Girl Passing on Left (FULL) (Page 127)

wish I could say I had a good race, but my dh packed my bike and grabbed the wrong helmet....we got there only to realize I had no helmet...and of course way too early to go buy one at a bike store....so, no race for me! ;( but I couldnt get upset with my husband...he is my biggest supporter! instead we watched the first swimmers take off and then go off on the bike..and then we went to go eat breakfast...will go for a ride with my un-cracked helmet and hoping to get in a short run too! Thanks for all your inspires...sux that this happened but I am online now looking for another race to do in the next few weeks! any suggestions Trish? and next year I say we do the Moraga together? deal?

I think unless a person trains with a tri group, triathlon can be pretty lonely.  Run alone, bike alone ....... swim with folks that you wish were not there (pool walkers etc)......
I have done the majority of my training alone. Kinda sucks not to have a booty to pace or follow, or another person around that is doing what I am.
ALl that said, on Tuesday I get to have a playdate ! YEAH  Heather my buddy from the pool and I are gonna have lunch and then a bike ride ! YEAH  Nice easy get her back into it ride adn gets me with a buddy.
There is also some wonderful talk around the Rubber ducky swim club that we need to start a set time /day to ride each week.......
YEAH !

Well I did race today, and I stuck 100% to my plan.  The plan was to stretch my legs after my long bike ride yesterday, and to conserve energy but put myself in a racing frame of mind.  It worked!  I never pushed too hard, I kept a manageable pace, and I feel good about the day.  Plus I won hardware -- 1st in my AG!

I'm so glad I didn't get caught up in the moment today.  The woman who won Grand Masters and I go head-to-head a lot.  Today she ran a 24:03.  If I had even tried to keep up with her, I'd be in trouble training-wise for this week.  So instead, I'll be able to do my long run tomorrow -- woo hoo!

Julie, I understand what you mean.  We don't have a tri club here, so I don't have a consistent group to train with.  But I actually enjoy the solitary training time.  Maybe I'm just anti-social?   Honestly, on race day it's all about what you can put together, so making friends with yourself during training is probably a positive thing.  On the other hand, there's something to be said about training with someone who is better than you -- you get an extra push that you may not be able to give yourself alone.  So I try to do a little of both.

Wanna move to Florida so we can train together?

I would love  to have you to train with Cheri/Julie....I am looking at a joining a tri group this week....I actually asked for some local groups on the cup of joe thread! funny how we are all on the same page! I too feel like I do all this work and its just not as fun any more! my sister has all kinds of running buddies from her bike/tri shop...and the shops I shop at dont seem to have that to offer ;(  I think that is one reason I have been depressed lately and not so happy here in California.

Cheri...congrats on the race. 

I have a question for you...since I don't know how to fix a flat tire yet (yes I plan on learning). Do any of you have any experience with this product that's on the market.  It seals and reinflates your tire.  It is not a permanent fix, but will get you back home or be able to finish a race.  Can't seem to find the name of it, but I have seen it in the triathlon magazines.  I think there might be a few different brands out there.  Can any of you recommend one?

I started training in October. I can't believe I have only been training 6 months......HUH ?  I thought it was more than that !!
Anyway, I've always trained in  the cold. SO, here we are 70 to 80 ish degrees now and I am having a hard time adjusting to the heat !
I'm from the California mojave desert, now that I live in Indiana I deal with humidity, but you'd think I could take heat.
  So, how do I safely train in the freakin heat (run early, run late ?)......
also what do you wear to run in the summer ?
I figure most running clothes will not have pockets , so I have take to wearing a small fanny pack for my phone........ but it bounces up and down and drives me nuts ! Any ideas ?...........

Julie...I can't stand the heat.  I will often get up around 5 am to go for a run before work.  As far as clothes...I like to wear shorts (tri/bike style without the chamois) or a run skirt and a tri style top or cycling jerseys (they both have lots of pockets in the back).  For liquids...I use my fuel belt which you can also purchase add-ons for your phone, gels, etc.  if the pocket is not large enough.

A good site to go to is http://www.teamestrogen.com/.  It will give you some ideas.

its called slime...and I have used it in my mtn bike tires for many years....but not my road bike tires. It works great...if you do decide to use it make sure to spin your tire before you get on and ride cuz it tends to settle on the bottom of the tire when it is sitting in your garage,..and when you go to get on it...it tends to roll really weird. Does that make sense?
Karen go to you tube there are all kinds of examples of how to change a tire...it is good for you to know.....and that way you will not get caught off guard during a race. There are CO2 bottles that are tiny and look like a rather large bullet...these will air up your tire in seconds....so all you need to carry is a tube and a few of the co2 bottles..no pump for your race...I have a few always in my seat pack with a new tube and even a patch kit....just in case. Changing a tire is really easy...the hardest part is getting the tire off the rim...and back on...the rest is a piece of cake..you will see!

good luck...and dont be embarrassed about not knowing how to change a tire...for many MANY years I always had my husband change mine til  that one day when I had a small pin hole in my tire in a race...and rather then try and fix it I kept airing it up - even though it was a small leak....I had to stop over a dozen times to do this...by the end of the race I was POOPED - and never wanted to see my pump again! I made my husband show me how to fix it and boy was I mad that I didnt know how before cuz it would have saved my arm, and knocked off a good 15-20 minutes off my race time!

the heat in Indiana is much different then the valley where you lived..when I go visit my parents in HOT HUMID HOUSTON...I run first thing in the morning...and I remember sometimes it was hotter first thing there then it would ever get here during the hottest times....I'd wear sunscreen, a sleeveless tank jogging top, capri jogging pants and a jogging hat...they have hats that are soo lightweight and airy that you dont even know you are wearing them. I am not a late person runner...If I dont get it done in the morning...I wont run! thats just me, though. Humidity is much harder then dry heat that you are used to...make sure to hydrate lots while you run. and end up where there is a pool...I used to run over to my sisters and then jump in her pool! was soooooooooo nice!

I figure most running clothes will not have pockets , so I have take to wearing a small fanny pack for my phone........ but it bounces up and down and drives me nuts ! Any ideas ?...........

Julie, I'm with everyone else on the early morning running.  That's the only way to live with the heat down here.  I've gotten in the habit of getting out of bed early and running out the door by 5:30 or so.  In fact, I joke that I go run before I wake up, and that way it doesn't hurt so much.

I don't carry a phone when I run.  I have a road ID necklace in case anything happens to me, but I run in local neighborhoods mostly so I don't feel the need to have a phone with me (different story when I'm biking).  Is your phone absolutely necessary?  You might want to consider leaving it at home.  Another suggestion (although I don't do this):  I have a camelback I use for long bike rides, and it has a pocket on the outside.  I've seen people use them for running.  You could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, by using a camelback for hydration and carrying your "stuff".

But the bottom line is the only way to get used to the heat is to build up your tolerance.  It isn't going to go away, and you have to learn to deal with it (or stay inside all summer -- UGH!).  Don't overdo at first, but just as you were building up your base initially, take the same approach and build up you tolerance for the heat.  It still isn't fun, but you can learn to bear it.  And the good news is -- the heat doesn't feel as bad when you are biking!

I have to confess that I don't know how to fix a flat tire yet either.  And I've never even had a flat tire (fingers crossed at that one!).  But learning how is on the list for this week.  My tires and tubes have thousands of miles on them, and I have a friend who is going to teach me how to change the tire and tubes.

When I bought my bike about a couple of years ago, I asked if they could teach me how to change a flat.  They told me to bring it in when I flatted and they'd be happy to.  So here I am with probably 4000 miles on my bike, and still no flat.  Who would have thought???

Hi - just checking in.   Saturday here was cold and rainy all day so I finally ended up heading into the health club - something I usually avoid on the weekends due to the crowds.    It was actually not too bad and I got in a little time on an exercise bike, did some weights and then some swimming (just drills).    The pool was a little more crowded than I like it, i.e., 4 swimmers per lane, but but the time I was done, it was down to 2 per lane.  

Sunday was rainy until 1pm and I went out for a run and soon as it cleared up - wise move as it started raining again around 5pm.    I did a little over 5 miles wearing a new pair of Asics.    I like the fit, but will withold judgement on the shoes until I log some more miles.   I did spend over an hour trying on various shoes before going with the Asics Tarther - not sure if that model is available in the US, but I did have a pair about 10 years back here in Japan (fyi: my previous shoes were Asics 2010s which were good, but heavy).

I hope everyone is getting better weather than I had.  Have a great Sunday!

Hey Dan..sorry your weather is not cooperating with your training..but as usual..I can see nothing can keep you from doing some training....good for you for going to the gym..and I for one dont see how you can share a lane with four! I am doing good to share with another...in fact many times I will get up and leave after someone gets into my lane...they may think I am rude..but I just am afraid of running into them..I guess more time in the pool will fix that! I hope anyways! we are actually having ok weather this weekend...windier then heck but no rain...but it looks to heading our way next week...I will probably be swimming and running...with that said...another bike ride today.

Yesterday I thought of you while I was out riding with my husband...it was soooooo windy! a lot like your conditions you ride in...seems like no matter which way we turned it was a super strong headwind...I truly was exhausted when I got home....and many times on some of the downhills I felt as though I was getting whipped all about...sometimes I would feel my bike move sideways...and I wanted to yank on the brakes but knew this would only cause me to wreck...I now see why we did not see many other bikers out there! today is not as windy...and I am sure that we will go do the bay trail - which is windy even on calm days - haha...my dh hopefully will not head for the hills today, especially after all the complaining I did about all the hills/mtns we climbed yesterday! but I seem to need lots of cheese with my whine lately...in all my training! Can you send me some mojo! You seem to always go forward - always have a great outlook and never say never!...and I can use some of that attitude about now! have a great day and thanks for the update...always nice to hear from you.

Thanks Julee...I will have to look for it at the bike shop.  Would like to have it on hand at my next Sprint race (they often don't offer bike support).  Will also check the intranet and maybe persuade my brother with a bottle of wine to show me how. .  Also can any of you recommend a good book on bike maintenance?

Another questions...I guess because of my inexperience, I feel really uneasy in traffic.  Do many of you take your bike and drive out to quieter areas?  If so, how far are you willing to drive?  It's hard when you are already pressed to find time to train and you have to load your bike into the car, drive somewhere and then get your training in.  Just wondering...: ).

not sure of bike maintenance books..but I am sure the bike store has a few good recommendations. or I would go with the web and print out some of the info and read it that way....good luck girl! I am rooting for yoU! I know you will soon be one biker mama! go Karen GO!

where is everyone? biking? swimming? running? church?