COgirl's Group - FULL (Page 17)

Hybrids are good...lighter than mtn bikes.  And you could still use it later for dirt paths or something. 

shifting....well....it totally depends.  Most road bikes have "STI" shifting where it is along with the brakes.  I think the road bike you are talking about has "downtube" shifters, so you'd have to take one hand off the handlebars to move the shifter. 

7/22, yep that is ryan's birthday....and I'm doing a race that day too.  LOL!  We'll celebrate his birthday the day before anyway.  You have plenty of time to get ready for that race, just keep going and moving forward! 

It's at the end of June (next year!) and yes that will be my first IM.  It's in Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho.  Should be fun, I think

Kendra - that is really exciting that your first race is coming up in a few weeks! Have you done a brick before? Going from the bike to the run is a strange feeling! Good luck on getting one in before race day.

Becki - I certainly understand the feeling of being overwhelmed with 3 kids and trying to prepare for a triathlon! How old are your kids? Plus working full time, that is tough! Just try to fit the workouts in whenever you can and remember that you are doing this for you and for your kids. Being a strong healthy mother sets such a great example. I am amazed at how my 8 year old daughter now talks about fitness and is really looking forward to her first mini tri on May 13th.

Melissa - You still have PLENTY of time to train! So just keep at it!

I had my last session with my trainer before my olmpic distance tri this coming Sunday. I am a little nervous, but she had some great tips on warm up and nutrition. I am just trying to remind myself to go out and have fun. 

Becki:  I think you are better off doing those hills, they make you strong!

Kaci:  hmm, what else have you tried for nutrition?  Other options besides gels might be Sport Beans or Clif Shot Bloks or Sharkies.  Are you following the gels with water?  Water is best....if you follow your gels with gatorade or similar, it screws up the absorption and you'll get GI issues.  Unfortunately, it's one of those things that requires practice....trying different things until you find what works!  One last thought would be to try different drinks....like Accelerade that has some protein in it.  I DO think you'd either bonk or really feel super crappy if you did a 1/2 mary without some type of nutrition!  Let me know what else you have tried.

How's training going everyone?  I'm in the process of rearranging this week's plan.....going to Breckenridge for the last ski weekend of the season!

Becki - My olympic tri is this weekend. I only met with a trainer for 4 sessions of 30 min each. I plan to do more in preparation for a Half Ironman that I signed up for next October. I am not sure what came over me when I signed up for a HIM, but it sure has given me motivation for training! I have only done 3 sprints before and I am NOT speedy, but I am just shooting to finish and have fun.

Good for you for getting in workouts at 5 am! I have tried working out early, but it never seems to work. Thankfully my gym has good childcare, and my husband and I switch with childcare often.  

Jill, Good Luck on your OLY this weekend!  That is awesome.  I hope I can do an OLY someday.  Are you still working out before your race or do you take a break right before it?

Becki, Wow, 5 am good for you.  My dh goes to the gym at that early hour. 

Melissa, Good luck on your bike search.  I just bought mine last month.  I bought a Flite 300 and I paid about $600.  I also bought clipless pedals, bag with spare tire and a bottle cage.

I'm going for a 20 mi training ride this am with my tri buddy.  She has done tris in the past.  She just had a baby 10 weeks ago and you could never tell she just had a baby. 

Hope everyone's training is going well!

Mel  

Heather, I am sorry about the hip!  What a bummer!  You are already doing what I would have suggested at this point, which is get it checked out!  You have been training so well, don't give up on the tri.....if you can walk it then do it!  And good luck with the OWS....man, that's the temp of the water here in August! 

Mel, hope your bike ride went well!

It is SO nice to finally have some spring weather!

Welcome Kateri!

Heather, I didn't read your post until I had already posted.  Are you wearing a wetsuit for the OWS at Lake Norman?  I'd like to do the one this weekend but I'm going to be riding with my group.  Did you have to register before or do you register the day of the swim?  Sorry about your hip, I'm a jog/walker so I'd be more than happy to walk with you on race day.  My goal is just to finish the race with hopefully a smile on my face.

Mel 

Hello everyone!    You are all so amazing....keep up the good work.  It is so cool to see progress and everyone looking forward to events!

Kaci reminded me of this and I'm not sure if I said it before, but NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY.  Don't wear new running sneakers, don't try new nutrition or anything else new on race day! 

Kateri: seems like everyone in this group is a swimmer (well, almost )  I am NOT.  I still struggle with swimming, but I have come a LONG way.  Since you are in CO, look into BAM (boulder aquatic masters)....Jane Scott does women's swim clinics, and might do some OWS ones also.  Also think about doing a Boulder Stroke and Stride (thursday night .5-1 mile swim followed by 5K run).  They start in June.  www.racingunderground.com 

Kaci:  I have not heard of this supplement.  So I don't know what to say!  As far as not eating/drinking until warmed up....not sure that I agree, but it depends on the time of day and your nutrition up to that point.  Certainly eating too close to the start of a run can cause GI issues or side stitches.  But if you are running early in the morning, you have to eat something!  I typically have a soy shake (rice milk) or dried fruit so I have something to get my glucose up a bit.  Mornings are tough to plan as far as that goes. 

Heather, let us know about your hip! 

I'm headed to Breckenridge tomorrow for the weekend, but I'll probably still be online.  Good luck Jill and Kaci.  Zoya, do you have something coming up too?  Who else has events in April or May?  I have nothing until June!

Have you seen this? http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1098  It is a review on the bag done by TypeAGirlPilot

I use a bag to carry everything also....I like it.  I absolutely lay everything out before the race.  Bring an old towel to put on the ground.  Lay out your stuff on it.  Bike shoes open (un-velcro the straps), drinks on your bike, helmet and sunglasses ready to go.  Have your running shoes and socks ready for T2 and race belt with number on it. 

By the way, rules state that you must buckle your helmet before the "mount line" leaving T1.  If not you are DQ'd!  So get in the habit of doing that right away!

I'm jealous you all have early races!  I want to race!