Polar Gadgets

About a month ago I purchased the Polar RS200 with the foot pod. It's a watch/heart rate monitor/time&distance all in one. I've never been one for training gadgets. I strictly train on what my heart rate tells me. I'm not into power meters, hell I don't even use a bike computer. Like I said, I monitor time and heart rate.

So instead of sitting in my office for lunch, I decided to use my Polar RS200 w/ foot pod on my Iwo Jima loop. The loop itself starts from the Golds Gym in Rosslyn. It heads out to the GW Bike Path/MT. Vernon trail then across the 14th street bridge to the tidal basin by the Jefferson Memorial then along Ohio Drive to the Lincoln Memorial then across Memorial Bridge. From Memorial Bridge you go straight up by the entrance to the Arlington Cemetery then down along the perimeter of the Arlington Cemetery up the hill to Iwo Jima then back into Rosslyn.

Here is what my Polar RS200 recorded.

Total Time 43 min 47 seconds

Distance: 6.61 miles

Avg mile pace was 6:37
Max Heart Rate: 200 bpm

Avg Heart Rate: 155 bpm

Total Calories Burned 935

It's pretty damn accurate. I think the actual loop is pretty close to the distance recorded. My pace was pretty good despite the windy conditions and the climb up to Iwo Jima from the GW Parkway. I have to say it's a good piece of running equipment. I find that it pushes me to maintain or better my avg mile pace during the run.

Oh yeah I have to say that every now and then it so cool to realize that you're running along some of our Nation's greatest history. I think sometimes I take it for granted until I do this run. My favorite monument has to be Iwo Jima.

Take care all. Wish Erin luck this weekend.

Mama's Big Race

Mama's two biggest Fans

Erin has been getting ready for her duathlon coming up this weekend, Sept. 28th. She is very excited. duathlon is a first for her. She's no stranger to running though. She has done the Cherry Blossom 10 miler, the Army 10 miler and ran the Baltimore half marathon. I refer to her as SUPER MOM. All that and handling two kids????? You decide.

So the distance of the race is a 1.5 mile run, 14 mile bike and then a 3.5 mile run for the last leg. I'm excited for her as well. I decided to sit this one out to give her my full support. Me and Christian will be rooting for her at the race while little Matea hangs out at Grandma's house.

My season has officially been over for some time now. I've been hitting the Mountain Biking hard for I'm already in off season training. I'm running 3-4 times a week. I plan on starting a weight training schedule soon. I want to get more serious about my racing next year. I'm also going to mix in some multi sport and maybe to 12hour MTB race as well.

Its been hard racing this year with the addition of our little one. I was happy to take most of the season off to help Mama with kids and around the house. Priorities first.

I will be Erin's official photographer this weekend so stay tuned for some pics.

Later

Severe Case of Dragging Ass

Thank God It's Friday

Friday couldn't have come any sooner. I just couldn't get my ass moving this morning. I did my usual run with Roxy in the morning but then afterwards everything just slowed down. I finally got my ass in gear and made it to work. The ride on the Buell always wakes me up.

I headed right for the Starbucks in front of my building for the usual large coffee. For some reason I always end up with some douche bag yuppie in front of me. I mean seriously dude, take off the tampon and order a regular coffee.

You'll have to excuse me folks, but its Friday and I'm tired. I think I'll feel much better after the noon training ride. Have a great weekend.

Solid training weekend

With the 3 day weekend come and gone I got in 2/5 days of solid training. Saturday morning the plan was to go mountain bike in Wakefield Park for 2 hours. It was a wishful plan, but Murphy's law intervened. I flatted twice in the span of 30 minutes. Being out of spare tubs and Co2 cartridges we had to turn around in order to get back before my tire was completely flat. I was friggin pissed. It ruined my morning. By the time I got home I just shrugged it off and went with Erin and the kids to the pool.

Sunday morning I completely made up for Sat. I got up early and went on a 6 mile run with Roxy. Afterwards I went and did my regular 2.5hr Sunday morning hammer ride from Old Towne @ 8:30am. The early morning run really loosened up my legs for the ride. Between myself, my teammate Matt, Team ABRT's Art Brown, and Team Nissan's Chris we absolutely hammered the ride. We dropped the entire group within the first 30 minutes. We kept going and never looked back. I felt kind of bad for the rest of the group, but that's how it goes. I think we made it back to the coffee shop in record time. The rest of the group straggled in maybe 10-15 minutes later. Sorry guys. When I got home Erin the kids and I went to Party World to look for costumes for Christian's B-Day party coming up soon in Oct. We also went to Old Navy to find a bathing suit for Erin. Christian starts swimming lessons next Sunday. Matea and I will be checking out mommy and Big C in the water doing their thing.

Monday was the hardest training day of them all. We did and epic 3.5 hours on the Mountain Bikes. I was completely hammered at the end. I started bonking the last 20 minutes. The ride consisted of Matt, Wade and myself. We started from Wade's house out the fire roads, then headed to Fountain Head State Park. Fountain Head really tests your fitness and your technical skills. I went down twice and landed on my elbow the first time. Its a little swollen this morning but I still have full range of motion with it. It was just intense. You feel cleansed after a ride like that. You don't have a choice but to give it your all otherwise you may never make it out of Fountain Head. When I got home Erin, the kids, Roxy and I went for a walk to the playground to watch Christian go up and down the slides. Matea just chilled in her stroller. Later that evening we went and had dinner at Pane Vino with the Jennings and the Anderssons. It was a nice way to end the day. Thanks for reading.