100/100 Challenge begins tomorrow!

Every year, the crazies on the Slowtwitch forum hold a challenge which serves several purposes; help people build a base, keep triathletes motivated through the off-season, and provide a medium in which we can keep our trash-talking skills sharp.

The Challenge: run 100 times in 100 days. Simple as that. Definition of a run is 30 minutes at a pace in which both feet are off the ground in each stride. Ergo, no walking, aqua-jogging, or "elliptical", whatever that means... Running in it's simplest, purest form.

I have decided to partake in this challenge, because as I stated in a previous post, running is my weak link, and when I came across this, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to really build a strong base. Since the minimum is only 30 minutes, I can build it in with my swim and bike days as well, without overworking myself in a single day.

The nice part is that there is room for rest built in. If you need to take a rest day, or miss a day for whatever reason, you can make it up by running twice in one day, as long as the runs are 30 minutes and spaced at least one hour apart (as I understand it).

I am also taking this opportunity, since the spirit is really about exploration, to test out some new products and put them through a real test and some real mileage.

First off, the hot new Nike Lunarlite Trainer. Got to do some more research on what exactly this foam is, but it was developed by Nike in conjunction with NASA, is supposed to be crazy cushiony, while being super-lightweight. Well, they are crazy light, and in a few mild test runs leading up to the challenge, they have proved to be really comfortable for 3-4 miles a crack. And that's just the TRAINER, they say the Lunaracer is even LIGHTER! If this challenge goes well, the Lunaracer may be my shoe of choice for the 2009 season.

Next up, the 2XU calf compression sleeve. The claim is that the added support basically increases the efficiency of transporting blood back to the heart and giving the muscles support during fatigue. According to my sources, these really aren't neccesary unless you are running/walking/standing for more than an hour or two. They can really cut down on ankle swell during long flights as well. Not only will I be wearing these on the longer runs, but also during the day at the hardware store, where I am on my feet all day long, and see if they help with fatigue at all.

For montitoring hear rate during workouts to make sure I am getting the most out of my run, I didn't really want something with alot of bells and whistles, just something to tell me where I was at in my zones, and had a memory. Found the Sigma PC9 at my local tri shop on sale, and I think it will do the job, we shall see.

I used to use a whey protein drink for post-workout recovery, but since have been looking for something a bit more affordable and a little lighter-sitting in my stomach. A good friend recommended PowerAde Recovery, which has an optimal blend to promote quicker recovery.

Water. This one is kind of a joke... :)

I will make it a point to write an update every week or so and let you know how the runs are going! Since all of Madison is basically a sheet of ice right now, I will probably be doing a lot of the runs on the dreadmill, but oh well, running is running, right?

The challenge begins in 2 hours, should I do a run at 12:01 to ring it in properly? Hmmm....

Winter training begins...

Reality is setting in, here in south central Wisconsin, where the snow is falling, melting, and freezing, creating unsafe road conditions, both directly and indirectly (ask Harry and Colin about that one...), which is forcing me inside on the trainer, or as I like to call it, my carbon fiber couch.

This is a total re-adjustment in training, especially the mental side of it. A minute seems like an eternity, and the comfort of your bed is sooo close. It brings new meaning to the phrase, HTFU. I am really learning to buckle down and shut down my brain and get it going.

Many of you have been asking me what I ended up doing for my training plan, as I never really followed up from a previous post. Well, there still really isn't a coherent plan, per se, really just kind of a mash-up, kinda like when you go to the soda fountain machine and " a little bit a coke, a little bit a sprite, a little bit a orange...", that kinda thing.

I decided to really focus on my weakness, which is running. Swimming I do fairly well, and biking is probably my strongest of the three. So, what I am doing is a marathon training plan that is bumped down 20% in mileage and time, to be sure that I get in a lot of time in that discipline, while still leaving adequate space for alot of swimming and alot of biking, and allowing at least one full day off for recovery. This means that there will be alot of early mornings and late nights, but that's alright, better than sitting on the couch.

This plan takes me to the end of February, where I will take one whole week off from any kind of physical activity and rest, and then begin my 20 week Half Ironman plan which will take me up to my "A" race for the 2009 season, the Door County Half Iron. In the approach to that race, there will be 2 sprints and an olympic tri to get my competitive juices flowing.

Should be an interesting off-season!

-J