Stories of a Traveling Diva

2/8/12

IM70.3 National Harbor–Guess It’s For Real, Huh?

As you already know, I registered for the Ironman 70.2 National Harbor on August 5th. Turns out I was one of the 1st 500 that registered and I got me a free Headsweats hat for being an early bird.

OMG! When I saw that package with the IM70.3 logo on the outside, the hat, the note, the postcard…WHAM!…this ish is FOR REAL, FOR REAL.

WOW.

Here I come. TravelDiva…YOU ARE AN IRONWOMAN!!!! (at least half of one…LOL)

IM70.3–Purpose Driven Training

I’m 3 weeks into my training plan with Coach Lionheart and last Saturday after a grueling brick workout, that there is a method to his madness. The first two weeks were pretty much a constant of me debating, arguing, fussing & fighting over each workout, frequency, timing, duration.

I believe that both of us (Coach & I) have evolved. Tarus in how he coaches me – me in how I accept and execute the information. When Tarus started explaining to me the “WHY” behind whatever I was supposed to do that day/week…it started to make sense and in just this short period of time, I was feeling like the Six Million Dollar Man – better, stronger, faster.

With a PLAN & a PURPOSE, I have absolutely no fear that I can and WILL achieve all of my goals this season – especially FINISH STRONG in my 1st IM70.3 race. With my Coach & training plan…we have the technology, we can rebuild her…she will be better, stronger, faster.

I highly recommend that if you are taking on a big goal/race for the 1st time that you get and follow a plan. Train with a purpose. If you can’t afford a coach for your
event(s), there are SO MANY virtual, online, books, videos, youtube training plans, clubs, workshops etc. that you can use. I HIGHLY recommend that you follow some kind of plan. If your training is all over the place and you are just doing stuff to be doing it, then expect your results to be, well, all over the place.

So, you want to increase your run pace? Are you just running or are you putting in some intervals, speed work, hills etc.? You want to do a tri and you are sure that because you know you can ~~frolic in the water at the beach~~ swim…mmmm okay. Have you done any open water swims, practice swimming over a mile in the pool, come up with a game plan for when there are 300 other people in the water with you? How about that bike? Are you practicing specific skills, cadence drills, hill work?

PURPOSE DRIVEN TRAINING!

Last year, I completed all those races. Yeah, I finished, but I didn’t get better, faster, stronger over time. My finish times were about the same. Yes, I got better from my very first tri, but then I was flat. Finished and that was all. This year, I want to be better, get better, look better. I still may not age group place, but I WILL improve. And that Ironman 70.3 – STRONG!!!!

Tell me, friends…are you Training with a Purpose? Share with us what you got going on.

2/4/12

A Good Cup of Joe

I LUVS me a great cup of coffee. LUVS. Yeah, I hear bout all ya’ll giving it up and whatnot – NOT ME! NOPE. NEGATIVE. Can’t Stop – Won’t Stop.

So, imagine my excitement when the good people over at MyBlogSpark and Kraft asked me to give some Gevalia Kaffe a try and that it would now be available at my local Safeway store. BET. SEND IT!

Let me tell you something…this coffee is GOOD!!!! Damn good I say.

Gevalia Kaffe is much more than your average ‘cup of joe.’ It’s a Swedish-style break from the usual coffee grind. Perfected by the Swedes’ passion for quality coffee for more than 150 years, Gevalia is an exquisitely rich smooth coffee experience that is never bitter…and it hasn’t been as I drink my way through two bags that they sent. Mmmmm….mmmmm.

Gevalia is a luxurious departure from the everyday, an escape from the routine cup of coffee. Whether it’s a morning ritual made just for you, or the finishing touch at a dinner party, it brings the taste of Swedish-style luxury into your home.

And guess what! Gevalia, is now available at Safeway, bringing that oh so smooth taste right to your local Safeway grocery aisle.

Previously available online only, Gevalia is now offering its top-ten varieties in U.S. coffee supermarket aisles nationwide in 10 varieties, including roast and ground, whole bean, flavored and decaffeinated varieties:

Gevalia Traditional Roast (ground and whole bean):
Gevalia Traditional Roast provides a perfectly balanced taste every time. Our most beloved blend – made of choice, mountain-grown Arabica beans – this coffee has a distinctive body and flavor with a lighter intensity. (Medium Roast).
Gevalia House Blend:
A Gevalia favorite, House Blend is a robust yet never bitter coffee. This roast has a captivating aroma that is only matched by its exceptional flavor. (Medium/Dark Roast)
Gevalia House Blend Decaf :
Delivering the same rich, never bitter flavor, House Blend Decaf has the same robust taste without all the caffeine. (Medium/Dark Roast).
Gevalia French Roast (ground and whole bean):
Gevalia French Roast is a coffee of impressive richness and dimension, expertly crafted from prized Arabica beans grown in Colombia and Brazil. Hints of aromatic smoke give this dark-roasted French Roast blend an intense, yet uniquely satisfying flavor. (Dark Roast).
Gevalia Colombia:
Grown high in the Colombian Andes, these beans produce a rich, bright and well-bodied Colombian coffee. This single origin classic is world-renowned, which is why we have sourced these beans for decades. (Medium Roast).
Gevalia Espresso Roast:
Gevalia Espresso Roast is made of premium, mountain-grown Arabica beans from East Africa and Central and South America. This roast is bold and full-bodied with a hint of caramel undertones. (Dark Roast).
Gevalia Vanilla:
This rich blend with vanilla flavor notes is crafted from choice mountain-grown Arabica beans, then roasted for exceptional body and flavor. Gevalia Vanilla is a flavorful and balanced experience with a heavenly aroma.
Gevalia Chocolate Mocha:
Gevalia Chocolate Mocha allows you to indulge your passion for decadent flavor. Rich, velvety chocolate flavor is blended with mountain-grown Arabica beans for a sweetly satisfying experience.

With its Swedish heritage and rich, never bitter taste, Gevalia is a premium coffee unlike any other.

Having Gevalia in your kitchen means you care about the quality of the coffee you consume and enjoy rich, authentic flavors.
Gevalia offers a variety of authentic rich flavors that are perfect for everything from a relaxing morning cup of coffee to an indulgent after dinner compliment.

YOU KNOW YOU WANT SOME!

Well, I’m gonna make you happy. If you would like to give this delicious Gevalia coffee a try (I am thoroughly enjoying the House Blend right now) leave me a comment on which of the Gevalia Kaffe varieties are you most looking forward to picking up at Safeway to try? Use the rafflecopter thingy to get more entries.

Here is what one lucky coffee aficionado will get:

Kraft Foods has provided sample product to me and is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Stories of a Traveling Diva.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2/3/12

IM70.3–Ballin’ (Fitness Equipment) on a Budget

Here is an update/excerpt to Gear, Gear & Pocket Book Tears. You CAN Ball (I WORKOUT!) on a Budget.

Vintage Black Glamour

February is Black History Month and if you haven’t discovered Vintage Black Glamour on the Book of the Face, then you need to click on over there and check it out. The images & stories are just amazing:

Vintage Black Glamour is a forthcoming book and visual tribute to some of the glamorous, accomplished and often groundbreaking black women - legendary and obscure - of the 20th century.

While I was perusing all the pictures and the tumbler page, I kept thinking that the very title described my GMa Willie…perhaps obscure, but pure VINTAGE BLACK GLAMOUR

WillieB, Cabaret singer, Astor Club, London, England

1/31/12

Gear, Gear & Pocketbook Tears

So, if you are participating in any sport/fitness activity, I am SURE that you have encountered the shock & awe of how much it costs to be fit, train properly, eat healthy and register for races. SHOCK & AWE!!!

It hit me this week as Coach Lionheart (yeah, I’m already a little rebellious) was trying to get me to eat differently and to get my trainer set up and so on and so forth that this little endeavor is KICKING MY PURSE in the ASS!

Look at all this damn stuff…

I had to have a bike – And then you have to have stuff to go with it…Cages (for your beverage), a bento box (for sustenance, money, keys), a case under the seat for my spare tubes, repair kit & first aid, lights, helmet, bike shoes, gloves,ROAD ID, AND I have to have something to dag on wear!

Add to that a bike trainer for winter time training and you have just about hurt my damn feelings. BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE

I gotta swim, so you gotta have stuff for that…Fins, pull buoy, lap counter, kick board (forget that, I’ll borrow that ish at the pool), towels, bathing suits to train in and don’t forget when you actually do a race you might need a wet suit (I’ve never worn one – hate it – I wear rash guards). DA HELL. CHING CHING $$$$$$$$

And well, there’s the running part…shoes, sport bra’s, gear, socks, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, Tune’s on the IPod AND a HRM! – I KNOW I’m forgetting something. It’s prolly in that damn Tribag somewhere in one of those pockets.

Let us not forget the race entry fee’s – KILL ME NOW – and the ever dreaded hair issue. Let me just discuss the hair issue for a minute. It just isn’t …for me. I will snatch it back in a quick second and slap on some H.I.B (Hair I Bought) quick like or I’ll through some Curls in it, twist and go! If I need some heat..well, I’ll blow it dry and cook me some hair with a flat iron and move out. It’s just hair.

Protect it. Keep it moisturized and get to steppin!

Then there is FOOD! Fruits, Veggies, Lean this, Vegan that, Recovery Drinks, Protein Bars. Clean, Lean, Mean…MF’n EXPENSIVE! How about a good ole’ fashioned peanut butter & jelly sammich. JEEZE.

…And let us NOT forget about the safety & comfort items. A MUST! Who knew that Butt Butter was an absolute HAVE TO HAVE! Aleve & Bio.Fre.eze are my bestest friends. And I don’t get on my bike without a first aid kit anymore…that has Aleve in it. Moleskin-be about it. Glide – you best recognize – who hasn’t has something chafed so bad it felt like sandpaper was rubbed all on your skin or something.

So, I scared you off, huh. I hear you. “FUG DAT SHYT! If it gonna be all like that, the hell with it.” – I know! It is pricey, but it can be done on a budget and even while swimming sideways in the TET (Tough Economic Times).

I did my first race on a gifted mountain bike. My current bike isn’t anything to write home about but Dominique Diva is mine and was under $500. Join Free cycle clubs in your area AND Tri/Cycling/Run Clubs – people are VERY generous. From free to cut rate prices…you can build you gear closet. I scour sales and race expo’s for deals on equipment, clothing and anything I need. Swa.ggle and other fitness deal sites should become your friend.

I do my own hair – Google your hair questions – attend YouTube university – ask fellow sport enthusiasts…been there, done that. I gave up some things in order to do this thing. I wear the bathing suits I had to train in OR I wear one of my bathing suit skirts with a workout top (spandex material) with a sports bra (you gonna do that in a Tri anyway, soooo…). I don’t have a wet suit. I watched Total Immersion videos on YouTube till I could afford a course. I worked off a training plans downloaded free of of the internet till I could afford a coach. It can be done.

Now I ain’t gonna lie…it still is a $$$ proposition, but it CAN be done.

Ask me your questions, I WON’T tell you any lies.

1/30/12

IM70.3 VLOG–3 Days of Workouts–188 Days to Go

Lord Have Mercy On My Soul. This is just 3 days of workouts…BASE BUILDING!!!! One hour on the treadmill, two hours (22 miles) on the bike and a seven mile run. Whew Chile.

GET IT, GET IT.