Branding and my M Dot Tattoo

       It's been a few weeks since finishing Ironman Texas, and it's taken that long to feel fully recovered, both physically and mentally!
      Physically, recovery wasn't as bad as I expected. When you walk most of a marathon (thanks, gargantuan blisters!) your legs tend to benefit. After the race, I rested for a few days, then did a short easy bike ride, followed by a longer 40 mile ride that Saturday. Bryce and I took our time, stopped for a snack at the Andice General Store (top 5 grilled cheese sandwiches in the country, in my opinion!) and even got down in the San Gabriel river to cool off. What're tri kits good for if you can't go on random swims in them?

We took a dip in the river to cool off!

      Although the high of being an Ironman never really wears off, it has finally sunk in as a new part of my reality. I get a little embarrassed when well-meaning friends ask me to "tell people what you did!" because I don't want to be that stereotypical finisher who lets everyone know what they did. Most of the time, those that I'm telling have no idea what I'm talking about, so I sound like a serious braggart. I'd rather let people just ask if they're curious, but it does make me feel good to have so many friends who are proud enough to shout it from the rooftops, even if I don't.

I did get this cute key chain to replace my marathon one!

And this is definitely hanging in my office! I couldn't bare to just add it to the pile of other medals on my wall at home! 

     My desire to not constantly talk about it probably directly contradicts my physical representations to the world around me though, especially since I finally got my wrist tattoo finished! 

    If you want to read a debate that has a lot of varied feelings behind it, join a conversation about Ironman Tattoos. Wow. Here are my thoughts on the basic arguments against tattoos AND more specifically, Ironman tattoos. 

1. Tattoos are tacky: Yea, so are your platform flip flops and giant blingy crosses on every part of your outfit. But hey, if it makes you happy, then you do you! And let me do me with the art I choose to put on my body. Simple as that.

2. Tattoos hurt your job chances: OK, yes. If I tattooed my neck I'd have a hell of a time getting a job as a bank teller. You should always carefully consider the placement of any body art you want. I work in non-profit development, so although I'm in social work, I do acknowledge that I interact with wealthy donors who perceive my company though me. A neck tat would't work for me, but it'd be fine for other lines of work. Most places can be covered easily with clothes. I am a grown woman who understands her desired career direction and know perfectly well that a visible tattoo will not (and HAS NOT) effected me for the past two jobs I've gotten. Be smart, think it through, and be honest with yourself about the work culture of your industry.

3. Tattoos are just a decision you'll regret when you're old: My rule is when I think of a piece I want (I have two, two more slated for the coming months) I sit on it for a year. If I still want it, I get it. I broke this rule when I got the Half IM tattoo on my wrist, and still don't regret it. I've never understood the "when you're older" argument- when I'm old, wrinkly, and retired, WHY would I suddenly care differently about what I look like? All of the seniors I know are certainly the opposite- they couldn't care less! If I'm still able to rock a bikini at 65, you'd better believe I will and my tattoo will still be a piece of art I love. Got something to say about it to 65 year old me? See if I care!

4. Ironman is a logo/brand, why advertise for them?: Ah, here we go: the first argument that I think should make you stop and think a bit. Yes, Ironman (with a big "I") is a brand name, owned by the World Triathlon Corporation, an organization that, for many reasons, kind of sucks. When it came to picking my design, I did stop and consider if I wanted the logo or something else. However, my idea was to get half of something (representing half of the distance done with my 70.3) and then complete it once I reached my ultimate goal. Therefore, numbers wouldn't work, they'd just have to be crossed out or covered up. The best I could come up with for something I truly wanted that would keep me motivated was what I got: Half of the M-Dot, to be completed as a full M-Dot once I covered those 140.6 miles.

I placed it on my right wrist on the inside so I could see it when I swam, biked, and ran during training. It was uneven from being incomplete, which drove Type-A me insane, providing further motivation. Now that it's done, it's there on the inside of my arm whenever I want to see it.

It's an M Dot. But it's not an advertisement for WTC.

To me and many others, an M Dot is an eponym for "full distance triathlon finisher." Just as you don't always mean "Asprin" when you say you need an asprin, or "Band-Aid" when you need to cover your boo-boo, you don't always mean "WTC Ironman-branded race." when you say you did an ironman. 

People don't look at it when it's placed on someone's car, body, or gear and think "Oh, that person spent $700 to enter a WTC race and supports their brand." They think, "That person finished a 140.6 mile triathlon" There is the Ironman with a big I that is trademarked for many reasons, but there is still ironman with a little i. I'm an Ironman because I happened to complete my race at a course put on my the WTC, but I am also an ironman for doing those 140.6 miles without quitting. 

Triathletes are Type A and frankly, can be kind of elitist, so the animosity toward mixing the big I and little i is annoying, but I get it. That doesn't change my mind, though.

I wanted a succinct, symbolic, clear way to express my accomplishment to myself and those that notice my tattoo, and this conveys my message clearly. It's a blurry line between corporate logo and symbolism, but it's one that I accepted because of what it means to ME. What it means to those who see it is up to them, but I don't regret it for a second.

Is an M-Dot race worth the money and moral quandaries? It's up to you! I chose IMTX because of its proximity to my family and friends. I'm choosing Ironman Boulder next year because of its proximity to my girlfriend who wants to do her first 140.6. Both of these races will be cheap to travel to and feature exciting courses I couldn't and can't wait to experience. 

For a great article on laying out whether or not an M-Dot "branded" race is for you, check out DC Rainmaker. I have done a non-branded 70.3 that was an excellent race ran by a great company that had good swag, great food, and awesome support. I'm most certainly not brand loyal, I just know what that M with a Dot over it represents, and wanted that where I could see it forever. If you complete a 140.6-mile triathlon, it doesn't matter where your entry fee went, you're an ironman and can convey that how you choose. (You just won't hear Mike Reilly say it!)

The original tat next to my now completed one. Love it!

TL:DR? Bottom line- STFU about any tattoos unless they're on your body. Then rock them or don't- your body is yours! 

Ironman Texas Training (or, 20 weeks until my birthday!)

        Today began day 1 of week 1 of my training for my very first full 140.6 mile triathlon, Ironman Texas 2015. The race happens to fall on my birthday this year, so there was no way I wasn't making it my first one!

      Training for a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run, as you can imagine, takes a lot of time and dedication. Thankfully, with no kids and a lot of money invested in to this sport already, I have both!
    
       Triathletes can be slight gluttons for both punishment and data overload. There are those who train with heart rate, power, speed, cadence, turnover, and any number of other track-able, recordable data they pick through with fine-toothed combs to glean absolutely every bit of information they possibly can out of it. That works for many people. It doesn't, however, work for me. I like to stick to the basics and gauge improvement based on simpler metrics such as better overall pacing, increased speed and improved recovery based on how I feel. (I do have a heart-rate monitor for indoor bike workouts so I get "credit" for it and can monitor my zones/effort since my trainer is cheap.)

     Enter the Super-Simple Ironman Training Plan. This plan, available free online by Matt Fitzgerald, is purposefully simple and easy to follow. It is 6 days a week, including 3 swims, 3 bikes, and 3 runs a week. The workouts vary in format- interval, tempo, and endurance workouts are mixed throughout. However, an athlete doesn't need the latest and greatest watch (I'll take a 920xt if anyone wants to give me a birthday present, though!) in order to complete the workouts.

Example page- click the link for the full plan!

     I started my plan today! Since it's New Year's Eve this week, I moved a workout to my normal "rest day" and will have to shift things a bit, but again, that's the benefit of using a simple plan. I have a solid base built up from last season, so these first few weeks are lower than what I typically would do.

Marked on the calendar- it's official!

      Despite this, I'm savoring it! I am adjusting to waking up early in the morning to get things done so I'm not whizzing away on the trainer while Bryce is trying to watch TV, or so we can make and eat dinner together in the evenings. I like sleeping in, but I also really like being done when I'm done at work for the day.

        I am getting up at 6am (not too bad!) and doing bikes and runs at home, and swims at Barton Springs.

Not too shabby for a free pool, right? :)

      The Springs aren't that much further to drive from where I work. They're free during the winter and open at 5am, which is perfect. Swimming there is popular with triathletes, because although it's a structured pool with no boats, it's similar to open water since it is a natural spring without lane ropes. Bonus- it's 68 degrees year-round, so swim training for free in the winter is possible without a wetsuit. (I won't lie, I will probably still wear mine. I hate cold water!) Unfortunately, it is just not logistically feasible to make it here 3x a week, so some yardage is just going to have to be sacrificed. However, I am a confident swimmer and am not worried about completion, but rather just concerned with maintaining swim fitness and familiarity in the water. Whenever I can, I also plan on taking Bryce with me to Lake Travis and having him follow me in a kayak while I swim 2 miles. Although this isn't perfectly ideal as far as overall training bulk, I think it suits my needs and current abilities just fine. I may not be the first one out of the water, but I'll be on track to finish in a time I'm happy with and still have gas for the bike and run.

      Training on the bike trainer is pretty boring, but I've got TV shows saved up. I'm considering renting a full season of something from the library so I have something to look forward to and pass the time with. It's tedious to drag my bike and trainer from the office to the living room for TV as well, so hopefully this week I will have a small TV my bestie sent me set up in the office with the Playstation for DVD watching. My very own "pain cave." Not too fancy, but it'll get the job done without waking Bryce and the dogs up every morning! My long rides on Saturdays will easily be outdoors, thankfully, including the Shiner GASP for my 100-mile ride!

       Running, thankfully, is easy to get done in and around Austin! Most mornings, I will probably just take a jaunt down my county road to where it meets the Williamson County Hike and Bike, or drive to Brushy Creek Lake Park and then shower at work (I have a shower at work- yay!) I also am typically pretty motivated to run any time of day when it's only 5-7 miles, so if I bring my things with me and run on the way home, that's OK too. I got a sweet pink head lamp for Christmas that includes a flashing back red light as well. It fits around a hat/visor/my head AND around my bike helmet and is much brighter than my tiny little cap light I was using!

      I also got rid of my Brooks and purchased a pair of Zoot shoes! The Brooks were OK, but when I finished the marathon a few weeks ago, my feet felt like they were broken and they only had 212 miles on them! I wanted a more breathable, triathlon-friendly shoe anyhow with less padding, so I found the Zoots (on clearance!) and am in love so far! The inside feels just like a sock, since they are meant to be worn sockless. They are a one-piece upper with elastic laces, slip on in seconds, and have drain holes on the bottom for excess water! They're kinda ugly, but they're growing on me!

Why the black, Zoot? C'mon!

       Lower on my list than working toward this new goal of 140.6 miles is getting in to what is likely the best shape of my life, simply from the sheer volume of workouts! I always tone up and slim down with marathon training (you burn a bazillion calories on a 20-mile run. It's science) so adding the swimming and biking to that will probably (hopefully!) result in great things. I'll also be less likely to injure myself, since cross-training is the name of the game. I face more chronic issues with pain and tightness when I'm running only vs. triathlon training. Since I want to see the results in the end, I took a "before" selfie this morning in the mirror. (Bryce was still sleeping and the dogs were no help.)

Start: 154lbs, 30in waist, horrible color coordination skills. (Those PINK SHORTS, though! Love!)

      I'll do an "after" as well, and maybe even and "after after" once the race is done, because after 14-15 hours of endurance, there's likely going to be a difference!

        I am really looking forward to this whole process. I've been kind of aimless for a few months, despite marathon training, because running only is boring. I like having a structured plan that pushes me to the limit, but leaves time for me to be with people and do the other things I love. It's December and January in Texas, y'all- that's hunting season! You'd better believe I have my bike in the back of the truck for a ride after a morning in the stand. :)

I have other hobbies besides triathlon- look at my first buck!

        19 weeks and 5 days until it's here. Ironman Texas 2015, and the day I turn 28. If anyone wants to join the campaign to get Mike Reilly to sing me "Happy Birthday," as I cross the finishe line, I won't be mad!

Week 5 and Marble Falls Triathlon

Week 5: Mon- 1,000yd swim, 20 mile bike

               Tue- 1,500yd swim, 4.5 mile run

               Wed- 25 mile bike

               Thu- 1500 yard swim, 4 mile run

               Fri- off

               Sat- 6 mile run

               Sun- 40 miles

Total: 101 miles

Total mileage so far: 459. Equal to driving from Austin through Lubbock to Tulia, TX.

            Since this week I "passed through" Lubbock, I asked my friend Braden, who worked with me under Chuck at the ranch, to share his favorite memory of him. It's added to the "Memories of Chuck" tab above, so please go check it out and learn more about the kind of man he was.

            First and foremost I have to say a special thank-you to my parents and my grandma. Not only did my mom come watch the race on Sunday (She both got up at 4:30am with us to go to the race and made me a sign) but she also brought me a surprise from my dad, who is working in North Dakota right now. They gave me a gift of $500! Then, I got a sweet note of encouragement from my grandma with another donation in it! This took such a burden off my shoulders, because I have been struggling to save the $300 entry fee for the race in October. Now, I'm officially registered! Their support covered my entry fee, and made a great $200 donation to the fundraiser for Chuck, rocketing me closer to the $1,000 by bringing the total raised so far to $375. I'm not sure if my dad has the full idea of what I'm doing in October, but it doesn't matter to him, he just wants to help, and that is what matters most to me.  Love you mom, daddy, and grandma!

          My mom, on the other hand, got a first-hand look at the sport of triathlons this weekend. She got up well before dawn to ride with my boyfriend and I to Marble Falls, TX from our house near Austin so I could participate in the Marble Falls Triathlon (The One With the Hills). We got there and nabbed a great parking spot close to the transition area and unloaded my bike. As I got my things together and picked a spot on the racks, she got a look at the competition- everything from 12 year olds to men and women in their 70s, boasting rigs and outfits of all kinds, some obviously dusted off from the garage, others possibly worth more than my car. 

My mom and I waiting for the sun to come up!

            This race was my first full triathlon. I attempted to do the Athleta Iron Girl race in Austin in June, but ended up completing a duathlon instead because the swim portion was rained out. I have been training hard, and felt good about this race! Things went pretty well, despite some hiccups I'll list below, but I'll say in summary, I feel much more prepared for what's coming in a few months than I did before!

Observations of a first time Olympic Distance Triathlete:

1. Get creative with your transition bag! I think I've said this before, but there is no reason to spend over $100 on an official transition bag, especially if the races you are doing are too hot to require lugging around a wetsuit. I am actually really proud of the idea I came up with on Saturday, and want to share it. Rather than use a backpack, I used a this cooler instead! We have had this thing for a couple of years and use it for the floating the river all the time. It is big enough to hold 24 cans and ice, has an expandable pocket on the top, on the front, and two mesh stretchy pockets on the side. I was able to pack 2 water bottles, my hydration backpack, a third bottle full of a sports drink, a baggie full of PowerGels, my running shoes, my cycling shoes, socks, shin compression sleeve, SpiBelt, Handana, a towel, a sport towel, a headband, my goggles, and my sunglasses all in this pack with room to spare. Therefore, I not only had everything I needed, but everything I needed was niiiiice and cooooooold when I wanted it the most! I am totally sticking with this plan, and I think a few people who saw my setup and got jealous while they sipped their hot water and melty nutrition bars will be copying it.

2. Good rack spots are a hot commodity. I got there early and got a good spot at the end of a pipe section, so my bike was easy to find and my stuff wasn't at risk of being run over. I got set up, and then took my bike to the Sun and Ski Sports tent to see if they could figure out what an obnoxious clicking noise was being caused by. (I finally figured it out myself- loose pedal had some grit in it!) I came back to the spot to grab my helmet, and some guy had already tried to take over! I was nice, and told him hey, is that your super brilliant cooler pack there? No? Then move it, bud. He complied. Even so, I got my bike back as soon as I could.

3. The swim was a lot harder than I thought! I read it over and over before I did it, but thought I'd be fine. I've been a swimmer my whole life, have worked as an open-water lifeguard, and can already do well over the 2,000 yards the 1/2IM is going to require. Didn't matter. As soon as I slipped in to the warm waters of the Colorado River and treaded water waiting for the gun to go off, I knew I was in for it. The current! The murky water! The people! I am slowest at the breast stroke, but as soon as I got about 25 yards, that was the stroke I stuck with because it allowed me to breath and remain steady. I don't think I panicked, but I did get overwhelmed. The biggest issue for me was not being able to see. I could spot when I raised my head to breath, but my face in the water was another story, and my brain didn't like it. Thankfully, I found out that Lake Pflugerville near my house has an open-water swim course set up people can use for free. I am planning from now on to do most of my yards out there to get as used to it as possible. 1,000 yards was a long way in open water, and double that will be even tougher if I'm not prepared. The only other issue during the swim was the sprinters. Right as I got to the halfway-back point, the sprint wave reached it and swarmed me. People do not let you pass, even when they should (probably because they are as panicked as you are!) and they cannot see in the water, just like you can't. Due to this, someone pulled my race chip off my ankle- eek! I was thankfully able to grab it, and stuffed it in my shorts for safekeeping. I made it out of the river alive, and moved on to the next part.

Bryce captured my emotion perfectly- thankful to be on land again!

3. Don't panic if you find yourself alone on the bike ride.  So I didn't have the fastest swim ever, but I was still done in a reasonable time. I had a small moment of panic when I got to the mounting line from transition and realized I never put my chip back on (THANKFULLY I remembered!) but got going on the bike ride with a good number of people. I made great time and got to the split between the sprint and the Olympic course, and then suddenly found myself alone on the road. No other bikes either passing me heading back, or behind me. I took about an hour and a half to complete the 23 mile bike ride (not bad considering my post swim daze) and was by myself and bewildered for at least 45 minutes of the ride. How could I  be that far behind? Did I go the wrong way? Am I somehow behind the cutoff time? I was so worried that when I got back to Transition, I wasted time asking a volunteer if I was the last one on the course. He said no, there were others, but I almost didn't believe him. There were people already packing up and leaving, for goodness sakes! Were they laughing at me? Sheesh, what could have happened? I was confused and distracted enough, that when I got transitioned for the run, I forgot my water bottle and my gel pack, two things I was sorry about later.

4. The run is the hardest and easiest part, all at the same time. When I got on the run course, there were indeed people still racing, and I began to feel better and concentrate. My training has paid off so far, because unlike the race in June, my legs were still feeling fresh and lacked that lead feeling you get from a brick workout sometimes. It was only 4 miles- time to ruuuuu.....and walk. Run, then walk. It needs repeating but it is ok to walk if you need to. I could have run the whole thing, but it felt like a million degrees, I had forgotten nutrition and electrolytes that I really needed, and my power walk was faster. So I put my pride aside, and let myself walk for about a quarter of a mile. Let me tell you- worth it. I felt so much better, got my thoughts and my body collected and together, and finished without feeling death knocking at my door. I may not look it in the picture, but I felt good when I was done!

Looking like a champion, or trying not to fall over? You decide.

4. Not all races are created equally. I got through the finish line at 10:25am, and realized that the awards had already started, when the race info had said they were at 11. I was bummed. I thought I had missed my division and didn't place. Then, to add to my disappointment, there was no finisher's medal. Now, I was not raised in the entitled generation where everyone wins a trophy and there are no losers, but I think endurance sports like this are different. People train and compete to beat themselves- to beat their fears, their insecurities, their old bodies and their old lifestyles. These races are grueling, no matter your skill set, and being able to win is often tied very directly to your total monthly income. I think everyone who finishes deserves a medal, period. Then, to top it off, the meal at the end was pizza. In 90 degree weather. After a 27 mile race. I love pizza, but no. No way. I wanted fruit. I wanted something not greasy. But, those were the breaks. The course was beautiful, at least, and it was a valuable experience.

5. Try hard, and you just might win! Or, in my case, at least place! Although we were bummed and left, it turns out I placed second in my division! THAT meant I should have gotten a medal. I emailed the race director when I found out, and he very kindly got back to me and promised to mail my treasure to me. Yay! Thank you again to the race director for taking the time to send it to me- it meant a lot to me.

It came! I jumped for joy at the mailbox. :)

2nd place in the Athena (women over 150lbs) division! 

6. Celebrate your body! When I signed up for this race, I was a huge mixture of embarrassed and a little mad. I had never heard of the "Athena" class, and wasn't sure what to do about it. Did I have to sign up for it? I hadn't been below 150lbs since, like, 8th grade. Was I really a plus-size triathlete? There is nothing wrong with being "over"-weight, not having the perfect BMI, looking like a supermodel, being thin as a rail, or whatever, as long as you are healthy and taking care of your body.  However, especially since this January when I had lost 20lbs and really toned up, I felt like an athlete, not someone who needed a special class. Unsure if I should or not, I just went ahead and signed up for the division and I'm glad I did. The more I thought about it, the more I could understand. Yes, I felt like an athlete- I have a strong body, flawless (if I do say so myself!) legs that carry me as far as I want to go, and a strong heart- but I was never going to be able to beat out the 100lb girls who are 5'2" (I'm 5'9") and able to zip past me without even creating a breeze, unless I got a serious equipment upgrade. Then, at the race, I will be the first to say that we ladies in the orange swim caps were the ones with the biggest smiles- we worked hard to be there, but we felt a sisterhood and camaraderie that spanned our ages. We were able to "admit" our weight and embrace it, and still race hard and whip butt. I am totally okay with being an "Athena"- Athena was a warrior goddess! She was strong, she was tough! When I let go of my worry and took hold of my connection to the other tall, strong, beautiful women out there, I had a lot more fun. "Real Women" are all women, of every shape, height, and stamina, and I'm totally OK with USAT creating an avenue for women who might otherwise shy away from racing because they may not be able to keep up. We all rock, and there were definitely some boys left in our dust. ;)

7. Always thank your sponsors. I didn't have any for this race, obviously, at least not in the monetary or equipment sense. But, I had a cheering section bigger and brighter than anyone there. My mom and boyfriend made signs, and followed me everywhere, as much as they could near T1, T2, and the finish line. They took pictures, they yelled my name, they rode home in the truck with me and all my stinkyness, and they let me know they were there for me. My mom even hunted down three different volunteers to make triple-sure I wasn't missing out on a finisher's medal somehow. It made a world of difference knowing I had people there willing my legs to keep going, right along with me, and I look forward to them being there in October.

My mom's sign on the left and Bryce's on the right. Oreo is my dog. :)

           That's it for my race report! Keep your eyes out for for the next couple of weeks' posts, because they're going to be good ones. (HINT HINT. If you like free stuff- make sure to follow it!!) I have some goodies, and when I "reach" the Texas state line, anyone following is going to be glad to celebrate with me!

Week 4

First, great news! There is a new, shorter link for the fundraiser! Check out  http://web.alsa.org/goto/CowboysAgainstALS  and donate what you can. So far, I am $75 closer to my goal of $1,000.

 

I am posting this on Saturday rather than Sunday because tomorrow is my warm-up triathlon, the Marble Falls Tri (The One with the Hills). The mileage is an Olympic distance, 27.5 miles, so a three mile warm up in the morning makes it a perfect way to get those 30 miles.

 

Week 4: Mon- 1,000yd swim, 20 mile bike

               Tue- 1,000yd swim, 4 mile run

               Wed- 20 mile bike

               Thu- 1000 yard swim, 4 mile run

               Fri- off

               Sat- 5 mile run

               Sun- 30 miles- Marble Falls Tri!

Total: 84.5 miles

Total mileage so far: 358. Equal to driving from Austin almost to Post, TX.

 

 

 

          Whew! This week and last week involved ramping up mileage on the bike a bit, and I've gone further than I have before cycling. The good news is, my body can't seem to tell the difference between 25 and 35 miles- it's all the same amount of soreness after a certain distance, I guess!

 

           On that note, I want to talk about bikes and getting in to cycling. Before starting traithlons, I had a decent straight-bar hybrid bike I used to commute back and forth to work when I rode the train in to Austin. I didn't know a lot about bikes (still don't!) and got it from REI on clearance. It worked great, but obviously I needed something a little more hard core for doing endurance races, as my shoulders and hands were on fire after as little as 12 miles on the hybrid because of the full aluminum frame.

 

           If you are thinking about buying your first road bike, be prepared. Going to bike shops is a great idea, because they are the pros when it comes to fitting you to the correct frame and handlebar size. However, a shop is a shop, and there is a lot of upselling that's going on. I don't blame them, they're just doing their jobs. However, you can't let their overwhelming amount of information about every possible accessory talk you in to going over your budget when you don't need to!

 

            It's important to know what you need and what is just nice to have when shopping for a beginner racing bike. Below is just my opinion, but I think it's a good way to frame your decisions so you don't feel obligated to go over your budget. In the spring time, bikes from the year before go on sale to make way for new models- jump on it! I got my $1200 bike for $800! It's the Fuji Newest 1.0- a man's bike, but fits me because I'm taller with longer legs and broader shoulders. There is a link to it if you click the picture and you want to read the specs.

• Worth it: A carbon fork! The major issue I had with my hybrid was the road vibration. It would make my hands hurt bad enough that I'd need to stop and let go of the handlebars for a while. I have ridden as far as 38 miles on my new bike, and have never noticed even a tingling in my fingers. It's also a bit of a help with the weight of the bike.
• Not worth it: An all carbon frame. If you get to a highly competitive level where weight is super important, then yes, by all means, spend several grand and get a great bike. However, carbon is not as durable as an aluminum frame. It does not dent or ding, it cracks and breaks. They are significantly more expensive, and I have not noticed a difference between the carbon frame bikes I have borrowed (except that I got blown around in the wind more!) and my aluminum frame bike.

• Worth it: An excellent gear system, the most important aspect being the type of shifters it comes with. The Shimano series is the most common, and the lower level ones have a dinky, annoying thumb toggle that shifts the gears. If you go Tiagra and above, not only do you get more gears- usually 30, which is great for hilly places like Austin- but also there is a full shifter paddle you can access from any hand position, making shifting infinitely easier.
• Not worth it: The fanciest rims and cassettes money can buy. Now, a nicer set of derailers, gears, etc. IS worth the money down the road, and they are usually higher quality and will be more durable. However, for your first bike, don't sweat the system your bike came with. Most bike shops offer free lifetime tune-ups to adjust loosening cables and that sort of thing, and you want to make sure cycling is something you really love before dropping dough on the extras like that.

• Worth it: Cute and comfy bar wrap! My bike came with a decent wrap, but it was white and got so dirty the first time I used it. I got on Amazon and found some pink gel wrap and wrapped my bars myself (very easy, just YouTube it! HERE is a great example) It doesn't show dirt as bad, you can wash and rewrap the tape, and it helps make my man's bike look a bit girlier. I love it.
• Worth it: Aero bars for any distance riders over 20 miles. I especially needed them because my bike is a man's frame, and therefore had men's handlebars, which are too wide for me. The aerobars not only help increase my speed, but give me a ton of relief for my shoulders. I have the Profile Jammer GTs, and really like them. Profile is a good buy, they're not the most expensive, but they are well made and will last. Definitely have them fitted by a professional, they will be able to level them and adjust them perfectly. When you pick bars, pick some that are adjustable in as many ways as possible, because it makes a difference in your comfort.
• Not worth it: Carbon everything. Again, unless you are at a high level of competition, a few grams is not going to make or break your race time by that much.

• Worth it: Some accessories! Get a small seat bag to hold tubes, tire levers, CO2 cartridges, patches, etc. Make sure you have these things- there is nothing worse than getting a flat 10 miles from home and being stuck with it. Go to a clinic, they're free, and learn how to change a flat. Get a stand pump that is well made with a gague on it and check your tires every time you start a ride. Road tires lose air overnight, and riding on low tires makes things harder.

I hope you found this list helpful! Please leave questions, topic suggestions, or other ideas in the comment section.