Asphalt Junkies CLOSED AND GETTING OUR FIX (Page 143)

Karl thanks and please thank your wife for me. I have been training very unconventionally for this marathon. I did not follow a marathon specific plan this year since I was focused on training for the HIM. The HIM and the marathon were separated by 8 weeks so I could not train conventionally for both. I pretty much had a plan for the HIM and was hoping what I did for that would help plus the 8 weeks in between. I have been running as much as I safely can so my long runs have been a little varied.

I think my 4 longest runs have been 16, 20, 17 and 22. I was trying to do something like an 18, 20 and 22 mile runs but it did not work out that way. Also my mileage has been low for a marathon as I probably haven't gone over 40 mpw however I have been running all year and have put a lot of miles on the bike which I believe has helped me alot. Also I am not a very fast runner but I make up for in being able to run long distance. I was not blessed with speed but endurance has been my friend.

I am very interested to see how I do this year with the way I wound up having to train for it. I feel like I should be able to finish but I don't think it will be a PR by any means. I think NYC is a tough course so with that considered if I come anywhere close to my PR time of 4:32 I would be very happy. In any case I am really looking to just have fun (I know it's a marathon) and enjoy the entire experience. I am especially looking forward to running down 1st Ave with all those people out there cheering everyone on. I've heard it is an amazing experience and I can't wait to experience that part of the race for myself. Finishing in Central Park would be nice too!

I like your position on your tri bike.  I can see that for long-course racing or long training rides that comfort can be an issue.   If you want to make that position less aggressive you will need to buy another stem.  About $50.  But if you can make this position work for your back, at least in the doses that you need to for your racing plans that would be best.  It won't feel comfortable on the contact point, but you can resolve your back discomfort by arching your low back and rolling your hips forward.  That's not without it's own set of issues, but it's how you can take the strain off your back in this position.

For the road bike, your position is too upright.  You are too directly above the crank, your knees are in front of the pedal at the horizontal position in the pedal stroke and your hip angle is too open.  All of those things contribute to straining the knee.

Start by moving your seat backwards 1/2-1".  Doing this might require you lower your seatpost, but it might not.  After this we may need to make adjustments to the handlebars, but try the seat move first and we will take it from there.

JeffY - 2012-10-22 11:12 AM Samantha, you beat Warren!!!!!  

Thanks for pointing that out Jeff.  And not by a little, I might add.

Work is burying me for the next few days but I'll catch up as I can.

Thank you for the last minute help before my ride over the weekend.  I officially made it through the Hilly Hundred.  I had a few embarassing malfunctions at the beginning of the ride that I got fixed up at the first SAG.  Matt, Mount Tabor was definitely EPIC, as it was described on their website: 25% grade and 0.3 miles.  My proudest moment of the weekend was making it to the peak of Tabor still on my bike.  There were several other challenging hills, some as long as 2 miles.  Dirk and Brenda, I definitely think you would enjoy this course.  I hope it’s on your bucket list. 

Jeff, it looks like your daughter has grown a lot this season.  I’m glad that you two can enjoy some of these activities together.

Dirk, that’s still a pretty decent time for a 5K!  And Samantha, you raced really well, especially considering that you had to deal with cramps.  I’m sure it took a lot of mental effort to get through that.   

Matt, you are crazy busy!  I don’t know how you juggle it all.

Karl, good luck in your first tri.  Stay positive and enjoy the experience.

Tony, great dedication this season.  I can’t wait to hear about your marathon. 

Jonathan, congrats on the marriage and welcome back. 

I agree with everything that Jeff said about your road bike.  My knees hurt looking at that picture!  It's sort of like doing lunges over and over when your knee extends out in front of your toes.

I'm not so sure I like that position on your tri bike.  I do like your bike though!  

Do you have long legs, short torso, or the opposite?

I need to catch up on everything!

My little guy seems to be having a tough time with the loss of Jasmine.  Potty training has taken several steps back.  He's been very snuggly.  He doesn't talk about all of his pets to other people anymore.  (He loves animals and everyone knows it.)  It's hard to help him because I feel such a huge empty place, too.

Jeff...I think you mentioned Weimereiners as being great running dogs.  That breed and Rhodesian Ridgebacks appeal to me due to their short hair.  I also love Border Collies.  With five acres, we certainly have enough room for that breed.  I think we will be adopting a new dog into our lives soon.  Our lab seems really lonely.  We lost our other lab a year and a half ago due to cancer.  We're a multiple dog family.  I'm sure we will find a new family member soon.  (I really LOVE German Shepherds, though.)

Allison, congrats on your race!!!  that is awesome!

yesterday I did swim 28 minutes non-stop, maybe I can finish the 600 yards, ya'll know me by now, it is ALL or NOTHING...lol

Don't ya'll love children, one little girl ( 7 or 8) made my day yesterday and gave me a good laugh.  When I got out of the water w/ my wetsuit on, she came up to me and said, "mister, are you a professional swimmer"?  Hows funny is that!!!  Me a professional swimmer...lol

My height is 66", my torso is 34.5 so leg length would be 30.6. Does that help?

Gotta run out the door for the day but I appreciate this info so keep it coming!!

My oldest girl is half Border Collie (half golden retriever, but to look at her, she looks pure border collie).  Lots of energy, good running dog if it's not a hot climate.  Very smart!  But not too motivated to please their master...so at least in my case, not a very trainable dog.  Tons o shedding.

A friend of mine has the Ridgeback.  I don't know if he's begun to introduce her to running yet...

My sister breeds and trains German Shepherds for the sport of Schutzhund.  She's all about German Shepherds.  Great breed for running too, in cool climates.  Probably shed a lot.  They are very trainable because they are both smart and motivated to please.

On the subject of your tri bike and your back pain...

Believe me, I completely understand your problem.  For about a decade I could only tolerate 30 minutes on a bike every other day at the most.

You are sitting on this bike entirely well.  But there is a rounding in your lower back that allows the lumbar discs to be compressed.  Rather than having your lower back rounded and following the RED line, have it arched a little so it follows the BLUE line.  This requires rotating your pelvis forward more and ends up having you sit on your tender parts.  Definitely trading off one discomfort for another.  That's why we tried all of those seats designed to relieve that pressure.

But as I said initially, you are sitting on this bike fine.  You simply have issues with your lower back.  If you are unable to tolerate rolling forward and straightening your back then the other option is to raise your handlebars which will have you catching more wind.  You could also try to deal with the back through physical therapy rather than bike adjustments.  A program to increase your flexibility and core strength may keep the back pain at bay.

(bikeposition.jpg)

My dog that just died is a German Shepherd.  Holy moly the shedding!  We had dust buffaloes in the house!  It was really hard to brush her, too, since her hair coat was so thick!  She was amazingly smart!  I wouldn't hesitate at adopting another!

I'll race you!  How about 25m?  I use 1 arm and you can use both!!?

Same here.....

haha!  I sure hope I can beat you using both arms.  I'd be really screwed.

As I recall you were swimming quite well at the beginning of the year.  Something like a 1:10 100?

Maybe I'll take you up on that challenge Jeff.  What do I win if I win?

All of the discussion about the bike fit for Dina has me looking at Lis and her "fit" on her hybrid.  she had been complaining about knee pain while riding and I had tweaked her around a little bit.  Now, after seeing the post about proper knee position, I think she is probably to far forward.  I may try to get her back on her bike a little bit before winter really blows in and check exactly where she's at.

Tracy, my sister had a German Shepard that she had to put down a few months ago.  She had the same dust buffaloes that you describe.  She had some special brush/comb that she used all the time.  Maybe twice a day?

I can pull this off against some of the slower sprinters on my swim team.  Usually the smaller ladies that do better in the long stuff.

It's probably quite a sight to behold (but I can't see myself!).  I use that 1 arm like a spinning nunchuk.  I can only keep it up for 25 because I can't do it and breath at the same time.

Maybe I can get some video of me having a match race against someone and post it for you to watch.  Don't worry though.  It's not much faster than perhaps 23 seconds.

If I thought I could beat you with 1 arm I'd offer up something in wager, but I would lose. 

ok moved the seat back about 1/2 inch & my 4 yr old just took this pic for me . I notice I am shifting around and find I am moving back on the seat. Don't know what that means, just thought I'd throw it out there. If you can't get anything from these pics I'll have my hubby take some when he gets home tonight.

I have probably pulled off a single 1:10.  I was swimming in the 1:20-1:25 range at the end of master's last year.  I need to sign up again.  I just have to get it in my head to get there on Tuesday.