Rocket Science Sports Elite Bag

In November of 2006 I ordered my first Triathlon specific back pack from Rocket Science sports. This pack saw me through my first Triathlon in Vancouver. It has been with me on my never ending bike rides, my runs to work and trips to the pool. This is a go anywhere, do anything bag.








I have also purchased the Laptop case that goes into the backpack.

"So what?" you say, "it's just a backpack." Well hold on for a minute. Have you ever gone for a jog over an hour or two with a backpack? Let me just say that chaffing becomes a huge issue. This pack is designed to ergonomically connect to your body in perfect symmetry.

Here is how my day will go. I put on my running clothes and I pack my work clothes and shoes into my backpack. Then I add three meals (hey I am training for Ironman) my wallet, my cell phone, a towel, and my MP3 player. Sometimes even a book or whatever else I need in the day plops into this bag. I run to work and then I get changed. I put my dirty running clothes into the water proof area of the bag, and then I work.

On bike days, it is similar. I also used to run or bike to school. I could carry my books, my laptop, and a change of clothes. This bag also has a transition mat in it. So on race day it carries your swim suit, your bike, your running shoes, your gel shots, everything you need for the day. There is a really good review of the backpack here http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=820 It was this review that got me to purchase the bag in the first place.
I have been brutal to this backpack. I mean I used it when I was taking my carpentry course, filling it with easily 10-15 pounds of book weight. This thing has taken a beating. The quality of the material, the stitching, even the zippers speak of something that was put together with good old fashioned hard work, and commitment to quality.
The bags are not inexpensive, I ordered it from the website and on last lookup the elite bag was $139.99 USD. There is a new bag that I am interested in trying: the Rocket Bag which goes for $179.99

Just a side note too, the water bottles they sell are really cool. They are designed like golf balls, so that air flows over them. The whole bag inside and out is nothing but good quality. I have killed mine, but I still use it every day. I have now stitched some fabric on the shoulder strap to help me get some more life out of it.

Why is this sport so expensive? The gear, the bike, the shoes, the training, the backpacks, the swim suit, the hotel, the travel time, so much money!! Why am I doing this again? Because I can!

Vega Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer

First let me state that I am not a Vegan, I am not a Vegetarian, I do eat seafood, and I do eat the occasional meat. That being said I am in love with all things Vega

I am a pretty healthy guy, I watch what I eat, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I try to make sure I get healthy whole food ingredients. I am not one for fast food, or processed food. I have grown my own wheat grass, I have used acai berry's. I try to avoid flour as much as possible. I prefer flax seed, I spend time making sure I check ingredients.(I do of course have the same cravings at others; I just try to make healthy choices)

I have a Vita-Mix machine

I use this in the morning. I add fresh fruit, vegetables, and protein. One day we ran out of the usual protein we used. The Green Plus I think, I can't remember. So I am at the health food store next to where I work and I see the Vega brand. I ask the employee and she informs me about the product and I figure I will add this to our juice in the morning.

As Vega has gotten bigger, I started to hear more. I also started to see some other products come out. The whole food bars, the Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion.



I tried one of the bars one day

I really enjoyed not only the flavour but also the results. I was full. Now I am a pretty healthy guy, I like healthy food, I like the least amount of chemicals, and processes possible.

The more I try this product, the more I like it. I am really interested in the Vega Sport

I tried a couple of the small packages and I think this will be my sport drink from now on. I have tried e Load, Gatorade, Ultima. I don't like Gatorade, I liked e Load but then a friend (where are you Julian) recommended Ultima and I really liked that. It was pleasant, not to overwhelming and full of lots of good stuff. I tried two individual packs of the Vega Sport and I am now in love with them.

I am not willing to say I am converting to a Vegan, but I am willing to say that as a person who is conscious of what he eats, who is very physically active. I am extremely impressed with Vega. I am going to continue with the Whole Food Health Optimizer in my juice. There is also a smoothie infusion that I will try; the sports drink will be my next purchase.

I don't have allot of money as a person with disability, my ability to work full time is compromised as my cognitive skills are reduced. I think though, I will be purchasing allot of Vega products from now on. I am very impressed. I will update you on the sports drink and the smoothie infusion when I have enough money to purchase.

This is another item in my arsenal to complete my first Ironman.

7SYSTEMS Endurance Sport Supplement Review

So I got my order from 7Systems today. I sent my order less than 48 hours ago, and I got the containers today, super fast!! Let me also state that from my first contact on the website http://www.7systems.ca/ to the email responses on my inquiry solidified my opinion: what a first rate company.

From the start these people are very passionate about their product. Every step I have taken with them provided a great feeling and strong sense of belief in their product. I like that. You never feel pressured; they let their product speak for itself. "We do not pay, and have never paid anyone to use/promote our product - and to be honest we do not have to."

That and the next day delivery, plus my own research on the supplements were enough to get me to try the product.

Over the next three months, I am going to report my experience with 7SYSTEMS. So far it's a good start.

My container arrived today and is nicely packaged, when you open it up, every supplement you need for the day is placed into individual pouches. No more opening up the multitude of individual supplements, vitamins, extracts, and all the other pills I usually have out.





<-- This is what I used to use. This is what I use now ---------------^




Now this review is not going to be on the science, the testing, and the quality of the ingredients. You can find all that here http://www.7systems.ca/?page_id=10

I am going to tell you how they help a guy that is 36 years old get to his first Ironman. I am not an athlete, I am just a guy who almost died and that freaked him out. So despite my disability, I decided to push the boundaries of what I thought was possible for me. Even though I face more challenges now than I did before my accident, I do more, I try harder, and I achieve things I never thought I would ever do.

That is the point of this blog; it's not so much about the Ironman as it is about the road to get there, the challenges, the setbacks, the successes and all the ingredients it takes to get there smart. I want to get there healthy and whole. I don't want to blindly push myself physically and mentally. I want a strong plan of attack.

7SYSTEMS is part of the team of support that is essential for me to get there on my terms. So continue to read as I let you know how 7SYSTEMS endurance sport supplement help me get there

Because you can do this too.

Technology and Ironman Training for TBI Survivor

As a result of my brain injury I don't make new memories. I have talked at length about the aspects of my disability here http://temporallobeblog.blogspot.com/ so without going to depth of the disability on this blog, I wanted to shed light on how much I require technology to accomplish the Ironman.

As anyone who trains for Ironman knows it is not so much the actual event itself that is hard (I am not saying it's not hard). It is the training alone, the whole live style of the event that is the difficult part.

It changes your whole life. Everything becomes subject to what workout you have, how long you will be working out, running, swimming, or biking. You schedule everything around work and workouts.

If someone wants to go to a movie, or you have a dinner planned, or some one's birthday. The first thing in my mind is "how long of a workout do I have that day"? "Will I be tired, will I be sore"?

How can I move things around and juggle everything so I have time with friends and family and still feel good about the amount of training I have done.

You add my inability to filter events in my head. I see every event as the same priority, eating, running, work, walking to the bus. They all register in my cortex as the same importance. When I need to remember Mandy's and my anniversary, my brain registers that as the same importance as catching the bus. Everything is over stimulated and I see every impulse at the level of importance.

The same way you know not to walk in front of a moving car, I plan my grocery list.

So trying to plan my planning is very difficult. What is important, what can be moved?

So I have a great coach at Training Bible Coaching her name is Carla Hastert http://www.trainingbible.com/findACoach_detail.aspx?id=1900

Basically Carla plans my workouts. I have supplied her with my Vo2 max information I got from Training Peaks when I trained for my first Triathlon (Olympic Distance) she gets to know me over the first couple of weeks.

With Carla and the Training Bible website http://www.trainingbible.com/index.aspx I am able to know what to do tomorrow. I.e.

Workout Description:
Bike - 3 hours see break up below
Comments from Workout Planner:
EACH hour do the following: 15 min super easy spin, work on cadence a little higher than you’re used to. THEN 15 min climb in your hardest gear, stand for 1 min every 5 min within the interval. Then do 6 x 2 min @ a hard effort, RPMS 85-100, HR high and breathing becoming laboured. Spin EASY for 2 min between each one. THEN start again (2 more times)

So that is pretty amazing. I can get world class Ironman training but expert trainers. I can look at the schedule and see what I have to do. I go and do it, and it's all good.

It doesn't stop there though. I can take the Training week that is prepared by Carla and I can add it to my Outlook Calendar. So I can schedule my workouts with my work schedule, my personal schedule and I can see if it conflicts with anything.

It doesn't stop there though; I can also take my calendar and put it on my smart phone. My HTC S621

So I can now find out what workout I have. I can find out the specifics of the workout, I can then head out.

I also have this great Blue tooth headset that goes with my HTC Smart phone.



So I can run and bike and listen to music (of course I never listen to music while biking) and if I get a phone call I can answer it without using my hands. I can also place calls without having to touch my phone.

So with a trainer online, and my Vista PC, with Outlook 2009 I can know what I need to do in order to get ready for the Ironman.

Those things alone are pretty cool. I mean if you take it all in this means that I can wake up tomorrow. I know what workout to do, I know what my work schedule is, I know if I have a Massage appt, or if I am teaching my running clinic. All in one quick look at my phone, or PC.

Now let's take a look at the Garmin Devices I have. I have a Garmin Edge 705


I also have a Garmin Forerunner 405

I can add some pretty crazy workouts, from fartleks, to Heart Rate workouts, to simple workouts with just time. With my Edge 705 I also have Turn by Turn maps for North America.

You see I forget where I am, where I am going, and how to get back. So I now have a way to not only direct my way, but how to get back home. My family also feels more confident when I go out as they can call me, and I can tell them where I am. If I get lost I can just press a couple of buttons and direct myself back home.

-There is a new Garmin

This Garmin Forerunner 310XT is the first Garmin you can take in the pool or ocean. For someone like me that is such a plus, right now I have to use a Timex and try to hear it under water. This is my future purchase. I just purchased the Forerunner 405 and the Edge 705 with Maps. I am so broke it's not funny. (please click on my adds ;')) I see my next Garmin in the future. Well after the student loans are paid off, we have a house, etc, etc......-

Without my Microsoft Vista Computer, my Windows Mobile Smartphone, my Motorola Bluetooth Headset, and my Edge 705 and my Forerunner 405, and my Training Peaks website and of course my incredible trainer Carla. I would be sitting at home probably not even dreaming of doing an Ironman.

Knee Injury and Ironman Training

So about a week or two ago I was on my bike. I noticed my right knee was hurting when I pulling up on my pedal stroke. It started about an hour into the bike, but I biked through it. It wasn’t a short stabbing pain. It was more like a deep ache.

I did my stretches at the end of the bike. Next day was a 1hour and 20 minute run. My knee started to hurt again, about 40 minutes into the run. The pain was a little stronger and it took longer to go away.

When I stopped at a cross walk, or waited for the light to change so I could cross the street. I was punching my knee with my fist. I don't know why, but it seemed to alleviate the pain a little bit. Again this pain wasn’t enough to stop, but it was definitely noticeable.

I had gone through an IT Band injury when I trained for the Chicago Marathon. So I knew to seek help right away. I can't afford to the time to stop training. I also know that the sooner I fix it, the less I will hurt and the sooner I will recover.

So I went to my Sports masseuse Wylie (see earlier post's) and she worked my leg and knee.

I have also added some more stretches, and will be looking at some weights or other exercises I can do to strengthen whatever it is that is going wrong.

I have good shoes, I have a great bike, I am aware of my posture. I stretch like crazy. I figure I am going to increase the strength training and make it more specific for the knee.

I am a little concerned that the knee is just symptom of something else. I mean I have had a whole world of surgeries, from my skull, to my first rib being removed. I have been hit cars; I have been in a few fights. Most of which I lost ;') so in my earlier years (before the TBI) I was rough on my body.

This is causing me allot in physio, massage, acupuncture, etc.

Anyone else run into knee injuries while training? Isn’t it weird that it was the biking that first started to hurt?

Massage for Triathletes

How do you know you are really into training? You get excited when people get you sports massage sessions as a gift. My mother in law got me a whole bunch of sessions with Dr. Wylie Guo, R.AC. check out her credentials

Therapeutic massage (Tui Na)
Deep tissue massage (body & foot)
Acupuncturist.

She is about 5'2 and maybe 90lbs, but she can make a grown man cry. She is so strong, she just digs in so deep.

When I was on the Cruise ship in Hawaii I had a massage. The lady, sorry the "masseuse" was so soft. I had to check to make sure she actually touching me.

Wylie is not for the light hearted. However she is able to get to those deep areas that no one else can fine. While I am a little bruised, I can still feel the depth that she got to.

My right knee has bugged since I started running distances above about 20kl. I can run for an hour, hour and half, then it starts to hurt. Just a little at first. Only while I run. By the time I stretch and cool down, it has gone away.

The next run it starts to hurt a little sooner, lasts a little longer, and hurts a little deeper. Doesn't go away as fast.

The next run it hurts when I start, I start to loath steps, or sidewalk, or running down hills. As long as I am straight and flat I can run forever.

It took me a long time to get over the injury. I don't know if it was IT Band issue or what, but when I keep the distances shorter, I am OK.

What is weird is when I trained for the Vancouver Triathlon in 08 my knee didn't bug me. This time however, my knee started to bug me while biking. Then it trickled over to the run, then it hurt to just walk around. So I had a few days of rest and intense deep tissue beat down.

Truly if you ever want a truly deep massage, or serous acupuncture email me (or respond to this blog) and I will pass along Wylie's #. Truly a miracle worker.