Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition

This has been a big week for me. I've already put in 210 miles of cycling since Tues, 10 miles of fast incline walking on the treadmill and around 7000 yards of swimming. And I plan on running tomorrow morning for the first time in 4 weeks! So it isn't quite "Ironman" training but I'm feeling strong, healthy and excited to race. This morning I layered up enough to keep myself warm at 6:30am. Instead of driving myself to the group ride, I pedaled my way over 20 miles to meet the Gearlink group at CVS. I never really realized how weak of a cyclist I was until I started riding with Gearlink. Of course barely hanging on this summer was a little insight to my poor cycling ability, but I love seeing my improvements. Towards the end of my training this year, I was at my prime and feeling great when I rode with the group. Now, however, the Gearlink guys are racing hard and riding strong! They are an amazing group of people, especially the leader of the team, Karel. What p...

No Surprise....We live in Florida! Within one week of cycling over 180 miles, I've experienced minimal rain, crazy winds, extreme cold and now I'm finding myself unzipping my jersey and de-layering during my rides. I tell ya, you start to get use to the freezing temperatures and then the Florida weather gods increase the temps from mid 30's to mid 70's! At first the weather is welcoming, but if I'm pulling out the sleeveless jerseys in Feb., what's to come in June, July and August!!!! Oh my. This week has been a good one for me, from starting to get more involved with nutrition consultations, adding some mileage to my cycling, swimming regularly with the SwimFit Triathlon Swim Team at the Y (ok-so I'm doing the sets by myself, but it's nice to be around others) and I finally started "walking" again!!! Even though I'd much rather be running, I've walked over 9 miles this week on the treadmill (around 4 mph with 8-10% incline). Even with ...

Unless you are a lifeguard or year-round swimmer (which I have been both) you probably don't worry about the weather on a daily basis. Aside from the Floridians who bundled up for our fridged sub 40 degree weather this morning, living in Florida is just wonderful for year round sports. I have had many moments this year where I have caught myself complaining about the "cold" temperatures (like today when I brushed frost off my car windshield), but I am very lucky to be able to train all year for my sport. Even though it takes me 30 minutes to bundle up with layers for a morning ride on my bike, I laugh as an hour into my ride, the temperature will rise over 10 degrees and the layers will have to come off. Yep, that's Florida. A couple weeks ago when I was in Bradenton for the USAT educational weekend (which was a big success), Lee Zohlman and I set out for a 6am ride, both saturday and sunday. And I must add that riding with Lee was awesome and I recommend him as not o...

As I pulled out the layers on Friday evening, I had no idea that Florida was capable of reaching freezing temperatures! Sometimes we (Floridians) take for granted how lucky we are to have no ice or snow storms during the "winter" months. It was a rude awakening come Saturday morning as I headed out the door for a ride a little before 7am. The 8am CVS Gearlink group ride turned out to be me and 3 other guys, which then turned out to be a 2 1/2 solo ride. No worries-I was glad to be out on my bike with a foot that is almost healed and ready to run. As I am a committed music listener when I am riding or running alone, I was bummed that I left my music at home and rode over 45 miles with freezing toes and a wind-burned face. Yes-it was that cold and I was riding in 30 degree weather in Florida! The music would have made me feel better about the chilly conditions, so I added some intervals to warm me up. After a quick protein smoothie and breafast, the rest of the day was spent in...

My favorite time of the year... The weather is changing to cooler temps, here in Florida, while most of the country is struggling finding the warmth to drive to the gym. As for me, my foot is feeling healthy and I am so pleased with my quick (3 week) recovery. My cycling is strong, the swimming is going great and I am anxious to get back on my feet for a long run. The goal for next week is to get in a couple days of running, but nothing long and nothing too quick. Just to run will make my day! Wish me luck for hopefully my last weekend of no running. It is no surprise that I have been spending a lot of time on my bike. I have been approached by many friends in the area that they have spotted me on my bike around Clearwater and New Port Richey and I love it when people see me riding. Hey, that's cool if you see me riding. Just don't honk...I might fall! :) I have been swimming with a masters team to pass the solo time in the pool and come the summer, I will be swimming with a HS...

It's funny how life can give you good days and bad days. As for me, I have seen better days in the past 2 weeks. Ever since the Miami Marathon, where I hurt my foot, I have found myself to not be as energetic, positive and excited for life. For the past 2 weeks, something very important to me has been missing. I have never considered myself a person who has had an addiction to anything (well, maybe besides a wonderful cup of coffee and American Idol on tues and wed. nights!), but training and racing triathlons has been my addiction for the past 2 years. I find joy, happiness and enthusiasm in my sport. I wake up excited to train and finish a training session with the mindset that I can't wait to train again. Yes-I consider myself very lucky to feel so passionate when I beat up my body for over 15 hours a week. Whether I'm getting up at 5am to prepare myself for a 4 hour bike ride, swimming redundant laps in a YMCA swimming pool or running on the treadmill for a grueling hou...

The head cold really got to me yesterday but rested it out and debated about getting up this morning. After several snoozes on the cell phone alarm, I turned on the coffee pot and decided I was good to cycle today. Bundled myself up, for the FREEZING weather this morning (sorry, I do live in florida). My feet and ears were the coldest, but other than that, I was loving the weather and my head didn't hurt anymore. Had a great 45 mile ride and I was happy that I covered the course I was "supposed" to do yesterday. I was cruising along on my bike, just loving it. Although I am a Big chainring kind of girl, the wind was getting to me and I actually used the small chain ring. It was a great workout and I'm happy where I'm at right now with my training. The achilles is still stopping me from running, but I guess this is an appropriate time to have an injury. Almost time to watch the superbowl. But all that football really gets in the way of the commercials :) Good luck ...