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.

Canada Games Pool Triathlon Training

So I got my swim in today. I head to the Canada Games Pool in Burnaby after work. It's a huge pool. It was built the same year I was born 1972 and in 1973 it was used for the Canadian Summer Games. So it has lots of room, it still get's crowded, but if you go in the morning the pool leangths are at 50m and during busy times it is cut in half to 25m.

One of the issues I have run into when training is remembering what lap I am on. With running and biking I have my Garmin. I can plan a work out, I can plan out my distances, my reps, what heart rate zone I need to be in, how long, what cadence to have, etc. The Edge and the Forerunner are my personal coach.

As soon as I hit the pool however, it is a different story. I don't know what lap I am on, I don't know how long I have done a drill. I have to remember to press the lap button each time. Did I press it last time? Should I add a lap? or take one off? I can't remember. What drill was I on?

So I have looked for a Garmin like watch for swimming, but there really isn't one. So my Training Bible Super coach Cheryl Hart has come up with a new plan. Do go by time instead of laps, or drills. So I am now setting my watch for various times.

Today was 4 reps of 15 minutes. With a minute rest at the end of each 15 minutes. Basically taking 10 & 1's from running, and putting it into swimming. This may not be for everyone, but I am just looking to finish my first Ironman. It seems to be working. I mean, I swim ok and occasionally I get some free tips from other swimmers.

So far this seems to be working. I skipped the gym because I got to the pool late. So I did some situps and pushups at home. Then I stretched, made lunch, got ready for tomorrow. It's 10:53pm, time for bed, I am running to work tomorrow.

Uploading from Garmin Connect to my blog

Check out the widget on the right hand side. I can explain how it works, but just check out this link and add it to your blog. http://anathleteintraining.com/
Super geeky, and super cool. I love it.

Foot Solutions & my Brooks Dyad 4

I have an odd shaped foot. Well, I don't know it is odd. I should say, it is just hard to find the right shoe for. As a previous employee of the Running Room, I have tried on every single pair of shoes they have to offer. I have worn each shoe for several hours.

As a long distance runner, and someone who has been running for several years, I can notice little things almost right away. Is the toe to close to the end? Is the heal slipping, even a minor amount? Other issues take longer to notice. Will this cause blisters? Is the way the stitching is set in this shoe going to bother me after a while?

Most things in the store are easy. Is it the right size? I often say to customers that shoes are like a pair of jeans. A size 8 in a pair of Levis, is not the same as a size 8 in a pair of Seven jeans.

Some shoe brands fit narrower than others. This may cause blistering, or in extreme situations cut off the circulation. Other times the shoe will fit wide, you will wind up with your feet feeling like they are swimming.

Some brands have really good cushioning, others have to much. I don't like to not feel the ground. I like impact cushioning. I don't like it when I can't feel anything. There is a fine line between good cushioning and too much. I want the full effect of impact, to roll, to launch.

I always tried to emphasise to my customers: "How the shoe fits in the store with pushy sales guys, is a lot different than how it feels on your long run." Every new show feels great. I mean, it's a new shoe! Given that it is the right size, and it shapes to your foot, it should feel great, it is brand new.

What was frustrating for me, at the Running Room, was they did not have shoes for me. I fit a wide shoe. The Running Room is great if you fit into the "average" medium sole bed. If you fit a little smaller (narrow), or little bigger (wide), it is much harder to find a shoe.

One day I happened into a friend's store. He manages a Foot Solutions store http://www.footsolutions.com/vancouver Within a couple of minutes I found out not only was I in the wrong size (too small) but the wrong width.

This started me to my first pair of Brooks Dyad's.http://www.brooksrunning.com/ I purchased two. I was able to finish my first marathon, and I have never looked back.

Now I always try on new shoes. Shoe manufactures are notorious for changing the size, shape, and layout of the shoes, specifically Nike, but others do it as well. I have yet to discover another shoe that fits the same way.

So not only have I finally found the right shoe, I have finally found the shoe store. http://www.footsolutions.com/vancouver

So thanks to Foot Solutions, and thanks to Brooks! But a special thanks to Christian for not only the right shoes, but the knowledge I needed to keep running without injury.

All I do is pray they don't make any changes to the shoes!!!

P.S. Thanks for the suggestions Nicole!! ;')

Triathlon Training Bible Coaching

One of the difficulties any triathlete has is planning and scheduling. How do you fit in the sometimes overwhelming amount of time needed for each discipline? On top of working, family commitments, stretching, shopping, cooking, and in my case video game playing, there's never enough time.

Because of my brain injury, I find I also need help with scheduling. When you add everything together, the swim, the bike, the run, and additional workouts with speed days, distance days, brick workouts and all the rest, it is very time consuming. You plan your route, you schedule your day around the pool, you make sure your gear is all set up the night before and suddenly there is no time left in your day. I have spent allot of hours planning one activity, only to find out the next day I was planning the wrong one. I have even done the same workout two days in a row.

I can't remember what I did the day before, or where I was on the workout schedule. I can't afford an individual coach, one specific for me. So while reading "The Triathletes Training Bible" 2nd edition by Joe Friel. Litterly the "bible" for triathletes of all levels, I noticed they have online coaching.

I now get my training direct from one of their coaches. Specifically Carla Hastert
See her profile here http://www.trainingbible.com/findACoach_detail.aspx?id=1900 (I got the right person this time!!) So sorry super coach!!

What makes this website different from others (click on the website here) http://www.trainingbible.com/index.aspx
Is that I can upload my workouts from my Garmin Forerunner 405 & my Edge 705 directly to my coach.

So all the information a coach would get in person, is transmitted electrically. My workout is then reviewed. Goals are changed based on my results. Workouts added if they need to be, or taken away. It's all really cool. Just because of the ease of transferring my data, my coach can make intelligent choices on what workouts to offer.

As great as it is to have the technology. What is more important, for me specifically, is the ability to plan out my workouts. I can upload my hours at work. She then takes that information and then schedules my workouts. So I get a week's worth of workouts, and I am able to send her all my results.

This allows me to free up that part of my brain that focuses on the planning. You see there is a way for me to download my workout right to my Outlook. Why is that so important?

Well as I have a greatly reduced memory. I live off of my Smarthphone and my laptop. So my Outlook has everything from where I need to be, what I need to do when I am there, and also how to get to the next apt or home. I have my shopping lists, my bus schedules, my "To do" list, my calender, my scheduler, everything.

So I get these great little reminders of what exercises I have to do. I have time to prepare, and then head out.

I am also able to keep track of all my workouts. I have a tendency to over train. I have a fear of not doing enough, not planning hard enough, not running or biking fast enough, or not doing enough laps. This can be a very dangerous way to work out. Rest and recovery are an integral part of training.

Every question you have on training including nutrition, to race day, to....well you get the picture. It is truly money well spent. I mean our bikes cost a few grand, our shoes, watches and swim suits are expensive too! Paying for training has been the best investment I have made. I highly recommend the Triathlon Training Bible Coaching.

Triathlete Training & Research

So once I had chosen to do a triathlon. I decided to dedicate some serious time researching. I am not just talking about the training, the time on the bike, the pool, and the ground. I also started to look for training plans, advice on what I needed, reviews on what items I needed, and more important, what I could avoid.

I have over 10 specific Tri books. I subscribe to two Triathlon magazine's (I will add links and make notes on those later). Let me just say there is allot of good stuff out there, but there is also allot of crap. I mean come one, I am never going to be an Olympian, or make money from racing around the world. No one will sponsor me, it's not that there is anything wrong with me, I am just not that good.

I don't do it because I am good. I do it to get better. I do it for the health, I do it for the escape from daily crap. After my accident I made a choice that there is more to life than work, video games, and TV.

Sine my accident I have done allot. I have travelled. I got married to my increadible wife. I have gone back to school. I have run Marathons. I have instructed clinics. I do it because I enjoy the doing. The journey to the "it". It is, of course, about the actual race day, bragging rights, personal growth, fulfilling your goals, etc. However, I find it is the training itself that is the true accomplishment.

When planning a tri, even Sprint and Olympic distances, you need to do allot of scheduling. You need to become a multi-tasking expert.

"OK I got a 2 hour swim, and 8 hour work day. I meet with Mandy at 6:30 to see Slum Dog Millionaire, then head home, make dinner, plan run for tomorrow, make lunch, get everything I need for the morning ready. OK I have a window of about an hour and a half, maybe I can get in a quick swim"

I don't get up at 5:00 am because I like it, in fact I have always been a night person. I just cant get in everything in, in one day, unless I get up early. I also need allot of sleep. Both for my brain to process the day before and also for my body to revocer. The repair that happens during sleep is not only physical but mental.

So how do you plan out all these workouts? how do you find the gear you need? How to know what is crap and what is worth while? how do you know what days are essential? What days you can skip? (I am not telling you to skip days)

I found a website called Beginner Triathlete. http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/
They have different levels of entry, my favourite is the free one. (Hey I am poor, I am a person with disability, I work a minimum wage job, and I have student loans. I look to save money wherever I can)

I wound up buying my backpack after reading the review on this review http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=820
this wound up taking me to the Rocket Science website. http://www.rocketsciencesports.com/

I am not going to add anything more about this backpack, other than to say two things. 1) everything the article said I found to be true. 2) Rocket Science has great customer service. I had problem with some stitching. One email to the company and they paid for me to ship my backpack to them. Then about a week or so later, I got a new one. (They have great water bottles too) So I can personally say this company stands behind there products.

This blog entry however is about BeginnerTriathlete.com. I love this site because it is a one stop website for everything triathlon. From food, to gear, to plans. From sprint to Ironman and everytying in between. You can look at routes, you can upload routes. They have discussion boards for all the questions you will have. Like how do I get the sand out of my feet after the swim and before I get into my bike shoes.

I found the hardest part of triathlons is not doing the work. It is the planning, because of my reduced cognitive skills, I find it difficult to plan my day, plan my training, plan meals, plan clothes, plan, plan, plan.....

So for my first triathlon (Vancouver 2007) I did the Olympic distance training plan that is offered for free on the website. It was perfect, just fill out a little bit of information and "bang" there is your workout.

I am also able to avoid buying crap. Look at the reviews, they are detailed and well written. These guys use this stuff, so you never get that "tri snob" kind of feel. You know what I am talking about. The guy with the $15,000 dollar bike, the arrow helmet. He has on every kind of clothing and it all matches. He talks about Vo2 max and training thresholds, and all the other stuff that make you go....."yeah, I am on a mountain bike dude"

So check out the website. I mean the best praise that I can give this is this. If a brain injured guy did his first triathlon, An Olympic distance triathlon, and is now able to go on to his first Ironman, 2 years later!! Imagine what you can do.

Garmin Edge 705

I have been a Garmin fan ever since my injury. I worked at the Running Room and one day I had to take out a clinic for a run. Earlier in the day a customer had returned a Garmin 305 stating it was not picking up the satellite.

So I put it on, and took it outside to see if this was true. To determine weather or not I had to send into Garmin as defective.

Within a couple of minutes I had the Forerunner 305 set up for running a tempo run. I set it to run for 10 minutes, rest for 1 minute, and repeat 6 times. It was so easy. I was sold

I purchased my first Forerunner 305.

This device saw me through my first Marathon in Chicago in 2006.IT was so necessary for me to set what time and distance. When to rest. And keep track of all my workouts. One of the issues that arouse after my accident was over-training. I would forget I ran the day before, or how far I ran. So I could track my workouts, and always stay on target.



When I trained for my first Triathlon, I bought the cadence sensor for the Forerunner.



I was now able to focus on my Cadence and improve my over all success in all aspects. I have the bike mount accessory for the Forerunner and the quick release wrist mount. So I could jump out the ocean, get on the bike and be set to ride. I had preset my Garmin to the right mode so my cadence and time and heart rate were all pre-set to help me reach my desired time.

I also have a Garmin Nuvi for my car. The one thing that the Forerunner 305 does not have is turn by turn directions. So while I can monitor my cadence, and pace and heart rate zones. I often have no idea where I am, where I am going, or how to get back home. Riding a bike with a map in my hand is not an option.

So after school, and deciding to train for the Ironman. I did my research and I got a Garmin Edge 705 with North American Maps on a SD mini card.



I can now plan my ride by address, or distance, or time. I can program a map, I have downloaded the bike route for Penticton. So when race day comes I have turn by turn directions. I can now focus on my bike efforts, and not my directions. I can also enter in addresses and the time it will take me to get there. Truly a must have device for anyone, let alone someone with Short Term Memory Loss.

The Edge 705 is simple to use, but it is also as complex as you want it to be. Garmin has put a new Website together called Garmin Connect. I will add the link to this website on this blog. I can now upload my workouts to my coach, without having to be at my PC. So if I travel to a race, or I just train outside of my hometown. I don't have to wait till I am home to upload my data. Check out Garmin Connect.

Next blog entry will be on Forerunner 405.

Blue Seventy Reaction Wet Suit

My first post is a huge thank you to a great company. Thank you blueseventy. Specifically to Shawn L. and his boss. They heard my story and were so incredibly generous. I received my blueseventy Reaction Wetsuit today. Not only did they provide me with the wetsuit, but they sent me swim socks, a skull cap and glasses. I was so moved, they brought back my belief in human kind.

I really want people to understand this generosity, amidst the financial situation in the USA. They took the time and expense to send me a wetsuit. As a person with disability, trying hard to make a living within my limitations and push myself to my physical limit money is tight. Well that is an understatement. Money is non existent.









The great people at blueseventy have helped me by reducing some of the financial burden of the purchase of a suit. I put the suit on today and it fits perfectly.


I am so excited, I almost want to go jump in the ocean. I have a swim at the pool today so I will not be taking it there. I am posting a link to blueseventy and there websight on my blog. I will also be adding to this review after I have gone for an open water swim out here in the Vancouver ocean.

Join me on my Journey to Ironman

This is my first post to my Ironman Journey. I am going to go through this journey on my blog. I am going to do this from the point of view of someone with a disability. I have another blog that focuses on my life with a disability. http://temporallobeblog.blogspot.com/ This blog will focus on the training, the gear, the trials and tribulations that I go through on my road to the Penticton Ironman 2009.

I will also be reviewing a whole whack of technology that helps me complete this goal.

To introduce my story, in 2005 I suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. I had a chunk of my skull removed and placed in liquid nitrogen to allow the swelling of my brain room to well, swell. I was never expected to walk or talk again.

Well I walk and I talk, I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2006, I completed my first Olympic distance triathlon in Vancouver in 2007. I am now going after the Ironman.

So join me on this journey. I am going to post suggestions to products that work for me. I am going to review things from a different point of view. I have a low income, and recently married, with $16,000.00 worth of student loan debt.

I am an instructor at the Running Room in my hometown. I will be posting some information for my members, and information on all three sports. Swimming, biking and running.

I have some neat toys with my Garmin devices and I will be uploading my routes, and all my data. I will be opening the door to all my challenges and all my successes.

So please be gentle with me.