Kayenne

Small Fit

One of the most important components of a swimmer's kit and sometimes the most uncomfortable is her goggles. As an experienced athlete I can tell you, if you aren't comfortable and your focus is on your equipment rather than on your training or race, your performance will suffer.

I've been fortunate to work with Aqua Sphere for over a year now and after using their products extensively I can say they truly excel at making equipment comfortable without sacrificing its effectiveness in the water. A great example of this, and my favorite goggle ever made, is the Kayenne. It's the perfect blend of form, function and fit. They look great, work great and most important feel great.

I'm a firm believer of feeling how you look and swimming how you feel so the fact that these will make even the kindest face look unbreakably determined is a major bonus.

Kitting Up

Aside from the Keyenne's aesthetics, probably the most innovative part of the goggle's design is the curved lens. It's unique in that it allows for an extremely low frontal profile and has a 180˚ field of view which is helpful in keeping an eye on the competition, especially for a breaststroker who doesn't turn her head.

The Kayenne comes in two sizes, normal and small fit, the latter being my choice. Fitment really depends on a few factors like head size, eye socket size and distance from one eye to the other. The straps are easily adjustable via quick release buttons on each side and while the bridge is not adjustable, each eyepiece has its own skirt very similar to a dive mask. They end up being much more forgiving to different face shapes and sizes than your standard goggle.

Road Trippin'

California Moon Through My Windshield

Never doubt the power of stepping away to clear your head. Most of the time when I'm training if the going gets tough I dig in and buckle down but every once and a while I retreat so I can come back to the pool with a clear head and more focused energy than I had before I left. I'm not saying it's a good idea to take a week off and head for Tahiti but a short respite will often do little harm and much good.

One of my favorite ways to do this is by car. In the day of the jetset crowd there's something really fun about stuffing a few necessities into a small bag, jumping into ye ol' automobile with friends or loved ones and hitting the great wide open road. It's fairly inexpensive compared to flying, the conversations are usually great, the silent moments give time for contemplation of things lost in the daily grind and always at some point something makes someone laugh hard. 

The Biggest Flag I've Ever Seen

Do choose your travel partners wisely especially on longer journeys as close quarters tend to amplify moods and remember there's safety in numbers but there's no rule that says you can't go it alone. For extra adventure bring the kids. Travelling with a child requires stopping out of necessity frequently at locations you normally might not.  I've ended up visiting some very interesting places this way, some I'd driven blindly by a thousand times.

If you're hesitant to fly by the seat of your pants, take AAA's TripTik app with and know that you have the guidance of the road trip masters in your pocket.