GrooveTime!group - CLOSED!!! (Page 174)

thall0672 - 2010-06-03 2:50 PM SteveB: I attempted sighting at the pool today the way you suggested (holding my chin at 90 degree angle from body line when breathing to the right). Unless I'm doing it incorrectly, I don't seem to be able to really sight well this way. At the most, I was only able to see what was just to the right of the front wall. I seemed to have better luck by sighting while my face was in the water, but tilting my chin up so that my goggles were just to the surface of the water so I could see everything in front. If I do this every 4th stroke or so, I think I could stay on track. I'll be trying it out tomorrow in open water. Tracey

stevebradley - 2010-06-03 8:53 AM



TRACEY -

It has been years since I was at Fenway as well. But the last time was memorable, as I got there early with my kids to watch b.p. We were on the third-base side, where the Angels were doing their thing, right in the front row (that was for b.p.; our actual game seats were much further back), and Chad Curtis picked up a ball and tossed in to Jane, who was thrilled. We then went down to the Angels dugout to watch them file in and head to the locker room to get into their game uniforms, and the great Rod Carew, who was at that time a coach, rolled a ball across the top of the dugout right to Peter!

That was all very cool..........but it made me feel bad. I mean, I went to dozens and dozens and dozens of Sox games as a kid, and NEVER got a ball, not even close. I dutifully brought my glove everytime, and nothing ever came close. And my stupid kids, not even hard-core Red Sox fans, show up at the their second or third game and each get a ball virtually GIVEN to them. What's that about, anyhow? They were cute and I wasn't? BAH!

stevebradley - 2010-06-03 6:31 PM



BRICK IDEAS, part one

I mentioned to Kasia that I just bought two British triathlon magazines, and each has articles on bricks. I will get the info from both to you all in pieces, especially this first one, which is called "Essential Bricks". This is in "220 Triathlon", which is the oldest of the Brit tri mags, and the author is Andy Bullock, who was the 220 Coach of the Year in 2008.

This article has plans for 12 bricks, three each for Sprint, Olympic, Middle (half-iron) and Long (iron). For each of those four distances there are three bricks - one each for beginer, intermediate, and advanced triathletes. For now, with Kasia, Shaun, Tracey, and Mandy all racing soon, I will give the info for Sprint-Beginner, Sprint-Intermediate, and Olympic-Beginner.

SPRINT - BEGINNER
Session --- Run off the bike. When returning from one of your bike sessions, and before you sit down for your tea, put on your running shoes and head off for 10-15mins. Short and sweet and can beinckuded in all distances.
Time taken For Session --- 10-15mins plus bike ride.
Benefit of Session --- Undertaken on a regular/weekly basis, your legs will soon be accustomed to running off the bike.

SPRINT - INTERMEDIATE
Session --- After a bike session, 10mins hard, 10mins harder. This session is similar to the beginner's but, as your legs are used to running off a bike, push them a little harder. Hold a good, strong posture when running hard.
Time Taken For The Session --- 20mins plus bike ride.
Benefits of Session --- Gets your body and mind used to running at pace off the bike.

OLYMPIC - BEGINNER
Session --- 60-90mins bike into 30min run.
Time Taken For Session --- 2-2:30hrs (including 15min warm-up and 15min cool-down).
Benefit of Session --- Running for a longer duration off the bike will help you experience this before the race. Do this once or maybe twice before racing, and make sure you relax and keep your feet light when running.




These show you that bricks are not exactly rocket science, and that for the shorter distances there is no need for big bricks. As I post the ones for longer distances and advanced athletes, they become more convoluted -- but simple ones can also work well.

I will try to do these reguklarly over the next week, maybe three on every other day. Someday remind me if they don't appear, please! (The best-laid plans.......)

SAquavia - 2010-06-03 4:50 PM

Shaun - good luck this weekend!  Hope you do great!

Bike update:  $12 fix.  Turns out I braked so hard, I popped the axle out of position on the front fork.   Bike shop guy looked at the wheel and fork and couldn't see anything wrong - so he hit wheel hard with the heel of his hand, and it popped back in place.  He said something to the effect of, "wow, you must have braked like crazy!"  I laughed and said, "Yep...and now I need a new helmet!"  $12 was to true the wheel.

Shoulder is feeling better - less sore today - will likely do some trainer/brick work after work today.  Still very little range of motion (scabbing and such), but the muscles are better. 

It's amazing how much finding out the bike is OK has improved my spirits.  Head is much clearer than before as well - that's probably helping too.  Looking forward to getting back on the horse as it were this weekend!

manfarr1974 - 2010-06-03 3:50 PM




Tracey-  I don't know if this helps at all - when I sight, I tend to take my breath from the side like normal, then instead of looking back down, I look forward, then down.  I think it is kind of like you are describing, and with practice you can do it quickly and not lose your rhythm. 

STEVE B - did you get my note on the Pirate race day places to stay and stuff?

SAquavia - 2010-06-03 4:50 PM Shaun - good luck this weekend!  Hope you do great!

Bike update:  $12 fix.  Turns out I braked so hard, I popped the axle out of position on the front fork.   Bike shop guy looked at the wheel and fork and couldn't see anything wrong - so he hit wheel hard with the heel of his hand, and it popped back in place.  He said something to the effect of, "wow, you must have braked like crazy!"  I laughed and said, "Yep...and now I need a new helmet!"  $12 was to true the wheel.

Shoulder is feeling better - less sore today - will likely do some trainer/brick work after work today.  Still very little range of motion (scabbing and such), but the muscles are better. 

It's amazing how much finding out the bike is OK has improved my spirits.  Head is much clearer than before as well - that's probably helping too.  Looking forward to getting back on the horse as it were this weekend!

thall0672 - 2010-06-03 7:47 PM I FINALLY got some bike shoes today (after the debacle of having ordered some first through my LBS, then an online company, and not being informed for days and days that the shoes were out of stock...) I practiced clipping in and out for a while in my backyard. After a few minutes I was getting pretty good at it! Then I took the bike out to the quiet roads around my house and practiced there. I'm feeling pretty confident, although I just know there's going to be a time when I forget that I'm clipped in when I'm stopping and topple over... I'm quite surprised how easy it is to clip out. I can really tell how much additional power you get from being clipped in, even from just pedaling around the neighborhood. I have a ride tomorrow so we'll see how being clipped in translates to additional speed...

smarx - 2010-06-03 8:57 PM Well it is now official.

According to the 3 sonographers (who knew they were called that???) and the on site Doctor, I have a direct hernia on my right side and an in-direct on my left side. Now in a week or so I should hear from the surgeon and see what he has to say. Then probably over to the sports medicine people. I know surgery is the only fix, I just want the input of someone who works with athlete's and knows if one of the 4 or 5 possible fixes is best for someone who swims, bikes and runs.

I do appreciate Anne and Denise's questioning and motherly thoughts, but I am going to push through it and react when I get more dis-comfort. That's all I have at most now anyways and I was told not to stop training. In fact, right after I spoke with my mother and she says she agrees with my desire to still do them at a restrained pace knowing I am doing them to practice the paces (no pun intended), learn from them and come back next year more focused on them.

My plan is to treat them as long bricks/icks and enjoy the atmosphere as well as figure out the whole race day thing. Get a better idea what is going on and what makes sense to me, what doesn't and go from there. No pushing it.

So it really looks like my 2010 triathlon year will potentially be over before it even starts.

Oh well, such is life. I'd rather have this then something like a torn MCL or ACL or any number of other injuries which you potentially never truly come back from.

stevebradley - 2010-06-03 9:59 PM DENISE again - And it's official -- I'm rooting for the Minnesota kid! (Because it's good of you to go for one of the group's state's reps, if yours drops out early.)