Investments

"Invest in yourself. It will pay you for the rest of your life." -- Malcom Nothing

I used to use this excuse only in the physical, mental, or emotional sense. I am going to go for a run instead of studying because I won't live long if I'm out of shape and die of a heart attack. I'm going to practice filling my head with positive thoughts, so I won't let life put me down. I'm watching this movie and hanging out with friends because I need a good laugh and pick-me-up. If I am consistently getting depressed by life and do nothing about it, then I will not want a life; therefore, I must invest.

But when it comes to financial investments, I've always been a little more stingy. I've worked so and so hours to make this much, is it worth it? Is it worth buying the best shoes out there just to make running easier? Can't I just train harder and save myself $150? Do I really need a new bike seat? The ones I have are uncomfortable, but I'm sure I can tough it out each ride.

Here's where an important rule of cycling comes in -- make sure you have a comfortable seat and a good fit. They really are not kidding about this, especially if you are racking up the miles. Pretty soon, I couldn't even last 5 miles on the bike because my seat was killing me. I didn't want to shell out money for a new seat, but I needed to be able to bike in order to train.

"Invest three percent of your income in yourself in order to guarantee your future." -- Brian Tracy

So, I scheduled a full bike fit for both my tri bike and road bike. I knew going in this was going to cost a lot, but it was an investment. If I am comfortable on my bike and not grimacing because of back pain or seat pain, then I can focus more on training, technique, pushing harder, etc. If I was really serious about becoming an elite athlete, I needed to invest in myself fully in all categories.

The fit went well! I felt like a professional athlete with all the lighting and cameras and fancy technology. The process was almost like going to the eye doctor. Is 1 or 2 better? Uhhh. 3 or 4? Umm, 2? Haha poor fitter, but I was so used to being uncomfortable and tolerating it that I didn't know what felt right. But overall, this was definitely an awesome experience, and I'm hoping to reap the benefits of a perfectly fitted bike.

Look mom, I'm a pro!

There's still some small adjustments to be made, but after a few rides, I can already feel the difference. I have more power in each pedal stroke since I'm engaging my glutes too, and I am definitely more aerodynamic. For my road bike, we changed the handlebars to a smaller size to help with the compression of the ulnar nerve (leads to numb hands) and for a better fit. The new bars were significantly smaller, so at first, it looked really weird (like T-Rex arms). We added red handlebar tape to add some pop!

"T-Rex arms" on the road bike. ROAR, watch out world! 

There's a new dino athlete in town.

New additions:
Triathlon Bike

• Adamo ISM Racing Saddle, white -- Wow. What a difference maker. Definitely loving this seat, especially in the aero position. I have no idea why I did not change seats earlier. Wow. If you ever get a TT or Tri bike, I recommend you to look into ISM seats.
• Zipp stem, black -- I opted for this carbon stem because it was significantly lighter (and more pricey) than the cheapest  / alternative stem they chose for me. I needed a longer stem to accommodate my reach on the aerobars, and preferably one with a higher negative degree since my natural position on the tri bike is more agressive (deeper/lower positioning)
• Specialized Advanced SL Foot Bed -- These were placed inside my tri shoes to provide better arch support.
• Shoe Wedges, yellow -- My knees weren't tracking straight (buckled in a bit), so the wedges are suppose to help fix that

Road Bike

• Specialized Ruby Saddle, black --This seat definitely takes the pressure off the perineal tissues and transfers it to the sit bones, which is what a proper bike seat is suppose to do!
• Bontrager Race VR-S Handlebar -- Loving it so far.  The smaller width and drop are suiting me well.
• Shoe Wedges, purple

Things I learned:
My left leg is slightly longer than my right leg.
I have a long femur, which is apparently really good for running and biking.
I have wide shoulders, which is good for swimming.  (Does that mean I'm made for this sport!!!?)

The bike fit was for sure one of the best investments I made for myself in my athletic career. I won't need Sherlock to deduce how important a properly fitted bike or equipment is to an athlete and her success.

"It's elementary, Dear Watson."

(I was trying on some of my sister's winter clothes)