Penn State's mentor group - CLOSED! (Page 103)

PennState - 2010-08-27 6:39 PM What are the group's off-season training plans?

zionvier - 2010-08-29 10:49 PM I finally had enough weeks in a row where I didn't have races where I was able to get myself out on a trail run I did for the first time back in April.  A 19.5mile trail run in Boulder, the Garmin registers 6k feet of climbing.  It has 4 climbs in it that seem like they never end and never let up, the first of which is the first 3 miles that climbs 2k feet on some rocky/technical terrain... so it starts off letting know know what you are getting yourself into.

The last time I did it, I had just recovered from my first ultra a month before it and still had some issues with my knee following that race.  This time I had no issues with knees or anything like that, just the 90 degree heat really sapped the energy out of me.  It took a little over 5 hours (stops for water and bathroom included)... I figure considering I can do a 26.2miles in 3 1/2 hours on the road and then this 20 miles takes over 5 hours it shows just how brutal it is.  But, hopefully, it helps prepare me for Arizona, 5 hours of mental and physical exertion has to count for something, regardless or mileage.

zionvier - 2010-08-29 7:49 PM I finally had enough weeks in a row where I didn't have races where I was able to get myself out on a trail run I did for the first time back in April.  A 19.5mile trail run in Boulder, the Garmin registers 6k feet of climbing.  It has 4 climbs in it that seem like they never end and never let up, the first of which is the first 3 miles that climbs 2k feet on some rocky/technical terrain... so it starts off letting know know what you are getting yourself into.

The last time I did it, I had just recovered from my first ultra a month before it and still had some issues with my knee following that race.  This time I had no issues with knees or anything like that, just the 90 degree heat really sapped the energy out of me.  It took a little over 5 hours (stops for water and bathroom included)... I figure considering I can do a 26.2miles in 3 1/2 hours on the road and then this 20 miles takes over 5 hours it shows just how brutal it is.  But, hopefully, it helps prepare me for Arizona, 5 hours of mental and physical exertion has to count for something, regardless or mileage.

kenj - 2010-08-28 12:40 PM

Copy of what I posted in my blog on my adventure in bike riding this morning!

Well I am no longer a bike wreck virgin!  We were just about finished with the group ride and turned into a parking lot to bypass a busy intersection when the front tire washed out and down I went.  Another rider went over top of me.  Fortunately all I appear to have at this point is a bruised ego and some road rash on my shoulder, elbow and hip.  All the damage to the bike was knocking brake levers out of place and twisting the bars on the stem.  Rode it back to the bike shop where they fixed it right up and I went off and put in another 12 or so miles.  I guess you know you are in ironman training when you wreck and laying on the concrete the first thought I had was whether this was going to mess up my long run tomorrow!

PennState - 2010-08-27 8:39 PM What are the group's off-season training plans?

PennState - 2010-08-31 7:49 AM  
Josh, have you heard of a guy named Josh Beck?

Tasr (James) knows him as he lives in Carlisle, PA. He just finished 7th overall at IMKY with a 1:20 swim!
You don't need balance to do well, but Beck is a super elite that would be better on the bike and run than most pro's (his bike split was the 2nd fastest overall counting pro's and he ran a 3:04 even split marathon in 90+ temps).

Not telling you not to swim, but that balance is somewhat over-rated.

furiousferret - 2010-08-30 4:30 PM  

Thats a hell of a run....do you ever concern yourself with wildlife out there?  I love trail running, but Mountain Lions and to a lesser extent Black Bears are out here and it messes with my head at times. 

zionvier - 2010-08-31 11:35 AM

I'm definitely aware of the mountain lions and bears.  I never run with music so hopefully that allows me to be more aware of my surroundings.  I also never do a run like that alone.  I know both of those have no impact with safety when dealing with a mountain lion since you'll neither hear or see them until they are lunging at your throat.  Somewhere there's a picture from a hunter who had one of those cameras out at night that took a picture when something moved down the trail... and it shows a deer walking down the trail completely oblivious to the mountain lion crouching behind him about to attack. (Unfortunately I can't find it)  But if one can sneak up behind a deer... I know I have no chance.

As for bears, for the most part they will stay away from you if they are aware you're there.  So having a friend with you were you're talking as you run helps.  But again, I'm still on the lookout subconsciously, because if you run down the trail and happen to have the mother on one side and her cub on the other side of the trail you've just put yourself in a very bad situation.

In terms of other wildlife, I've run within 5 feet of deer, including a pair a 5 point bucks.  I typically just talk to them as I approach... "Hi, what's up? I'm just going by" and they just look at you and typically take 2 or 3 jumps deeper into the brush as you approach.  Same thing goes with coyotes I've seen.  I've had the good fortune of noticing the snakes a few feet ahead so I could jump over them without stepping right next to them.

But with all that I knew it's likely there have been times I'm not even aware of where I stepped next to a snake or had a coyote or mountain lion uncomfortably close.  But I think most animals are more scared of you out there and as long as you give them the opportunity to get away they don't care much about you.  

phxphotog - 2010-08-31 11:46 AM I have been training with my new tri group lately and it has been a very good thing for me. It is pushing me to get better on the bike and run but not putting me in the position of hurting myself. The ride group that I have been going out with on Saturdays have been averaging about 17-18 mph on a slow climb route. I'm hoping in the next 2-4 weeks that I'll find a way to keep on their wheels. I have a member (slidell4life) that has been helping me out and giving me motivation.

In a couple of weeks I'll start to integrate my 1/2 marathon training program into my tri training program so I can start to get the miles in for that in January. I think I'm at a good place right now with my training and I keep thinking, "What will I be like in a year from now?". It's exciting to think how far I will have come in just a year from coming off the couch.

I have decided that next year will be my HIM distance and then in 2012 I'll go after IMAZ. I know it's a long way out but I just don't think I will have the base set for an IMAZ 2011. I'll be 40 next year, so I'm still young.