Come fly with me!- Closed again with a bunch of winners! (Page 16)

Got the new '09 Cervelo P2 with Ultegra - it's pretty!  I bought it at a tri store here and they did do an extensive fitting.  The seat was recommended but I'm not so sure I like it.  I am going to try to take it for a ride on a long flat course around here this weekend that I usually don't go to but will probably be good for getting used to a new bike.

I think I'm going to sign up for a sprint in mid April.  That will force me to get used to the new bike before the race.

Thanks for the checklist Scott.

Hey, thanks!  I am tapering this week...but doing enough so that I don't feel like I am doing nothing!  I am excited...and a little nervous too.  The weather was perfect last weekend...but this weekend it is supposed to be cold and raining! 

I am hoping to finish in around 1:45 to 1:50, but I guess it depends on the weather and how I do with the transitions...it will all be VERY new to me! 

I will give you guys a report when I get back home Saturday afternoon...thanks again for all the support!

 I would like to keep in contact, and maybe if we all have each other added as friends we can use the inspires.  That way we can see what training we are all up to.  But like you Scott, I'm fine either way.  I definitely want to know how everyone's races this summer go, so we can't lose contact.

Topics we have not covered???  I think I've asked the questions I wanted input on.  I'm sure I will have more along the way.  This has been a great group and I hope we all keep in touch.

Hey guys, I am back...final time of 1:25:41...I was very happy with everything!  The swim went fine, but I should have signed up for a slightly faster swim time...there was a lot of congestion and I couldn't seem to get around some people...but no biggie at all.

My transition to the bike wasn't really that fast, but I did well on the bike...no bad winds or hills...went faster than I expected.  When I got off the bike though...my legs were gone!  It literally took me half of the run to get my legs feeling okay.

All in all, I was really happy with my total time and it was a great experience...can't wait for my next one.  Can't thank you guys enough for all the support!

Scott, you will appreciate this...as we were watching the swimmers ahead of me get started, my wife handed me some cards and told me "These are some scriptures I wrote down for you"...the first one was James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy my brothers...!!  I told her that it was your quote...it just really gave me a peace...like I was meant to focus on that scripture...and I certainly did!

 Thanks again to everyone!

Got a question -

When I bought my road bike 8 or 9 years ago, I got the Look road pedals.  The cleat looks similar to what they sell now, but there are somewhat different.  I love them, and had thought I'd keep them for my road bike (I have shoes that have the old cleats on them that I use for that bike).

I bought speedplay pedals that are currently on my new tri bike.  I have only ridden a bike with speedplay pedals a couple of times so maybe I have not given them enough of a chance.  But, now I'm thinking I might want to move the speedplays to my road bike and get some new Look Keo pedals for my tri bike.

For anyone that has Look Keo pedals, do you like them?  Any idea if they are similar to clipping in, the play (movement), and getting out of as the old Look type pedals/cleats?  And, do all the Look Keo pedals (classic, sprint, carbon, etc.) take the same cleat?

My hesitation with the speedplays are that they have so much play that I feel very unstable when I stand up.  I'm sure that goes away with time, but right now trying to get used to a new tri bike, and new pedals (that I feel like I might fall out of) is freaking me out.

Thoughts?

I have some catching up to do.

First, congrats Chuck way to go, you made me excited for my first tri.

Second, As far as keeping in touch that would be great, I don't post alot but I read everything.

Next, Karen I have the same bike, I bought it in January and finally rode it last week, (sweet bike isn't it) I put new look keo classic pedals on and I love them, I have the older look style pedals on my road bike. The newer clips are a little smaller in size but they feel the same, they come with a 4 degree float, I do not notice the difference compared to the 9 degree float on my road bike. You will love the keo classic, If you are thinking of buying them go to probikekit.com, I think I paid 50 dollars for them with free shipping and had them in a week.

Next, My first tri is April 19th, getting excited and nervous at the same time. I am thinking of doing a 10k in two weeks to get a feel for a race setting and hang out with a few guys, who do tris, that I met at the local high school pool.

Thanks for all the input, it is a great help

Jeff

Almost every marathon I did was a destination event.  Chicago, San Diego, Detroit, Birmingham, Northern California, Big Sur...

My husband liked it when I was doing them because he got to go and see new places too.  He became quite good at finding me on the courses.

In the future if I were to choose a destination event, I would love to run the Great Wall of China marathon.  Or the Dublin marathon.  Or London marathon.  Oh, and Vancouver marathon - I love Canada.  I'm sure there's more places but those are the ones I have put some thought into actually doing.

Hydration is something I have always struggled with.  I sweat more than most people.  I try to drink a lot of water throughout the day, and do have Nuun that I add occasionally, or have Powerade Zero or Gatorade G2.  I don't like to drink the regular powerade or gatorade because I don't want all the added calories.

I think I do fairly well on potassium intake.  I have been having a banana a day for the past 2 months in my protein shake.  The cereal I eat has potassium.  I think think that because of all the sweating I do, I may not be replenishing the electrolytes quick enough.

Scott - thanks for the suggestion on the gel before swimming, I might give that a try.  And maybe drink gatorade the day before.

Cole - you might be right about starting out dehydrated in the morning.  I typically don't drink anything when I wake up early to workout.

All I know is I want the cramping to stop!