Asphalt Junkies CLOSED AND GETTING OUR FIX (Page 106)

Dirk, after more than 30 years as an endurance athlete (who studies the physiology to boot) I still don't know what it means to 'peak'.  All it really means is to train in such a way as to produce a PR on a given date I suppose.  So it entails a combination of taper and race-specific workouts.  For someone that is in a tough training block where you carry a little bit of fatigue from one day to the next, you will get used to a certain HR and a certain perceived effort.  But the perceived effort and HR that you begin to see as normal are always being affected by the fatigue.  So once you rest appropriately you feel faster and your HR is no longer elevated by prior fatigue (pumping extra blood to supply healing nutrients).

You also run about 10bpm higher in the heat that you've been experiencing all year.

I think what you are finding now is that after a very hot summer and a decent training load that you are now in better shape than you realized.

It's not your HR monitor.  When they are acting up due to bad conduction or weak battery or interference you see either 1/2 or 2x your actual HR (or zero). 

http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=457312

Race report above!  I included my transition placement too, since I know that's important to this group.  

Sooo... I think that does it for me for triathlons this year.  I was debating whether or not to do the Island Lake Triathlon early September but have decided against it.  Mainly the reason I'd be doing it is to prove to myself I can do better with the swim, as all (3) tri swims this year have left me with something more to be desired... that and I think it would be quite awesome to see how much time I can shave off since the spring.  (It's a series, so I did the same one in May.)  But in the end, I think I'd prefer to use the time to better my run, as I'd like to do a fall half marathon.  And I gotta say, to add on to Dina, it almost does feel like a relief as I don't have to try to squeeze in all the swimming, biking, AND running that I feel I need/want to.  I will still try to do some swimming and biking, but I will not be putting any pressure on myself to get x amount in (I hope ).  So, the Island Lake Tri PR will have to wait til May! 

So, with my tri season over, I'd like to say thank you all for your continued support this year!  I'll still be sticking around since I need to know how everyone does with their remaining races, but just wanted to get that out there!

Yes, this is certainly part of the problem. I was just thinking about this very thing today on my run and actually almost talked myself into participating in the entire Oly and toughing out the run. I have not run that far this summer but I know I can complete that distance with an easy pace or run/walk strategy.

Another issue is the last time I raced this course (2 years ago) it was my worst race experience ever. Knocked around in the swim and poor pacing throughout left me pretty beat up by the end of the race. I think I just have this negative outlook about it that I can't shake which is not right. My Oly there the year before was my favorite race ever and you know what I did? Just went out for fun with NO time or AG placement expectations.

The final issue for me is the swim will probably be wetsuit legal. Most people would feel relieved but I really hate swimming in the wetsuit. Maybe I just won't swim in it even if it is wetsuit legal.

I did get back in the pool today at least!

FUN SUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually I agree with you.  The weather has been great for the past week or so and training has been much easier due to the lack of heat.  As a matter of fact, the past 2 Saturday morning rides the temps have been in the mid to low 50's at the beginning of the ride and last Sunday my run was in the mid 50's when I began.  I really only brought it up to attempt to give myself a question mark in my mind and maybe some kind of psychological advantage but thanks for ruining it for me!

I also figured the HR monitor wasn't getting good conduction either.  I noticed last winter that I had to splash a little bit of water on my chest before going out for a run so it would read correctly for the first mile or two and with the temps I listed above I thought that might be the case.

My race report from a couple weeks ago will come soon.  Just found some great pictures on Facebook.  Check out the Crescent City Triathlon.

I'm still coughing really bad.  My 2ish mile runs are continuing.  Jeez!  This is awful!

Brenda, Matt and Dirk have a safe trip to the race site, be safe and have a great race this weekend. It's awesome that you guys are getting to race with each other at the HIM.

Warren same to you, be safe and have a great race this weekend at your HIM.

Good luck and be safe to all the Junkies racing this weekend, represent well. For those who are not racing train hard, be safe and enjoy your weekend.

So many big races for many of us this weekend.  I am looking forward to seeing a couple of you and hearing about the other races that have happened recently (Tracy's) and coming up this weekend too.  All of this has me even more fired up and ready to go but I have to keep my plan in mind.......DISCIPLINE on the bike!!!!!!

I haven't been able to post whole lot this week but I have kept up on the reading and have seen that there is some sickness and healing going on at the same time.  Everyone take care of yourselves and try to focus beyond the immediate future and look outward, beyond the things right in front of you.  As John is looking positive at his season despite having to miss a key race all of us can look past those setbacks and strain toward what lies ahead of us.

I am not sure I will be posting anything other than facebook stuff because I don't believe the campground has wifi and I hate posting to BT from my phone.  I'll attempt to stay up on my reading and check back in on Monday, hopefully with a RR from the race.

Hey all, a quick check in as someone has left their wireless open and I'm able to get online (we have no access up here).

I can't wait to get home and really catch up as a lot has been going on around here.

For the saddle question, I did what Jeff suggested and actually had a bike shop which "loaned" me saddles to try, as well as borrowing others from my cycling friends.  I think I tried 20 different versions before the Adamo.  Just be sure to ride long enough for whatever distances you plan to ride - I found that some felt great at 25 miles, but by 50 I was not a happy camper.

Dina, I totally agree with Jeff that you can change the day and the expectations in any way to make it work for you.  If that doesn't do it, don't race.  This is supposed to be a FUN diversion, so enjoy yourself - whatever that means to you.  I mean, my "A" race this year was a RELAY!  How un-junkie and un-triathlete is that?

I've been savoring the relay win and eating way too much ice cream this week, but that's my fault for planning a 70.3 at the end of my vacation week.  Matt, I'm ready for you.  Everyone racing the half distance, have a great race, warm up on the swim, pace the bike properly, and run it home.  Talk to you all Sunday evening!

bswcpa - 2012-08-24 2:50 AM JOHN - Although you're disappointed over having to forego your HIM, I agree with Dina that it's wonderful you've put a positive spin to it. You had a FANTASTIC race season, you're deemed healthy and you've dropped 20 pounds. That's all great stuff! TRACY - Sorry to know you're sick. Drink tons of water and flush it out of your system. Looking forward to reading the RR. Looked at the pictures and boy, did it look foggy, rainy and cold....but fun! SAMANTHA - You rocked the run on your race! Way to finish strong - both the race itself and your tri season. Training takes a big chunk out of our lives and it IS a relief to not have to focus on that. Enjoy your extra time. DINA - Around here a lot of people don't use a wetsuit in a legal race so I'm sure you wouldn't be the only one. It's interesting to realize that our mental state has a huge bearing on our race outlook. I love how Jeff brought that to light. Hope you have peace about your decision one way or the other. KARL - Yeah on the IT band! 30 min without pain is something to celebrate! DIRK - Jeff was just pointing out the obvious to your question so don't call him names. It'll be interesting to see how our bodies respond on Sunday now that the forecast is for low 90s. Yikes! Have a safe trip to Ohio today. I look forward to seeing you and Matt tomorrow. And stop PRESSURING me about Cedar Point. TONY - Glad the road rash is getting better. Your pictures looked horrible and after seeing them, I'm even more amazed you got back on your bike and finished. You get the perseverance award! JEFF - Thanks for accepting my life-long friendship. I didn't know you were the first Junkie - thanks for setting a good thing in motion. JOANNE - Glad you got the saddle question worked out with Jeff and I hope you're able to find one out of the 3 he recommended that'll work for you. Let us know what you decided. WARREN - This weekend is your big solo 70.3, right? Rev3 Maine (I just looked at your log) Good luck to you! I laugh when I see you have zero swim training. Sure wish I could be that confident in my swim. You'll do super and I can't wait to read how you did. Share with us quickly. ) In fact - I think Warren, Dirk and Matt are all doing their very FIRST 70.3 on Sunday. Woot, woot! Go boys! I'll be behind you....a long way behind you..... but I'm still planning on crossing the finish line. Whoever else is racing too, may you have a great time! And to the rest of you, may you have a blessed weekend!

Yep...it was pea soup out there!  It wasn't raining, though. 

A huge good luck for everyone racing this weekend.  We are about to get in the car to drive down to Mass. for an olympic tomorrow and race season is over for the year. 

Miss you all!  Make me proud!

-JG

Brenda and all, we're a family now, you're stuck with us!  I have an open invitation to all the junkies - if you ever qualify and decide to run Boston, IM me and we'll give the royal treatment.  And if any of you every want to do Timberman, I'll lend you a spot in our cottage.  It's small but we'll figure it out, and you'll be 3 miles from the start in a beautiful location.  I'd love to try to find an event next year to meet up.

I'm checked in with my sherpa son and ready for the Rev3 Half rev tomorrow.  More good news for Matt - it's a LOOOONG way from the swim end to transition - .4 miles!  My T1 time will be horrendous!  Can't wait and getting excited.

Just thinking of all the Junkies racing right now.  Hop ya'll are doing good and doing your best!  Pleae post your race reports whe ya'll get a chance.

On a funny note, wife was looking through our local races and guess what she found.  250 swim, 4K ride and 1.2 run, she was so excited, just a 4K ride, then she read on...  it is a nude triathlon...lol  to bad we don't own mountain bikes because it is thru the woods...lol  that will be uuummmm interesting...

Now that is funny! Solves the issue of what to wear I guess .

I have so many friends participating in big races this weekend. 2 friends racing IM Lou plus all the Junkies racing. I want to sit by my computer all day and watch for updates but we're taking a grown up day to a local Winery.

Missed my ride yesterday - while I was out walking the dog my husband and son decided we should take a trip to the city and go to the zoo (2 hr drive). So we stop for lunch with only about 30 min left of the drive and my daughter orders a sweet tea. Not that big of a deal except that we get stuck in traffic due to construction and the 30 min drive takes an hour. Of course Gracie has to go pee pee from the tea. Now I have to help her climb up to the front seat so I can hold a cup (the only thing we could find) to potty in while we are still stuck in traffic and my husband decides it would be funny to start reciting lines from National Lampoon's Vacation.....

I really would have rather been riding!!!!!!!!

So I checked out the tracker for my age group and it turns out a girl I know from college is doing IM Lou.  She came out of the water 5th in her AG and she is posting a 20-21mph ride currently.  She is quite the ironman!  She has been to Kona a few times, and I believe she won her age group there when she was in the 18-24 group...  I feel like she has KQ'd with every IM she has done.  (could be wrong about this.)

Samantha what is very cool is I can track Bobby on myathletelive.com. He is being traced via GPS so it is WAY better than tracking someone on IM athlete tracker. It is real time. He is doing great right now at mile 70 of the bike leg. I hope to catch him on IM live as he is finishing today. It sounds like your friend is quite the athlete to be KQing. She sounds like she is doing well and I hope she has a great finish.

Samantha very cool about your friend! She must be an amazing athlete! Tony, glad DreamChaser is doing well. I sent him an inspire, not that he will see it today .

One of the local athletes I am tracking does not currently have any bike splits posted. I'm getting a little worried. This is his 3rd attempt to complete an IM so I hope it is just a tracking glitch.

michgirlsk - 2012-08-26 12:42 PM Dina I am embarrassed to ask, who is Thomas Gerlach?  I google that he is a pro, is he a BTer too?

He posts on BT sometimes so I wanted to give him a shout out. He's been quiet lately - probably too busy training!

Jo63 - 2012-08-26 12:38 PM Karl and Dina..your stories are too funny! Tony and Sam I hope your friends do well today! This morning was Doreen (the woman I was swim Angeling for) her first tri and she finished yeah! she was so thankful and she said couldn't of done the swim without me although I know she could have, but it made me feel pretty good! My husband and I drove to Madison yesterday where I rode for my first time on the IM coarse , it's pretty hilly and after the first hill again I had a little freak out I must stop doing this anyway I met up with some other riders and they took me under their wings and with their help I was able conquer the rest of the hills I also want to say THANK YOU to Jeff for the saddle recommendation I rode on the Adamo with no issues so this was huge. My hubby also drove and waited every ten miles or so and was ready with water, I was told at one particular hill (it was pretty hard) there is a man in a red dress holding a pitchfork and yells to everyone during the race before they start the hill " welcome to hell" this should definetly be amusing. I can't believe it is only 2 weeks away. I am looking forward to some inspiring RR from today It's raining here now so Iam gonna go nap and then head out for a run.

There are so many friends of mine doing this race. I really wish I could come and volunteer or just cheer everyone on. So glad the saddle is working out for you!

I bet you will get some extra blessings from the tri angles for your time being a swim angle . Glad everything went well!