Experior's Group - CLOSED (Page 17)

On race fees:  I asked for race entries for Christmas this year and got a few.  That definitely helped.  Around here, the going rats are something like:

Sprint:  $55-$65
Oly: $75
HIM: $145

However, I'm also doing a HIM in October that is over $200, which is pretty steep in my book, but it is my A race of the year and they've pulled out all the stops (swim in the Intercostal waterway, closed bike and run course), so I'm willing to pay.

Overall, I guess I'm at around $550 in race fees for the year, though I got about $250 of that in Christmas presents.  Considering that I paid $550 for just my IM last year not including travel expenses (in addition to quite a few other races), I'm spending a lot less this year.  (And, well, I have a lot less to spend.  My wife went back to school, so we are not exactly swimming in it at the moment.)

I'll probably throw in a few running races, but around here, those are very cheap.

The Y's I usually go to both only had 1 lane open for laps at each. There were 4-5 people in the lanes. Older guys and gals. I guess it was possible to jump in, but, well, maybe I have issues. I passed. I imagine I just have to get up at 4:30 (which I told my family I would stop) or gut it up and swim through the masses of humanity. Hey, maybe I could visualize It's just the opening gun at Kona.

Phil

Lol.  4-5 is getting near the limit in my book.  I really don't even like circle swimming, though I'll do it if necessary.  I wish I could be more help here.  It might be worth investigating other times.  Where I swim it is often relatively dead at lunchtime, so I'm working out a schedule where I can go then.

The club I go to at certain times of the day, even after work the pool is mostly empty.  Most of the people who are new to the club are doing the power classes and spinning classes after work.  This evening I was the only adult in the pool adn the parking lot was full.  A young girl was in the lane next to me taking lessons, but it was clear sailing.  Not the case in the morning, say about 5 - 6 am. 

Put in a solid 1200 yd. swim this evening.  Nice easy swim of about a 1.74 pace/100 yds.  I had plenty of juice left over and could have gone more, but with my upcoming race on Sun. wanted to take it easy and not push too hard.

Short 2 mile run tomorrow evening at a 5K pace and my Hour Indoor Cycling Class in the morning.  Then it is two days of rest.  I still will do my Core Workout Friday evening to get my two days a week in.

Feel good about the weight loss challenge this week.  Seem to be doing OK.  How's everyone else doing?  You still have two to three days to make a difference!!!

I'm gonna need them!  I've eaten out at restaurants three nights this week, with one more to come.  I've been reasonably virtuous, but it's hard to be completely virtuous in restaurants.  (And I have to admit:  I do love to eat at nice restaurants.  It's a weakness.)  And our monthly poker game is this Friday -- people always bring such healthy snacks for that.

I was a carnivore in my previous life too
Switching to a vegetarian diet helped me drop 20 lbs and maintain that loss for over 2 years now. I'm lucky, because I rarely crave carbs. My preference is fruit and dairy.

Good morning-I've had a tough time keeping up with all the posts in the last couple of days.
Mark-Did you change your screen name? I thought about changing mine-but couldn't find a way to do it without losing all the data saved under "Slowturtle".
-Heidi

Morning all.  Crazy-busy day for me.  I'm running to work this morning, and then non-stop meetings/teaching until tonight.  I'll check back then.  Have a great day everyone!

Heidi,

I'm on the road for work this week and was using an old laptop where I had setup a different account on BT a long time ago.  I didn't realize that it automatically logged in with the old ID until after I submitted my post.  I'm planning on sticking with OneFastMule; as far as I know, there is no way to automatically move all of your data over to a new ID.

As for the monthly challenge, I was doing well earlier this week.  However, I, too, have a weakness for good restaurant food.  As I'm in New York, there is plenty of good food all around.  My overall goal for this trip is to just not gain any weight over the next 2 days...  On the upside, I did spend some good time in the hotel pool and gym.

- Mark

Ran right after swim. Out of pool, changed clothes ran up to indoor track. Felt pretty good until the three mile mark. Then I really began to feel tired. Gutted it out though. I think I have a pretty good idea what a triathlon might feel like now. I need some more work.

Hi everyone.  I hope we all had a good day today.  Mine was exhausting, but great.  I really like running to and from work.  The logistics are a little tricky, but I think I can work it out to happen at least some times.

I had to go out to eat last night, and was able to show some restraint, ordering the seared scallops with asparagus instead of, say, the steak frites with fried mac and cheese....

I'll try to check on everybody tomorrow to see how the week's gone to this point.  The weekend is always the big training time for me.  What do we all have going on this weekend?

That same thing has happened to me more than once both in actual races and in training.  I'll get off the bike and start running, and for a few miles I'm running strong and feeling great.  (In a sprint tri, this is fine -- the run is only a few miles anyway and you can collapse across the finish line!)  Then BOOM!  Reality strikes and suddenly I have to slow way down.  It isn't bonking (I've done that before too -- different story altogether), but something happens that forces me to slow down considerably.

Of course, the solution is pacing.  In part that means pacing the swim and bike, but for me at least, one of the big issues is pacing the first few miles of the run.  I always feel very strong then, and inevitably I go too hard.  (Again, in a sprint, going 'too hard' at the beginning of a run is actually a good strategy to a point.  For longer races, not so much.)  This happened to me in my first HIM and I ended up walk/running the last 7 or so miles of the run.  It felt a bit like a funeral parade.  Not fun.

I'm on my way to another teaching gig Fri-Sun with long days, so no big training for me this weekend.  Just hoping to get a little hamster time in late Fri and/or early Sat/Sun.  But after this weekend, work should calm down for a bit and give me the opportunity to catch up with my training plan, which, thus far, I've not really attacked like I should. 

Fried mac and cheese, eh?

Have a good one everybody and remember to check in with goals on Saturday!
-Stu

Just back from 2K in the pool.  The new pull is almost second nature.  Another week or so and I should be not thinking about it any more when swimming.

As for the weekend, tomorrow I have a 4 or 5 mile run planned for the morning, and then hopefully at some point I'll be able to get my week 2 Jorge workouts started.  My family will be out all day Sunday, and I'm planning to get a nice long slow run in.

Scout

Any thoughts on recovery weeks? Normally my resting heart rate is between 48-50. I have been keeping track and over the last few nights and it's been running 62-64 not below 60. I have been it hitting pretty hard ( I know "hard" is a relative term) and consistent over the last several months with only 1 day off a week.

I'm thinking about scaling it back next week. How do you suggest I approach it. I'm thinking about cutting out the cycling classes, reducing my running to 4x 3 miles at 70% MHR and swimming a couple times. Or should I reduce training volume by just scheduling 2-3 days off completely?

Phil

nice 7 mile run and a circuit trainingworkout to start my friday. now the real work starts, who schedules meetings on fridays......have a wonderful friday everyone.

Hi Phil - I can only go by the formal running plans that can be found online, but typically every 4th week (roughly) should be a cut back week.  For me, that means that I'll still SBR, but the length's and intensity will be about 1/2 to 3/4 of a normal week.

Scout

Short answer:  Yes, down weeks can be a good thing. (I'm having one right now...)  How often is somewhat individual.  I'll try to post something more helpful about that later.  I just got finished with my workout and was informed that the kids are with grandma and my wife and I are going on a date...

So:  more later.

I guess I'll call this a down week too, although I can't afford to do this.  Hubby sold his business and it closed this week, lots of stress with last minute haggling etc.  Now onto lots more stress with the new business.  Stress is just not a good reason to miss workouts. I did manage to get to the gym yesterday at 4:30 am and the power was out.   That was frustrating.  My goal for tomorrow:  stay aero for at least 5 minutes at a time.  Thanks for the advice Michael.

Melinda 

I actually made it to the pool tonight! 20 minutes and my arms are pretty sore. That is sad!

Getting there is 1/2 the battle!  It will come!  Just be patient - I know easier said than done...

Scout

What's everyone up to today?  I have a 4ish mile run planned for about 30 minutes from now and then some time with DW and then off to see DS in a show later this afternoon.  Might ride the bike later tonight.  Didn't get to it yesterday.

I also just ordered from amazon, swim workouts in a binder for triathletes.  Really looking forward to that getting here...

I hope that everyone's weight has moved in the right direction!  Have a great day everyone!

Scout

oops...removing double post

Edited by scout21 2010-01-16 7:57 AM

Another rest day before my 10K race tomorrow.  Arms are a little sore this morning from my Seasonal Flu Shot and H1N1 Shot yesterday.  I will still do my second Core Workout for this week and Goal #2 will be reached.  We'll see where the weight is after my morning Weight Watchers Weigh in.

Have a great day everyone.

Weight was 218 this AM, but I don't feel like it's the real thing 'cause I didn't remember to weigh in until after the workout. 220 Yesterday AM so I'll go with that, so a zero-loss for last week.

It's finally warmed up enough down the last couple days to get back on the bike, but of course it started raining. We'll see what tomorrow brings. If I have to get on a spin bike instead I guess I will.