Almond Butter Marinara Sauce and a Triathlon Conundrum

on February 26, 2010
in All Posts

Sometimes, I hear about new recipes through the blog world and think, “There is NO WAY that can taste good.”  But, then I try it and – low and behold – and DOES taste good!  (Case in point: spinach in smoothies!)

 

On Wednesday, Ryan and Meghann were discussing mixing almond butter in marinara sauce to create a vegan version of cream sauce.  I had my doubts!  And I was concerned about using up precious Barney Butter on a recipe that might not work.

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I took a leap of faith…

 

And I’m so glad I did!

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While it definitely did not taste like cream sauce (and ya’ll know I love my cream sauce), it was flavorful, rich, creamy, and delicious.  It did kind of taste nut buttery, but in a good way!

 

I mixed 1.5 tablespoons of Barney Butter to a regular serving of red sauce (I cooked it on the stovetop – it involved a lot of stirring).  And then I poured it over a serving of cheese tortellini.

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Plus, asparagus on the side.

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Maggie Update

 

Little Maggie is doing fine.  I took her to the vet this morning because she’s been yakking and itching her ears.  I always feel so guilty at the vet because I never get the dogs’ shots updated; their nails are long; and their teeth are dirty.  I’m a good fur mom, I just don’t like spending tons of money at the vet (obviously).  I’m also not a huge believer in vaccinations for dogs or people (but that’s another post) and only get the shots I legally have to do to board the dogs.

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However, the vet did finally talk me into getting Maggie’s teeth cleaned.  She really needs it!  They have to put her under to clean her teeth, so I’m really nervous.  That’s on Monday – get ready for pearly whites, Maggie!  🙂

 

What to Wear to My Triathlon?

 

I’ve been grapping with an issue for the triathlon, so I figured I should for some advice!

 

I’m going to wear the wetsuit for the swim, but what do I wear underneath?

 

  • If I wear a bathing suit underneath, I will have to put on bike shorts during T1 (transition 1).
  • If I wear a bathing suit, I will also have to put on a sports bra during T2 before the run.  My girls are too large to run 5.6 miles without a sports bra. 
  • I could put the sports bra on over my bathing suit (which would be fine) but I can’t completely change during transition (there are no changing rooms in transition).
  • If I wear my bathing suit under my wetsuit, I’m concerned about the bathing suit chafing my lady bits during the bike ride.
  • Alternatively, I could wear a sports bra and bike shorts under my wetsuit, which would eliminate the need to change clothes, thus cutting down on my transition times and preventing chafing.
  • However, that means that my bike shorts will be wet for the ride, and I might chafe my lady bits anyway.  I have a pair of not-so-thickly-padded bike shorts that I could wear, but then I’m sacrificing comfort.

 

I cannot afford to buy a trisuit right now.  So… if you were in my shoes, what you do?

{ 113 comments }

 

  • Marisa February 26, 2010, 1:18 pm

    What about sports bra and bike shorts under the suit. Then add loose shorts on top when you transition? Keeps the girls in place and the extra layer could cut down on chafing. I’ve never done a triathalon, so this is just an idea! Good luck! And I love you blog!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing February 26, 2010, 1:18 pm

    Oh wow, the triathlon issue is a problem.. I don’t know what I would do. I’ll leave that to those who know… but I’m interested to see what people suggest.

    Poor Maggie 🙁 Glad she is ok though! The health of animal’s teeth is really important! My grandmother had a cat that ended up having heart disease because her teeth were never cleaned… I had no idea that could happen!!
    Almond butter in marinara sauce.. interesting. I have to say, that kinda freaks me out. But some strange combinations do turn out to be amazing.

    • Christina February 26, 2010, 4:56 pm

      Yes! Having clean teeth is very important for humans AND animals! I’m sure your husband already knows this seeing as he’s about to be a Dr., but there IS a link between periondontal disease (gum disease) and heart disease. Researchers have found the bacteria thats in the plaque on our teeth in plaque deposits in arteries of people with heart disease. They think that when the bacteria travels through our system, it causes inflammation in blood vessels that narrow arteries and could cause clots. Sorry for such a long post, but oral hygiene is very important! 🙂

      • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 5:59 pm

        yup! that’s why i floss 🙂

  • Evan Thomas February 26, 2010, 1:18 pm

    That sauce sounds brilliant and delicious! Trader Joe has an Indian sauce with almond butter as the 2nd ingredient; I wonder how that is. This reminds me a lot of HEAB’s marinutta sauce

  • Meg @ Be Fit Be Full February 26, 2010, 1:18 pm

    Hmmm…can you wear swimsuit bottoms (like bikini bottoms) and a sports bra under your wet suit and then just pull the bike shorts on top of the bikini bottoms? Or would you be worried about chafing? Oooh…OR…do you have string bikini bottoms that you could wear underneath then untie them and pull them off after you’ve put your bike shorts on? Does that make sense? Or would that take up too much time?

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 1:22 pm

      that is a REALLY good idea!!!!!!!

      • Nikki T February 26, 2010, 1:27 pm

        I agree, this is a fabulous idea!!

    • Sammi February 26, 2010, 2:19 pm

      I was going to say the same thing! Except, I didn’t think about the string bikini bathing suit bottom idea. GENIUS (if it would actually work… lol)!

    • Stephanie February 26, 2010, 2:47 pm

      I was going to say the same thing, and I think you could do the same thing with your top. Put a sports bra on over it, and then pull the bikini top off.

  • Megan @ Megzz Wins At Life February 26, 2010, 1:19 pm

    I would go with the sports bra and not so thickly bike shorts and perhaps buying padding for your bike seat instead?? This way the padding will be already on your bike seat and u don’t have to worry about wearing it..

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) February 26, 2010, 1:19 pm

    I can’t say I’ve ever heard of mixing Almond butter with maranara sauce, but hey, why not? I personally think Almond butter works with anything 😉
    Hmm..could you wear a sports bra underneath the bathing suit underneath the wetsuit? Then put on the shorts after? I’m no expert, but that might be what I’d do.

  • Carla February 26, 2010, 1:20 pm

    Hi Caitlin! I wore my sports bra under my bathing suit. That way, the only thing I had to do was add shorts after I got out of my wetsuit. I would practice biking/running in the bathing suit though to make sure there are no chaffing issues. I also did an olympic distance and had no problem with this combo. I just pulled on my shorts and jumped on the bike!! Good luck! (I’m going to try my hand at a 1/2 ironman this summer – eek!)

  • Britt @ Runnerbelle February 26, 2010, 1:22 pm

    I’d do the sports bra & bike shorts with LOTS of bodyglide…. or do the bathing suit bottom w/ sports bra, put shorts on over at transition.

    All this tri talk has motivated me to finally bite the bullet and do one. I’m going to sign up for a half iron in September and try to find a sprint or olympic one before than as a warm up.

  • Nikki T February 26, 2010, 1:24 pm

    I totally never thought of being a girl and doing a tri with so many outfit changes needed!! My Dad used to do tons of tris, but I guess as a male it’s a bit easier as you don’t have to cover up so many parts!!
    It seems like the best bet would be to wear the sports bra and bike shorts under the wetsuit, but I’m no speaking from experience…
    Good Luck with this situation and with the tri!!!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet February 26, 2010, 1:24 pm

    Yeah…I’m totally thinking there is no way that this can taste good either…but if you say so! No clue on the tri dilemma – sorry! I just know I wouldn’t want to be majorly chaffed. 🙂

  • Ellen February 26, 2010, 1:25 pm

    Hmm… quite the tri outfit problemo. I did a 2 piece tri-suit (no wetsuit) which was great. If I didn’t have that option, I think I’ll echo what #4 Meg already said… my vote goes to bathing suit bottoms and sports bra under the wetsuit. Then you can just pull on bike shorts and a top. I’d definitely wear sport bottoms though. If you don’t have em already, Speedo or Tyr may have mix/match options so you could buy just a bathing suit bottom.

  • Ashley L February 26, 2010, 1:26 pm

    Dogs technically don’t need to have their teeth professionally cleaned.

    I have a Collie and grew up with Shelties. Both breeds are notorious for having horrible teeth (overactive saliva glands). They never get their professionally cleaned. Every two weeks my Collie gets her teeth “polished” by me. She also gets hard bones on a daily basis. Milk bones as a treat.

    Vet’s just want your money!

    Vets just want your money!

  • Ashley L February 26, 2010, 1:27 pm

    Whoops ^^ Sorry bout the double sentence.

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) February 26, 2010, 1:27 pm

    good question! but i’d probably do the bra and shorts under the wetsuit. it doesn’t sound like there’s a perfect situation with any of the options…

    that’s scary to add the almond butter, but i might ball up and try it tonight!

  • Katie@ Two Lives, One Lifestyle February 26, 2010, 1:28 pm

    Just try out a few of the options to see what works for you! Riding my bike in a swimsuit caused huge wedgie issues when I tried it. It also rides up while running. I went with a sports bra and non-padded spandex shorts for the whole thing. After the swim, I dried off so fast on the bike that there was no lady-bit chaffing. After I swam, I added a dri-fit top since I didn’t want to ride and run in just spandex and sports bra.

  • Jenny February 26, 2010, 1:29 pm

    I can’t offer any advice about the tri, but I would definitely protect the lady bits and support the girls (I’ve heard too many horror stories about women who didn’t support while they were young…well, you can imagine) as best as you can. The string bikini bottom idea sounds great!

    I may take the marinara leap. After all, i’m doing the green smoothie thing.

    Hope the husband is doing well- his Boards are today, yes? Best of luck to him!

  • Caitlin @ Right Foot Forward February 26, 2010, 1:32 pm

    I was going to suggest what Meg did above about wearing a sports bra and swim bottoms. That way you’d be covered for the transition, and even if they are wet, it won’t be as soggy/wet as a full pair of shorts. I like Meg’s idea about being able to untie them, too!

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers February 26, 2010, 1:33 pm

    Haha dressing for a triathlon is so much more difficult than dressing for a run! Do you have a sports bikini? The tops are more like sports bras than one piece suits. You could either where that under the wetsuit, or even under your one piece. Then your stomach isn’t wet during the bike/run either. No matter what you wear, make sure the bottoms aren’t too tight- that’ll help with not having the seems cut into your bum on the bike 🙂 (I think tri shorts are supposed to dry faster than bike shorts but still have padding…but that involves more investment)

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat February 26, 2010, 1:35 pm

    Wow, nut butter in marinara sauce, I’m all over that! I’m glad Maggie is okay — I need to get my dog’s teeth cleaned too, hopefully next month 🙂

  • Matt February 26, 2010, 1:35 pm

    You are right about dogs being expensive! That is the reason I don’t have one!

  • LindsayRuns February 26, 2010, 1:36 pm

    I’m all about pro cleaning for the puppies. Mine had nasty tartar and gum problems… But cleanings changed it all! It’s really important for me to keep them up to date on everything. I just save a bit through the year, and do it all for one dog one month, another dog has their month. Keeps me sane!

  • Morgan February 26, 2010, 1:36 pm

    My number one concern would be your lady bits. If you have anything wet on your bottom, you’re likely to have a problem. I agree about a sports bikini. also, if you had someone to hold up a towel for you, or just wrap one around your waist, you can do a quick change right there and no one will know. Swimmers change all the time on pool decks, sometimes you just have to.

    • Emily Eats and Exercises February 26, 2010, 3:46 pm

      Usually there are strict rules about this – you should be careful – you don’t want to be disqualified!

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday February 26, 2010, 1:40 pm

    Rawhide really does wonders for dogs teeth. It keeps them clean without having to brush them.

  • Beth February 26, 2010, 1:40 pm

    I have a solution for maggie! My dog had horrible breath and very yellow teeth, so i went to the local doggie shop and talked up the owner. Low and behold i was introduced to this: http://www.petzlife.com/before_and_after.htm

    IT WORKS! It is all natural and not invasive on your beloved. Try this first!!! (no i don’t work for them, but i stand by the product)

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 1:43 pm

      wow!! that stuff looks awesome!

  • Lauren February 26, 2010, 1:41 pm

    I have no tips, but I am very interested in what other people say. The transitions are what scare me the most about triathlons.

    I hope the teeth cleaning goes well! Both of my cats need to get their teeth cleaned but I keep putting it off because I don’t want them to go under, and I don’t have the cash.

  • jen trinque February 26, 2010, 1:41 pm

    I have no comments on the clothing for your tri issue, other to say that you saying “lady bits” cracks me up, but I do have something to say about the teeth cleaning! I finally had my cat’s teeth cleaned about 6 weeks ago and I was so flippin’ nervous that I was crying on the way to the vet. She was completely and utterly fine and I’m so, so, so glad I got her teeth done, because she feels much better (she had issues).

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 1:43 pm

      whew! thanks!

  • Marie February 26, 2010, 1:41 pm

    Caitlin, I have done a bunch of sprint tri’s, an olympic and a a half iron. I have always just worn my bike shorts (the least padded ones I have) and a sports bra under my wet suit. I throw on a dry jersey and am good to go. My only complaint is that I have been cold once or twice during the first part of the bike (I live way north of you), but everything dries quickly…and, I have never had any chafing from the wet clothes 🙂

    Let me know if I can answer any questions about your tri!!

    • Marie February 26, 2010, 1:42 pm

      PS. I have always done the run in my bike shorts as well…

      • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 1:43 pm

        oh ok! good to know chafing isnt an issue!

        congrats on your half iron – muy impressive.

  • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 1:42 pm

    thanks 🙂 I appreciate that!

  • Jen February 26, 2010, 1:43 pm

    Caitlin – keep in mind that the more clothing you have on, the more chafing you’ll have. I would not wear a swimsuit for the tri – it rubs in the leg creases. I think the best bet is the bike shorts and then sports bra or dri-fit tank top for the top. Depending on how thick the bike shorts are – they’ll dry fairly quickly once you get on the bike. It all kinda depends on how thick that pad is in your bike shorts. Can you run 5-6 miles in them?

    Also…I’m sure your Tri-friends will tell you this but be careful with your timing chip. When you strip off your wetsuit, you don’t want to lose the chip. I’m assuming you’ll be using a timing chip that fits around your ankle.

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 1:44 pm

      i will definitely make sure i have the chippie still! thanks for the tip!

      i can run 5 miles in them… they arent comfortable, but they aren’t horrible.

  • Kelly February 26, 2010, 1:43 pm

    I would do the bathing suit under wet suit, then put on bike shorts, sports bra over bathing suit. Then you can prob just run in your bike shorts. Hope that made sense!

  • Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com February 26, 2010, 1:44 pm

    Gosh I don’t even want to try advising you on what to wear for the triathlon…I’m hopeless with sports clothes!
    LOVE that sauce idea! I need to be more creative with my PB, that’s the perfect place to start 🙂

  • Emily February 26, 2010, 1:45 pm

    Caitlin, I just had my dog’s teeth cleaned a week ago today and he is the BIGGEST drama king..ever. When I picked him up you would have never thought he had just been put under anesthesia! And his breath is 100 times better!! Like you, I was hesistant about getting it done because it cost me about $300 but it is worth every penny!

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 1:46 pm

      maggie’s breath smells like something is rotting in her stomach… i hope it helps!

      • Sarah February 26, 2010, 3:49 pm

        My dog’s breath has started smelling like she has been eating poo (and I know she hasn’t). She is only 3 1/2 so I decided I’d try to start brushing her teeth. Peanut butter flavored toothpaste, yum! Taking it slow but she likes the little finger tooth brush so far.

        Does your dog chew rawhides? Mine used to but they upset her stomach so she stopped and that’s when the teeth problems began.

  • Madeline @ greensandjeans February 26, 2010, 1:46 pm

    I would NOT do shorts over swimsuit (helllllo chaffage!) honestly, I would bite the bullet and buy tri shorts. You can find a pair for around $40 and just wear your sports bra with them!

  • Amy February 26, 2010, 1:48 pm

    Don’t wear the bathing suit! Go with either your least-padded bike shorts or go out and buy yourself a pair of tri shorts. You can get them online for about $30 if you take a couple minutes to do some searching and hopefully that price won’t break the bank. They’ll dry within minutes on the bike. I’d wear everything you’re going to wear on the bike/run portion (except shoes, of course) under your wetsuit. That way all you have to do in transition is take off the wetsuit and put on the shoes.

  • Carrie C. in VA February 26, 2010, 1:48 pm

    If you can’t afford tri gear to wear under, then definitely go with the sports bra/bike short option. Bathing suit might chafe and you don’t want to change because your time in transition counts too. (Tri bike shorts have a less bulky padding. I always wore Descente tri bike shorts and a Tyr tank top under my wetsuit) Hopefully your bike shorts have a not-too-bulky padding. Don’t worry about it being wet and chafing you on the bike, sitting on the seat squeezes the excess water out, and you stay about as wet down there as you would have if you had just gone on a super-sweaty bike ride. Good luck and HAVE FUNNNNN!

  • Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) February 26, 2010, 1:49 pm

    Seems like a lose lose for those lady bits? Too bad we cant create a contraption that squirts out powder down there along your bike ride.

  • J February 26, 2010, 1:54 pm

    I do the bathing suit triathlon type option….much much much more support on top then an normal bathing suit (one or two piece)….yes, you’ll have to put on bike shorts/tri shorts over the suit…but at least initially will be dry. Just grab some glide for the chafing potential…glide yourself up as much as possible and it shouldn’t be a problem. Good luck!

  • RhodeyGirl February 26, 2010, 2:00 pm

    Please share the final decision when you have it, because I don’t know if we can even rent or buy wetsuits. I was thinking of asking a supporter (one of our friends) to hold up a towel, pulling down my swimsuit and throwing a sports bra on? I don’t care so much about transition time as I do about being comfy. We are doing it solely for fun.

  • Rae February 26, 2010, 2:00 pm

    Hi Caitlin!

    I also would recommend wearing your sports bra and bike shorts under th wetsuit, its what I always do…they will dry about 5 minutes into the bike! As far as chafing, you can buy something called body glide for about 5 bucks and I smear it by where my sports bra rubs and um, lady bits 😛 You cant even tell its there and NO chafing! (You can also use petroleum jelly in a pinch). I would recommend using it on your neck too in the back by your wetsuit, cause sometimes that chafes!

  • kim February 26, 2010, 2:00 pm

    When I did my first triathlon I had a lot of the same concerns. I signed up for Team Javelin at the recommendation of a tri friend. They accept everyone on their team (pretty much)and part of membership is a $25 trisuit. I don’t know if they are still accepting applications, but if they are, it could be a good solution. Another option is to go on ebay. I got some great IRONMAN brand tri gear for a quarter of retail price.

    Good Luck!!

  • steph February 26, 2010, 2:04 pm

    It’s good to get your dogs’ teeth cleaned every now and then..my dog went too long without a cleaning and the build up caused an infection (if left untreated can be very harmful). She had to get the tooth pulled but is fine now.

  • Steph February 26, 2010, 2:04 pm

    My dog got her teeth cleaned about 4 months ago and she was SO mad at me for it. She wouldn’t allow me to go anywhere near her teeth for a good week and barely ate her food.
    Her teeth looked amazing, but I don’t think I am going to do it anymore because she was obviously in so much pain :\
    Though I do think its a good thing to do at least once.
    Good luck Maggie!

  • Kara (@ Kara's Marathon) February 26, 2010, 2:08 pm

    I have no clue about the triathlon wear, but it looks like you got some awesome advice from others! I’d just suggest trying out a few options before the race and see what feels best for you and the lady bits.

    Oh, and side note about the doggie teeth cleaning: make sure the vet doesn’t release Maggie until the anesthesia has totally worn off. We went to one vet and he sent Barkley home while he was still a little woozy; since the husband and I both work we had to drop him off at home alone, still dazed, and it was really nerve-wracking, not to mention a bad call medically! Thankfully we found a more responsible vet for our pup.

  • Theresa February 26, 2010, 2:13 pm

    Glad you posted on this – I have been struggling with the same issue! I think I’m going with sports bra and bike shorts under my wetsuit. Then pull another sports bra on top after the bike (I’ve gotta wear 2 when I run).

  • caronae February 26, 2010, 2:17 pm

    HEAB just posted a marinara with nuttzo recipe today!

  • Jocelyn February 26, 2010, 2:20 pm

    Ah Nut Butter on pasta I’m impressed you tried and it it turned out well!!

    xo

    Jocelyn

  • Karen w February 26, 2010, 2:25 pm

    Before I had a tri suit, I would wear a sports bra and swimsuit under the wetsuit. Either the swim bottoms or one piece works. When you get to t1 just toss on your bike shorts and shirt and you are good to go!

  • Jennifer @ His N' Her Health February 26, 2010, 2:32 pm

    Have you tried those dog treats that “brush” dog’s teeth? I think they are called greenies and they are kinda shaped like a toothbrush. We give those to our pups a few times a month and their teeth are pearly white! People actually have stopped to ask us how we keep their teeth so clean.

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 2:35 pm

      Maggie won’t eat them! I dunno why!

  • M February 26, 2010, 2:34 pm

    I wore Tri shorts and a quick-dry sports bra under my wetsuit. After the swim, I threw on a singlet, socks, and my helmet (which was waiting my bike handle with my sunglasses in it so I wouldn’t have to fumble around looking for them) and ran out of the transition area. My shoes were preclipped into the pedals, so after the running start, I hopped onto my bike and slowly worked my feet into the shoes and strapped in. The tri shorts are great – they dries very quickly – no chafing and have padding in them (less padding than in normal cycle shorts, but enough)

  • Lauren L. February 26, 2010, 2:40 pm

    Sorry, no triathlon knowledge to share with you, but I’m sure you’ll do great. I just saw this contest online and thought of you and Operation Beautiful – you should totally enter:

    http://www.covergirl.com/stand-up-for-beauty/video-contest/

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 2:41 pm

      thank you!

  • Anne February 26, 2010, 2:56 pm

    i think i might buy tri shorts or wear running shorts (spandexy) under bike short with a sports bra under the wet suit and just shed layers as i go. i’m definitely looking forward to hearing why you do and advice–ill need it!

  • Caroline February 26, 2010, 2:59 pm

    I’ve never done a tri before, but this girl’s amazing: frayedlaces.blogspot.com and I’m sure you could email her for tips! frayedlaces@gmail

  • Angela @ A Healthy Fit February 26, 2010, 3:03 pm

    I’ve just worn a bathing suit and have then put running shorts on after the swim for 2 of my tri’s when I didn’t have proper gear. My other tri didn’t require a wetsuit, so I wore tri shorts (they are made to swim in and don’t have butt padding) and a tri top. It has a built in sports bra in it. I would suggest looking into something like that. The brand of shorts I have are Desoto’s.

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) February 26, 2010, 3:16 pm

    I need to get Peanut’s teeth cleaned but don’t want to spend the money. We are supposed to start brushing their teeth with bacon flavored dog toothpaste to help.

  • Courtney February 26, 2010, 3:16 pm

    Our dogs don’t like greenies either. But we feed them hard food and that keeps their teeth clean. They get one milkbone a day as a treat and rawhide bones to chew and that helps too. But, I found some Paul Mitchell (yes, the hair care company) ear wipes and teeth wipes and although I thought they were somewhat expensive (I don’t even use Paul Mitchell for myself!!) but I had a gift card. LOVE. The ear wipes are AWESOME for our floppy golden retriever ears and so easy to wipe off their teeth with the teeth wipes.
    As for the tri outfit…I did my first tri with NO wetsuit. Just jumped right in with my swimsuit! It was my first and wasn’t sure if it would be my last so didn’t want to invest anymore money. Jumped out and pulled on capri workout pants and a sleeveless shirt and went. I thought my girls were too big to run without a sports bra, but my speedo suit is tight enough. I practiced running in my suit a few times too to make sure it didn’t chafe/ride up.
    Sorry for the loooong response!!!
    Courtney
    adventures in tri-ing

  • devon February 26, 2010, 3:30 pm

    Please say you at least get your dogs checked for heartworms and give them heartworm prevention medication…

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg February 26, 2010, 3:33 pm

    You can make a delicious mock cream sauce with cashews!

    I hate spending money at the vet, too…but you do what you have to do, right?

  • Emily Eats and Exercises February 26, 2010, 3:49 pm

    I think you’ve already gotten lots of advice, but I will agree with the sports bra and lightly padded shorts option. They’ll dry much faster than you think. Also, I recommend a race belt with your number. You can just clip it on after you remove your wetsuit. Alternatively you can pin it to a tank you will put on after the swim.

  • Alison February 26, 2010, 3:53 pm

    My Amber (my furbaby of 6 years) started acting somber and laying around a lot – not chewing her toys. I took her to the vet and after all kinds of tests they couldn’t figure out what was wrong but talked me into the teeth cleaning. Turns out she has a broken tooth and after all the tests and bloodwork – it was the cleaning that completely changed her. She’s back to normal now and I’m so happy:-) The experience made me realize that there is no such thing as a quick fix or a low maintanence dog – you just have to bite the bullet and pay for the preventative care!

  • Kelly February 26, 2010, 3:56 pm

    I have zero experience in this area (I’m just starting the whole becoming a runner process), but a few of these ideas sound really reasonable. Try taking a few of them for a spin beforehand because chafing in a triathlon sounds miserable and you don’t know how it will effect your time.

    Good luck!

  • Carolina John February 26, 2010, 3:56 pm

    one piece tri suits are awesome, i have a couple. and with a popular blog, you might be able to get someone to send you free suits (like i got) if you will review their performance on here and help them sell.

    wetsuits are supposed to keep you pretty dry on the inside. wear the bike shorts and sports bra under the wetsuit and you will not be wet for the bike leg. unless you piss yourself on the bike as so many of us do. it will be fine.

    my goal this summer is to look good running a sprint tri without a shirt on at all for all 3 sports. should be fun. but i wear tri shorts under a wetsuit or a full one piece tri suit.

  • Ally February 26, 2010, 4:09 pm

    When I did my tri ia threw on a sports bra, shorts and a top over my swimsuit but, I did a sprint, so, the distances were shorter and I wasn’t too worried about chafing.

  • stephanie February 26, 2010, 4:12 pm

    I wore my tri shorts and a sports bra under my wet suit and I guess I threw my jersey on in the transition area….it was such a blur I don’t remember doing that part! I didn’t feel terribly “soggy” on the bike from my shorts either. BUT I did take off running after the bike portion with my helmet still ON and realized as I was exiting the T2 area. Yeah, felt like a moron, but I was just so darn excited! I predict you’re going to fall in love with Tri’s 🙂

  • Catherine February 26, 2010, 4:18 pm

    I’ve only done one mini tri, but I just wore a speedo 2-piece with bikini bottoms and used that as my sports bra since they’re super tight and supportive (I have D’s so I know about needing support). I also pulled on my bike shorts over my swim bottoms and had no problemos. Good luck!

  • mackattack February 26, 2010, 4:22 pm

    A lot of female triathletes wear a bathing suit with a sports bra underneath and put bike shorts on top of the bathing suit. There are also tri suits with less padding that dry faster, but that can be expensive. Best advice is to layer on the body glide before you put on the wetsuit (don’t forget your ankles and underneath the chip strap.)

  • Amy February 26, 2010, 4:24 pm

    Hey Caitlin – when I did my tri, I swam in my padded bike shorts and top, then threw my shoes on and got on the bike. by the time i was done with the bike portion, i was pretty much dry. i would definitely do the race with the bike shorts underneath the wet suit.

  • Tara February 26, 2010, 4:29 pm

    I just googled ‘trisuit’ since I never knew they existed until just now, and this company appears to be selling them on clearance for $40! So maybe that could work for ya 🙂 http://www.jamtrisuits.com/jam_trisuits.htm

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 5:59 pm

      thank you!!:)

  • Madison February 26, 2010, 4:45 pm

    I don’t know if this has already been mentioned or not. The other thing is that these people may not operate in your part of the country but I get my dog’s teeth cleaned every 6 months with a company called Gentle Dental. They normally come to my local pet store and clean there. The good thing is that they don’t have to put your dog under and my dog always come out with the cleanest teeth. It only takes 30 minutes. It isn’t cheap but I don’t want my dog to lose his teeth. I also use this enzyme spray that the cleaner lady gave me to use in between cleaning. I think someone mentioned it in one of the above comments. It works nice as I am not the best when it comes to brushing my dog’s teeth. I try!

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 5:59 pm

      thanks for this tip! how much does it cost?

      • Madison February 26, 2010, 6:23 pm

        It is $95 per cleaning and you only have to do it twice a year so it is not so bad if you think of it that way.

  • Nicole, RD February 26, 2010, 4:49 pm

    I agree with the sports bra and lightly padded shorts.

    Poor Maggie! Vet trips are SO expensive. We seriously toyed with the idea of pet insurance but ultimately decided against it. Pets are so spendy!!

  • Megan @ Healthy Hoggin' February 26, 2010, 4:58 pm

    Wow! That’s a lot to think about for the triathlon! I’m no help, because they intimidate me too much to try one!

    I’m of the same philosophy with doggie stuff. My dog got her teeth cleaned once, and she needs it again, but it was SO expensive! I think that’s going to have to wait for a while…

    Good luck with everything!

  • Angie (Losing It and Loving It) February 26, 2010, 5:02 pm

    Hugs to Maggie! Sorry to hear she’s sick.

    The AB mixed with marinara sounds interesting. Guess you don’t know until you try!

  • Shannon February 26, 2010, 5:04 pm

    tri shorts have little padding, enough to quick dry and provide some comfort for a short ride. that might be your best bet. i don’t think you’ll have too much of an issue with a sports bra under a suit, then throwing shorts on top, but why not try a swim in the bike shorts to see how long they take to dry off on a bike ride? might be too soon for that… but your ride will be long enough i think they won’t be soggy for the run 😉

    i am a fan of discount sites for tri apparel. i don’t need to use this season’s technology! (sports basement, sierra trading post are some of my go-to’s)

  • julie February 26, 2010, 5:12 pm

    I wear a sports bra and either my nike running shorts (which dry very quickly) or tri shorts under my wetsuit. I never have a problem with chafing. I throw a singlet on before I hop on the bike and it’s easy and fast.

  • stephanie February 26, 2010, 5:17 pm

    I wear a sports bra under my suit. Then throw on some bike shorts when I get out of the water. You are wet for a bit but you dry out a lot on the bike.

  • Sarah February 26, 2010, 5:22 pm

    I wear a sports bra and running shorts with built-in bike shorts under my suit. It works out great! Everything gets dry on the bike and is good to go for the run. I have done several tris this way because I have a long list of gear to buy before I get to a trisuit!

  • Katharine February 26, 2010, 5:24 pm

    Glad Maggie’s doing okay!

  • Liz February 26, 2010, 5:30 pm

    My first tri I wore a sports bra, a surfer shirt (rashguard) and bathing suit bottoms for the swim, then I threw on shorts for the bike and run over my bottoms!

  • Amber@minimalistdiaries February 26, 2010, 5:46 pm

    My dog is 5 and has awesome teeth – no idea how that happened since he has never gotten them professionally cleaned. I think it may be all the water bottles he likes to chew on – it acts like floss! Every once in awhile I use this dog toothpaste that tastes like chicken and a doggie toothbrush you put on your finger to scrub with. He loves it!

  • Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly February 26, 2010, 5:52 pm

    When I did mine I wore tri-shorts and a sports bar for the entire thing…swim included. That way my transitions were quick!

  • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 6:00 pm

    haha sorry dad but im still probably not vaccinating the HTP Babies

    • Kate February 27, 2010, 6:48 pm

      What kind of “clinical evidence” have these doctors seen?

      • caitlin February 27, 2010, 7:34 pm

        When I say clinical experience, I’m just saying that in their clinical experience at their own offices, they see a lot of children whose parents believe there is a link. That’s all. There is NO hard statistical evidence there is a link, I totally understand that.

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) February 26, 2010, 6:04 pm

    I trusted you about the spinach in smoothies, and you didn’t let me down 🙂 I will trust you on this!!

  • Monica @ Musings of the Granola Girl February 26, 2010, 6:23 pm

    I would wear a sports bar underneath, but I’ve never done a triathalon before so that’s just a somewhat educated guess!

    Whoa, that vegan marinara sauce sounds/looks/probably is delicious, MUST try soon!

  • Nutritious Foodie February 26, 2010, 6:46 pm

    I brush my dogs teeth this way we don’t have to do a cleaning as often. I don’t like putting her under so I sacrifice a couple minutes a night and brush her teeth… she is a good girl and just sits there and lets me do it.

    I never thought of the problems of changing for different portions of the tri.

  • Jennifer February 26, 2010, 7:23 pm

    Hi! I have a suggestion for the furbabies. I have one of my own and couldnt afford the vet myself. So we signed him up for a wellness plan at Banfield (petsmart) and it is 20 bucks a month free vet visits and shots, and you get a certain percentage off procedures and perscriptons.. I hope this helps

  • AM February 26, 2010, 7:24 pm

    Heh, i didn’t know your parents read your blog!

    • Caitlin February 26, 2010, 7:30 pm

      they both love to read and comment… HTP Dad and Joy 🙂

  • Christine February 26, 2010, 8:47 pm

    That sauce sounds wickedly good. I’m so going to try it with maybe a spoonful of Madras paste for an Indian twist.

  • K February 26, 2010, 9:24 pm

    Don’t worry too much about Maggie and her teeth cleaning – I worked at a yet for 3 years, it’s no big deal. It is a quick procedure and is really good for them, more people should get it done for their pets. Also, I know you said you don’t trim her nails much, but you could ask the vet if they could do Maggie’s nails while she is asleep so she doesn’t know it and you don’t have to be there : )

  • Julie February 27, 2010, 8:24 am

    I’m sure most ideas would work they key…try it before the tri! See if you can actually put on those bike shorts while wet in T1.

  • caitlin February 27, 2010, 12:34 pm

    thanks for all this info 🙂 i promise to think about it.

    • Nicole February 27, 2010, 1:29 pm

      Well that’s all I ask 🙂

  • Kayla@Wholesome February 27, 2010, 4:19 pm

    #1) I will definitely have to try this marinara creation. Everything I’ve tried of yours has been delicious, so I’m willin’ to give ‘er a whirl!

    #2) If I were in your triathlon sitch, I think the best option seems to be wearing a sports bra and bike shorts under your wetsuit, with the thinner bike shorts. I think the sore butt would heal faster than the chaffed lady parts…but I dunno!!

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