Week Nine, Day Two: Swim Lessons + 30 Minutes Trainer

**If you haven't registered to win the 24-Pk of Chocolate #9 Agave Energy Gel Click Here **

Okay, time to get back to the workouts.  On Sunday it was 18 miles on the bike and then I visited my old buddy Tony Horton and he led me through 16 grueling minutes of Ab Ripper X.  I forgot just how darn hard ARX can be.  I made it through every rep - had to stop at 40 on the mason twists.  Not too happy about that (wanted to do 50) but the vomit coming up my throat made me stop (you are welcome for that visual).

Monday morning was an hour and five minutes on the bike which was 19.5 miles.  It was a hard effort but I was feeling great afterwords.  After work Annie and I got into our run gear and ready to walk out the door and realized the sky looked like a heck of a storm was on the way.  I jumped on weather.com and not only was the radar map covered in red and yellow we had tornado and flood warnings - not exactly ideal running weather!  But not to deterred, we went to the gym (different gyms - long story).  I ended up doing 5.6 miles on the treadmill (yuk) in 50 minutes which is an easy 8:56 pace.  Another Good Day!

That brings us to today:  MY FIRST EVER SWIMMING LESSONS!  So, I am going to a place called FINS in The Woodlands.  I set up an individual lesson with the owner, Liam.  He has worked with Triathletes in the past.  We got started and he had me swim a few laps so he could see what he had to work with!  The good news was that he said I had a good base and really didn't need much work.  This to me was also the bad news because I am slow and in my mind if he didn't need to tweak too much than I might just be destined to always be slow!

After working on a few drills I was starting to feel rather "slippery" in the water.  By the end of the lesson I was feeling downright confident. He gave me some catchup drills to work on but really I just need to focus on my pull and keeping my elbows high. When this was done correctly I felt like a different swimmer - this is very exciting.  I'm going to alter my 1/2 IM Training Program and add a few extra swim workouts in to beat in the new muscle memory.  I am going back to see Liam at FINS again in 2 weeks to assess where I am and where I need to be. 

Also this evening while watching Lost I jumped on the trainer and rode for an easy 30 minutes.  My legs were feeling a little heavy after all the volume from the last couple of days and a light trainer ride always loosen me up.  Another solid day of working out!

• FatCyclist.com is an excellent blog that has raised tons of $$$ for Cancer research.  Aside from that herculean effort it is also a very funny and informative read.  Mr. FatCyclist has decided to venture into the multi-sport universe and do an Ironman.  If you are a pure runner, swimmer, or cyclist and do not do Triathlon you probably think us Triathletes are an odd bunch of people. And Elden writes a pretty funny post describing how he is going to have to modify his behavior to become like us -- Good Stuff -- Click Here.
• On Sunday my wife Annie is running her 1st Marathon in Austin.  I am doing the half and will be her Sherpa/pacer for the 2nd half (Yes, I am an awesome husband).  And if we are lucky we may get our first Guest Blogger here at the Carrot - she has agreed to post her race report.
• Here is how the conversation just went:
• Jeff - "Do you want to post a race report on my blog?" 
• Annie - "I guess, will you help me?"  
• Jeff - "Yes." 
• Annie - ".... on her laptop.....long pause....I WANT a CHUG!!! ..... inaudible squeal"

• What the heck is a Chug?  A cross between A Pug and A Chihuahua, yes, really!

We are not getting a CHUG.

Tomorrow is a 30 minute morning run and then an hour at the pool.

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

Win a Box of Chocolate #9 Agave Energy Gel Give-Away

Earlier today I did a review (HERE) of Chocolate #9 Agave Energy Gel.  I really liked the product so I emailed the company and asked if they would like to provide a 24 -pk box ($32.45 value) for my readers.  They thought it a fun idea and agreed.  So this will be known as the first reader appreciation contest on Dangle the Carrot ...

If you are not familiar with Chocolate #9  please read my review and if you are a runner, cyclist, swimmer, or Triathlete you know how many darn gels we go through and getting 24 free is pretty cool.

Okay, so here is how it will work.  You will have 4 different ways to enter and can have up to 4 total entries in the contest:

1) Leaving a comment on this post will net you 1 entry.
2) Following Dangle the Carrot on Twitter will net you 1 entry. (Click Here for Twitter account)
3) Becoming a Follower of Dangle the Carrot through your Blogger/Blogspot account will net you 1 entry. (Upper right hand widget ---> )
4) Link Dangle the Carrot to your blog and that will net you 1 entry. (http://danglethecarrot.blogspot.com/)

For example, if you leave a comment and say, "Hi, I am Jeff from Texas.  I am now following you on Twitter and Blogger and have linked you to my blog: http://www.shamelessselfpromotion.com/ "  ... Boom, 4 entries right there, baby.

Now if you are already a follower on Blogger, Twitter, and have a back link you will also receive the total of 4 entries - assuming you leave a comment.

This is going to be like the movie School Ties (good movie btw) and we will use an Honor Code.  If you post it in the comments, its as good as gold!

This contest/drawing will begin today and the last entry will be accepted on Monday, February 15th at 8am.  I will then post the winner on Monday evening.  I will assign a number to every entry and use one of those random order generators online (just like in my fantasy football leagues).  Make sure to check back on Monday to see if you won because if you do not have a blogger account I will have no way to get in touch with you. 

Few Disclaimers:

I am not a lawyer nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express so this is probably all meaningless but here we go.
-  If the winner does not claim prize within 48 hours the runner-up will win.
-  Only eligible if you live in the United States or Canada.
-  I am not associated with Chocolate #9 in anyway so if you do not like the product don't blame me.
-  Since it is a free box you probably cannot return it for cash. 
- All decisions about the contest are made by me and I have the right to change the rules as I see fit.

Also, a big Thank you to John at Chocolate #9 for the free box!

May the luckiest athlete win!

Jeff

Product Review: Chocolate #9 Agave Energy Gel

Last month I won a drawing on BeginnerTriathlete.com for a box of Chocolate #9 Agave Energy Gel.  I had never heard of this gel and have always used GU or Hammer so I kind of forgot that I had even won this when it showed up at the front door last week.  

Now as is normal with me and any new product I usually do some research before I try.  I easily found the manufactures website and here is what they say about Chocolate #9:

Chocolate #9 is delicious, dark chocolate, agave powered, energy. We leave out the preservatives, patented complexes, and junk sugars, delivering a gel that's easy on the stomach, rewarding to the taste buds, and low glycemic index. Chocolate #9 is diabetic friendly, vegan, and gluten free. Put yourself on pace to experience peak performance. Choose Chocolate #9 today.

The nutrition contents of each pack are:  70 Calories, 75mg Sodium, and 15 Carbs.  The ingredients are composed of Organic Agave and Breakfast Cocoa processed with Alkali.

Being that I try and eat as clean as possible the Organic and gluten free claims jumped out at me in a positive way.  So, the only thing left to do is put the Chocolate #9 to the test during one of my long training days.

My Chocolate #9 Agave Energy Trial:

Well, last weekend I had a bike to run brick scheduled and figured I would give the Chocolate #9 Agave a try.  Before I jumped on my bike I grabbed a pack and the first thing I noticed was that the pull tab ripped of really easy.  Sometimes with GU I tear off the tab and it is a mess of plastic and tin foil  This makes it difficult to get the gel into your mouth.  The Chocolate #9 had no such problem.  Then I took a swig of the gel and it tasted really good!  A rich, dark chocolate taste - this I liked!

After about an hour on my bike and right before the run I took another Gel.  The one thing I noticed was that I did not get that little burst of energy that normally comes with other gels.  Not sure how I felt about this but my body reacted well to the nutrition intake.  After 45 minutes passed another gel was needed.  However, normally my body knows that I need a gel because my energy level usually takes a little dip.  Well, this was not the case today.  My energy level was fine and I knew a gel was needed because I looked at my Garmin and it said 45 minutes had passed.  I finished my run strong without any GI issues and have used the Chocolate #9 a few other times.

Chocolate #9 Agave Energy Gel - Pros:
- Tastes Great.
- Efficient Packaging.
- No Bonk.
- Energy was consistent

Chocolate #9 Agave Energy Gel - Cons:
- No Initial Energy Burst.
- Only Chocolate Flavor is available.


My Summary of Chocolate #9 Agave Energy Gel:

I absolutely love it!  The chocolate flavor makes it taste more like a dessert than an energy gel.  I actually ate one yesterday as a snack.  At first when I did not get the energy burst that is common with other gels I was skeptical, but when the crash or bonk did not occur either I realized this was a good thing.  My body was not just receiving an artificial boost from a bunch of sugar it was processing good, clean nutrition. 

In order for me to give Chocolate #9 a fair review I feel first we must look at the claims from the manufacture and see if they measure up!  First, they say that it is Easy on the Stomach,  I've had about 10 packets now and have had zero GI issues.  Second, they claim it is Rewarding to your Taste Buds, this is a complete understatement because the gel is delicious.  Lastly, they claim a Low Glycemic Index, not really sure how to measure this but if they mean no sugar than this claim is spot on. 

Now that it is apparent that I love Chocolate #9 the final question is How much does it cost?
- The manufacturer's website lists a 3-pk for 4.99 and a box of 24 for $32.49.
- GU Energy Gels are $32.40 for a 24-pk.
- Hammer Energy Gels are $30.00 for 24.

Since I received my box free this is the first time I looked at the price of Chocolate #9 and am pleasantly surprised at the cost.  I figured it would be much more expensive just like everything else that is Organic or Gluten Free.

Chocolate #9 will be my gel of choice for all endurance training and racing from this point on.  I plan on using it during the Austin 1/2 Marathon on Sunday and will let you know how it performs in a race.


Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

***Check back in later tonight to find out how you can win a FREE box of Chocolate #9***

Sunday Morning Ramblings ....

Got a lot to do today ....

Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Sunday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time.

Actually have not a lot to do today and am loving every minute of it.  Onto the Ramblings ...

• Really am not rooting for either team today.  Just would like to see a good game.  It would be nice to see Drew Brees and the Saints win since they have been one of the bottom feeders of the NFL since their inception.  And it would be good for the city...

• Congrats to the Carrot!  As of last week it has hosted over 30,000 individual visitors.  Now I really have no idea if that is a lot of visitors or not but I do know that it is like 2 times as many people that usually go to a Pittsburgh Pirates home game!  So I have that going for me ...

• Movie Reviews:  Movie #1:  ZOMBIELAND was very entertaining!  One of the more enjoyable rentals we have seen in a while.  Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg were hysterical and Annie and I laughed through the entire flick.  Bill Murray cameo was awesome.  Movie #2:  12 Rounds was a decent action movie starring some wrestler dude named John Cena.  He is a cop whose wife is kidnapped by an Irish terrorist and is sent on a bunch of "tasks" to get her back safe.  Think Die Hard 3.  Not going to win any awards but enough action to keep you engaged while on the indoor trainer.  Movie #3:  Twilight was crap!  Plot sucked. Acting was awful.  Directing was amateurish.  Really have no idea why all the chickadees in the world go crazy over this movie? ...

• Today's food is going to be very bad.  Back when I was a fatty I used to make deep fried chicken wings with a bunch of different sauces pretty much every Sunday during football season.  Well, Annie has talked me into preparing this crap fest of unhealthy goodness for today's game.  It has been over 2 years since we have ate this and it probably won't kill me but I just do not like eating like this anymore...

• Wanted to give a shout out to a few of my fellow Triathlete bloggers out there who help inspire and motivate each and every day: 
• First is KC over at the 140 Point 6 Miles.  KC not only logs some crazy training volumes but she is always extremely positive and seems to find the silver lining in every situation.
• Next are two Tri Geeks, Jason at Tri-Tech Blog and Mike at 26.2 is my Cooldown!  these guys always have the latest and greatest in Tri gear and are directly responsible for some of my own Tri Geek purchases.
• The next blog is by Tri Daddy Diesel over at TRI DIESEL.  He always seems to motivate while making me laugh at the same time.
• And finally another blog I enjoy is The Road by Patrick Mahoney.  Patrick is a pretty good writer and storyteller.  He also has a pic in his header that looks like the Gopher from CaddyShack so it cracks me up every time I see it!

• If you have a blog or know of others blogs that I might enjoy please post the URL up in the comments below...

I hope everyone has a happy Super Bowl Sunday and that at least the commercials are good!

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

Week Eight, Day Six: Brick - 1 Hour Bike + 1 Hour Run

What a beautiful day in the Houston area.  The temp was in the low 60's with blue skies!

After I got home from picking up my clipless shoes that I left at the Tri shop it was time for a ride.  Was able to get in a hard 60 minutes and was sweating like crazy.  I had a transition area set up in the garage and toweled off, tossed on my Brooks running shorts and shoes, and hit the road.

I ended up jamming out to a GN'R and PJ medley on the iPod and did not even look at my Garmin until about 55 minutes in to the run.  When I got home it said the run was 6.66 miles - that about a 9ish/mi pace. 

Overall a good workout day.  I was going to go to the pool today but decided against it.  On Tuesday I am going to be taking my first freestyle swimming lesson.  I found a place that works with triathletes and am very excited to get started.  I've decided to not swim again until Tuesday because I am sure my entire technique is going to be stripped down to the bare essentials.  It should be awesome!

Oh, here are some pics of the new saddle on my QR:

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

Week Eight, Day Five: 30 Minute Run

I got my new saddle today - the ISM Adamo Racing Saddle!  It is very comfortable and I cannot believe how good it feels on my ass.

When I got home I strapped the bike back onto my trainer.  Got changed and grabbed some water bottles and went to jump on the bike and that is when I realized that my clipless shoes were nowhere to be found.  I left them at the damn Tri shop ... which is 30 miles from my house in the center of Houston.  Guess I have my morning planned!

So, since the biking was out I decided to go for a short run.  I did 3.5 miles at a gingerly pace over 30 minutes.  I did not push it because tomorrow is 1hr bike, 1hr run, and 1hr swim.  All beginning after I go get my stupid shoes.

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

Week Eight, Day Four: Rest Day and Gear Stuff

Today was a nice rest day.  I actually felt like doing a workout but have a s/b/r back-to-back-to-back training day scheduled on Saturday so I figured I should follow the plan and take the rest.

Tomorrow I am taking my bike down to Tri on the Run.  It is a Tri specific retail store and I stopped by this afternoon in between appointments.  They have the saddle that I want in stock ... it is the Adamo Racing Saddle.  And they were cool enough to offer me to bring my bike in and we can see which style of the Adamo saddles fits the best.  Can't wait to try it out because my current saddle is killing my arse!

Over the next couple of weeks I have a couple of new items that I am going to try out.  The first one is a hydration product called The Right Stuff.   It was developed for Astronauts by NASA and has since been introduced to the endurance athlete.  It is a Gatorade like product except it doesn't have the Carbs and Calories.  The people at The Right Stuff were kind enough to send me some of the product.  I am going to try it out on Saturday during my long workout and then again next week during the Austin 1/2 Marathon.  A review will follow shortly thereafter.

I also won a box of Chocolate #9 from the Beginner Triathlete website.  If you post a product review they enter you into a monthly raffle and last month I was the victor!  This stuff is a lot like GU and Hammer Gel but is organic.  Going to try this out a couple of times also.

So, will be reviewing the Adamo Saddle, the Chocolate #9, and The Right Stuff.  This should keep me busy for a while.

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

Steve in a Speedo?! Gross: Online Workout Logs Review

Steve in a Speedo?! Gross! is a very funny and informative Triathlon Blog by Steve Stenzel that I read daily.  He just posted an excellent review comparing online training logs.  This is something I have spent countless hours trying out myself and as I was reading Steve's review realized we had very similar experiences with these sites.  He reviewed Wellsphere, DailyMile, Training Peaks, Buckeye Outdoors, and Beginner Triathlete.  Steve included screen shots of each site as well as his pros and cons.

For those of you looking for a place to enter your training data please check out Steve's awesome review:

Does It Work: Beginner Triathlete, Buckeye Outdoors, Daily Mile, and Training Peaks



Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

Carrot Programming Notes

If you are a frequent visitor of the Carrot you probably noticed that the blog's layout has changed.  For awhile I have been looking for a clean looking layout that would allow for widgets on both sides of the main body and also a tool bar under the main header.  This template allowed for both!  Note the comments are now listed directly under the Main Title of each post.

The main reason for the change is that more and more information is being added daily to the Carrot and I wanted to make the cataloging and review of this information much easier.

Another reason for the change is that I really enjoy reviewing new products and writing about my experiences.  This template allowed for a Product Review link in the top toolbar so that is where all the reviews will go.

So, let me know what you think ... love it or hate it!

Thanks,

Jeff

Week Eight, Day Three: 30 Minute Bike + Missed Swim

 This morning I got in an intense 30 minutes on the trainer.  I forgot to turn on my box fan and ceiling fan ... it was HOT!!  I was dripping sweat about 5 minutes in and thought about getting off the bike and turning on the fans but then figured I live in Houston and might as well get used to it!

The swim did not happen today and I really have no excuse.  After work I came home and jumped on the computer to finish up some emails and reports I have been working on.  Then next thing I know I am downloading a new layout for this blog???

I am going to make it up because this is such a light week training-wise.

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff