Even though low temperatures are hovering around zero this week, the longer days and daytime highs of close to thirty are giving me spring fever. Thoughts of riding my bike outside and long runs in shorts are constantly popping into my head. Since my marathon is so late in the season, this seems like the perfect time to experiment and try new things.
Yesterday, I ran 10 miles and decided to try something new for me. Natalie said it was one of her favorite things, and Helen has mentioned it in her race reports. It is:
These are tablets that dissolve quickly in plain water and, shazam, you have “a light refreshing electrolyte drink without all the sugars”. Ya, I stole that right from their website. What I get out of that is that it has the electrolytes of a sport drink without any energy. I am trying out the tri-berry flavor right now and I love it. It adds just a little bit of flavor to my water. I thought it was great for a longish run like 10 miles. The workout wasn’t so long that I felt low on energy, but I was sweating and the nuun satisfied my thirst. I’m going to keep using the nuun with water instead of my usual G2, and for longer runs I’ll use it with GU’s for energy.
I’m also tinkering around with my bike set up. I love my bike and I felt like it fit me well last season. Two problem areas, however, were my pedals and my seat. I was using the SPD clips and my pedals could only be clipped on one side. I was constantly frustrated as I had to get my pedal flipped to the correct side before I could clip in. My seat was okay but not the most comfortable on the “sensitive” areas, if you know what I mean. I now have Speedplay pedals and a new “female friendly” seat, both of which I tried out for the first time today on the trainer. I had to keep getting off the bike to adjust the seat and to figure out why my shoe was making an annoying clicking noise. It was driving me crazy! I won’t bore you with the details, but basically there is a wad of toilet paper in the bottom of my shoe that seems to have solved the problem for now. I didn’t ride enough to asses the seat comfort, but now that everything is adjusted, hopefully next time I can ride longer to know if it is going to work for me. I have been avoiding the bike trainer all winter, so it was an accomplishment just to get the bike loaded up and to give it a try.
I’m hoping to be working on my swimming, too. I requested a couple books from the library. Unfortunately, I’m not the only one thinking about swimming so there is a wait list. In the meantime, I’ll amuse myself by futzing around with my bike and drinking my nuun.
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I like those Nuun tablets as well. Very convenient to carry around, too.
Here is to warmer weather and spring fever (even though I saw -3 degrees on the thermometer this morning!).
Hi Beth,
I am with you and have a serious case of spring fever!! Oh, I would like to purchas a bike within the next few weeks:) I am a little jealous of all of the tri atheletes but I can bike, darn it!! I need to go online and do some research and see what bike will be best for me! Good luck with your biking and swimming training:) Happy Wednesday Beth!!
I still haven’t solved that “uncomfortable down there” bike seat problem.
Oh the joy of finding the right saddle.
I’ve had a few that just didn’t work and one that I really like (Specialized Toupe). Finding what you like can be real hit or miss. Set up also plays a role, lots of trial and error and really tedious work, but worth it in the end.
Speedplay, eh? Pretty swanky!
Mere days and weeks until full-on outdoor activities can begin! (I hope)
I love tri-berry nuun – my fave! I’m hoarding it for my long runs.
I am so excited to wear shorts to run again, I can hardly contain myself. Soon . . .
Ya, spring and shorts I can’t wait. I like nuun, it’s easy too Carry.
you could visit that “other” library: barnes & noble. I’ve spent many an hour pouring over the books there gathering information. (I do make up for it eventually, when I drop a load of cash out for a bunch of books…)
I love the Nuun tablets they’re great!
Nice job loading your bike! i know, i leave all things technical to my DH, I’ve become so lazy w/it all! But I do think a bike fit could be worth it?
and I agree, it’s great to have the hubbies on board w/the running/tri obsession;-)
I can feel the spring!!! Are you coming to the StL this Spring for a run?
Nuun straight out of the canister is a bit much for me, but I love it when I make it the night before the run. It is flat in the morning but still refreshing. Am I a nerd because just talking about hydration makes me excited for long runs?
Good luck with the bike positioning. I don’t have aero bars, so I will have to tinker with my fit to get these placed on my bike.
I am interested in your Nuun experience. I bought some a while back, but never used them. When I don’t drink water on a run, I want the calories of Gatorade. And after a run, I usually want some calories. Or none at all. So even though I have a tube somewhere I have never used them. Maybe I’ll dig it out — I have been drinking Smart water from my gym, and that gets expensive.
(btw, sorry about Rod Gilbert! Of all the athletes I have run into, hockey players are the friendliest group I have encountered, and almost universally humble because almost no one recognizes them. I could sit next to Rod Gilbert and not recognize him.)
Oh yea – I learn a ton about swimming from youtube
Hey Beth! I am glad you liked the Nuun! It’s great stuff! I am also hoping to get speedplay pedals this spring/summer and also need a new seat. I too have that problem. Ouch. Glad to know it isn’t just me! I was beginning to wonder
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