HILDEKQ'S Magnificently Motivational Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 15)

kellekl - 2010-06-04 11:27 AM Grrrrr . . . it has been raining in Oregon quite literally for weeks. This is ALREADY one of the rainiest June's on record and we aren't even a week in. They just published a notice that we won't be able to park anywhere near the transition zone for my tri tomorrow. It is on grass (read currently mud) and they think too many cars will get stuck, so we have to park over 1 1/2 mi away. They say we can drop off our bikes tonight, but I really don't want my bike to sit out in the mud and rain all night. The lake is also known for a rather gross problem of occasional raw sewage overflow during times of extreme rain (thus all of Portland is getting new sewage pipes). All in all it is making this tri much less appealing. I did two tris at this site last year and loved both of them. It is a great flat course, but between the rain, mud, and sewage I can't imagine it being much fun. The run is nice and grassy usually, but I think it will be a slippery, mucky mess. Unfortunate! k

jcarmody - 2010-06-04 7:57 PM Best of luck to all of the racers this weekend.  Can't wait to read the reports.  I have a question for the group:

My tri class is breaking the swimmers into 3 groups.  At the last meeting I found myself really struggling to go 500 yards in open water.  Aparently I depend on the end of  each lap to catch a bit of a break.  The coach has defined the 3 groups as:

Group 1 is those who can swim 1000'+ in the pool.
Group 2 is those who can swim 500-1000' 
Group 3 is those who stuggle to make 500...'.

Where should I seed myself?  I was thinking group 2 but then I was wondering about group 3.  Any advice you guys can give me?

jcarmody - 2010-06-04 7:57 PM Best of luck to all of the racers this weekend.  Can't wait to read the reports.  I have a question for the group:

My tri class is breaking the swimmers into 3 groups.  At the last meeting I found myself really struggling to go 500 yards in open water.  Aparently I depend on the end of  each lap to catch a bit of a break.  The coach has defined the 3 groups as:

Group 1 is those who can swim 1000'+ in the pool.
Group 2 is those who can swim 500-1000' 
Group 3 is those who stuggle to make 500...'.

Where should I seed myself?  I was thinking group 2 but then I was wondering about group 3.  Any advice you guys can give me?

PTWykes - 2010-06-06 9:52 PM So it's T minus 2 weeks until my first TRI - I'm excited but starting to get nervouse about last minute details. My friend just sent me this message:

Here's what I'm thinking we need to have prepared for the race. Before we go we need to pump tires, lube chain, and tape gu to cross bar of our bike.

1. Tri-suit on
2. Cap(s) and goggles ready for the swim
3. T1 station set up with towel to dry off with, small towel and squirt water bottle for cleaning feet, rolled down socks, bike shoes, helmet, sunglasses, bike gloves (? do we take time for these?), gu taped to bike, water bottles loaded, bike pump
4. T2 station set up with running shoes, running skirt/belt with number attached
5. Power bar (or similar) just in case we need fuel
6. Change of clothes for after or t-shirt/sweatshirt to toss on if needed and flip flops/comfy shoes if we want them

Anything else?

Can you all think of anything else we need to be thinking about? We are going to pick up our packets/numbers the night before. I think we're going with no wetsuits - will make the final call when we get in the lake later this week to see how cold it is.

Question - since I am not totally comfortable with letting go of my handle bars to get my water bottle during a ride (i slow down a lot to do it) should I ride with a camel-back on? Or since it's a sprint, figure I'll be fine with the water I get at transitions (and a drink or 2 along the way if I can muster the courage to do it?) I always hydrate well before hand (I drink about 100 oz. of water per day regularly) but I don't want to be dehydrated at all because I know it can really effect your performance. Thoughts?

PTWykes - 2010-06-06 8:52 PM So it's T minus 2 weeks until my first TRI - I'm excited but starting to get nervouse about last minute details. My friend just sent me this message:

Here's what I'm thinking we need to have prepared for the race. Before we go we need to pump tires, lube chain, and tape gu to cross bar of our bike.

1. Tri-suit on
2. Cap(s) and goggles ready for the swim
3. T1 station set up with towel to dry off with, small towel and squirt water bottle for cleaning feet, rolled down socks, bike shoes, helmet, sunglasses, bike gloves (? do we take time for these?), gu taped to bike, water bottles loaded, bike pump
4. T2 station set up with running shoes, running skirt/belt with number attached
5. Power bar (or similar) just in case we need fuel
6. Change of clothes for after or t-shirt/sweatshirt to toss on if needed and flip flops/comfy shoes if we want them

Anything else?

Can you all think of anything else we need to be thinking about? We are going to pick up our packets/numbers the night before. I think we're going with no wetsuits - will make the final call when we get in the lake later this week to see how cold it is.

Question - since I am not totally comfortable with letting go of my handle bars to get my water bottle during a ride (i slow down a lot to do it) should I ride with a camel-back on? Or since it's a sprint, figure I'll be fine with the water I get at transitions (and a drink or 2 along the way if I can muster the courage to do it?) I always hydrate well before hand (I drink about 100 oz. of water per day regularly) but I don't want to be dehydrated at all because I know it can really effect your performance. Thoughts?

dajotkjo - 2010-06-06 10:59 PM Hi Everyone!!

I'm back from my VERY FIRST TRI!!! What an experience!!!  We got to Lake Lanier the day before and I picked up my race packet.  I did not sleep well at all.  My clock was set for 5:30 am but at 4:45 I got up and got ready.  My backpack was packed and ..

dajotkjo - 2010-06-06 9:59 PM Hi Everyone!!

I'm back from my VERY FIRST TRI!!! What an experience!!!  We got to Lake Lanier the day before and I picked up my race packet.  I did not sleep well at all.  My clock was set for 5:30 am but at 4:45 I got up and got ready.  My backpack was packed and ready to go the night before.  My trips to the bathroom began; my total before the race would be 6 times - seriously I couldn't believe I had any urine left in my bladder or stuff in my bowels but it kept coming.  My husband, with our little ones in tow, dropped me off  at 6:00 am.  I found a spot at the end of a row, by a tree and a big trash can; I have trouble finding my own minivan in a parking lot, so I knew I'd better find an easy way to help me find my bike. I went to get chipped and marked.  I set up my transition area just like the guy on the BT video on setting up your area said to.  

Paranoid that I would not make it to the swim area in time, I walked over to the start of the swim.  I wanted to vomit so badly.  The thought of getting into the lake was very unsettling.  The race started late and I was one of the later groups to start.  I got in and had trouble relaxing so my breathing was pretty shallow.  I touched something black but couldn't recognize what it was since I didn't have my glasses on, then came the lake version of seaweed and I wanted to die :-)  My mental chatter was deafening.  I gave myself the mental equivalent to a slap in the face.  I remembered that I chose this particular race because if I freaked out on the swim, I could stand up since the swim route hugged the coastline.  I stopped swimming, touched the ground, got my wits about me, and did the breast stroke.  I couldn't believe it when I finished the swim!

I walked to the transition area, it was a bit of a hike and on concrete, I didn't need to fall and open my wounds from my previous tumble. I got on the bike without falling - yeah!!  What a hilly course!  I was feeling okay until the first hill - OMG.  I pumped my legs as fast as I could go - I made it and I didn't get off the bike.  There were quite a few people getting off their bikes to walk them up the hill and I biked all of them.  Thank goodness for the training session on the bike trainer.  My legs were pretty spent after the bike ride.  I did Jeff Galloway run/walk intervals for the run.  My husband and daughters were waiting for me right before the finish line.

It was a very emotional time for me.  Six months ago I had reached a point of maximum disgust with myself; for many reasons, I needed to turn things around.  I signed up for this tri to challenge myself, to find forms of exercise that would fun and enduring.  I needed to overcome my fear of swimming and to learn how to ride a bike.  With my husband's support, we overhauled our pantry and made better food choices.  We've been losing weight together and our kids are mimicking our behavior with respect to our need for exercise.  I prepared myself as best as I could within the confines of having a full-time job, being a spouse and parent.  What did I gain?  So much more than the 2 hours and 3 minutes that it took me to finish the tri.   The tears were streaming down my face during the bike ride because I couldn't believe that I swam in that murky dark water and I was still on my bike when others were walking theirs up the hills.  I was on cloud 9 as I started my run.  On my last leg back to the finish line I passed 2 morbidly obese men and cheered them on because if my journey was hard, theirs was even harder.  I passed a little girl of about 10 years old (!!!!!) and cheered her on for she was truly an inspiration.  When I crossed the finish line and heard my name, I was sooooo happy.  I set out to challenge myself and in the process I found myself again.