Training Updates & Dinner Time

It looks like I am officially pulling out my bike trainer and keeping it out this winter.. what a bummer. When I can't get in the endurance miles I need on the bike during the winter I supplement the bike trainer with the elliptical and rowing machine just as something else to keep my endurance level high without running myself into the ground. In fact I am on the elliptical and rowing machine almost every weekday during the winter.

I start a bit of a weight lifting session in a couple weeks. They are really just resistance exercises. I stay away from weight lifting as a triathlete as my body packs on big muscle fast when I weight lift, and that's really not necessary for me! Although I read weight lifting is necessary when you get into your 40s as the body loses muscle at that age. I think some very focused weight resistance training should make me faster in ways simply just running/cycling/swimming can't. Hopefully I can stick to this regime as I prefer to just SBR.

Swimming is going pretty good. I've finally got my schedule down so I can't skip out on the pool. My form is coming along slowly. "Elbows high, pinky out, head down, quick powerful pull & push , and fully follow thru!!!" I'm trying to intergrate a bit of prepelling kick with my stroke too. My cycling/running legs tend to drag and slow me down a lot. Like the majority of triathletes when it comes to swimming I'm a work in progress.


I get asked a lot about my diet as an elite vegetarian athlete. First thing I say is that it is not a diet. I don't consider the way I eat a diet and neither should anyone else.. its just the way. It's all part of a happy, healthy, stress free lifestyle. Here is a typical dinner of mine. A mix of couscous, broccoli, mushrooms, hummus, a lot of spinach, evoo and usually a glass of EAS protein.

Salads are your best friend during the winter, becuase your daily milage is shorter. They're perfect at replacing those carb heavy dinners that were needed during the summer. When it comes to salads go with the money leafs like Kale and Spinach who have the highest ORAC values. My new favorite is the bags of organic spinach at Trader Joes. Best things to put in a salad will be blueberries, prunes, cranberries, raisins, walnuts, cashews, and almonds. Salads are crazy easy and really filling. But remember dinners are to be your lightest meal of the day! (unless of coarse you have a big workout the next morning). Most of your calories should come before 1pm if your training is done after work. Thanks for the questions, hopefully I answered them.

I have some updates about 2011 sponsorships and what not.. But that will have to wait until next time.