Matt Gilmartin's Group- CLOSED~ we're swimming! (Page 12)

Mariah, where do you work out at? If there's another pool available I'd suggest you try that one

Warm water feels good for floating, wateraerobics(LOL), and other sedentary "exercises".  It will definitely drain you as a triathlete, though.

And I'm not knocking anyone who does those things to get active, but we are triathletes here.  The bar is raised for us.

My two biggest challenges in doing a tri aren't the sports or the training, it's the start time and cold water! I am a night person and REALLY struggle in the a.m. I even work at night. I have to get up at 7:30 for my son's preschool 3 days a week and it kills me. Making it to the 10 a.m. Pilates class is such a struggle.

I also hate being cold so the OWS will be a shock. I live in a retirement capital and the Y pool is always 82-84 and I am a little cold getting in! Although once I get moving it does feel warm. But the old ladies wouldn't tolerate it below 82

I plan to do several OWS before my first tri, and even a 5K at 8 a.m. to prepare - my other 5Ks were all evening/afternoon races lol

OK - here's a mind game that I play with myself and my family, and friends....

I am training.  I am not exercising.  I am not "doing yoga".  I am "getting fit".  I am training.  Training means I have a schedule.  Training means no excuses.  This is not "exercise".

Although I only have one tattoo (true), I think I need a hat or something that says "I am training".  It is my mantra that helps me establish consistency as much as a written schedule or goals.

And then there is life...this means that as an adult with many responsibilities (just as everyone else in our group has to juggle) if I give it my best effort to make that training schedule work,then I also get to forgive myself if I just run out of time.  Like today - a 14 hour shift and a family waiting at home.  I will pick it up again tomorrow and keep making it work.

No excuses for the cloudy pool - I'll be in there tomorrow!!!

Cheers,

Melinda

Jen- LOL- you're in for quite a shock!  Triathlons are all early (like as the sun rises early).  We're notorious nappers though!

As far as the cold water, get a good wetsuit that will keep you warm.  When you're ready to start looking I'll give you tips for shopping.

Matt

Melinda,

If this were Facebook I'd give you a "like"!  Great attitude, and you're spot on about the difference between working out versus training.

You sound a lot like my wife.  The first 5K we signed up for, I didn't tell her the start time on purpose!  The experience of getting out there and having fun made 7:30 feel like not as big of an imdediment the next time around.  Now, she even enjoys waking up at 6:30am on a Saturday to go for a 7:30am long run with me!

The cold is still a limiting factor for her, though.  She grew up on South Florida were the January low is 73!  For running/biking having layers has helped...I don't know what she'll do for the swim though.

Not much of a morning person or cold water person myself. That's why I plan to do a "My first tri" which is in a pool (indoors I believe and if the air is cooler than 74 they allow a wet suit). I plan my sprint tri for May or June when the water is warmer (it's usually pretty warm in Tx by then).

so, my plan is as follows, let me know of any changes you advise. swim, bike, run twice a week is something I'm assuming I need to adopt as routine. With that in mind:

Mon:swim/leg strength training

Tues: bi, tri, shoulder/bike

Weds: chest, back/run

Thurs: core wrkt

Fri: swim/run

Sat: Bike

Sun- REST

so, should I have a set time I swim/bike/run and try to increase speed and distance in that alloted time, or have a set distance and try to reduce time? I want to do enough, but I don't want to overtrain! No injuries here please! Thanks in advance for suggestions 

My daughter is getting a road bike for her birthday! We ordered it today!

I usually swim at the natatorium with the Masters (MWF at 0500-0600), but since the base team swims on T/TH (-530-0630), I can train with them on base. The pool is used by the PJ's and Combat Control students, which is why I don't understand why they keep it so warm. 

Funny story - I recently learned how to do flip turns and have really been working on getting better. I was in the base pool and tried to do a flip turn only to find myself skidding along the bottom on my back! Only then did I remember that it's only 3 feet deep on the one side! I decided that I would only do flip turns on the deep end!

No swimming for me for a few months I would say. I do good to stay up with my childcare payments at the YMCA much less the monthly payment. Run, Bike and Strength training will have to do for now. Funny how they say you make too much money for the discount even tho your bank account says different.

Been focusing on my core strength. Cant say its been easy but Iam trying... My running has been slowed by the rain that we have been having and some family stuff. No rain, I can get some late night or early morning runs in with little issue. Iam keeping the pressure on myself at a low level and just enjoy myself.

If you're planning on a summer tri, you still have a good amount of time to train for the swim, even with the setback.  I'm going to start swimming only moderately till after my half mary and 15k in March, and then take 3 months to focus on swim until a June sprint tri.

Does your Y offer discounts for volunteer hours?  Some, YMCA's are willing to accept time as a payment in order to offset costs.

Iam not interested in volunteering. With work, kids, wife, tri stuff, mtn biking, etc.. My plate is already stretched pretty thin.

My Tri is in June and its swim is 440yd. So I figure as long as Iam swimming by April I should be good enough.

440 yards is a pretty easy swim- that's less than 10 laps of a regular sized pool.  You'll be OK waiting for a while.  Stick to the base building in running and cycling for now.

For me, my Lifetime dues are the top priority every month.  My kids love it too, so the whole family gets a lot of benefit from it.

Nice, Mariah!  How old is your daughter?  Lucky girl- I can't wait till my 6 and 3 year olds get their first roadies

This Christmas the boy got a Spiderman bike, and the girl got a Disney Princess bike LOL-

Steve, the mess is everywhere!  I was on the phone today with a co-worker in DC, their office is out.  Both my kiddos have ear infections right now.  Get healthy, then start your training.

Jenheaslip - 2012-01-12 5:28 PM Bikes must have been the thing to get this Christmas! My husband wants to get back into mountain biking but his bike is 15 years old, so I got him a nice one for Christmas, and we also got our 4-year-old son his first bike with training wheels (and a horn and Spider-Man helmet ) Now I am looking through Craigslist and other places for a used road bike - I am seeing a lot of Trek and Vita brands around here for women, are they pretty good?

Jen, I've never heard of Vita?  Trek's are generally pretty good... Lance Armstrong won the TDF 7 times on one.  I'm personally partial to Felt.  My road bike is a beauty, and it's treated me very well.  If you want to, post the description of what you're looking at and I'll give you a breakdown.  Bikes are complicated and can be intimidating to newbies.  We're doing this for fun, not to add stress to our lives