Kansas Beef Endurance Team 2012

2012 is shaping up to be a very good year!  Along with Sugoi and First Endurance, I will also be representing the Kansas Beef Council, as a member of the Kansas Beef Endurance Team!

I will be racing in a few stand alone runs during the spring and summer months, and will have the opportunity to race with a team of runners throughout the state of Kansas!  I'm very excited!

For those of you that know me well, you probably know I am quite the carnivore.  I love eating meat (in general), and really try to incorporate it into my diet as much as possible.  Since I started taking up endurance training, I have made it a priority to consume more lean cuts of beef, as well.  I have low levels of iron naturally, and choose not to take iron supplements because of the potential long-term damaging effects it could have on my body.  Beef has naturally high levels of iron, as well as zinc and protein.  And I love steaks....

For those of you that choose to live a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, that's awesome.  I'm not about to push you into giving that up and chowin' down on some fine cutlets... It's just something I incorporate into my diet!

I think it's great that the Kansas Beef Council is able to support athletes throughout the state.  Currently, the team has over 50 athletes that are supported in races throughout the year.  Keep your eye out for the team jersey at your next race, because it might be me!!!

My Dawg (Max) and I are fueled by BEEF!

I am hoping to write up a few posts in the future about how exactly I use beef in my diet, how it helps fuel my workouts, and some easy recipes for the short-on-time triathlete!

Thanks for reading!

Midweek Musings

I don't know if it's daylight savings time, training starting to ramp up, or the busy school/work weeks, but it really seems like November is flying by!  I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week!  YES!!! Ultrafeast!!!!  I am making sure I get a good training day in before I partake in all of the good food. You know... to help recover!

Nothing much new around these parts.  I won a copy of Iron War, the book detailing the epic battle between Mark Allen (not this Mark Allen, apparently...) and Dave Scott at the 1989 Ironman World Championships.  I can't wait to read it, but it may have to wait to around Christmas.  I have quite a bit to read right now, on the research front. Thanks again, Joel @TriMadness!

I also picked up a second sponsor for 2012!!! I will be representing Sugoi as a Brand Champion in 2012! Basically, I will be sporting some sweet new gear during training and racing! I am also really excited to review some of their products, especially their compression sleeves!!!  Can't wait!!!

The temps are starting to drop a bit here in Kansas, which SUCKS, but at the same time, is kinda nice.  Mainly because of this:

Nothing like blogging by a fire, while your dog is freakin' out!

Hope your late fall/early winter training/offseason is going great! Thanks for reading!

Miscellaneous

For the past few weeks, I have been crazy busy.  I've had to deal with longer work weeks, midterms at school, and training.  Everything has been great, especially on the training front.  I haven't missed a planned workout in awhile, something that I hope continues.  Finding a good balance is always a work in progress, but I'm figuring it out... But I do have some updates, on a personal front:

• Following the Half Marathon in October, I have been experiencing some moderate foot pain in my right foot.  It is now 3 weeks post race, and the pain is still there.  I can walk just fine, but when I start to run, I have a pretty constant pain on the outside of my foot between my heel and pinkie toe. I have told myself to take it easy this week with zero speedwork on the runs.  If it is still bothering me next week, I'm going to a doctor.  

• This was the first weekend I haven't worked in awhile, so Rach and I decided to head to Gary Gribbles Running Sports to check out some shoes.  I have about 200 miles on my K-Swiss Blade Lights (they still have some life in them), but I don't think they fit my feet correctly.  They are great shoes, but not for me.  Anyways, the staff at GGRS were EXTREMELY helpful!  I even had an employee, who happened to be a triathlete himself, help with shoe choices based on my gait and stride.  I tried and ran in 5 different shoes, and settled on the Brooks Ghost 4's.  I have yet to run in anything by Brooks, but they feel great! Rach found some she liked, too.  She settled on the Saucony Kinvara 2's.  I got them for her, as an early Christmas present!  And it's not even Thanksgiving!

Not big on the colors, but they feel great!

I'm hoping I can cram my feet into these for speedwork! They are light!

• I have started my first training plan with a coach!  The next month will consist of the following:  2 resistance training workouts per week, LOTS of bike intervals, training via heart rate zones, and BRICKS!  If you are looking for a coach, check out EnduraLabs!

• Lastly, I have my first legitimate sponsor for the 2012 race season: First Endurance!  If you are a seasoned triathlete or runner, I'm sure you have heard of First Endurance.  They are one of the largest nutrition companies aimed at meeting the nutritional needs of endurance athletes.  I am very proud to represent such a great company, and hope I can portray them in a "competitive" light.  I will be using many of the supplements for the 2012 season, and will be sure to let you know how they affect my training!

Thanks for reading!