Asphalt Junkies CLOSED AND GETTING OUR FIX (Page 12)

Jeff I agree with Dina and Jonathan and congrats on a great week so far and nothing petty about that at all. They are right this is what the forum is all about and if I could do all that and the week is isn't even half over yet yeah I would be pretty excited about that too! It's a testament to all the hard work you have been putting in to your training especially to see it pay off with those type of results.

wbayek - 2012-04-10 1:06 PM

mambos - 2012-04-10 12:50 PM Man this group is super busy today! I spent my entire lunch trying to catch up! A lot of good advice, I'm definitely going to be keying on the 70.3 race plans as the time comes closer!
Also noticed I am being used as an example for being slow ! I'm glad I can set a good example, one thing that is neat to look at is in the graph section, go to myles and choose graphs! Select February 2011 to apr 2012 and use total distance-run for graph selection! I did not get up to the mileage I wanted but the steady increase from November until now is a telling tale! Some wise man once said that for every 5lb lost, you will also lose 45s on a 5k time! I'm still 10lbs above target weight so I may set a 5k goal of 21 flat for end of summer! I wonder if it's possible? Lastly IPhones stink for formatting on this site! Have a good day!

You are being used as an example of how training slow can make you race not slow.  You have officially lost the ability to play the slow card in terms of your running!

Great training, not great workouts - that's from the Little Red Book of Running, which is a great read, by the way.

UMMMM??  YEAH!!!  No more slow talk from you "Mr. Gonzales "

I agree with this completely. 

As your program progresses toward a larger volume don't worry about dropping some of the strength training.  As long as you are getting your other SBR WO's in as your schedule allows there won't be any triathlon related muscle atrophy because you will be working these muscle groups through each of your related WO's. 

What I have noticed while being forced due to injury to take a month off swimming that my ability to do pull ups had shrunk from almost 20 reps to about 11-12.  Once I began swimming again I was able to get right back into shape and able to get back up to the desired number of pull ups.  I use this as an example of how triathlon training allows your body to be strengthened and maintained during training.  For the most part your muscular structure remains intact through on going training.  Your core gets minor workouts during all 3 disciplines.  My opinion is that you really need to do limited amounts of structural muscular work outs once you have a solid core and supporting muscle groups.

I, like everyone else, think you are providing an example of what anyone can achieve with the proper discipline and training.  There is more to the formula than those 2 things, such as smart training and time, all of which you seem to have applied to your life.

From the weight loss perspective both you and Matt have agreed with each other although the topic hadn't really come up directly.  I believe one of the reason you both are getting faster is the weight loss.  Matt said 5 lbs off translates into 45 seconds faster on a 5k and I have heard something pretty similar.  I am looking to cut another 5-7 pounds before my A races in August/September and that will certainly make me faster along with training.

Oh and the Breyers?  I think a triple portion is in order based on your recent successes in training.  As a matter of fact I think I'll celebrate with you with my own PILE of ice cream.

Jeff, I don't think it's narcissistic at all.  You were getting back to being fit just a few years ago, as many of us are right now, so I think it's great to see positive results from someone else with kids, a job, and all the same life commitments that we all have.

Thanks for sharing, and inspiring me to keep working at it.

My master's class is very humbling.  I'm still three lanes over from the fast lane.  It gives me something to strive for I guess.  Sometimes I look over during the all out sets and those guys are passing me like I'm standing still.  It's just awesome.  There is this one guy that must be 7 feet tall.  He dwarfs me!  And I'm a pretty tall guy.

I also want to say that flip turns are hard.  I spent a good amount of time a while back trying learn them by myself and sort of gave up.  The master's coach said she expects me to learn, so I'm giving it a go....NOT easy.  I've been at this swimming thing for a while now and STILL learning new things.  It takes patience and a lot of hard work.  I'm only saying this because I think everyone needs to remember that this is a long process.  Be persistent and believe in yourself as you go along.  One of the best things about this sport is that you can continually improve over many years.

No pics, No proof!  Must be a hoax.  LOL

I would really like to see some pics myself.  I am hoping a tri bike will be in my future in the next year but I am not holding my breath just yet.  I will likely buy used and upgrade components as needed.  I figure the first tri bike can be a used model so I can get a better bike at a slightly lower cost to me.  I figure I'll wait for the Specialized Shiv until I am sponsored and get a new bike every year.

"He dwarfs me!" - That cracks me up right there!  If he dwarfs you, I must be a dwarf! 

I feel like I have the hang of the flip turns now but it was a bit of a process to get a rhythm to them and be able to breath after the turn.  I always felt like I was gasping for air.  After doing open turns for so long and getting a huge gulp of air before going back in the water, holding my breath for a few more seconds seemed like forever.  

I do have a story from last nights swim to prove that I am nowhere near a pro at flip turns.  At the beginning of my swim I had a little water in my goggles and was having trouble seeing.  I had stopped already 2 times during my WU and the third time I just decided to suck it up and deal with the water.  So I am nearing the end of the pool and I can barely see the cross marking the end of the pool, I complete my fli p turn and push off the wall..................or not!  I missed the wall!  Completely!  I totally missed the wall!  I started my flip turn to soon and missed the friggin wall.  Awesome!

Blah!  Bagged the bike ride and took a nap with my son instead.  I ran 30 minutes at a super easy pace.  HR stayed in Zone 1 until the last 10 minutes when it went up into Zone 2.  I felt ok, not great, though.

Sorry all, but time for a little boasting. I'm at over 700 miles so far this year. I should hit 1,000 before the end of the month. I have never biked that much. Woooohoooo!

My goal before the year is out will be 3,000 miles.

Congrats on a milestone Stan.  Part of success is setting goals and seeing them through and you're well on your way to achieving your cycling goal ahead of time.  Good job!

This brings up a good point too.  I have set goals for myself this year in terms of distances in each discipline.  They are targets to help keep me on track for training and hitting my racing targets.  I asked a few days ago what each persons racing goals were for the year. 

Do you have other metrics that you plan to use to keep yourself on track for training throughout the year?

bswcpa - 2012-04-11 5:33 AM Wow, Stan! Great job! That's some serious time in the saddle! Everyone do a happy dance with me today because I just finished my last individual tax return! Freedom, here I come!!

Congratulations Brenda! 

You are feeling the way I will be feeling when we make it through the regular storm season here.  I never look forward to the spring storms and the extra work load that has potential to interrupt just about anything and everything at any given time.

Jonathan this is a great post and puts swimming in perspective for me. I've watched your swim video and you have been doing it way longer than I have and you are no doubt a much better swimmer then I am but just acknowledging that fact at how hard swimming is gives me hope that I will continue to improve. I watch the regular swimmers at my pool and they make it seem so easy and effortless and the reality is that swimming is really hard and it is easy to get fustrated and feel like you aren't making progress or you won't improve. It's good to hear you say these things about this and like I said it gives me hope and a better perspective on the fact that swimming is a long process and it inspires  and motivates me to know that I am not the only one who feels like I have have much to learn! Thanks.

Jeff, I enjoyed hearing about your successes.  Everyone here wants to read about how your hard work has paid off, so don't consider it bragging.

Stan, congrats on your milestone!  That is a lot of cycling!

Brenda, happy dance completed.  Accounting busy season is not fun, but you made it through another year. 

Thanks for all of the advice about my left leg.  It is still just a little tender but definitely feeling much better today.   

Hey Jo that's great to hear and I am sure you can't wait to get the bike and we'd all like to see it. I bought my Tri bike in Feb I figured if I was going to do this I wanted to train and race on a Tri bike. I was thinking about a used Cervelo P1 and new entry level Felt's. I figured I would get in March when my bonus came in however I got an unexpected bonus in Feb in addition to what I get in March so I wound up getting the bike I really, really, really wanted lol. With the blessing of my wonderful wife she allowed me to buy a brand new Cervelo P2. I love that bike. I figured it was an investment and if I take care of the bike it should last me a long time. It will be good for any distance Tri I decide to do. Also the bike fitting had to be one of the most educational experiences of my life lol. I think I learned more in that 3 hour session about that bike and riding it than I have in my entire life. Enjoy it when you get it.

Brenda congrats on finishing up your work. It sounds like you really earned your new found freedom.

Stan keep boasting and great work. It sounds like you are well on your way to hitting your mileage goal for the year.

Allison glad to hear you are feeling better today.

Stan, U probably got calluses...lol  great job.

Jonathon, I agreee and appreciate the swim advice.  It does put a "perspective" spin on it.

This group is really GREAT.  I try to keep my fingers still and not comment to much and let the people who know what they are talking about do the replying. 

Anyway my question today.  I want an "official" training plan and found the plans for BT on this site.  I chose the 20 week swim focused for an Olympic.  That is my goal for Sept/Oct.  Is this to aggressive?  I can do a 10K now, I can struggle thru the bike ride but the swim!!!!!

Is it better to do the Olympic 3X.  Which would be best to avoid injury?

Also take into consideration, I live in N. FL.  It is already HOT!!!  I can take the heat better than the cold but it does take more recovery time.  I do not plan on starting the plan until May due to other obligations and trying to learn to swim better by then, plus the water is still cold.  I know it would be hot for the northern folks but if it is not at least 75, I'm not getting in it.  I think this summer w/ the heat, it will give me time to focus on the swim.  Thoughts?

Sorry this is so long winded for a simple ???