Jonathan22's mentor group - CLOSED (Page 12)

You should stop in some day to check out their stuff if you need anything tri specific.  I am glad I was able to try on some stuff because I would have been buying the wrong size online.  I guess a medium shirt in tri-world is different from real-world.  I wear a medium in most everything...I tried on a zoot tri shirt in a medium and I could barely breath! 

The only reason I knew about the sale/party was when we were in Run For Your Life we picked up an Endurance Magazine and saw an ad so I told my wife we should go to see if they had the shoe she wanted on sale (and they did, last years Mizuno Wave Rider for $50).  Glad we did cause we saved a ton of money her shoes! 

Congrads on your 4 miler this weekend.  I ran this race last year and enjoyed it (but it was about 15 degrees warmer last year :-).  I am doing the Elizabeth 8k this saturday so I skipped this race this year.

rpittster...

 Dang! 4 miles in 29 minutes!?

zooooommm!!

That is awesome. Great job......

rpittser, that sounds like a great run! I hope you had a good time. I was born in Charlotte, but haven't lived there in forever. It's beautiful.

As for me, I've had a GREAT week training! My race is only 10 days away and I now feel confident that I will be fine. Last Thursday after work I put my running shoes, shorts, socks, and t-shirt strapped into my Camelbak (I took out the bladder) with plans to ride to my wife's school (about 7mi), then run back home. I got about a mile from home and realized I had forgotten to cage my water bottle, and it was sitting in the fridge in the garage (even after reminding myself). Fortunately it was pretty cool out, high 60's, with a cold front moving in, bringing rain with it. I got to the school in about 30min. I put my bike in the van, changed shoes and shirt, and put my shorts on over my tri-shorts. I set my stopwatch and started running back home. About 1/2-mi into the run it started to rain and rained all the way home. It was nice and I stayed hydrated pretty well. I got home in 1:19:40.

Monday morning I wanted to swim early, but didn't get to it, so I was counseling a friend in the morning and he asked me about my training. I told him I was going to try to swim at lunch and just see how far I could swim and time it. So I went at lunch and did 200y kick and stroke drills to warm up, then took off the fins, adjusted my goggles and started doing laps. 1500Y in 38:43! I could have kept going because I wasn't tired and my arms still had plenty in them. If I didn't have to get back to work I would have probably gone for 2000. Man, that was exciting.

Yesterday after work I got on my bike and rode a 12.1mi route and it took about 57min. and as soon as I got back, I transitioned into my running gear and did my 3mi run. I finished that in 30:29, which is a 10:10 pace after a 12mi ride.

I'll be riding again tomorrow, a long easy ride (it's still hard for me to stay low; I don't have aeros; and my hands still go numb). I haven't been able to ride much due to weather and/or schedule, so I think my cycling will be my weak leg. I'm still only averaging 14-17. With time on the bike I know that will improve, so I'm not upset about it. It is what it is, and seeing such improvement in my other two race legs, I'm very encouraged.

On another note, I was able to order a chip strap, race belt, and Yanks, and they should be here in the next day or so. Early next week I'll take my bike in for a final tune and clean, then the race is next Saturday. It's approaching fast!

On the Yanks note, make sure you get some SHORT runs in with the Yanks in the shoes before your race.  I had to adjust mine 2-3 times after a run to get them to feel comfortable.  Initially had them too tight and got blisters on the side of my foot.  Now I LOVE them and don't understand why I ever learned to tie laces.

bg, thanks for the tip. They haven't come in yet, but I planned on putting them in as soon as I got them and trying them out. So it sounds like I need to leave them a little looser than I would instinctually? And I guess I'll do a couple of 1.5mi runs to try them out and make adjustments. Does that sound about right?

Well, today's supposed to be my ride day. And it's raining. If it's a light enough rain, I'll probably just risk it. They said they don't rain out the race here, so I may be riding in the rain anyway. I downloaded the race map, but I haven't ridden the bike route. I need to drive that and maybe I can ride it this weekend so I know where I'm going. And I may swim over lunch today.

Well they are wierd in that you lace them in reverse...from top to bottom but you have to lace the top very close because that is what strethes the most.  It just took a lot of adjustments to get it to feel right.  It doesn't have to be real short runs, just don't go out for a long run before you know they are OK.  Oh and don't cut the laces until you are happy with the adjustments.  I have about a 1/16" left after I cut and then had to make adjustments to loosen it up!

Finially felt like a "swimmer" yesterday.  I have been following the 3 month beginner program from BT and yesterday was the final week "big" swim.  750 in a row...AND I didn't feel like I was going to die!  Hooray! 

When I started swimming three months ago I really thought it would have been easier to pick up than it has.  Slowly but surely though it is coming together.  I think it is mentally harder than physically. 

Next week I will jump into the 0 --> 1650 swim program that Jonathon recommended.  1650 Seems so freaking far! 

Hope everyones weekend stays dry.  Calling for heavy rain here in Charlotte and I have an 8k race in the morning :-(  At least today I get a day to do nothing but relax!

Right there with you on the swimming thing. It was an amazing feeling to suddenly get it right one day. I'm glad your 750 went well. And the 1650 seems daunting, but just take it one lap at a time and you'll be amazed at what you can do. I was totally surprised when I did my 1500 and wanted to keep going. I know you'll do great.

And have a great race!

Ran my 8k yesterday with better than expected results.  32:10 (6:28/m).  Placed 9th overall and brought home my first age group medal (2nd place - 30-34).   WOOT!!! 

Final stats aren't posted yet but I estimate about 400+ runners in the 8k.   The unfortunate thing was my wife didn't bring a camera (but did bring our dog) and had to wait outside with the dog while I got my medal!  At least my daughter was with me to steal my medal immediately after I got it!

Almost as exciting as the medal was my 3 mile split.  19:02 with lots left in the tank.  One of my goals this year is a sub 20:00 5k and now I am super confident I can achieve that, maybe even get to around 19:00. 

astafford--

good luck in your first race this coming weekend!!!!! Let us know how it goes.

holly

SOCK question....Jonathan.....

Seems most experienced triathletes don't wear socks on the run. I imagine it is to save time? for ease? b/c your feet are wet out of the water?

Why is this? Do you  need special running shoes (I've seen some) that are designed for triathletes etc and am afraid I'd get more blisters w/o socks than with them.

What advice can you give?

thanks!
Holly

That is a stout pace.  Awesome job.

All,

Sorry that I have been such a slack mentor/host.  School and work are taking a lot out of me.  At least next week I have some planned vacation in Hilton Head. 

I ran the ING 1/2 Marathon this past Sunday.  I did OK.  PRd by a few seconds.  It was a C race so I didn't taper for it and that probably cost me a few minutes and a bigger PR.  No worries as my focus is on my two HIM this year and running a hard 1/2 mary on tired legs works in my favor come HIM race day.

I can't wait for the first tri of the season.  4/25 for me (Tanner Sprint).  

When is everyone elses first tri?

J22

Tri Latta (sprint) - June 13th for me.  

Until then, I am keeping busy with a 13.1 in April and one or two 5k's in May.  I really want to do a Olympic in September but it all depends on whether I get selected to run NYC marathon.  If I do, I don't know if I will have the time or not.  If I don't get in to NYC, we are probably going to enter Disney Marathon so I would definately get to squeeze in an Oylmpic race. 

Hope you enjoy you vacation time in HH!  This weekend we are heading to Isle of Palms beach near Charleston for a 3-day weekend (it is my wife's turn to run Cooper River) and I am SO looking forward to diggin' my toes in the sand...the road bike and running shoes will be packed however!

Great minds think alike!  LOL! 

We both really want to do NYC but with about a 30% chance of getting in, we aren't counting on it (seriously...how does NYC get 98,000 applications?).  If we both don't get in, we will probably do Disney in Jan.  My mother-in-law has been trying to plan a family Disney trip for a while so if we could combine the two (and have built in baby sitter), that would be great.  I am the type of person that likes to get outta town for a first time big race (would be my 1st mary, wifes 2nd).  Way more fun for me.

If you do Tri-Latta, I am sure you won't have a problem getting ready by June.  Once you get the confidence up, the longer distance gets easier.  Just doing my first 750 staight last week has made me much more confident in the pool.  My wife is also doing Tri-Latta on Sunday (we share my road bike so it works out great having it over two days). 

I try not to think about "open water" right now.  My open water swimming over the past 30 years consists of sitting on a life jacket in Lake Wylie and drinking beer...and having to swim back to the boat to get more beer!

My first tri is Saturday. It's the Smithfield Sprint in Smithfield, VA, where I live. 350y pool swim, 10mi bike, 5k run.

I'd like to do the Patrick Henry 1/2 marathon in August and the Giant Acorn Int'l in Bumpass, VA in October. If I can convince my bride, I want to do the Walt Disney World HIM next May. That's right at my daughter's birthday and she loves Disney, so I'd want to combine it into a vacation. In June 2010 or 2011 I want to do the Chesapeake Bay Swim, a 4.4-mile shore-to-shore.

On another note, I just worked on some sprints and cornering in my neighborhood and I had my first wipeout. I had to make some adjustments on my bike and I'm glad I found out better on this ride than in my race Saturday.

 My first tri is not till May 9th.  Up here in NJ the season starts later I guess.  It is a sprint of .45 mile swim, 20.5 mile bike and a 4 mile run.  Looking forward to it as I am finally feeling good running for the first time in a couple years.  Had been battling shin splints during the past couple years off and on.  I have all my basic gear ready to go but just need to order the wetsuit within the next week or so.  Also signed up for my other races, another sprint after the first race then 2 olympics after that.  Might throw in another sprint if I am feeling good.  

I just put in my Yankz last night, so I'll try them out tomorrow and make adjustments as needed. I haven't cut the excess so it looks like I'm wearing bunny slippers if I don't tuck them in.

I was thinking about the Giant Acorn tri in the fall. I don't have a wetsuit, but my friend is a surfer and is about my size. Would his wetsuit work for a tri okay, or are they built different enough that it would be a hindrance. I know tri suits are different, but would a surfer's wetsuit work close enough to the same. I think it's a short suit with short sleeves.

Yeah I second the wetsuit question.....

 I've got a shorty as I wakeboard and surf, that should be ok, right? I know how long it takes me to get out of it....does it slow transition time? I've heard some people use spray PAM or any kind of vegetable oil spray to spray on themselves to get out of the wetsuit.

 Oh and Jonathan~~~~thanks for the honest sock answer !!! ha ha. That is great.