Thick-Skinned: Wet Suit Tips

I swim in an outdoor pool which is great in the summers but really crap during the winters. It is Cancun but the water still gets cold enough to be thoroughly uncomfortable. And the wind chill factor is pretty harrowing as well.

So I wear a wet suit in the pool.

There are a couple of tips about wearing a wet suit.

First of all, it's called a "wet suit" for a reason: you're wet inside the suit. There are also "dry suits" (mostly for cave diving and diving in frigid waters) which keep you dry. The difference with wearing one and not is that it keeps you warm. The way a wet suit does that is that the water that gets into your suit and is held close enough to your skin so that it heats quickly. The water inside the suit acts as a buffer and keeps you even more warm inside the suit.

Tip #1: make sure the wet suit fits and is especially flush against your crotch. This is to avoid choking yourself from the pull of the suit around your neck.

Tip 2: if you are planning to do paddle or fin work, bring them to poolside before you hop in. If you get out after swimming for a bit, because of gravity, the water creating a shield of warmth between your body and your suit will rush out and smooth the suit downwards causing it to sit lower on your body. Once that happens, it will be very hard to get back into place and will be very uncomfortable to swim in.

Tip #3: Because it's chlorine, you'll need to soak and rinse the suit thoroughly once you get home. Dry the suit inside out so that the lining dries first.

To Pee or Not To Pee

A little over ten years ago, I was getting my wrist operated on. It was local anesthesia, which implied taking my arm out of the hospital gown, painting my arm with antiseptic and injecting the drug into my armpit. They painted from my fingers all the up to my armpit and in a moment of distraction, my right breast was exposed.

In that moment, 12 doctors rushed in and out of the OR.

I gave up being prude in that moment.

And so must you be during a long distance triathlon.

Someone once asked me if we triathletes ever feel like going to the bathroom.

"Of course," I replied.

"So...what do you do?"

That's easy: just pee on yourself.

The quicker you get over the social stigma of peeing on yourself, the better off you'll be. And, I can tell you from experience, that holding it screws up your system. I once held it in during a 5km swim. My stomach swelled quite a bit and it hurt so badly that I felt a bit queasy all day.

Have you ever seen a triathlete, while biking, stands up on the bike and throws the hips to the side? Ever wonder why? That is, my friends, the discreet art of peeing down your leg so that you don't get your chain. And you don't want to get your chain because it'll be detrimental to bike mechanics.

Your shoes, however, will risk being stinky.

Peeing in the water is easier. Just a mental prayer saying sorry to the poor sod behind you and you're on your way.

The first time I peed on myself was on the run. The easy way to cover that up is to douse yourself with water. That way, your shoes won't be too smelly by the end of the day.

This is the one thing I would actually recommend practicing on race day. I can justify a lot better the fact that I have smelly shoes because of a competition than for a training day. It feels like a waste of one more day that your shoes can be "clean."

But it's your call. It's definitely not glamorous but you do feel a lot better for it.

Listen to Me: Earphones

Standard Apple iPod Earphones

If you're anything like me, you like a bit of music after a workout.

I used to put on my iPod and go home after the pool. Which is fine but since my pool is uber chlorinated, I found this was a bad thing for my earphones.

The grey ring that is right near the netted area is a soft rubber that, with chlorine, starts to peel off.

Since I don't really rinse out my ears, the chlorine still in them burned through the rubber.

Scary.

So I've stopped listening to music but got a new pair of earphones which turned out to be an excellent investment.

Bose IE2 Earphones

The Bose IE2 Earphones are a pretty versatile option. With the Bose name backing up its quality, it's pretty easy to see why these cost a bit more than their Apple counterparts.

These come with another pair of removable earbuds, just in case these don't fit. They also have that hook on the top, which is really soft and fits snug inside your ear. Great for when you're working out or on a run. They don't slip out with a simple turn of the head when you see a cute guy run past and sweat won't dislodge them.

There is also a soft zip up case that I was a little iffy about. Soft cases in a purse like mine don't really last too long. This, however, has taken the ton of books that I have and it still looks new.

Kate Spade Knightsbridge Gia Flat Pouch

I don't know why but since Kate Spade is doing all those nice iPhone covers, I thought of this little number as a replacement case.

Identify Yourself: The Road ID

Wrist ID Elite

I've been living in a foreign country for about 15 years now and when I started training for triathlons, this implied long rides and runs in places where people are scarce. I'm also the type of person who trains alone and it hit me one day that if something were to happen to me, there would be no way that I could tell the people I love where I am. No one I know out of all my friends, knows all my friends. Not even my parents.

So I wrote up a will and got myself a Road ID.

People ask me about it all the time. 'What is that?' they would say.

FIXX ID

It comes in several different versions: the dog tag,

Shoe ID

the shoe tag,

Ankle ID

the anklet,

Wrist ID Sport

the bracelet.

I've got a bracelet and I never take it off.

They come in different colors and styles and if you happen to have an allergy or a medical condition, this is a good thing to have around. And if you're training a lot by yourself, get yourself one. They ship worldwide and are always a good thing to have.

Only Thing That Doesn't Run: My Makeup

I train daily, usually straight after work. Soon I'll have to throw in double sessions and start going in the morning as well but for now, I run to the pool, throw on my suit or run gear and either jump in the pool or hit the track. I change, stretch and start.

This means that I definitely do not have time to take off my makeup.

Now, I'm a MAC girl but not everything does exactly the same thing.

MAC Liquid Eyeliner

I live in a very humid city and when I go running, I have to watch what make up I'm wearing.

I love the Liquid Eyeliner. The description online says it's "smudge resistant". Be that as it may, it is definitely not water resistant.

I ran with this on and if you are running in humidity and often sweat profusely from the face or head, forget it. Just find the nearest bathroom and take it all off because it's going to get really bad, really quick. Just to give you an idea, two words: Alice Cooper. Imagine him and Ozzy on stage after three hours and you've got a pretty good idea of my look after a sweaty run.

MAC Liquidlasst Liner

The one that does last through anything is the Liquidlast Liner. This will stay on, even with a swim. It is pretty damn fabulous.

MAC Splashproof Lash Mascara

There is also a very lovely Splashproof Lash Mascara that is the only one that they have that is waterproof. It's actually very nice and stays on pretty well.

But the granddaddy of them all, the one that is only limited edition, is the Chromographic Pencil. This badboy lasts through a day a work, a run and a shower! And the color is nearly just as brilliant as when you first put it on. I find that if you can also use it as a primer and put other powder shadows on top for a marvelous combination of color. I have written to MAC and talked to all my MAC consultants about this pencil and have arduously pleaded that they make this part of the permanent collection.

Four of the five
MAC
Chromagraphic Pencil
 colors

Oh please, if there is a God......

In The Eyes of the Beholder: A Sunglass Story

Living in Cancun prompts a person to make two major purchases: sunglasses and a good umbrella.

I've always wanted a pair of wrap-around glasses that make me look like Kimora Lee. And I had my heart set on a pair of Dior Grand Salon. With Swarovski crystals on the sides, I'm thinking how fabulous I'd look ... until I saw one huge problem: the frame marks on my cheeks when I took off the glasses.

I'm Asian and we have a huge problem with sunglasses. If they are too big, they sit on the cheeks. And if you are doing any sort of sports, the sweat that rolls down your face sits right in that pocket.

And as I thought there was no hope for me ... until I found the Oakley Asian Fits. The ones I have are a matte metallic grey, a color that only comes in Asian Fits.

Hallelujah, I've been saved!

There is a bit of a variety to be had. I've got a pair of Radars and they've been with me for about a year and a half.

And they do have a series of other very coy glasses.

There is also a company called TC Charton that also does Asian Fit type glasses, both sunglasses and regular glasses. There may not be as much in choice as one would like but it's hard to say that there isn't more of a market now. 

For now, I'm thinking of getting another pair. Heads up because you cannot buy Asian Fits for women in the stores. As of the date of the post, Oakley Asian Fits for Women are only available through online purchase. 

Pre-Race Dining

If you're anything like me, you probably want to get your nutrition right for your long race and not screw it up. I've seen people come in with cramps, looking like they're punch drunk and with white lips at the end of an Ironman and it's a scary thing.

But you can avoid a good portion of that with a good eating plan, pre-competition.

Some say you need to start a week beforehand with a protein-only diet for three to four days and then to carbo-load the three days prior to the race. Studies have shown that depleting your carbohydrates and then to start them again does not necessarily yield an advantage.

Start three days before your competition and eat good carbs. Cooked veggies, pasta, rice, legumes, meat low in fat, slices of bread, yogurt and fruit are all items you should base your diet on. Also try and consume a little more salt. A good way to do that is to find the mineral water that has the highest salt content, get a relatively large bottle and drink it for the next three days.

The day before the competition be sure to avoid food that will get your intestines going like lettuce (so no salad at the pasta bar the night before), items high in fiber and food that give you gas (beans, boiled eggs, watermelon, peas, corn, papaya, mango).

The day of the race, be sure you eat the foods you know and have tested previously for breakfast. Hydrate yourself 30 minutes before with a bottle of hydration and be sure to drink and eat during the race.

Post Comp Bonk Tips

For anyone who has done a long distance endurance race (10 km swim, a 70.3 Ironman or any similar long-distance endurance competition), you may have suffered what is popularly known in the Americas as the "bonk" (apparently, in England, "bonk" is something entirely different and may lend itself to embarrassing moments). It is when you completely crash, energetically speaking. It can happen any time your body is reaching or has hit an energy deficit.

This can be avoided pretty much in one way: eating and hydrating. And I'm not talking about eating just any old thing and whenever.


Immediately after a long competition, you should load up on all the carbs you lost along the way. It is of the utmost importance that you load up on all the carbs you can find. Grab those Gatorade bottles and have at least two.

Avoid the pizza. With all that grease and fat content in the cheese, your stomach will probably get back at you for treating it so badly.

Eat pasta, jelly sandwiches, baked potatoes, cereal bars or juice.

All this should be done within the first two hours immediately after finishing.

In the evening, before you hit the sack, two Alka-Seltzer or bicarbonate soda in water is a great thing to take for the lactic acid build up. It doesn't get rid of all your pain but at least you can walk normally.

The Art of a Beautiful Arm

I'm all for practical accessorizing in a triathlon. As long as it doesn't interfere with any of the three disciplines, I'm game to try it.

Primal Wear Japanese Tattoo
Arm Warmers

It's really sunny when I go out to train and I tan really easily.

I don't lose the tan lines as easily though.

So I've looked into getting arm coolers. I hate looking like I still have my shorts and jersey on, even when I get undressed or go to the pool.

It never gets cold enough to get arm warmers here in the Riviera Maya so I've looked at several options. Castelli came out with water repelling arm warmers called the Nanoflex Arm Warmers, great for those rainy day rides (lots of those here).

Primal Wear Tattoo Arm Warmers

Primal Wear has arm warmers I love. They look like your arms are completely tattooed, and for someone who doesn't feel the need to get a tramp stamp, this is a pretty fun option.

De Soto Arm Coolers

De Soto is one of several major companies that does arm coolers. The market seems to be filled more with arm warmers as opposed to arm coolers. This may be because the majority of serious bikers on the planet live in colder climates or train in the mornings. Or perhaps because people don't want to take the time to slip them on in T1 or T2. I like to sleep so on the weekends so I do my long rides in the late morning, making my skin very available to cancer-making rays.  

Zoot Icefil Arm Coolers

Zoot makes something called the Icefil Arm Cooler. They are pretty nice looking and the price is comparable to other similarly-featured tech wear.

So save yourself the farmer tan and protect your skin. Yes, sunblock is a good idea but I always seem to burn anyway. 

Safe riding and look good while you're at it!

Stark Raving...Cyclists?

Most of us who do endurance sports are considered crazy. Either by those outside of our "craziness" or by one another.

Sometimes, we love our idiosyncrasies so much, it drives us to do some very interesting things.

In 2006, when I was still living in Mexico City, I was sitting around in my apartment when someone texted me: it was my good friend, Miriam, a reporter for a local magazine. She told me to come quick to the Zocalo, the large central plaza of Mexico City and from where I lived only a scare two blocks away, because she was covering a cyclists "march". Protesting the scant traffic laws that protected the common biker, the local bike club, Cleto Sapiens, decided to do a protest march in the nude.  

Here are some of the images:

 The thing I love about this image is that the woman on the left looks really comfy in just her undies.

The moto-reporter, on the other hand, looks like he/she should be roasting.

All that skin on the left and absolutely no skin on the right.

The guy's back reads:
"El coche te mata, la bici te rescata."

"A car can kill you, a bike can save you."

 A reporter had just asked this woman a question and they ended up filming a short segment for a national tv station.

 This guy's sign reads:

"Respeto al ciclista.
Muevete en tu bici.
No contamines.
'Exonerate'
Cleto Sapiens"

"Respect for the cyclist.
Move around on your bike.
Don't pollute.
'Exonerate yourself.'
Cleto Sapiens"

There is a contemporary figure in Mexican culture named Subcomandante Marcos. He is a mysterious figure, intelligent, well-read, university educated, who was the voice of the indigenous of Chiapas when he started a movement unlike any other in the history of Mexico, in 1994. He is well known to smoke a pipe and always wear a ski mask to hide his identity, as did all those who followed the movement, known popularly as the Zapatistas.

This cyclist was wearing combat boots, a backpack, a ski mask and a cap, with a pipe in his mouth.

He had posed for this photo with one of the many groups of Aztec dancers that can be found in the plaza.

All I have to say is that sometimes, reality far outweighs anything that you can cook up in your imagination.

1000 Words in Pixelated Form

I'm a photo buff and used to take a lot more photos than I do now. I have two boxes filled with negatives and slides and as I was rummaging through them the other day, I found myself on Memory Lane .

I'll be posting some in the near future but for now, I was remembering that an image is a powerful element. So powerful that if it's a good one, it delves into the deepest corners of your being and all because it pulled a heartstring.

Take a look at some of my favorites. 

And be forewarned: the third one down is not a pretty one to see.

We always see triathletes in skin-tight clothing, hot, sweaty and not particularly because they are happy to see us.

And that isn't always pretty.

Enter Chrissie Wellington, four-time Kona Ironman champion and the most notorious female course record-breaker in the history of Kona. 

I just loved that Inside Triathlon gave the undisputed queen of Ironman a front cover and a chance to look really good. 

Lord knows most of us ain't lookin' our prettiest at the finish line....

Boise 70.3 Ironman 2010
Chris Lieto (L) and Craig Alexander (seated)
Photo by Joe Jaszewski

It was 2010, the Boise 70.3 Ironman and two of Ironman's strongest triathletes were competing. Chris Lieto was leading but with about half a mile to go, Craig Alexander puts it into gear and catches up with Lieto. 

The sprint all the way to the finish line and Alexander, by just seconds, wins the race. 

The two collapse at the finish line. Lieto is in tears on the floor, spent. Craig Alexander gives a hug to his fellow competitor, in a sign of camaraderie and good will.

Johnny Hoogerland
Tour de France 2011

In one of the stages of this year's Tour de France, a French TV car swerved to miss a jutting tree, clipping a cyclist who careened into another. Both cyclists were thrown off their bikes and onto a barbed wire fence. This image is of Johnny Hoogerland who got back on his bike, along with Juan Antonio Flecha, the one who flew into Hoogerland, and both finished this stage in absolute tears.

This amazing photo was taken for the Castelli 2012 publicity campaign by Gered Gruber. The biker is Peter Stetina of Garmin-Cervelo and this is Passo di Giau, near Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites.  How could you not love the lyrical nature of this photo?

Randies: Random Health Facts

With nutrition and training, there are always a lot of myths. I've been hit with a lot of them so I wanted to talk about the major ones.

1. Fruits and Sugar. I'm always surprised when people don't realize that citrus fruit like grapefruit or oranges have a lot of potential amounts of sugar, even though sometimes, they doesn't taste sweet. One portion of either fruit in juice form is 250 ml, or 8.5 fluid ounces . That's equivalent to a short Starbuck's drink or about 1 cup of liquid. So for those who are loading on tons of vitamin C by drinking a jug of juice, think again. You're putting in a lot more sugar than you need.
2. Barefoot running is better for you. With reference to my last post, there are people who have tried a pair of the barefoot running shoes are completely in love with the concept and have started running. Go to a doctor before making such a move because if you are overweight and running, it will be a lot worse for your knees and feet. You can get yourself a stress fracture real fast.
3. Wearing clothes to make you sweat when you exercise. I've seen this one a lot here in Cancun . People who put on windbreakers zipped all the way up and sweat pants, walking around in 80-degree heat. Losing weight is about eating right and exercising. This technique is only looking at losing weight in water, and not so much on losing fat, and will lead most likely to frustration.
4.  Eating at night makes you gain weight. As always, it's what you eat and how much that is important.   Greasy tacos at 11:00 p.m. are different from a piece of toast and a glass of low fat milk. Not as good, I agree, but the effects are undeniable.

Down to the Pinkie

I am, for all practical purposes, a purist. If a person comes up with an original idea, sometimes it makes me think "oh what a copy cat" about all those who take that original idea and tweak it.

Some do it pretty well. Take the Androids and Steve Jobs' iPhone. Jobs opened a world to cell phones and connectivity that has set the ground rules for the way we communicate in modern day. The Android and it's fun platforms (Gingerbread, Froyo, Ice Cream Sandwich) as well as Google's apps have taken Jobs ideas to a new level.

But there are others I have to wonder about.

Take the Vibram Five Fingers. That weird sock shoe that, were it not for the lively colors, you would think the person wearing them was barefoot. Well, Adidas decided to do their own version of the barefoot running shoe.

Enter the adiPURE Trainer.

This is a shoe that is coming off the heels of (pun intended) a lawsuit that Fila is subject to for infringement of three patents that Vibram has.

No word yet on whether they are going after Adidas as well.

I like looking to see what the quality is like on an item like this. First thing that strikes me is that it looks "soft". Especially over the foot where the stripes are. That to me, is not a good sign.

I'm rough with my shoes and when I go running, they take a beating. The soles look sturdy but I'd be worried that I'd one day rip the top off when I got to pull them on. The area where the toes are look like they've been double-lined but since that is where the toes bend and lift, I'm wondering how long you can go in these without digging a hole with your nail from your big toe?

These are the infamous shoes of the Vibram lawsuit: the Fila Skele-Toes. They are four-toed, combining the last two toes on your foot into one socket.

They are made of a two-ply nylon on the top with two bungee cords to tighten and a velcro strap.

I will have to admit, in terms of how they look, quality wise as well as style, I would choose the Fila Skele-Toes over the Adidas adiPUREs. They just don't seem to look sturdy enough.

 Plus, I like the sole detail of the Skele-Toes.

Whoever wins the lawsuit, I still think it's interesting to see these different types of shoes and each company's take on this idea.

Inspiration on the Big Screen

I think when you try to do just about any big sort of feat, getting the inspiration together to pull through sometimes is a little hard to come by.

'Gumption' they call it.

Now I'm a movie buff and there are always a couple of movies I come back to when I want to feel some very good vibes, especially before a competition.

1. The World's Fastest Indian starring Sir Anthony Hopkins.

The story is about a 60-something Kiwi named Burt Munro who has a love affair with motorcycles and dreams of racing on the salt flats of Utah for the annual Speed Week.

Based on a true story, Munro ships himself out with his trusty Indian motorcycle which he built up and broke the record for fastest time for built sub-1000 cc motorcycle.

If you aren't out of your seat, cheering on Burt in the final scene, you are pretty cold.

2. Invictus starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

There is always something lovely about seeing the underdog make it through. I think people can relate to a story where someone has everything going against them. But for some insane reason, they keep believing that they can.

And they do.

That was the story of the Springboks, the South African rugby team. Last in the rankings, newly elected Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) decides that the country needs unification and looks for it through this sport and its capitan, Francois Pienaar, played by Matt Damon.

3. The Pianist starring Adrien Brody.

I only saw this movie just recently and it blew my mind. Anyone who has watched this movie will understand why I chose this image as the most representative one.

All I kept thinking was that this man was starved, witnessed death, had become sick, scrounged for food and was in hiding all those many years and the one thing that kept him alive was his music.

You have to be a very strong person to be able to survive. And then, want to survive after all was said and done.

4. The Peaceful Warrior starring Nick Nolte.

I've always hated showboats. People who have no respect nor care for the world and only search for praise and adulation.

That's how our hero, Dan Millman, starts out: cocky, daringly stupid and seemingly invincible. That is, until his motorcycle accident.

Socrates, played by Nick Nolte, gives him a few philosophical knocks on the head, some good advice and does some really cool magic tricks to boot.

5. Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa.

I saw a documentary on the director, Akira Kurosawa, and it was amazing for me to learn that 23 years after making this masterpiece, he had attempted suicide because there was a tremendous lull in his career.

The title of the movie is the Japanese verb "to live".

It is rather slow for the modern-day viewer of movies but it is a story that is pretty common: a bureaucrat has lived his life stamping documents and living estranged from his wife and son. When it is discovered that he has cancer and only months to live, he goes on a desperate journey to find meaning in his life. And much to the surprise of his co-workers and family, he finds it.

I always cry like an absolute bastard whenever I watch any of these movies so if you prefer not to hear my Kleenex-shuffle, watch these on your own and I'll see you on the track!

Casual Biking

I have an American-made Cannondale CAAD 4, my noble little race bike.

Most triathletes will not use their race bikes in any other condition unless they are:

a. training or

b. racing

That said, most have two bikes. The other would be to ride about town on.

A while back, I remembered seeing something that amazed me. Women in Denmark, I believe, who went about their day-to-day on bikes, wearing skirts and high heels.

The top tube comes all the way down so that you can discreetly lift your leg up and over without pulling a Britney Spears.

So I got curious and wanted to see what was out there.

Madsen Bucket Bicycle in yellow

This is the Madsen Bucket Bike. It's made out of steel and it comes in black, blue and yellow. The most noticeable feature of this bike is the 40 gallon bucket in the back. Throw in your groceries, books or small children (I'm not kidding) in there.

The back bucket actually has seat belts in it so that your kids are strapped in safely for the ride. I'm not usually a fan of kids in a kid seat on a bike for the same reason that I don't trust lots of drivers out there.

Interior of Madsen Bicycle Bucket

This, however, looks like a safer option. The lower center of gravity as well as the kickstand make it a more sturdy choice.

Another option is the Yuba Mundo Cargo Bike. This has various modalities you can add to it like two panniers for about 6 large grocery bags. You can also put a regular rack, a kid's bike seat and can seat up to two kids on the back.

Like I said, not a fan of the kid's seats but there you go.

Yuba Mundo Cargo Bicycle

If you are looking for something that is more like a "normal" bike, Breezer makes a whole series of options for both men and women.

Their Transportation bike line offers ergonomic frames that have the Town Bike style (with mud flaps and racks) and the Range Bike style, which is more "normal" bike like.

2012 Breezer Uptown Infinity - LS

Whatever your bike of choice, ride safe.

Meanwhile, I'll be dreaming of riding up and down the Champs Elysees wearing some things I put together, perhaps in part, picked up from a vintage shop and from a couture house.

Always, of course, with a hat on nicely coiffed hair.

Fashionable Hatted Women with a Bike