kaburns1214 Mentor Group 2013 (Year 3!) - CLOSED (Page 13)

I'm not Scott, but I'm doing my first IM next August.  I am doing 2 HMs this spring (and have done 3 stand alones in the past).  No full marathon before the IM though.  I wish I could fit it in.  I like to cover the distance before I "race" it, but I also understand that it's unnecessary.  

You're going to love the 70.3.  It's an awesome distance!

I generally opt for rolled oats and fruit.  I like steel cut better, but can't cook them to save my life. 

Natural cortisol control can be done with increase in vitamin C, adding in a high quality B complex vitamin, glutamine, and increasing sleep (don't laugh).  There are a few other ways a few of my bb'ing friends have suggested that I'm still looking into.

Scott-- want to explain why cortisol is important?

I believe we're talking 400mg to 1k a day broken into 2 doses. 

As to Kelly's question cortisol is a hormone.  As it pertains to health cortisol is produced in response to stress both in the traditional way we think about stress and in the ways endurance athletes stress their bodies.  Ever heard that stress will make you retain weight?  This is why.  It makes you retain subcutaneous fat.  Generally in men this is around the mid section.  I believe in women this is also in the hips and upper thigh area.  With long distance triathletes you will stress your system as the volume begins to increase.  As such BOTH your estrogen and cortisol levels will start to go up and your testosterone levels down.  Cortisol can be controlled through sleep, meditation/yoga, relaxing/proper recovery, and to a degree supplementation.  I know you hear all the testosterone supplementation commercials for men in regards to weight loss and libido but the same applies to women and weight loss.  If your hormones are not in balance than you will have a more difficult time getting where you want to go weight loss wise.

Very interesting Scott. Is there a way to test your cortisol level? Or is it just a 'if you have these symptoms' kind of diagnosis?

I've been fighting something since yesterday morning, and I think it finally got me.

Your Doctor can order a blood test for cortisol levels, but there no OTC test.

Hope you feel better -- REST!

Yes, you should definitely do Muncie!!!!!  That would be tooo cool!!!!

Swim - massage - bike.

Exciting day.

Carrie that is a very nice and kind thought... but if I did it this year I don't think I would be able (or be around) to enjoy my new friends in the years to come.

I was wondering, why would they do an Ironman in Muncie. I mean I get Ironam Florida, Texas, Wisconsin...but Muncie???

For years there was a very successful race in Muncie called the Muncie Endurathon.  It was run by a local Indiana race directing organization and the reputation of being a top notch independent race.  When WTC decided to dramatically expand its 70.3 brand (the number of WTC 70.3 races had doubled in the past few years), it found that it was easier to buy well run, well liked and popular local events rather than try to start a race from scratch.  Muncie was one of the races WTC purchased (they also purchased Boulder, Galveston, Mooseman, Vineman 70.3 to name a few).  In addition they re-negotiated a lot of their contracts with existing races to essentially create a more consistent product. 

Snow expected today, so I moved a run test I was meant to do tomorrow to today.  I still have some of my speed, but my main limiter is endurance.  I have a fairly easy week ahead of me, and am doing a 5K on Sunday.  I did this 5K last year, and am hoping to beat my time from last year.  I also did the race before I got pregnant, and while I would like to beat that time, it's unlikely.

As for accomplishments, this one is a tough one.  The last month and a half has been the best in that I've managed to run 4 x per week consistently.  This is a huge accomplisment, given the fact I have been so sporadic since I've had my daughter.  I'm hoping on the athletic front that 2013 is a better year for me.  I'm looking forward to 2 half marathons, one in March and another in June. 

I may try this Whole30 thing, as my diet is abysmal.  I eat tons of carbs, snack a lot on more carbs, and I have ridiculous amounts of sugar. I feel like I am always hungry and I am rarely full.  I eat a lot, and I don't make the best choices.

This morning I had an enormous bowl of raisin bran, snacked on wheat chex, ate some of my daughter's leftover waffle.  For lunch I had canned chicken with a little mayo and pita chips, and I've also had two cookies, a graham cracker with a glass of skim milk, and a cup of tea with sugar.  Tonight my husband is making pizza. 

My husband does all the cooking, and he eats healthier than me as well.  He had four pieces of fruit yesterday.  I had none.

I really don't know if I could do the Whole30 thing, as I don't cook, but I really would like to try it.

I feel you.  I'm about to get on for 3.5 hours.  While I hate running on treadmills, I've really grown to like riding on the trainer. 

I think that the first effort should be on making better choices and cutting out processed foods.  Perhaps you can try a weaning process by which you work over the course of the 30 days to get to a more whole diet that results in going totally "whole" on the 30th day.

Not to hijack, but what's the best bang for your buck when it comes to trainers? The CT is a whole device on it's own from what I understand. So if you have a KK road machine, you would have to buy a whole new trainer and power source of some sort to have a CT right?

I have a KK and also subscribe to TrainerRoad. Without spending a lot of money and buying a CT, can the KK and TR be used in a somewhat similar way to gain speed on the bike?

ETA - and how about a powertap? Is it worth the expense?

Accomplishments for 2012???

Looking back through my logs, I'd have to say execution of the two olympics I did. Following Kelly's race day plan, I executed the swim/bike/run very well. Which is usually not how my races play out. I don't think either were PR's, but to finish knowing I raced smart was a big win for me.

I can't say the same for the HIM & IM distance races I did. Neither played out very well on the run, which is what I want to improve on for 2013. I'm still proud that I finished both, despite really wanting to quit. Specifically I need to lose weight (can't be much help lugging that extra weight around!), avoid getting blisters (hope I have that figured out with specific socks and shoes), and determine what is causing my upset stomach issues and correct. That's the hardest most frustrating thing for me, it's got to be nutrition, pace, or a combo.

Oh, and completing my first ultra!

You guys who are doing the Whole30 you have my admiration! I absolutely should but know I will cheat too much .  I am trying to be happy with at least cutting down on crap (I have been eating a bit better).

Got 7.5 mile run in today.   Have been taking about a year to work into wearing Newtons.  Now I wear them for all runs (used to alternate shoes)... I think I like them but it is  hard for me to tell because all around I am just slower than I used to be after being injured for the better part of a year.