrow night about what all we did and how we did it.

Kuwahara Pix

2006-03-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

Ok, here's pics of my Kuwahara build, tattoo arm warmers, and my favorite t-shirt all in one push. The Kuwi still needs black bar tape, some touch up paint, and a bigger chainring, but all things with time (and mo money!) Arm warmers are sweet and shock people just for a second. The t-shirt comes from swimming at our outdoor pool for more than 50 miles or so during the winter months. You can look closely and it reads "only wimps swim indoors".

Rocky Raccoon Video!

2006-03-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

Sup, Tri-studerinos! We have for you the first podcast video of an offroad ultra-marathon, the Rocky Raccoon 100! Click here to download the video (plays in iTunes or Quicktime) and sit back to enjoy the pre-race meeting, interview with the winner, footage from the course, and the finish in the darkness of the forest at night. Thanks again to everybody involved and especially to Chris for letting me tag along. I think I'm going to do the 50 miler next year!

I released another podcast the other day with audio from me doing a brick workout at night. I almost get pinched between a car and brick mailbox and then Cody picks a fight with a very mean shadow. I also use a heart rate monitor the whole time and describe how I use it to get a better workout. You can download it here.

Lastly, the Kuwahara project is nearly done. It's sitting in my garage now after I picked it up from the bike shop. It's currently a single speed with coasting ability and the fixed gear is on order. It also has the wrong gear on the front - a 40 instead of a 48. I took it for a spin and it's roughly the same speed as a bmx bike, maybe a tad faster. The fit seems great and it's a real hoot riding a bike and not having any gears to worry about. The downside is that it had a flat (hole at the base of the valve) when I got it home, then another flat when I was out riding it, very far from the house. I called Emily on the cell and she came out to pick me up. I have one last tube and changed it again, then took the bike for one last spin. I took one of the dead tubes and cut out a section and made a chain slap guard out of it. I didn't take any pix because the sun had gone down and the paint looks too flat under artificial light. Probably some pix tomorrow. The correct gears should show up any day! Hasta Manana, yos!

Triscoop Review with Drew

2006-02-24T10:46:00.000-08:00

I'd like to thank Drew for taking the time to chat with me and record this podcast. We talk about lots of shizzle, including being a real man and wearing a speedo, the Tour of California, fixed-gear bikes, and tons of other stuff. I asked him to co-host because I knew he was really familiar with Triscoop.com. Maybe you'll be next!

The weather turned good enough for me to get one solid coat of primer on my Kuwahara. Prof. Erich is currently working in his mad scientist lab and turning out a hella sweet decal for the ride. Wait, I've got a copy of it around here.

Lastly, remember the scene from Something about Mary where the serial killer was upset because somebody might come up with 6 minute abs instead of 7 minute abs? What if Seven Cycles had competiton from Eight? Oh no!

Swim Rant

2006-02-20T17:47:00.000-08:00

Yeah, so this podcast has me ranting about how to swim. It's my opinion that too many triathletes new to swimming look to Total Immersion only for the stroke instruction. They completely miss the boat on how to actually practice. Stroke technique is only half the picture.

I also play audio from Chris and I wandering around in the woods in 40 degree temps. We talk about heart rate, ferns, and my dalmation's fashion wear.

Music during the show is a killer tune by Sickidz - "The Flys". You can look them up under the "psychobilly" genre at music.podshow.com.

Bike Update

2006-02-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

I've stripped all the paint and rust off and I'm getting ready to repaint it chrome. I'm working on decals and came up with a cool one. I printed it out on paper and scotch taped it to the bare metal frame. It will look very similar to this. Kinda halfway between the Independent frame logos and Lemond. Orange and white on chrome will look super-sweet!

Happy Valentine's, Triscoop.com!

2006-02-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy to bring you this podcast because Emily and I introduce you to Triscoop.com! It's Zentri's new "home base" where the show really comes to life. Prof. Erich put in lots of hard work and designed it so it's as good as the best tri-sites out there, but the content can be driven by you, the listener. Not only can you submit news, articles, post on the forum, give shoutouts, check out gear reviews, get advice from a certified trainer, and review races, but once a week we will do a podcast and talk about the best of what's posted on the site. Sit back and listen to us pick out who's got the funniest posts, the coolest pix, most informative info, and whatever else is truly tri-geeked to the max.

Once again, Zentri brings you a triathlon first. We started with podcasting right from on top of a spin bike, then at race finish, next DURING an Ironman, then sponsoring an athlete's dream for Ironman Australia, and now a truly two-way triathlon podcast where the athletes drive the content in a way like never before. This platform is modeled after some of the most successful tech podcasts out there. Lots of you may not know yet that Triscoop.com has been in action for a few days already and many listeners have provided tons of great content during this show. It's on fire! Go check it out!

Rocky Raccoon mp3

2006-02-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

The podcast is up and available for download. I'll make a proper blog
entry later when I have more time. As usual, you blog readers get first
dibs. Link - http://informerandsnitch.com/~zentri/ZAT_02-10-06.mp3

Interviews include the head timer, lead pacer, cameraman, course medic,
volunteers, racers, and a Hammer Nutrition spokesperson and racer.
Sound quality is spotty at times, but this wasn't an easy environment to
record in. Congrats to everybody racing and enjoy!

--thirdcoast

The Mad Cyclist

2006-02-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

Sup, Tri-studs? I put out this video to appease those in need of some Zentri. Editing the audio from this weekend's race is taking much longer than expected, so I thought I'd give you something easier to produce while you wait. It's a combo of two different takes and my first ever effort at video editing, so keep that in mind. Enjoy!

By the way, we've launched www.triscoop.com in beta form and you're invited to check it out. You can use the forum, post shout-outs, vote on the TDF poll, submit news and articles, and soon... something REALLY cool. This will eventually be the home base of this podcast and I can't wait! This will be the only tri-website with a supporting podcast where we talk about what people are posting. Go ahead and skip posting on the frapper forum or the forum on blankner.com and use this one instead. Of course, blog readers are the first to find out and we'll keep it that way until you beta-testers give the site a good workout.

Preview to a Raccoon

2006-02-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

I went out to cover the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler championships and got TONS of audio and video. It's going to take me at least a few days to edit the audio and get it out to you guys, so be patient. It will be well worth it, because I got the true "behind-the-scenes" perspective on how they put on a 30 hour race and also the perspective of a spectator. The world record for 100 miles of trail running was set on this same course and yesterday's winner was within 45 seconds of it, but I won't tell you if he was faster or slower until you listen to the show. He did it in just over 13 hours, which equates to a 7:48 minute mile. FOR 13 HOURS.

Stay tuned!

KUWAHARA!

2006-02-01T19:28:00.000-08:00

This episode takes you with me as I work on my newfound project - a mid eighties Kuwahara 12 speed (A very Japanese bike. Hard to imagine with that giant freakin' Rising Sun right on the name badge, eh?). I'm tearing it down to the frame and fork, Chris is helping me paint it, and then I'm turning it into a fixie with a completely extra rear wheelset with a 3-speed hub for races. Most of the time it will be a fixed-gear single-speed and I will enjoy its total simplicity as just a sweet ridin' piece of steel. I've rescued it from a garage where it was literally rusting to death. Please stay tuned over the next few months as I make this baby into a bitchin' ride. I can paint a new name on the downtube, so I'm taking requests! Also, if anybody can find more information about this bike model, I'd love to hear about it.

So, I'm going to cover the Rocky Raccoon 100 and still need a volunteer for some of the video taping. Some of the biggest names in running will be there and you will be able to walk right up to them and say things like "Hey, I heard you run fast. But do you drive a Dodge Ram like Emily from Zentri?" Or "Running 100 miles sound tough. Do you drill speed holes in your shoes or wear a Bento Box in your shorts?" I need to hear from you ASAP, so email me at texafornia at gmail.com.

I also played some great audio on this show from listeners, including a cancer survivor and an XTERRA hopeful in Switzerland. Enjoy!

UPDATE! The music you heard on this podcast is "Gone" by Shadoz Edge. You can click here to listen to more samples of their music and find out how to buy it. I was really impressed with each song, so check them out!

Emily Co-hosts from within the Bento Box!

2006-01-30T20:02:00.000-08:00

Alert! I need help videotaping the running championships this weekend in Huntsville, TX. If you are planning on being there and want to help, let me know. You'll be on TV!

Ok, this show starts off with Emily and me talking about triathlon (click here to listen) and then us playing the voicemails from people trying to win the Bento Box while we go for a 3 mile run. Afterwards, I take you with me to Aggieland Cycles, play audio from another podcast describing high energy foods, and then surfing in Galveston. There are over 22 different audio tracks in this show. See if you can find them all.

I was very lucky to be interviewed by Endurance Radio recently. I couldn't have made it this far without the help of all of you in the Zentri Army, so thanks! Click here to listen to the interview.

Also, Richard and I co-hosted an episode of Runcast Weekly recently. We were supposed to release the show jointly, but I was too busy trying to put together this current show to be able to do it justice. He is all about running, and so many of you are true runners and should subscribe to his show. I heard a rumor that he's going to have the true "Man" of barefoot running on soon. Check out my co-hosting episode here and I'll release it as a podcast myself if I can get the chance.

Lastly, I played a short clip from Podclimber on this show. If you're interested in this topic, here's the whole interview - http://podclimber.com/index.php?id=46

Trail Running Championships

2006-01-25T18:33:00.000-08:00

Zentri is very excited to anounce that I and the Professor will be covering the National Trail Running Championships in Huntsville, TX on Feb. 4. We will be getting audio AND video from the course of this 100 and 50 mile race. The biggest names in distance running will be there and we will be there to bring it all to you! Here is the link to the website - http://www.usatf.org/groups/MountainUltraTrail/news/2006_Nationals.asp

-Brett

Trashy Bikes and Fast Women

2006-01-23T17:51:00.000-08:00

Hey, Tri-studs! I have another long show for you, most of it being a bike ride with some of my tri buddies. (Click here to listen) During the ride I promise to give you some links, so here they are: Gulfman Triathlon and Texas recumbent bikes. Ok, I didn't talk about the recumbents during the bike ride; I just found it today.

Anyway, I rode with my new adjustable stem angled up so I could be more comfortable in the aero position. What's so cool is that I can easily tweak it until I get it just the way I want it, then buy a solid one if I want. Nice. NICE! Here's some pics of it and they're also imbedded in the mp3. Still, it's become obvious that my bike frame is too small for me and I need a larger one. You listening, Javelin?

Scott sent me a great email about snowshoeing and how the show has helped him, so I asked him to send me an audio clip that I can play in the show. He's making it now, but here's the text while we wait:

"I wanted to mention a nice cross training activity for people living upnorth in the winter. I was up in Canada (Mont Tremblant) skiing with mygirlfriend and decided to spend one day in the national park snowshoeing.It was absolutely beautiful and a nice workout. We snowshoed 4.5 miles witha 300 meter elevation gain. There was no problem keeping warm even in 5degree weather. I used the Garmin 301 (bought on your recommendation) to keep track of distance and make sure I didn't get lost in the woods!"

Thanks, Scott! It's more input like yours that I'm wanting to put on the show in audio form. Send Mp3 or wav files to texafornia at gmail.com.

Lastly, Aggieland Cycling is giving us a Bento Box to give away on the show. You can see a picture of one in the pictures of my bike, just behind the stem. They are truly awesome and utilitarian. Be the 5th caller at 512-CRY-FDIC to leave a message saying what is your favorite aspect of Zen and the Art of Triathlon and you get it! You have to be in the USA and speak your mind in two minutes or less, ok? Cool. Audio will be played on the show, so speak clearly! It's so easy to do and you'll feel great after you did.

Make sure you listen for the very end of the podcast. It's what road riding is all about...

Colonic Contemplations (Worst Episode Ever!)

2006-01-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

Wow. I got so caught up making my next show, I forgot to post a blog entry for this one. (Click here to listen) Everything in my medical procedure worked out fine, by the way. Podcasts are a slice of life, and you can tell how irritable I was getting at the end of this one because I was so hungry. Emily came home around 1 pm and saved me with lots of goodies I was allowed to eat. I've got a pretty good show in the works, so here's the link I promised you and I'm going to move on.

Slow Life in Japan - http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,70013-0.html?tw=wn_tophead_11

Conversations

2006-01-16T19:51:00.000-08:00

This episode is extra phatty with chronic audio of all sorts of triathlon-related subjects. (Click here to listen) We have a rant from Cav about being a freak, audio from runs in Kingwood and Clear Lake Shores, TX (map pictured below), an interview with a NYC triathlete about S&S couplers for your bike, a rain-soaked attempt at GPSing a new 5k run course, a chat between Prof. Erich and I about lots of sports stuff, and probably something else I've forgotten already. It's an extra long show, but you've waited a long time and deserve it.

Cav has surpassed the $450 target, so now I'm leaving the button up just for listeners to support him as our sponsored racer, regardless of the event. I'll post the names and amounts of the latest donations soon, terrible nicknames free of charge.

Luke gets this show a full day before the rest of you poor saps because he won the Easter Egg contest, so he's probably out on his run, listening and laughing at the rest of you, laughing and running, running and laughing. He surely deserves whatever flack you send his way.

Floating Apples

2006-01-14T19:54:00.000-08:00

Just checking in for those listeners wondering what's going down. Emily and I are spending the night on a boat in Galveston Bay tonight, recording a podcast as we run at locations around Houston. I think WiFi has become ubiquitous when you can pirate it in a marina. Maybe we should run up the Jolly Roger. Next show will also have audio from Australia and NYC. and probably some buddies and I setting up a 5k run course. Will most likely release it on Tuesday. News Flash: Looks like Apple will actually be making their own phone. I guess they'll take the lead on developing a truly usable all-in-one device.

Hell yeah, we should have a logo design contest. I had one a long time ago, but it never took off. Now we have a ton more listeners and some real demand. Any prize ideas?

-Tenacious B.

Go Cav! Update

2006-01-11T17:26:00.000-08:00

Ok, we're getting really close. $8 more bucks gives us the $450 for Cav to make it to Ironman Australia. To be honest, paypal takes a tiny percentage off the top, so any little bit extra covers the $25 or so bucks for transfer charges. Convenience costs! Either way, this has been a huge success and has amazed everybody involved. Here's the chart (Yes, I realize it's ugly as hell. We're cheap here at the Go Cav! foundation) and the names of the latest donors:

Drew "Starbuck" - Cav's next to last mile
Rippin' Roberto - support cav's ironman bid
Jeffery (AKA CAV the original flava AKA C-Unit AKA Dugan Fife) - Go Cav
"Totally Aero" Kevin - Cav down under

Cav, I'll send you the money when I get a few more minutes. Probably this weekend.

Andrea Fisher Interview Part 2

2006-01-09T18:58:00.001-08:00

Prof. Erich and I conducted our second interview with professional triathlete Andrea Fisher this Sunday and you can get the audio here. It was a great conversation with a relaxed tone, allowing us to discuss all kinds of topics; from heart rate monitors to bike frame materials. We discussed triathlon and other hobbies for a total of 45 minutes!

I also mentioned that Garmin has just released the 305. If you were planning on buying the 201 or 301, better hold off and check the 305 out here.

Next show will include audio from a caller in NYC about a special bike adapter for traveling, Erich and I talking about our surf trip, and news of a possible second Zentri TV episode about Javelin bikes.

If you look hard enough, you might find the Easter Egg hidden in the show. You'll know when you find it. Make sure to post a comment and claim it first! Also, if this is your first time listening to the show, you can subscribe to the show permanently through iTunes (link to your right) or through other software. Just ask how!

Go Cav! Update

2006-01-07T06:32:00.000-08:00

Great News! The Go Cav! fund is now at $390. There is still plenty of time to donate and don't forget that you can leave your own message for him when you donate. Below are the names and messages of the wonderful triathletes and friends who have donated so far. If you don't want me to generate a nickname for you, provide your own.

Jammin' Jeffrey - Go Cav!
Tom S. (the "S" stands for Speed) - Go Cav Go!
Too Fast Todd S. - Cav - IM A. Good Luck!
"Don't Pet the Pavement" Pat - CAV-good luck Matt -We love ya! Pat and Dave
Dianna the Dominator - CAV-have a safe and fast race
Stormin' Norman - Go Cav!
D.W. "I love Fig Newtons" Johnson - Go Cav!
Drew H. (is he in the Hincappi family?) - CAV!
Brian "Vitamin K" K. - Cav in the Aussi Ironman! Way to go mate & good luck!
Paul "Pantani" R. - GO CAV
Edward "Eddie would go" (Google it) H. - Go Cav
Heidi "There is no H in Seattle" H. - Go Cav donation from Heidi
Jim "Vicarious Man" S. - Cav going to Ironman Australia. Congrats man! I'm living vicariously through you!
John B. - go cav - all the best
Donald "got the pump like Donald Trump" M. - Cav's Australian Ironman Fund

Commute Ride

2006-01-06T02:05:00.000-08:00

Click here to listen to my bike commute home, which at times gets pretty sketchy. These pictures are of an audio mixer Prof. Erich built to allow us to use two mics while we interview Andrea Fisher this weekend. I include audio from both Cav and his girlfriend while I ride. He talks about the impacts of caffeine while training and she tells us how to maximize your potential of being a spectator at a race.

Erich and I are prepping for our interview with Andrea on Sunday evening. If you have any questions you want us to ask, post them in the comment section as soon as possible! Erich got part of his inspiration for the mixer he made from a project we saw on a dorkbot meeting's notes about Tristen Perich's one bit music project, where Tristen made a completely self powered album from within a clear music case. The links are nerdy-cool and here's some pics of Tristen's project. We checked out his music a while back and it was very interesting. The music at the end is actually a recording of me playing my ratty guitar with rusty strings. Thought it sounded nice...

6 Mile Dub

2006-01-03T17:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, Tri-geeks! I went on a 6 mile barefoot run and recorded a podcast while enjoying the perfect weather, playing six "dubbish" songs along the way. Nothing major to report, but here's the playlist. All songs came from the Podsafe Music Network:

Latin Groove : a.b.e. (Anthems of a Bygone Era)
Babylon System : Power Steppers)
mince meat : Dangerdoom)
I am not afraid : Majek Fashek
Gates of Dub : Power Steppers
Search for Zen : Mangomad

Speaking of playlists, does anybody know why podcasts downloaded by Doppler or Nimiq would show up twice in the playlist in iTunes or WMP?

SHOPPING!

2005-12-29T16:51:00.000-08:00

Before we get rolling, let me first post the messages of the great folks who've chipped in to the GO CAV! fund.

"CAV-have a safe and fast race"
"CAV-good luck Matt -We love ya! Pat and Dave"

This whole thing is really cool. We've raised $75 for him already! He's very excited and will definitely be charging hard at Ironman Australia because of our support. Cav, shoot me an email about how to transfer this cash to you ASAP.

Ok, so click here to listen to my day with Kai. We go to Aggieland Cycles to see what we can buy for $100 (xmas gift certificate) and then I give my initial impression of my new Nike Triax C8 heart rate monitor. I also experiment with my new Triathlete Random Insult Generator. T.R.I.G. starts throwing down the gauntlet in the last third of the show, so stay tuned.

Green Acres

2005-12-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

Emily and I take you with us on a run at our East Texas farm as we talk about lots of issues. (Click here to listen. You blog readers get to hear it one day before it hits iTunes) Topics include our Go Cav! campaign, heart rate monitors, cycling socks, and lots more. Also, we have more audio from Cav and a voice mail from Oregon.

We were traveling and visiting family for four days straight, which really makes me wish that I was podcasting as a full-time job. It is such a great gig because you can literally do it anywhere, and with triathlon, the more places you do it, the better it is. Our son really had a great time because he got to hear me play acoustic guitar for the first time and he scored a new trike. The guitar is actually mine, which I'm borrowing back from my father-in-law. Maybe I'll play a tune on a show someday. The trike is a classic ride, but a bit too tall for him right now. I've included a pic of me riding it and sucking down a true truck-stop energy drink.

So what's up in the world of triathlon, homies? I'm not sure, cuz I'm being a real sack and not doing anything much. Following Cav's progress is about the extent of my efforts. Like Andrea said, you need to take a break on occasion. This podcast is from my first run since the Ironbaby, and it hurt. Time to start making resolutions... Mine is to lose 10 lbs so I have a better power to weight ratio on the bike. What's yours?

Here's the links to the different heart rate monitors I talked about: Cat Eye, Timex, Nike, and Polar.

GO CAV!

2005-12-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

Our buddy Cav (regular audio reader on Zentri) has qualified for Ironman Australia and needs our help to get there. Most pro/semi-pro/someday-pro triathletes are dirt poor and struggle with funds, if you haven't noticed. He's promised us a top 10% finish in Ironman Oz, so let's get this started! Click on the button on the right to help out, tri-geeks!

Audio from the Ironbaby

2005-12-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

Click here to listen to the Audio from my self-supported Ironman. If this is your first time visiting this page and you like what you hear, subscribe to the show using iTunes (link is under "links" on the right side of the page), or subscribe using other podcast aggregators. Find out more at www.podcastalley.com. This is show # 67, so there's lots more where this came from. This post is just a quick addition to the previous posting, so if you were sent to this page by friends telling you to check out this wacko who did an Ironman on his own, you'll need to skip down to the previous posting for pictures and a write-up on how it happened.

I included call-ins and a blog reading from Cav, the Wonder Down Under, along with pictures inside the mp3. I also received a substantal show donation from Scott and I'll describe how I'll use it on the next show.

Since I strung out my training for an extended period of time to do this event, I'm in dire need of a break. I'm going to switch regimens and become a surfer and rock climber for a few weeks. I still have great content for shows, including another interview with Andrea Fisher and a video, so don't worry about me going anywhere. Thanks again for all the support everybody gave me. It's YOU that made this event so dynamic. I was posting to the blog while "racing" and reading your replies/comments as I was chugging along, which has to be a first. Congratulations on being true groundbreakers!

I'm thinking about making t-shirts up, so any ideas would be appreciated.

Iron Baby Review

2005-12-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

This is the review about my self-supported Ironman (2.4 mi swim, 112 mi. bike, 26.2 mi. run) with pictures, as best as I can provide. It's called the Iron Baby because I had to skip an actual sanctioned Ironman-distance race last year due to the birth of my son, so I did one on my own. Twice makes it a tradition!

Results - Total time without the transitions is 15:32:00. Transitions were insanely long because I had to drive long distances and unpack/pack my bike. Since I did this event on my own, I was able to document it pretty extensively. I've attached lots of photos. Click on them to see them enlarged.

First, here's the weather conditions for the day. I started at 5:30 am, finished around 10:30 pm. The predicted 5 mph winds max didn't quite turn out to be true (14 mph!) Sensible temps at start and finish were 37 and 35 degrees, respectively.

The swim was in an outdoor pool (Bryan Aquatic Center). I swam at a very casual effort, covering nearly twice the distance of swim practice in the same amount of time. I measured the distance one 500 yard effort at a time. Distance: 4225 yds. Time: 1:05:27. I wish I was that good at biking and running. My watch has the ability to store workouts and recall them later, which is a very neat function.

The bike ride was very cold, but I had great equipment. Most often, I was wearing a long-sleeve UnderArmor shirt under a cycling jersy, cycling tights, fleece gloves, armwarmers, plastic bags as windproof socks, and a skullcap. On rare occasion, I put on a cycling jacket, but that was just a tad too warm. Here are some photos of the bike cockpit and the bike at halfway point (you can see my mp3 player hanging off my bento box) Check out the two-tone grip tape, it's all the rage ;) -

I finished the bike in 7:30:03, but actually spent 6:59:06 moving. I stopped by my truck several times to refuel and pick up/shed clothing. Moving average was 16.0 mph. I had to cross a deep and muddy gully six times because a bridge was out. Here are pictures of my ghetto windproof socks, the mud and leaves stuck to the bottoms of my shoes (NOT very aero), and of my bike computer's results. I find myself riding in crazy places a lot and prefer the Eggbeater pedals and cleats because absolutely nothing stops them from engaging -

I used Cody as a moving aid station on the run since I was only coming by the house every three miles. He was good for about half the run, but then he got bored and I was having to drag him some, which is not good. I ditched him and went on with just the Garmin 201. The Garmin was incredibly useful, allowing me to go anywhere and even letting me know that my pace on my last mile would allow me to walk to the finish line and still make the run in under seven hours. This is the time where I had serious ups and downs. I would feel great for a while, then absolutely terrible, then great again. Since I was walking a lot, I had time to read all the great comments that the Zentri Army was posting to help motivate me. This really helped when it started raining at mile 15. Comet's "finish strong" comment is what helped me the most. And I did!

I suffered a nasty bought of hypothermia after finishing, which included me violently wretching and howling on the living room floor and Emily dragging me into the hot shower where I stayed for 20 minutes and even ate a bowl of hot soup while under the water stream. Sorry, no pictures of that. I took plenty of audio during the event, especially as I was on the "run" (walk). I'll publish that as the next show as soon as I'm able.

This has been a wildly successful demo of how technology can assist one person and also how technology can bring together so many people from around the world. I'm pretty sure nobody's done a self-supported Ironman, documented it on a blog as it was happening, and was receiving feedback from spectators, all while being alone. Might be one of the coldest Ironman events ever as well. I want to thank the Zentri Army for all of their support before and during; it was invaluable. Other important items and fuels include: Garmin forerunner, Danger Sidekick for allowing me to post and read posts on the fly, Clif Bar and Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips on the run (yum!), Cody the Moving Aid Station, Emily, sleep, and ibuprofin. Let's do it again next year!

Finished!

2005-12-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

Came in just under 17 hours. More info tomorrow! . Zentri Army rules!
--thirdcoast

Mile 15.33 RAIN

2005-12-16T17:31:00.000-08:00

Ok this is uncool.
--thirdcoast

The wall

2005-12-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I've hit the wall, but still doing ok. I'm at nearly 13.1 mi and
walking the uphills, running the down. Ut is very, very cold. Saw prof
erich and gregg on the run I'm ok, just looking forward to the hot cup
of coffee emily is making me.
--thirdcoast

Just finished 6 mi

2005-12-16T14:53:00.000-08:00

Just logged 6 miles in 1:19. Slow going, but walking on purpose to be
able to sustain pace.
--thirdcoast

Finished the bike

2005-12-16T13:27:00.000-08:00

I finished the bike in 7:30 with a 16.0 mph moving avg. Much better than
last year. Lots of stream crossings. Feeling great, starting run.
--thirdcoast

Halfway on the bike

2005-12-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

I'm averaging 16.2 and feeling great! Pretty cold weather, but I got
great gear. Looks like bagels are my best friend.
--thirdcoast

Swim done

2005-12-16T05:11:00.000-08:00

Finished the swim in a very casual 1:05. Very relaxed, not tired at
all, just going to chill on the bike and catch up on some podcasts.
Weather cold, but not too shabby.
--thirdcoast

Let's get started

2005-12-16T03:08:00.000-08:00

It's 5 am and I'm sitting outside the pool getting ready to rock. I'm
all fueled up with bagels and oatmeal, recording a bit of audio for the
show. Official start time is 5:30 am, central time zone. First leg is
4225 yards in the pool. Gotta keep it at an easy pace and save my
energy. Let's get this rollin'.
--thirdcoast

The Ironbaby has begun!

2005-12-15T13:05:00.000-08:00

The race really begins when you start getting your gear together and
start getting a little anxious. Professor Erich has given me his garmin
301 and I will be using it's heart rate monitor on the bike and the
distance measuring tool as a backup for my notoriously shifty bike
computer. On the run, I will use my own garmin to measure distance,
since his battery probably won't last through both events. I'm driving
to a sketchy part of the bike course tonight to check on a bridge that's
out. I have to determine if that section is crossable on foot or if it
is too muddy. Also, I've picked up a very sore throat and am feeling a
tad under the weather. Tonight, I have to finish putting all my gear
together and prepare my nutrition. Breakfast is going to be oatmeal,
bagels, and coffee. Unfortunately, it is probably a 20 minute drive
between transition points. I'll have two different race times because
of that. still have to calculate how many swim laps and how often to go
by the truck when I'm biking. I'm thinking every 30 miles will do.
More later...
--thirdcoast

Small Error Corrected

2005-12-13T18:55:00.000-08:00

If you're using iTunes to get the show, most of you would have noticed by now that there was an error on the latest download. I fixed it and you should get an all-new download containing the correct podcast. Sorry about the error. Blame the vast number of tags that iTunes requires us to put into a show. It enevitably leads to the occasional screw-up. Thanks to Erik for letting me know it was broken!

Interview with Andrea Fisher

2005-12-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

Hey there all you tri-geeks! This show contains a great interview with pro triathlete Andrea Fisher. Professor Erich and I ask her about what kind of training we should be doing right now for preperation for next year and we also learn a few tricks of the trade. This is one of those moments when you realize how great a sport triathlon is because the pros are so accessable. Don't forget that Andrea does personalized coaching in person and over the internet, so you can contact her at www.texasiron.net.

After the interview, I take you with me on a below-freezing run after an ice storm. It was at night and the ice was beautiful.

I also talk about using Videora to convert videos to email-friendly size. Check it out here. It's free!

Lastly, I mention that people surf on the Great Lakes. Here are some links -
Michigan Law School Surfing Club
Cleveland Surfing
Surfing Magazine write up on Wisconsin (great pics)

"We like it cold," Stack says. It's on rare winter days that the break at Stony Point, Minn., gets so large and "clean" that -- for a few hours -- it can rival any wave on Hawaii's famed North Shore. And it's on days when it's snowing sideways and Chicago's O'Hare Airport is closed that a dedicated Great Lakes surfer might drive half a day for three hours of bliss on a board.

On the road!

2005-12-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

I bought the splitters for the interview last night at radioshack. We
are on the road to Gonzales, TX with 2 laptops, half a gig of podcasts,
and working on projects... Got an email from somebody saying that a
reporter from the LA times is looking for me. ;)
--thirdcoast

Pizza Bricks

2005-12-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

Wow, I've posted two podcasts and only just now caught up with the blog. You can download podcasts "Brick" and "Triathlete Pizza" by clicking on their titles.

On "Brick", I take you with me on a very early morning (partially night) brick workout. I talk about how we will be having a virtual triathlon on the weekend of December 17th and 18th. Just do a personal triathlon workout and post your times and experience on the comments section of the blog. You'll be suprised what you learn doing one all on your own!

Listen to "Triathlete Pizza" to catch the scoop about my new voice line and when the interview with Andrea Fisher will happen. You can now call me at (512) CRY-FDIC to leave me a voice mail to be played on the show. Just give it a try! Cav, the Wonder from Down Under, drops in and reads his latest blog posting about how you might know if you're a serious triathlete. Ok, so what's up with all the crazy audio at the end? Record yourself with an internet echo machine and see if you do any better. I love being my own radioland boss. Dodge Ram. Heh heh.

Here's the articles about stretching that will probably rock your face off. Check them out at your own risk!

http://www.brocawblazers.org/coaching%20education/Does%20Stretching%20Prevent%20Injuries.html

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20040505/Feature1.asp

The Austin Tri-fecta

2005-11-29T20:02:00.000-08:00

Click here to listen to our trip to Austin. Show notes are below:

Live to the flash drive at the Zentri Podcast Studio (iRiver in the cargo pocket of my camo pants)

24 People on Frappr. 1/3rd of Slashdot Review.

Check out the photos. Austin's famous drag queen (Leslie ran for mayor) on a Cervelo.

On Today's Show - Went to Austin and Profesor E. tested out bikes and wetsuits. Tested: Endless Pool, profile design UCM, Cateye compact safety light, Everlast pedometer, capped off with a rocking song by Chiba-Ken.

Items: Audio from Austin Trip. Three shops are the trifecta of triathlon shopping, wrapped in a Chuy's tortilla. Restaurant first, then us in the endless pool chamber, then us again moments after we were in Bicycle sport shop.

(Audio from trip played next)

Zane (Jack and Adam's) was great help, owners of two shops clueless about podcasts. I offered promotion and they declined, so call them up or visit and say something!

Reviews -So you heard Professor E lovin' the Endless Pool. It is really cool. Link on the blog. Profile Design Universal Computer, MountCateye compact safety light, Everlast pedometer

Song: The Distance From Here
Artist:Chiba-Ken
From the Podshow Podsafe Music Network

Enjoy!

Cyclists' Revenge, Dead Mic, and Aerobic Fitness

2005-11-29T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hey, Trigeeks! I was all set to wrap up a killer show last night and my mic died. Rest assured there is a great one in the works.

Here is a really funny game circulating the web right now. It's where a cyclist mows down pedestrians and it's in Japanese. Of course, cyclists mowing down cars would be better, but whatever. See if you can beat this high score - 2973.48 Meters.

I got this email from Brian and thought I'd share it and the answer with all the listeners:

You guys talked about training by heart rate and I'm trying to wrap my head around the anaerobic vs. aerobic training science. OK, so you run slower and to a certain heart rate; then the more you run at this heart rate does your body get more accustomed to the workout, hence dropping the heart rate and then allowing you to run faster in order to reach the original HR? If that's how it works I can understand that, but it seems like you would have to run for longer distances and very frequently. And besides the risk of damage to your muscles, joints, etc., I'm trying to figure out how running shorter distances at a quicker pace and higher HR can have a negative effect on your times. That having been said maybe I need to go back and listen to the podcast again.
Thanks,
Brian

Hi Brett,
My name is Joe Sulak, I'm the owner of Peak Fitness and am currently coaching Chris Matus who you heard speak on the podcast. I will try to answer your question but let me know if I miss something. The most important aspect of any training plan is the base or foundation. This is the foundation which everything else is built upon. Running aerobically gives your body the ability to become efficient at using oxygen. If you're always doing shorter runs at a fast pace, your not giving your body variety in training, enough aerobic work to become efficient, and you're over stressing only one aspect of training. The result is always a decreased aerobic capacity and overtraining symptoms. Running is primarily an aerobic sport, so it only makes sense to have a high aerobic capacity.
I hope that helps,
Joe Sulak
PEAK FITNESS
www.peakfitnessnow.com [http://www.peakfitnessnow.com]
www.knowyourzones.com [http://www.knowyourzones.com]

Kill a Cyclist and Get Charged with a Misdemeanor

2005-11-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

Read this story and tell me if you think the punishment would be more severe if he wasn't on a bike.

Bonus Run

2005-11-24T20:51:00.000-08:00

I take Cody with me on a 3 mile run and discuss lots of fun issues. The audio quality is great, so listen to it here.

I talk about the new Frappr! map and how it, the new weather "button", and my public workout log have significant impacts on the show. I also mention some discoveries about Chinese cycling, the results of my few minutes as a cycling activist (Yay!), and winter training goals after Cody manages to pick a fight with another dog. Don't forget that I'm now including images with the podcast, so look for them in your iTunes window. This 'cast has four images from Todd's trip to the Ride for the Roses.

Zentri Army Map

2005-11-22T16:45:00.000-08:00

Hey, Tristuds! I created a Frappr! map for us to use as our own. Just go to http://www.frappr.com/zentriarmy (or visit the link on the right side of this page) and add yourself and find out if other listeners live nearby. Don't forget to upload photos and they'll end up in the scrollbox of this very blog!

I'm about to head up to a local government meeting to advocate additional bike lanes for my city. They video record the meetings, so I might be able to provide a link to the clip of me fighting for cyclists' rights pretty soon. Cycling is Life!

Tenacious B.

Hot Gatorade Cider

2005-11-21T21:59:00.000-08:00

Click here and listen to a podcast full of cold weather training tips. We have audio from freezing run, biking, and swim workouts and from a long bike ride through the Texas countryside. Also, we have listener audio from the Ride for the Roses. I spend time talking about Phedippidations, a great podcast very similar to Zentri. Lastly, we've recruited Andrea Fisher for an interview. Here's some of her career highlights -

OVERALL WINNER @
» Tall Texan Half IM» Blackwater Eagleman» Buffalo Springs Half» Gulf Coast Half » Halfmax
IRONMAN FINISHES
» 2nd IM Florida 2000 » 3rd IM Wisconsin 2004» 3rd IM Canada 2003» 3rd IM Korea 2002 » 4th IM NZ 2004» 4th IM Canada 2000 » 4th IM USA 2001» 5th IM Florida 2004» 5th IM USA 1999 » 5th IM Australia 2002 » 13th IM Hawaii
COLLEGIATE
» NCAA Champion » 18-time All-American » 3 National Records » USA National Team

Zentri TV - Giant Bicycles Demo

2005-11-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

Click here to see the video and witness the drama as Professor Erich and I cover an insider's view into the inner workings of Giant Bicycles. We get the scoop on how they make their bikes, why they use certain geometries, what materials they use and why, and what's up with their tri-bike line in the near future.

The production of the video is really good and stay tuned to the end for some funny bloopers. Erich did all the editing and it's pretty sharp. It turned out so good, it looks like we'll be doing many more in the future. Possibly the next one will be about the Garmin Forerunner 301.

Also... Here's a hint at what's coming soon: ANDREA FISHER

Spin Cycle, Baby!

2005-11-15T11:07:00.000-08:00

Tune in to this podcast to hear an expose' on how I train over a weekend, deal with a baby, and play two kickin' songs. Make sure to listen to the end of the podcast for bloopers.

The music played is as follows:

Song: "My Fair Lady"
Artist: David Byrne (former lead singer of the Talking Heads)
From the Wired CD Compliation "Rip Sample Mash Share"
Creative Commons License

Song: "Havestar"
Artist: "i:scintilla" (Yeah, I know. That name isn't going to help them sell any records)
Album: "The Approach"
Year: 2004

"Havestar" came from the Podsafe Music Network. This is very exciting because I can easily supply listeners with cool music and it doesn't cost a thing. If you like the music, try buying their album. I checked out a couple more of their songs and they're really good. They have a mulitmedia website at www.iscintilla.com with a music video as well.

Prof. Erich gave me a copy of the first episode of Zentri TV to review. It is very, very good. I can hardly wait to publish it for you all to check out. It's rather large (180 megs), but totally normal for shows of it's length and detail. If you're a bike geek, you'll love it!

Prison Swimming

2005-11-10T20:10:00.000-08:00

Hola! Check out this podcast to hear my analysis on total immersion swimming, a preview of Zentri TV, and an interview with an ultra-runner.

Zentri TV's first episode is a really cool insider's look at what make's Giant Bicycles tick. We brought a video camera into a bike store after-hours and filmed a sales rep teaching the store staff all the ins and outs of Giant and I got to ask a few questions you guys would like to hear. It's going to be tough to trim 1.5 hours down to 20 minutes, but we'll try.

Chris is looking forward to any questions about distance and trail running. Post any questions as comments and he'll get back with you asap.

Noonday Tech Summit

2005-11-08T04:12:00.000-08:00

Join me for a 46 mile ride around Noonday, TX as I talk about all things tech, play extremely rare audio of winning a 5k, rock out with American Heartbreak, and much more.

As I promised, here's some links from the show:

www.workoutlog.com
Samsung's iTunes Killer claims - here and here
www.comedycentral.com (check out motherload)
Bike Talk radio's winter tips

If you want to send me audio, you can always send mp3s to texafornia at gmail.com. I will play it on the show!

So a basic recap of the show is as follows - I go for a long bike ride on an unfinished highway near Noonday, TX. I start off by being chased by dogs, but then try to make it a techie show. I talk about silicone swimming gear and workoutlog.com before playing audio from a race I ran the day before. Turns out that it was a 2.5 mile run, not 5k. This makes my pace in the low 7 minutes instead of 6 minutes, but still isn't bad for going barefoot and training at a very slow pace. I then talk some about Samsung's death threats against iTunes before playing some great music from American Heartbreak that I got from the Podsafe music network. Lastly, I mention how I watch Comedy Central's Motherload (streaming video) and that I would post a link to winter riding tips.

Stay safe and aero!

Trail Run from Hell

2005-11-01T02:43:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned to the end of this podcast and you can find out how I was attacked by one of these bastards. I go for a trail run at Lake Somerville and describe my week from Hell; trying to train while on the road for work. I play listener audio from Singapore, fall down while running, Kai has an allergic reaction, stay at a youth hostel, go running at Rice University, visit the Apple store, find an army of leaf-cutter ants, get stuck in traffic, and interview a real radio personality all in one show. I'll add more notes here a little later in the day. Gotta run! (swim)

Ok, back again. I updated this post with a picture of my worst sting two days after it happened. You can see the line of dots where the spines stuck me. It also stung me in four other places. Listen to the podcast to get the scoop on all the symptoms I had. Nature attacks!

Iron Surf

2005-10-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hey, gang! I take you with me on this podcast to the ultimate swimming confidence building destination: Surfing! I escaped work last Friday to surf small waves coming in from Hurricane Wilma and recorded portions of the trip, explaining how it benefits your tri training and confidence in the water. What better way to get better at swimming in open water than to do it while riding energy waves for fun? (Yes, I took those pictures in TEXAS)

Doug and I tried to intercept the Ironstar Half Ironman race by riding 30 miles out to the bike course and waiting for them. Turns out the only race related anything we encountered was a Powerbar wrapper. It made for some funny audio as we tried to figure out what was going on.

Lastly, I mention that I talked to a friend that reminded me that he talks with Lance Armstrong quite often and asked me if I'd like to go ride with them. Yeah, I think I'd be up for that. Mr. Armstrong is a very busy man, so we'll see what ever comes of it. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Coming up soon: I finally snagged an interview with my ultra-runner friend in the parking lot of a local pool and I'll be staying in Houston for a software training class and checking out the running situation at Memorial Park. I've got boarding set up, but wouldn't mind staying with a listener instead in exchange for an interview. I need to stay in the Galleria area. Let me know if you want to be on the air!

Virginia is for Freestylers

2005-10-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hey, dudes! We've been graced with an audio race review from Virginia in this podcast. I'll release the video from the swim as the next podcast and also put it on the Zentri map eventually.

Below is the virtual swim workout that I tried talking about. I understand that it's very difficult to understand what I was saying. In plain language, interval swimming is doing the repeated events on x minutes. Doing 10 x 100 yds on 2 minutes means leaving the wall at 0:00 and finishing before 2:00. If you do it in 1:45, that means you have 15 seconds of rest until the 2:00 mark and you have to leave again. It is the CORE of becoming a decent swimmer. It makes you become consistant and smooth. Anything is easy for a few times. Doing it 20 times makes you powerful. Your goal rest time is about 10 seconds between each 100 or 200. Total yardage is 3150 yards, or 1.8 miles.

6 x 100 yds - odds on 2:00, evens catch-up stroke and on 3:00
6 x 200 yds - on a 3:30 interval
6 x 100 yds - on 1:45, 1:30, 1:15, 1:45, 1:30, and 1:15
10 x 75 yds - 25 freestyle, 25 catch-up, 25 sprint.

I highly recommend going and watching a real swim team practice if you've never seen one before. It will blow your mind how much effort you should be exerting vs. what you probably are doing. It's very likely that 12 year olds are swimming twice as far as you do and practicing twice as long. Swimming is a very undertaught discipline in triathlon, so get out there and learn as much as you can.

Ok, so I also talk about how important it is to take a rest day. You should take one at least once a week. Also, take one if you just feel exhausted. You'll feel like a million bucks afterwards and be able to work out much better for it and absorb the results better, too.

Lastly, I yak incessantly about how to support the show. Just look over at the links on the right and help if you can. Each Zentri gear purchase gives $1 to the show or you can go here and donate via PayPal. Don't forget to tell your friends and keep your eyes open for related companies that might want cool new way to get their message out. Podcasts are direct marketing GOLD.

Stay safe out there, Hill Street Bluesters.

Sunday Ride with Doug

2005-10-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

This podcast has some great audio of a conversation between me and a true Ironman while we ride down the shoulder of a 70 mph highway. Doug is 62 years old and has completed 11 Ironmans all over the world. He is also half Hawaiian, half Portuguese and grew up on the Islands and can ride most of us into the ground. We ride together on occasion and this ride ended up being 67 miles long on a beautiful day. We discuss lots of different topics, including bikes, distance running, how Air Force paramedics can't admit to knowing how to kill, and spinning (on the road, not Spin class). Enjoy!

Unsweetened Ice Cream

2005-10-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

This podcast is an interview with Emily; quite the amazing person. She's an insulin-dependant diabetic, mom, and a true hardcore triathlete. I've been wanting to interview her and share her story for a long time, so I used our time together during a car ride to Brenham, TX for a family reunion to get her undivided attention. Brenham is the hometown of Blue Bell Ice Cream and very historic and pretty.

I also recorded some audio while on a bike ride with a friend this morning and will have that out in a couple of days. My long saturday run of 9 miles was split between a 6 mile AM run and 3 mile PM run. I had some sore and pulled muscles, so I had to hold back from doing my usual 12. Later!

Swim Taxi

2005-10-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

Buenos dias, mi amigos! Que pasa? A lot of stuff has been going down lately and I've tried to put as much as I can into today's podcast. I recorded my drive to work after an early morning swim and discuss swim practice nutrition, where Big Media is headed, meeting with the City about making more bike lanes, and gave a little background/future on the show.

Drink Gatorade while you swim.

Ok, now that we have that done, let's talk iTunes. I theorize that this week's announcements are just another clang of the bell of the death knell of Big Media. Step by step, we're leaving the old model behind and wandering into the headlights of a la carte shows. Personally, I can't wait. I'm tired of being talked down to by TV and Radio.

Now what is going on with you crazy fans and Clif Bar? I see that the Zentri Army has taken it upon themselves to make Clif my sponsor, whether Clif wants to or not. You guys are cracking me up.

I've also added the location of the South Padre Island triathlon to the Zentri Google Map. They used that pier as a transition area and rode north and back for the bike portion. Click on the marker to play the podcast right from the map.

Lots of working out en que for this weekend: Two long runs tomorrow and a 65 mile ride Sunday. Two months til ironman. I won't capitalize "ironman" because mine isn't sanctioned. ;)

The Red Tide of Courage

2005-10-12T04:52:00.000-07:00

Get the podcast here. If you can endure me blabbing on about Clif Bar sponsorship, you'll get to some sweet audio of Professor Erich giving us a biology lesson about red tide and why it turned his triathlon into a duathlon. After that, I do a night run and some short commentary on his race and other training tips. Also, don't miss out on Runcast Weekly's latest podcast about the fear of running.

Big ups to Heidi for sending us the Ironman Schedule for TV viewing -
Oct. 16 - Ford Ironman CDA on OLN Sunday at 3:00 -4:00 pm EST
Oct. 23 - Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid on OLN Sundayat 3:00 - 4:00 pm EST
Oct, 30 - Ford Ironman Wisconsin on OLN Sunday at3:00 - 4:00 pm EST
Dec. 18 - Ford Ironman Florida on OLN Sunday 3:00-4:00 pm EST
The 2005 Ford Ironman World Championship will air onNBC on Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 4:30PM ET.
I mention in my show to get out your trainer or treadmill and park yourself in front of that tv and train. Don't just sit there. Time on the bike is time in the bank.

Unless you live in a cave, you know that Apple released the video playing iPod today. This is very interesting because ZAT is on the verge of creating a whole lot more video content.

And now to close with my favorite line from this podcast - "What is that, medical waste?" (Erich)

Clif Bar and South Padre Triathlon Race Review

2005-10-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

I've gotten my hands on some audio from a triathlon at South Padre Island this weekend and will be putting out a show with it either tonight or tomorrow. Also, I'll talk about early morning pre-run nutrition and Clif Bars. Talk to you later!

Mixed Salad

2005-10-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Cody and I go for a run during this podcast after a call-in from the infamous Tri-Borg5000. Personally, I don't recommend eating any race officials. Not too tasty in my experience. I discuss cycling transportation, beanie hats, podcasts, adventure racing, and much more while Cody tries to drag me through the woods on a mixed-surface run. I forgot to mention the link to K. Todd Storch's website - www.businessthoughtsblog.com. Kevin's wild adventure race review is on my forum at http://triathlon.blankner.com/forum/phpbbdownload/viewtopic.php?t=685. Also, Kevin asked me to mention the sponsors of his adventure racing team, so here's the list - Honey Stinger Gel and http://www.isoactive.com. I have used honey off and on as fuel gel and it is fantastic. Some fastfood joints have honey in single serving packets for free next to the ketchup and other condiments. I've been known to walk out of Whataburger with my pockets stuffed with honey packets.

Beanies are by far my favorite cold weather gear item. They're wonderfully useful and pack up tiny so you can just put them in a pocket when you've warmed up. Road Runner Sports is giving away a free beanie with any order (club members only) until October 31. Also, I talk about how merino wool is by far the best cold and/or wet weather performance fabric. Warm, breathable, water repellant, lightweight... you just can't beat it unless you're in a downpour. Find out more at www.smartwool.com or just ask your friends.

Lance Video

2005-10-06T04:25:00.000-07:00

Just in case you didn't get the podcast and you want to see the video of Lance speaking to the crowd, here it is. He talks about his kids, not doing another Tour, fighting cancer, and what he really likes about Austin. It's about 3.5 minutes long and is in Quicktime format.

Just another day in Paradise (Austin, TX)

2005-10-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

This podcast covers our trip to Austin for a swim in Barton Springs, a visit with a bike store to see what's new in Triathlon, and the free Lance Armstrong/Cheryl Crow concert. I talk about all this while trying to go on a trail run, only to discover every tire on the baby jogger has gone flat. Hilarity ensues. Not.

The swim was really cold, but perfect to cool off a sweltering Texas day. We then hit Bicycle Sports, a great bike shop and I talked "shop" with one of the employees and got a look at what is new (and not) in the industry. Interbike has just wrapped up, which is loaded with biking goodness. Here's a link to the best of Interbike.

The concert was great. It was really for families, cycling fans, and cancer survivors. just an amazing experience all the way around. Definitely watch the video from my previous post if you can.

Lastly, Kai and I were going for a trail run and we got flats on all of the jogger's tires. We make a trip to the local bike shop to get fixed so he can still go running with me, but it still cuts our run short by half. Just one of the hundreds of reasons I'll never be a great triathlete, but still a darn good dad. He loved the run in the woods, by the way. ;)

Lance thanks Austin

2005-10-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

We're sitting in the field where Cheryl Crow is putting on a free
concert along with Lance Armstrong to thank Austin for all the support
the City has given him over the years. Almost everybody has something
yellow on. This might be the only concert where it's ok to wear a
cycling jersey. Kai has on a minature yellow Discovery team jersey on.
Lance will be doing some presenting and the mayor will speak as well.
I'm taking lots of video, audio, and pics to share in future podcasts.
Adios!
--thirdcoast

Ever Swim with the Devil in the Pale Moonlight?

2005-10-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

You're looking at the shownotes from today's podcast. I wrote them on Tyvek paper and they spent two hours being wadded up and sweated on in the leg of my bike shorts. Tyvek is pretty durable stuff! (It must be, to survive that kinda abuse. Barf.)

I talk at length about the dilemma facing Ironman. Check out the article about it here.

The big news is that we're going to see a free concert tomorrow in Austin. It's Cheryll Crow and Lance Armstrong will be speaking. If you're in the area, check out the details here. We'll be touring the different triathlon shops in the area to see what's new and also hitting Barton Springs for an open-water training swim.

Ok, the even bigger news is that we've got some guardian angels looking out for us at Apple. Two of the guys who work on iTunes are triathletes. They love Zentri and want to put our logo on the front page of the iTunes Podcast page. This is HUGE for Zentri because we will get a big jump in listeners, at least for the short term. Thanks, tri-guys! To prep for the onslaught, I'm having to post all new shows on a server that allows unlimited bandwidth. This is costing me at least an extra $5 a month. Anybody want to be the sponsor for that $5?

Buried somewhere in that audio, I make some comments about swimming at night under the moonlight and how to perform "front quadrant swimming". It supposedly makes you swim farther more easily, so don't miss out.

Everybody be careful out there on the bike. Lot's of drunks are careening around because it's football season. Listen to the podcast and take your time doing whatever it is that you do. Quality over quantity, yos.

-Brett, father of the birthday boy.

Ever catch a race finish on video?

2005-09-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

This video is a real gem. I had finished the race and was waiting about 100 yards from the finish line, camera in hand, wanting to catch Emily crossing the line in her longest race to date. I saw her coming when she was about 200 yards from the finish line, so I turned and ran as fast as I could to the timing mats, turned back around, and she was literally on top of me. I couldn't believe how fast she was running and you can hear me say so. I didn't realize until I watched the video that I was totally wandering around the finish area and should have stayed outside the fences, but nobody said anything to me about it. This was Emily's target race for the year and she did a great job, especially after having a baby just 9 months prior. That reminds me, she actually did a triathlon when she was pregnant and didn't know it yet. Mom power!

I've been in contact with some important guys at Apple and we will be handed a cool windfall pretty soon. They are triathletes and love the show, and that includes all that you, the listeners, do to help out. This show isn't about me, it's about the lifestyle. That includes all of us! Emails, comments, audio clips, it all comes together to make for a great show that everybody enjoys. Thanks again and keep on tri'n!

BTW, I recommended to them several shows that anybody that cycles would like: Bike Talk, Bikescape, and Cycling Insider. Check them out yourself if you have time. Cycling Insider is a real riot. Matt Da-mon!!!

Darkfoot and the Legend of Rita

2005-09-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Hey, tri-studs. I'm posting this as Hurricane Rita is moving in like that ugly guy with bad breath in the apartment above you back in college. The wind is really picking up, but no rain yet. We should have power for quite some time, so no worries for now. I've got the mp3 player chock full of podcasts and a handful of batteries, so I should have lots of entertainment in any case. Maybe I should go out and record myself trying to ride a bike into the wind?

This podcast (get it here) has me running barefoot in the dark at about 6 AM on Thursday morning. I discuss the koolest of the kool: Fixed-gear bikes. Here is the list of the best websites about this awesome trend - http://www.oldskooltrack.com/, http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/, http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed/. Also, if you like danger on two wheels, don't miss out on this video.

Lastly, here's the link to the newest gadget from Garmin - A GPS-based dedicated bike computer. Maybe you shouldn't buy it, but you can at least know about it first. It's a completely different way to measure distance on your bike.

Marble Falls Videos

2005-09-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

Hey, guys. I'm still slacking off after my Half IM, so I thought now would be a good time to put out a few videos that I promised earlier in the year. This one is of the Marble Falls race site. iTunes now has video capability, and I suppose that's cool. I'm not too crazy about videos because they are HUGE and don't last anywhere near as long as audio. Plus, you can't work out and watch them at the same time. But they're a hot item right now, so here you go. Luckily, I have the equipment to make videos for podcasts pretty easily. There's a couple more coming at you soon! Today's can be found at http://triathlon.blankner.com/radio/ZAT_09-20-05.mov.

On a different note, I've been called on duty for emergency response for Hurricane Rita. Our fair city is not only hosting a few thousand Katrina refugees, but we also are the designated evacuation destination for residents of Galveston and other areas. Galveston has been warned to evacuate due to Rita, so we've got double the pressure around here. I wouldn't say that there's over-reacting pressure to react to the potential disaster, more of a blindly obvious fact that we should take advantage of the few days warning we have and get moving NOW. Nobody needed to suggest it, believe me. Let's all keep our fingers crossed. Good luck, everybody!

Tall Texan Half Ironman Triathlon

2005-09-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

This podcast is all about the innards of a half Ironman distance triathlon. Listen to the podcast here to find out how I missed winning the swim by 0.8 seconds, blistered my hands on a CO2 cartridge, and met my goal of running the whole 13.1 miles. Do you know how to whiz in your shorts while riding a bike? How to "drop" a drafting swimmer? How to make sure you always have enough electrolytes? Tune in to get the scoop, yos.

Check out the race results and map here. Check out the race location on the Zentri Googlemap here. Music is "Get Busy" by the Beastie Boys.

Rock Solid in Dixie

2005-09-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

This is truly a great podcast! It's chock-full of audio from a variety of sources: An interview with Emily after swimming the Tennessee River channel, rock climbing in Georgia, and more, all sandwiched in between a sweet tune by Spoon. Listen to it here. Locations will be posted on the Google Map hack shortly and here is the link to the Rocktown climbing map. Check out the wall action in this photo and imagine how this helps you cross train for swimming.

The next show will be on-site at the Tall Texan half ironman triathlon in Boerne, TX (Just a few miles west of Hell).

Tennessee chillin'

2005-09-02T04:33:00.000-07:00

First off, best wishes to all those affected by Katrina. Galveston was
wiped off the face of the Earth in 1900 by a cat 5 hurricane, killing
over 8,000 people (still the worst natural disaster in US history) and
it has never truly recovered. New Orleans will most likely never ever
be the way we remember it, but you never know.

We are currently beteween Chattanooga and Knoxville, TN, and we only
received a day's worth of rain and gusty winds. There were a few people
concerned about us, but no worries here.

So, on to lighter things... Both Emily and I got super sick, giving us
the opportunity to excercise our vomiting and other unmentionable
muscles for 24 hours straight. It most definitely did not rock. We
also swam across a very formidable lake to a deserted island and back,
trading kayak support positions. The last highlight was our drive into
Georgia to go rock climbing. It was probably the most hillbilly area
I've ever seen, and believe me, this Tennessee-Alabama-Texas raised boy
has seen his share. Since I'm familiar with the dixie-factor, I
actually got a real kick out of it. The boulders were on top of an
1,800 foot ridge and miles away from anywhere.

I've got gps points for both the island and the boulders, so the next
podcast will have markers on the ZAT map. Bueno idea on the t-shirts.
If anybody has any ideas for a graphic and text, shoot it my way. If
yours gets picked, your shirt is free. I'm already kinda partial to the
"turn on, tune in, and work out" slogan. ;)

--thirdcoast

Podcast update

2005-08-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

I put the point for Lake Meech on the map as close as I could without
finding the exact coords. You can find the lake by looking on the
northwest side of Ottawa for Lac Meech.

Also, Tamsin informed me that this is NOT the location of Ironman
Canada. Still, it's where many triathletes train for open water swims.

--thirdcoast

Ironwomen of Canada

2005-08-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

Hey, tri-studs! Here is the latest show, chock full of audio from two hard core female triathletes swimming the Ironman Canada swim course. Also, witness the destruction as Kai smashes his way through the house. Check http://maps.blankner.com for a Google Map of our Canadian friends' location. If somebody can give me the exact coords of Meech Lake (Lac Meech?), I'll move the marker to the proper location.

Zentri played on podclimber

2005-08-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

The boys at www.podclimber.com have listed part 1 of my bouldering field report on their website at http://www.podclimber.com/index.php?cat=Bouldering. If you listen to my show, you've already heard it, but it's proof-positive that most podcasters are very happy to get audio from listeners. If there's a podcast out there you're wanting to talk back to, give it a try!

Google Maps added to the podcast!

2005-08-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to announce that I'm adding the podcast locations to a Google Map. Check out the first sample at http://maps.blankner.com. Soon, all of the podcasts will be listed this way and you will be able to search for 'casts geographically and also easily see the surrounding terrain. Races, downhill bombing runs, wildlife encounters, open water swims, it'll all be there!

Tour of California

2005-08-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

Looks like we'll have another Tour de Georgia style race in the U.S. next year. Active Radio broadcast a show today containing the details of Tour of California: a 7 day stage race in February of 2006. Check out the details here - http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=12238&sidebar=121&category=activeradio

Todd the Greased Sprocket

2005-08-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

This show is from the grueling heat in the cotton fields of Nowhere, TX. Magically, I conduct a Gizmo interview with Todd about his cycling abilities. I also discuss the UV protection found in everyday laundry detergents, training with disabilities, and hella-cool eyewear.

Listen to the show HERE.

After the ride, I did a brick run and quickly regretted it. I got home and walked straight into the cold shower, clothes on and all. Since then, I've gotten a new audio file from another listener in Canada describing a cold 2.4 mile swim without wetsuits. That will be in the next show along with an email from my next race's staff explaining what drink will be available on the course.

Also, if you ever wonder if you're alone in enjoying the show, you're not. Check out one of the emails I got from a listener:

"I just listened to your Bombastic program and was laughing so hard when you went barreling down that hill trying to do 50mph. My co-workers think I am nuts. I was pulling for you though, I hope you make it one of these days. Oh, BTW I started my Tri training last night with the new Garmin Forerunner 301, that thing is awesome! keep up the cool podcasts, they keep me going during the day. "

Oh, don't you worry. I'll hit 50 soon. The rocketpack is being built by Quintana Roo as we speak.

Oh, Canada!

2005-08-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

Check out the interview with the newest and most intense tri-geek on the block. We use Gizmo Project to chat about being a newbie in the home country of Cervelo Bikes.

Listen to Podcast with Renee

I also talk about the benefits of rock climbing. Check out the best rock climbing podcast at http://www.podclimber.com/

La Jolla Swim

2005-08-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

Emily hits the water in La Jolla, CA. Listen to the podcast here. Water was brisk and exhilirating. We swam half and full miles out to the bouy in medium swells while Kai watched (drooled).