The Gear...

So I’ve begun the year’s torture this week. One night of riding and running and one night in the pool. Unfortunately my social schedule has precluded doing more thus far. I actually convinced Adam to swim with me this time and I think he may be a convert. The good news is that this year I’m better prepared for what this training will do to me, the bad news is I don’t have any longer than I had last year to effect my transformation from chubby hubby to hardened athlete. I do have much better gear this year though. With exception to a good tune up my bike needs nothing. By the last race last year I had her nice and tricked out, so this year I can train with all the goodies (and hopefully learn how to NOT kill myself on the arrow-bars).

I also just made another investment in my training future this morning. I’ve been mulling over this one for a while now, and I finally found the right one and the right deal, so I jumped. “What is it?” you ask…. Well I’ll tell you.


It’s the Fusion DMP 512. In non-geek terms it’s an MP3 player that I can swim with. It’s waterproof. This might sound a wee bit boring, but I invite you to spend 2 hours in a pool with nothing but the whooshing sound of your swim stroke, or the splishy splash of the 12 year old in the next lane doing his best to imitate a dying trout. Trust me, this thing will be a God-send. About the first mile of water you start to hallucinate and hear what sounds like music, but is in fact just people gabbing in the pool area and locker room.

Now when I want to play fish for an evening I can do so with Beethoven or Guns and Roses. Tis my choice.

By purchasing this item I now have no excuse for not blowing my old swim time completely out of the water….pun somewhat intended.