kenj - motivated triathletes in training - CLOSED (Page 13)

I bought a fluid trainer last spring.

Not fascinated with it

Rather ride outside anytime.  Even prefer spin & gym, but it does serve its purpose.

I usually have loud, fast music on & it gets me through.

Might have to buy some spinervals!?!

R

CycleOps Fluid Trainer is the top of the fluid trainer line.  Whatever brand, I recommend the fluid trainers.  They can recreate any road situation. 

Westley - I have the CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer and I love the smooth "Road Like Feel" and the quiet nature of the fly wheel.  Those are two qualities I would look for in a trainer.

Jackie - Definitely, dust off your trainer!  There is good work to be done!  Like Kenj said, if you have "Focused Intervals" the trainer ride goes much better!!

GoGoGo - I, too, have been a "Masher".  Would definitely prefer to grind a gear than to try to spin it.  But as a Triathlete, "Spinning" would be much more beneficial for the run, so I am committed to learning to Spin!" 

Gator 22 - Regarding your session in the pool, yes, the fitness seems to fade fast and take a long time to regain.  I am on Week #4 and just now noticing improvement!  Hang in there!

KenJ - Great contribution regarding trainer rides and cadence! Well done!

Kathleen - Definitely plan to have some trainer parties!  My house and yours!

RussRisher - Swimming is challenging... and I, too, get winded while swimming and I'm a fairly decent swimmer.  If I can compare it to running, just as one might get winded running a quarter mile, I think the same thing exists in the water.  Just continue your training and patience. 

Question:  If I log into BeginnerTriathlete.com, how do I get to this Thread if I don't have it book marked?

I got my trainer on ebay.  It is also a Cycle ops 2 fluid trainer.  I got it for about $200, almost new.  It came with a spinervals dvd.

I just need to learn how to use it.

Question, to increase tension, do you change gears while you're riding? 

Carla, do you have the email option toggled?  If so, you will get a bunch of emails (I usually designate a separate folder for them) with the link.

THat's what I usually do to get on the thread.

After 4 or 5 years of doing tris, including both masters and swimming on my own, a little friendly competition with a friend led me to address my swim this past summer.  A friend who is a very good swimmer,  was beating me out of the water by enough that I couldn't catch him on the bike or run so I decided I had enough.  The steak dinner wagers we had also help.  So I signed up for one on one lessons at my YMCA.  It was money well spent.  I have picked up 10 to 15 seconds per 100 yards and as I continue to work on the swim this winter, including attending weekly clinics at the Y with the same instructor leading the group, I fully expect to gain another 10 or 15 seconds per 100 by the summer.  Some of this will be better conditioning, but most will be better form.  Some of the things we worked on were:

1. Improving my kick (I would almost go backwards before when kicking).
2. Swimming from the core, meaning that you roll from the hips using your core to propel.
3. Working on rolling more than I was, I used to be a bulldozer in the water.
4. Reaching and trying to be long in the water.

Not that I have necessarily had that AH HA moment, but I have found that improving my swim makes me more efficient in the water and I don't work as hard.  Which makes it easier and I don't get as winded.  I also think by being more efficient, I will be in better shape physically when I get to the bike.  Unfortunately, I have found in the past 6 months, that in order to swim better/faster/more efficient I also need to swim more than I was.  A lot of my problem prior was I didn't particularly like swimming, and since I struggled I just avoided it more than I should.  I had my best weeks of improvement when I attended either a lesson or the clinic and followed it up with 2 other swims repeating the drills and working on endurance.

Depending on the group, many Master programs also offer the coaching services and instruction. 

The other thing that I think was a big help was the fact that the lessons included underwater video taping.  It was a lot easier to understand what she was telling me when she could show me what I was doing frame by frame then imediately go back and try and change the form. 

I agree on the CycleOps trainer.  Kurt Kinetic also has some that are very good too.

I think I am on every tri store e-mail list so if I see any deals soon I will let you know!

Yes, you increase or decrease the tension by changing gears.  But I would caution, make sure you have the flywheel tension against your back tire set according to the instructions.  You will probably know it if you don't since it will either slip if it is too loose, or be very difficult if it is too tight.  The other thing is to make sure you check your tire pressure as it will be a little tougher if the tire is underinflated too much.

Spinervals are good, but they are challenging as they are meant to help you improve, so don't get discouraged.

From any page once you are signed in, you can click the FORUMS button up top, the 2012 Mentor thread is the top one and you should be able to find us by the title of the thread (hopefully not at the bottom of the list ). 

The other option would be to put it in your links.  If you look down the right hand side of your workout log there is a section for links.  Click on that and copy and past the address with a description.  Not overly familiar with this feature, but I have seen it done this way before. 

Carla ...go to forums and check into the current forum list, then look for this one.

Yes, you vary the trainer by shifting gears just like on the road.  You can do low cadence/ high power,  high cadence/high power and every thing in between. 

I have been close to pulling the trigger on a Computrainer a couple of times.   For a self coached triathlete, would you still recommend it as strongly?  The other thing is that none of my races are available as RCV's.

The short answer is yes.  I can send you all the workout files you need.   I also think there are all kinds available through RaceMate. As for the Real Course Vids, they are definitely a plus.  My races aren't available either but I'm hoping to get the course profile on a CT file at the very least.  What I like is;

- The efficiency.   I can get on the CT and do 60 or 90 mins after work, get a precise workout in without leaving home and having to fight rush hour traffic to get to a safe place in the country to ride.  It saves me 90 mins round trip every time.  Place I can ride whenever I want.  I know people don't like it but I can do a 3 to 4 hour workout at the peak and never have to fight the elements unless I want to.  The downside of that is that some folks say you loose bike skills.  I don't think so.  I get plenty of long rides on the road.

- The preciseness.  You cannot reproduce the workouts on the road with stop signs, traffic etc., as you can on a CT. 

Several of the top tris at the bike event say they do 80% plus of their riding on a CT for those reasons, safety, preciseness and efficient use off time. 

Are they necessary at our level of the sport?  That is debatable. But I had a limited amount of time to get ready for the Ironman and I decided to do the investment to give myself another leg up.  It worked. But you can definitely do well with a fluid trainer.  I was with my coach about 18 months with a fluid trainer and was able to do fine with a power meter and a stop watch.

Great job getting in the water - the first time is always the hardest!

Already Registered!!!

There is a reason so many people struggle with the swim - it has the steepest learning curve! If you are getting winded I would suggest trying to slow down until you feel comfortable with breathing every 3rd or 4th stroke.  It will probably feel excrutiatingly slow at first. later  you can add some more speed. Also are you breathing all your air out before taking another breath? IF not you will have to exhale before you can take another breathe which will mean your head is out of the water for longer and further increase inefeciency. keep at it - you will get it!

I have mixed feelings about the trainer - I think I am with Jackie on this one, it would be awesome if it just didn't hurt so much!

I have never tried spinervals, but have tried and like the sufferfest videos and they are way cheaper than spinervals - I like the cycling footage from various pro races.

http://www.thesufferfest.com/ 

Great! Sorry I missed that!

My Masters coach, first thing 3 years ago, told me when I was winded, keep going.  There is a "wall" early on that I realize now happens because my heart rate isn't matching the early exertion.  Just swim through it.  Go slower until you feel yourself move through that point.  Also the advice Kath gave you is right on.  Learning Chi running, I was told to breathe out hard to empty the lungs.  It forces my diaphragm to draw in more oxygen.  You can't fill your lungs if they aren't empty first.  Relax.  You'll be good.

I'm gonna ask the ladies -

     I'm getting married in September (woot!), and I wanted to know how I can keep my Triathlon tan lines to a minimum? I will have straps.  So far, my arms looks pretty tan, but my neck area is very light, due to not wearing a lot of racerback style shirts/no triathlons, etc. All the lines are caused by cycling.  Legs, I don't care, you ain't gonna see them.

    I know it's bad, but I normally do not put sunblock/lotion (with exception on my face and lips) Only because I feel like it's "heavy", after a while, it gets "sticky".  Unless if there's a product that's guarantee that won't cause issues even for the most pickiest person. I'm so sensitive to anything that I put on my skin (not allergic sensitive, just tactile sensitive).

    A friend suggested that I put 30-50 spf, and just get out there and do what I can do, then when the wedding roll around, I can get a spray tan, go to the tanning booth a couple times to even it out, however, she's not a triathlete. 

    Any suggestions? :-D

http://carlalthompson.blogspot.com/2011/11/ironman-florida-ironman-distance-date.html

As part of my closure for 2011, I wanted to finish up my Race Report from Ironman Florida.  As you can imagine it was not easy to write, but I really want to release what happened there and free myself up for what is to be in 2012.  

An engaging, enlightening read.

Thanks for posting it!!

You are now FREE.  Fly padawan, FLY

Carla - your story is both heartbreaking and also very inspirational.  No doubt in my mind that you will get it done in 2012 - thank you for sharing.