Newbz winter training group is FULL!!!!! (Page 17)

Malcolm, I obviously have a bias towards a good cardio fitness level.  I think I could get pretty strong, but have never spent that much time doing so, so  when I have gotten pretty good at things in the past (running, cycling, rowing), it has been cardio based.

So again my comments are baised:

I have a rowing friend from OSU that got into Olympic Style weightlifing over the past few years.  His best combined totals in his weight class (207 lbs) is 565lbs for the snatch and the clean and jerk combined.  I just spoke with him this weekend though and he has decided to de-emphasize weight lifting it in favor of hours spent on something that is more well rounded.  I was glad to hear it (again because of my bias).

So, if you did decide to go forward and spend more time running/cycling/swimming/other cardio, then I think that is a healthier lifestyle than one spent lifting most of the time with some other things thrown in at the edges.

Also, the competition opportunities are a lot of fun in triathlon than a lot of other pusuits.

I give you "one thumb up" for going forward over the next season (and more if we are able to stick with it) with triathlon and cutting the lifting back to 2 times a week.  Keep it in your program at that level for astetic balance, fun, and useful strength of your muscles, tendons and bones.  Use the remainder of the time for triathlon which puts an emphasis on cardio, endurance, and weight training, that is necessary for a wholistic view of our health as we approach middle age (or dwell well within it as I do).

I agree, hungry is a good thing.  I'm not sure what you're eating habits are but I'm a huge advocate of the 5-6 small meals a day plan.  I keep a stash of fruit, nuts and other healthy snacks at the office and whenever I feel hunger coming on I'll graze a little bit.  That way I'm never hungry and never eat an overly large meal.  And those small "meals" keep the metabolism going all day long.

Well...first...I'm going to do my very best not to hold the fact that you're an OSU grad against you.... Ok...I tried...I can't help it!! ;-) 

I agree with the bulk of your points - I think I've already moved to a different paradigm regarding how I exercise (as well as when)  I don't think 2 strength training days a week is too bad...not when I'm currently getting 5 cardio exercise sessions in addition to that - and once it warms up - will get at least one more.  I have definitely made a concerted effort to move from the strength athlete to a moderate endurance athlete - although...moderate will always be the key modifier.  That being said...I have to workout to a degree...my noggin is just too big - I'd look silly if I was a small guy.

What about a program.  I'm going to sign up for a Spring Tri...at least I intend to....  How important is a Tri specific program and where can I find one that I can set time related goals...and incrementally improve from where I am to those goals?

I'm sure these were all good healthy meals, right?

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that's hungry.  I try to eat mostly raw fruits and veggies- whole grain carbs, yogurt, lean meats etc.  Pretty healthy.  My weakness is chocolate and complex sugar.  I don't drink any soda.  Overall I'm happy with my diet. 

I'm also glad to hear that it probably means I've increased my metablolism.

Malcom- I'm in a tri clinic swim class- We work on techinique and not so much time or distance that we swim.  She lets us do that on our own time.  Learning how to swim with proper form has been very beneficial to my energy in the pool.  I have a lot more endurance and I feel great after I get out of the pool.  If you haven't been a swimmer in the past I would highly reccommend some coaching if you have it available.

Well...I don't have a swimming background...and welcome any and all coaching as I'm certain I can improve - but the swim is the probably one area I think I'll hit my time goals - if the tri was tomorrow (Maybe!!).  I would love some coaching - but not sure of the best way to get that - all in good time.  I have toyed with the idea of Master's swim....but they swim so late...that's kept me from doing it thus far.   Usually...if I see someone smoking me in the pool - I just ask for a pointer or two...ask them to watch a lap and see if they have any comments.  I would like some coaching if for no other reason than to get my stroke blessed/tweaked, I know my kick needs improving and to understand swim training.  Right now, I just get in the pool and swim.  I don't know any or do any drills, and I don't have a sense for swim training.  I just swim until I'm bored, tired or a combination of the two.  If I do 30 laps - I count that a good workout... I sometimes throw in a sprint sets of 3 laps.  I would like to learn to do flipturns though... 

My workouts for the week are over.  I was a little short on the swim (I realized after my swim Tuesday that my warmup and cooldown were half as long as they should have been) but over on both the bike and the run miles due to some nice weather.  That should even things out right?

Final Totals:

Swim: 7750 yds

Bike: 122 miles

Run: 24.5 miles 

Good volume Neal.

Glad to see I'm not the only one slacking on posts.  Bottom of the second page is pretty sad.

Workouts are consistent but getting boring.   I need to toughen up and just head outside. 

Where is everyone? 

I've tuned in multiple times but did not feel like bumping our forum again.

My workouts are going OK. I feel tired from what I think is my increase in volume from last month.  Time will tell if I am the type of person who really just doesn't do well taking on a full hour per day.  I hope not.  One hour a day does not seem like that much.  Also, the past 14 days have been fairly light.

I've been very hungry and sleepy the past couple of days too.  I hope everything starts getting better becuase I am anxious to get my run times better and have my first chance of the year this Saturday at a 5K.

I'd say that everyone who has posted on page 21 is still with us and the rest or gone.

I feel better today.  I hope this weekends 5K race goes well for me.  It is what it is, but I hope that what it is is an improvement.  My best 5K last year was 22:47.  I would love it if my first one this year was under 22:00.  If it is at least better than 22:47 that would be pretty good.  Last year my time on the same course, at about the same time of the year was 23:30.  Anything over 23:00 would show little to no improvement and have me a bit depressed.

Good luck on Saturday Thomas.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate for you. 

I had a friend post the Hoyt,  Can video.  That was motivating, if they can keep going than I have no excuse. 

Stopped at the bike store yesterday to check out helmets and pedals.  Will be gong to another store.  Customer service seems to be lacking or is that typical bike store style?  What are your pedal and helmet reccomendations?  Thought I'd get used to them this week befor I head outside. 

Hi guys.  I thought I better pop in for roll call.  Training has been going great for me.  I got outside on the bike a few times last week, but back on the trainer this week since we've dipped back under freezing.

On the run front things are going well.  I had a sore ankle during the month of February that seems to be completely healed now (knock on wook) so i've been able to start doing more speed work and building mileage for an end of April half-mary.

I had a breakthrough swim session yesterday.  I remembered something my coach had told me about my pull a few weeks back and realized I hadn't been doing it.  Cut 35 secs off my previous best 500 time.

Thomas, best of luck this weekend at your 5K!

I'm still around   Just haven't posted much lately - nothing really noteworthy going on.  I had my first outdoors run in I can't remember how long this past weekend - this was after a Friday night of heavy drinking and a solid Saturday of skiing. I let the Saturday ski session take the place of my normal abs/legs/bike day - and Sunday - just did the run more to try to feel normal again - I'm way too old to drink like I did.

I've been logging my workouts fairly dutifully - although not really tweaking for changes to the strength portions - just because I've gotten lazy.

Speaking of lazy - my swims are getting lazier.  I think I'm gett bored - I could really  use a partner or someone to motivate/swim with.  Maybe I should look into those water mp3 players? Does anyone here use those?  I need something.  Lately my swim workouts consist of - a warm up lap, then swim the sprint distance, then maybe 1 or 2 blocks of 3 laps...polished off by a couple of sprint laps.  All depending on how motivated I feel...and since I swim in the evenings (run on those mornings...) lately, not terribly motivated to stay in the pool. 

I'm probably going to have to make some tweaks to my weekly routine soon as I'd really like to start getting a couple of bike rides in a week.  This weekend - I may bike on Sunday if the weather supports it - but Saturday I'm going to play touch rugby for a couple of hours.  A guy at the gym turned me on to a local club that goes out and plays - sounds like a great way to get a lot of sprinting in - without too much impact on the rest of the body.  

I still need to figure out where to get in a few sets of legs...  This whole work thing gets in the way...

What helps me concentrate in the pool is to focus on one aspect of my swim stroke such as high elbows, long stroke, the catch, etc. as I'm completing a set of 500.  The next 500 I will focus on a different aspect.  Sometimes if I don't do that my mind will drift and before I know it my entire stroke has gone to crap.

Maybe some drilling or alternate strokes would also be beneficial to give some variety.