Mojo

Austin Powers: So I started to work my mojo, to counter their mojo; we got cross-mojulation, and their heads started exploding.

Dr. Evil: Mojo: The libido. The life force. The essence. The right stuff. What the French call a certain... I don't know what.

Jerry Springer on Austin Powers: You know, what have we learned here today? Perhaps it's that no one can take your mojo. You can look around all you want, but what you're really trying to find is on the inside. Take care of yourself, and each other.

Austin Powers: I've lost my mojo.

I think I got my triathlon mojo back! We'll soon see, as I will be doing my "last" Half Ironman for awhile. It's time to mix things up, all this long distance stuff is hard work. Not that there is anything wrong with hard work, but it's time for fun and something different. How long have I been saying that I want to try some other things but I never get around to it because I'm doing long swim/bike/runs all the time??? A long time...4 years. I want to crank out some shorter races and focus on power again...and maybe some speed! Relatively speaking of course.

So going into this last 70.3, I'm actually stronger on the bike than I have been in a long time thanks to some group training rides. I'm feeling "okay" about my swim. My running not sure...it might be "okay" as well. I guess we'll find out!

KS 70.3 was possibly my worst race ever, and it's time to celebrate and have some joy & fun. After KS, there is nowhere to go but up right?

Paleo Pear Pie

I have quite a few friends that adhere to the Paleo Diet For Athletes (http://www.trainingbible.com/pdf/Paleo_for_Athletes_Cliff_Notes.pdf). I do not follow it strictly (I like Greek yogurt!!!) but work on incorporating as much of it as I can as often as I can. Being involved in triathlon, I have to fuel wisely while also balancing trying to enjoy life (and great food...and pizza).

One thing that I know is that I love desserts, and maybe I could find some that are a bit better than others. Enter tonight's experiment: Paleo Pear Pie.

Crust: Blend together via processor

1/4 cup almond flour (160 calories: 14 g Fat, 6 g carbs [1 g sugar], 6 g protein)

4 medjool dates

Filling:

1 pear chopped (100 calories: 26 g carbs [16 g sugar])

1/2 cup pecans (377 calories: 39 g fat, 7 g carbs [2 g sugar], 5 g protein)

2 tbsp Agave nectar (120 calories: 16 g carbs [15 g sugar]) the less you can use, the better.

Total for entire recipe: 757 calories (53 g fat, 61 g carbs [34 g sugar], 11 g protein.

Now, of course you have to divide that into more manageable portions :)

Two would be pretty large sized and 378 calories each. Three portions would be more ideal...only 252 calories and a lot of flavor. Notice that this isn't low fat, but you have to have some...and this source is nuts so that is a better fat than others.

Swimming!

After my abnormal, horrific, panic-filled, epic KS 70.3 swim (24 minutes slower than my goal time and much time spent hanging on to boats in the choppy / 35-39 male infested waters)...I really want to redeem myself and get that swim PR at Boulder 70.3.

So tonight I had one of the best swims maybe ever! Over the last few months, Kathy Boyd helped me with my high elbow/body roll, arm position, and hand entry. I had to figure out what to tackle next!

Over the weekend I was checking out swimsmooth.com and got ideas to try some new things with my catch and pull. It immediately felt different and like I was pushing more water than ever before. It felt as though I was moving through the water more efficiently and faster. It immediately took seconds off my 50/100 times without expending any more effort than usual. Towards the end I got a bit tired, but still felt decent.

I will continue to work on this...I've really grown to love swimming over the last couple of years but I really want to make a breakthrough and get faster now.