Tastes Like Chicken

My training program for Ironman Switzerland is nearing its peak, and in case I haven't already mentioned this - I can't eat enough! I've got light pre-workout breakfast in the morning, followed by something heartier in the later morning; by 11:30 I need more protein for lunch, and a fruity snack by 2pm, and MORE PROTEIN! Of course I'm getting tired of eating the same flavor sports drinks and gu, but I was ready for that. But I am realizing that I need to get more creative too with my meals and with getting protein in particular.

Thanks to Active.com reposting this article from Men's Health, I've now got another month's worth of meal ideas with 50 new ways to cook "chook"! Check out this article which includes prep tips and recipes by Philip Rhodes:

50 Ways to Feed Your Muscles

Please come back and post comments if you discover any of these are ridiculously delicious or disgusting!!

Enjoying the Journey: Becoming a Triathlete

If you're training for any of the big races coming up in the next few months, chances are your schedule has run amok like mine. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday has been renamed "Swim day, swim/bike, day, bike/run day" respectively. If I'm not sleeping, I am eating nonstop; yet happily, I am shrinking! Haven't felt this good or been so buff since freshman year of college, but I could definitely do without the biker-shorts tan lines. The 2500m swim workouts are now considered 'normal fare' and I've spent more time this season on bike than I had before I got my driver's license. Who knew I'd be transformed this much in a few short months? A few weeks ago I started getting anxious about whether or not my race results would measure up, but my coach reminded me "Enjoy the journey!" And it's helped me make sure I still have fun, even as I start up my 100-mile rides in preparation for Ironman Switzerland. Please share any of your training milestones or tips on how to keep training for endurance sports like triathlon fun!

Get Ready for...Woodstock??

That's right, the 26th Annual Wildflower Triathlon happens this weekend in Paso Robles, California. One of the first races in the history of the event, Wildflower now draws over 8 thousand athletes and over 35,000 spectators to the camp sites around Lake San Antonio for a weekend of triathlons.

Held the first weekend in May each year, Wildflower Festival weekend offers a Long Course, Olympic-distance, Sprint Mountain Bike events for athletes of all levels. The Long Course is known for its grueling climbs as well as its fierce collegiate and professional battles each year. Good Luck to all athletes competing in this weekend's races!

Highlights from last year's Wildflower event (which includes an interview with a 71-year-old woman who finished her 2nd Wildflower triathlon - a month after completing last year's Boston Marathon!):