Eli's Getting Ready for the Season Group-CLOSED (Page 13)

Hey All,

I am back from CA!

Had a great week. Didn't do a ton of training, but I did get in some runs.

Back to the training tomorrow. Doing a mile swim race and then probably ride 60.

Getting very excited about picking up training again for real. Plus, I have some vacation weight to lose.

Finished the race yesterday.  Swim was much better than last time.  The open water swim training is definitely helping.  The bike and run courses were pretty hilly.  My overall time was better than last time so I feel pretty good about that.  My son beat my overall time by 43 seconds this time though.  He really did good and made a lot of improvements in his swim over the last time.  Here is my race report.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=258139

Throwing up doesn't bother me anymore years of high school and college track, cross country, and partying too!

The only part that bothered me was losing time and having my buddy beat me at the end.

Nice race Bill!

Had a decent weekend. Did a 1 mile swim on Sat, and got beat by NICK!!!! His work in the pool is really paying off.

Did about a 40 mile ride after that, but the heat was getting bad.

Ran 6.6 last night and then had a BRUTAL leg workout at the gym this morning. Not even sure I will be able to drive home, since I drive a stick.

Excited to be home and relatively in control of my schedule.

How embarrasing!  

Just kidding.  I had a good weekend, walked in the Relay for Life cancer fundraiser, got some things done around the house despite rainy weather, and got some nice hill riding done in honor of a few BT friend doing IMCdA.

Also got in two very short runs with minimal Achilles side effects.  And a highlight was that my son decided to run cross country so we went and bought him some shoes.  He runs (in fact he lives) barefoot, but they won't let him try out for CC with no shoes.  Now we have to get him out there training, but I'm sure he'll be ridiculing me in fairly short order.

Nice Race Bill!  Must be proud of your son as well!!

I had a good training weekend, 30/5 mile bike/run brick on Saturday and a 55 mile ride on Sunday.  The ride was a tough one for me, close to 3000 ft of climbing on legs that were already tired from my Friday and Saturday workouts.  Took Monday off and will be on my bike after work tonight.

I need to get my swims in before my half in July, haven't been to the pool in two weeks.  Just don't love swimming and have a hard time convincing myself to go.

Whew,

Hey All, how goes it?  

Anyone racing this weekend or on the 4th? I am thinking of volunteering at a race on the 4th, as my legs are still shot today from a workout at the gym on Monday.

Not sure why I do that to myself. The point of weights is to support my working out, not to stop me from being able to. I can barely walk up the stairs or bend down to pick something up at this point.

Planning to do an indoor workout tonight on the computrainers with Nick. Hopefully my legs will recover enough by then.

Be well!

No races for me until next weekend.  I am just building up the running slowly to try to keep the Achilles and that whole area happy.

Maybe going a monster ride for me on Friday - if I do it it'll be about 70 miles and 5500 feet of climb, and likely into a prevailing wind.  Should be fun!

Warren,

Nice! That sounds like a great ride. I am thinking about doing some long rides this weekend.

There are a few races coming up that I am thinking about. Need to do some planning so I can get the rest of my season settled.

Great workout with Nick tonight. Still can't walk, but it was worth it!

Whee, 

If it ain't raining, it ain't training. Got out to ride with a friend today, and we got dumped on.

Decent ride altogether, and made the coffee at the end that much better.

Looking forward to a run tomorrow and then volunteering at a tri on Monday.

How are your weekends going?

So, How was your weekend?

I had decent training on Saturday and Sunday, and then ate too much apple and blueberry pie on Monday. Such is life!

Ran about 8.5 miles on Sunday. It was brutal. It was about 90 degrees real feel, and I am out of practice running in that kind of heat.

Did OK, but I need to get back on my game!

Had a great weekend, but absolutely ate way too much.  Did the 70 miler up to the lake and then a few more rides through the hills up there.  We also had friends up to the cottage all three days - which really cuts into training!

I'm still running sparingly trying to get my Achilles right.  I wouldn't say it hurts, but it's just not quite right so I'm being extra careful.

I'm racing this weekend and the team I'm part of has 7 people entered.  We're not really a "team" in the classic sense of the word, but we're a loosely connected group who all keep in touch and we just happened to all sign up for this event.  Should be fun.

Warren,

Sounds great. I can relate to the ate too much. Just had 2 more pieces of blueberry pie, and am trying to think what I can do to work them off tomorrow!

Hey Everybody!!

Hope Everybody's 4th was great.   I trained pretty hard this past weekend.  Did 35/7 Bike/Run brick on Friday.  Saturday went to Geneva and rode the course for my HIM.  The ride went really well, but a tad slower than I wanted.  I am hoping that during the race I will be at 17 MPH or better but we will see.

My run on Sunday was the 13 miles in prep for HIM and it sucked.  From my training logs:

This run was brutal. Really had no fun at all during it. Basically had to walk most of the last 2 miles. I knew about mile 3 that this run was gonna suck. Hot and I think I was dehydrated as my legs started cramping at mile 10. First time that ever happened. Oh well I made it and now I can start tapering for my race.

It was the slowest most painful run I have ever done.  I am hoping the tapering and excitement of the race will allow me to perform better.  Could be embarassing though if I perform like this during the race.  The run was over 13 mm, and I have been hoping to do 11:30 to 12.  I did my 10 mile race at 10:45 in May.  Oh well, this week is a bit lighter and next week is basically nothing so I should be rested and ready to go on the 17th.

Charlie, don't sweat that run.  You really had put in some serious training the 2 prior days.  You'll be fine for your half.

It's great that you've ridden the entire bike course and know the route.  Just take it easy on race day and don't chase that speed goal if it's not happening.  Remember there's a half marathon after those 56 miles!  Your first 70.3 should be fun and a great chance to learn.  Don't try racing it. 

Well that's my advice and opinion anyway.  Can't wait to see your race report!

Charlie,

Training is supposed to suck sometimes, that way when it sucks on race day, you already know how to deal with it.

Also, you have to respect the heat. I melted on my run this weekend because it was hotter than I expected as well. When it is hotter, slow down, or take walk breaks on a regular pattern from the START of your runs.

Having a good week so far. Hoping to ride tonight and get in a swim tomorrow. 11 mile run with my wife on Saturday, and then I need to bike on Sunday.

I've got an Oly tomorrow (well, almost an Oly, a little short on all three legs).  The course has an interesting bike route.  It's an out and back - the out is steady downhill of 1000 feet and then obviously the back is steady climb up those same 1000 feet.  Should have the legs good and fried for the run!

Anyone else racing this weekend?

No race for me, but I am partaking in a pie baking contest!

Getting a long run (11 miles) in tomorrow, and then I need to get my bike on on Sunday.

My wife is marathon training, so I am trying to match my plan to hers, but pretty soon I will need to start doubling up on the rides. I will either give my spin bike lots of work, or we will have to pay a lot for babysitters!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

I had the same type of experience in my first triathlon.  I had been swimming a lot in the pool, about 3 times per week, and was able to swim 1650 meters in about 35 minutes.  Then the open water swim.  I got about 50 meters out and with all of the bumping and what not, I went into panic mode.  I swam a lot when I was a kid and have swam in open water before but this was totally different.  All I knew was that I wanted out of that water.  I finished the swim but I knew that I something was going to have to happen to get me through the next one.  I found a group in the area that does open water swim in a lake close to home.  I went and the first day was awful.  It was very windy with some pretty big waves.  Swam .25 miles to the point.  Okay I made it now to get back.  The waves got to me about a third of the way back and I just looked for the closest shore and swam to it.  Since then I have gotten to the point where I can swim to the point and back no problem.  The last time I went it was a little wavy and I still made it.  I currently swim at least 2 times per week in open water.

I looked at your logs.  It looks like you are swimming once per week with most of your training being on the bike and run.  If you can up that to at least two times per week, it will probably help with your swim fitness.  I would also try to get in one open water swim per week as part of the 2 per week.  If you cannot find a place to do open water swim, try turning on the T at the end of the pool.  This will take away the push off the wall that you do not get in open water.  Also, check with the folks in your masters group and see if they know of anyone that does an open water swim.  I found mine through a local swim team.  It is on a lake owned by a power company.  I had to contact someone at the power company to get on the swim list.  Now I can go anytime I want.  In my second tri, I did much better on the swim.  I was much more comfortable on the swim with no panic feeling.  I attribute that all to the open water swimming that I have been doing

All that said, your swim time in your last race was reasonable for the training and your overall time was good.  I hope you can find some place to train in the open water that is safe.  Remember, you should always go with someone.  I am sure others will post and if I have said something that is a little off I would appreciate the correction.  Good luck with it. 

Race report is done.

I'll comment on the swimming when I have more time.

I agree with what the others said. One other suggestion I would make is to slow down a little in the race. Don't swim at your lap pace. Swim as easy and smooth as possible. Also, position yourself to the outsides to try to get some clearer water to swim in.

Keeping your stroke and breathing good during an OWS is much harder than when you are in the pool. Plus, being hyped up at the beginning of a race will make your breathing a little ragged.

Just think slow and smooth. I always think "Slow is smooth. Smooth is strong. Strong is fast" when I swim. It helps.

Is there any chance to swim in the same lakes the races are in?  There's no question open water is totally different than pool swimming.  Not being able to see, currents and swells, no edge to gauge progress, unknown creatures, etc., all contribute.  I think Eli is spot on in that it's critical to go slow and easy.  I'm amazed how little speed I lose when I swim easy.  Just forget the world, forget the lake, and just find something in your stroke or whatever to occupy you.  Like Eli has the "slow is smooth..." mantra.  I count my strokes between breaths, watch the bubbles off my hands and try to minimize them, or whatever I can do to relax and stay smooth.

I would advise trying any way to get more open water swims in.  This is one place where I just don't think you can get around the specificity of the training.  

I disdain the pool at the same level many people hate treadmills.  I'm very lucky to live near lots of lakes as well as the ocean, and we spend weekends at our camp on a major lake up here.  I do almost all my swimming in lakes and the ocean, and as such I'm very comfortable in the open water swimming.  The down side is that all the water around here freezes in December until April so I'm out of luck all winter!  Good luck and it will get easier the more you do it!

Great race and report!!