mcgilmartin's 2013 Mentor Group~ let's get swimming! CLOSED FOR TRAINING (Page 18)

Don, that's actually a very valid question.  Nobody should consider 1650 yards a mile... it's not a mile.  Simple as that!

Matt

Bryan, a pull buoy is used to elevate your hips while you don't kick, hence making your upper body stronger.  I would highly recommend incorporating one into your training if you haven't done so.  As far as drills, there really isn't one I would recommend.  Freestyle and backstroke are the two strokes most conducive to pulling.  Try doing fly and you will sink.  Breaststroke will take a LONG time to complete.

April,

Thanks for the strength training tips- I love these.  I might create a challenge for myself next month trying to stick to this.  Keep us updated, and be gentle on the ibuprofen

Hello everyone.  It's been a crazy week.  I got my "new" used bike last week and a whole ton of other crap that I needed for it like a new seat and fenders.  Didn't sleep well after spending that amount of money even though I saved for it for 2 years and it was only $650 before the stuff.  Just the shock of the first purchase I guess.  I set up my trainer and the gsc 10 also.  Thank you all for your suggestions and the conversations on here.  I learned what to buy and how to set it up from listening to everyone.  THANK YOU!!  If I can figure out how to post a picture on here that isn't "too big" I will.  Every one that I have tried to post before gets rejected.

This weekend's workouts were swimming lesson on Saturday which kicked my butt but really helped.  Sunday was a 16 mile long run.  Two long runs left before the marathon taper.

Happy Monday. 

We would love to see Dorothy!      first your pic needs to be hosted somewhere  like in an album on BT  or on photo bucket  or where-ever   (even facebook i think)   then you  right click    click "copy image location"  then insert pic via that Tree icon (insert image)    you should be set then.

I know what you mean, but I think the most benefit would be to not think too hard about it, and just enjoy the event with Sheri!

That happens to me all the time too.  I've found that if you upload to Flickr and post a link it'll work.

Did you really get fenders?

Personally I'd say raise your cadence in a lower gear to get your heart rate up a little.  Dave is spot on though, enjoy the time with SWMBO.  You'll enjoy the experience, and have some serious bragging rights, too!

Ever have one of those days where you go to the gym and things just don't work right right from the start?  I sort of had today off and would be working from home - easy day of my own stuff at my own pace.  Figured it would be a perfect day for a long relaxed  session in the pool.  HAH 

Today:  I forgot my iPod so no music for the swim or run;
The pool was full of walkers, backstrokers, and chatting people - no way to share a lane with them
The strap on my goggles would not hold at all.  First push off the wall and they just rolled down my face.  They would not hold adjustment.  50 yards in the pool and that was it.

Did an easy run on the treadmill watching cartoons.

Hopefully Saturday's swim will be less eventful

What a day! Those water walker/joggers drive me nuts too, and the chatters Hope the cartoons were good!

Glad you got the bike! Have you had a chance to get her on the road?

Picked up my race packet for the Austin 1/2 marathon tomorrow- this is going to be a blast!

My wife is running with me and she is a better runner than I am. I am so proud of her!

Bryan

This made me laugh - and brought back some bad memories LOL Good for you though, it should really help!

After a week off for vacation and a week back at it, I feel like I'm on targer (maybe a smidge low) for my monthly goals.  Hit the pool today.  I shared a lane with a walker/wanderer and it worked out OK until she moved to my side to talk to someone and I plowed into her.  She was big and soft so no injuries and I just bit my tongue and kept going.

So, two things about pool swimming that I love:  I still smell like chlorine even after a shower (SWMBO is less fond of this) and my fingernails are REALLY clean.

Still planning on doing 3 century+ bike events in a week in April (112 miles, 108 miles, 100 miles). I am also looking to add a half marathon in Luxembourg this summer. We'll see what else comes up.

Hope everyone is having a great training week. I did an hour ride yesterday followed by a 5k run and my legs are pretty much toast today. They feel heavy and I don't really feel like doing another hour ride this afternoon (as per my training plan). We'll see what happens...(knowing that I'll do the ride today anyway - I have a rest day on Thursday)!

500m in 12m28s today. So a slight improvement.

Still not very confident to complete the 750m this weekend during the aquathlon in a smooth way, but fears about not finishing have been put to rest.

One thing I am quite happy about is that today for the first time my watch effectively recognized my full workout as being swum in freestyle. No longer blocks of breast or back stroke. Could it be it's finally clicking ?

A completely unrelated question now. I am using the 20 week Olympic training schedule from this site to get ready for a race in May. This is a simple volume builder program. Definitely what I need for swimming, welcome on the bike but perhaps not for the running part.

Last week during one of the short runs I decided to push it a bit for 1km. Running fast felt awkward. It seemed as if my body forgot how to do it. I assume that's because I've been training exclusively in zone 2 for a while.

My end goal is to train up to half ironman distance this summer and at the end of the year. What are your thoughts on making my run workouts more challenging by implementing speedwork and training in zones above zone 2 ?

I have used training schedules from My Asics with success and am now contemplating generating one that will set me up for a decent half marathon in August.

I'm probably the last one to say anything about running, but I'm seeing a lot of success in my half marathon plan I think because of the speedwork and tempo runs. It's nice to do some runs just for mileage/endurance but also others at a faster pace and with more intensity. Plus the variety of runs is great. I'd say go for it; I don't think it can hurt to have separate training plans for each sport if you need them.

And great job on the swim!

Question Matt, or anyone with advice  I love my new running shoes but am having trouble with blisters. I think my shoes are too tight at the toes and I plan to re-lace them tonight. I have had a blister on my right foot on the side of a toe and it won't go away. It hasn't gotten really bad, but it's always there.

Today after my run I had a blister on my other foot underneath a nail. The nail had been trimmed back further than normal and I think that was the problem - but this one is pretty painful.

So how do you treat blisters or get rid of them? And do you think too-tight shoes are the problem? Before when I ran I was having knee pain all the time, even at 3 miles, but I've done 17 runs with the new shoes up to 10 miles and only hurt once - so I don't want to give them up and I think all the extra cushioning is really working. But these blisters are a pain in the butt.