Let's Get It Started! with chrisbowers mentor group - CLOSED and ROLLING! (Page 17)

Good problem to have! Although, with only wearing a suit 2-4 times a year, I would've gone with one suit and spent the difference on tri gear.

Don't hold your breath on the 4000 yards.

I think my mantra would be "Beat Mike."  This is the guy I am doing the tri with.

Swam a mile today.  It was a lot easier today than it was on Sunday.  Originally, I was only going to do 26 laps, but I felt so good (I took a day off) that I decided to go ahead and do a full mile.

Never, never underestimate what a little bit of good competition will do for you.

I just noticed that my Q&A Monday #2 was actually on a Tuesday (I was off on President's Day).  Boy, you guys better be faster at catching other people in your age group in your race than I was at catching my goof. 

I got a 2200 yard swim in today, and have been pretty consistent for the last 3 weeks at going to Masters Swim on Tuesday/Thursday.  I still feel like I have a long way to go with technique, but I'm getting used to the swim again.  With the boot on, I can't do too much else.

Beautiful day in Memphis today, sunny and 77 degrees. Please get outside and enjoy some of what's left of the sunshine if you have some.

Dang it!  This week was a bust...totally ill all week other than Monday.  Dragged my butt to work then every night came home and hit the sack within minutes of walking through the door.  Feeling much better today I think I was have So Cal withdrawals and getting used to altitude again...my husband does not think so...whatever! 

Working late again today but will hit the training hard this weekend.  I feel like such a slacker! Ugh!

My friend that I am doing the tri with is coming to town today.  We are going to do a 26 mile bike ride this afternoon.

Met a great group of people today on my first local group ride!  Lots of mental toughness training today with wind at 10 miles, felt like more, and gust up to 14.  Some of the guys were pretty good riders and let me ask lots of questions.  Technique is key and they gave me some great drills and a place to get on a computrainer for real time evaluation of my stroke.  We rode 26 miles in just under 2 hours.  

What a difference riding in a group makes...I would have quit or not pushed as hard with the wind blowing like it was if I had been by myself.  Can't wait for our next ride!

What a great week for training.  I swam a mile twice (Sunday and Thursday).  I also swam 2/3rds of a mile on Monday and Tuesday.  Friday I rode 26 miles in a strong wind.  Then on Saturday I rode another 8 1/2 miles.

Overall, this was a break through week.

And the most important part, my friend went home saying he had to train more because he could not keep up with me on the bike ride.

My first tri is going to be in June and honestly I have not even thought about transitions.  I guess my plan is to wear a trisuit and not drown during the swim.  Ha! 

This will allow me to just put on socks, shoes, helmet, sunglasses and go.

Can I wear my mp3 player during the bike and run phases.  I am listening to a really good book series and would like to be able to listen during the tri.  Is this okay?

Rode another 26 miles yesterday and swam 26 laps today.  I am going to run tonight.

My swim today was kinda tough.  I finally got my second wind at lap 24.  But then I was out of time.

Cynthia, most of your local bike shops and if you happen to have any local tri shops will put on a weekly (some more frequently than weekly) ride in the spring, summer and fall and if your lucky enough to live in a year round outdoor cycling climate they do it in the winter too. They are a great way to learn how to ride in a group.  Things like etiquette, pace lines, etc.... And there are always those out there that are willing to help others.

Steven, I am a transition area minimalist.  I feel like the less I have in the T area the better. Now most of the local races I do are put on by a RD (race director) who uses the same bike rack system that is pretty neat. It is a ground box for your bike tire to fit in a slot (not hanging on a rack).  The box is several feet long and has slots for about 20 bikes (10 facing on one side and 10 facing on the other. The inside the box creates a nice small space for a small back pack or area for your gear that isn't being used in the actual race. So here is how I go about T1: after I come in from the swim exit I will unzip my wetsuit as I am running and take my arms out of the suit and pull the top down around my waist inside out.  In one hand I will have my goggles and swim cap and I will actually pull my hand through that sleeve and leave the goggles and cap in the sleeve. When I get to my TA I will pull the suit over my hips and push it down to below my knees.  I will then stand on the material and pull one leg at a time out. I then throw the suit on top of my little personal area and forget about it (it'll be there when the race is over). If there isn't any need to wear a wetsuit (warm water temps) it is even easier, just throw the goggles and cap down on your personal area and go.  Then it's on to putting my bike gear on and taking my bike off the rack.

Good luck and tell us how you did.  If you have athlete tracking make sure to post your bib #.

ETA - Don't forget your sharpie "Don't Puke!"

A couple of thoughts here. I don't know if you've considered it at all, but some triathletes will not wear socks to save time. If you are blister prone that may not be a great idea, and definitely train that way before you try it in a race.  The rest sounds good. There are also more advanced ways of dealing with your shoes (leaving them attached on the bike), but they won't save you any time if you are either uncomfortable or if you cause yourself to fall. This takes a lot of extra practice.

Oh, and the not drowning part is important too. Congrats on a great week of training and a victory over your buddy. If he is going home to work harder, you need to do the same, right?