Asphalt Junkies CLOSED AND GETTING OUR FIX (Page 13)

DirkP - 2012-04-11 2:38 AM

Congrats on a milestone Stan.  Part of success is setting goals and seeing them through and you're well on your way to achieving your cycling goal ahead of time.  Good job!

This brings up a good point too.  I have set goals for myself this year in terms of distances in each discipline.  They are targets to help keep me on track for training and hitting my racing targets.  I asked a few days ago what each persons racing goals were for the year. 

Do you have other metrics that you plan to use to keep yourself on track for training throughout the year?

cycletherapy - 2012-04-11 9:25 AM

My swim is definitely improving, but my fiance took a video of me yesterday, and while my upper body looked really good, my legs are coming way apart when I rotate my body.  I had no idea, but I'm glad she took the video so I can work on it.  

If you have not seen a video of yourself swimming, I highly recommend having someone take one. Even if you don't want to post it to the group yet, it will let you know where you need to focus your efforts.

On the biking front, I need a new seat.  My old one is worn out, and I need some feedback.  I have pretty serious issues with numbness in my entire genital region, and I'm hoping that there is a seat out there that could help alleviate this for me.  Has anyone else had this problem, and had relief from a particular seat?

Jo63 - 2012-04-11 6:38 AM Stan: that is awesome, way to go! Brenda: congrats it must be a relief to be done. Sounds like a couple people are having trouble on the flip turn, this is exactly why I haven't tried to learn how to do it lol. I read the article below this morning thought it was interesting especially the "following the 75 percent rule" it sounds like the running rule http://www.active.com/cycling/Articles/5-Simple-Ways-to-Increase-Power-on-the-Bike.htm[/QUOTE]

I like that 75 percent rule!  But only like it for the bike.  For running that's bad!  25% of your mileage being Z3+?  10% in Z5? 

Just making sure no one uses that rule for running.  For running I'd say 90% at 75% of max HR, 10% can be faster with only 1% at Z5.

That is unless and until you are an elite middle distance runner.  If you are running a 15 minute 5K you can do 5% in Z5.  But that's none of us.  I do want to say that ALL of my running/training advice is assuming people like us...Triathletes who are slower in a 5k than 18:00.

Much of the training advice you read on the internet and in books is derived from a training plan for a world class runner.  Either a 2:05 marathoner, a 26:00 10k runner or a 13:00 5k runner.  That is one reason that we get confused about how to train for running and why you get advice from some people that sounds radical when we say 'just run slow a lot'.

 

 

cycletherapy - 2012-04-11 8:25 AM

My swim is definitely improving, but my fiance took a video of me yesterday, and while my upper body looked really good, my legs are coming way apart when I rotate my body.  I had no idea, but I'm glad she took the video so I can work on it.  

If you have not seen a video of yourself swimming, I highly recommend having someone take one. Even if you don't want to post it to the group yet, it will let you know where you need to focus your efforts.

On the biking front, I need a new seat.  My old one is worn out, and I need some feedback.  I have pretty serious issues with numbness in my entire genital region, and I'm hoping that there is a seat out there that could help alleviate this for me.  Has anyone else had this problem, and had relief from a particular seat?

mambos - 2012-04-11 9:38 AM Non-training: I love the 2nd Wednesday of each month! I get to show how well the production department is performing, only to be picked a part on some minor issue! Just once I would like to hear "Good job, Matt". That would make the 10hr days, and 3am phone calls worth it! Anyway I guess I should pay attention to my meeting

strikyr - 2012-04-11 7:43 AM

Jonathan this is a great post and puts swimming in perspective for me. I've watched your swim video and you have been doing it way longer than I have and you are no doubt a much better swimmer then I am but just acknowledging that fact at how hard swimming is gives me hope that I will continue to improve. I watch the regular swimmers at my pool and they make it seem so easy and effortless and the reality is that swimming is really hard and it is easy to get fustrated and feel like you aren't making progress or you won't improve. It's good to hear you say these things about this and like I said it gives me hope and a better perspective on the fact that swimming is a long process and it inspires  and motivates me to know that I am not the only one who feels like I have have much to learn! Thanks.

Cagolddigger - 2012-04-11 12:39 AM

Sorry all, but time for a little boasting. I'm at over 700 miles so far this year. I should hit 1,000 before the end of the month. I have never biked that much. Woooohoooo!

My goal before the year is out will be 3,000 miles.

 

DaveL - 2012-04-11 10:43 AM

Right on, Im not too good with "miles" but I do bike a lot of KM's. It turns out I am a little bit behind you... for now.

 

I forgot my shoes at home this week. 3 pairs of runners and 1 pair of five fingers but nothing with me. grrr. I am going to give it a go on the treadmill barefoot after my biking today. I will report back.

JeffY - 2012-04-11 10:24 AM

Sorry didnt mean to sound like running should be done the same, I thought it was interesting that it again tell us slow and easy, I have always wondered why I never felt like I had a solid base until this groups advice, reason being I was alway trying to go to fast and ending up disappointed, and I wasn't applying that same slow and easy to my bike. I just did a 1hr 35 min on the trainer slow and easy and it felt way better.

trigal38 - 2012-04-10 2:43 PM

Ok - quick question...

A little back tracking, in our last group I had just started using my heart rate monitor and set HR zones for the bike, did the LT test, then my HR monitor quit.

Hubby was nice enough to buy me a new one so I have started wearing it while I'm running also. I am not anywhere near fit enough to complete an LT test for running right now so should I even bother wearing it while I run or just wear it and observe what is going on? I have been trying to stay in the high 140-mid 150's range for an easy run. Does that sound about right?

wbayek - 2012-04-11 12:12 PM

Quick checkin.  I left work for the first time ever yesterday afternoon, really felt about ready to die.  Went to bed about 3:30 and just woke up.  Yikes, that’s 20 hours of sleep.  Feeling a lot better but still pretty foggy.  I may try a run later but we’ll see.

Jeff, thanks for posting your progress.  Though most of us may never see such amazing numbers, we can all hope to see amazing numbers like that relative to our own abilities and in relation to our current numbers.  It’s very encouraging and inspiring, so don’t stop posting that type of “narcissistic” craziness!  One of the most encouraging things for me to read is that you’re at 162.  Given your avatar pic, the fact that you could ever be 162 makes me realize that 170 is still WAAAY too high for me.  Thanks for the inspiration.

David, in terms of a new saddle, I had that exact same issue with going numb.  Luckily, I had roadie friends with every saddle imaginable and they let me try them out.  Perhaps there’s a bike shop near you which would let you do the same.  The main thing I learned is that saddles are VERY individual, and cost isn’t the determining factor.  I ended up settling on an Adamo road saddle, and the numbness is pretty much zero at this point.  Oddly the Adamo racing saddle was not comfortable for me.  Again, we are all very different in terms of specific anatomy so the saddle that feels great for me may be completely wrong for you.

wbayek - 2012-04-11 12:25 PM

It's hard to know what numbers would be for your running without a test.  What were your bike numbers?  The bike is almost always quite a bit lower than the run.  My running number was 165 and my bike was 150, as an example.  And your numbers won’t change much over time or even as fitness increases (a little less than a beat a year or so), but what changes is what you can do at that HR.

I think the HR monitor has great value for running in that it keeps you honest that you're going too hard.  It's very typical to think we're running easier than we are.  I agree with Jeff that this often comes from reading articles of 2:10 marathoners running their long runs at 6:00 pace, so we feel the need to go fast on our runs.  But then we have to realize that a 6:00 pace for such a runner is a full MINUTE per mile (or 20%) slower than their marathon pace, which would be 9:40 pace for a 3:30 marathoner, or 11:00 for a 4:00 marathoner!  I know it’s radical, but that’s just a little perspective on how slow to run to be comparatively the same.

wbayek - 2012-04-11 12:12 PM

Quick checkin.  I left work for the first time ever yesterday afternoon, really felt about ready to die.  Went to bed about 3:30 and just woke up.  Yikes, that’s 20 hours of sleep.  Feeling a lot better but still pretty foggy.  I may try a run later but we’ll see.

Jeff, thanks for posting your progress.  Though most of us may never see such amazing numbers, we can all hope to see amazing numbers like that relative to our own abilities and in relation to our current numbers.  It’s very encouraging and inspiring, so don’t stop posting that type of “narcissistic” craziness!  One of the most encouraging things for me to read is that you’re at 162.  Given your avatar pic, the fact that you could ever be 162 makes me realize that 170 is still WAAAY too high for me.  Thanks for the inspiration.

David, in terms of a new saddle, I had that exact same issue with going numb.  Luckily, I had roadie friends with every saddle imaginable and they let me try them out.  Perhaps there’s a bike shop near you which would let you do the same.  The main thing I learned is that saddles are VERY individual, and cost isn’t the determining factor.  I ended up settling on an Adamo road saddle, and the numbness is pretty much zero at this point.  Oddly the Adamo racing saddle was not comfortable for me.  Again, we are all very different in terms of specific anatomy so the saddle that feels great for me may be completely wrong for you.

wbayek - 2012-04-11 9:12 AM

Quick checkin.  I left work for the first time ever yesterday afternoon, really felt about ready to die.  Went to bed about 3:30 and just woke up.  Yikes, that’s 20 hours of sleep.  Feeling a lot better but still pretty foggy.  I may try a run later but we’ll see.

Jeff, thanks for posting your progress.  Though most of us may never see such amazing numbers, we can all hope to see amazing numbers like that relative to our own abilities and in relation to our current numbers.  It’s very encouraging and inspiring, so don’t stop posting that type of “narcissistic” craziness!  One of the most encouraging things for me to read is that you’re at 162.  Given your avatar pic, the fact that you could ever be 162 makes me realize that 170 is still WAAAY too high for me.  Thanks for the inspiration.

David, in terms of a new saddle, I had that exact same issue with going numb.  Luckily, I had roadie friends with every saddle imaginable and they let me try them out.  Perhaps there’s a bike shop near you which would let you do the same.  The main thing I learned is that saddles are VERY individual, and cost isn’t the determining factor.  I ended up settling on an Adamo road saddle, and the numbness is pretty much zero at this point.  Oddly the Adamo racing saddle was not comfortable for me.  Again, we are all very different in terms of specific anatomy so the saddle that feels great for me may be completely wrong for you.

owl_girl - 2012-04-11 11:53 AM

Since HR LT seems to be the topic of the morning, I have a question.  My LT for running has always been about 5 beats lower than for cycling.  Both numbers have been the same for at least 5 years.  I'm getting faster at both disciplines, too.  Why would my LT numbers be opposite?

In other news, I can't talk today.  I completely lost my voice.

Jo63 - 2012-04-11 11:23 AM  Sorry didnt mean to sound like running should be done the same, I thought it was interesting that it again tell us slow and easy, I have always wondered why I never felt like I had a solid base until this groups advice, reason being I was alway trying to go to fast and ending up disappointed, and I wasn't applying that same slow and easy to my bike. I just did a 1hr 35 min on the trainer slow and easy and it felt way better.

owl_girl - 2012-04-11 1:37 PM

Thanks for the cycling article.  I have a question on it that seems to come up for me quite often.

From the article, it says:  "For instance, start by doing hilly rides with 1,000 feet of climbing and slowly add distance until you can complete 3,000 feet of climbing in a single outing.

What is the number of miles?  Last weekend, I did 1200 feet of total climbing spread out over 25ish miles and it was totally easy.  I need a little perspective.

On another note referencing the article.  I climb a local hill that is a half mile of pure hell!  When I started climbing it several years ago, I had to make a rest loop in a park parking lot about half way up.  It didn't take long before I could climb the whole hill without rest, however, I was maxed out on gears and worried that I was going to have to get off and walk.  Not to long ago, I climbed the hill feeling pretty good.  I was still gassed at the top but proud of how I "good" I felt.  Then I noticed that I climbed the whole hill with one more gear to spare!  That's a major accomplishment for me!  Now, I'm contemplating doing repeats on it.  I'll start with a second climb with a rest loop in the parking lot.