The watch that counts for you.

Did you know they make a watch that you can swim with on your wrist and will count your laps or distance? Did you know they make one for UNDER 100 BUCKS? 

The watch is called the Poolmate by Swimovate USA. And this technically challenged Mom, was given a chance to test out the watch.

So here's a little breakdown of what a typical swim session would look like without the Poolmate:
(In my head):
Ok let's do this swim session Amanda!
Lap 1
Lap 2
Lap 3
Lap 4
Oh gross! Is that a piece of poop on the bottom of the pool? Just swim over it, maybe it's a penny.
Yep it has to be a penny. Don't open your mouth.
Lap 6 right?
Great here comes a dude that wants to swim in my lane. I better up my game and pretend like my form doesn't suck.
Lap 11, crap I lost count. Yep it has to be 11.
Is that lifeguard up there on the ladder laughing at me? 
Do you think the guy swimming in my lane can see right down my top?
Does he notice the poop penny on the bottom of the pool? 
Lap 16, Dangit I don't know what lap I'm on anymore. Maybe I should start over.
Hey did a bird just fly into the indoor pool area?
Keep that left goggle in the water stop looking up, you're pulling your head.
Damn I just scraped my knuckle on the lane-line.
Lap 95? it's been forever...it has to be at least lap 95 by now.
Is that poop-penny floating up toward me now?
Time to get out.

With the watch I am now able to have all the FUN conversations in my head without having to worry about counting. It was so nice to press a simple button on the watch and have it do all the work for me! I highly recommend this watch for anyone that swims and is terrible at math or just doesn't really want to have to keep track of the laps.

I was given a chance to test the watch for free and the opinions above are my own. (As if the poop mention wasn't a dead giveaway that I wrote the post)

Here is what the Swimovate website says about the watch:
The PoolMate is an automatic Swimming Computer. Simply press the Start button and begin to swim. No forgetting your lap count! No pressing buttons at the end of each lap! The watch calculates and shows

• Laps
• Average strokes
• Speed
• Distance
• Time
• Calories
• Efficiency

• Works with all major strokes straight out of the box, no calibration required
• Stores over 100 sessions for recall, records individual sets and total session data
• Pools over 18m (yards too), Chrono mode for other sports
• Water resistant to 50m, 24 hour clock and alarm

We have designed a complete bespoke watch specifically for swimmers. Other features include lightweight, flexible PU strap, easy to read display, stainless steel buttons, backlight and double secure fastening.

The PoolMate is available in different colour options – grey, black, hot pink or bright blue!

If you order from their site use the code SOCIAL10 to save 10%

Disclosure: A benefit to keeping a blog about training for triathlons is a chance to receive various products to use and review for my readers. These products are often provided for free or at a significant discount to me. I don't receive additional compensation and I'm not under obligation to provide a positive review of the product. My opinions on the product are entirely my own. Some of the products I review may work for me, but they may not work for you. 

Beginner triathlon checklist.

Thinking about doing a triathlon this year? Not sure if you have or can afford all the stuff that's required? Think again, it really isn't all that much.

Here is a 'bare bones" checklist of what you would need. Yes this is the minimum that one would need to do their first sprint triathlon. Of course all the added stuff comes later. But these are the important items I would recommend to any first-time triathlete.

One might argue that you don't really need tri shorts and can just wear a swimsuit bottom, however I highly recommend them. All you have to wear are these shorts (nothing underneath) and you can swim bike and run in them. They are very comfortable. If you decide to forgo the tri bottoms and choose to wear a swimsuit keep in mind, there is no place to change and you could end up wearing that swimsuit for quite awhile. Ever biked in swim suit bottoms? How about run in swim bottoms? They could chafe, they may ride up and you could possibly spend the entire race picking your butt! That doesn't sound fun so why not invest in tri bottoms that are meant to be quick drying and even have a little pad in them for the bike.

You also do not need bike shoes. If riding a regular bike that has normal pedals you can just get away with wearing the shoes you will run in.

Good luck and happy racing!

A perfect bike weekend.

This past weekend was a three day weekend and the whole family got out and played every single day. We camped at a campground about an hour from us. The campground is known for the great mountain bike trails and some not too shabby road biking as well. My favorite part of the trip was seeing the kids wake up and immediately ride bikes with the other kids at the campground. Little riders from dawn to dusk!

The mommies got to enjoy a nice 25 mile road ride up to Sedona on one of the days.

Hilary and I at the end of the ride.

The daddies enjoyed exploring the miles and miles of trails around Dead Horse State Park

I even had a little time to myself to ride the dirt. 

We couldn't have asked for better weather and I know you East Coasters probably want to slap me right about now. We were in shorts and T's the entire time. This is February?

Got protein balls?

Long training ride coming up? Or did you workout hard and need a little protein packed snack?

These little balls are pretty tasty and super simple to make.

3 tablespoons of peanut butter

1 heaping tablespoon of protein powder (any kind is fine)

3 tablespoons of uncooked steel cut oats 

2 teaspoons of Chia seed

2 tablespoons of almond milk 

Mix well, it will be a little dry and that is fine. Shape into balls and sprinkle with a little sea salt (helps with cramping during those tough sweat sessions-that's why these are good to take with you on a long bike ride).

Pop them in the freezer.

I love a theme.

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good theme. Combine that with being a Spin instructor and I would like to think I can put together a fun class! This week I taught two Valentine themed playlists. I used a love/hate theme this year. Regardless of whether you were FOR Valentine's Day or ANTI Valentine's Day, I had a song for you this week.

I also handed out Valentine Nuun (electro light tablets) with a cute little note attached. Handing those out instead of candy was greatly appreciated by all.

Happy Valentine's Day to all.

How will you celebrate today?

Don't give up.

Waiting for my miracle because man I am feeling pretty frustrated these past couple months. 

My "mojo" is gone.gone.gone.

I am frustrated with how much I weigh and how much extra baggage I am carrying in middle section. I hate the way my pants are fitting.  I have only run once in the past several months because frankly I just don't want to. There are days that I would start to run on the treadmill only to press stop after 10 minutes because my mind says "screw this." Cold weather is not an excuse because we have had one of the warmest winters ever! So I guess I don't have jack-shit to blame my winter weight gain on! I am embarrassed to go to the gym and to wear any of my triathlon race shirts. That voice inside me says, "don't wear your 70.3 shirt because people will stare and think she actually did a 70.3?" 

I want to be a positive role model and I want to be there when my friends need advice about an upcoming triathlon or just need to be talked down "off the ledge." But right now I am reaching out to you.

For now I'll keep waiting and hopefully won't give up.

Who is Your Active Bud?

My triathlon madness started when I stood at the finish line of Ironman Arizona in 2010 waiting for my brother to cross. I remember feeling this overwhelming sense of emotion come over me when he finally did. I longed to feel the way he was feeling at that exact moment. It was then that I made the promise to myself that I would do a triathlon one day and it all took off from there.

 



My brother has always been a huge inspiration to me. He taught me the in's and out's of the sport and always keeps me going when I start to think I can't do it anymore. Lately the tables have switched and I find him coming to me when he needs that pep talk or just a good old kick in the pants lecture! He's done 2 full Ironmans and several half distances. He's come to me lately looking for advice because he's signed up for another full this summer but he's extremely anxious about the training since he has a small child. He's learning to balance it all. Yep those darn kids throw a whole kink into everything!

 Do you have friends that you train with or inspire you? While I didn't want to to turn this post into a sponsored post, I'll admit it may read like one. But it's not. A dear friend designed an app called Activebudz for cyclists, triathletes, runners and I would love to see it take off. I stand behind the app and what it does. I want someone to find my brother. No, not really my brother but a friend who will inspire them day after day, just like he does for me.

So what is it? It's an app that connects you to other athletes and is sort of  a "friend finder." It's very similar to another popular media site but this one finds you training partners. Traveling to a new city with your bike and want to find someone to ride with? You can do that with this app. Need advice from a pro whose linked to the app? No problem! Send them a message. Just moved to a new town and want to find a local running club? Do it with the app. Now the app is still very new so you won't yet find all these things on there but that is the goal over time. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day!

Go ahead download the FREE app on your iPhone and start meeting like-minded people. And who knows maybe you'll end up being an inspiration to someone out there.

Download it here: Go TRIbal Activebudz