Asphalt Junkies Winter Edition - CLOSED (Page 14)

Well, it went I guess.  I have to admit I am a bit disappointed.  I really thought I would be a little faster.  Honestly, I am horrible at trying to anticipate projected finishing times for just about anything.  So rather than try to figure a time to shoot for I decided that I would swim at a given effort and see how it played out.  I started out feeling like I was in the right zone for the first 200 and then it seemed as though I hit a bit of a wall and ran slightly out of steam.  I began to shorten my stroke slightly and lose my form after about 300 yards, that I noticed.  The last couple of hundred yards was somewhat torturous.  I had hoped to be able to have something left for the last 100 and then a little harder yet for the final 50 but it wasn't there.

On my final 50, as I came to the wall to turn, I hit a kick board that someone placed in the water to grab my attention.  It worked but I didn't even acknowledge what had happened, I just kept going.  Whoever wanted my attention could wait another 40 seconds until I completed my TT.  As it turned out I was being asked to move over a lane so that club swimmers could take my lane.  I would have been very upset had this occurred earlier in my TT because they would have made me stop.

So anyway, I was only able to pull out a 6:51.5 according to my watch.  I suppose I can take a second off for the time I needed to reach up and hit the lap button but that's still slower than I thought I had in me.  Maybe next time I'll take a bit of a training breather prior to doing a TT and see if that make a difference.  This week has been some serious insanity on the bike with last night's ride at 97-99% FTP for 3x15' intervals and I couldn't complete the final interval on target.  I don't know, maybe I am offering excuses to myself.

This is the correct action!  Our families need to take precedence above our training and that's a Junkie principle.  Family first!  Because one day we'll cross a finish line that's far more important than a triathlon and we'll answer to someone other than ourselves.  

I'm with Jeff on the weight thing.  The more you lose the better off you'll be.

As far as carrying a back pack, I suggest you not do that.  The extra weight is providing more impact to your body and this could be something that may result in injury down the road.  Something to consider about running injuries (and most others associated with our line of training) is that they seem to develop over time rather than a sudden onset.  Cycling and swimming injuries are much less common but they can occur.  Running injuries are far more common but there is a significantly higher risk due to the impact forces with every step.  Personally I would encourage you not to run with extra weight, especially 15 pounds.  Now if you were carrying your Bible in a pack that's a different thing all together, unless it's one of those coffee table, family Bibles that weigh 15 pounds, 

Joanne,  I think it's a good idea for everyone to do a TT in the pool from time to time.  It provides an opportunity for you to test your fitness and it gives you feedback about improvements over time.  My suggestion would be to test at least once a year but then I haven't tested for a number of years myself.  The TT doesn't have to be a 500 either.  It can be shorter but a 500 is possibly the best alternative because it provides an endurance aspect that shorter intervals will not, at least with much certainty.  I think you should give it a shot (as I think everyone should) to help measure where you are currently and then do one after IM.  Brenda, you should do the same!  But do yours now, at the beginning of your Masters swim class, and again after your swim class has ended to measure success over a shorter period of time.  my guess is you'll be amazed.

On the seat position I'll defer to Jeff.  What I will say is that you shouldn't feel as if you're falling off of the back of the seat when sitting upright.  You mentioned you're seat is already as far forward as it can go and that seems to indicate that you should push your seat back some.  Also, when you're trying to tilt back it should be your pelvis and not your entire torso.  It's a rolling of the hips backward to align yourself more correctly.  I'll say it before Jeff can; post some pics of you on the bike.  Make sure that you're wearing shorts and the camera is about waist level and there is a view of your entire body when the pics are taken

Matt,  I have become a very firm believer in a post race massage, especially when I know it was a rough race.  I have noticed after marathons that my recovery is at least half the time after having gotten a massage and I feel better and can begin running within a few days of the race, albeit short runs.  Obviously stretching helps too but the massage is the difference maker.  I usually schedule one a few weeks prior to a given key race.

With the above statement a caveat is in order.  Long course triathlon (HIM's in my experience so far) don't require nearly the attention to massage as strenuous long course running races.  I think this is because of the time doing high impact on your feet is reduced.  HM's also don't seem to be a big deal to me either.   trail race over alll kind of terrain and several inches of snow?  Well that's something different altogether!

Derek,  I am rather envious of you to say the least.  We are under a solid blanket of snow and have been for nearly the entire winter.  With the temps Matt is talking about we will have a pretty substantial meltdown and likely flooding to go with it.  To be very honest I don't want to the temps to raise that quickly because it will cause a lot of people a lot of grief and costs many can't afford.  I would rather see a much slower meltdown. I have been dealing with the cold this long I can wait several more weeks to get to the 50 degree temps in order to save all of the heartache that flooding with incur.

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Thanks for the suggestion of doing 500 TT swims, DIRK.   I've been doing them every few months for years, now, but I just don't report it like you since I'm about double your speed.  Nobody wants to know that!       It was encouraging to see times fall at first but then I've taken some steps back over the last couple years.  I hope you're right and I'll be amazed again. 

Good advice on the bike fit, WARREN.  This sport can empty a bank account faster than what it costs to put food on the table so using funds for the best gains is good to keep in mind.    I had a fit 2 years ago and have felt comfortable and speedier (for an old lady) ever since it got dialed in. I'm looking at switching to the Adamo Attack saddle but otherwise I've not had any issues with doing up to 5 hour trainer rides.  It did take me 2 times of retweaking the fit to feel most comfortable, JOANNE.  I understand your lack of confidence in the place that did the fitting, though.    Hopefully the knowledgeable bike guys here can help you.

I forgot to give you a review of the new Sufferfest Chrysalis, MATT.  In the main forum someone had asked for feedback on it and this is what I'd written a couple days ago:

"I did it for the first time this morn.  I have the set-up they recommend and it was a fun challenge to do the 30 second transitions.  HR was up the whole hour and I had a good sweat going.  Didn't quite go the bike/run distance of a sprint tri but I'll be working on increasing that.  All in all, I liked it because it was different.  I'm hoping the Sufferfest folks get good feedback on it because I'd like to see another one with longer intervals."

The intervals are only 4 minutes on the run and 8 minutes on the bike which was too short .  If you have a workout room that you can put your trainer next to your treadmill then I think it's generally a fun workout.  Otherwise I wouldn't recommend it.  Go to "Triathlon Talk" and you can read some other comments.

The hubs is taking me out tomorrow to my favorite restaurant to celebrate our anniversary which is coming up - 32 years!  For an appetizer there'll be Lobster Bisque then on to a salad and a medium-rare Delmonico steak with potato and asparagus then finished off with a cheesecake smothered in fruit.   I don't care how many pounds that one meal will put on.      What meal makes you happy?

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!