El Cheapo, ITB - not!

Desoto tri short at LBS: 69.99 + tax.
Desoto tri short on Ebay: 28.50 no tax and delivered.

Saucony running shoes, full retail: 130.00 (yea, like I'm going to pay that)
Saucony running shoes on "sale": 99.99 (still too much)
Last years Saucony's: 79.99 (ok, I'll bite, bought 4 pair)
Best price I've paid: ~40.00 delivered and no tax on Ebay - tough to find though.

I like running shoes, but I hate the ridiculas marketing that goes with them. THIS years model is exactly the same as LAST years model, but has new improved shoe laces, or a different colour, maybe they changed a grommet, now because the shoe is sooooo much better, we better charge you extra for it! Yet, Joe Average thinks a $200 shoe is better than last years shoe that can be had for $80. Hey, if Joe Average is dumb enough to buy 200 dollar runners you can sure as hell bet that someone will sell it to him. (even though the labour is farmed out to 3rd world countries and that said company probably doesn't pay more that 6 bucks for them.)

Just like the tri shorts. I support the LBS as much as possible and have thrown a good chunk of change at them over the years, but I will not pay 70 dollars for a hunk of lycra with a pad on the butt - yet I have no problem dropping $$$ on race wheels... go figure. But since, I'm cheap when it comes to some stuff ... I can actually afford race wheels!

I would be the first the champion local business, but if I feel I'm getting ripped off, they won't be getting my money. I say, unite! If you feel you are paying too much - then you are! Do something about it.

A quick word about running shoes. Look for: actual 'running shoes' and buy the cheapest ones on sale in last years model. Trust me, I've run in them all and they all last the same amout of time. Buy, them in pairs of 2 and alternate your runs with your shoes. By doing this, I average ~600k per pair. This is tip number 1 of the week.

Last week's mileage recap:
Swim: 6.3k
Bike: 3.75 hr
Run: 73.5k
Notes: missed a long ride - had company on Sat night and Sunday was a .. umm... 'recovery day'. Good running K's for the week. I mentioned hill repeats last week for the bike - you are doing them - right??? Good. Now add the odd LT workout. Bring your HR to 5-10 beats below LT and hold for 10 min, rest 5 and repeat. Once you are 'comfortable' with that, bring the set to 15 min and finally 20 min. Do the 20 minute sessions closer to peak season. With the added strength from the hill workouts and regular 'LT training' - you'll defineately be zippy. Tip number 2!

So, last week, I had some IT issues. Nothing too bad, but enough to make me worry. Time for immediate and decisive action. The remedy: stretch - alot. I do 3 different IT stretches and was doing them 2 and 3 times a day. Massage - yea, messaging your IT is a painful experience, but it's got to be done. Lastly, bought new shoes. (hence the shoe rant above) Which leads to tip 3. If you have an issue, don't hope it's going to go away, do something about - NOW. I was lucky, addressed the issue and was able to clock some running K's and the IT feels 100%.

Cheers!