Allison and Ryan's Beginner Mentor Group - FULL (Page 17)

so I was checking up on my race and I am racing in the 30-34 year old category but my 30th isn't until October, I know why I need to race in it but dang c'mon people I'd stay in 25-29 all year happily...Also decided to race in age group instead of Novice group which worked out well as I am only 1 of 13 vs 1 of 20 if I had took the Novice category

Going to miss the run due to dinner plans but I can make it up tomorrow w/o a big deal

I'm more than happy to race in an older group if it gives me an advantage.

But then I suspect that I'm going to get passed alot not matter the age group so I don't think it really matters. 

Looking forward to the race report!

Yes.  I am weak.

I caved and bought some new toys.

Thanks.

Yeah.  I wouldn't use them unless you were used to them.  I've ridden aerobars in the past (like 15 years ago) but still only decided to put these on since I have a little more than a month to get used to them.  Also had my fitter take a look at my position as well. 

I was farely comfortable with them on my ride yesterday morning.  For the 15 or so miles I was by myself I rode on the aerobars.  The only thing that bothered me were sore triceps but I suspect that as I get used to riding on the aerobars that I'll get stronger there. 

Manuverability is definitely down but I felt pretty stable the entire time.

Nice ride there Wushunut!

So today was all about driving two hours to my next race location and riding the bike course for familiarity. It's an 18 mile Out and Back course alongside a lake so the views were nice. The out portion or first 9 was challenging in a few places as far as climbs go. Matter of fact you come out of transition and start on an incline which I thought was interesting. The Back 9 miles though for the most part was very good as far as you felt like you were going down most of the time. Physically I felt fine on the ride. Only issue I had was bike malfunction on the steepest climb. My front gear set wanted to skip gears when I tried lowering. I had to adjust the Front Derailleur and then I was good to go. Overall it was a good trip/ good ride. I am glad I went and scoped it out because I was able to pinpoint a couple of "Watch out" spots on the course as in a fast down hill with a pothole. Maybe they will get that filled but just in case

So I hope everyone else had good training this weekend and here is looking to another fine week of training. Good luck everyone!

4 mile run this morning...nothing special to note other than I am going to doctor today. I have been fighting sickness for about a week now and my chest hurt really bad today

Hope everyone has a great day and week!

Hope you feel better huntnjerm!  Nothing worse than getting sick in the midst of your training.  Hopefully it was just something in the air and not you getting sick.

I also went on a 4mile run this morning but probably far off your pace.  Just an easy run for me today.  I'm not even scheduled to run today but I've been frustrated with low base in running.  No endurance or speed.  I've been reading alot in the general forums of people who run everyday, even if it's just a little a day and how it's helped with their endurance and base.  I thought I'd give it a try.  Keeping my extra runs at low intensity and effort for the most part.  No sense in getting injured before my first race! 

It's funny how when I started this that I identified swimming as my weakest sport.  Well, it was, since I didn't swim prior to this.  But now that I've been doing this a bit now it seems as if running is becoming my weakest sport.  I guess if I'm honest with myself, running and swimming has always been weak.  I would grade myself as a competent biker though.

Ah well.

Just keep doing bike to run bricks and you will eventually start to feel a little better. You can take 10 seconds to stretch.  You can also change the gear on your bike before you come into transition (so you spin quickly and easily)...this will help loosen up your legs a little before getting off. 

You're right in transition areas do vary greatly.  Are you talking about how big if the transition distance from the entrance to the run exit?  For my smaller races they have been around 50 yards maybe and in the huge Chicago tri it could be several hundred yards.

That's a good swim time that you have there! I would start our near the front if I could.  The middle can become quite jumbled and it can be hard to pass a lot of people if you start in the back especially on such a short swim.  If you can and depending on the shape of the swim course try to start in the front but over to the side. You can swim in at a diagonal (slightly longer than going straight) but if you're a fast swimmer you will easily make up that time and you won't be as slowed down by slower swimmers and the mass of flailing bodies.

Remember to get in the water before to become adjusted to the temperature and figure out how quickly it gets deep. That way you know approximately how far you can run into the water before you have to start dolphin-diving and swimming.

wushunut - 2011-05-14 6:50 PM

Sweet ride!!!

I'm hoping to get some aerobars in the August timeframe.  Since I'm not doing a tri this year (I may change my mind for the September sprint) I'm focusing on the bike in order to do Cycle North Carolina in October (7 days, about 65-70 miles per day)..

Halfway into May and my total swim yardarge is now greater that the entire amount of yards swam in April! Still have half a month to go! Woot!

Hi everyone - I've been sort of distracted the past couple of weeks. Too much work and well... just too much I guess. I've been pretty good about keeping up the training, but I think I hurt my knee on my last run. It's  a bit swollen now, so I think I need to take a couple days off.

SPD - I'm so glad to hear that you've recovered from your bad knee stuff.

Jeremy are you better now? Sick sucks (so to speak). I'm glad that the weather has turned nice here in the upper midwest - at least a feels a little bit more like spring.

My yangz (spelling) are great, by the way. Makes putting on shoes totally easy.

Hope everyone has a good day of training!

Wow that sucks man.  I'd make the son that left the car with no gas go on a loooong run as punishment.  Might as well give him some exercise too!

Yesterday was frustrating.  Did a really short brick but more as a time trial on the bike.  I was itching to test out the new aerobars to see if they would make a difference.  In a word, "no".  Well maybe.  Still I averaged 20mph over the entire distance, but I always average 20mph over that distance.  Sometimes more.  The route is an out and back with the out having a pretty good headwind with a slight incline.  Still, you would think I could make up the time on the "back."  I dunno, I guess I need more time in the saddle.  I was able to stay in the higher gears for much longer though and still maintain my cadence.  Still frustrated about my run times too.  I think I'm hitting a plateau of some sort.

Did get my swim in today too.  1200yards averaging about 2:10/100.  IOW...still the same pace... Still I'm not too displeased.  I still have to remind myself that 3 months ago I could barely swim a length.  Now I'm able to do 24 lengths continously.

If your knee is swollen I would definitely take time off and apply the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).  I've had knee problems with running in the past but I've never had my knee swell.  If it still hurts after two days (as in it never stops hurting at all) I'd consider seeing your doctor.

Oh...and I think it's "Yankz."