Jenny (jsnowash)'s Spring Guinea Pig Group - CLOSED (Page 12)

Hi Jenny,

I know your grup is closed, but I was wondering if you were still able to accept newbies. I've just re-joined BT and signed up for my first race (it's been 3 years since my last tri). So I am looking for a little inspiration to help me along the way.

If you can't accept new bloggers, I totally get it, but I'd thought I'd give it a shot.

Thanks!
Toni

Had a good 2 hr indoor bike session last night.  The final 15-20 minutes were a bit challenging, but overall it felt reasonably ok.  That said, I need to get outside...training like a hamster in my basement is wearing thin.

BTW, the weather here in the NY area is just weird.  A few weeks ago it was in the mid-80s.  Now it feels like fall...cold and damp.  It's back and forth, and then back and forth again.  Hopefully it'll settle into a more normal spring-like pattern soon.

In any case, happy Wednesday to all.

Jenny:  I have an older Polar 200sd.  I discovered how to do an autolap every mile, but then the summary is just for the whole time.  I may have to break down and read the manual.  I usually only run with the HR monitor, but adding the foot pod gave me some distance and time records I wasn't watching before.  I was surprised to learn that I was running farther and faster than I expected, but I may just need to recalibrate the foot pod, too.  I follow a meandering route and I didn't realize the distance.

I ran for 50 minutes this morning and really enjoyed the quiet and early morning sunshine.

Jeff:  Be sure that you tell your Pilates instructor about the back strain because that sounds like a form problem which at a minimum your instructor can watch out for during class.

Good day, All~!

Janette

I'm sooo bummed out right now...went to my local Life Time Fitness to swim midday (per my training plan!!!) and while I knew it was being renovated I assumed since it was open for swim lessons they would allow me to swim laps as well.  You know what they say about assuming....anyway, can't figure out why they won't allow lap swimmers...ugh!

So - Jenny - I will try to do a short cycle session tonight if I have time in lieu of the swim.  There is another pool I can go to but its a drive in the wrong direction and a good distance away.  We'll see if I can get there.

I haven't done anything workout-wise since last Saturday.  But the good news is my back seems to be loosening up.  Still a bit sore and tight.  I think that by Saturday or Sunday I should be good to try something short and easy to see how it goes.

My HM coming up in 2 weeks is going to be a slow one, for fun only!

Bill

I had my largest spinning class ever this morning with 17 participants.  Usually I have only 7-9.  I was revved to have that many, but it was difficult to keep track of what everyone needed.  I had a couple newbies so I had to shout out my form and technique instructions while still keeping my veterans pumping.  I enjoyed the enthusiasm in the room, and I got an incredible workout to boot!

I am headed to the pool after work today.  Funny thing about swimming is I always look forward to doing it, but half way through, I am frustrated and think I want to get out.  Running is just the opposite.  I put off getting started, but once I am going, I want to go farther. 

I read a post yesterday that made sense to me - "Worry is NOT preparation."  I tend to overthink and analyze (i.e. worry) and really what I should be doing is just DOING.  So - I am off to go DO.

Janette

Thanks, Janette.  I just started going and it really seems to irritate my back. I'm hoping it's just lazy muscles being forced to work properly.  I'll ask her to keep an eye on what I'm doing. 

oh well.

I'm with you - I think I did 10 or 12 miles once on the treadmill and it killed me.  My wife and daughter love running on it because they can catch up with their shows that were DVR'd.  me - unless its really icy outside, really cold/windy, or storming I'm going outside for my runs.

Larchmont - I agree on the treadmill, but sometimes it is a dreaded necessity.  My treadmill has a create your own workout feature.  I had my 15 yo daughter create about 5 random ones for me.  They are each 1/2 hour long and vary in pace and elevation.  When I am bored, I pick one of those out and finish it out.  My daughter changes them for me once in awhile.  Sometimes she is feeling more benevolent and other times she is downright mean to her old mama!  It is variety, I guess.

I want to know who spilled the bad back beans in this forum?  I did something running on Wednesday and now have a little hitch in my giddy-up, too.  I know it is all muscular because heat, ice, ibuprofen and Biofreeze have helped.  I actually felt better after spinning and swimming yesterday.  Just a little lingering hiccup now.

I ran a short 50 minute route this morning at 6.  I concentrated on maintaining the pace I wanted.  It was a nice morning.

I swam last night for 1000 m which is a longer swim for me.  I am still struggling with enough air.  From what I can tell I am not relaxed enough and not exhaling well in the water.  I feel like I am swinging my golf club while my golf instructor watches - too many things to think about - where is my head, my elbow, how am I rotating .....  I can easily get into my comfortable zone biking or running where I can hold a pace and go with it.  Swimming is different.  I am struggling just to keep going and I can't just slow down to jog or easy pedal. 

I have 2 months to my first sprint tri with OWS - I know I won't drown and I am relatively fast at a breast or side stroke, but I want to swim the whole thing freestyle without freaking out or hyperventilating.  My swim yesterday was discouraging when I really kept track of the number of laps I was doing without resting or changing stroke.

Janette

One of the great things about living down here is that we can do all our workouts outside, year around.  No treadmill necessary and no indoor bike trainer needed either.

@Jenny, due to my tweaked back I've done nothing all week.  But I am encouraged that I'm about over the hump.  So I'm going to consider this week a washout and start up with your latest 2 week block on Monday.

Bill

Hey g-pigs,

Larchmont - I have no tips for you - the only advice I can think to give is to get off the treadmill and head outside! I hate the treadmill beyond all reason. The furthest I can go (before getting crazy-bored) is 1 mile. Knowing that, I have a wide variety of all-weather running clothes and I always** run outside (even where it would make other people call me crazy). ** the one exception to this is soccer games inside a dome.

Janette - sorry to hear about the sore back.  Glad to hear heat, etc. is helping!

Bill - also sorry to hear about your sore back. Hope you are feeling better soon!

Jenny - hope you are feeling better soon, too.  I can't even imagine doing an 18-20 mile run on a treadmill. 

It is a beautiful day here.  I was supposed to have a soccer practice tonight (from 9-11pm), but after the last one, where I drove all the way to the field (45 minutes away from home) to find out that it wasn't happening, I think I'm going to skip it.  Instead, I'm planning on a bike ride by the alpacas.  I'll update on their general existence again later. I'm also going to head out with my husband and get him to hit some ground-balls at me - softball season starts on Monday, and I haven't fielded a grounder since September!

I have already taken the dogs for a short hike on a nearby trail system. I didn't bring any water for them (or me), so we cut it a bit short, heading back to the car after about an hour, but I will definitely take them there again - the trails aren't very technical, and the woods are nice and peaceful.  I also want to go back to run - there is one trail called "fitness trail" that seems to have specific exercises (complete with bars/benches/etc. to use, where appropriate) at set intervals.  I have no idea how long the trail is, but can tell you that the last exercise placard said it was number 17.  It might be a neat way to incorporate some strength training into a run.

~ Heather

Anybody betting on the Kentucky Derby?  Mint julep?  What about an icy margarita on Cinco de Mayo?  I am going to partake in a little betting - I always pick one to win and bet 5$ - and one margarita - no salt!! 

I went for a nice outdoor bike ride, hitting a couple hills.  The ride was 20 miles and took me 65 minutes so I was okay for time, but battled the wind a little.  Still felt good to be outside.

Heather - isn't it just the best running with the dogs.  I have one that loves to run when I go in the hills and we don't have the risk of running into other dogs or fight a leash.  He just makes me smile at how eager he is to make the run an adventure.  His enthusiasm always rubs off on me.

Have a great weekend, GP's!

Janette

Yuck!

Got sick Wed., didn't get out of bed til Friday.  Managed to walk a few holes of golf on Sat., but I was gassed after 9. 

Today I put training aside and simply went out to ride my bike, smell the roses and have a warm cookie sitting on the curb watching world go by.  I'll start training again tomorrow.

As Jenny knows I'm dealing with a bout of shin splints in my left leg.  No running Sat, Sun or today.  I've been icing and stretching all weekend.  Hope to run an easy 3 miles tomorrow morning to see how it responds.  I have a HM on June 3rd and my first Tri since 2009 in Mid-June and I want to make sure I make it to the starting line in both.

My only concern is making sure it doesn't develop into a stress fracture.  No doctor's visit yet.  I've got no localized, specific spot of pain on the shin and I can hop up and down on my left leg with no shooting pain.  I admit, I'm horrible about using the the internet to self-diagnose.  Keep my shin in your thoughts...LOL...

On the bright side- I managed to get up early on a Monday morning to swim and then followed it up with a trainer ride.  1200M in the pool at 3x8' at 95% FTP on the bike. 

I used to run on the dreadmill when I belonged to a gym.  But I would only do it occasionally, in the middle of summer, when I didn't feel like venturing out in the midday H&H.  An air conditioned 76° is better than that.  Safer too.  Otherwise, the only time I ever run on the dreadmill is when I am in Breckenridge skiing.

The moon was bright and brilliant this morning!  A few high clouds but generally the moon was hanging there all by itself.  It lit up the way nicely!  6 easy-paced miles.  Not having done anything for 9 days due to the back, I just wanted/needed to get out there and get it done.  It's amazing how quickly the body forgets, as I had little aches and pains to start out, but it mostly remembered eventually. 

I spent the weekend working on the home theater which had been acting up for the last few months. I finally got frustrated with it enough to look into it.   At first I thought a cable was bad, then suspected the blu-ray player.  Nope.  The receiver wasn't switching inputs properly.  It turns out, after some Internet searching, that was a common problem for the receiver I had.  So I had to replace it.  (The cost to repair it would have been more than a new one.)  But everything's back up and running now.  It even has wireless network access now (for streaming, etc.).

I like doing that stuff.  "Boys and their Toys" as my DW likes to say ...

Bill

Happy Monday GPs! 

Mitch - hoping that your shins have a speedy recovery 

@Bill - tell me about Boys and their toys well technically i'm a girl but i love fiddling around with "techy" stuff. my uncle gave me his new garmin to set up since he's not so well versed with technology and i got too giddy for my own good... probably because i'm saving up to get one. 

Spent 30 mins water running yesterday and it's quite the work out!! Hopefully I can use this to maintain some semblance of run fitness. Swam about 20 mins just getting the arms moving. I think i'm going to have a strength workout tonight. 

Hoping everyone is staying or getting healthy!! 

It seems we're all pretty much on the same page with respect to treadmill running.  (Jenny - 18 miles on a treadmill, really? Wow, I'm impressed!) I agree with Heather, Mitch, Bill and whoever else said it about outdoor running.  Outdoors is so much better, and for me faster than treadmill running.  (BTW, I initially thought I would be faster indoors because I can control the speed, but in fact, I'm faster outside...is that 'normal'?)  The reason my treadmill and I are such good friends is because many days I can't start training until late into the evening (8pm or even later is normal), so rather than run into the night, I just head downstairs to the basement.  It's not ideal, but it works.

And sorry to hear so many folks are sick/injured.  I hope you're feeling better soon! As for me...my daughter has runny nose and a cough, so I'm sure I'll catch it before long, but I'm doing my best to avoid it.  Fingers crossed.

Got two training sessions completed over the weekend.  Sprint interval training my on treadmill(!) on Saturday night, and a 90 min bike ride last night on my indoor bike.  Two things I learned last night: (1) Thai food isn't a good pre-workout meal and (2) you can't go as fast on your indoor bike while trying to read the newspaper (seems like I lost 2mph, but I did catch-up on my weekend reading).

Hope everyone is having a good Monday!

'Glad to have all the GP's check in.  I am impressed by those who actually enjoy fiddling with the tech stuff.  I dread it because it usually requires undivided attention, and I generally have divided attention!  Hence, the reason I stall out figuring my splits on my Polar watch....

I did just a quick run this morning for 1/2 hour.  It is my off day, but I felt the need to do something.  I have already decided I am taking Mother's Day off so I am just going to spread out the planned Sunday sessions over the rest of the week.  I am not sure if that is the best plan, but then I get the same number of hours/miles into my workout week. 

I have a 5 mile race on Saturday.  I am looking forward to it.  This is my 5th year running this same race - Montana Women's Run.  I don't know that I am any better prepared physically than I have been before, but I do know with the intentional commitment to tri training this spring, I am more intense mentally for the race.  We will see how it turns out.

Hope you all have a great week!

J.