BigDH - Checking Off the Boxes - Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 14)

Wetsuit: I also have the xterra vortex full sleeve.  I haven't swam in it yet, but I feel good about how it fits.  It's tight, but it's supposed to be, right?  On a side note, it's funny that Ben mentioned the pictures on my blog.  Ever since I posted that, I've been getting all kinds of google hits from people searching things like "wetsuit fetish" or "peeing in pantyhose" (I had titled the blog "post, pantyhose, pee and neoprene")

Thanks for all the tips on downhill rides.  I generally coast down them still, mainly because I'm still kind of afraid of going too fast.  I'm actually making it a point on every ride to let myself reach a new top speed.  My top speeds are usually on mild downhills, because then I'm more comfortable continuing to pedal.

Ryan, I try to take a rest day every week.  Sometimes I'll cheat and call it a rest day if I workout one morning and don't workout till the next evening.  I make up workouts sometimes, but if I start feeling overwhelmed by it, I just let it go.

Chris, I have trouble if I don't have an upcoming race too.  The solution: do more races!  Okay, so that isn't always practical.  For me, I focus on how far I've come and what my goals are.  It sounds cheesy, but it works.  Even if I don't race for 2 months, I still have to keep working right now to be ready for whatever the next one is.

For me it depends more on the temperature. If Its cold I will wear a bike jacket and shorts or possibly even tights. If its warm I just go with regular stuff. Really my preparation for a potentially wet ride means putting my cellphone and wallet in a zip lock bag. You can buy hundreds of dollars in goretex pants, jackets, helmet covers and shoe covers but I guarantee you are still going to get wet. Same with running, if its raining I am going to get wet.

I lost motivation after finishing my Olympic plan. I registered for my HIM, got my plan together and did nothing. I just didnt feel it. I let it go, took a break and am getting back into it now. I think sometimes you just have to take a breath and relax. I wouldnt suggest becoming a couch potato but maybe look at this time as more of a maintenance period. I would also suggest group rides, masters swims and group runs. When people expect you to be there you make more of an effort to show up.

Dave

First HHH (hazy hot humid) day this spring.  I spent a few hours pressure washing the deck furniture, gardening, etc and got out for a run close to sunset. 

I seem to remember last summer it taking a few runs in the H³ to not feel it so bad.  I had to give it all I had just to finish the shortish run.  I almost didn't go, but I convinced myself that running when I'm tired might be the best way to train for the Tri run.

Mantras, getting gear next to bed the night before, and lying to yourself that you can stop after 10 minutes are all things I've read help get people motivated. For me, it's just recalling that awesome feeling of completing a race  and knowing I trained as hard as I could.

he he, ya I guess. My Dr told me to start running to reduce stress. When I told him I hated running he said that I had to do something. So I started running, then after getting hurt (after 2 weeks), I started biking again, then I figured I might as well just add in swimming too.

I do think it helps.

Well, yes - it's therapy!  I quit smoking about 8 years ago, and started running building up to a Marathon after 4 years.  Then, running started to be bad - my hips/back/legs could not take it, so I started annual indoor Triathlons. 

Is lunchtime workout possible Nick? How about turning part of the commute into a workout?

Yes - working out is definitely my therapy.  Used to be whiskey.  Now if I'm having a bad day, I can go across the street to the YMCA and get my workout in to clear my head. 

Bright and sunny day here, and I'm getting ready to head out for a bike ride.    I was hoping to test my new tri outfit, but it's a bit cool for it and I don't want to wait till the afternoon.  One more week till my first triathlon...  (Could be a bit cool then too, but I'm in an afternoon heat at least.)

Darren, if I don't get on the computer again today, good luck with your marathon tomorrow!

played fetch today with myself.

biked out 11km dropped off a water bottle, then back home. Changed shoes and set out to retrieve my water bottle then back home again. Good work out. Need to bike a lot further to make it a meaningful brick but it was fun. Got to try out my trisuit as well, it worked well although I wore a bike jersey and running shirt over it so the neighbors wouldnt get sick.

Unfortunately a lunch workout isn't really an option. No showers at work and I can't justify joining another gym near work so I could workout at lunch. Turning part of the commute into a workout is also tough due to the distance and traffic, I would love it if I could ride to/from work but I think i'd end up smashed by a car.

I'm working on some alternative routes for driving home from work to try and save myself some time and hassle, but at least I can get a workout in right after to bring me back to earth.

I got out once last week for a walk over lunch, I dont know about the "training" value but it was a nice break in the day.I never did well with lunch time work out anyways I found I was always rushed and when you consider the time to get to the gym, change, shower get back to work there isnt much time to work out anyway.

I am going to try a bike commute on Monday. When I was thinking about it I posted up a topic and got a few options. One was to drive in then bike home then bike in the next morning the other was to drive part ways then bike the rest in. In the end I went the sadistic decision to bike in an bike back(its 75km each way). I left a change of clothes at work and as I work in a fairly industrial area now I am going to grab a shower at a truck stop.

I dont pay a ton of attention to it but it did help me realize that I cant really "eat anything" because I am training. Slowly I have been getting into a better diet mainly by just trying to eliminate the processed foods. I will still have a hamburger but I make them myself so at least I know whats in them. Still far from perfect but I am working on it.

I'm slowly getting back into the mood to train.  The group ride on Saturday really helped.  I had worked my way up to being one of the stronger riders before missing about 5 weeks because of races and work.  This week I got dropped and did not like that.  I even had one of the other riders say something about how I wasn't riding like normal.  I think I just found my motivation!  

Tonight I had a 6 mile run with the last mile being as fast as possible.  I managed a 7:59, my first sub-8 minute mile of the summer.  Last year I didn't do that until almost August.

Now, if I could just find some way to make swimming fun.

Darren - thanks for the feedback, hang tough.

Synergy forced was my day.  I was determined to enjoy my family, get in a bike ride and try my wet suit out.  Did an easy 15 miles to Saratoga Springs, and my wife and 9 year old met me for lunch.  I put the bike on the rack, and we drove an hour further north to a beach where they sunned and played, and I tried my WETSUIT!

I love the thing.  Man does it make me feel comfortable in the water.  I had one small pocket of water at the small of my back.  Tomorrow I am off to a "training" session swim so I'll get some experienced folks to see if maybe I should go down to a medium - but I think it fits great.  So much fun to swim in.  The lake was so high that they did not have but 2 feet of beach - but my son made friends, built sand castles etc despite his sunburn from the pool yesterday.

Really looking forward to the swim at Crystal lake tomorrow.

Darren - sorry you didn't hit your goal time in your marathon.  Use it as motivation to do better the next time! 

As far as my weekend is concerned, I had a busy and tiring weekend.  Saturday, I got a swim in and an 8 mile run while pushing my daughter in the jogging stroller.  That was a challenge.  Slowed me down about a minute per mile.  My son was napping and it was a good chance to give my wife a break while getting my workout in at the same time. 

On Sunday, I waited around all day for the thunderstorms to pass.  I ended up getting out on the bike during the tail end of the storms after the heaviest stuff had passed.  Still got soaked for a while.  The only issue I had riding in the rain was that my foot kept slipping off of my pedal every time I went to clip back in after starting from a stop. 

Monday, did a 10 mile race with my wife.  I was her pace team, so we raced her race at her pace.  It was hot out and a hilly course.  We had a lot of fun and my wife was very happy with her effort. 

This week is a heavy mileage week with 4300 yards of swimming, 66 miles of bike and 21 miles of running.  I plan on getting the family to the beach with me on Saturday so that I can get some practice in with my wetsuit. 

Darren, Sorry to hear your race didn't go as well as you wanted it to.  After reading your race report it sounds like you at least have a good idea what happened and will be able to work around it in the future.

I had a good but busy long weekend. Thankfully today is a day off from working out and I'll go out sailing tonight.

Practice race questions.

Flipped the calendar over to June today and I see my first ever Triathlon is 3.5 weeks away. Hurray.

My next swim session calls for a 2500m continuous swim which is great because the triathlon swim is 2000m. For the bike its 55km and the run is 13km. I would like to practice the bike/run brick each weekend before the race. Good idea? I am thinking it will allow me to sort out nutrition and just get used to the distances. I also would really like to get a few open water swims in before the actual race. Does it make sense to actually "do" the race before the race or are the brick workouts enough without adding the swim as well.

As a first race I know it might be a little much but its in the same area as my fall HIM so I figured it would be a good "practice race". My goals are to put in a solid effort, finish and use it as a learning experience for the HIM.