Hokies 1st Timer's Group - FULL (Page 10)

Benchmarked low and high end of my Aerobic zones on the bike this morning.  Have lost some bike fitness since September of last year (daaa!!).

Where is the rest of the team?  Could use a slap on the back 

Seriously, here is another good article on 4 Habits of The Successful Triathlete.  Less than 5 minute read.  Enjoy:  http://www.endurancecorner.com/Sue_Aquila/successful_season_habits

BTW: I don't watch much TV other than the occasional sporting event.  Do a lot of reading, especially via the internet.  As you can tell one of my favorite subjects is triathlon.  Hence, all of the links to articles on this thread.  If I come across a good one I like to share.

Glad to provide some smile therapy.  You pushed me into figuring it out.... 50m pool, divided at 25m by a bulk head.  Therefore, a lap is 50m.  Whew....here's my wonderful pool:

Apparently the pool isn't my problem anymore....it the bike and the painful bum (stationary bike) or the cold, rainy, gloomy weather (further annoying with the windchill a bike ride adds to the equation). No motivation for either.
Christi   

Watchout fellow peeps in the group.  Christi has TWICE the endurance and DOUBLE the speed that she has been advertising in her training logs.  I'm going to have to get my "swim game" on now, Christi is coming up behinnd me fast.

I also see that Melissa was practicing her favorite Tri disciple today in the pool.  Way to go Melissa. 

Edited by junthank 2011-01-19 6:12 PM

Yay Jeff!! How far are you riding?

Christi....nice pool! It looks monstrous.

Barbara...have you thawed out yet?

If you look at my log, I've done a triathlon over the past 3 days

Pool etiquette question: are there fast and slow lanes? Like with running, walkers stay to the right? 

Hey Melissa,

Ok, there must be some mistake in someones math....I thought I figured out that I was counting my distance correctly.  So, I should have a nice slow pace of someone who was never a swimmer and is winded at both (25m) ends, right?  I'm sure you all are passing me!  But from point of view, I'm improving!

And that's all that matters Christi.  Your doing great.

Thanks for the input about choosing my race.  I was leaning toward an Olympic but didn't want to be "too greedy."  Tough swim workout today with more fast swimming than I've been doing lately.  We'll see how the shoulders feel tomorrow.     

~~~~~ >--<o  ~~~~~~

Your welcome Rob. 

I hate fast swimming.  In fact, I hate fast anything (bike, run).  I did a run test today and the last mile on the run was hard.  Thought my lungs and heart were going to come right out my mouth!!  I have a pain intolerance.  That's why I like training in my Steady and Mod-Hard zones with only occasional doses of the real hard stuff.

That would be my pace. I hope the race organizers realize I'm going to need a kayak every 25m so I can stop and rest  

I'm anxious to see what the distance looks like in open water and try it.  Also, wondering the effect a wet suit has on arm movements.  Do you think it helps with bouyancy?  That could be a plus.  Have you done a tri before?  
Christi 

Just think of it as a little dip in the Gulf at Siesta Key.  Last year the swim conditions were PERFECT.  Run was a little warm but the swim was great.

Christi,

YES, the wetsuit will add buoyancy.  From a strong swimmers standpoint they prefer non-wetsuit races because wetsuits diminish their competitive advantage.  Wetsuits are suppose to fit tightly - obviously you don't want water to get inside.  You want to get the right sized wetsuit so that you arms/shoulders are not restricted.




Edited by junthank 2011-01-21 8:43 PM

Weather was bad this morning so not able to get out on the bike.  Hopefully Saturday will be better.

Hey James,

I think you are only about 3 weeks out from your 1st race - How you feeling?

Hey Gang,

Rob asked me a good question about why I do breast in my workouts. Actually all of my swim workouts are part of the plan I'm on. The plan was written by Gordo Bryn with I suspect a lot of input from his wife Monica. His wife is quite the swimmer and I think she actually lead out of the water at Kona one year.  I have seen a video of her leading the "elites" at Dave Scott's pool in Boulder, CO.  By elites I mean Dibens, Carfrae, etc...

I think the reason they are in there are to simply break things up a bit. Sometimes the plan will say to do fly but I don't do that so I just use breast. Likewise with backstroke.  For me it just makes doing the workouts in a pool a little more interesting (i.e.. the countless up and down in the lane can get me bored).

Another thing that I have chosen not to use in my swimming are fins, pull buoy, etc.  I'm just a beginner at swimming and I don't want to get dependent on something.  Actually I was watching a video of the guy from TI talk about swim toys.  He called them aquatic crack.  The more experienced swimmers in the group might disagree.

Which reminds me, there is this guy at my pool that occasionally will swim in the lane next to me.  For some reason he will always try and race me.  That's fine I don't have a problem with.  What does get me is that he will have his fins on, with the pull buoy and snorkel.  I'm tempted one day to ask him if he has a propeller up his rear that he uses as well. 

Enjoy your weekend of training.

I see that Melissa and James already put in nice training efforts this morning.  Well, maybe not morning for James but still a good workout.  Way to go!!

Good one from Joe Friel on Confidence:  http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2011/01/confidence.html

Many of your are heading into your 1st Tri.  Good advise to practice before that 1st race.

One more link and then I'll quit for the day (I promise!!!).

For you swimmers check this out:   http://badig.com/2011/01/johns-stroke/

Good advise.  Looks like to me the fellow swimming also drops his elbows as well.
 

Jeff, how's that Florida weather looking this am?  Hope you are able to get your bike ride in.  

I checked out the Garmin device that you use, that's a very cool toy.  No wonder you can talk so casually about your heart rate at various points of your workout.  I only remember to check mine while sitting here at the lap top.  I want one. 

The pool toy info was interesting and timely.  I pulled out my 3 swimming books last night to look for some more drills to try, and many of them added these devices.  Unless someone tells me that the use of one of those devices is going to greatly or quickly improve my skill, I'd prefer to go without.  
I was tempted by a mask and swim snorkel, thinking I could improve my aerobic capacity and work on swim technique at the same time.  But was afraid I would have trouble transitioning away from it.  
Would love to hear others thoughts on all this.

Have a great weekend.
Christi

 

not sure I can be much help on this. Most of my thoughts on swimming involve, "Gee, I hope I don't drown" or "I really hope I don't suck in half the pool water this time when I try to breathe on the left".  

I kinda agree though...I"m afraid if I swim with pool toys, I'll learn bad habits or start relying on them too much.

The Garmin however...totally rocks!

Edited by melkat 2011-01-22 4:18 PM