MJEWEN Summer 2013 Mentor Group - OPEN (Page 17)

Edited by TheNewBlood 2013-08-10 7:39 AM

Zach - welcome to the addicting sport of triathlon! I think your story is great. I competed with a 15 year old girl today. I really like to see younger people doing the triathlons. It amazes me when I see younger athletes as I think it takes quite a bit of confidence to race with mostly adults! I'm really proud of the under 20 crowd at races.

Crissy

Guess who got a 1st place age group finish (F40 - 49) at her super sprint triathlon today?!?! Me!!!!!! I was 2nd overall. Got beat by a 20 year old. I know, I'm just as shocked as you are! :-) Of course this race is geared towards getting people into the sport, so there were likely a high number of ladies who had never competed in a triathlon before at this race.

It wasn't chip timed, so I won't know what my splits are, I did look at my watch when I got out of the water, so that is the only time I know is right. The rest are all guesstimates.

My swim was really, really good. I was in the last swim heat. It was only 300M and I was out of the water in under 5 minutes. I think that's about 1:40/100M pace, right? No wetsuit either. I think I'm getting the hang of this thing called swimming.

The bike was a fast 6 miles. We had to do 4 x 1.5 mile loops. Half was on a road, and half was on a paved trail (apparently still open to the public during the race I might add). Each loop had 4 sharp 90° turns and the trail had some big long nasty cracks you had to be careful to avoid. I passed quite a few ladies on the bike leg from the earlier swim heats.

The run was an out and back course on crushed limestone. I pushed myself on the run a little more than usual. I'm starting to get comfortable with pushing harder while running. I have been practicing for the last couple weeks running a faster pace and this really helped mentally. I was actually breathing hard! I felt like people could definitely hear me coming! I managed to pass 2 women on the run (I rarely ever pass people on the run) and discovered there were only 2 women ahead of me - both younger. Which meant I passed nearly everyone during the race. The 2 gals left in front of me started at least 4 minutes ahead of me, and when all was said and done I came in 2nd overall!

That was really fun race. I learned that I can push myself harder - which I have been learning with each race this year. I'll keep working on that, and I also need to start working on improving my pedal stroke (I see lots of 1 legged pedal drills in my future). So I'll practice both of these over the winter and see where I end up during the tri season next year.

I think this is my last triathlon of the year, so I'm happy to end it on such a great note!

Edited by crissy_jo 2013-08-11 1:38 PM

Congrats Crissy! Great way to end the tri-racing season!

Welcome Zach!

WOW, CONGRATULATIONS, Crissy.... amazing race... fantastic finish to the race and your season.... strong finish sister

Crissy awesome job! 2nd overall is very impressive! Great way to end the season.

Crissy - Great job on your race! 1st in AG and 2nd overall is awesome!!

For me, USAT Nationals in Milwaukee on Saturday as I've mentioned. Wicked fast triathletes at this race. Pretty humbling going against the best in the country. I finished 50/122 in my AG in 2:26:38. My paces & (AG places) were 1:55 per 100 yds swim (101), 22.6 mph bike (31), 7:15 per mile run (35). Highlight of the race was getting my finisher medal put on me by Chrissie Wellington!

At local races I usually podium or am very close and have won my AG a few times. But at Nationals I was just mop (middle of the pack). I've always said there is always someone faster than you out there and Saturday really drove that point home. I'll be doing a full race report soon.

I could have been racing at the World Duathlon Championships in Ottawa this weekend and as you can see from my placements in the bike and run I would have been more competitive there without the swim. I had already committed to the USAT AG Nationals at the time I qualified for the Duathlon Team USA. No regrets as I had a great time this weekend.

That would be awesome to meet Chrissie Wellington! I read her book and found her story to be pretty inspirational as far as what hard work can do for someone in this sport.

I was watching the 10k world championships this weekend and tried to explain to my son how Dathan Ritzenheim (he was in the race and took the lead for a brief moment before getting crushed) better be training hard for the Chicago marathon because I'm coming for him I just need to knock another 50 minutes or so from my PR LOL

crisis jo:
I live in Indiana, I am currently using a book that is geared for training at 8hr or less a week. I look forward to being a part of this group and picking knowledge from everyone. Anyone have any advice on a bike? Josh

I bet nationals was awe inspiring! My friend went to nations this year. She usually makes podium at her races and she said she felt so slow at nationals and it was very humbling. I think she finished around 108th in her division. She got her photo with Chrissy Wellington after the race. I think it's just super awesome that you qualified and even more awesome to be part of it. I think I read it was the largest nationals ever.

My friend tried to talk me into doing the Sprint at Nationals (no qualifying race required) earlier this year, but I didn't want to be dead last!! :-)

I'm not a good person to ask - too new to the sport for an opinion on this from me. I race on a cross bike - I just swapped out to a smooth, thinner road tire and just 3 weeks ago I put on some clip on aero bars. I saw nice end of year clearance at the bike store on some light road bikes that I am really thinking about getting. I will wait another year as I think I might race some cross this fall with it. They said the new models won't start coming in until September and now is a very a good time of year to get a deal on a bike.

Awesome job Mike..... Those guys were flying in your age group. Your times are really fast. Sometimes I look at the top finisher times and wonder what planet they come from..... just to qualify for nationals is pretty amazing. Congrats


Zach... what kind of bike do you want? Tri Bike, Road Bike? If you are going to compete in triathlons, what distance are you interested in? What price range are you looking at? Are you only going to ride in triathlons? My bicycle progression went like this.... I bought a used mountain bike at the local flea market for $40.00. I had it for years riding sporadically. I moved up to a Hybrid a few years ago (built for comfort, not speed). I rode more, and began to really get back into riding. I began my triathlon training riding it. I felt a little inadequate the first triathlon I rode in compared to all the very expensive tri bikes. The hybrid could not compare speed wise because of the shock absorbers, the big cruiser seat and wide tires. It was difficult with that bike to get to where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do in Triathlon - so last year I bought my tri bike. Cannondale Slice 5. I am very happy with it. I have since purchased a road bike and really like that also. I also began riding with cycling group every weekend to become better on the bike.

There are more in this group who can tell you their bike experiences, really good stories .... and their decisions about bikes and why . . . .

I just finished reading "Get Fast" by Selene Yeager. "A complete guide to gaining speed wherever you ride."
For me is was a really good read. It was more of a conversation than a dry technical "how to" book.
It seems counterintuitive, but when thinking about bikes, the least important thing is the bike. More important is conditioning your body, nutrition and mental Strength. Training plans and bike maintenance are important also.








Edited by tmoons 2013-08-13 3:59 AM

Sometimes we forget how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy the outdoors... here was my morning run scene





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Thank you! It does take a bit of confidence, I don't think I have a chance against most of them. But I have a good position to get a high position in my AG! Thank you, I don't see a lot of people my age doing triathlons.... even though I have tried getting my fellow athletes to join me in them. "Swimming is too hard", "I'm not made too run", "I am too lazy". I hate excuses.

Thank you Crissy

Edited by TheNewBlood 2013-08-13 7:41 AM

Right now I have a slow 21-speed mountain bike I picked up at Target. I was fortunate enough that my dad is allowing me to use his expensive hybrid bike. I recently hooked on the aero-bars I got for my birthday and it seems to ride very smoothly. I think I will gradually increase the amount of money I am willing to spend on the sport just as you did. I am quite new to what I need and the positives of each kind of bike. I tried out a couple of road bikes at Erik's Bike Shop and it is a weird feeling. I just don't really know what kind of bike to get, I have "some" money saved up (800$) which could buy me a decent bike. Really, if anyone has any ideas or thoughts I would love to hear. The path I am thinking of taking event wise is.
1: Sprint Triathlons (2013)
2: Olympic Triathlons (2014) (16 yrs old)
3: HIM (2015-2016) (17-18 yrs old)
4: IM (2017-2587) (Will happen)

Can I just say "WOW!"? Zach, I am super impressed that you are so motivated at your age to accomplish goals that most people would never even allow themselves to think about. Keep looking forward and don't let those negative Nellies get in your way or bring you down. I know what you mean about hating people with excuses for everything. However, I too, have my own excuses for not doing certain activities and some people probably are driven crazy by my unwillingness to do things like run a 50K, or do a IM or go skydiving! All we can do is encourage others to follow our lead of being healthy and doing exercise. I have to remember that for some people, they don't get that "rush" feeling after working out or running or completing a race. They actually feel angry and depressed. So, I just do my best and hope some day they will join me.

I think getting a road bike is a good start, but then again, you might want to see if you can get a used TRI bike, as it appears you are really gunning for doing many triathlons. I look on places like Craigslist (and not always in my own city, but surrounding cities that are within drivable distances) for tri bikes, and I am not really even in the market for one. But, when I am, I want to know what is out there and what is a fair price. Local bike shops (LBS) will help you with any questions and they often have group rides that will help with your training.

Crissy! Great job on your Super Sprint! That's awesome! I now have 4 new people signed up to do the mini tri in a few weeks! Plus I have 2 sisters also doing it with me. We are going to have a blast! Considering just hanging back with my sisters and other gals for this one, but then again, maybe not. How many women do that one? This one usually has about 200 women, depending on the weather. If the weather is nice, there's a lot, if the weather is cool, then they all wuss out.

Terry, thanks for the book suggestion.

I went out for a run this morning, early, and then was going to head to the gym to lift weights, but when I got to my van, I saw that someone had smashed the back passenger window on the driver's side (the one with the door)! I was ticked, but it's funny how after I run or workout, stuff like that doesn't really get me steamed. I know friends who would blow a gasket if they had something like that happen, but they are the same friends that never work out or exercise. Later, I also realized the vandals had also put a large round crack in the windshield of our other vehicle! Now I was feeling a little targeted and pissed.

Everyone keeps asking what I am training for next. I am not signed up for anything, so it feels weird to say that I am training for a tri for next spring! Terry, sometimes I envy your race schedule, but then I realize that right now I have 3 kids that I enjoy raising to young adults. If life allows me both for a long time, I will take as much as I can get of both. Tomorrow my older 2 boys leave for school (they board at a local high school), so I won't really see them much except for weekends.



Edited by themomma03 2013-08-13 6:16 PM

I am looking at getting a road bike and something that is not a ton of money, maybe a tri bike in a few years. any advice?

Here is my race belt





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This was on Friday after the kids runs. Chrissie in the background. She helped a little girl finish the race and then posed for pics with a bunch of kids. On Saturday she at the finish line and put my finisher medal around my neck. No pic of that sad to report.





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Thanks Denise... my whole triathlon world is relatively new....I began training for triathlon many years ago, then I had a child, then I was a single dad for many years after that. I was "Michael's Dad" and enjoyed that for as long as it lasted, and when he was an age where I could go for longer training days, I began training again. So, like you, when you have kids, it's their world, and life moves too fast to not spend as much time with them when they are young......... so now I am able to train more to be able to do more events than i ever was in the past.......

Thank you themomma03! I am really determined to accomplish my goals that I have set. Even if it means working out each day, three times (I am doing that right now) to accomplish them. No one can bring me down, they can't stop me! Now that I think about it, I kind of want to go to Nationals and compete for real in the future! And I didn't mean excuses like that, everyone has there limitations. And I have mine as well. But I am tired of my friends who use excuses that are fake to get out working hard in workouts. I do encourage them, but they take that not as well. The "rush" is the greatest feeling known to man.

I will look into Craigslist for possible bikes. Or I might go to my LBS to see some of the bikes that they have on closeout due to the season ending. I am just so overwhelmed by the designs, positives, and components that are taken into factor when choosing a bike! It is also hard for me to trust peoples decisions, but I have gotten a lot of guidance saying to pick a road bike or TRI bike over a hybrid. Is that true?

Zach,

Keep in mind that recovery is equally important to working out. There is a point at which working out more will impede your results from training. The whole idea is to beat the body down, let it build up stronger, repeat.. over and over for a long period of time. The point at which this occurs is definitely very individualized, but you should be careful if you're trying to do three hard workouts a day that you're getting enough recovery between workouts.

That is a good thing to keep in mind... I guess I don't know really how to space and plan workouts. This is all stuff I'm guessing on for the most part. I will try to give myself some more rest and take the occasional day off so my body can recuperate. Thank you!

Hi everyone!! Sorry for checking out lately - things have just been too busy to write. I have been reading along, though, and enjoying the race reports and such!!
Chrissy - first place! Congratulations!!

Zach - welcome to the group! Yes, I think road or tri bike is a better way to go then hybrid. I'm all for buying second hand if possible or the demo models that are marked down. I'm looking for a mountain bike myself, and definitely plan to buy it used if I can. I'd rather have 2 cheaper bikes than one nice hybrid, personally.

Yes, love your enthusiasm and motivation!! Everybody here has come to it at a different time in their lives - some earlier, some later. I was a slug in high school and college, definitely one of the ones making excuses! So be patient with them - they'll figure it out. That's what I try to tell my 17-year old daughter when she gets frustrated with the other girls on the tennis team who don't want to run - they don't see the benefit for their game and won't even run a single mile much less 2 or 3. But I try to remind my daughter that she was like that not so long ago, and it helps to have someone out there making it sound "fun", encouraging the others. She has to be that person, and maybe you can be that person, too, motivating your team-mates.

Gosh, I have had some great runs and swims since I last posted. I had my last tri of the season last Sunday and my times were definitely slower than my June PR, but I chalk it up to a 14 mile training run and 1.5 mile OWS the day before the tri. That, and I had some technical trouble with my bike. I am going to take a bike maintenance class at our LBS, because when I started having problems out on the road, I did not know what to do! It turned out to be just a stuck brake thingy that popped back off the tire when I yanked on it a few times, but I realize that I need to know more about these parts and how to keep them working properly.

Marathon training is going well - hey, Ken, let me just say that here is an advantage that I have over you - knocking 50 minutes off of my marathon time (5:27) could be a heck of a lot easier than off of your already amazing times! :-D



Edited by melanfi 2013-08-14 2:24 PM