HILDEBEAST'S Mentor Group, CLOSED! (Page 17)

Sorry to have been MIA over here guys.... I check on y'all daily, and I post on my blog everyday, but I just didn't wanna come over here and whine all the time!  Quick update though.... I should get full clearance to return to training on Thursday, I've already been cleared to swim so that will start again tomorrow, BUT I'll have another setback when I have to go in on May 13th and 2 more spots cut deeper with a skin punch, more stitches, no training till they come out in 10-14 days after that.  Personally I think these docs are being totally over-cautious... I think I know my body pretty well, I don't like pain and would not push through training while I could feel stitches pulling out!  But whatever, I''ve been the perfect patient, and hopefully by the end of May I will be back full time again.  I have a tri scheduled for June 2nd, one I got a free entry to for winning my AG last year, Danskin now Iron Girl, and I will probably go and struggle through it just for training's sake, and maybe I'll surprise myself?  Hopefully it won't be as hard to get back to where I was before all this started.

Some of you have races coming up and especially it it's your FIRST tri, I know you'll be feeling nervous.  ANY questions, bring 'em on and I'll do my best to answer them for you. 

Keep on training!

I think by June 2nd you will definitely ready for a race.  I like the Iron Girl series.  My daughters and I are registered for the one in our area.  I did it two years ago.  It was really fun.  I find that I really like all women events.  They have a different feel to them.  I love all the 'you go girl' attitude.

So let me see if I can remember everything!  This is what I do, it may or may not work for you... I wear my tri suit (or tri shorts and tri top) to the race.  I obviously have to wear some kind of top, it may or may not be optional for guys.  Try to make it pretty tight, otherwise it'll be flailing all around you on the swim and slow you down.  Better when it covers any muffin top!  I wear comfie shoes, usually Crocs and the rest goes into my transition bag...

For the swim: 
Goggles, nice to bring an extra pair just in case.
Swim cap provided by the race, or your own if they don't.  Sometimes it needs your Race # on it.
Wetsuit if you are using one.

For the Bike:
HELMET!!
Bike shoes
Sunglasses (Optional)
Socks (I use 'em, they are optional, put them on and then roll them off like sock condoms, when you come out of the swim, put them over your toes and roll them up!)

For the run:
Running shoes
Same socks as for the bike
Bib # on race belt (optional on the race belt, otherwise somehow pinned to your top)
Hat (also optional)

MISC:
Gu, shot blocks, water, nutrition stuff (Be sure to try BEFORE race day!)
Bike pump
Transition towel to put your things on.
Sunscreen (put on AFTER you are body marked)
Road ID (I have the ankle one, it can double as a chip holder)
Garmin or other (I don't use mine anymore for racing, it always acts up!)

I'm sure I've forgotten something, but that sounds like all the important stuff.

For the transition area, hang your bike on the rack either by your seat or the handlebars.  Next to the wheel down side, put a SMALL towel (NOT a beach towel!).  I usually rest my helmet upside down with the straps open and my sunglasses inside on my aerobars, but it has gotten knocked off before, so sometimes on top of my bike shoes.  Have your sock condoms ready to go.  So on the towel, from front to back... socks, bike shoes with helmet etc on top, bib and race # behind that with hat on top and running shoes on top of that so it doesn't blow away.  Behind that if there is room, or directly under my bike I put my now empty transition bag, I leave it open so I can toss my goggles and cap in there as I start to get my bike stuff on.

For a pool swim, it is okay to rest at the end of a lane, just try and stay out of the way of the swimmers coming behind you so they can pass.  In an OWS it is okay to hang onto a kayak and rest as long as you aren't making forward progress. As far as a soccer game after goes, you'll just have to see how you feel, I bounce back pretty quickly, but you may be spent after your first!

Glad to see the our fearless leader is back out there running and biking!  Yay, Hilde!