left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 16)

Tomorrow is the day ... that Sebastian hits the street. The weather was lovely as my daughter and I drove home from her university today. I was SOOOO tempted to get out for a ride once we arrived but by the time the van was unloaded, supper done, etc. it was too late Can't wait to tell you all about it.

Are you serious, Marianne?! I just bet they were watching, ROFL. You do mean how many STROKES we can swim without the cup spilling, right? *grin* I'm not sure I can swim one, even though my back stroke is half way decent. I'll leave a post-it on my gym bag to remind me to bring a plastic cup to the pool on Friday. *ear to ear grin*

Nope, no open water swimming as of yet. I grew up swimming in the gulf, but I have enough sense to know, that a tri open water swim will be completely different then swimming for fun. And I get nervous when people crowd me, lol. I'm not sure how to get experience either. I have no swim classes, no master's swimming, no instructors... I just swim on my own, with a couple of guys at the gym helping me with my stroke every now and then. So advice on this would be greatly appreciated. 

Aye, I agree with Marianne: biking outside is WONDERFUL! Can't wait to hear your report Peter!

I was able to bike 9 miles on the stationary bike in under 30 minutes today. My goal was to be able to do that before my Tri. Now, if I can reach that goal on my Trek, I'll be happy.

sTRIving on!

Mav - what a day you had yesterday. I am tired just reading about it !! Way to go!!

Seb and I had our inaugural ride together as planned. I used the opportunity to practise clipping in and out of the pedals, shifting gears, braking, etc. I feel very comfortable riding with my hands resting on the top side of the brake/gear levers (do they call them "hoods" ?) but not quite as comfortable with my hands in the drop portion of the bars. I find the back of my neck is cramped when my hands are that low and I am trying to look up and forward.

Mav - I've not yet tried aerobars. The ones I bought on ebay (Profile Design Century) are being carried home by my wife when she returns on Monday.

Today's plan is to swim at lunch and then go for a little more substantial bike ride after work. Temperature is supposed to go above 20c (70F) today. As is the case where mav lives, still a lot of sand/gravel/dirt on the roads so one has to be extra cautious.

Flipper - I agree with mav that an open water swim prior (and wearing a wetsuit if you will be during the race) to the event would be well advised. Everyone I know who has done a tri has suggested that to me too. "Nothing new on race day" - whether food, clothes or environment.

Monday is a BIG day - Boston Marathon day - and "Patriots Day" in MA right Mav? This time last year I was en route to Beantown and encountered a massive blizzard in upstate Maine. I was fearful that I would be storm-stayed in Houltan ME but I managed to get through on I-95. That was a foreshadowing of things to come because race day was wicked. This is me prior to the bus ride out to Hopkinton where the race starts.

I did my first "brick" ...

... or perhaps I should call it a "paving stone" because it wasn't exceptionally long.

I did a 15k bike ride (35 minutes) followed by a 2k run (12 minutes). The legs felt a little wobbly at first but I was expecting that.

Yesterday after work I did a 17k ride. Me and Sebastian are starting to get to know each other!!

Mav - make sure you cheer extra loud for any Canadians that you see!! Wish I could be there to watch but I'll have to make due with the live webcast which I will have going on my computer at work  (don't tell the boss!).

Just back from my LSD - 18k in 1:55. It was a perfect day - warm enough to run in shorts and L/S t-shirt. I wore one that I bought in Boston last year hoping that it would inspire me because I didn't really feel like going out. It seemed to work.

Time now to turn my attention to housework since Jill is flying home tomorrow. Life will be much more pleasant if I show that I've made an effort to tidy up a bit.

Now, where's the rest of our peeps with updates on their weekend activities.

Peter

sTRIving for greatness 

Good news, bad news ...

The bad news is that we noticed a leak in the ceiling between our main floor and second floor so had to get a plumber over to find the source and now we need an insurance adjuster to assess the damage.

The good news is that I got to watch a lot of the Boston Marathon on TV as I was waiting for the aforementioned plumber to arrive. What a race !! The two leading women ran side-by-side at an astounding pace (around 5:10/mile I believe) and finished only 6 seconds apart after sprint on Boylston Street (where the race finishes in downtown Boston). I was in tears as I watched and recalled my own finish last year (at a slightly slower pace!!).

The other bit of good news is that Mrs FBP arrived home after her trip out west to visit family and she came bearing the aerobars that I purchased on ebay for $18. They look to be new or almost new, complete (as was advertised) and relatively simple to install, once Sebastian and I get a little better acquainted.  

Water damage update ... Plumber identified that the water was coming from an opening where an acrylic "grab bar" is located in the one-piece shower/tub unit in our main bathroom. Goodness knows how long water has been seeping in there/ Insurance will cover damage and repairs (less a $500 deductible - aaarrgghh). Adjuster has already been in contact with us and repair company is being dispatched today to start remediation plan.

Mav - how great for you to be able to see everything out at Hopkinton. I remember the start so clearly - the long walk from the holding area, the noise from the timing mats was loud and we were all packed in so close together and there was this big boom camera overhead. What a feeling !!! Just like the start at New York, it is the closest we mortals will probably come to the feeling of an Olympian as they walk into the stadium for the opening ceremonies after struggling for years to reach the pinnacle of their sport.

I'm stuck in meetings all day but hope to get out for a bike ride after work. Happy Earth Day everyone. I took the bus to work today in recognition.

Hi sTRIvers

Forgive the absence. My sister-in-law had surgery Friday to remove 2 brain tumors. She was diagnosed a year ago with lung cancer, and the oncologist had hoped the radiation therapy, chemo and surgery that was performed last year had removed all the cancer. But it re-appeared several months ago in the form of brain tumors. She came threw the brain surgery with flying colors and is sitting up, eating, talking, SMILING and has all her memory back. We are a happy family today.

About the open water swimming: I will get to it, if I have to drive down to the gulf and just start swimming, lol. (Thank you for the advice Marianne and Peter. You guys are awesome. ) But I don't need to worry about it for my first TRI. The YTri in Birmingham has a pool swim with an interval start for the water segment. I think I mentioned that when I signed up for it 2 months ago. That's why I picked this Tri. Yey! But I'm still scared to death. LOL.
http://www.team-magic.com/tmtri/sftri.htm

I can't relate to the Boston Mar. comments, but it was interesting to read your posts. Cool! And omg, sorry to hear about your leak problems, Pete. Ouch! Sounds like you and Sebastian are rockin' all rollin'. Woohoo!

Marianne, omg, I bet you're teeth are STILL chattering! How in the world did you swim in water that cold! Makes me want to head to the gym for the whirlpool just thinking abou it, lol.

Leston, sounds like it was a great trip! And I'm so envious of your Master's swimming. Wow. Good for you!

I looked up Master's swimming here in Mobile a couple of months ago, and the only program I found is 40 minutes away at 5am at a local college downtown. I had to ask myself if I wanted it THAT bad. So far the answer has been no, lol. But I sure need some help. Also, at present I'm still very self-conscious about the way I look in my Speedo. *blush* At, what I call my "geriatric gym", I look like most of the other women my age on the deck. *sheepish grin* I have come a long way, though.

sTRIving on

Hey flipper - great to have you back and posting. Wonderful news about your sis-in-law.

Just back from a 20k ride. Forgot to stop the timer on my Garmin so not sure of my exact time but I figure it was around 48 minutes. Much of the route I took was the same as I will be riding in my Sprint Tri in July - always good to get familiar with a course prior to the event right? In this case that's easy because it's only a few blocks from my house. My ride also took me past the lake where the swim is held and it of course is still ice covered so won't be practising my open water swimming there anytime soon LOL

Juanita - you mentioned being self conscious about  how you look in a Speedo. Well, I just got a Tri top sent to me by a buddy in Toronto. It is a special Team Diabetes Canada one that he was to wear in IM Canada a few years back but it was too small for him. He told me it was an XL and I was welcome to it. When I saw the thing it looked barely big enough to fit my daughter (who is a size 2 or less!). When I pulled it on I felt like I was being squeezed into a sausage casing and my kids are threatening to disown me if I wear the thing. I know that Tri tops are supposed to fit tight but if this is an XL clearly it was sized for Lilliputians because I am 6ft/172 lbs and usually wear a size M or L.
 

Another Boston Marathon story for your entertainment. Somewhere near the halfway point I passed a guy running IN A LOWER LEG CAST. Seriously. He had on a shirt with the Maple Leaf on it so I knew he was a crazy Canuck so I moved over to chat with him. Turns out he was from Nova Scotia the province that borders mine directly to the east. He explained that he had suffered a stress fracture and the doctor had told him to stop training but he was damned if he was going to miss the Boston Marathon so he decided to do the thing, cast and all. I commented that his doctor might not be happy when he found out!

Peter

asTRIde my bike sTRIving as ever

Greetings all....sorry I have missed you for a few days.  I will try to catch up some here.  Work has been pretty crazy and my daughter has had her last two golf tournaments for the year this week and last.  Debbie has been at both to watch so I had extra house duty.  By the way, they finished second in their conference and barely missed a national championship bid.  They went her freshman year and finished second in the conference last year (her sophomore year).  We are hoping for a win again next year as a senior gift.

Mav - and all  --  working out on the course ahead of time is a great luxury.  Nothing can compare to the confidence that comes from a successful completion of the course.  Especially several weeks prior to your event.  Let's talk about cold....you referred to me as a wimp from the south and YOU were COLD....I am shocked....LOL...I thought you were TOUGH.....By the way, great job on the convert...if you go back to that restaurant have her join us on here.  She can learn a lot. 

FBP - certainly your workout counts as a brick.  There are no limits or requirements - just like a sprint is a triathlon just as much as an Olympic or half-ironman.

Flipper - great news on the brain surgery....our thoughts and prayers to your sister in law and family.

Aerobars - don't worry too much about climbing or descending in the bars....get on the hoods if that is more comfortable.  Folks the bike is about relaxing....RELAXING.  Spin and Grin.  Also, you don't really need much aero on the ups or downs and certainly get out of them for the curves.  The long flat sections are where they really pay.  Find a section and ride it over and over in the bars.

Uphill Climbs - get into an easy gear and spin at a high cadence.  This will save your quads.  If you are pushing too high a gear uphill you are going to pay on the run.  Your quads might revolt.  Try to keep a high cadence as you climb and only climb standing on the pedals if you must - and if you do, you are going to need to be in a bigger gear to support your weight.  Try it both ways and see how you feel when you run off the bike.

Workouts - For all outside bike rides - When you get off the bike - run at least 5 minutes...every time....yeah, this time too....get those legs ready.  For me it seems about 5 - 7 minutes are required to run feeling normally....so I try to run for 10 minutes minimum off the bike.

OK - this weekend was great...I did a 43 mile ride on Sunday, the 2008 Fiesta Wildflower Ride, with a 12 minute run off the bike and on Saturday I did 7.5 mile run.  I am going to post a race report on my blog if you want to read it.  There will be some pics there too.  Since we are sharing about our area...Fiesta is a 11 day party of our city.

sTRIve,

B

By the way, Debbie and I are travelling this weekend to host a charity event in Dallas that we have hosted for 10 years now.  So I will be out of touch but I am doing a ride with two friends Saturday morning and then going to a local lake for a open water swim with one of those guys and another friend who is going to join us.

I am also swimming 1800 non-stop tomorrow night....send aqua karma please!

sTRIve,

B

Great to read your post B-man. Interested to know more about the charity event that you and DW host in Dallas.

A question about gear selection - my bike has a triple up front and I am trying to figure out at what point it makes sense to drop down from the middle ring to the smallest ring when climbing. In your experience B. would I be better to use up all the gears on the rear cog (ie. go all the way up to the largest/easiest one) before dropping down to the small one in front or should I drop down in front earlier and then work my way from small to large (hard to easy) on the back?

Plan is to get to the pool at lunch today. I'll probably try some sort of a ladder swim: 50/100/150/100/50. I'd rather go for a run 'cause it's beautiful outside but the pool will be closed for the next few days due to a swim meet so better take the chance now and I'll run tonight or tomorrow.

God bless you, Marianne! You are (again) just what I needed today. I realize how hard I have to work because of the extra body mass, and sometimes it's overwhelmingly discouraging. Why the extra weight will no longer drop off, even SLOWLY, is beyond me. I became lax for a couple of weeks (discouragement will do that I guess) and have been eating what I want until a week ago. I'm back on the straight and narrow now. I also made an appointment with my gyn to get my thyroid checked out. My gp just shrugged, did a blood test, said I had no problems and offered to give me a Topamax to help me lose weight. No thanks.

Meanwhile, today, after getting back into the routine a little bit (the ongoing migraines have slowed my training) I simulated my Tri at the gym. I'm as slow as molasses, but I finished! The most disappointing thing was my swim - I did the 400 yards in 5 minutes. (I used touch turns. We'll be changing lanes at the wall during the tri swim - no need for flip turns.) I had so much nervous excitement that I couldn't breathe, lol. I finally made myself relax, stretched out, and finished the swim at an easier pace then what I wanted to do. After a rather long transition of 6 minutes, (ouch - several of the ladies wanted to talk to me in the locker room, lol) I ran out to a stationary bike, and pedaled for 9 miles. I finished the bike in 32.40 min. A 3 minute transition, and I was up on the gym track to run for 2.06 miles. I completed that in 23.38, according to Nike+. Maybe I should have counted laps instead of trusting Nike+, but I was so tired when I got off the bike, I was afraid I'd miscount. I began to cool down after the 2 miles, and I walked a lap. But then, I decided to add to my distance to make it a 5K and ran another 1.05 miles in 12.13. Yey! A half mile cool down walk after that, and I actually swam some more at an easy pace to cool down even more before my sculpting class.
I discovered 2 good things: One, I can do the distance (although the bike will be harder in the Tri as there are rolling hills in Mountain Brook) and the combination of clothes I decided to wear will work. I had no chaffing or constrictions. I wore my speedo for the swim, towelled off a bit, and slipped on my biking shorts over the swim suit. Everything felt fine.

Ok, now I need to find a hilly place in Mobile (ha!) to take my bike!
Thanks for "listening" all.  And thank you again for your words of encouragement, Marianne. You are my role model. I'm so thrilled to be on this team with you!

Luv you guys!
sTRIving on!

You guys rock!!!!

flipper - it will fall off....I promise....plateaus are examples of your body waiting to be shocked by some new exercise.  Be sure you are working intervals and long slow distance as well.  All zone 2 workouts will begin to lose their effectiveness as your body adapts.  Actually, what may have happened is your anerobic threshold may have increased so your workouts are at a lower zone than you think and you are not getting up around your AT.  Be sure you are getting that heartrate up where it needs to be.  Your simulated tri is fantastic.  Knowing we can do the distance is a wonderful confidence boost....by the way, your adrenaline will get you up the hills on race day.

FBP - yeah I thought the landscape might look a little different...smile.  On gearing, the conventional wisdom is to drop to the gear you can spin all the way to the top of the hill.  In other words, downshift as far as you need to as you enter the climb.  Personally, I do it a little different....I ride down the gears as I climb.  As soon as I feel my cadence dropping I cycle through the gears...that way I don't ever get too small on the gears and bounce off the seat.  The risk here is pushing a big gear too long and expending too much energy.  Your pool ladder looks good.

Flipper - have speedo will travel....I would challenge anyone who looked like they may be thinking something I wouldn't like to a run, bike or swim....anywhere, anybody, anytime...and I would run/bike/swim them into the ground....even if I was dying to do it....I, like Mav, really respect those who carry additional self with them, have disabilities, or are challenged in any way.  Our USAT regional rep has been through some hellacious chemo but she did a duathlon with me - she was last over the line and I don't think anyone felt anything other than admiration and wonder.  I have a friend who was doing a half ironman and she was walking - feeling sorry for herself - when a wheelchair athlete caught her....he looked at her, offered to trade places, said if he had her legs he could not let himself walk.....she ran the rest of the way....crying most of it she says.  This world is a PERSONAL journey and no one....NO ONE....is going to judge me unless I allow them, and I don't plan to...this IS ABOUT ME.

Mav - thanks for the aqua karma...the swim was awesome....I was shocked at the end of 1800 (or 1850...I think I mis-counted) I felt like I could go on...and actually wanted to.  It took me 39:40...I just don't swim very fast.  I counted strokes on the last 4 lengths and was very efficient still...at least compared to myself.  With warmup and cool down it was about 2400 yards today....the 1800 or 1850 was my longest non-stop swim ever.....

sTRIve

B

WTG, Bryan!! That's an AWESOME swim, I don't care whoya are! Woohoo!

CONGRATULATIONS!

sTRIving on!

I took this picture last year in Boston. The banner was hanging in front of a beautiful church downtown very close to the finish line - mav you may know which one even. Even if you aren't religious, you've gotta love the message!