MightyMojoMentorGroup -- (Full House!) (Page 181)

JOHANNE again -

Got your running motivational chops back yet?

ALEX -

Are you doing Mossman aqbk tomorrow?  Sorry I'm not there to frolic in Long Island Sound!

Have a good one!!!!!

Ha! I was just talking to Dave about that today I'm getting there. I've had a couple of decent runs this week with a 10 mile run tomorrow. My last run I had a talk with myself the whole time about how I didn't feel like running, then I realized I felt fine and it was all in my head! I've decided it's ok to have these negative thoughts and just deal with them and keep running

I had a good long bike today, just over 60 miles. Swims coming along too. Most of my swims I'm getting 3000 yards in pretty comfortably. So to quote you, onwards!!!

My niece, nephew and a few friends are racing IMCanada tomorrow so it'll be fun to track them

How are you doing? Body parts getting better? 

JOHANNE -

The negative thoughts are to be expected, and mostly just roll with them.  It's along road to an iron, and I'm not sure anyone has travelled it without being ambushed by negative thoughts many times over.  For me, it was much as you experienced with your last run, that is, you carped at yourself until you realized that it actually went quite well.  Been there, done that --- more times than I care to think about.  As for you, though --- may the 10-miler go well!!!

As for me, I'm not out of the woods yet.  I had a big session with a foot guy on Monday, and his recom was to switch back to the old cleats and pedals.  My bike guy was away until yesterday, so I had to wait til then.  A quick 20km ride yesterday afternoon showed mixed results, but better than recently, anyhow.  My knees were mostly okay, and did well on a 20-minute run today.  All my possibilities for races this weekend were scrapped, though, and that was annoying (allthough not too surprising, given the past month).  I'm now up for a sprint next Saturday -- body willing!!!!

The other setback in this star-crossed season came today when, in putting on my wetsuit, it tore from stem to stern -- think about filleting a fish.  It is my DeSoto two-piece, so it happened to the bibjohn -- strenum to crotch.  That made me apolpleptic, and I went scurrying off to a store in Ottawa that sells wetsuits.  I got lucky, as not only did they have some, but prices were reduced by a afir bit -- 10%?  15%?   So, I grabbed a Zoot 3.0, and took it for a swim ---- and posted my best ~800m (out-and-back, following a buoy line set out by a canoe/kayak club) at that site.  That is some small reward, i suppose, for my mental anguish -- and also my financial anguish ($315, including taxes).

It dawns on me that this is maybe the perfect season to draw down the curtain on...........but I just keep soldiering on, figuring it's darkest just before the dawn, yes?

JEFF -

It's a face made for triathlon, of course!!!

Holy smokes.  Almost a week without a post from anyone, lay low for 2 days and now it's going to take me a day to catch up.    Need to come back later and read everything thoroughly to appreciate it all. 

Quick congratulations to JEFF.   Great race, age group win, PR, media coverage.. WOW.   

Congratulations TRINA on an AWESOME ride.    That is a crazy distance.   Sounds like you had fun and got really hungry!  

Going out for a swim and a run (hopefully).    Struggling this week (this monthl actually).    Right now, next Saturday isn't looking really appealing to me could easily talk myself out of it.  

ANNE -

I hear what you're saying about this past month, which has been terrible for me, too.  For the most recent debacle, see my post above to JOHANNE.  The short of it is that I needed to emergencyly buy a new wetsuit yesterday.  I think I really like the suit........I think I'm out $315.  Sigh.

Um, er, ah..........do I take your last line to mean that you just might talk yourself out of the half?  My guess is NOOOOOOO!!!, but there is just something in your wording that hints otherwise.  Hmmm?

My sports doc is pretty big on trail running, and does much of his work in an easy-to-get-to place, the Larose Forest, just north of us.  It is pretty much pancake-flat, and not real full of gorgeous trails, but what there is is mostly low-impact surfaces.  I argue that I'll stumble and fall, or twist something, or get attacked by fishers or carried off by blackflies.  He argues that the uneveness is worth it, as it helps engage different muscle groups, thus waylaying overuse-type injuries; he doesn't worry about predators or savage bugs.  My compromise is to run there a few times a year, and then staying mostly on routes that aren't bisected with rocks and roots.  So far so good, I suppose.

I've done one ride with my old pedals/cleats back on, and came out of it okay -- enough so that I ran 20 minutes yesterday with the knees mostly fine.  I have done three short runs since seeing him Monday, and all went mostly okay.  Speed is still there; fear of knee-setback also still there.  I'll do a ride again today and see how it feels.

Having done a handful of rides in the new pedals/cleats, and now going back, really highlights how messed-up the old system was (is).  I have humungous float in the right foot, to the point where I can actually FEEL the foot slide downwards and outwards.  The thing is, I now overthink it all and can't "replicate" where exactly my feet sat "normally".  Dadgummit!

Great video assessment from the new foot guy, showing how efficiently I run.  That was very uplifting to hear.  Now, that's based on the feet, whereas I do NOT think i am all that efficient in my above-the-waist carriage.  i never seem to see, in photos, my arms where I want them to be, and I will continue to work on that.  But at leaast for the feet, he resoundingly applauded me for the work i have done over the past few years to improve my mechanics.  Ta-da!

He did recommend some (more??) core work, as he saw my hips not working exactly alike.  I think part of that is compensating for the labrum, but i will follow his advice and work on my core.

Off to a swim soon (#2 in the Zoot 3.0!!), then a hot bike later today.  I'd love to run off the bike today, but think that might confuse my assessment of how the return to the old system is working.  Bah!

Have a good swim and run yourself today!

Glad to see some activity again. Rides and runs and races and wetsuits. Good stuff.

Unless something unforeseen pops up, I think I'm out of multsport races for the season. That leaves the Pittsburgh Great Race (10K) as an end of September goal. I started following this Hal Higdon training plan for it. It's a bit aggressive. It calls for more frequent running at higher speeds than I'm used to, but the distances aren't too bad, so I'm able to hang with it. Aside from a little quad soreness the only setback so far is a bruised foot from the speedwork on the track. I was able to run 8 miles on it this morning, so I think it's ok. Hoping to get a solid baseline 10K time out of all of this. Will definitely be an improvement over the :50:01 I posted at the end of the Pittsburgh Olympic. The question is, how much faster?! 7:00 miles? 7:30? Only time will tell. Will do the Steelers 5K next weekend as a tune-up. Cool race that ends on the warning track in Heinz Field.

And now, here are some unsolicited brief reviews of books I've read lately:

Macca, I'm Here to Win - I was prepared to be sickened by how much this guy is in love with himself, but ultimately I came around as amazed by what he accomplished and a believer in his refreshing no BS style. The contrast that I draw here is with our own Sidney Crosby who's been here in Pittsburgh for 7 years now. I feel like I've almost never heard an unscripted word out of the guy's mouth. On the other hand, I don't think anyone knows what Macca is going to say next, and I have to say I find it refreshing. No real practical advice here, but it will help you gain an appreciation of this champion.

Wellington, A Life Without Limits - Seems pretty ridiculous for a 35 year-old woman to be writing her memoirs. She has accomplished some amazing things, but I felt her aura was somehow diminished in the telling. She comes off as a bit privileged and righteous. Her relationship with Brett Sutton is downright creepy. Interesting book, and something about hearing it told in her own British way makes it a little more fun.

Dugard, To Be a Runner - My only complaint about this book about a high school track coach re-discovering and passing along his love of running is that it was too short. Fun read.

Karnazes, Ultramarathonman - You can't help but be amazed by Dean Karnazes' accomplishments after reading this book. Ironically, it felt like he ran out of steam later in the book. His early feats are described in such fantastic detail that I felt wanting when he skimmed over Badlands and some of his other races. Maybe he was saving material for his other books.

Dodell, Sex, Lies and Triathlon - This book is a bit elementary and juvenile, but the author is an accomplished enough athlete to make that tolerable. His real gift is in the turn of a phrase and spinning of a joke out of most anything. A few laugh out loud moments.

Holgate, Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run: From Common Man to Ironman - This story about an overweight, self-loathing librarian reinventing his life could be based on any of the "My First Tri" columns on BT. Unlike Dugard's book, I pretty much couldn't wait for this one to end, but he kept describing race after race. A saving grace for me was that Holgate is English and his language and the events in which he participated (is it always raining there?) were just different enough to keep this Anglophile interested.

Fitzgerald, Iron War: Dave Scott and Mark Allen and the Greatest Race Ever Run - My Kindle kept recommending this, and I resisted it and its $12.99 price for as long as I could. Finally, in a moment of boredom I gave in, and I am glad I did. This is one of the best stories I've read lately, and, surprisingly, I learned a lot about the science behind endurance sport and suffering. The device that the author uses of focusing most of the story on the moment when Dave & Mark are running shoulder to shoulder with 1.7 miles left in the 1989 Ironman World Championship allows him to weave in seemingly unrelated people and science into a cogent and fascinating story. My top recommendation to date.

Anyone read anything interesting lately?!

DAVE -

Just a quick response for now......

Want soemthing to pop up?  Check out the Nickel City triathlons in Buffalo, Sept 15/16 -- oly on sat, sprint on Sun.  I did both last year, and they were good.  Mostly flat and fast!.  I think it is at www.eclipsemultisport.com.  I'll check and get back to you.

DAVE again -

Yup, that's the website.  Added bonus is the oly is only $95, the sprint just $75.  Added-added bonus is that if you are there on Saturday, after the a.g. oly is the ITU draft-legal oly.  That was fabulous to watch last year, and if my bod comes around I will be there again in a few weeks.  I figure I can hack the sprint, but would love another go at the oly (got a 2-minute "Position" penalty last year, dropping me from 2;29 to 2:31.  Grrrr!

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!

DAVE once more -

Yeah, I'd say the foot is okay if you could pull off 8 miles on it!  Just curious, though --- where exactly is it bruised, and do you have any thoughts on how it got bruised?

Baseline pure-run times are good to have, and I keep a rough mental idea of what mine are for 10km and half-marathons.  I have never done a stand-alone 5km, which seems odd, i guess.  And as for marathons, well, I know my best and I know my range for the 7 or 8 I have done, but they have little bearing on my triathlon world, so.......

Mostly, though, i find benchmarks to be cruel temptresses for triathlon purposes, as I know from experience that the stand-alone can't be approached following a hard-ridden bike.  My best 10km is 42:16, done in 2003 and missed by 4s in '04, but only once have I gone sub-45 in an oly -- and that could'bve been a mismeasured (short) course.  I guess I have done a few (as in 2-4?) oly runs in the 45s, and mostly I feel good if I can be in the 46s.

As for half-marathons, in Oct. '10 I did one in 1:37:08, which is close to my best-ever of 1:36 (I think?).  But in a half-iron, that 13.1 mile run is more commonly around 1:50.  I think i did Eagleman one year with a 1:41:06 run, but that was exceptional -- in that I won't pull that kind of time out of the hat again on a true-measured course (which Eagle almost certainly was).

So, anyhow, there is the frustration (although fully understandable) of those benchmark times not at all jiving with my triathlon performances.  I guess they will be teasers if I ever return to doing stand-alone running races, but that's not on the slate for anytime soon.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many thanks for the terrfic book reflections --- and I'm sorry I can't offer anything in return.  I have Sheila Toarmina's new swim book, but I've not put much time into it.  And beyond that, my reading is mostly poetry, and some Zen Buddhist stuff.......and some bobbing and weaving with either Ulysses or Finnegans Wake.  (YIKES!!!!!!)

Your list is superb, though, nicley geared towards athletic inspiration.  I could probably use some of that in my current plight, but I'm just trying to make it through on my own devices - FBOFW!

DAVE once more -

Yeah, I'd say the foot is okay if you could pull off 8 miles on it!  Just curious, though --- where exactly is it bruised, and do you have any thoughts on how it got bruised?

Baseline pure-run times are good to have, and I keep a rough mental idea of what mine are for 10km and half-marathons.  I have never done a stand-alone 5km, which seems odd, i guess.  And as for marathons, well, I know my best and I know my range for the 7 or 8 I have done, but they have little bearing on my triathlon world, so.......

Mostly, though, i find benchmarks to be cruel temptresses for triathlon purposes, as I know from experience that the stand-alone can't be approached following a hard-ridden bike.  My best 10km is 42:16, done in 2003 and missed by 4s in '04, but only once have I gone sub-45 in an oly -- and that could'bve been a mismeasured (short) course.  I guess I have done a few (as in 2-4?) oly runs in the 45s, and mostly I feel good if I can be in the 46s.

As for half-marathons, in Oct. '10 I did one in 1:37:08, which is close to my best-ever of 1:36 (I think?).  But in a half-iron, that 13.1 mile run is more commonly around 1:50.  I think i did Eagleman one year with a 1:41:06 run, but that was exceptional -- in that I won't pull that kind of time out of the hat again on a true-measured course (which Eagle almost certainly was).

So, anyhow, there is the frustration (although fully understandable) of those benchmark times not at all jiving with my triathlon performances.  I guess they will be teasers if I ever return to doing stand-alone running races, but that's not on the slate for anytime soon.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many thanks for the terrfic book reflections --- and I'm sorry I can't offer anything in return.  I have Sheila Toarmina's new swim book, but I've not put much time into it.  And beyond that, my reading is mostly poetry, and some Zen Buddhist stuff.......and some bobbing and weaving with either Ulysses or Finnegans Wake.  (YIKES!!!!!!)

Your list is superb, though, nicley geared towards athletic inspiration.  I could probably use some of that in my current plight, but I'm just trying to make it through on my own devices - FBOFW!

OOPS!!! on the double-post!

And my new wetsuit was 20% off -- from $349 to $279!!!!

Hello all!

I think I have one more tri in me this season and am eyeing one in October. I'll do a bunch of run only events as well this fall and into early winter.

I've been ramping up my long run miles and have had problems with chaffing. I've never dealt with this before on my shorter distances. Can anyone recommend a good brand name for a product to avert this?

Thanks.

Hoosierman (Doug)

DOUG -

YO!

Good to hear from you again, but sorry about the chafing.  I guess it might be useful to know where.....but perhaps you don't want to divulge that information.  And that's okay!

My go-to for almost any kind of chafing (which mostly, blessedly, I have avoided over the years) is BodyGlide.  I think that would solve a chafing problem just about anywhere on your person.

If you're having nipple problems, then I would recommend either the little donut-shaped stick-ons, or possibly even a different top. 

Keep in touch!

Spent a good part of yesterday following family and friends racing IMCanada. It got me both excited and nervous for my race! My niece finished in 13:02 which was a huge PR. Her transitions were 2:08 and 2:16 and she negative split her run. PR's in all 3 events and ran her fastest marathon ever. My nephew finished in 13:56 and transitioned in 3:37 and 4:59. Neither of them spend a lot of time in the tents! Great day for both of them Everyone in their group finished and had great experiences.

I had a good run yesterday. I think I got over some of those negative thoughts and actually felt pretty good. 

Today is my rest day so I will spend it thinking about quick transitions and staying in forward motion for my race

I read your post to JOHANNE and seeing how my mind (and body) has been playing games for an HIM, I am in awe of anyone training for an IM!    That is someplace I do not want to go.    I reviewed my running since the HM and it has been rather inconsistent, with low mileage, so the sudden ramping up after Edmonton along with the harder bikes has taken a bit of a toll, but I think I will be OK to get through Saturday.  

Unfortunately, there will be no speed involved, so a LONG race day, probably just over 7 hrs, even if things go well.    I'm OK with that though - it will be a huge success for me if I can say I FINISHED.       

Glad to hear what the sports doc says about trail running - I will have to switch trails to one that is flatter with less roots and rocks.   

Also interesting about going back to the old pedals and cleats - I am curious as to why you haven't tried the speedplay (or have you?).   Alot of people don't like them BECAUSE it's all float.    I would love to get a video assessment of running.   Maybe some day. 

Nice buy on the wetsuit.     Absolutely NO closing the curtain for you!  

I had a good, last, long swim yesterday - just over 1 hour and I ran 45 minutes with no problems other than my HR going too high - around the 4th km it was over 163 which is my LT so slowed down to get it to 150ish.   I think it was the crazy heat.     Decided to finish the remaining 45 minutes with a fast race walk and still had no knee problems at the end of it all, so I am optimistic about Saturday. 

We're both pretty organized for Saturday - having written plans laid out on nutrition timing and speed, breaks, etc.    Ken has put a strong focus on practicing his nutrition for the past month so he should be good.   Just going to eat well, rest up with a bit of training and get ready for the BIG day.        

Leaving here on Thursday morning, before 9:00, hopefully.   Staying at our usual hotel for 3 nights and heading into Ottawa early Friday morning for a swim at the Athletic Club and Ken wants to check out the race site at 6:30 a.m. to see what the 'lighting' will be like.     Back to hotel and then back in to pick up race kit at 5:00 p.m.

Not perfect for me on Saturday morning -  need to get up a bit earlier than normal to get Ken to race site.  He is in water at 6:30 and I don't race till 9:00 - so hope to get some sleep on an air mattress in back of van between 4:30-6:30.    The Terry Fox parking lot is reserved for IM participants so we should be nice and close to transition and I will rack my bike extra early, when Ken does.  

Hope your training goes well this week for your Saturday race!    And looking forward to spending some quality time together. 

Glad to hear you had a good run yesterday, Johanne.    And congratulations to your neice and nephew.   I cannot believe those fast transition times.    I'll probably be double that on Saturday!

When is your IM?   

Double is still reasonable! My IM is Nov. 18th.

Some fast math tells me my wife and I were at the finish line and catching people as they crossed the finish line when your niece and nephew crossed the line so it is slightly possible we caught one of them.  Their transitions were really fast.  I was catching bikes at the end of that leg when the Pros were coming in and they must have had similar transition times.  It seemed they no sooner had left their bikes than they were running out on the bike course.

I saw Sister Madonna Buder finish her bike leg then head out on her run then I saw her finish at 16:32:00  The crowd went wild when she was coming in.  At 82 years old she set a new age group record for IMC.

I worked from 10:00a.m. to midnight yesterday and lost 4lbs in the day according to the scales this a.m.

I've got a bit of interesting info on the WTC/Challenge news I'll post later if I can figure out how to copy it over.  Yesterday in the bike lot I talked with 5 competitors from Germany (two of them have come to Penticton for IMC 5 times) and they were all very happy about the change.

STEVE -

A math teacher plowing through Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake? Voluntarily?! I am deeply impressed. I was an English undergrad and got halfway through a Masters degree in English before having to go make an honest! living in finance and I can say I've picked up Ulysses several times and put it down in defeat each time. Thomas Pinchon's Gravity's Rainbow was the only other book I absolutely failed at. Maybe you're blessed with that overdeveloped anterior cingulate cortex that Matt Fitzgerald puts forth as one of the physiological adaptations to endure suffering!

My left foot is bruised a little in front of the heel toward the outside edge. Feels like muscle and not bone is injured because I can feel it by stretching the foot as in a calf stretch. I'd suspect that's where I strike. The other time I had a problem like this was also from speedwork on the local rubber track (though that time I stupidly wore my barefoot Merrells with no socks). The workout I was doing was 8x400 meters at mile pace with a 2 minute rest in between. I kept around a 6 minute mile pace.

http://connect.garmin.com/splits/213846476

Steve,

Thanks for the advice. I'll see if I can find some at the local shoe store for runners. I have the downstairs variety.

Hey everybody, it struck me that no one knows what I look like because I can't figure out how to do the profile picture. Here are so photos from my last tri back in early August. Check out my sweet ride (circa 1990) on the third photo.

http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#6642
http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#6764
http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#7044
http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#7322
http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#7323

http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#6642
http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#6764
http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#7044
http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#7322
http://foundationforyouth.shutterfly.com/6573#7323

Good to put a face to a name. I like the brakes on the bike