Judgment Day at the Dentist

I've had regular attendance at dentist's offices since before getting braces in the sixth grade. It's an important part of being healthy, but I'm kind of tired of going. The week before my teeth cleaning appointment is similar to tapering for a race. Did I brush enough? Maybe I should floss more than once a day? Do I need to use a mouth rinse more? Will the hygienist admonish me for not taking better care of my teeth?  The day of my dental appointment is worse. What should I eat? Do I skip the coffee? If I brush and floss right before driving to the dental office will it make my teeth shine?

I actually received some positive feedback from the hygienist at yesterday's appointment. But what is going on with the up-selling? I felt like I was in a running retail store. "Do you need socks with that new pair of $120 shoes you just bought? How about our new energy drink? Shorts? Hey, we have this top on sale, it would look great on you!" Suddenly you just spent $250.

The hygienist asked if I wanted some special mouth cavity search to look for oral cancer with a new tool they have, but it's not covered by insurance, $25-30. I declined. Later she wanted me to buy a "special" mouth rinse that would kill more germs, $30-45. I declined. She pushed that one a couple of times, I can only imagine what the markup is. Jamie was a nice, competent hygienist, but she made sure to let the dentist know I wouldn't be buying the extras, so he could give a little push. Of course if my teeth start to rot out in a year I'll regret not paying for the rinse and test.

When did dentists start taking your blood pressure, and why? Of course mine was higher than normal, someone is about to stick their hands and assorted sharp instruments in my mouth, no, I'm okay, really.

My next appointment is in eight months. Does anyone really know what they are doing in eight months on a specific day and time? (maybe if you are training for an IM, but otherwise, no). Sure, put in the book, what difference does it make. You'll call me twice, send me a postcard, text my wife (3x, but not me), so I think we will figure this out. Meanwhile I'm going to begin feeling anxious over my next race.

Half-Ironman Race Day Fueling

 On September 10th four of the Sal's Racing Team members will be competing in the Lake Placid Half-Ironman race. Two other members are their own relay team. None of us will be finishing in the 4-4:30 time range like the professional athletes, so nutrition almost becomes the fourth discipline.

Most races, whether official IM races or not, have a particular sponsor who supplies much of the nutrition sources on the course. (IM LP Suppliers Here) In longer races it's unlikely you can carry all of your own gels, fluid, etc, even if you have a preferred brand. Eventually, then, you succumb to using what the race organizers provide. This makes it vital that you try the race-day products throughout your training. At the very least figure out what, and how much, you should be consuming in transition 1 & 2 and while on the bike. With a bit of luck and good weather, this will make the run a bit easier and not a total bonk.

Jan and I began using Hammer Nutrition products years ago when she first began training for the full Ironman. They seemed to work well, weren't filled with simple sugars like many supposed endurance supplements, and didn't upset my stomach (or hers). Hammer has a guide; Hammer Nutrition's Secret of Success for Endurance Fueling Guide that is useful to read. Practicing all of this is vital though. I've gone into workouts and races feeling hungry and maybe only taking a gel or two and some water to begin and worried if I had done enough. Unless it's an ungodly hot, humid, high dew point day, it's amazing how little fuel you really need to begin a race. But maybe you can eat before a race. Fine, but figure out the best time to do so and what you really should be consuming.

All of this must be practiced. Try getting on the bike early in the morning and not eating solid food and just take a gel with water before leaving. Take gels, electrolyte fluids, maybe pretzels, Endurolytes, or other supplements during the ride and see how you feel. We did a 56 mile ride last week under cloudless, sunny skies and I thought my 60 ounces of fluids (Hammer Perpetuem, Endurolyte Fizz and water) would be enough. We also had Gatorade Energy chews. I had a really rough time over the last 10 miles and once home had 20 more ounces of water and a regular Coke before feeling better.

But now I know if race day is warm and sunny I'll need to rely on fluid from what's on the course in addition to what I carry on my bike. I'll also take a couple of minutes to hydrate in T1 and T2.  Keeping this in mind today I ordered Gatorade Endurance Formula and HotShots (supposed to help prevent cramping) online. Using the link provided by the IM site you can get 50% a six-pack of HotShots.

Good luck and keep hydrated!

Inspector Gadget

"Inspector Gadget, a bumbling detective, needs lots of help and luck to solve cases assigned by short-tempered Chief Quimby. That help comes from his young, but smart-beyond-her-years niece, Penny, and faithful dog, Brain, who has a human IQ. The trio relies on high-tech items -- i.e. Penny's watch links to a video communicator in Brain's collar -- and other tools to elude trouble from Dr. Claw of MAD. Despite Gadget's shortcomings, he manages to solve each case. Don Adams -- who played Maxwell Smart in the 1960s series "Get Smart" -- voices Gadget." Google search, 8/3/17.

 

Yesterday I went out running and realized I've turned into a replica of the Inspector. On my feet were high-tech cushioned air filled running shoes with sweat wicking socks. I wore my new triathlon race top that magically takes my sweat and converts it to a cooling mechanism (not sure if that really works, but it sounded good in the ad). I wore a water belt that can hold three 8oz bottles of fluid. I didn't carry just water though. I had two bottles of Hammer Heed and one bottle of water with Hammer Endurolytes mixed in. 

My hat was just a hat with lots of air holes. I had on sunglasses and suntan lotion. On my right wrist was a RoadID so if I passed out my body could be identified. On my left wrist was a Garmin, because what's the sense of running if you don't know the distance down to hundredths of a yard, the per mile pace, a route map in case you forgot where you ran and elevation?  On my upper left arm was the "new to me" phone carrying case a daughter gave me. 

All in all I figure I was carrying about 74 extra pounds. I guess gone are the high school days when I just ran. Sometimes at the track in training for football I would carry a big old stopwatch.

I doubt most people running today know what one of these is. It wasn't until my twenties that I got a Timex watch with a stopwatch built in. I thought it was magical. It was all I needed for years. Now it seems the older I get the more gadgets I need. Maybe I should get my heart rate monitor out of the dresser drawer and add that to the arsenal? I bet that would make me run like I was 30 again.