kenj group - Closed (Page 19)

On another note...  As I said in my training log today, I made the mistake of looking up the results from last year's Ozark Valley Triathlon for my age group.  Most of the runners were on an 8 + minute pace, many slower than that.  One guy ran a 7:07 pace.  Bike speeds were as high as 21 mph average, but most were 16 or 17.  But the swimming has me freaked out.  1,000 yards in 14:03?  That's a 1:24 / 100 pace.  Half the field was out of the water in 20 minutes or less.  I'm really shocked at these times.  I'd like to be able to do 1,000 in less than 20 minutes, but 14 or 15 minutes?  Wow.  Seems fast for old guys.

I wouldn't worry about looking at the results of a triathlon.  My first tri last year was a 1/2 mile swim, which is more like 880 yards.  I was out of the water at right about 25 minutes.  I wasn't last, close but not last, and nobody laughed, made fun of me or quite honestly even seemed to notice.  On the nice side, swimming like a rock makes it easy to find your bike on the transition rack since most other people are gone.  For myself, triathlon is a personal thing, I'm not racing anyone but myself.  All I am looking to do is improve my times. 

Hell, I already think that in the pool!!

You guys are, of course, correct.  I'll just worry about myself and let the chips fall where they may.  I've got some big rides on the bike coming up pretty soon that I need to be getting ready for.  I need to lose about 10 lbs to be close to where I want to be on the bike.  The hard part will be not losing that in muscle I've been building all winter, but cutting it from my gut instead.  It's always something.

Waiting for them to fix the results of this weekend's tri (they left off all of the Clyde finihsing times) then I'll post my race report.

Summary:  Overall not too bad, great swim, OK bike, decent run.  Felt a little off all day but a respectable finish.

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Race report if interested...

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=150452

I commented on your race report, but again congrats on a great start to the season!!!

Great job!  That swim is fantastic, and almost 21 MPH on the bike is really great!!!  I'm impressed.

 That pace has me thinking, "Huh?!"  What were the times overall for the swim. That does seem fast. I just checked one of my races and the pace for my age group went from 1:27-2:41 with the majority in the 1:40s range.  Would the T1 times affect that??

The fastest swim was 12:32 (1:15 / 100). 

Here are the results from last year:  http://www.ozarkvalleytriathlon.com/images/2008Results/awards.txt

I dunno.  I'm just going to keep the objective in mind - get in shape, have fun. 

This weekend I (33rd in the swim) did a 13:58 for 950 yards = 1:30/100 yards.  The winner this weekend did it in 9:04 = 0:57/100

WOW!!!!!

The average for 192 people was 1:48/100 and the median was 1:43/100.  Not sure what this tells except that I'm a geeky engineer that likes Excel

T1 should have nothing to do with the swim times.  The timing chip *should* stop as you exit the swim.

Should being the key word!  Of the tri's I regularly do, 2 of them have the mats at water exit, 2 of them at the entrance to transition.  Both of them that have them at transition have fairly long runs from the water.  The early season tri I do has a pool swim and the swim time includes running out of the school, across 2 parking lots to the timing mat.  About 2 or 3 hundred yards!

On the other hand, IM Lake Placid has the timing mats right as you get out of the water, but it is a good quarter mile down to the changing tents!  But it is kind of neat as it is carpeted and lined with people cheering!

Enough about swimming - Today's Ride Report...

I wanted to start hill training today and I sure did, recording the highest heart rate I've ever recorded during a climbing stretch that lasted 22 miles (OK, to be fair there is a one mile downhill stretch about midway through, but you get the idea).  I've never wanted to get off the bike and walk more than I did today.  If this had been my first century I'd never ride another. 

Hints of leg cramps started at mile 60 and there was threat of a full-on cramp-a-thon nearing the top of the big climb.  Fortunately, it never became more than a twinge here and there.  My feet went numb at about mile 65 (did I mention I picked today to break in my new Brooks saddle?) and by mile 82 I couldn’t to the math to figure out how many more miles I had to ride.  Dehydration?  I drank more than four liters of water during the ride and hydrated like crazy yesterday.  I think I’m just out of climbing shape.  All I could think about was the hot shower waiting for me when I got home.  That explains the 42.5 MPH clocked on the downhill heading to the barn.
 

But, despite being bone tired right now, I feel good about finishing strong and not walking a foot of the way.  Lance would have been proud.  Not impressed, but proud.  Pain is temporary, but quitting lasts forever (to paraphrase).
 

It will be a while before I'm ready to ride this route again, and I'll be 10 lbs lighter the next time I do it. 

Time for a cocktail.

Oh, my feet touched the ground.  I just didn't get off and push the bike up the hill like I wanted to.  And I have no idea what I was thinking, but I'm reminded it was a bad idea every time I sit down today.

Epic ride!!!  Did you map the route to see what the total elevation gain is/was?  That would be interesting to look at! (maybe a bit scary!)

I guess the only advice I could offer is possibly adding in some electrolytes either as a pill or in a sports drink to help with the cramping.

For what it is worth, I use visions of frozen margaritas awaiting me to get me through the 100 plus mile training rides!

Here's an elevation of the ride.  The total climb was a little less than 7,000', not much compared to most of the rides I do, but the pain came from the long, long grades.

Good thought.  I've never done the electrolyte pills but I will next ride.

Good call!

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I thought this was a good article.  You guys might enjoy it:
What to Eat and When for Top Performance

Hi!

I know, it has been kind of quiet around here this week!
So, what is everybody up to?