Fred D and Queen Zipp's SWIM, BIKE RUN consistency thread.... CLOSED (Page 16)

I take your point, but I'm also willing to bet you're considerably stronger than I am (or possibly better power to weight ratio).  The reason I've decided to see if strength training helps is because I consistently run out of legs before I come close to running out of aerobic fitness.  I think it's my limiting factor, and so I'm trying to work on it.  It may not help, but for the benefits that you mentioned above, I don't think it can hurt...  I'm not just doing weights stuff.  I'm also trying to do sport specific strength stuff, eg strength sets on the turbo, hill repeats for running, and pool based strength for swimming.  It definitely improved my swimming last year, so I just have to see if I can do the same for the others.

I just remember that godawful elevated bridge we had to cross over twice and my screaming how terrified I am of heights when I saw you! And the crazy hill at the turn around on the run......and all the freaking STAIRS on that course.  (any wonder why I don't race this race again?  THE RUN COURSE SUCKS) The sponges helped.....the mist thing at the finish helped.......but it was a sufferfest to be sure.

 We were supposed to have a few BT'er's over for a pool party post race and wound up staying inside cause the pool was warmer than a bath tub.

I've run outside in -35F windchills, but I find anything longer than an hour and my hands can't handle it.   The key for me is layering, wearing an UnderArmour face mask and starting into the wind.    I don't mind the TM, but I miss the fresh air if I am stuck inside all the time in the winter.

I am a cold weather weenie when it comes to the bike though.  If it's below 40F with no chance of it warming up the longer I ride, I head to the CT. 

I am curious why 55F is the ideal temp???? details.  

I like to run in cooler temps.  I find it keeps my body temp down and I don't overheat, which is one of my battles when running.  Like to run in anything 20 degrees F to 80 degrees F.  Sweet spot is in the 40s and 50s.

Biking i prefer the heat.

Swimming I actually like the cold.  

LOVE LOVE LOVE running in the rain.  Especially in warmer weather.  

I also found this interesting paper (quite literally a student's term paper)online that suggests the longer the race, the cooler the ideal temp, based an analysis of the top 25 finishing times for males and females at different distances.

Here is a link is you are interested, although he doesn't really go into reasons why.

http://runjeffcity.org/archive/Optimum-Temperature-for-Running-Performance.pdf

That's key (the part I bolded).  I agree with Fred that getting 'strong' in the weightlifting sense is not going to do much for you unless you have a very specific problem (such as severe atrophy, such as what you get after a knee operation).

The 'technical' definition of strength is 'how much you can lift once'.  This sort of strength has basically nothing to do with performance in endurance sport.

Runners often use the term 'strength' in a very different way, and it means something more like 'ability to maintain pace without the legs giving out'.  Obviously similar concepts apply in swimming and biking.  And yes, the way to get 'strong' in this sense is to do things like hill repeats.

Running temps:  I love running no matter the temperature, but I perform best at around 45-50 degrees.  That's not a very common race temperature in these parts, however...

HAHAHAHA! That was a joke, right?

Edited by drfoodlove 2013-01-16 6:38 AM

Interesting thoughts that pertain to a question that I've been having.  I have some knee pain in both my left and right knees (more in my left).  It never bothers me when actively running or biking, but I can feel it after a workout.  I've been reading that squatting and building muscle would help with this.  Would that fall in with the line of thinking you have?

Some faculty meetings are long by nature, and others have length thrust upon them...

Some joint pain can be helped with muscular strength to 'support' the joint.  Other joint pain cannot be helped in this way.

If by squatting you mean doing traditional squats (put a big load of weight on your shoulders and squat down then stand up) you will want to be VERY careful.  That's a good way to aggravate any knee problems, even when the squats are done correctly (and doing them correctly is harder than many people seem to think).

But there are other ways -- less dangerous ways -- to build muscular strength around the knees.  Hill repeats on the bike is a great one for quads and calfs.  Running is good for hamstrings.  If you have a big muscular imbalance (for most people who bike a lot this would be quads >>> hamstrings) you could consider doing some hamstring exercises in the gym.  Low weight, high reps, done evenly and slowly.

All just IMHO, of course.

Back to work.  Crazy, crazy, work.

Lookslike a nice bike.  Are there any spots that don't feel right?

first swim is in the books!  I'm happy to say I felt real good, and my stroke felt pretty good too despite the layoff.  Not that I ever really had good form, but it seems to be about where it was before.  I did one timed 100yd at 1:55 which is right in line with where my extended swim pace was before.  This time of course I had to stop after the single 100 though...  Only did 30 minutes, just getting back into it today.  Think I'll go back tomorrow morning (I can go 2x/week maximum).

Unfortunately the day got away from me and I didn't get my run in.  I'm shuttling kids around to various things the rest of the day, then home for dinner and all that.  I might try and uncover the treadmill and just use it right where it is (out in the depths of the garage somewhere).  I'd like to get it in the house and going again for days like this where I don't have time for the run until after the day is done.  

david.

Great work on the swim, David.

I am swimming tomorrow.  Found out last week that my coach is leaving.  While I don't always like his sets (IM stuff) he's a good coach and communicates well when he makes changes to things.  I understand the how and why of the change.  I asked at the gym the other day if the guy who fills in for him is taking the class over.  J.  knows swimming but doesn't really interact to make changes.  He will cover for a while, but isn't taking it over.  He said that the first guy that I had coaching me is coming back. So.not.happy about this.  He doesn't communicate well.  He would say "good job" at the end of the workout but if I asked a question would jump in my face about how lousy I am.....but not offer anything other than touch up drill to correct it.  Heh, I refuse to do that drill now....led to cross over.  We shall see.....I have 2 more years on this gym contract and stayed there because I like the coach (the one that's leaving).  Sigh.

Fred,I'm finding this difficult to diagnose.  (Not that I'm an expert...)  It does look funny, and there is a fair amount of 'excess' motion in your shoulders, which encourages the idea that something isn't 100% right.  (Trainers emphasize that extra motion, but even so, it looks like a lot to me.)  After some thought, I think maybe your seat is too far back?  If you were to move it up, you'd get the added benefit of (probably) being able to raise it a tad.  You look like you are reaching a bit for the bars.  And that would certainly cause your shoulders to rock a bit.

Overall you look strong.  I wouldn't make radical changes.