jsnowash's Spring-into-action 2011 mentor group -- Full Up & Ready to go! (Page 14)

I swam 2500 yards this am before work and biked 55 miles on the drainer after work, (breakfast 250 cal, lunch 400 cal, snack 200,  calories on the bike 450, dinner 600= calories spent 2400, calories in 1900). 

What's everyone else up to workout wise today?  We really need to stay on page 1, easier to find the thread that way.

3 mile race this weekend, I will be competing against my wife and my 16 year old son.  It is a toss up at this point as to whether my son can beat me or not, he is genetically gifted (wifes side) and I am not, but I work hard.  I put it within about 15 seconds + or -,  taking bets. 

Congrats on your successes this week everyone! Hearing about them definitely helps--this week has been such a struggle training-wise! I'm on a program where I build for 3 weeks then have a "rest/easy" week, then go back to building. It's week 5 and I think that rest week did something bad to my brain! Grrr! I signed up for a beginners tri swim clinic which is about a week away and I think I'm going to buy a road bike in the next few days. I'm hoping these things will help bring back my old, excited self!

Speaking of new bikes, does anyone have any thoughts/opinions otherwise on Trek bikes? Specifically the Lexa SLX Compact? This is what I'm leaning toward..Never had a road bike in my life! There are a few reviews online and they all seem very positive, but it would be nice to hear from real people!

I wanted to give a shout out to those who shared the info about the increases in my running training.  I am so brand new to so much of this and had no idea about things like this.  I have been researching a lot lately but have only so much time to give to it. 

I know there are training programs on here and believe that I am finally on track to start using a basic one.  I think I have settled on my first event and that gives me a new level of enthusiasm.  I also had two great conversations regarding triathlons yesterday and learned even more.  Once ya get the lingo, ya don't feel so lost anymore!!

Today knocked out a short swim (normally do around 1500-1800) but today was 1050.  The sprint tri I am doing is 600 yards and I have never spent time seeing if I could do that distance all at once.  (usually do a standard broken up workout).  Went really well and took about 11 minutes which I am so okay with.

I gotta say, I love learning all this.....this information is professionally relevant as well as personally beneficial!!

ROCK ON!!

I had an awesome workout yesterday.  I did 8 x 800 at 7:30 pace.  It felt really good after a tough week and a half at work to get out and just run hard.  I also ran repeats #2 and #3 back-to-back for a 7:24 mile and a "gold" in the little competition we have going at our gym.  I'm looking at 20 miles in the rain this weekend - yuck!  But, it's the last one and then it's taper time.

To all of you who are new to running (and biking and swimming too), hang in there, keep up the good work, and don't get discouraged by Baowolf and I babbling about marathon training.  We were beginners once too!  It wasn't too awfully long ago that I swore up and down that I wasn't interested in training for a marathon and now I'm talking crazy talk about maybe running two in 6 weeks!  (Maybe those were just the endorphins talking after yesterday's workout!). 

conanzchic, I'm interested in any responses you get on that trek bike.  Looks in my price range, and I'm shopping too . 

Think I did a little bit of stupid today.  Went out for a run, and within 3 or 4 steps had pain in lower left calf.  Thought maybe a cramp, so tried to shake it out and go on.  Hurt all the way, but kept going on it for 3 miles. Think it's a relatively minor muscle pull, but I really didn't need to run today since I'm calling this my zero week to recover from the 1/2 and then start a new training program next week.  Iced it and we'll see how it goes. 

So I've been talking to hubby about the new bike possibilities.  He is very supportive of me getting one.  But I think I talked a little too much....and now he hates the idea of clipless pedals (ie the possibility of me falling trying to learn to use them), and is trying to talk me out of it.  We have already had conversations about the possibility of open water swims in my future (albeit perhaps distant), and he kicks into protective mode on that too.  I love him for it and many other reasons, but also don't want fear to hold me back.

So this was the day to run too much....legs and mouth! 

Courtney that was a seriously awsome workout!  You realize that means you could run perhapse a 3:30 mary and drop 40ish minutes off your last mary (3:20 possible)?  You are on track for a BQ. 

You have some serious speed in you.  Do not kill youself before the race though!

Very impressive.

Sorry all I know is that Treck is a respected name in bikes.  I don't have any personal experience with them.  Check the components, try to get a professional fit for free when you buy the bike with them and a 20 percent discount on gear if you buy it from a bikeshop (peadals, shoes seat, etc.)  You can also get a seat upgrade to a female specific saddle and they will deduct the price of the base sadle ($70) towards your upgrade.  Etc. if you go for a bike shop bike. They will also measure you for the right fit.

 And I agree... I was scared about completing my first Sprint Tri back in 2007. 

There is an abreviation definition page on BT you can look at to catch up on some of the lingo.

I do have a Trek 520 bike and I love it but it is a touring bike (meant for long distances with baggage on it) and not a road or TT bike.  It does have a slightly different geometry to it but I am sure I can make it work for me.  I bought it mid way though last summer and only put 400 miles on it so its still relatively new but I have no complaints at all yet!

Oh yeah one more thing, since Trek is the biggest brand name in cycling they tend to have better resale values than other "unknown" companies if you are looking to sell and upgrade later or something.

Marcus

Conanzchic: I don't know the Trek bike you mentioned, but agree with Marcus that Trek is one of best known road bike manufacturers.  My partner has a Trek Madone with Shimano's Ultegra components and he loves it.  But as others have said: get fitted at the bike shop, check the components (if Shimano, go for 105s, ultegra, or dura-ace are the best; Sram components are also becoming popular and are well reviewed--Rival and Red are their tops; Campagnolo components are less used than the other 2 in the US, but excellent and probably expensive.)

Squirt: Clipless are the way to go. New ones are always a little tight-stand over the bike with one foot on the pavement and put one foot into the clip and practice unclipping a few times so you know how much force you need to exert and also to loosen it up a bit.  I fell the first time I used them--toppled over right in the drive way because I didn't realize how tight the cleat was in the pedal.  A lot of people are worried about not clipping out in time--just practice. Practice riding on a paved bike trail and slowing down and clipping out.

Open water swim with a friend. I love the quiet of the lake at 6 am but I'd never go without a friend or two--most of the guys I know won't swim alone either. It is just a matter of being smart about safety.   Even some triathlons now offer training swims and rides for people who sign up--two of the ones I've signed up for have various clinics because there are so many people becoming interested in the sport. Is there a tri club in your area? Sometimes they are organized out of local bike shops, so ask around. They often have group swims and other training--I joined my local club and I do open water swims with them at the lake in the summer.

Still bike shopping...and ran across the ad below on Craigslist....close enough that I could go look at it.  I was not looking for a tri bike, just to move from my mtn bike to a road bike, but this one looked interesting.  I'm 5ft4 and even the size 7 shoes would stand a good chance of fitting.  Is this worth looking at, or would you guys recommend sticking with a road bike since I'm so new to all of this?

______________________________________________________ 

I am selling my gently used Cervelo P2 SL 48" tri bike.

It has less than 750 miles on it. It is equiped with Shimano Ultregra componets and is a 2008 model.

Also with the bike you will receive everything pictured which includes the following:
*Lake clip-in shoes (European Size 39, US size 7)
*Look KEO easy pedals
*Brand new (replaced aftermarket/upgrade from original saddle) Selle Italia Lady gel flow saddle
*Cateye Velo 5 bicycle computer
*Brand New (replaced aftermarket/upgrade from original aerobars--these added a lot more options of fitting the bike perfectly to your needs) ProfileT2+ aerobars and cannondale C2 handlebars.
*Saddle bag with full emergency kit included as well as water bottle cage.

This is an awesome tri bike! I am 5'4" tall and it was a perfect fit. Cervelo says this bike would fit anyone from 5' to 5'5"

This bike has been kept in great condition and has had annual tune ups.

I am asking $1300 for everything listed here.

Woot great race!  I finished the 3 mile run in 17:58 (although the clock said 17:55 when I crossed the line).  That is roughly a 2:30 min PR over my last race of around this distance (a while ago).  My splits were 6:00, 6:00, 5:58.  I ended up coming in 7t h overall (some serious heat out there with some 15 minute times and 2nd in my age group.  But more importantly I beat my 16 year old son by 2:42. 

Other family finshes, 16 year old 3 mile 20:40, wife 26:45, 1 milers 13 year old 8:00, 9 year old 8:40, 5 year old 9:57.  We brought home a 2nd, 4th and 5th place. 

It was pretty amazing, I never run that fast, but it all came together.  When I saw the time from the first mile I figured that the big miles I have been putting in should carry me through and they did.  Phew.  Now my son will have to work for another year to have a shot at me. 

Thanks for saying that, some of you guys seem so much farther along than we are but I love learning from what you have to teach!!

Seriously speedy running family thing going on here!!  Great running, and woot is right!  Glad you found a new gear AND can keep the son a little humble for another year .

peteacher I hear you...I've been running off and on for about 5 years and find encouragement by playing this tape in my head --  "I am faster than my couch".  OK, sometimes I think it might be gaining on me, but I'll be darned if I'm going to let it catch me.  Just by participating, we are doing so much more than the vast majority of folks who have let the couch win.  Oh, and we are going to have fun and adventure in the process!!