Baowolf's New Years Resolution Group-Closed (if are stuck with no group PM me) (Page 10)

Hello everyone! Today, I showed Steve's influence on me and made the decision not to run outside this morning after we got snow last night. It is very cold but the deciding factor is that I can't afford to risk injury by failing to seeing black ice and tweaking my achilles. I did eventually get to the gym and helped teach my wife how to deadlift for her new workout program....after that, I did some lifting on my own before I started my cardio. My plan was to run on the treadmill but EVERY treadmill was being used so I did 30 min on the elliptical. I know its not the same but its better than doing nothing! After that, I went to the pool and put in a measely 400 yards (8x50) It was humbling to struggle with my swimming again but I started getting my head back in the game as I did more sets. I focused on calming down and then breathing better and I did both better near the end of my session.

Sadly, my last day of work wasn't without drama. I had a captain who I don't get along with try to talk crap to me; normally, I turn the other cheek but I don't have anything to lose because I'm leaving so I gave some crap back to him. What was said isn't important, but its the mentality that speaks volumes. Why would anyone say anything to someone who is leaving your workplace? Most normal people would think "good riddance to that guy/gal" and not bother with them. It just reiterates that I'm making a good decision in leaving my place and it makes me sad for the friends I'm leaving behind that have to deal with that mentality.

Working out will be tough for the next few weeks because I will be working 9 out of the next 10 days before my schedule normalizes again! I'll just have to be consistent with getting up early. I hope that it gets a little warmer outside so I can have some confidence of running before the sun rises without fear of slipping on ice.

Pam, thanks for the online tutorial on how to get my location placed on my avatar again! Steve, thanks for the laugh about your thought of me being a paramedic! I so don't see myself that way!

Have a good day all!

Lots of catching up to do which will be useful today, spent an hour on the trainer yesterday got off and started scrubbing cabinets for the wife when all of the sudden bang, back locks up tighter than I have ever experienced. I can barely move today so an impromptu rest day and some time to read everything closer.

Mike, I'm a big believer in stretching. For the back, maybe try angry cat and cow (on your hand and knees, arch your back like an angry cat and then concave your back like a broken down cow.) Also, the stretch that my son calls the "Do Nothing Stretch" helps me. Lie on your back, hands above you, and enlongate body for several seconds. You can even try elongating with oppo arms and legs on the diagonal. Especially after races, that stretch will have be yelping in pain. I take a break and then go back to it. It really helps. Good luck on the back because that really hurts.

We made kale chips last night and those things are good. Wash the kale and pull the ribs out. Dry as much as possible. Add some olive oil and salt to them, place on cookie sheet, and put in 275 oven for 20 min. Turn mid way thru. Even the picky teenager admitted they weren't bad.

Aargh, I've been at the computer all of today and most of yesterday with business things, financial, and baseball fundraising. My back is killing me. Few more things to do and then I may go hit the trainer. Definitely going to stretch.

The arch your back up and down is good. There are lots of back stretches. Most of them won't be so good until your back un-spasms. Hot bath will help unspasm it, antiinflmatory meds, and I like using a foam roller by laying on it with my back and rolling it up and down my back works wonders. But, you may need to be not in pain enough to do that one. The general rule is heat to loosen things up, gentle stretching, anti inflam and ice after the heat (alternate). Getting a massage from the wife is probably a good move also....

Jay, I just got a flyer for a training on working with Emotional Manipulators.... some people just like conflict, don't need a reason. Elyptical is not bad, it is recommended for nonimpact when having muscle issues or getting back up to speed after a long time off.

Weekend training didn't go as I had planned. I did, however, finally get a dining room table. It is a very nice solid wood table, but needs some work. That is what my weekend ended up being about. Buying stuff to fix my free table :D And yesterday, well....I went out to lunch with some friends, then we went to a local coffee shop to get a very specific drink. Every time I go there I get the same drink because it can't be found anywhere else and it is amazing. After drinking about half of it I realized 'oh crap, this coffee drink has chocolate in it'. So I went ahead and drank the rest of it and laughed it off as a true accidental chocolate consumption.

Hope everyone starts the week off feeling rested despite the busyness of life.

@Mike
you read my mind looking into getting a cheap GSC-10. Take it easy on your back took notes from replies for future reference.

@Jay
I admire your mental toughness i would be long gone to home if i cant find available lane or treadmill. I think thats why i dropped my gym membership and enjoy OWS more.

@Pam
Will vote for you as Capt. cheer leader anytime

@Steve / Everyone
Any advice of a quiet indoor trainer? currently using a mag trainer have to do english subs watching TV while training.


Happy Training Everyone!!!

Carl




Edited by strykergt 2014-01-26 8:13 PM

Samantha, enjoy working on the table. I like to do that kind of stuff, but have found that no matter how well I prep paint never seems to stay on the way they claim on HGTV (at least back with they still had DIY shows).

Mike, so sorry about the back, hot baths sound like a good idea.

Jay, congrats on finding a new job in this economy - good riddance to miserable people. Probably sorry he's stuck there.

Looking forward to hearing about the bike from Craigs list. If it's not right something else will come along.
I've got an entry level road bike. can't justify anything better as I'm afraid to go fast, not that I can go fast, but I ride my brakes on the downhills so an aero position is silly for me.

Nice to keep up with everyone's workouts.

Mitzi

Carl - my comment stayed inside the quote box. If you dont see it.

Mitzi - it has been interesting. I think/hope in the end it will look nice. This is the first time ive ever redone a piece of furniture, so im excited and worried itll look aweful. Guess ill find out :-)

Really quick before I head off for day 1 at my new place.....

Mike D asked about his saddle and if it can wear down. I don't know if that's true but I do wonder if you're either 1. getting used to being on the bike again and experiencing discomfort OR 2. your tri shorts/cycling shorts are getting older and that padding is wearing down a little.

Just some thoughts. Have a good day all!

I do think that bike fit should be adjusted every once and a while - so this has some serious validity...I have also noticed that as my weight changes, I have different pressure points on my saddle.

Nice weekend all! I love the story of the "accidental chocolate consumption."

It's still cold here (halfway up the coast of Maine) - but not terrible. Sadly, I think we are going to run out of wood for our woodstove before April (it has been MUCH colder than it has been historically). Steve - I admire your gumption in getting out in the wickedly cold weather. I have a cut off of 20 degrees and really can't get myself motivated to get out the door when it's colder than that. I try to convince myself that it's easier to run intervals on the treadmill - so I've got that going for me.

Carl - I like the adjusted race plan. The initial one looked really challenging. Hopefully this will keep you motivated and healthy.

I really like the plan for folks getting together for IMTX in 2015. I'd love to try to do that, but honestly the wind intimidates me. I can handle hills, but wind somehow demoralizes me and I go to a really dark place. How about you all? Wind vs. hills?

Got my swim in this morning (pool recirculaters weren't working properly - so it was 75...it was chilly!) and looking for a bike this afternoon.

Have a great day!

Yeah, I was thinking it may be some butt toughening which needs to happen. The shorts I've used are some older, but also some brand new ones, and it doesn't make much of a difference. I'm in the middle of doing this crazy "Tour of Sufferlandria" (9 straight days of nutty bike workouts) and the bike seat issue is becoming a dialy pain in the rear (har! ;^)). if by the end of this bike thing, I should be plenty toughened up. It it is still not feeling good, I'll talk to the LBS about either a new saddle or a re-fit.

Day 2 of back spasms spent all day alternating heat and ice and anti inflamtories along with a muscle relaxer and stretching as much as I could stand nothing is touching this thing so I'm off to the chiropractor this morning. I hate missing workouts but I need to get this better. Thanks for the advice all.

@Samantha
thanks for the advice looking for a cheap Fluid T around.

@Jennifer
Looking forward to IMTX next year. Winds are not cool its like a bully whatever makes me aero is my only way to fight it plus a PM so that i dont spend too much energy fighting it. Hills are easier what comes up ,must come down again PM helps me budget my energy going up hill at high cadence and recover going down. Fighting winds theres no recovery just one of those given by nature you have to take. If Steve or anyone else have suggestions in fighting thru winds im all ears???

@MikeD
Sorry About saddle sores i use to use Buttr then i got numb on long rides and i dont use Buttr anymore but still use bodyglide for chaffing underneath. Good padding for cycling shorts is really better i have tried from $20 Cycling shorts to $100 big difference in comfort. I am still using the same original stock saddle dont see about replacing it soon.

Edited by strykergt 2014-01-27 12:23 PM

My sadle is from 2007 and I have maybe 28,000 miles on it and it is fine (adamo). I have had to adjust my seat to avoid uncomfortable in aero position (seat a bit higher and nose down 1 mm). 16F isn't really cold, I warm up pretty quickly, I take the hood off after 4:00, start unzipping the front after a couple miles, etc.

Just finished a ride, and no saddle issues at all. Tough butt is all that is needed I think.

Carl, we have a Kinetic trainer and it’s great.

Samantha, are you going to paint or refinish the table? I used to do that all of the time with my grandmother. We are big on wood (I prefer oak) and we would strip, sand, stain (always with Minwax Special Walnut), and then polyurethane. I haven’t done is several years. Ah, I’ll always think of Grandmomma with that. Have fun! It’s a pain going thru it but it’s more special when complete.

Mike, so sorry about the back. Good call on the chiro. Last time my back went out, hubby suggested a massage but I wouldn’t listen to him. Spent two weeks on muscle relaxers (week 1) and exercise/stretching (week 2) and finally relented on the MT. She fixed me instantly and I felt like a fool for wasting 2 weeks. Good luck.

Mike D, I very literally feel your saddle pain. I’m getting back on my bike for the first time in months and it’s painful. I was thinking this morn about Steve’s comment of adjusting the nose down a mm and almost grabbed some wrenches. That would be a bad idea since I have trouble even pumping up my tires. I admire you for sticking to the 9-days in a row plan. Good job on working thru it

Bike this morn, 7 flight of steps this morn, stretches and core this afternoon, and light run/walk this evening. Nothing intensive but nice to break things up.

So my first visit to the chiro was a success, my pelvis was way out left to right he made the adjustment hooked me up to some electricity and a water massage chair and I feel about 1000 times better, might even hit the trainer tonight.

Ya my saddle was ok when on the horns, but when I leaned forward for aero there just wasn't enough room there for me and the saddle at that angle. It is amazing how when you adjust your saddle height or tilt it is in mm, very fine adjustments.

Today my easy run 30 min felt pretty decent. I do 4x30 sec strides after warmup of 5:00 every run. I think it is a good practice. Was a balmy 50F at noon today. After 2 months I am still struggling with lifting my knees higher up front and pushing harder out back at the same time. It sounds easier than it is when running at 100 to 105 right foot strikes per minute.

Then a 2000 yard swim. Today's focus breathing out the entire time your face is in the water so that you have no air in your lungs by the time your mouth clears the water, 4x 50 yards of kicking or for me that is 4x 2:00 of kicking (with mask and snorkel, kick board is too hard). Then a screwy set with fast, pullbouy, and slow 100s nested for 1500 yards. Trying to then integrate the kick more into the stroke while breathing continuously and keeping a high elbow (twister maybe).

Hi everyone! Had a lot of catching up to do. Great to see everyone's progress.

Mike D: Great job on that sufferfest tour, hope to do this soon but it does look hard!

Jay: Congrats on the new job and don't worry about that moron, he's a thing of the past now Embrace the change and the new challenges!

Mike: hope your back feels better. I also hurt my back when my daughter was a baby (terrible posture + carry the baby on one hip everywhere...) I went to see an ostheopath (sp?) and I still don't know how this works but it does. No more back pain since then.

Samantha: love that "accidental" chocolate consumption... Chocolate is usually not a problem for me, but potato chips... this is the devil right there. Would you believe that my husband actually was a self-confessed chips'aholic (at one point he had a bag A DAY), stopped eating it 2 years ago and he still has the cravings?!! I do sometimes buy it but I end up eating it all by myself (not in one night) when he is not around. that can't be good...

Training is a bit slow and unstructured right now, because of cold temps no running outside for me since the holidays. I don't mind the cold that much but snow and black ice, no thank you! In the meantime I use my "bike-to-nowhere" as my daughter calls it. I will be adding swimming mid-Feb. Can't wait to see how slow I've become (no swimming since Sept.)

My racing season is slowly shaping up as dates are announced. So many great events to choose from, exciting!

Isabella

Coldest run I can recall this AM. Just froze out there. Temp was single digits, but the wind was the real problem. I cut it short as well since my right hand felt like it was freezing solid, despite 2 pairs of gloves. Glad I went out and tried to give it a go, but it was difficult to even move. Run was more like a shuffle type thing the first mile until I warmed up even a little.

Whew! Thank goodness it was that easy to impact. I hope it stays. Swimming has been great for me when my back is grumpy.

Other Mike - you are one hearty soul getting outside in this. Major props to you.

Our pool's heater stopped working - yesterday morning's swim was brisk...but by last night the temp was down to 72. I was supposed to swim this morning but the thought of getting into that icy water when it is 9 outside really dampened my enthusiasm. I can't imagine the mental fortitude it would take to get me outside running in the dark and cold.

Got my hilly run in this morning (on the treadmill), if the pool is fixed I may try to swim later - but not holding my breath. Yoga may be in the cards instead.

Have a great day all!

Jennifer - Wind is a killer, especially on the bike. Hills, at leaast you can see and do not change but once that wind kills your momentum, I am done.

Mike - That time in the saddle seemed to pay dividends for you last year. Keep it up! As long as I have a gym you would not find me out in single digits. Way to tough it out.

Jay - Good luck at the job.

Never thought I would get use to getting up at 4 in the morning to WO but so far it is not so bad. The metrics on the gym equipment should help focus on measureable improvement.
I grabbed a lane at the pool this weekend. Fit in 1 hr (about 200yrds) on saturday and then again on sunday. My pace was not there but it was nice that I could remeber to swim and put up some good yardage. Yesterday was 45 min on the treadmill and 45 minute on the upright bike today. The slow build begins and I sure wish I could say there is less aches than previous years.

I agree with you. Wind chills in the negative numbers keep me on a treadmill. I can focus on my pace and not worry about hypothermia or hand pain! Spring will be here just around the corner!

For those who need tires, Nathbar is selling tires at 65% off, not gona beat that.