Mamma Amy Knows Best - Mentor Group Year One - CLOSED (Page 13)

Wow! DLB down over 11 pounds so far. Congratulations!

I haven't started using any gels yet but I did start using Endurox R4 as a recovery drink that uses a 4 to 1 carbs to protein formula. It is very popuar and seems to have been working for me but others say chocolate milk is just as good and cheaper. I like the fruit punch the best then orange.

Would love to hear if anyone has favorite gels or drinks they use during workouts?

I use Infinit Nutrition on the bike. Then on the run I use either GU (plain, lime, mint caffeine free all) or Hammer Gels. I never buy Hammer but I sometimes get them as freebies. They are yummy but the flavor is strong. For me the less flavor the better. That's why the gu plain works for me. I buy it by the box. Strong flavors late in the race really make me unhappy. I do find that people are really personal about their gels because it's a taste and texture thing. My suggestion really is to go to a store and buy like one of several brands and just try them out. Also gels might not be your thing you might like shot blocks, or jelly beans or whatever works for you.

I know a lot of people like the R4. I'm not a recovery drink fan. Where possible I try to eat real food when I'm not exercising but that's just me - there's honestly no reason for it other than I'm super ready for food after a long training session.

Hammer is the only one I use, I perfer the flavor and you can dilute in your water if you want. Mostly I like Hammer because of their research and use of Non-GMO's, glutten free and vegan friendly too. Go to their website, they have a free downloadable cook books and guide books. http://www.hammernutrition.com/bookstore/

Mainly their healthy commitment to produce endurance products.

So, i have my first 5K this Sat. Up till now, i've done a fairly good job of sticking to my Sprint tri workout schedule(each disipline twice a week of varying lenghts). How much should i be scaling back my workouts? especially the run portions?

Thx in advance

Jen

Fun fun!

Other folks should chime in if they have opinions. If I'm tapering for a race my workouts are about 1/2 of what they might normally be with a full day off before the race.

Amy

Oh my goodness. Have you guys ever seen that quotation "do something every day that scares you?" I think it might have been E. Roosevelt but I'm not sure. In fact I should probably look it up but my brain is too oxygen deprived to complete even such a simple task as that so don't hold me to it.

Well today what I did was get my lazy but out of bed for the 5:30 am 90 minute masters session. I am the only non-swimmer, non-speedy person there and I knew I would be. The folks are all nice but they do intimidate me a lot. But I made it through. No joke I needed my fins to survive but I did it.  I just walked up a flight of stairs and I my legs are tired. My goal is to do it 2-3 times a week. I'm saying it out loud here to help keep me honest :-)

I do have a question for the swimmers. I wear fins to keep up with fast intervals or when I'm tired to get me through the end of a workout. But I have heard that wearing fins helps to make you faster. How is that? I'm afraid of wearing fins too much. I mentioned it to the coach today and he said he was "a believer" in fins. I'm not sure what that means but at 5:25 in the morning my mind wasn't working well enough to ask for more detail.

thx - Amy

I see a lot of people using them as well, also the hand fins ( I guess thats what you call them). I maybe old school and probably wrong in thinking that I do my swim with out them, mainly because on race day I wont be able to use them.

But my swim suffers too, I can only seem to muster up the energy to do 4 lengths before needing a breather.

HOORAY! Today for the first time ever I went over 100 miles running in one month. Very Happy!

Tapering and rest: On a 5k I have used the Hal Higdon Novice schedule which had 2 days of rest before race day. I haven't booked many races in the spring because I don't want to interupt my training for my 1st half marathon in May and my 1st Sprint Triathlon in early July. Sounds like triathlon training is a different animal where you can still swim and even bike a little while tapering down for a running race, I may need to rethink this. Does anyone feel that if you book too many races you could screw up your training with too many rest and tapering days? Is there a happy medium or rule of thumb?

What's up for the weekend?

Saturday 11 mile run. Sunday skiing with the kids up in New Hampshire, a few of the Mountains have 2 for 1 lift tickets on Superbowl Sunday. When you are buying for a family of six that is HUGE! Yes, it is like I have my own little ski team.  The legs will be very sore when I hit the pool at 6:00 AM Monday morning.

Aaah the weekend. Tomorrow a long run of 90 minutes. Usually I head out to Key Biscayne but I have a busy day so just running solo from home. Then Sunday a long group bike ride. Still not too long 3 and a half hours.

And then the Superbowl during which I will be serving up a lot of garbage food but trying not to eat too much garbage food.

Happy weekend everyone!

Heading to a free health expo sponsored by Endurance Magazine at Duke University with key note speaker: Tim Deboom....can't wait to hear what he has to say!!!!

Of course the usual on tap ... long run ... long bike ... and swim for good measure. 

Martha

100 Miles in one week - that's terrific. Way to go!

I think I have too many races on my schedule this year. We'll see if I do them all. But I enjoy racing so I went ahead and signed up for them. 

I think if you're not treating them like "a" races but rather using them to just shake up your training it probably doesn't hurt. So instead of tapering for a short race I will probably just sort of train through it. Does that make sense?

weighing in at 183.0 (down 0.5 this week, 2.0 overall)

Ok.  I'm here it face the facts that I am unable to run without a plan.  I have let most if not all of any run fitness that I had go.  I have slacked on my running since August (possibly earlier).  I've never built a good base and really have nothing to fall back on.  Maybe once I am back in better running shape I can just run, but at this point I need structure.

I started running at about 220 lbs 3 years ago.  I was 40 and had never run other than for soccer or gym.  C25K was where I started.  It was tough, but also encouraging.  I did it on my treadmill that I purchased with walking in mind.  The furthest I have ever run is 5 miles and I may have run that 2 or 3 times. 

I have lost close to 40lbs, so the running should be easier at this point.  I guess it is when I'm consistent.    Today is as good a day as any.  So...I am restarting C25k today.  I will be running today, Tues and Thurs this week.  In 9 weeks is the 5K my soon-to-be 8 year old son would like to "run."  We "ran" it 2 years ago and he did great jogging with me for a bit and then walking.

Weighing in at 184.8. My weekend didn't go as planned. Friday night I must've gotten off the ladder funny and somehow flaired up my sciatic in the worse way. I stretched and popped pills hoping to be well enough to race sat morn. Got up extra early sat, put my race gear on, stretched and tried to do a light jog around the block, no luck, back kept tightening up. So, missed my race(at least the money went to charity), called out sick to work sat night and now i'm just in recovery mode. Luckily i don't work again till thur night, but i was quite upset about the timing. At least i have the super bowl to look forward to. hope everyone had a better weekend!!

Jen

201.0. Down a pound so far for the year. I'd like to double that pace and lose .5 pounds a week. But I guess I like wine and pasta more than I like dropping weight.