FORM Goggle Review

    Retail $199

FORM swim goggles are a swimmer/triathlete tool that qualifies under the "want" category. These goggles are a fun way to track swimming metrics in a way that keeps the information easy to read and access. 

Pros:

• Quick feedback of stats "during" and at "rest". 
• Profile kept water out of eyes

Cons:

• Expensive
• Only tracks swim metrics

The display can be adjusted after syncing your goggles to an app on your phone. You can choose to see two metrics at any given time, distance, pace, strokes, etc. You have three choices for viewing data, 1) while swimming, 2) after the turn, and 3) during the rest cycle. One caveat is that you can only see the metrics that you have set up on the app, meaning further information is not available until the session is completed. After you finish your swim, the tracking data is synced to your app where you can examine the information. 

For example. My goggles are set to show Lap Time and Lap Pace during the swim. At the turn, I see Split Time and Lap Distance. At rest, I see Rest Time and Total Distance. 

Additionally, the goggles come with varying bridge connectors to help fit the goggles to your individual face. The goggles will default to display on your right eye but can be flipped to read on the left side. The module is non-obtrusive and doesn't stand out to other swimmers as odd. 

Special Note: These goggles are NOT legal for competitive swimmers or triathletes during races. 

Overall, the goggles are a fun accessory to your swimming toolkit. If you are a serious swimmer looking for the next fun toy, dive in with a pair of FORM goggles!

Ironman #7 - IMFL Race Report

Follow the link below for a race report from Trisha Turner on Ironman Florida 2020. 

TriGirlTrisha IMFL Race Report 

Find your Motivation

With the Covid virus entering our lives in March of 2020, we've seen both local and national races postponed and eventually cancelled. What is an athlete to do without a finish line in sight?!?

Personally, I had two Ironman races that I chose to postone to fall races. As of today, both races, IMTX at Waco and IMFL have NOT been cancelled. As an athlete, I can choose to 

1. Continue training at a high level of intensity to achieve my goal of a personal best finish, 
2. Modify training load and intensity while remaining consistent in all three disciplines,
3. Assume cancellation is eminent and forego training.

If your races have all been cancelled/postponed for 2020, you will have similar choices to make. This could be a good time to work on body composition and strength training because you will not require time and recovery for those longer endurance sessions. 

Most importantly, stay consistent. Exercise benefits your overall health, including mental clarity and balanced hormone levels. Choose to remain consistent in your workout regimen and improve your weaknesses. 

A New Approach

Insanity - doing the same thing but expecting a different outcome

After more than 10 years of triathlon, I have decided to take my training to a new level. I want to achieve new goals, and to achieve them, I need to make some changes to the way I approach training.

Starting in August 2019, I began using TriDot to design my training plan. I started slowly but quickly became engaged in earning higher scores on each workout. TriDot uses data to reflect, predict, and prescribe intensities to improve performance while continuing to allow balance and time for recovery. Initially I struggled with slower, zone 2 heart rate efforts but because of the scoring system, remained invested. I have noticed continued progress on SBR assessments and look forward to seeing what I can achieve this year!

I was accepted as an ambassador for the 2020 season and look forward to attending the triathlon camp in Austin in February.

Great things to come

 We've made the team official with some great gear. Our first order was placed and we look forward to wearing it together at Waco 70.3! Many of us are in dire need of some new training gear, it cant't arrive soon enough.

 As a lead up to the big show in October, I raced in the Cypress Triathlon, known to locals at the Cypress Championship Triathlon. All the fast folks show up and make it a great race! Missed the podium, but finished as expected. Swam as expected, biked stronger than predicted, and ran my best for that day. Always room to improve.

Transition set up

Ironman #6 - IMTX

Six months after IMFL, I completed my 6th Ironman at IMTX! It was a training experiment to complete two endurance events, 6 months apart. I enjoyed training with lots of friends, making the hours more bearable.

It wasn't my best race preparation but I planned to have a good day. The morning started with wind and heat, normal for Texas. The swim was uneventful and steady. I started the bike strong. We had a 2-loop course that would take you directly into a headwind, just to return with a tailwind. I started taking water at the handups to pour over my head to cool down. In hindsight, I was not consuming enough water and gatorade to keep up my hydration. By mile, 80-ish I was struggling to keep the wheels up and needed to stop a couple of times to vomit. I knew that I had time in the tank to finish the race, if I could just finish the bike. On the run, I started to experience vertigo when running. It was important to me to finish the course, so I walked.....7 long hours! I'm proud to say that I finished the race, my longest time yet, but one more notch in the belt!

All the miles...

Winter in Houston brings opportunities for road races! 

The year started with the Chevron/Aramco Half Marathon supporting Team Beef. Although I didn't PR, it was a great day for a great day!  A small hiccup in the morning, the corrals were over-filled restricting us from getting in the right corral. As a result, we started at the VERY BACK of the pack and had a lot of people to weave through to get to a decent pace group. I started with friends until they split for the full marathon then pushed to the finish. The morning was a reminder to keep your spirits high and don't stress over the things that are out of your control. The best part is the ice cream from HEB after the run!

Family and friends got together to run the Hot Chocolate 5k. It was a chance to run a short race, eat lots of chocolate, and have lots of FUN!

We finished our streak at the Blue Bell Fun Run 5k. Thomas placed 3rd in his age group. I missed the podium again by one spot...some day. As usual, we enjoyed some pre-race ice cream, ran those hills, and ate lots more ice cream at the finish.