MarkQuiet's group - FULL (Page 15)

I don't know a thing about the indoor bike computer thingy.

As for your second paragraph, patience is the key word.  Improvement is incremental (like weight loss) and every now and again, BOOM, you're that much faster, stronger, lighter.

Keep at it, don't get discouraged when the improvement isn't exeptional each week.  One day (soon) it'll all fall into place.

Hi Tami,

I noticed on my Kurt Kinetic that it does take a little more oomph to work out on than it does outdoors, but, yours is quite a big difference.  If it were just a computer thing I would say you calibrated it wrong (you know the part where you have to measure the circumference of your tire by marking a spot, making 2 revolutions and then marking it again and dividing by 2?).  Yours sounds more like a mechanical problem like the tension is too high.  Once you get your rear tire locked in, don't adjust the tension more than about 2&1/2 turns (just enough to make it not "squeak" when you pull it 1/2" with a quick pull).  If its not the tension, I'm not sure what it would be.  The good news is, it sure makes your outside rides seem a lot easier. )

I'm clueless about plateau's.  Hope your md appt for the ankle turns out to be a good one!

Tara

Hey all, I'm sure glad to see that everyone is continuing with this while I fight through my absence. It has taken quite a lot of will power to not get too depressed with this "no work" thing. I have tried to focus on my training, but perhaps too much. Not only that, but the weather here has been crappy since the beginning of March. I think the sun poked out maybe once or twice the whole time - and only for a few hours.

Computer thingy - I would agree with the tension setting comment. Other then that I have no clue. All my riding has been outside.

Plateaus? Well there is a big topic. But I think Frank said it best. The body does adjust to commo stimuli. Meaning that if you do the same thing every week the body adjusts and you see no improvement. Most schedules will vary the intensity or the volume from week to week. You will need to follow those closely. Your body needs the variety to stimulate change and with the change you will see the improvement.

Also keep in mind that as the weather warms up and the humidty increases you will see a drop in performance. This should be expected and don't beat yourself up too much over it. My run times have dropped nearly 45 seconds from where they were over the winter. Not only that my average heart rate has increased almost 15bpm. It is all due to the weather.  Heat and humidty zaps energy quickly. Perpare for it.

Water and gels will help out for much of it. I have read the posts related the gels and eating while working out or racing. Personally, I use gels. I can't eat bars while running and barely can while riding. Make sure you consume water with both. I find that the bars will require more water then the gels (the reason I don't like eatting the bars when running). A good rule of thumb for the gels is to consume one every 45 minutes of exercise.

Hi,

Fgray brought up a question I have about weight loss.  I'm currently at around 145 which isn't bad as far as my overall size or the clothes size I wear but I feel like if I were "leaner" I could possibly be "faster."  Is that true?  I'm realizing I want to lose more weight because I think it will increase my speed and maybe overall fitness.  The problem is - and this is vain - that any more "fat" or "cushion" I lose is going to be in areas that, well, make me feel feminine (my "curves" if ya know what I mean).  Anyway, it sounds like lots of folks who do these races as a lifestyle get down to a "race weight" and then in the off season they go back to an "off season" weight.  I'd like to try the "lean mean racing machine" thing but not if its not worth it.  Any thoughts on this?

Tara

In addition to the many benefits of multisport, I, too have been losing weight.  I've been involved with the Tri'ing for Weightloss threads and have had a good time tracking.  If you want to join our "summer solstice" challenge, take this link http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=69936&start=31&posts=45 for information, and this one http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=70478&posts=7#M740055 for today's weigh-in.

As for losing your curves, perhaps you'll merely enhance and redefine them?  That's what has happened to my lovely wife as she's participated in this stuff.

Hey,

Thanks for the info on weight loss, and Kirk, I am experiencing here in Florida the yuckiness of having to adjust to heat and some humidity.  I am so glad you mentioned how much it slows you down or I would be hugely disappointed in my run attempts lately.   I guess the key is plenty of hydration right?  Sometimes when its really hot I feel  kinda light headed and out of it.  I think to train optimally I'm going to have to get up early before the sun comes up and "Get R Done!"  Oh - I hate mornings - maybe I can get some mileage in before I actually wake up....)

Have a nice weekend everyone.  We'll be at the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction in West Palm for all you car lovers out there!

Tara

Just wanted to check in and wish y'all a good first week of April.  I got in some low impact cycling miles on Saturday with my kids, got up early on Sunday (the new puppies needed a potty trip) and ran 5, then a bit later dropped my canoe in a local river for an explatory trip.  Fortunately, I didn't have an unplanned OWS; but I didn't get my hoped for wetsuit training in, either.  I'll swim tonight at the Y, though.  I'm 3 weeks from my first tri of the season and it is definitely an "A" event - an Oly.

Hope y'all had a great weekend, too.

db

Frank, thanks for pointing us to the swimming thread.  There is a ton of good info in there and the videos make a big difference.  Thanks.  I'll probably read the entire thread again tonight before swimming tomorrow morning.

 Doug, thanks for the well wishes..training wise I was due for a good week, it seems to be panning out....hmmm, only Tuesday, better not speak too soon.  Good luck preparing these last few weeks. 

 How's everyone else doing?

agreed!  this board has been a bit quiet lately.  I'll be pretty tied up through easter weekend but I'm hoping that things pick up next week.

Hey anybody home???

Hope you're all doing well and keeping up your training.  Its getting harder with the heat but I think we're in for a little cool spool here in Florida before the serious heat and humidity starts.

"Happy Easter" every one!

Tara

I have a swimming question.  I've been reading the Total Immersion book, got the DVD and have been doing the drills.  I haven't had a lot of pool time lately due to the pool being closed.  My question is this - doing the drills has really cut down I'm sure on my aerobic base because you don't put in the laps you do with normal training.  I'm less than 2 months away from my first tri.  I'm afraid that if I keep doing the drills and don't progress through them fast enough (which is recommended in the TI program) that I will lose my endurance.  Should I just scrap the TI stuff until after my first tri and then resume it afterward to improve my stroke efficiency?  I'm starting to get nervous....

Thanks,

Tara

Oh that sounds great!  Is it a "thread" or an "article," and if so, how do I get to it?  Sorry, I'm so techno-dorky.

Thanks!  I can't wait to try it.

Tara

Congrats on the brick.  They're fun, aren't they?  I bailed on mine this weekend due to weather (snow/wind) and only ran - far.  I also failed to get in the water.  segue ...

I'm now t-minus two weeks till my first OLY.  I've been doing TI drills and swims for many weeks now, but only in 25 m pools.  I have no idea how far (not worried about speed) I can go without stopping.  Surely it's longer than 25, but I guess it'll have to be 1500.  I'm not shy about making friends with the folks in the kayaks along the route, though.  But, to chime in on Tara's question - I say to stick with the game plan, but maybe accellerate it a bit.  Also, is anyone else swimming with fistgloves?  (aside: I bought the Ls and they're too small.  If anyone is purchasing, and can wear L, buy an XL and I'll trade).  Here's my take on them: They make you swim so much more efficiently when you take them off, but frustratingly slow with them on.  I try to use them for 2/3 - 3/4 of my swim workouts, times be damned.  I also labor more, breathing-wise, with them on.  I'm committed to TI so I can only hope that this is going to work - that and the buoyancy of the wetsuit. 

Specifically, though, remember - you're deriving your power and momentum from the switches, not necessarily the arms (fistgloves, again make this noticeable).  Don't panic (I'm trying to practice what I preach here - go with me) and you'll be fine.  Remeber Stuart Smalley from SNL a few years back?  You know, the "I'm good enough, smart enough, and gosh-darn it, people like me." guy?  Well, I tell myself every day that I'm training enough (lie), learning TI well enough, and gosh darn it, I'm gonna make it.

I'm always happy to hear about all y'all's breakthroughs.  Gives me confidence I can make it through.  Keep on writing.

Lots of questions on the swim portion. It sounds like most of you are doing what you need to. TI and other research should prove to be a benefit. Recently my times have improved, but that is because I have been doing intervals and following the swim plan posted here under the HIM plan. I still feel like the I am the subject matter of my avatar.

Happy workouts all, and I will try to be more active posting this week.

TI is shorthand for Total Immersion, a swimming program/technique quite popular with BTers, judging from the number of posts on various threads.

The author eschews use of flippers or other pool toys, prefering to teach what he considers proper balance and a unique technique involving rotating your core body to generate momentum and using your arms as additional support/propulsion, instead of having them be the primary source (very little kicking, too).

I've been following the lessons for several months now, and get to try them in real life next Sunday at my first OLY.  So far, I've only swum in 25 m pools.  I'm anxious (in all senses of the word) to get out in OW to see what I can do unfettered by the pool walls.