How To Get Your MOJO Back???

I don't know about you, but I have a daily battle with motivation. The motivation to get up from a nice, warm, comfortable bed to going out into the cold, dark morning and running or swimming. Or maybe it is the motivation to hop on the trainer at night, watch a TV show, but you fall victim to that nice comfortable bed...again.

Well if you read this blog, then you know I battle motivation constantly. Ever since I did Ironman (have I told you about that?) things have been different. I still that the desire, but not the "physical want to" like before, so how do I motivate myself? Let me share...

Blog About it!  Nothing motivates me more than to write on this blog about my workouts. This entire blog was designed to be an accountability piece for me long before I published it and thought anyone would read it. After writing a good blog piece, many time I realize that everything I say is keeping from getting out there is just an excuse (and that I can be a weenie sometimes), so talking it out on here will motivate me to get out there.

Shaving!!

I know, self explanatory right?

Yes, the unspoken part of triathlons. Sometimes...ok, a lot of times I will go ahead and shave to get me back in the right track of mind. (I don't think I have ever blogged about shaving before). Something about it makes me feel like an athlete, makes me feel fast and awesome. I will cut my hair short, shave my legs and body and then I am ready. Does it make me faster? Heck no, but I feeeeellll faster and that is the important thing!

and finally...

New Gear!

Who doesn't like new stuff? New shoes, new running shorts, new watch, anything, it doesn't matter! Luckily, I had a Sports Academy gift-card from Christmas and I went and got new compression sleeves and new goggles!  I love swimming in new goggles! I like to go out and purchase motivation when I can. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it has to be something related to the sport.

So those are my "get out of a funk" tips. Tell me yours, what do you do to get yourself going again??

Schwagbox Giveaway!

Yes, back to back to back giveaways on Daily Trainings! I know I do not need to ask, but who doesn't like schwag? Nobody! Everybody loves schwag! I have found one of the coolest product on the Internet and I am bringing it to you.

In my last issue of Triathlete Magazine, you might have seen a page about Schwagbox. Schwagbox is a subscription service that delivers a hand picked sampling of gels, bars, drinks, recovery nutrition, body care bike maintenance (lube, cleaners, grease, etc.) and other bits an pieces to your door every month. Every batch is hand picked by the editors at Bikerumor.com, the world's largest and most popular cycling blog, from the coolest things they see each month. You can find them at www.Schwagbox.com

So I reached out to Schwagbox and asked if I could do a review and a giveaway and they graciously agreed! I was able to speak to Evan at Schwagbox and before I knew it, my own Schwagbox was at my door. Now I am a guy that loves race packet pickup cause I always expect there to be some cool things in the packet, but I am usually disappointed and throw most of it away. When my wife told me I got a box today, it was like a kid getting an unexpected Christmas present. So I quickly tore the box open and this is what I found:

We need a closer look!

Clif Shot Blocks and gels!  Chocolate Berry and Citrus!

Zevlin Leg Shaving Creme and Pro Towels!

Now all of this came in the box, and this is something you can expect to be delivered to your door every month! How cool is that. Now there is a cost to this, not everything can be free! It costs $10 a month ( but they require an annual fee) but as you can see, you get more than $10 worth of product! Where else are you going to get delivered to your door the newest products out there? I do not know either!

Now for the giveaway! My new friend Evan at Schwagbox has agreed to send a reader a Schwagbox of their own!!  What will be in it? I have no idea, because they are continually sending out the newest, greatest stuff!! It will be good, trust me on this. So how do you enter? Simple.

Schwagbox has graciously agreed to give one person a Schwag box! So here are the rules to enter!

1. Leave a comment in the comment section of this blog. (1 entry)
2. Become or be a follower of Daily Trainings (1 entry)
3. Like Schwagbox on FaceBook and Twitter (1 entry a piece)

You can leave me a comment stating you have done all these things on one comment. The drawing will last until March 21, 2013. Each entry will be assigned a number and then a random number generator will select the winning entry! You have a chance to have 4 entries!

**Special thanks to Evan and Schwagbox for working with me on this! It is awesome that they are willing to help with the giveaway and I can't say Thank you enough!**

It Makes me Feel Faster!

Slow it down, I don;t think so!

This post is about a topic that I get asked about at least once a week.

 SHAVING

So just to start it off, yes I shave. I shave my body!
Now, these are actual questions I have been asked over the years about shaving! I will address them one by one:

1. Why do you shave your arms and legs? Very simple answer. It makes me feel faster. I feel like I can rip through the water, the wind and sweat just glides right off me. I also think it makes me looks faster. As you all know triathletes will do anything to gain any type of speed out there, that proof can be found in the Aero helmets guys wear at sprint races! So my thoughts are that if I think I am fast, then I will act like I am fast, and shaving for me is all mental, basically it makes me feel faster.
2. Do you shave your body in case you crash? That way it will heal faster? I do not plan on crashing or causing any type of road rash to come to my body. So for me, that really does not factor into the decision of me shaving. I shave because it makes me feel faster. Many people also give a reason that it makes massages feel a lot better, which is true and I am sure that he massage therapist prefers to not rub a oily hairy dude, but you would have to ask them. I do it because it makes me feel faster!
3. Does your wife like that you shave? I can honestly say she does. My family thinks it is weird to see a man with hairy arms and legs at this point. They really are used to it and it does not bother them at all, and besides, it makes me feel faster.
4. Why don't you shave your back? My answer: Why doesn't your Mamma shave her back? BOOM!  Smartypants!
5. Do you use Nair? I have used Nair. It stinks and it takes me longer than using a razor.
6. Have you ever waxed your legs?  No and I never plan to!  That looks way to painful!
7. How far up your legs do you shave? Like a porn star baby! I usually just ask what do you mean? This question is usually asked by a guy, which is weird on many levels. This is a question I avoid and quickly turn to something else. I don't want to talk about anything above the thigh with any of my bros! Or especially with any females.

So to recap, the reason I shave is BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL FASTER! I do not have any proof that my times are faster due to shaving, and that's not the point. The point of it is because it makes me feel... well, you get the point. I remember the first time I shaved with the clippers, I had no idea what I was doing and I felt really weird immediately afterwards. Until, I climbed into bed and felt the new sheets on my legs, and then the next morning I loved how the water felt. It was awesome. So I imagine I will continue to shave as long as I am able to participate in this sport. I will not have my Mancard revoked for it either, so don't even try it!

***Next week, I have a cool giveaway coming! And do not forget about the $5 off from WIN Detergent!***