T.W.I.S.T.E.R. - March Winds Challenge (Page 19)

Good Morning Fellow Twisters!

Sorry, haven't contributed much lately to the Post challenge.  Life has been crazy.  I'll try and catch up.

Catching up on QOTD:

Favorite TV Show --

Right now -- definately "the Middle"   I've got two teenagers at home and two in College.   Mrs. UTTriman and I laugh so hard watching it, because well, we can SOOO relate.

Also like NCIS and Chuck.  Chuck was better last season though

QOTD #2

What got me into triathlon.... Mental lapse, I think  

Seriously... Did my first Marathon while I lived in Minnesota with a group of buddies from church.  First race, 5 of us ran together.  That was 10 years ago.  Next year about 8 of us ran.   We were quite the group.  Early morning Saturday runs were pretty funny looking to the passer by I think.   Typical Saturday was anywhere from 6 - 10 Middle Aged men in tights (in the winter) and stuff, and shorts in the summer.  Looked like some kinda street gang I think.

Anyway, life got in the way, and well the family moved back home to Utah.   I ran St. George Marathon and Salt Lake Marathon with buddies from my new company (I've now helped at least 10 guys do their first marathon -- sad part is  -- they can all beat me.....  )

Meanwhile Minnesota buddies decided to graduate to Triathlon, and so I did.   That first year did about 12 or so.  All sprint but one.

Next season I put on a lot of races, so training tanked.  However, before things went totally bonk, went back to Minnesota and beat pretty handily all but 1 of  my training buddies at the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon there.   They were blown away.   I did get strong enough that first season that I took a first, second, and third in AG at some of the races in UT.  Was exciting times.

Well, once again, life intervened, and we ended up moving to TX.  Training kinda was there, but wasn't the past couple of years until last summer after I went and did the Lifetime Fitness Tri, and well was over 20 minutes slower than the first time.   That was a call to action.  

Now have an awesome training buddy here.  We trainined pretty hard all winter for the Cowtown Half Marathon (last Saturday) and I did well.  He was going for the full (I was too. but work messed up my training) but unfortunately DNF'd due to a ITB problem that manifested itself at mile 13 (but I digress)

So that's my story.  Love the sport.  Planning on 3 -4 races this season.

Swimming:

Well that's an interesting one.

When I lived in Utah, I had a training buddy who still holds Mountain West Conference records from when he swam for BYU.   Let's just say, he knew how to make a swim workouts tough.

At peak, we trainined 3 times a week.  Monday's were long 38-4200 yards.  Wednesday was more active recovery at about 2000 yards, and Friday was speed day -- typically about 1600-2000 yards of swimming as fast as I could.  They were tough.

Now -- most of my swim workouts are between 1500-2500 yards.

In will say this about swimming.   I am convinced that the hard and heavy focus I had on swimming when I first started in this sport contributed SIGNIFICANTLY to my speed and endurance on the bike and run.

When I started training for triathlon, we swam 3, ran 2, biked 2 (including brick once a week) and my run times became amazingly fast in about a 4-5 month period of time.   I went from a 9 - 9:30 pace 10k to an 8 minute pace 10k and a 7:30 pace 5k.

I need to remember that lesson I guess.   I was excited yesterday when I did a 9:15 pace 5 miles!

What swim plan was that???  I'm interested.

My weekly training.

Well I started off a little bit slow.   Got both planned runs in, but missed a 2k yard swim.   I'll get it made up though.  I've been in recovery mode since the half mary last Saturday.

With that said, I've had two of the best 4 and 5 mile runs since I moved to Texas 2.5 years ago this week.   It's fun to see progress.

Now got to get my tail out on the bike.   I've slacked in that neighborhood more than I should.

What's everyone got on tap today?

Me -- usual rest day....

Spin class tomorrow, and if I can can pull it off -- catch up on Thursday's missed 2k swim.  We'll see how that goes. 

Good job at your race.  You're still a super fast runner!  Even with an injury!  Will there be an official race report?

I'm going to meet a couple friends for a 9.5 to 10 mile run in a couple hours.  I may be a bit slower than usual due to yesterday's race.  I'll be taking my ipod just in case they decide to leave me in the dust.  There are lots of places on our planned route where I can shorten it if I decide I'm feeling yucky.  Have a great day everyone!

Yeah.  I'm waiting on results for mine too.  I know I got 5th overall and first woman.  This was a no-host/no-fee race that has been run for the past 10 years.  The guy that does it just types everyones times and posts it on a bike shop window.

Hmmm.... trying to make up for Bill's absence is hard work!

Since I had to scratch my scheduled marathon for April, I think I'm going to substitute a 2 mile OWS.  I'll probably get my a$$ handed to me, but it will be the farthest I've ever swum (sp) in open water.  I would think it would be good experience for me.  Its on my wife's b-day too.  I can't think of a better present for her

brick94513 - 2010-03-07 12:13 PM

owl_girl - 2010-03-07 7:48 AM

I'm waiting on results for mine too.  I know I got 5th overall and first woman.  This was a no-host/no-fee race that has been run for the past 10 years.  The guy that does it just types everyones times and posts it on a bike shop window.

Nice!  Grassroots event.  I wouldn't expect anything else from Humboldt County

Ha ha!!!  Yep, that's the way we are around here!

Nice job!

I ran 9.79 miles today.  It was a good run.  My friends and I chatted the whole time.  The first time I looked at my watch, we had gone a little over 7 miles!  My quads are definitely trashed from yesterdays TT because the long uphill grade at 8 miles was really tough.  I usually don't have a difficult time with it.

I'll be running in a 10 mile race on Sunday so this week will be pretty mellow.  I WILL be paying for this race!