I am a technology IDIOT

I am not going to mince words here folks. I am a dolting idiot when it comes to trying to learn how to use new technology. I am a smart person, but I always had to work hard in school for my grades. I am a visual and a tactile-kinestetic learner. Trying to "read the manual" only gets me into deep frustration. My kid knows how to work my iPhone better than I do. It took me six months to figure out how to download songs on my iPod and how to take off the theme music from Alfred Hitchcock movies that my husband loaded on there.

So here is my latest embarrassment. I have this wonderful SRM power meter on my bike and I have had it for about a year now. In that year, I have had to send it back in because the battery in the unit went out and I could not get anything on the display. It took me 3 months to figure out what had happened because I was not asking for help and trying to figure it out on my own. I though that I had messed it all up when I crashed on my bike in Switzerland before the 70.3 race. Well, we got that issue worked out but lately when I have been riding I had no speed numbers showing up and the display would keep turning off. It was getting annoying. So, I took it to the shop this week. My bike guys were happy to see me in the shop and when I told them what was up the first statement was, "That's cuz your magnet is gone. Are these different wheels? I don't remember these wheels." DOH!!! I had my Mavic Kysirum "training" wheels on rather than my Zipp race wheels. And yes, the magnet is on the race wheels. Johnny spouts off, "Good going Coach!" I felt like a huge loser. Then Kevin threw in, "That will be $50 for parts and labor." as he put another magnet on my front wheel.

I knew that they were all kidding with me but I felt like an IDIOT! I picked up what was left of my pride that was smashed all over the floor and made small talk until someone I knew came in the shop door and needed my help on a jacked up calf muscle.

Now I am not done with proving how faced with technology, I become a deer in the headlights. My coach has been after me to send him all of these great running and biking files that are from my workouts and races. Well, I don't know how to do it. He tells me that I can post them right to Training Peaks. I still cannot figure it out.

Here is my first problem. I have a Polar RS400 HR monitor and I have had it for 13 months now. I have NEVER been able to figure out the software to be able to use the little UBS stick and download my workouts. I have tried many times loading the software. The UBS stick starts flashing and I set my watch to "Connect".....nothing. I have never been able to make the connection between the watch and the UBS stick. So while I was at the expo for the 1/2 marathon a few weeks ago, I talked to the Polar rep and he looked at my watch and he tried to download the info off of my watch onto his lap top and it worked. Jeeze. Again I look like a dumb bunny who does not know how to handle technology. He suggested that I contact the Polar IM chat line to get real time help with my software or the USB stick. I have not done that only because I am fearful that I will not be able to effectively communicate to the person in cyber-space what I am doing and what is wrong. I really need someone (other than my husband because he has tried and not been successful) at helping me through this problem by being in the room with me and walking me through it seeing the things that I am seeing on the computer screen and seeing the problems that I am facing.

So for now, my watch memory is full and I have repeatedly deleted workouts I really don't need to have room for new ones as I try to save the more valuable race data to be able to upload it one day and look at it. It is all very frustrating.

In other news, the rain finally ended and yesterday in Texas it was beautiful. Cold and windy, but beautiful. We went out and did a 25 mile ride through the hills and the bluebonnets with a short run tacked on and had a great time. I am very proud of my TNT gang. For many of them, this was their longest bike ride ever. Only two people got lost and they were just up the road at a diner where we all retreated to for a late breakfast.

Next week is the Lone Star Triathlon Weekend!!! I have the majority of my TEAM doing the sprint race on Saturday. We are renting a beach house and going to have a BBQ in the afternoon. On Sunday I will be out on the 1/2 IM bike course for the 1/2 and 1/4 TEAM as they tackle RACE DAY. I'm the Support and Gear tossed on the side of the road gal. I cannot help them in case of a flat, but I can toss a spare tube or a CO2 down onto the ground and exclaim, "Hey, is that a fresh tube lying on the ground?" I will mainly be support with my cowbell and I will have my phone in case of bad troubles and to let Coach Luke and Coach Dan know when everyone makes it to the turn-around.

One last movie review, I took the kid to see Monsters vs. Aliens yesterday. It was ok. Seth Rogan's character Bob the blob was the funniest part. Wait until it comes out on DVD. I took a little nap at a high point in the movie when the aliens are destroying San Francisco. Hey, I was up early for a brick workout. Give me a break!

Ok, I will have more exciting stuff this week. My TEAM gets a surprise and I should have some cool stuff to blog about.

Later Gators,

Liz