Categories
2021

My first Kettlebell Mile

Photo: Photostockeditor

A simple and sinister jolt: carry one kettlebell for a mile as fast as you can

I learned about the Kettlebell Mile last week when I stumbled across the article, The Kettlebell Mile by Mike Prevost, on the StrongFirst blog.

As Prevost explains in the article, the Kettlebell Mile is not complicated:

Performing the Kettlebell Mile is simple. Find a measured distance that is relatively flat. It can be a track, an out-and-back course, or a point-to-point mile. Anything works. Simply carry the kettlebell in the suitcase carry position, switching hands and stopping as often as you want (but the clock keeps running). Cover the distance as fast as you can. You can walk, jog, or run. No gloves are allowed but you can use chalk.

The prescribed weights for the Kettlebell Mile are 16kg (35 pounds) for women and 24kg (53 pounds) for men.

Continue reading “My first Kettlebell Mile”

Categories
2019

Hello! Catching up, the impact of an Ironman

We’re back!

Don’t worry. Despite a mostly silent Tri for Les, you better believe the dedicated (read: obsessive) and constantly evolving discussion over our latest goals, workouts and diets has continued offline; much to the chagrin of our loved ones who can’t seem to keep up.

I often reflect on how Ironman Arizona changed my life. At the start of 2012, I was moving back home in the midst of a very early quarter life crisis. I had up-and-quit a great first job in PR after what seemed like just one day realizing how unhappy I was. I couldn’t quite explain it to anyone back then. I blamed it on disliking the city I was in and a series of bad break-ups/dating experiences. But really, I just needed a change, to be in the safety net of home with my family close by, and to figure things out. I had also gained 30-40lbs over the course of 2.5yrs, and had little confidence or direction. 

Continue reading “Hello! Catching up, the impact of an Ironman”

Categories
2019

Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop Aug 2019

Photo credit: Cecily

Training strategy, gear packing list and takeaways from an epic hike in glorious Colorado, just outside a little place called Aspen, where the beer flows like wine.

Ever busy with work and school, and facing the despair of a finish line void, I penciled in an epic hike on my list of things to do in 2019.

It’s not a Ironman, but it many ways an epic hike packs its own unique version of a big-time endurance adrenaline rush punch: it requires planning, training, will power, fitness, health, humor, mental toughness, cat-like mobility, an dogged thirst for pushing yourself to the limits. And also a strong hunger for being uncomfortable, often awkwardly so.

What epic hiking lacks in the hype and glamour of a triathlon or big race, it more than makes up for in the subtle joys and inspiring landscapes of the great outdoors.

Thus, I searched for “epic hikes” and “awesome treks” and “most triumphant excellent experiences that are legal in the contiguous United States” I found many a list.

And near the top of many of those lists sat the Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop in beautiful Colorado.

Continue reading “Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop Aug 2019”

Categories
2017

Ironman Arizona 2017 Race Report AF

CFE training logs, nutrition strategy, split times, timelines, gear, resources, and fun with graphs – from my second Ironman triathlon.

I’m dumping everything from IMAZ 2017 into this one epic and convenient blog post.

But if you only have 30 seconds, here’s the abstract:

I finished IMAZ 2017 in 13:12:10, which is 18 minutes and 8 seconds faster than my first Ironman triathlon four years ago (see IMAZ 2013 Race Report). I followed a CrossFit Endurance (CFE) training plan with significantly fewer workouts than my 2013 CFE Ironman Plan, and I focused my training plan mostly on running. As you might expect, my bike and swim were slower this year, but I cut my marathon time by more than 45 minutes. All in all, a great day.

OK, go put out whatever fire you need to put out right now, and come back when you have some time to dig into the gold mine of CFE Ironman data, insights and resources I painstakingly lay out for you below, including:

  • Graphs on graphs on graphs comparing 2017 to 2013 by the numbers
  • My gear, and the stuff I used in special needs bags
  • A new nutrition strategy that avoided the GI issues that slowed me down last year
  • Complete training logs from 10 months of CFE Ironman workouts
  • Two great resources: a coach that made me a better swimmer, and a book that made me a better runner
  • OK, that’s enough bullet points for now, many more to come
Continue reading “Ironman Arizona 2017 Race Report AF”


Categories
2017

The Back Issue

In my last post I mentioned a couple worrisome injuries that have been hampering my CFE Ironman training plan thus far: my foot and my back.

Good news: the foot’s gotten better.

Bad news: the back’s gotten worse.

You can read all about my foot issues in Foot Fight and Foot Fight 2.

In this post we’ll dig into my back.

I’ll explain the symptoms, the root problems, the causes and the fixes.

NB: I’m officially old.

Continue reading “The Back Issue”