Prof40's group CLOSED (Page 16)

mck35 - 2009-07-02 1:30 PM Krys - That sounds pretty good... just make sure you try it all out before hand so that you know what youre doing. and make sure you actually eat what you bring! ive read a bunch of race reports where people felt good so they didnt eat and they ended up bonking.  Dont be like that. 

krystyna47 - 2009-07-04 8:21 PM Hey all,
I did the Half-Ironman today in horrid conditions (pouring for most of the bike ride, and incredibly humid -- thankfully not hot).

I finished in 6h00m36s, and here is how it broke down:
Swim 2km: 23:30 @ 1:11/100m (yes, that's beast!)
T1: 4:18 (including the 200-300m jog from the water to transition)
Bike 90km: 3:23:40 @ 26.5km/hr (I see where I have to improve the most...)
T2: 2:04
Run 21.1km: 2:07:06 @ 6:02/km

I'm pretty beat and in terrible shape -- I was pushing it so hard for the run (wanting to finish in under 6h) that my GI tract shut down, and I've been in immense pain, barely sipping at water and unable to stomach food, constantly going to the washroom, since I finished.

When I write up the race report, I'll post a link to it here! I am INCREDIBLY happy with my time, and my gosh, they weren't lying when they said that you basically experience the spectrum of human emotion in doing one of these long distance events.

gplitt - 2009-07-10 3:17 PM Seems we're slowing down on the writing, so I'll say a few thoughts.

I'm hooked. I just wish I could balance training, work, faith/God/church-life, family and house work. It's crazy to try to find 10 to 15 extra hours to do it, but I love the results. And my wife has been so supportive--if not I couldn't keep going.

We have 20 acres, so while I thought getting out of school would give me more time, I'm finding it crazy to try to find work out time. I've painted the house and decks, put in a lawn, built planter boxes, and weeded and bark dusted everything. I'm finding if I don't work out in the morning I'm too tired at night.

I'm going to watch a 70.3 triathlon next weekend while on vacation. I'm tempted to do the olympic, but I probably won't. I just went through two weeks of GI track problems--food poisoning and then something else. I trained more or less through it, but started feeling better wednesday and put in a great swim, run and bike in the last two days. I'm still a little weak, but I probably needed the rest for the last 3 week push into my 70.3 August 2.  

I'm going to get a cat scan now to see if there are any cats in my intestines. That would explain the pain!!

Keep going everyone. I'm finding the swimming is getting BORING! I need more OW to change the pace.

boxer - 2009-07-10 10:25 PM Greg, are you doing drills in the pool, or just swiming yards? Since I got a coach who has been really pushing me hard, I really look forward to my swim practice. It is like swim boot camp, but it's always different and challenging. It's funny but every time I jump in the pool and start being pushed really hard, I think I won't be able to finish the drills but then something clicks and it becomes and addiction.
I hope that click happens to you so you can have as much fun swiming as I do!!!

prof40 - 2009-07-13 7:46 AM

How did you find your coach? Hiring one has been on my to-do list for quite some time. And how often do you see him/her, email, etc?

Good word, addiction. By the time I'm 1/2-way into a set, I just want to push it hard and finish it up, too. It's a macho thing for me.

boxer - 2009-07-13 8:41 PM

David, I was training at the Aquatic Center, and next to the open swim lanes, there was always a coach, this kind of big older gentleman, always training a small group of masters, and kids of all ages. He saw me working hard and one day he asked what I was  doing. I told him I was trying to run a triathlon. Since that day he's been coaching me twice a week. He won't take a penny from me, he just wants me to work hard, and he really means it!!!
His son was very accomplished triathlete and he coached him for years. Now he's got some health issues and he just enjoys helping people. So far, he's done a pretty good job with me and I am very greatful.

My riding has improved as well, I need to take some dratic measures on my running. Problem is, I don't have track near me. I've been doing some tempor runs and even ran some races. I ran an 8k in Aspen, CO on 4th of July. It was great.
I also went to the Aspen rec center and worked my butt off in the pool.

August 2 is my next sprint Tri and I really want to improve on my run.  Any suggestions????

Then half marathon (Virginia Beach) and one more sprint in October before my first Olympic in November.
Any concerns about going that new distance? What should I start doing different for that one?
I'm really exited about going Olympic, and my goal for next year is a HIM.
And one day........... don't know when, a ful IM !  That's gotta be A BLAST to finish one of those!!!  The idea keeps me going. I think I can do it, but I have a looong way to go before I'm ready.
Tks,
Jaime

prof40 - 2009-07-14 4:41 AM

Lucky you on your find -- sounds like you have a great coach!

I need to work on my run, too. I died in the second half of the run on each of my last 2 races. I'm not sure, though, if I need to add more long and steady base runs or more sprint work. Or maybe strenth training for the legs, which I've ignored. So at the moment, I'm looking through the articles here and online and gathering ideas.

That is why I am jealous that you have a coach! I'd love to be able to sit down with someone face to face with my last few race results and identify the good and bad parts and come up with a plan for the next few months.

Your olympic goal is definitely achievable. In fact, I'd bet money that you can do the distance now if you tried. It's more a mental game than a physical one.

Are you following a training plan for the olympic? There are lots of free ones here, and a ton online. Definitely worth looking at.

prof40 - 2009-07-15 6:20 PM So, based upon my performance this last weekend, I'm re-evaluating my summer race calendar. I've deleted one race because of travel issues, and might drop one and add another for September to give me time to try a different training style.

How's your training going? Are you having the success you'd anticipated, or have you stumbled a bit?

 

mck35 - 2009-07-16 11:52 AM My training is going well in the sense that I can do the distances I need to do without any trouble.  I am having a hard time getting all my workouts in though, especially swimming.  I think I've skipped more swimming workouts than anything else combined.  But I'm getting faster on my feet and on the bike, and I was always just hoping to finish in the MOP for the swim, and I know I can do that without straining myself.

I have a sprint on Sunday, after moving on Saturday, so hopefully I'm not too sore.  It'll be intereesting to see if I can improve on my race from last month.