Some of you may have noticed the Athleta Esprit de She badge in my sidebar. I am a “Race Ambassador” for this cool new women’s running and multisport series sponsored by Lifetime Fitness and Athleta. What does that mean? Well, I get to run in the 10K race in Chicago in July for free – woot woot! And, I get the inside skinny on all of the cool stuff that is going on for the events. There are a bunch of running events, duathlons, cycling events and three triathlons. (Psst – Not a gal? There are some great tri and running nutrition tips at the bottom of the page for all readers!)
The next event in the Chicagoland area is the Athleta Esprit de She Naperville sprint triathlon on June 9th. This is a former SheROX event and The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund will remain the local charity partner. The national charity partner is one of my favorites – Girls on the Run. Women’s Running just highlighted this as a great “racecation” destination for you and your friends in their Triathlon insert. Why?
- Good for 1st timers because there is a buddy wave so you can race along with a friend and there is a relay option (now they are talking!)
- Great local restaurants and cafes and close to Chicago!
- Post race “market” includes tapas, wine tasting, live music and local artisans. Fun!
Also, there are some great perks for registering:
- Racers receive an official Moxie Cycling commemorative jersey (valued at $58). Designed “by women for women”, it’s “the cycling tank you’ve been waiting for” — high quality, functional, stylish and with a great fit!
- A one-year subscription to Self magazine ($12 value) is included with registration. The subscription is automatic with any registration after April 23, 2013. You can get $12 back if you are already a subscriber or do not wish to receive the magazine.
- When you sign up for one of the three triathlons (Tempe, Naperville or San Diego) you receive a free training plan ($30 value)! You can choose a plan from the three options HERE, tailored by experience level. Plus, you can take your training further with the help of expert online coaches. They’ll waive the $50 initiation fee for any of their online coaching packages. Once registered, your confirmation email will include a link to download your unique savings code. It may be a bit late to start now, but great information to keep and use for next time!
- You’ll also receive nutritious treats and “exclusive giveaways” while shopping at the post-race market. And don’t forget Athleta is the title sponsor! They are hosting a post race party in their Chicago store, too!
With all of those perks, it seems like a great value for the $95 entry fee. But, if you are like me, and are not ready to tackle the tri, please join me at the Athleta Esprit de She Chicago 5K/10K on July 18th or check out one of their other events HERE.
The folks at Lifetime are offering a sweet, soft Athleta Esprit de She T-shirt and an Athleta Tempo visor to one of my readers just for checking out the series. Enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter widget below. Please don’t forget to click the green button on each entry you choose. If you already like my page on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter, click that button on the Rafflecopter to get credit! The giveaway is open through the end of the day on Wednesday, May 29th. I will select and notify the winner on Thursday, May 30th. There will be one winner. Only valid for participants in the US.
Not a gal? Here’s something for all athletes! While I was reading the Women’s Running Triathlon insert, I did find some great advice for triathletes (and runners, too) regardless of gender. And I was pleased to see it was advice from my friend and favorite nutritionist Lauren Antonucci!
Adapted from 9 Nutrition Rules for Beginners by Jene Shaw (based on her discussion with multi-time Ironman and Registered Dietician – Lauren)
- Keep a food log for 3-5 days at least twice a year for a nutrition “reality check” – see what you are missing or having too much of.
- Eat carbs every day with most meals and always before and after a workout.
- Don’t forget your fruits and veggies!
- Be realistic about weight loss goals – slow and steady wins the race (and don’t be fooled by gimmicks!)
- Recover right with 1/2 a gram of carbs/lb of body weight 30 to 60 minutes after training sessions or races.
- Follow the 10% rule no matter what your health and nutrition goals are. 10% of total daily calories or less from treats. Still lets you have that glass of wine or ice cream guilt free.
- Plan (and bring) healthy snacks with you!
- Avoid foods that are high in fat and fiber for pre-race dinner and morning of the race. [I will add – test pre-race dinner/breakfast before your event on a training day to see what works well for you.]
- Eat breakfast 2 – 3 hours before the race to allow yourself enough calories and time to digest.
I also found another article by Lauren on Triathlon magazine’s online site that is super helpful for triathletes and runners, too. Check out Top 5 Nutrition Mistakes Made By Smart Triathletes.
“You are a smart triathlete: You wake up at 5 a.m., routinely decline a second round of drinks, watch what you eat and are aware of the latest trends in sports nutrition and bike technology. But even the most well-meaning, self-sacrificing, smart triathletes can make nutrition mistakes that prevent them from reaching their body composition and performance goals. Avoid the following nutrition traps and your 2012 season will be better than you imagined.”
- Mistake #1: Not knowing your sweat rate.
- Mistake #2: Inadequate calorie intake during training.
- Mistake #3: Skipping post-workout fuel/meal.
- Mistake #4: Misusing vitamins/supplements.
- Mistake #5: Relying too heavily on the number on the scale.
I also liked Triathlon’s advice for training in the heat.
That’s all for now! Don’t forget to enter my awesome On the Go Snacks giveaway, too. Have a great day!