Jenny (jsnowash)'s Spring Guinea Pig Group - CLOSED (Page 18)

Understand your thoughts on racing.  I'm grappling with those decisions as well.  In truth, I can't commit to any races right now because I have no idea if I will be ready to run in 6 to 8 weeks.  Then I have no idea how fast recovery will be to get back into running form.  I am going to force myself to go very slow from a run perspective hoping to avoid any similar situations in the future.

I may do a tri in September if I didn't get a full refund for my race next weekend (working to get a refund or moved to a tri on same course in the fall).  Also considering being part of a marathon relay team in October.  I feel I am being conservative planning to be able to race a 10-K-ish distance in Mid-October. That would be give me Aug, Sept and half of Oct to train.  Thoughts?

@mitch: Have you thought about doing some water running to maintain your run fitness? the only issue with that is you need to be able to go pretty frequently from the research that I've done. Also, the water running seems to be more about intervals than time/endurance though I'm sure others can speak more to that. 

Just speaking from what I've experienced these past couple of months, it might be better to set your expectations a little lower for what's to come in the fall. For me personally I kept thinking "I can start training in a week, I can start training in a week" and that emotionally has been tolling. Wishing you a speedy recovery

I keep trying to plan out the rest of the season and have been hoping to get some races in but the harsh reality is that, with my first tri (that I had registered for) coming up in just over a month, it's unrealistic for me to compete in it and expect good results. 

Anyways, I had a nice hour in the pool last night. My ankle was hurting while kicking so I just used a pull buoy and was quite pleased with my pace times. Averaged around 1:40/100yd and swam a total of about 2200 yds. Hoping to work my way up to some 3-3.5k workouts starting next week. 

@Mitch/JayCee.

IT IS OK TO NOT RACE....IT IS OK TO NOT RACE.  And just in case you didn't get my 'veiled' meaning before....it is OK to NOT RACE.

Speaking for myself, I have NO notions of being a professional athlete; none, nada, zip.  Triathlons/races are simply a means to an end for me; to promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle, to set examples about fitness and physical activity for my kids and family/friends (hopefully) to follow.   Let's face it, to me, it's always been kinda silly to pay 40.00 for the 'opportunity' to race on roads I've ran on (for free) hundreds of times while drinking warm gatoraid and eating stale bagels.  Oh, and those low-cost, 'tech' t-shirts that scratch the beejeezus out of you.   No thanks, I'll pass.  Now there are a small handful of races I'll set my training sights on, but If I miss them...oh well, there's another race next weekend. 

Sometimes we get hurt.  Our bodies fail us...or, more often than not, WE fail our bodies.  Gather some perspective, do what you can to stay active WITHOUT increasing your risk of significant injury, and enjoy life.  We're TRIATHLETES by golly!

thanks jeff - always good to have an outside (read: sane) voice of reason 

Joey

Blasphemy.  

Bill

Ok, this is a little 'test' to see how many GPs are still with us.....come on, you know the words...(the Mouseketeer Theme song).  Just hit 'Reply' after you've entered your name.

Guinea Pig role call count off now....

Jeff

Jeff - how did you get to be so wise?  Are you really a lot older than your picture looks?   I agree that often the most unnecessary pressure we feel is from ourselves.  I can understand, though, the little bit of mourning that a person feels when they can't do something that they have built up in their mind is important. 

I had a great long run this morning after an unplanned 3 day hiatus.  My route was a shamrock starting from the south of town and running in and then looping out of town to the east, then the north, then the west.  I pictured a three leaf clover for my route.

Good training to the rest of you!

Mitch reporting....

Racing keeps me honest - sets a dealine on the calendar to motivate me to do the training and work to keep my body healthy and my mind sane.

Hello sir! Joey here reporting to duty (though on the injured list) 

For me, racing feeds my love for competition. People who know me personally know that I have a great tendency to put way too much pressure on myself which is why this WHOLE ordeal has been so difficult. but really - enough about this. 

Anyone racing this weekend? 

Brian here too.

Been on the road for the past two days for work, so no training. I brought my running shoes, but the only running I've been doing is from airport to dinner to working in my hotel room to all-day meeting to airport...looking forward to getting home and back in the swing of things.  (BTW, airport food is...well, you know pretty crappy...)

Hoping to (or perhaps need to) get a run in tomorrow.  My flight is already delayed 1 hr, so I hope it doesn't get delayed any further.  Fingers crossed.

BTW, I agree with Jeff about how we don't have to race.  First priority should be to get and stay healthy, and then racing if everything works out.  That said, I agree with Mitch too about using races to help focus training and setting goals.  

In any case, hope everyone is doing well today.  And despite all the folks out injured, I hope we can keep this group active.  I definitely appreciate bouncing ideas off you and learning about your training plans.

No worries Jenny.  We all have lives to live and conflicting priorities.  Sometimes a few things have to be kicked to the curb.

I got in the pool last evening for the first time in 5 weeks I think, and as might be expected I felt like a total swim-newb again.  I didn't count laps and didn't really time anything.  Just out there trying to get a feel for the water again.

This morning I Biked 20 miles at a pretty good clip (for me).  Still a little skittish taking corners but it will pass as I keep at it.  I felt pretty good today and happy I went a few more miles than I had planned to.  The Base Building continues ...

I have a Sprint Tri on the 4th of July.  It'll be good practice/training.  I'm not expecting a good time on any of the legs, though with the new lightning Bike I'll easily have a faster bike leg than I had on my other Sprint Tri.

Bill

Forgive me for I have sinned...

I've been working at it and finally got my weight under 150 lbs.   But yesterday I had a moment of weakness; I ate a bacon cheesburger AND chili fries.  I didn't leave a crumb big enough for a rat.  I didn't work out...and had a big beer before bedtime.  I slept like a baby. 

Today's workout (providing I can still fit into my wetsuit); OWS then a bike brick. 

Hey, Jenny!  Glad yer back!

Jeff - sometimes the only reason I do this is exactly so that I can eat the huge piece of cake and drink 4 glasses of wine with my steak!  Glad to hear you slept well.

Jenny - good luck on your HIM this weekend. 

Brian - happy travels.

Bill - having crashed my bike a couple times, I can totally relate to feeling a little skittish on corners.  One thing, though, I know for a fact that I am more likely to get in balance trouble when I am tense in my stance and posture.

Well, gang, I did another OWS early this morning.  It was a little better, but still sketchy.

My sprint race is July 22.  #1 - I am most worried about freaking out on the swim.  I have been OWS 4 times this month.  I have had spotters on the shore, but no one with me in the water.  I actually think I will be better if I have other swimmers near/with me.  My breathing needs some real work.  I am not a super swimmer, but I know I can make the distance so long as I don't hyperventilate.  It is very frustrating when I know the gasping is from fear which is totally controllable in my head, but I still keep going there.

#2 - a distant second worry is transitions especially swim to bike.  I have practiced a couple times, but I guess it is just the unknown.  Getting out of the water, I feel all disconnected.  I wear glasses and can't wear contacts so part of it is not being able to see until I get to my sport glasses.  I have tried the optical goggles, but they don't help much given my really bad eyesight.  I think that also contributes to my fear in OWS because I can't see anything on the shore or the island I swim to.

# 3 - my third little worry is getting my legs under me in the first mile of the run.  I did a brick last week with a longer bike ride followed by a 5K run distance and boy did I feel sluggish on the run.  It was late in the day and hot, but I was surprised that I didn't have more zip.

Just my ramblings -

JKJ, I can't help you with #1.  You need to get comfortable.

On #2, how about if a friend holds your glasses for you so that as soon as you exit the water they can hand you your glasses.

On #3, practice a few more Bike/Run bricks - once a week or so.  Even for me as a Tri-newbie, that dead-leg feeling is almost gone now after I bike.  Another technique is, is for the last 1/2 mile or so on the Bike, shift onto the small ring and spin fast rather than power thru.  This helps flush the garbage out of the legs as you approach T2.

Bill

@Janette - when you line up on race day, there will be alot of other folks just like you, some using wetsuits and some not, who have the same fear/anxiety as you do.  You'll realise that alot of folks are in the same boat you are...and I think that might help/comfort you somewhat.  Right now, you're swimming by yourself...so it's probably a bit lonely/scary as you practice in open water...this probably adds to your uncomfortable feeling.  On race day, there will be other swimmers and a number of kayaks in the water with you.  I'll bet that alot of your nerves will go away on race day because of the community of athletes around you, coupled with the fact that you know you can swim the distance.

Also, I would also study the maps provided by your sprint RD.  Is the swim leg a triangle, or an out and back or some other shape?  Do you turn right or left around the bouys?  Knowing this will also help you visualise the course better as you swim, and should help ease your uncomfortable feeling.  (And I would also study the maps of the bike and run courses, so you have a good sense of how they look, where the turns are etc...)

Another item about the swim leg that could be a bit weird is rounding the bouys.  Folks take all sort of paths to get to the bouys, but they all seem to turn right next to them.  So there can be a fair amount of jostling/positioning as your round the bouys.  The swim start is known to be chaotic, but I've also found that it can be quite chaotic at/around the bouys. 

#2 - this is a good point, but on race day the swim course is marked with big red/orange bouys and that should help you sight in the water.  I like Bill's suggestion, but I don't think USAT rules allow outside help during the race.  Perhaps you can put your glasses at a designated spot near the swim finish?  One of the races that I've done has a 1/4ish mile run from the lake to T1, and we all leave a pair of shoes/sandals at the edge of the lake.  If your sprint has something similar, perhaps you can leave your glasses with your shoes.

#3 - the bike to run transition can be a bit weird too, but trust your training.  You know your legs are strong enough, so just relax, get into your rhythm and run.  Easier said that done, granted, but don't stress about this part.  Your lack of zip could have been due to a number of factors...late in the day probably played a role.  We're all fresher in the am (or at least most folks are), and your race is probably an AM start, right?  So, I would not get too stressed about that one brick.

Just my two cents...

As I took last week off (to digest the stress fractures and also "why not", no races to train for) I allowed myself to binge on a few good items.  Amazingly got on the sacle yesterday and I hadn't gained an ounce.  It's all good - you have to reward yourself every once in awhile for being discilpined.