K. Todd Storch

Race is tomorrow

  Swim is over 
  Originally uploaded by K. Todd Storch.

Got in a swim this morning at 8a.  Took a ride into town to find the nearest Starbucks (note to self...build Starbucks near the race hotel) and hung out most of the day.

20 minute massage, more Expo rambling, trip to the "Big Brown Ship" for lunch and bike check was most of the day.

Good luck to everyone tomorrow.  Be safe and go hard.

h2f blog is here and pics:
Friday
Saturday

Headed to the Gulf Coast 1/2 Ironman

Will be catching a plane this morning for the Gulf Coast 1/2 Ironman with 30+ others from Dallas Athletes.  This will be my third 1/2 IM distance and I'm really fired up about this race.

I really feel good about my training and nutrition leading up to this race and feel like I should be strong.  I've tweaked my goal time for this race.   I have set a conservative and challenge goal.

Conservative:  5:08
Challenge:  4:57

Splits to get there:
Conservative
Swim:  45:46
T1:  3:00
Bike:  22 mph
T2:  2:15
Run:  8 min/mile

Challenge
Swim:  42:14
T1:  2:30
Bike:  22.5 mph
T2:  2:00
Run:  7:45 min/mile

Final weigh-in on Tanita this morning showed:

Weight:  156.2
BF%:  13.7%

Goal progress for the race is here for April, March, February and January.

Motionbased...What's Up? My Challenge to You

I'm really enjoying using Motionbased with my Garmin 301.  However, I do have a few gripes and I'd like to throw out an idea and challenge to Motionbased.

My gripes:
1)  If I'm paying $99 a year for your service, why does the website run so slow?

• yes, Motionbased is doing a good job of communicating the issues and they also have a blog in which they keep their customer's up to speed, but it's time to get your servers up to speed.  The new 305/205 product launch must have really added to your client base, but didn't you forecast for this and prepare?

2)  I have a few friends that are reporting issues with the GPS tracking with the new 305. 

• Now, this isn't happening to me, but it has crossed my mind when I get the urge to upgrade.  So far, the 301 is just fine and I don't anticipate moving to the 305 for at least until next season when a new model/operating software can come out

3)  Why the discrepancies from the run/bike distances on the Garmin when you transfer it to Motionbased?

• Anyone else notice this?  For example, my taper track run this morning said I ran 5.13 miles, but when I open up the downloaded activity via Motionbased, it says I ran 5.02 miles?  Which one is right and don't jip me out of .11 miles!  Will the Firmware upgrade fix this?

My challenge to Motionbased:
I would like to know what is the most "Garmined" city in America. 

• Have a contest to determine which city in America is using Garmins the most.  I'm sure there is a way to determine how my devices are accessing the GPS satellite.  I'm sure that Coppell, TX has quite a few signals being tracked each Saturday and Sunday during the season.  This would also be cool to know based on area triathlons and marathons.  For example, how many Garmins were being used in the Boston marathon?  Winning city/registered users get free Motionbased service for a year, etc.

Anyway, thank you for this service and please get the bugs worked out.  I'll keep waiting during the slow times and will think of other ways to spend those never ending minutes...

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tags:   triathlon | motionbased | garmin forerunner 301 | garmin | GPS

April in Review and Goal Progress

Countdown to the GC 1/2 IM!

Overall Activity
Swim:  7,900 yards
Bike:  224.1 miles
Run:  118.9 miles
Stretching:  13x
Weights:  11x

Nutritional Goals - Weight (Body Fat%)
1/1/06:  171.4 (19.0%)
2/28/06:  165.0 (14.0%)
3/31/06:  162.0 (14.8%)
4/30/06:  160.9 (12.9%)

Goal Weight:  160
Goal BF%:  10%

Weight is down 6.2%
Body Fat % is down 32%

With the race just 11 days away, looks like this will be my fighting weight.  Goal for these 2 taper weeks is to cut back calories while the training backs off.  I'm eating about half portion sizes during the mid-morning and afternoon eating times.

Swim time was low, but I've decided to hire a trainer during the Summer and completely start over.  Time to break down my stroke and start over.  Highest mileage for running and I'm really pleased on my run progress.

Some highlights of the month would have to include:  Total Triathlon Night, Taylor's Birthday!, Ryan's Taekwando,  cheering on the Boston Marathon participants, all the very early training runs with Curt, Todd L., Matt, Dave and the great H2F crew!

Time to put it all together for the race.

January review
February review
March review

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tags:  triathlon | 2006 goals

Gatorade Endurance...Get You Some

I've been using Gatorade Endurance since it first came out months ago.  In fact, there's a few of my training buddies that would always text each other after they bought every last remaining on-sale bottle at local Wal-Mart's (Curt, Todd...you know who you are...).

Gatorade has been direct mailing a few packages lately.  The one I received was a fold out that contained a free coupon for a bottle.  However, there is another "special" package that is making the rounds that contains 21 (YES, 21 free coupons) free coupons for bottles.

Anyone get these?  Check your mail.

If you didn't, you can go HERE to print out a "5 bottles for $5" coupon (registration required, click the "Start Training With It" button).