We come home from Timex Camp with all these goodies. We all realize just how fortunate we are that we have all this help, not only from Timex, who makes it all happen, but from other incredible companies like Sugoi, Orbea, Powerbar, Training Peaks, Shimano, and more. Being a girl, I am super excited about our first ever somewhat cosmetic sponsor (no, not Sephora, but fingers crossed for next year) SBR. SBR will keep my hair from turning green. In addition to shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and chlorine-stench-hiding lotion, SBR threw in Trislide. It’s an aerosol form of something that some other little company makes that I have a tendency to rub on my achilles before long sock-less runs, or around my neck before venturing out in a wetsuit.. you know the one I’m talking about.

It’s early in the season, and a giant box has just arrived from K-Swiss. I’m just home from camp, and freshly motivated by all my lean athlete friends with their low-alcohol tolerances to get back into training after an 8-to-10-pound off season (a new personal record!) I am ridiculously excited to try out the K-Onas, because they have the Japanese flag on them and I am obsessed with all things Japanese, and I sit on the edge of my bed and spray-lube my feet. New shoes always need a little breaking in, and I don’t think I’ve owned socks in years, so I make sure to really spray them up good.

The shoes are on the kitchen counter. Boxes and boxes of glorious new running shoes:

The kitchen floor is tile. I tend to walk fast, especially when trying to sneak a run in between taking the kids to school and going to work. I head for the shoes, thinking only about how great the first run in new shoes is, and suddenly, I’m ice skating in Hawaii. And then I’m horizontal. The worst thing about falling alone is that there’s no one there to laugh at me, and words really can’t explain how funny it was when I slid into the fridge like it was home plate. Or how much it hurt.

There is a lesson here, I swear. Keep the Trislide in/near your shoes, and apply only immediately prior to putting those shoes on, people. There is a reason the bottle says CAUTION: EXTREMELY SLIPPERY. Also, don’t walk in front of my fridge, it’s still slippery there. The eight year old went down hard about an hour ago, while sneaking into the fridge for chocolate he wasn’t allowed to have. The good news? No blisters. The stuff works like a charm.

I have written this post about 15 times as while most of my team members are still anxiously waiting for their new Ordu’s, I was lucky enough to drive my car into a parking garage with 4 bikes on the roof which left me ‘bikeless.’  So, the great people at Timex, Orbea and Shimano took pity on me and hooked it up.  I have to give a quick but huge thank you out to the entire team of sponsors as they were extremely understanding and supportive while I was going a little crazy.  Also, this post signifies a few ‘firsts’ for me-

1. First post as a member of Team Timex (I hope I’m doing this right)
2. First post about my new sweet new ride, Orbea Ordu
3. First time in 6 years I am riding a new brand TT bike with a completely new setup

So, here goes-

Let me start by committing a cardinal sin, I am going to address the ‘bear in the room’. A lot of forum banter has centered around the Ordu, it’s geometry, how it rides, etc.   I was nervous and skeptical after reading these reviews as well. For anyone who still has concerns, I have one word of advice- go ride the Ordu; that is what I did.  In the past 2 weeks, I have put about 29 hours on this bike testing it in every way imaginable, long climbs in the Santa Monica mountains, flats, power intervals, trainer sessions, descents, and I could not be happier. Truth be told, I have actually found that although my position is less aggressive right now(due to recent injuries), I am in a more powerful position than before and am more comfortable running off the bike as well. This is in part due to Steve from PV Bike as he is a true master in the art of fitting and has really helped dial me in and just due to how this bike rides.   If you are ever in Southern California, I highly recommend a trip to see him. Back to the bike- It is very stiff in the bottom bracket, super responsive and really gets rolling.  Right now I am running the forward seat post with a 100mm stem.  It puts me out over the bike but just about where I would be on my previous setup.  As a frame of reference I have a long torso and short legs.

Shimano Di2… what can I say beyond- EXTRAORDINARY!!! I think that once anyone rides with Di2, they will never go back to standard shifting.  I have tried every way possible to make it fail and I can not. It is very smooth, extremely responsive and just a treat.  I love having shifters on the pursuit bars for when you are out of your aerobars and being able to shift both front and rear at the same time is pretty fantastic. Couple this setup with the Pro bars and I feel like my entire setup is just too good!!   Truth be told, I am feeling very spoiled as the setup that Orbea, Shimano and Timex put together for us, is much better equipped and has more advanced technology and research put into it than my other mode of transportation:

Timex® Ironman® Global Trainer™ Bodylink® System with integrated SiRFstarIII™ GPS technology measures pace, speed, distance and more in real-time, allowing athletes to measure, review and advance their performance.

Customizable displays show up to four windows of information, and advanced online training log software analyzes uploaded data across several dimensions.

The water-resistant case and long-lasting rechargeable battery prove this is the only GPS-enabled watch worthy of the Timex® Ironman® name.

http://www.timexironman.com/Products/Global_Trainer_GPS.htm

-Performance and Route Data Downloads to Online Training Software Powered by
-Advanced Desktop Software Manages Users Settings for Easy Customization.
-Battery Recharges when Connected to USB Port or AC Adaptor.
-Compatible with Windows® XP or Newer and Mac® OS X 10.4 or Newer.
-Compatible with Timex® Heart Rate and Bike Sensors Using ANT+™.
-Compatible with Third-Party Bike Power Sensors Using ANT+™.

Available at many specialty sports and sporting goods stores in September 2010.

I had just returned home from a ride on my Orange Rocket (also known as the Trek Equinox TTX SSL loaded with SRAM Red) expecting my three little chicks to just be arising for the day… when I heard a familiar sound coming from the Family Room.  I peeked around the corner and I could not believe what I saw!!!  My daughters had put in my A.M. YOGA DVD from GAIAM http://www.gaiam.com/ and were dressed in their “yoga attire”  about half way through the session.  As you can tell, they had moved the furnature, removed their socks, pulled out some of my stretching straps and my yoga mat (I’m not sure how the oldest won that one ;-).  Also notice the pile of other GAIAM DVD’s they pulled out on the floor as well.  I said to them… “Only in my house would this happen!”  and they responded.. “What?” I replied, “Coming home to a 9, 11, & 13 year old doing Yoga! Who’s kids do this?!” They said, “But Momma, it makes us feel so good!”  My heart swelled and I was grinning in disbelief.

Several months back, I started on Monday nights using my GAIAM DVDs. The four of us do one of the Gaiam DVD’s whether it is the 1) Stretching 2) Pilates 3) Yoga 4) Meditation 5) Abs.  They are always excited to join in and get really upset with Mom if I start without them.  I’ve learned not to do this any more!  I never imagined it would be something they would initiate on their own.  I guess they are learning and discovering things they enjoy and make their bodies feel good. 

It was beyond my wildest dream what I saw that morning. Good habits are forming =)

Enjoy your training. ~T

www.tristafrancis.com

First, Team Timex … what an honor!  I don’t believe I’ve been part of an athletic team since my days of playing tennis in college, and a bit after that.  The comraderie, support, and laughs are all great.  But, is it Lance who says it’s not all about the bike?  How wrong!  With Team Timex, it most certainly is all about the bike … and all the other great gear and sponsors we have.  They all help create that “Timex Euphoria” you hear about:

(running toward the finish at St. Croix 70.3 in May)

That same positive feeling was felt wholeheartedly in April, too, when several Team Timex folks joined about 100 others to help raise some money for Jamie Whitmore and her battle with cancer.  The fun run, put on by Zeal Optics in Boulder, attracted the likes of Will Kelsay, Carole Sharpless, Erin Kummer, and yours truly (hope I’m not forgetting anyone else).  Doing good things like this seems to be a common thread among the mindsets of those on the Team

Big thanks to 2 of our Team’s sponsors and supporters:  ARX and Power Breathe.  I have been taking 2 ARX tabs every morning for almost 3 months now, and absolutely feel like I can put together more high quality workouts back-to-back than ever before … and, I’m getting older (54 as of Sunday!).  Power Breathe was a product I was originally skeptical of; however, after 2 months of a consistent daily regimen of 30 breathes at about a 2-3 level, the breathing exercises are noticably easier; and, I would guess that has to do with the strengthening of the muscles used, but rarely exercised and pinpointed, like they are with the Power Breathe tool.  Pretty cool!

Lastly, besides St. Croix in May, an excellent Canyonlands Half-Marathon in April (1:30:22), and a solid Bolder Boulder 10K on Memorial Day, my life was pretty much consumed the past 7 weeks with the sale of my business, 5430 Sports, to WTC (Ironman).  As I reported in our 5430 Newsletter, the unofficial announcement of the deal, after 10 years of race directing, Jodee and I were/are ready for a change.  This certainly caused a bit of a setback in the short-term, racing-wise; but, I am now ready to get back to some serious training, with an eye on the Pikes Peak Marathon in mid-August (the full deal, up and down), and Ironman Arizona in November. 

Besides more training and racing, I plan on completing one of the 3 books I have begun in the past few years - one which is triathlon related.  I am also contemplating a run for Boulder City Council … a different kind of race.

So … after a 20 year serious business career, 10 years of racing and race directing, Part 3 of my life is soon to begin.  Stay tuned.