MJEWEN Summer 2013 Mentor Group - OPEN (Page 12)

It's typically a velcro strap that goes around your ankle for triathlons so it doesn't fall off during the swim. For running events a lot of times they are on your bib number, but occasionally they attach to your shoe.

OMG Chrissy! How awful about your pedal issue, but I have to agree with Ken, it is good it happened to you before Sunday. Also, I am so glad you can laugh about it and that you are not hurt. I would be interested in doing the course route with you on Saturday, but I need to go rather early, as I am supposed to go to a class reunion out of town that evening. Yes, I know, class reunion before the tri doesn't sound like a good idea, but I plan to just go for the dinner and then head home. So, could you be there at 1:00? I will message you my phone #. I don't know if you know, but Hwy 370 is a rather busy hwy, so I will probably only go out on that part of the route just the one time. Also, don't be nervous for the race. You are going to do great!

Don, I don't listen to music during any of my workouts. However, I usually run with other people, so that is my entertainment and what keeps me going! When I first started running about 8 years ago, I used to listen to music and really enjoyed having the music to keep me moving, but I found that when I stopped listening to music and started listening to my body, that my running actually improved. I also feel a bit safer now that I don't have it, as I am more aware of what's going on around me. Plus, I was afraid of what it was doing to my hearing, which is not all that great, anyway. I read somewhere that listening to music (having earbuds in) while running is one of the worst things you can do to your ears, as I guess the pounding of the running and vibrations, plus the music strains the eardrums. I just really don't miss it. Plus, I was always so distracted with my iPod and what song was or was not playing, that I just would get frustrated. i think it is good to do some runs without music, just so you know how it feels to run during a race without it.
And I think Chrissy already said, but yes, the chip timers in a triathlon are velcro strapped to your ankle.

Emile, it sounds like you are doing great with your training. What and when is your next race?

I would love to get a GPS watch, HR monitor, but it never really seems to make it into the budget. I start saving for one, but the money usually ends up going to something else that is needed more.

Melissa, and Terry: Haven't heard much from you. Hope your summer is going well and that you are training and having fun!

Denise my next planned race is on 9/21 it is Redman 70.3. I was hoping to get in a couple of sprints this summer before Redman but I don't think it is going to workout. I have 3 kids and they keep me fairly busy. Every time I think I might get a race in something else comes up. Although I've already told everybody in the family the weekend of 9/21 is off limits. Also, to be honest with you I've never raced a lot. I love racing but I love the journey more. I like to mark an "A" race down, draw up a training plan, set my goals and then put all my effort into the 1 race. Although after Redman there is a duathlon I've done the last 2 years in Oct and a 5k in hometown in Nov that I plan on doing too.

Melissa and Terry I've also been wondering how you guys have been doing.

Got my crank arm fixed last night so I am good to go biking again.

Denise I sent you a message with my cell #. I think I can meet you at 1 pm. I don't recall where packet pick up is (don't have the email at work), but I assume you want to meet at the TA at 1pm, so I will plan to be there at that time. Does the HWY have a shoulder? I plan to do just one loop of the ride, unless Ken wants to ride though it too, then I might do a second loop if he can't meet us at 1. I will get my packet after the ride. Enjoy your reunion!

I did it! This morning I swam a half mile, biked 13 miles and ran four and a half miles. I did it slow but at my current fitness level I am able to complete a sprint triathlon. I spoke with my wife about it and she thinks I should sign up for the Presque Isle Triathlon.

This is pretty exciting. I really wasn't sure if I was going to be able to swim that far my first time in almost 25 years. I had some breathing issues with freestyle so I swam breast stroke most of the way. That shouldn't be too hard to fix. I just need to figure out hw often I need to inhale and exhale at what pace.

WooHoo!

Don - Congrats on completing the distance! How long until the triathlon?

Don - Excellent job completing your first unofficial tri! Very impressive.

Edited by crissy_jo 2013-07-12 3:08 PM

Hi all,

It's been a pretty busy couple of weeks for me but I am still alive and training. Today I have a couple of hours at the bike shop, 3 basketball games at a referee camp, and a golf match. I'm not even sure when I'll have time to eat. I've fallen behind on the recent posts but will catch up soon. Good luck to all racing this weekend!

Mike WOW! that is a full day! You said you might not have time to eat I was wondering if you were going to have time to sleep.

Got to meet Denise & Ken yesterday and met up with them both at the race today. Nice people!
The race went rather well for me - despite my chain coming off and my retainer behind my top teeth coming off preventing me from taking in any fluid/calories. Funny story really. It popped off when I decided I better take a gel pack. Resulted in my having to spit out the gel, all over my leg, shoe, bike, hands. I think this might have bit me in the butt during the run. That plus the fact I haven't done enough run training. The run was torture. Slowest 5k I can recall running in a long, long time.

I listed my race report - they already have the results online! I don't know how each leg of the race went compared to others in my age bracket because they don't break the results down like that.

Best part for me was the swim - what I was dreading the most. So, just because of that this was a great race for me. I got passed by several on the run and ended up 5th in my division (Female 30-39), 11th place female, 77th overall.

Now that I have this race under my belt I'm ready for my next tri in 2 weeks at the Cornhusker State Games. Won't kick butt, but surely I won't run into the same problems. :-)

Edited by crissy_jo 2013-07-14 4:09 PM

It was great meeting Crissy and Denise in real life this weekend. It also feels very good to have my first OWS out of the way. Nowhere to go but up from here as far as swimming/floating goes

I'll post a race report eventually, but I just figured out how I did in the bike/run/swim relative to my age division by sorting and counting.
Swim: (22:24) Overall 236 /243 (three way tie for 236!) Age Div 50/54 (two way tie)
Bike: (52:11) Overall 45/243 Age Div 16/54
Run (24:21) Overall 32 / 243 Age Div 15 / 54
Overall (1:42:10) Overall 92 / 243 Age Div 26/54

Crunching the numbers, it looks like there is one particular area that is a potential area of improvement for next time... ha ha. Its either that or have a run split next time that is faster than my swim split. I probably could have this time if I had pushed harder on the run, sort of took the run easy after there were no more people in site to pick-off.

I counted, but didn't figure out my age group ratios yet but I like how Ken listed his. So I counted and sorted too. Sorting by my age group will take me just a bit longer.

Mine were as follows for gender. The email I received said there were 99 women, so I'm going with that number.

Swim: 10/99
Bike: 11/99
Run: 36/99

Very much like Ken, I think I too can see where I can make improvement! :-) So starting today I will be sure to get all my runs in every week. :-)

Crissy & Ken great job!

Crissy awesome job on staying focused on the race even with the multiple problems that were thrown at you.

Ken I always look at how I place in each leg too. It always reminds me I have a lot of work to do in 2 of the 3 legs.

Edited by EKH 2013-07-15 8:32 AM

Nice racing you guys. Every event you finish is a win. The fun part is getting out there and doing your thing.

I registered for my first triathlon this afternoon. The Presque Isle Triathlon takes place Saturday, August 24, 2013. I'm pretty sure I'll probably be in last place but I will finish. I will finish no matter what!

It occurred to me this morning that I have really made significant progress. I quit smoking on April 5th of this year and started running. My first few runs I could not run more than half a mile and I had to stop, bent over the side of the trail gasping for air. Now I am entering my first triathlon. I must be freaking crazy.

I should probably not enter a triathlon. I could sleep in that morning and have bacon and eggs. I could watch cartoons with the kids and do nothing all day. That really wouldn't be me. Would it? I guess I am just going to have to go out there and do my best.

Don - Congrats on signing up for your first race and changing how you live!

Denise how did your race go?

Woke up this morning and took off for an 8mi run and a couple of miles into the run the skies opened up. I felt like I was running in a hurricane there was blinding rain and strong winds. I was running early in the morning when a lot of people were drive to work. I kept wondering what they were thinking as they were driving by and looking at me running in the rain. They were probably thinking the same thing my wife was when I walked in the door. She said I was a crazy nut to be running out in that hard of rain.

Congrats everyone on a great race! Sounds like everyone had an awesome day.

Emil- I know those looks you were getting this morning...I run at lunchtime during workdays, usually regardless of rain, wind, snow, or shine. We got caught out in a hail storm earlier this year....and the locals (who think we are crazy anyway I am sure), just shook their heads at us.

Saturday I had my longest endurance training of my life: 9 mile run followed by a 28 mile bike. I think it would have been fine if I hadn't woken up that morning ridiculously sore from the cross-fit class I had taken the day before! By the time I dragged my butt home after my ride, I was a broken woman...epsom salt baths and lots of ibuprofen ensued. I took Sunday off but still felt horrible on my 5.1 run today. I am not sure if I just did the wrong things in recovering (my weekend was full of poor diet choices and alcohol), or if the heat and humidity today took its toll.

I also swam with my local Master's group last week. What a humbling experience. I stopped taking the triathlon swim class at my local YMCA because I was much faster than anyone in the class and need to do more yardage than the class offers. I thought the Masters group would be the perfect next step. BOY was I wrong! I know it would be good for me to try and join them regularly, but it is really hard to get to the pool at 5:30am just for the masters to swim laps around me. Ugh!

hey all.... Congrats to you guys all racing together this weekend.

welcome to all the newcomers....
I've been really busy with work and getting caught up form all the last races.

I finished the New York Triathlon this past weekend. It was pretty spectacular. Well organized, and an amazing experience.
I'll post photos when I get a little time. My time was slower that I had thought because I didn't really factor for the hills. They really kicked my butt. .... the hills on the bike portion were definitely a problem for me. We don't have those very long slow climbs here in Florida or the steeper grades for those rollers that came way too often for me... the run was o.k. on the hills in central park (we ran clockwise from the 72 St transverse) a little slower that's had thought, but a good effort for me otherwise it was an okay race.

I've been ready all the posts, I've just been really swamped with work for the past month....

Don,

I agree 100% with you that every event you finish is a win. I might even say that every event you start training for is a win. Being more active is its own reward and getting to compete is just icing on the cake.

Congrats on stopping smoking and on your progress so far! I think you're past the "its crazy to do this" and almost to the "its crazy that people don't do this" phase

Hey everyone! The tri with Chrissy and Ken went well. I felt pretty good about it. I was really struggling on the run, but my swim was so much better than the first tri I did. I still have room for improvement, but I remained calm and kept swimming! I found it extremely difficult to sight the buoys as they were orange, the same color as the first heat's swim caps!
I will write up a race report at some point, but here's my break down:
Time: 1:43:39
Overall Place: 100 of 243
Place in Gender: 20 of 99
Place in Division F4049: 5 of 29

Swim: 15:04
Tran1: 1:57
Bike: 57:02
Tran2: 0:59
Run: 28:39
I didn't break down each event and placement. Don't have time right now. Maybe eventually.
I will post pictures of us soon, too!
Sounds like everyone is really busy training or doing other activities this summer. I thought this was going to be my last tri of the year, but my friend is trying to get me to enter another one! I will do one more, but it is a recreational type one, just for fun and no chip timers. I like to get as many friends as I can out to do that one, just so they realize they can!

I added an album titled: Team MJEWEN, description Papillion Mayor's Tri. http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/Albums?searchText=Team+MJEWEN&spp...

Hope everyone can see it.
I might have a few more, but I think that's most of what I have that are any good. (My hubby is not a photographer!). ugh!

Great photos. I added a few comments. :-) I was pretty easy to spot on the bike w/ my bright pink suit and bright yellow bike!!

Thanks Denise! My wife and kids were travelling and couldn't be there, so I look forward to sharing the pics with them. Its hard to describe the scene of the OWS without a picture.

Really cool to have 3 from our group at the same race! Great job to Denise's hubby to get the pics. Some great action shots and good shots of the 3 of you together. I noticed there were very few wetsuits at the swim start. Was it really hot?

I won an entry into a Sprint Tri on August 3. Loggerhead Tri at Jupiter Florida - it should be fun.

I also registered for a full distance 140.6 event in January 2014. I was buying laces at a running store before I went to New York and ran into New Zealander Liz Hadfield and we began talking triathlon, like forever it seemed, training regimin, running styles, biking into the wind, etc...., fueling, hydration and she gave me that last little push I needed to register for a full distance... anyways, I will continue to work on hills and begin in earnest my aerobic distance running ....

Terry,

Congrats on starting your training journey to Ironman'hood!

I think you'll do great!



Edited by Landmammal 2013-07-16 11:17 AM