Things I have learned

Here are some of the things I have learned relating to my training:

- What to eat. I have to eat a light breakfast which contains no dairy. No breakfast = starving, weak, cranky, delirious. Cereal, or even just a little milk in my coffee = serious hurl potential. Current breakfast of champions is one slice whole wheat toast with almond butter and a cup of tea with one sugar. Some people go out at the crack of dawn with no breakfast. Supermen? Or fools?
- What to wear. Performance fabrics make all the difference. Cool-max socks prevent blisters, as do good shoes. Asics GT200 size 9A are the shangri-la of footwear, discovered through expensive trial & error. Narrow size is not available in stores and must be ordered online. The running shorts with the built-in panties are much better than an extra layer of sweaty cotton. I also have great love for my special running hat and sunglasses. And my cute 2 piece sporty swimsuit and googles which actually fit without leaking.
- Muscle weighs more than fat. I have not lost a damn pound after 7 months of running. Not a damn pound. But my secret weapon, the body fat scale, confirms that muscles are emerging from ancient layers of fat. I've lost 3 inches from my waist- which I didn't even think was fat - and pants are getting quite roomy. Muscle weighing more than fat is the only explanation.
- Planning is essential. I am only starting to master this. If you plan when and where you are going to work out, you are a lot more likely to actually do it. Extra points for putting your running clothes out or packing your gym bag the night before.
- Prepare for the elements. Kind of like planning, but in my mind it means sunscreen, bugspray, water, and/or a few bucks to buy an emergency vitamin water. Oh, and don't forget the flip flops at the pool - who knows what is on the floor of that shower.
- Tracking is essential. Keeping score brings out my competitive side. I'm not actually ready to compete with other people, but competing with myself is helping do more, faster.

I have a talent for stating the obvious. Actually, although these all sound obvious, maybe I needed a reminder as I went out his morning with no breakfast in the wrong shorts, and I could have used some bugspray on Sunday.

In other news, I love my little weather center I added on the side --> of my blog. It will probably make me fantasize even more about Montauk. And, I am pretty sure I am in the market for a new bike. I rode my mountain bike in the sprint tri, but I think that just isn't going to cut it for 56 miles in the Mightyman. Seems awfully decadent to own 2 bikes (3, counting Husband's) in the limited space which is a New York City apartment, but I don't know what else to do. This also sounds like an expensive proposition -- maybe I can find one on Craig's List?