Category Archives: Racing

Some multisport training

Posted on by

With a running event and a gravel race coming up this season, I’m starting to double up on some of my training days. Here’s a bit of running in Forest Park and some road biking through the city.

Planning for two big events

Posted on by

As I posted in The Season Ahead, I have my eye on a couple very exciting and desperately different events “early” in the year this season. Or perhaps that should be “early in the season”.

First up, I have my first trail run event since the Berryman Duathlon days and the longest trail run I’ve ever attempted. 13 weeks from this now! A few years ago I actually flew to participate in a North Face trail half-marathon in the DC area but that ended up getting canceled due to torrential rains and near hurricane conditions. But now I’m taking on the Chubb trail 25k (15.5 miles) which I’m very excited. And very nervous about. For training I’ve picked out a half marathon plan and modified it only slightly, primarily modifying the rest days by keeping in some riding or other activities. Even with all the prep for this race already laid out… I can’t help but wonder if I should do something differently! Mileage has been creeping up and so far I have been able to adapt to the new stress of running fairly well. I really need to get more trail running time but I’m still a few weeks out on switching to having a weekend run on the schedule.

Only six weeks after the trail run I’m going to Kansas for the Dirty Kanza, a 200 mile gravel race in the Flint Hills. This is a race that’s been on my radar for a couple years and I almost pulled the trigger on it last year. I have positive feelings for this race, but with a majority of my training in the next 3 months centering on running this is going to be interesting! And it also means a lot of bike and gear prep but not as much bike time. Luckily there are some good events this year that will likely help prep for this event including a 100 mile monstercross race.

So I have a long road ahead taking on my first run above a half-marathon and my first bike ride above 104 miles… all within a few months! Here’s to 2012!

Winter Gloves

Posted on by

I wrote this up a few years ago, but since we’re getting such abnormally warm January weather, I thought I would delve into a review of some of the gloves I’ve been using the last couple winters. In case, you know, we end up with temps below 40°F at some point this winter…

My stable of winter gloves has grown to three sets:

  • An older set of Pearl Izumi gloves. These are set of relatively lightweight 5 finger gloves that I like for temps going down to mid-30°F range. Not sure of the exact model or what would be comparable anymore. These also fit hand warmers really well.
  • GORE Radiator Bike Gloves
  • Giro 100 Proof Bike Gloves

For a few winters I would try to make the Pearl’s work. I would add hand warmers or even liner gloves. Liners usually ended up causing circulation problems (which doesn’t help when your hands are freezing). But I still found that almost nothing I could do really helped in the cold temps.

The GORE and Giro gloves were both purchased at the same time with the goal of getting gloves that could handle temps below freezing.

Warmth: the Giro gloves win hands down on the warmth front. I still use the the GORE gloves all the time but I’ve found there comfort zone is still pretty close to freezing. On road rides or rides below say 30°F my hands would still get cold. The Giro gloves are actually a set of lobster mittens with liners. They are my go-to set if it’s going to be super cold out.

Features:

  • I enjoy that the Giro gloves have liners. I can usually pull off the mitten without freezing my hands or if it warms up enough I have decent riding glove.
  • The GORE gloves are still warm and fit a hand warmer pretty well. I also love all the reflective touches (many of my winter rides are at night).

Initially I was going to return one set of the gloves, but in the end, I kept them both. Since temps have yet to drop below freezing I’ve usually used the GORE gloves this year. The Giro’s are still waiting for the real winter to start. As an addendum, I should add that many people I know swear by Bar Mitts. I’m debating getting a set for my cross or road bike since the bigger gloves can be challenging with road shifting (doable, just tricky).

The big take away: get out there and ride. There’s a way to ride in pretty much anything and there’s no reason to be stuck not riding or on a trainer all winter!