Yanti & Salty MAD MANATEES Mentor Group - FULL POD (Page 12)

Yeah, I don't really document that. I stretch and roll on a need-be basis. But I must admit, it is rare (i'm talking maybe twice a week?) 

The thing is, I have stretched and not stretched and it hasn't seemed to make a difference. I don't say this because I think I am right, it is just an observation. I am generally not too sore or stiff but I will say that I always have had extremely tight hamstrings. Not painful or anything but I can HARDLY touch my toes. It's pathetic. 

Better do that quick intro i promised yesterday.

I am a married 47 year old father of one 9 year old living at home and 5 who are now grown up. I used to have a physical job which kept me reasonably fit but then i went into teaching and now help run the family business, neither of which were/are particularly active. Consequently i have slowly gone to seed and even look like one, being round and shiney on top. The week before Christmas i suddenly announced to my family that i was going to do a triathlon. It surprised me as much as it did them, but on boxing day i found this site, logged in, printed off the Micheal Pate couch potato to sprint programme, put on my old trainers and waddled off for my first run/walk.

Luckily the site was setting up the new year mentor programme and I found myself immersed in the crazy world of the Manatees.

I live in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, ENGLAND about 7 miles from the heart of Sherwood Forest (where Robin Hood lived).

From not being able to run for more than 2 mins, I completed The Lincoln City 10k 2 weeks ago, in 1:02, which was my first ever race. I have still to compete in my first triathlon and hope to put this right by entering a local sprint series in three weeks.

I am still struggling to break my nicotine addiction, am 25lb overweight, swim like a brick and have only a borrowed road bike but what the hey, lifes for the taking and it's time i got on with it.

The Manatee pod has been brilliant and it's reincarnation looks possibly even better, so i am really looking forward to continuing my journey with you all.

By the way, my sense of humour is distinctly sarcastic, being British, so if i accidently offend any of you whilst trying to be funny, I apologise in advance.

Training at the moment is sporadic due to a niggling, persistant calf muscle injury but i will always keep you posted.

Here's to us all for 2012

Unless it does start making a difference, or you suddenly feel the need to become the world champion in toe-touching running, don't worry about it.

BTW ... I've always done the strength training. It just got filed under Yoga or Stretch Cords. Fooled ya! Definitely pulled back on it during the "peakest" of the peak weeks and taper, though. I just didn't do it until my body fell apart from all the illnesses.

Dara Torres has osteoarthritis, and she's a sprinter, which arguably is even worse wear on major joints, and she's doing okay (grand understatement of the century) ... so I feel much better about my prospects/progress/etc.

Another idea is to ditch the clip-ons and just go with the road fit, since that's what's comfortable and is working for you. Whatever gets you the most T.I.T.S. (Time In The Saddle, for those unfamiliar with the cycling jargon) ... people do IMs with road bikes in road positions and do fine.

Hello!

How fun! and you rock! are a couple things that immediately come to mind as I read your post. Running a 10K in just over an hour as your first race is awesome! (I was a whimp, my first race was a 5K). Looking forward to hearing from you, and perhaps even being kept up to date on the happenings in Sherwood Forest.

~Pauline

Thanks for this.  I have a pair of clip ons that I have been contemplating putting on my roadie, but haven't yet had the guts to do so.  Mostly because I don't want to mess with what has been working so far.  What I have been doing is trying to 'get low' on my bike.  So would you say that those that do IMs on their road bikes spend a lot/the majority of time in the drops?  Or just try and get low while on the hoods?

Thanks for advice on the 'what to wear' issue. Looks like i'll have to splash out on Tri shorts and get some practice in before 'D' day.

Finally did my rain run. As it turned out, the rain eased significantly. Who says procrastination doesn't pay? Also set a new PR, which having only packed in the cigarettes (again), 5 hours ago, is not a bad result.

Daren't tell Yanti and Salty that i had started smoking again in the last pod because they would have given me a good THWACKING.

Hello!

How fun! and you rock! are a couple things that immediately come to mind as I read your post. Running a 10K in just over an hour as your first race is awesome! (I was a whimp, my first race was a 5K). Looking forward to hearing from you, and perhaps even being kept up to date on the happenings in Sherwood Forest.

~Pauline

Since I haven't run since my half marathon back on March 4th, my goal is to run three times this week.

First run -- check!

~Pauline

Hi Claire!

How great to have such an amazing sister! How did you learn how to swim?

~Pauline

Teef? TEEF?! But she just popped out, like, yesterday!!!

Pssst ... Allen is actually Little John.

Pauline ... love love love your enthusiasm and attitude.

She'll be four months old on Wednesday!  Hard to believe.

No teeth through the gums yet, but they are definitely just under.  You can see all the little bumps.

I like how daddy is better when she is happy and in a good mood, but she wants ONLY MOMMY when she is sad and unhappy.  Oh well.  At least I am wanted. 

How are the kitties taking it all? Biscuits is asleep at my feet with her paw over her eyes, which I never fail to find hilarious.

Hi Pauline!

I learned how to swim about three years ago.  I never swam (only splashed around) as a kid due to constant ear infections.  My sister was the swimmer and I was the runner growing up.   I was always afraid of getting my head submerged in water for fear of hurting my ears.  My ear doctor said I could swim and that routine check ups are really all that i needed.  

So, I learned how to swim with the help of my sister and youtube.  I'm slow, but I'm ok with that.  I'm having a great time doing tri.  

Thanks for asking.  

I need to get that attitude back.  I started swimming just under a year ago and I was thrilled when I could swim 50 meters! Somehow I got it in my head this winter that I needed to get my time to sub 2:00/100 and recently it's been taking my enjoyment out of swimming. I need to be ok with slow.

Hi guys and gals.

Weekend's over and I don't mind that!  I get edgy all that time on my hands!

So monday I went to a different swim squad at 5.30am - run by a guy called Stephen Foster who I think was Aussie triathlon champion back in the day.  Was nice to mix it up with a different lot fo people and training, but he wasn't a patch on my Coach John Van Wisse - back to him tomorrow - thank God!

Today's workout - well the weather has turned freezing (well by Melbourne standards) - but today I have a 30min run - doing that in my lunch break.  And a 60min ride which will have to be on the trainer again - which I don't mind, comfort of the lounge room etc!  Music on!  No fear of falling into the traffic, or indeed of falling at all.  And at the end of my 60mins I do 5mins clipping and unclipping!

Back to work today and as previously stated not that bothered - I'm a woman who loves routine so public holidays mess with all of that!

Have a great week everyone!

Hi guys and gals.

Weekend's over and I don't mind that!  I get edgy all that time on my hands!

So monday I went to a different swim squad at 5.30am - run by a guy called Stephen Foster who I think was Aussie triathlon champion back in the day.  Was nice to mix it up with a different lot fo people and training, but he wasn't a patch on my Coach John Van Wisse - back to him tomorrow - thank God!

Today's workout - well the weather has turned freezing (well by Melbourne standards) - but today I have a 30min run - doing that in my lunch break.  And a 60min ride which will have to be on the trainer again - which I don't mind, comfort of the lounge room etc!  Music on!  No fear of falling into the traffic, or indeed of falling at all.  And at the end of my 60mins I do 5mins clipping and unclipping!

Back to work today and as previously stated not that bothered - I'm a woman who loves routine so public holidays mess with all of that!

Have a great week everyone!

You get my respect just for having your eyes open at 5:30 am! 

x2 I never did make it to the masters swim in my area because of the time I'd have to wake up...

My weekend starts tomorrow.  Just got the bike tuned up and ready to go so a bunch of riding, mostly easy, for the tri in a week and a half oh boy!  Also going for a couple of test open water swims with my new wetsuit to get used to it.  Ocean swims, any advice for a first timer in a wetsuit?

Be really careful putting it on so you don't rip it (you have good wetsuit-putting-on instructions?) ... but pull it up far enough in the crotch that you are singing soprano. Not kidding. That's how a wetsuit should fit.