GrooveTime!group - CLOSED!!! (Page 19)

M -

You're welcome.........but it was you who made the effort, and it was you who did the work!

ANNE -

You are VERY fortunate to have found shoes that work for you! It is not the easiest landscape to navigate, and it is made harder by so many companies taking an established model and then turning it upside-down and inside-out when they "update" it.

Chi running will solve a lot of problems, especially at "impact-susceptible " areas such as knees and joints. The early stages of Chi running often result in calf strain, but as the skills improve those problems go away.

I guess everybody has a favorite part of the CompuTrainer. I ahve to admit that the watts read-out is not one of my faves, but I pay a lot of attention to it regardless.

The polar graph is the one I find most useful, and I am always struck by how quickly my pedal stroke deteriorates once I stop looking at it. When I have it in front of me, however, I can readily get to decently spinning in circles and sustaining it.

I'm a sucker for elevation profiles, so when I am riding an established route I love wtching my approach to the hills and getting ready for them -- just as I would do in a real ride. But on some of the routes that are relentlessly hilly and with lots of quick ups and downs, I will ride them with my eyes closed fro extended stretches, letting the landscape dictate how I respond without the benefit of visuals. i don't do this all that often, just when I feel like working outside the box a bit.

Setting it up? Well, there's a problem for me, too. I had son Peter set it up initially, and when he was here a few days ago I had him go through it just to make sure it was set to go. On the surface it is just slipping in the disc and letting everything download, and then figuring out the screens as they appear. Ha! Nothing is ever THAT easy for me!

I bought mine it '03, and I can only hope that Racer Mate has updated their instructional manuals from the masterpieces of confusion they were back then. There was just way more info than I could deal with, as all I wanted was the quick-and-dirty of setting it up; I did not need all the bells and whistles to start with.

Speaking of bells and whistles, when last I checked the website in the spring, they had all sorts of new things available. One was Real Vourse Videos, and I'll have to get back there and see what those are all about. I remember that there were a bunch of them, and if they are actual videos that one can put in the DVD slot for the TV, that would be a bonus for me. But then, that doesn't necessarily require a CT, which is what I thought they were all about. So, I guess it's not as simple as videos to watch and ride along with, taking your clues as to what to do from how the topography is changing on the course on the video. I'm so confused!

Wow, it's hard to keep up with all of you.  No training for me today, unless cooking and taking down the Christmas decorations count!  Maybe I'll try to do some strength training before bed.

Denise, congrats on your race ... and your daughter's first 5K ... must have made it special.  And great picture, can't imagine running in that snow.

Dwayne, my running group does very light stretching before we start running, if you can even call it that.  Each "exercise" is for about 10 to 15 seconds.  First, we just swing our arms out to the side; next, we kick our heels to our butts; then we do some "doggy leg" lifts; next we go alternate knees to opposite elbows; then some "plias" (or whatever that ballet term is!).  We warm up with a 1 minute run alternating with a 1 minute walk for 10 minutes before our run.  I use to warm up with a 5 minute walk, but actually like the 1' run/1' walk better.  Hope that helps some.

Steve, I've done two short runs (3.5 and 3.1) in my Vomeros with no problems.  I'll try them tomorrow on a 6 mile run.  Nikes actually started making their toe boxes (at least in the Motos and Vomeros) wider over the last year or so.  I've never been able to wear Nikes before and the wider toe box has been a complaint from runners with more narrow feets.  It seems that my Nike Motos had more cushion in the forefoot.  I found the Saucony Rides had more cushion in the heel and I felt like I landed on my heel and couldn't roll through, if that makes sense.  They just felt really flat.  The Vomeros are very cushy all over. I'll see how it goes tomorrow but so far, so good.  Just found out tonight that my niece's fiance was not planning on doing the tri the first week in May so guess I'll jump in to the oly (well, maybe I need to think about it another couple of days ).  I've got the '10 races penciled in but until I see my son's baseball schedule, hopefully in the next couple of weeks, it's hard to commit.

I was afraid you were going to say that.    Will do some more research on them during the year and maybe by next Christmas they will have come out with a more user friendly version for people like us.  

Re the running shoes, I wonder if my having such an easy time finding shoes means I'm not a 'true' runner - in tune with my feet?   It seems like those who are really into running and have a nice base know all the shoe models inside out.    I can relate to your comment about companies messing up the comfort and fit  when then 'update' them.    I have the same problem with my bras!!!!  

Thanks Steve. Here's my plan: I currently can do 3.1 miles. So if I run 3x per week and add 0.1 miles to each run for the next six weeks, I'll be up to 5 miles just in time for the race! (As long as the neuroma doesn't act up too much...)

Ya it's a great photo on the web page, isn't it? For some reason those die-hards in shorts in the cold weather inspire me.

I have my schedule set up for 2 swims, 2 bikes, 3 runs & 2 strength training sessions per week.
Mark

Great job Denise - very impressive & inspiring. Mark

8:13 AM -32.8 °F - good thing my 5k was yesterday - it's COLD this morning.
Denise

Anne - When I read your posts, I feel absolutely sloppy about my training.  You are so focused and committed.  Now is a good time for me to try to follow your example ( at least a little more than I do now)
Denise

Denise, it was colder down here in Texas this morning then up that way.  30 degrees when I set out for my run this morning ... and it felt great!

Darren, once you get that great table finalized, can you post the directions on how to add it to my log. I just am not very technically savvy when it comes to that kind of stuff.  Thanks for setting that up!

Lisa

I think you missed the minus sign in front of my temp - it was minus 32.8 here
Denise

Edited by midlifeinsanity 2010-05-23 7:48 PM

Thanks, Denise.    The detail sort of grew out of necessity.   My chiro and different coaches over the past few years were always asking me questions about my workouts, etc. trying to pinpoint the cause of injuries and to figure out where I needed to make changes to my training.     

If you try to follow my example re logging, I will try to follow your example on the running.     I'm  not very consistent and fall off track fairly easily.     

Kind of excited.   Even though I haven't registered for the races, we have booked the hotels for my A race in mid July in Muskoka and also for the 1/2 iron distance Aqua/bike in Peterborough, two weeks before that.  


Anne

DENISE -

Have you made a visit to Anne's logs? (Actually, a visit to them is more like a pilgramage! )

I always thought I kept a fairly decent log, but it pails in comparison with her exquisite attention to detail. So, I'm feeling a bit of the "absolutely sloppy" myself!

M -

As much as I would like to bestow the Polar Bear Award on Denise, I can't in all conscience do so, seeing as how she didn't do a swim as well.




Edited by stevebradley 2010-01-02 11:56 AM

ANNE -

".....I wonder if my having such an easy time finding shoes means I'm not a 'true runner' - in tune with my feet...."

Au contraire! The way you should view this is as the runner equivalent of the person who finds the love of their life early on, and knows they need look no further, ever. They are in tune with their heart ---- just as you are in tune with your feet to know true-shoe love when you find it!

STEVE! And ANNE!I'd love to have a look at Anne's logs, but last time I checked they were not public, and as Anne has not added me as a friend (boo-hoo), I just get the annoying message: "You have to be a friend of this user to view their training log".Arthur

Anne again -

Over the years I have gotten really good at booking lodging well before I actually register for the race, especially if I know that lodging will be hard to come by. The downside to this is that I have on occasion forgotten I booked a room, and then a month after the race that I never registered for, the motel shows up on my credit card. Oops!

(That's a sure-fire way for me to be on the receiving end of one of Lynn's withering glares..... )

LISA -

Thank you for bailing me out with Dwayne's question about stretching before running. I'm still a slacker when it comes to the stretching, but at least you "had my back" with a good, detailed response to him. Merci!

Oh! Oh!  I could still win that award.  I'm scheduled for a 5k in Bemidji in 2 weeks.  It's a festival and as part of the festivities, they also have a Polar Plunge.  They cut a hole in the lake ice, and for a fee, you get to jump in.  I haven't done the "plunge" before,  but if I did and I did a couple of strokes, I think that should count.


Anne - yes - please ket us see your logs

Denise

LISA again -

You're probably okay waiting a few days to sign up for Lonestar. The participant list is at about 130 now, or at least as of the most recent update. If you want to check that from time to time, it is at www.ironmancenter.com/participants/lists/10lso.html Even though the oly is not an ironman, Lonestar 70.3 is in that family, and so the oly qualifies for having a list all for itself, I guess!

There is some company there in your age group in the form of Katherine Jarrett, Karina Haas, and Linda Casanova, all from Texas. (I'd ask if you know them, but rumor has it that Texas is a pretty big place. )










Edited by stevebradley 2010-01-02 12:28 PM

LISA once more -

Makes a lot of sense what you say about the heel of the ride being built up too much to allow for "roll through". In all of the recent controversies about midfoot/forefoot running, and barefoot running, and heel-striking, there is a big collective finger sometimes pointed at conventional show companies for making big, bulky, over-cushioned heels that at best discourage, and at worse prevent, midfoot- and forefoot-striking.

I'm waiting to see the results from the person who has lots of time and money on their hands, and set about to dissect running shoes for the purpose of weighing the heels of about 50 different models. Not only do I want to see the raw weights of the heels, but I also want to see them displayed as a percenatge of the weight of the entire shoe from which they were amputated. I think people might be shocked to see how much heels (from the soles only; none of the material from the uppers are allowed) weigh in some models.

ANYHOW, it sounds like your Vomeros are going to work for you just fine. Ta-da!!!

DENISE -

A hole in the ice? In Bemidji?? In two weeks???

You'll win the award if you just warily approach the hole, remove your shoe, and stick your big toe in for a mere heartbeat. I promise!

Just curious -- what is the fee they charge? You know, that must be a clinical test for insanity - people who not only will do a "Polar Plunge", but will actually pay good money for the privilege!

Stay warm and cozy today!