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.