Sink or SWIM! with WittyCityGirl - CLOSED (Page 11)

Johanne- this is a constant question in my mind, it seems!  Think of each workout as an experience that you bank into your memory.  If it was a good workout-what made it good?  If it was a bad workout-what made it bad?  Over time, you'll develop a pattern that you can see if you keep track in your training logs.  Then, on a day when you're on the fence you can go back and look at a similar situation and try to make a decision based on your past experiences.

What kind of past experiences?

Well... if you're feeling sick today (stomach ache, headache, fatigue, etc)...what did you do in the past and how did it turn out?

If you're just plain busy today...what did you do in the past on a busy day and how did you feel mentally and physically after?  Did you feel more energized if you squoze in a workout?  Did you miss having the mental break from other obligations?

What if you're trying to decide between a swim/bike/run/yoga/horseback riding/zumba/tai chi/rock climbing, etc?  That's something that you can look back and see what decisions you made OR you can look ahead and see what decisions you SHOULD be making.

Example... what I learned from Ironman training, but more importantly, Ironman racing, was that it is very important to do what you can now to make the future better.  Whether it is 10 minutes from now, 10 hours from now, 10 days from now, etc.  If you think that your body is tired today, but you want to work out then choose something easy on your body, like light spinning or easy swimming.  If you've been moderately exercising, but are deficient in putting in an honest-to-goodness-kick-your-azz workout then it's probably a good idea to throw that in there to build your strength/speed/endurance to have better workouts in the future.

Chronic fatigue is not okay.  So, if you see a pattern that you are always in pain or always tired then it is truly a good idea to take a break.  Otherwise, carry on and train, baby, train!

Finally got a workout in this week.  I just got back from drowning swimming and it sucked.  I have lost everything I gained last summer.

I'm not sure if it is the size of the pool. Last year I swam in a 25yd pool, this year I'm using a 50m pool.  My workout today was from Sara's Log.  My form is horrible and I hold my breath.

For whatever reason, when I exhale in the water, I don't feel like I'm getting enough air when I breathe.

Guess it's a good thing my first Tri is only a 200m swim, and I think the Oly will have to wait until next year.

Sorry for the vent, but I had high hopes for this year.

Hey Tim,

Never fear.  Try kicking like Superman-arms out in front.  Try to kick six times and pick your head straight up (looking forward) to breathe and then put your head back in the water and continue kicking like Superman.  Start with 25 yards and then rest.  Work your way up to 100 yards of doing this comfortably and without stopping.  There's no sense in practicing your swimming if you feel like you're floundering.  You can even switch to kicking with a kickboard.  Build that core strength so that you can support your breathing, kicking and pulling.

I'm going to start doing this tomorrow in my neighborhood pool.  It isn't 25 yards, but it is free.

Thanks.

Feel like a slug after reading about all of you guys efforts.  I slept through the AM swim, but did stop by the pool on the way home.  Did 10 x 100 yards on 3 minutes.  Was completing them around 2:20.  Tried to "hear" my breathing like Sara advised, but think I'm tone deaf!!!!!  Seriously, I can tell that the form and breathing are still killing me.  Need to figure out how to relax AND keep the core tight.  Hoping to get in 2 swims, a bike, a run, and a round of golf this weekend.

Keep the tips / experiences coming -- so much of what you are all going through matches what I'm experiencing / helps to know that others are drowning swimming, biking, and running with me.

I must of missed an earlier post about this race. Is this a relay that you are doing? Where/what is it? Great job on the first leg. You are speedy!

Walked 1.15 miles today - the first .69 only took 13:xx so it was possibly too fast (although I could still talk so it mustn't have been too bad)  and then the second part involved hills so it was a pretty good workout

Got off my backside -- thanks for the KITA Mike! -- and headed to the Y for an AM swim.  Decided to do 1000 yards straight.  Time was 28:49 (2:42, 3:05, 2:59, 2:58, 2:54, 2:48, 2:52, 2:51, 2:49, 2:45).  While my PR is at 28:00, think this may have been the best I've ever done as I did not push / stretch myself.  Simply relaxed and took my time.  Around 500 yards, found myself breathing easy / seeming to get plenty of air.  Result was that I had no muscle fatigue and it was "easy".  Could tell my form was pretty ugly, but did not worry about that as I wanted to enjoy actually getting air versus fighting.  Think that I'm really close to a big improvement in the pool.  Believe that muscles are starting to get developed; and, with my increase in confidence, I'll start to see the times drop.

Hoping to get a run in this PM / will be shooting for my 4.7 mile route at a 10 minute / easy pace.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday.

Cozumel... wonderful!  Nothing like the Caribean.  Huatulco is a very beautiful place, I highly recommend it too.  I has 8 bays and it’s very clean.  I was there last july.  The closest beach to Cuernavaca is Acapulco.  I hope to be able to go there at least once before the race, but I doubt that I’ll be able to…

Have a lovely day!

Thanks!  and thank you for the comment on the avatar pic.  I'd love to swim at a Michigan lake one day... 

Headed out for a run prior to lunch.   Goal was to run nice and easy at a 10 minute pace.  Took my time and relaxed.  Felt very strong and solid / could tell I was running WAY below 10 minutes.  Result was an "easy" 8:56 pace for 4.7 miles (42:01 total).  Very pleased that I'm starting to feel like I have some strength in all of the disciplines.  Not patient by nature and it's been frustrating working on building a base.  Nice to see it starting to pay off.

Curt, that is freakin' fantastic!! Nice work!! Just look back to where you were when the last mentor group started - you've come a long way, and all the work is paying off. Hey, Itzia -- we have a budding superstar here . Hopefully he'll let us still hang out w/him once he's off doing IM's all the time

Mike

Yeah right -- you know this is all about the ups and downs!  So frustrating that you can't bottle days like today and keep them going.  That said, I'm being realistic about the whole thing.  Only started endurance sports last year and I'm fully expecting it to take 2-3 years before I'm comfortable.  It's nice to see it coming together a bit, but there is so far to go.  The new groups been a big help -- folks pushing, offering ideas that work and generally supportive.  Thing I've been so impressed with in the triathlon area is how supportive folks are to each other.

Regarding the IM thing, can't ever see it.  Could see Olympic length and MAYBE a HIM.  But the full  IM seems to be brutal on your body.  Not doing this to hurt myself!!!  As long as you and Itzia stay nice, I'll let you hang out with me.  HeXX I can't you off with your silence of the lambs dungeon don't know what the reprecussions would be.  And Itzia's my Spanish teacher so have to keep her around!

Great work everyone- I look forward to hearing about your next lot of adventures

LOL. Just a bit of chianti & fava beans for dinner here...

Days like you had today are the ones that keep you going on the bad days. Keep at it, and you'll be beating all your goals before you know it. 

I need to get off my lazy butt and get moving. This week was lame, lame, lame. May hit the trainer tonight for an hour as my ride this AM never happened. Tomorrow is swim, and MAYBE, just MAYBE a run. My foot is feeling good, so I'm thinking of trying a nice easy jog. We'll see....

Hey!  The three blind mice will certainly make it to an IM, even if you have to go back to the track and drag me through the finish line!! 

Congratulations Curt!  You are sooo disciplined.  That’s why you see such good results.  BUT  We have to see how you are doing on the Spanish front!  How about a little sample on a post.  LOL

Mike you were doing very long distances before your foot issues, it will pass soon…

It was too hot to go outside so I moved the elliptical to the coolest room in the house and did 95 mins on it, 4 miles, 998 calories, 11555 steps.  I’ll rest a bit and go out on my mountain bike.  It looks like rain… crazy weather!!

You motivate me to get my act together and train today.  Thanks guys!   

Hi all, is everyone having a great weekend???

To the goggle question. I can't remember what brand I'm using but they work ok. I was using a pair for quite a while and at my last tri last year they got leaky. I didn't discover this until I went in for my warm up and transition was around the corner and up a hill and I didn't have time to get my back up pair. I think this year I'm going to pull out a new pair a few swims before I race and hopefully I won't have that problem come up again.

Dave-looking forward to hearing about your race.

Tim-swimming seems to be the sport that takes most of us the longest to get comfortable with. You can do it  Keep at it!

Curt-isn't it nice to be in a group and feel like there are others out there too working through the same thing. We are all going to have a great year. Super nice to turn around and have such a good run too.

Chet-Glad the last leg was early and cooler for you. Sounds like it was a great race.

Suzi-great job on your walk. Nice to add the hills too. 

Mike-Glad your foot is feeling better. ART is a thing of beauty!

Sara-didn't you have a race this weekend? How'd it go?

I did a 100K bike ride today. The weather was perfect. Dave broke his chain and cassette on his bike and might of cracked his frame He had to get SAG'd back to the starting point after 10 miles. It was pretty disappointing. I kept going on the ride and felt overall pretty good about my ride. I was more relaxed on the downhills and was able to maintain a good pace on the straights. The climbs  weren't fast but I didn't have to stop. It was all a lot of fun. I finished just under 5 hours with 2400 feet of climbing. My Garmin transferred the data to my computer and then it was all lost somewhere so I can't pull up any of my stats Has anyone ever had that happen? I might call support Monday and see if I can retrieve it.

Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!

Johanne

After reading everyone's workouts/adventures over the past week, I am both in awe and motivated by everyone! I had a planned rest day yesterday, and today was more of a walking/yardwork day--so I didn't do much. Tomorrow I will be volunteering at the Icebreaker Triathlon in Granite Bay, CA.--its a two-fold benefit for me: For volunteering, I get a voucher for another race--which I plan on using for my second race (and my first sprint) on June 4th, also the other benefit will be watching the triathlon and seeing how everything works. I'm really looking forward to it.

After that, tomorrow will be a combo workout--swimming and running plus some weights for good measure--and I ALSO need to get the bike out before my next long ride--I just put some new pedals on it--the clipping type--so I will need to get used to being attached at my feet!

Oh well, back to dinner prep.