brick94513-GoGoGo Mentor Group - Closed For Now! (Page 12)

Masters swim with Claudia coaching followed by a TM run.  Log posted.  Heading to Disneyland for three days.  Hotel has a lap pool and nice fitness center.  Then I leave for DC for all next week and once again hotel has a lap pool (and awesome) fitness center... so I’ll be keeping it honest!

QOTD: What are you most afraid of in your next event and how do you plan to overcome it? 

This is GOOD one!

AOTD:  X2 on a fear of injury!  Here's my story... The friggin’ Veterans Administration and Doctors say I'm not supposed to participate in any impact exercise or activity.  While in uniform for 20 plus years (active & reserve) I beat up my body pretty bad resulting in a severe case of what’s called chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS).  These days, typically CECS is not that big a deal but for me it was miss-diagnosed for so long and I just grinned and bared it to stay in the field.  My cowboy attitude back in the day mixed with dumb-a$$ed Military Docs caused the facia tissue in my legs to permanently deteriorate.  That said though... I also have a terrible case of "Type A Personality-itis" and don’t like to be told I 'cant' do something, especially when I see Veterans returning from combat with injuries much much greater than mine... and these Studs drive on.  In fact, Captain Ivan Castro (the only currently serving blind) Special Forces Soldier continues to defy the “Doctors” by running and finishing Marathons.

So due partly to my bad attititude -and- partly to not wanting to do what I’m told… I jumped into Triathlon for personal satisfaction and hopefully in the process there will be a lesson learned somewhere for my kids.  There are caveats though…  I have to be very 'smart' about how I approach impact oriented exercise and must carefully plan and execute potentially traumatic physical activity in low doses, paying close attention to recovery.  The hardest part of all of this for me has been coming to terms that I will never be able to compete at the level I used to (pre-CECS) or be able to participate in elite distance Triathlon events.  A good long run day for me is about 4 miles, which in essence restricts me to Super Sprint and Sprint distances.

To compensate, what I am focusing on is the personal satisfaction of finishing each event that I enter and improving my personal best as capable.  I also am using each athletic event to bring attention to various causes through my activities with the San Diego Firefighters Emerald Society; the Special Operations Warrior Foundation; the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, the Wounded Warrior Project; the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, and; the Chelsea’s Light Foundation.

So here I am again tonight with ice packs on my shins a bottle of motrin quail eggs and ready to do it again with a smile on my face!  There are alot of people out there that expect me to push it and finish...  Who am I to let them down?

AOTD:  Definitely the OWS.  Unfortunately, the water temps may be too cold to practice before my tri in these parts.  I'm just going to get as good as I can in the pool and pray it goes ok.

Mark

Being in the Marine Corps, Former Full contact fighter, I can say its hard to get more Type "A" than I am.  As recent as 5 years ago I ran a 5k in 21 minute's flat.  I did this once a year for a little 5K fun run our county DA's office hoasted for victoms right week.  I would train for about 6 weeks never run longer than 4 miles and did about 10 to 12 miles a week.  Right off the couch my first run would be in the 25 minute range and in the 21 range 6 weeks later at the race. I ran every training run BALLS TO THE WALL,  If i was puking when I got done it was a good run.  Now Lets fast forward.  For work I took a position working out of state traveling for a year in 2006 and just let myself go gained 40 pounds and last year when I decided to get back in shape.. something had Chaned for the worse... I just couldn't breath. Figured it was just beign fat till I coughed up some blood in a run.  Long story short found out I had Asthma...WTF how do you just get asthma at 40??? 

Now I run DIRT AZZ SLOW!!  compared to my recent past ability.  Walking during a run just wasn't somthing I ever did.  I picked up a copy of Jeff Galloways marathon book...  I have to say I'm not sure I'll ever go back to running without walk breaks. It is 100% easier on your body, for me It lets me keep my breathing under control. I usually run any where form 4/minute run:1/minute walk ratio to 3run:2walk ratio.  Besides being easier on your body you will be amazed that your not really slower over a long distance because the walk breaks keep you fresh and you dont really start slowing down as much as you do at the end of a straight run. 

Grab one of his books and give it a read It may help.  I would also recomend Chi-running that is a great book for form that will help with lower body and joint stress. 

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/walk_breaks.html

Look at how much I increased my milage from 65 in February to 100 in March traing for the 25K that is 35% and I felt great and had no problems at all. I'm not saying it will work for you but it is worth at try. 

Best of luck

Friday QOTD: What do you think is your most important piece of equipment and why?

I think the first answer that comes to mind is the bike since that's used for the longest leg of the race, BUT when I give it some thought I think my answer is 'me'.  I can buy a 15k dollar bike and still suck at cycling.  I can buy the 'fastest' wetsuit and still not swim well or I could buy the most technically advanced shoe and still run slow. 

Everyone have a great weekend, good luck on any long workouts, races or vacation time and dont forget to HAVE FUN!

double post

Run at the hotel after Disneyland Friday evening… Log Posted.  Swim this morning before California Adventure and Run this evening after.  Heading back to Disneyland tonight then home tomorrow afternoon.  Rest day tomorrow.... Trying to keep it honest (first Tri is May 2nd).

Thanks’ for the advice on running resources.  When I get back home I’ll definitely be looking into them.  You guys rock!

Friday’s AOTD: Ditto on the most important piece of equipment being “ME”… I’m the engine and success or failure begins with me.