Atl_runner's group - full for now. (Page 14)

Oh, after finally reading some of the thread here - if all goes well with the surgery and recovery I may try the Green Bay Duathlon at the end of September - a friend of mine and fellow BTer is talking me into it but I don't plan on pushing the training too hard just to risk further damage.

I might make the trek to IMWI to be a spectator so if anyone is racing there I'll be sure to look for you!

Well I survived my oly! Actually, I far exceeded my expectations!  My big goal had been 2:20 (only doing the swim and bike remember) but I knew I'd be super happy with anything even close to that.  Well.....I "finished" in 2:08!!!  I couldn't believe it!  My rediculously long race report is posted if you want to check it out, though I don't have the official times yet...it's just the times off my watch. 

I'm now in full taper mode for Steamboat next weekend.  I'm feeling much better about that race now since I know for sure I'll be able to handle the swim and bike.  The run is still scaring me since i've been struggling a lot with running lately, but at least I know I can walk if necessary. 

As of right now Steamboat is my last race of the season, but since my new job doesn't start until October I'm looking for something fun to do in September.  I'm essentially unemployed for the month so I have plenty of free time on my hands.  Of course I originally thought I was going to be traveling so I didn't sign up for anything...now a lot of the races I would've wanted to do are sold out.  I'm sure I'll come up with something though.      

Thanks everyone!  

I completed my "A" race on Sunday and killed my goal time by a rediculous amount.  When I first signed up for it a month or so ago I was thinking I'd be lucky if I could finish in under 3 hours.  As race day got closer I started thinking I should be able to beat that but I wasn't sure because the run was longer than I've ever ran before.  I ended up finishing in 2:36!!  I was shocked!  6th out of 15 in Athena!   Race report is up if you're interested. 

I'm now completely at a loss for what to do next.  Aside from my still sucky running that is progressing way slower than hoped for, I've crushed all my initial goals for this season.  I'm having a hard time deciding what to focus on next.  I'm definitely open to any thoughts.  I'd like to work towards an oly for next year, as well as definitely improving my running.  I want to either sign up for one last sprint in September or maybe focus on doing some running races and figure out how to improve there, which has been super slow going. 

How's everyone else doing???  This group has gotten so quiet again!  Daspanglers I love your new avatar!

Thanks, that's my "hurt my knee" avatar.

Good news from hematologist #2 today - he's going to clear me for surgery in spite of the blood clots in my lower leg.  He figures the worst part was over as far as the DVT was concerned and said if I wasn't dead by now by ways of an embolism then the surgery should be no problem.  He's got a strange sense of humor.  Now I'm just waiting for my orthopedic surgeon to call me back to set up a surgery date.  Yay!  finally after nearly ALL summer of waiting around with a screwed up knee!!!!

Awesome time lil turtle, sounds like you are making great progress which only means one thing. Time to up the goals a little bit. As far as what you should do for the fall, or a target goal?.. well, it's obvious. You need to work on your running, so sign up for a Thanksgiving Half Marathon and train your way up to the distance. 1 mile at at a time. 2 to 3 runs per week max. Sample schedule would be..

Monday 3 miles.   Thursday 3 miles, then a Saturday long run. Start those at three miles.. then work those up from there. One mile, each week, with an occasional step back week.

This while continuing to bike (or spin class), and swim.

So, in short, work on what you need to work on. Set that goal and go for it. You are already proving to yourself that you are an athlete and you are capeable of doing more and more.

Good luck on the operation dspanglers. Let us know how things progress, and let us know a firm date when you get one.

IM training is pretty much over, now, onto the big dance. I have no Idea how I will do, but I will post goals / predictions, sometime next week. Also a link to the Ironman website where you can track PeterAK and myself if you have nothing better to do.

A half marathon?  Ha!  And here I'm thinking a 10k would be a lofty goal!  I think you've forgotten who you're talking to here!  I can barely run more than a minute before having to stop and walk....Not exactly the kind of base a person should have for a half mary.  That's why I'm having a hard time knowing how to improve my running.  I can't just go out and run a mile or three. 

Daspanglers: I figured your avatar related to your knee injury which is why it cracked me up.    Glad to hear you'll be cleared for surgery, though I think your dr. and his sense of humor would scare me a bit! 

1034.

Why hello there 1034, I'm 629!

I'm working to channel that nervous energy into positive energy!

Lil Turtle, little steps is what it takes.  In January of '06, I did a five mile run without stopping and was ecstatic, it was my longest run ever at that point.  Feb '07 was a half mary, and nine days from now an Ironman!!!!!  Just build build build.  You have come so far, and you can go even farther!

Last long ride before IMWI is tomorrow's four hour outing.  1:45 run Sunday and it's just short stuff from there!

August Totals:

Nice totals PeterAK.. those bike numbers are impressive.

Kimje.. as far as predictions, I think I can go there now. I've avoided talking about it until it got closer to race day.. well, it's closer. I've given it much thought though.. I'll go through all three events, then put out a total time.. probable and best case.

Swim 2.4: best case, 1:10. probable 1:20, worst case 1:30+

T1 .. have no idea but I'll put 10:00 for now.

Bike 112: best case, 6:00  probable: 6:35, worst case 7:00+

T2 .. again, no idea, but 10:00 for now.

Run 26.2: best case, 3:50 probable: 4:15, worst case 5:00+

Not a great month for me training-wise.  I did a lot more racing than training though, so I think that's part of it.  Running numbers are good, but swim and bike are pretty low.  I really need to get back into swimming.  My pool has been closed for most of the month and rather than finding a new one I decided I would do all OWS.  It worked well for a while but then I started to get tired of smelling like lake and haven't been swimming too much.  I guess that'll be the September goal.  More running miles (always a goal) and more time in the pool!

Here's my gimpy work.  The run was the eliptical trainer and other walking type things.  I just wanted to build up leg strength before the surgery....OH YAH...my surgery...I have a "pre"surgery appointment on 9/17.  It'll be just the "getting the vitals, EKG, etc." type thing.  I plan on traveling to IMWI next Sunday to root you guys on!

Glad you were able to do some leg stuff in spite of the injury!

Look forward to meeting you too.  When will you be in Mad Town?

I'm all in for this one gang.  I just shaved my freakin' legs.  And it feels damn good.

I most likely won't leave until Sunday morning.  Might carpool with some other BTers who live nearby.  Good luck!

Oooh I love the shaved leg look!  

Good luck and have fun!  Can't wait to hear all about it!

Hey - I went to the IMWI yesterday w/ my kids and another BTer (tripletmom01).  We got there just in time for the start of the Pro's wave.  After the next wave started we took up position about 1/2 way up the parking ramp to T1.  I saw our own PeterAK (OK, Tammy W. had to tell me it was you but I saw you anyway).  I tried my best to get pictures of folks but my 3 yr was having trouble with his Gameboy Game...what a pain.  I couldn't find #1034 (sorry Atl_runner) but you probably ran by when I was helping out the little one.

I took the shuttle out to Verona and saw PeterAK again (And yes, Tammy had to tell me that was you again) but I did see the famed Tri Donkey suits....eeeeeaaaawwwwww!

I took a quick glance at the results this morning but didn't scrub the list yet.  But anyways - great job to all and can't wait to read the race reports.