Elaine's Awesome Start to 2012 Group! - Closed! (Page 12)

Thanks everyone! I'm really happy with my race yesterday! Working on the Race Report!

My new tradition is a Rice Krispie Treat and a Red Bull (w/ sugar) about 45 min before the start of a race. A friend introduced me to this, and I've done well with it. I feel like it's a secret weapon!

Disclaimer: I can consume ~200-250 cal/hr on the bike max. On the run, it's usually closer to ~100 cal/hr. I don't sweat a ton, so I'm usually not popping extra electrolytes. When I have had to use them, I like Hammer Endurolytes. 

Starting 2/1, my Rev3 team will be sponsored by Powerbar. I learned that their Gels have about twice the sodium of other gels. So, if you sweat a bunch, this might be worth looking into!

Sprint: I'll usually have something small about 30-45 min before the start (now, Red Bull and Rice Krispie treat!). If it's hot, I'll have gatorade on my bike. If it's not too bad out, just water. I'll usually stick a Gu in my back pocket and have it with me on the ride and the run, but I almost never eat it.

Oly: Same breakfast. Usually a gel or something at the beginning of the bike, and something towards the end. I'll take gatorade or water on the run course, but almost never eat because I don't usually eat on the run.

70.3: Same breakfast. On the bike, I take in ~100 cal every 30 min. I drank nuun and water. On the run, I only managed ~100 cal total, plus a few oranges on the course and a ton of gatorade.

Half Marathon: ~100 cal, but I'll carry an extra gel in case I feel like eating it. I drink water and sports drink in the course.

Marathon: I tried to do ~100 cal every 5 miles, but I ended up with ~100 cal at 5, 11, 17, 23. I drank sports drink and water. 

My biggest piece of advice: Experiment during training! Try out different products, work on timing, and just learn what you can and cannot do.

I struggle with my nutruiton on non race days!!! So I really need to start there!

But for races I am really still trying to figure it out. I am a heavy salt sweater. Heavy. I can season meals after a good run and my face is crusty white! So I drink nuun and water before and after. I can't do anything heavy before so its usually just a banana regardless of the length of race. I have been trying the Gu chomps which are okay. I feel like that actually take my mind off the run trying to get that thing down. I did Gu gels for the first time on my half and it was so thick it was hard for me to get down. I tried accel gel on a traiing run and I liked that it was not as thick as Gu. but I am not sure if it made me sick. I am going to try it again.  I dont drink a lot in my races, I usually just grab some water and wet my mouth. For my recovery, I drink chocolate milk and Ill grab a bagel. Sometimes its hard to get stuff down right after a race.

Race Report is posted!

http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=423216

Yay! Running to read now!!! Congrats again on a great run!!

Swimming question.

I finished up on my lessons and what I have learned is because I have no endurance I cannot focus on my technique. I know I have to practice my side drills because when I turned to get air I gulped in water and of course that stopped me in my tracks. So my goal is to work on the side drills and rotating from the hip and not my head! Now endurance is just going to take me getting in the pool much more often.  My question is should I join a masters group to do this or just try it on my own? I guess I feel intimiated with the whole "masters" title, while Im trying to work on side drills and balance.  But I dont want to just work on my own and develop bad technique.

That really depends on the masters team in your area. 

Give the coach a call or shoot them an e-mail and ask what they think. I've been to teams that are great with beginners, and I've been to teams that write a workout on the board and everyone just goes at it on their own. The coach should be able to give you an idea on whether you'll feel welcome or feel lost. Make the call / send the e-mail knowing your avg pace per hundred, because that is likely to come up in conversation, and that can give them a good idea of where you are.

Go to the Masters swim. Always good advice, I felt intimadated my first time last year. My swim instructor pushed me to go after class, even for 15 minutes and it is a good way to improve. There are always slow lanes and fast lanes. Jump in it will help

I've been MIA, sorry. I got a pretty bad respiratory infection and then I hurt my knee, not sure how. Back to the Dr. tomorrow hope to get back to doing something. 

Everyone sounds like they are working hard. Good job.

Great job Elaine and Dave.

I second this.  Talk the the masters group coach/leader.  We have 3 groups in our masters program.  Workouts are prepared for each session.  Group 1 is longest/fastest intervals. Group 2 a little slower, less distance, Group 3 the least yards, slowest intervals.  Start off in the lane you feel is most appropriate.  If the yardage seems too long or the intervals seem too fast, drop off 50-100 yards when you feel you need to in order to rest.  So what if you don't do the full yardage.  Each time you return, you will do more and more yardage and get a little faster.

Sorry to hear that. Hope you get well soon!

tkr2770 Get better soon!!!!!

Thanks guys!! I looked into it further and they say they work with novices on up. I can actually go to three free sessions to get a feel of it so I am definetly going to do that. Its listed as a masters/triathlete program so hopefully its as good as it sounds! I am also going to make it a point to get to the pool on my own to really just work on that endurance. 

That's GREAT news about masters swimming! Let us know how it goes for you!

It's that time again: to post your monthly totals!!

This is totally optional. You can use it to brag, to motivate yourself, to help us help you better in the next month

 Posted a good running number, but now it's time to get back on my bike and back in the pool! Oh, and back off the running a little, too

O.K. Elaine, I have a basic understanding of what hashers are (drinkers with a running problem etc.) but what exactly is the act of hashing?  Is that, one hour of running + drinking alcholic beverages etc.  And how much of that hour was spent actually running vs. other activities?

I'm glad someone asked about the hashing!!! i think I want to be a hasher one day one race!!!

As for January stats:

 Pretty sad. But on to the next month!!! Putting it together like this really puts it into perspective. The winter is such a hard time to train. I just want to sleep in!

 I obviously walk more that 2 hr and 47 m a month : )

My best overall January numbers ever!  Running last January was 122 miles but I was training for a marathon.

Pretty mellow month for me; happy with the numbers especially with taking the week off before school started.  Finally working out the new schedule and it looks like I have some solid time built in for training, the hard part will be keeping up with school work