Essential Gear: Road ID

The road ID is a piece of kit you can wear on your neck, wrist, ankle, shoe or foot. The idea is that if you are ever in an accident someone can use the id to contact someone you know.

It comes with one of two types of info plates on it. The original has your name, address and number on it and the Interactive has website and pin on it.

The interactive id takes it a bit further. First responders can log into the site on the tag and enter your pin to access all your emergency contact information and medical information. You’ll need to be sure you keep it all up to date buy making changes whenever you change Doctor, Insurance etc.

I have the Interactive Sport id version. It goes on the wrist and has a velcro strap on it you can adjust to your size. I make sure I wear it every single time I go out the door for a run, ride or race. I find it pretty comfortable on my wrist but sometimes when I run I will put into over a sweat band cos it can start to scratch a little as you move.

They have various other versions and they come in several colors so you can tie it in with the wrest of your gear.

You can order the Road ID online at http://www.roadid.com/Common/Catalog.aspx?C=RoadID

Mileage Tracking

I've been trying a few tracking options for my mileage for running, cycling & gym workouts. So far I'm using multiple ones but consolidating them into one main website. Here's what I'm using for each.

Running
Favorite - Nike+ GPS
www.nikeplus.com

I've decided to stick with Nike+ GPS for my iphone. It's a really simple to use app and I like their online communities at nikeplus.com & nikeplusactive.com. I wish they would merge the two so I didn't have to go to two places to participate in their online activites though.

The Nike+ app has a cool feature that will post to your facebook if you set it up. It will then let people know when you start a run and if anybody comments on the post it will read it out to you!

I have previously used the Nike+ sportband. The sportband is a basic watch that when combined with a sensor in/on your shoes can track your mileage/speed/pace. I have found it to be pretty accurate for my needs. After your run you plug it into the USB port on your computer and it uploads the run to the website. I now mainly use it on the treadmill. When outside I can use the GPS app instead. The other advantage of the sportband is the price, it was pretty cheap and great for a beginner to running. The online challenges and trophies add extra incentive and fun to running.

Nike just released their own GPS Watch with TomTom which looks really nice. It's $199 and functions as a watch. It's also got some nice features to remind you to get out there and run too. You can see more about it here. I think i'll probably pick one up later this year.

As with any GPS enabled sharing program you want to be sure to change the settings on your profile to friends only.

Cycling
Favorite - Mapmyride
www.mapmyride.com

I'm currently using the mapmyride app for the iphone. The app has a nice user interface and is pretty simple to use. It will also post to your facebook/twitter if you want. I have mine set up to post to twitter once I complete a ride. It also uploads it to the mapmyride website.

As with any GPS enabled sharing program you want to be sure to change the settings on your profile to friends only.   Mapmyride allows you to make things as public or private as you want to. Be sure to read through all of your settings.

The mapmyride website is pretty good but is in transition mode at the moment from an old to new version. I find the best thing about it is the ability to find rides in the mapping tool. I'd like to use more functions but alot of them are not ready or working yet on the new site. The old site was horrible so I dont bother with it. The other downside to it is the stupid pay versions so you get annoying ads coming up alot. The features offered for the pay version are pretty useless so i'm stuck with the ads for now.

Gym Workouts
Favorite - Dailyburn
www.dailyburn.com

For my gym workouts I like Dailyburn.com's app for the iphone. The main reason I like it is that I can create my workout plans on the website and then access them on my phone while at the gym. I can log in my sets, reps & weight and submit it and it updates the website.

Home Page

Entry Choices

My saved training plans

Entry screen while at the gym

The dailyburn website has lots of other tracking tools for tracking weight, calorie intake etc but they aren't things that I use.

All in one summary
www.dailymile.com

My favorite website for keeping all my workouts together is Dailymile it looks great, it's really simple to use and has the added bonus that it can import from Nike+ and Garmin Connect. I only have to manually log my gym workouts into the site. It's got some nice charts and tracking tools also. Dailymile has a nice summary you can add to your blog too, check mine out on the right hand side of my blog --->

I really want to check out the Garmin connect import. I need to see if it will import for cycling, if it does i'm tempted to get a Garmin for my bike and ditch the mapmyride app. If anybody has used it please comment and let me know!

Some other features I like about the Dailymile site are:

1. Events - You can create/join events and have them display in your race calendar
2. Facebook Connect - It uses Facebook to login so I dont need another username
3. Motivation - You can comment on friends activity and send them little motivational badges

Training Summary Mar'11

This month I started to get back my motivation! I got some more running in and even did a race. The final week of the month I kept to my schedule except for the Monday as it was after race day.

My cycling was disrupted a few times with the weather not making its mind up! It was nice for a few days then wet and cold for a few days. It finally warmed up in the last week and I'm on course to finally get my Tue/Thu/Sat rides all in one week.

I still didn't get myself to the gym enough, so I'm not happy with that. I have gone there this week and have my stuff to go today, once I get into the routine of doing after work I'll be happier.

Summary:
Month Bike Miles: 77.38
Month Run Miles: 8.42
Month Gym Visits: 3

My aim for April is to get more runs in, I signed up for a 5k race at the OC Marathon to keep me focused. The race is at the start of May, this should help motivate me. I also need to get into the gym more often. If the weather cooperates I will continue to clock the miles onto my bike.

I also ordered EA Sports Active 2 for the PS3. I've been thinking about it on and off for a while. It will give me a little extra twenty minute cardio workout (or more) and will give me no excuse to not do some kind of workout if I skip the gym. It comes with three "controllers" that you strap on to yourself. One on each arm and one on your thigh. It has a built in heart rate monitor too. It's dropped in price now so it was only $38, we had a gift card kicking around so I was only out of pocket $13. It arrives on Monday so I will drop a review once I've tried it out a few times. Here's some vids about it.

PS3 Trailer


This video someone compares the HR monitor


You can also find more about EA Sports Active at the official website here

2011 Angels Baseball 5k Run

This was my first race of 2011. On Saturday morning I headed down to Angels stadium to pick up my bib, chip & shirt. I was one of the first 3000 so I got nice tech shirt.

My bib for the race! Hate that they put a frigging x on it for picking up my shirt! You're supposed to do that on the back!

This is the timing chip for my shoe. This is the first time I've seen one like this, usually it's a tape one that you loop through your laces.

While there I went into the store to pick up some 50th Anniversary items.

This is the tech shirt i got, it fit pretty good and will come in handy for running in the CA sun this summer!

The back of the shirt.

In addition to the shirt I also got a coupon for two free tickets to an Angels game and also free access to Fan Fest after the race.

I got all my stuff ready the night before so I could sleep a little longer in the morning. When I got up it was raining, so much for it being cold and dry.  I got down to the stadium about 6:15, there was barely any traffic and I was able to find a spot really quick. The rain had stopped by the time I got there and it wasn't too cold out.

I did a little jog to get warmed up and did some stretching. I made my way other to the start and tried to keep warm. The did their usual starting festivities, though i dont think they wanted to be out there in the cold!

Once we got started I started running at a 9 minute pace, I was feeling pretty good and soon warmed up. I got passed the first mile marker at just over 9 minutes and then my legs started feeling really heavy. I think it was the lack of training I had done. I then started getting a bad stitch in my side. I tried to do some stomach breathing to get rid of the stitch but it wasnt working, I decided to walk it off for a bit. Once i'd shaken the stitch I started up running again but my calves we really tight, I started walking again up to the 2nd mile marker.

Once I passed the 2nd mile I started running again and forced myself to not stop so i could enjoy the last mile. As we headed into the stadium I picked up the pace again. I was worried that the stadium would be mobbed, last year everyone was stopping to take pictures inside. This year they changed it so instead of coming out the same way you come in we came out the opposite side. Once we got out i started to sprint towards the finish.

I past the finish line and was glad i had ran the last part of the race. After the finish line they passed out water, fruit and a free Angels hat.

They had a small finish line festival so I checked out some other races they were offering. I then picked up my free tickets to an Angels game.

I hunted down a results tent but couldn't find one so I had to wait until I got home to find the results. I headed over to the car to get changed so I could go to the Angels Fan Festival for some autographs!

When I got home I looked up the results, they were not posted! Took them several hours to finally get them online. I finished 30:50, disappointed to not finish under 30 mins, but know that i'll do better next time!

2010 - A Year of ups and downs

Seeing as I totally slacked on even bothering to maintain my blog since I started it I am going to cover 2010 in one small post!

Training Summary

My 2010 running training was on and off all year long. I would get into it then slack off then back again. We started house hunting last April and that took up much of 2010 after finding one place in Rancho for that to fall through at the last minute and then finally finding a place in San Dimas and all sorts of issues coming up with the seller. We finally moved into our place in December.

So this is my 2010 training stats (ones that I remembered to log): 106 Miles :-(

Racing Summary

I did manage to get a few 5ks in last year, I was hoping to get at least a 10k in there but ended up missing the one I signed up for because of real life getting in the way!

07.11.10 - MLB All-Star Game Charity 5k

This was held at Angels stadium (Go Angels!) as part of their hosting the All-Star game. I had done zero training for this one and just aimed to try and run it all without walking. The course went inside the stadium and was jam packed with people stopping to take pictures.

Result: 36:59

09.25.10 – 6^th Annual Megan Savage Memorial Race for a Cure 5k

This was held in Upland. The course was in North Upland with a brutal long slow climb. I had just gotten over a head cold for this one and felt awful during the run. One the day of the race it was crazy hot at that time of the morning as we were in the middle of a baking hot heat wave. The entry went to a great cause though!

Result: 35:00

10.17.10 – 2010 Run Forrest Run 5k

This race is held every year as part of the ICB Long Beach Marathon weekend. This was my second year running it. Nice flat course and decent weather.

Result: 27:32 (New PR)

Missed races were the Mission Inn 10k (Real life stuff to do) and the Mt. SAC Heritage Hall 5k (Ended up moving that weekend)

Tracking

I’ve been using the Nike+ sportband for a year now and have now switched to the Nike+ GPS app for my iphone, I like their website, challenges, trophies etc, makes tracking my runs lots of fun. I can also import it over to mapmyride.com to keep it all in one place.

Summary

All in all a bit of a let down year in terms of running but being able to get our own place in San Dimas made the year overall awesome!

Blog Fail!

Damn! I totally slacked off on this! I need to work on a summary of 2010!

Get a grip!

After several rides on my bike I realised the grips on the bike where chaffing my hands up something crazy! I decided to make a change and orginally picked up some gel gloves.

The gloves worked fine but i find them a little uncomfortable.

A buddy of mine recommended some grips called ESI Grips from http://www.esigrips.com/

I got a black pair and went about installing them. I was going to try and keep my old ones for later us but decided not once i tried to remove them! In the end i just sliced them off with a knife.

Installing the new grips was pretty easy. I soaked the bar with window cleaner and then sprayed some more inside the grips and slide them on. They slipped on easy enough, took a bit of a shove to get them on.

Once they were on I took them out for a spin. They are super comfy and absorb alot of the shock when riding on bumpy roads.