Tri Mark's Madness Group-Closed (Page 19)

Actually I am from the Twin Cities originally and am going back to visit family.  We are only going to Chisago to check out the sprint triathlon route and to see how weedy the lake is...if the ice is melted, that is....

Are you looking for things to do in Chisago or will you be spending any time in the Twin Cities, which are about 35 minutes away?

That is great information, thanks!  I am planning to do the sprint also.  Since I have never done a triathlon before, I was actually going to watch a local tri to check out live transitions since I am such a newby I have no idea and can't visualize what is really involved.  The swim is the part that I am most worried about so I feel like I really need to see the lake.

My daughter asked me why my arm doesn't jiggle anymore!!  Too funny. 

LOL!  I love your daughter's comment!  Hands down the best compliment ever!!

Beth,

I missed this one earlier.  If you want to do a half marathon this season, I really think you should try some track work.  The thing about track workouts is that they are not just sprints.  You incorporate them into a 60-75 minute workout.  You warm up for 10 to 15 minutes, do your track session, then run out the rest of the time.  They will help you become not just faster, but more efficient at any distance.  That is the key.  Even AG Ironman athletes benefit by doing track work.  You recruit more muscle by changing the intensity.  If you just run longer, you need MASSIVE amounts of time to enhance your body's muscles.  By changing the stress to higher intensity once a week, you get immediate gains.  You have to stress the muscles to improve them.  Specific stress followed by specific rest/recovery.  So you can keep trying to go longer and longer, or you can go long one day, medium once or twice a week, and fast/hard one day a week with medium distance.  During a track workout I still get 6-8 miles in, sometimes more if my rest intervals are all jogging not walking.  I hate to walk them, so usually half jog, half walk, but you do what you have to when you're going all out.  It's most important to maintain your intensity on the work intervals, so if it takes walking to be recovered so you can go fast AND maintain form, then so be it. 

Next thing you know, you'll be tackling 70.3 races!

Tel,

Thanks again for the suggestions on prescription goggles. Mine arrived today! I ended up selecting the prescription for my weaker eye because after much deliberation I decided I would be better off with one clear eye & one weak eye, as opposed to one clear eye and one overly strong eye - I thought that might throw my balance off. I won't know for sure how good the fit is until I test them swimming tomorrow, but they seem comfy and I can definitely see better *with* them than with my non-prescription goggles, so I'm excited! I truly hope they don't leak - I've had problems finding goggles that fit properly in the past, but I seem to hav elucked out with these as the eye cups are really cushiony and seem to fit snugly. Cross yr fingers for me!

Hey all, some random questions! Get to know eachother a bit better!

1.) What kind of bike do you ride?

2.) Are you confident in changing your bikes tire?

3.) Have you ever done an open water swim?

4.) Do you breath bilaterally or to one side?

5.) How long have you been involved in endurance sports (running, biking, swimming, etc)

6.) Who's your favorite triathlete? (maybe you done even know one , thats totally cool too! )

7.) Favorite Nutrition Suppliment you use?

Of course, that is the ultimate plan! 

Thanks for your explanation of how to do speedwork/ track workouts. I will do it. I've taken your suggestions about how to do speedwork in the pool using the clock, 10 x 50 on the 1:15. It's fun and I can tell I'm working (and that I'm ready to do them on the 1:10 next time.) Really helpful to know how to do these workouts for the level I'm at and how to challenge myself and know when move to the next level. Thanks Mark!

Thanks for getting this conversation started!

1.) What kind of bike do you ride?

Road : Trek Madone 5.0

Tri:  Felt B16

2.) Are you confident in changing your bikes tire?

Not really.  I can though.

3.) Have you ever done an open water swim?

Yes.  It scares me to do one without my safety blanket though.  Yeah, I really really feel a lot better with the wetsuit on.

4.) Do you breath bilaterally or to one side?

Yes.  I breath to one side but I can do it on either side.  I do on set breathing to the right, the next set to the left and so on.

5.) How long have you been involved in endurance sports (running, biking, swimming, etc)

About six years.  I ran cross country in high school and college and then didn't do much activity wise for nearly 20 years.  About seven years ago I got into cycling.  I got more serious about it about six years ago when I did my first MS150.  I added running about two years ago and did my first half marathon at Disney in January 2010.  I took some swim lessons that a few years ago and started that as well.  My first tri was just over a year ago.

6.) Who's your favorite triathlete? (maybe you done even know one , thats totally cool too! )

Jordan Rapp

7.) Favorite Nutrition Supplement you use?

Ooh fun

1.) What kind of bike do you ride?

I have a Cannondale six road bike ... and that's what I know about that. I'm a biking newbie for sure.

2.) Are you confident in changing your bikes tire?

Nope. So far my only flat was after a race so I dropped it off in the shop to change it. But on that same trip I picked up all the tire changing equipment so when the challenge arrives I'll give it a try.

3.) Have you ever done an open water swim?

Yes. All my races are open water and I am now practicing every weekend open water too. I guess it's an advantage of being in the almost tropics that it's almost easier for me to get to the beach than to a pool. Almost.

4.) Do you breath bilaterally or to one side?

I am trying to always breath bilaterally but I definitely have a weak side.

5.) How long have you been involved in endurance sports (running, biking, swimming, etc)

I ran my first marathon in 2001.

6.) Who's your favorite triathlete? (maybe you done even know one , thats totally cool too! )

Chrissie Wellington

7.) Favorite Nutrition Suppliment you use? Gu Plain

Good Idea~

1.) What kind of bike do you ride?

Trek Skye

Klein Aeolus

In the market for a new ride

2.) Are you confident in changing your bikes tire?

Ahh, so, so.

3.) Have you ever done an open water swim?

Nope. On the to-do list for May

4.) Do you breath bilaterally or to one side?

Always Bi-lat. Just as I hear some people struggle with bi-lat, I have a hard time breathing any other way.

5.) How long have you been involved in endurance sports (running, biking, swimming, etc)

I had a rapid immersion into sprints/half marathons in 2009-2010, and have been out of all endurance sports until recently

6.) Who's your favorite triathlete? (maybe you done even know one , thats totally cool too! )

Chrissy W

7.) Favorite Nutrition Suppliment you use?

Choc. Milk I'll probably go back to cytomax when I get into longer distances again

Exciting!  You know, I was just wondering today during my swim whether you decided to go for the goggles.  I hope that they worked great for you in the pool!

   -Tel

Tel, they are great!!! I totally owe you for making this suggestion. Turns out several folks in my Masters class use Rx goggles too, but I had no idea and didn't know about them until you mentioned it. The fit is good, they don't leak, comfy & no fogging! And I can read the clock! Still had to put my glasses on to read the workout board a few times, but all in all I feel tons better about the race!

Hey all, some random questions! Get to know eachother a bit better!

1.) What kind of bike do you ride?

Felt cross bike, for all my tri, road, and cyclocross biking needs!  Not the best for triathlons, but I figured I'd get a few more races under my belt before considering anything else.

2.) Are you confident in changing your bikes tire?

Had to change one mid-ride yesterday, so pretty much yes.  However I'm slow and I'm always afraid that I'll pinch the new tube and have to change it a second time, so I still need practice...

3.) Have you ever done an open water swim?

A few.  One race, and some for fun.

4.) Do you breath bilaterally or to one side?

Bilaterally, unless I'm gasping for air.  Then I mostly gasp on the right.

5.) How long have you been involved in endurance sports (running, biking, swimming, etc)

I swam and ran through middle school and high school, but was always a sprinter and a hurdler.  Biking I picked up about 5 years ago.  I've been doing more endurance-oriented exercise for the last 6 years or so.

6.) Who's your favorite triathlete? (maybe you done even know one , thats totally cool too! )

I don't have one yet...hmm....

7.) Favorite Nutrition Suppliment you use?

I really like raspberry shot bloks.

QD- That's just what I was hoping to hear!  That just about makes my day!

  -Tel-

My very first bike was a Schwinn...fire engine red one speed girls bike.  Santa brought it....still my favorite!

My very first bike was a girls' single speed Schwinn as well, although blue! LOL It was the same bike my 2 older sisters learned on and I think I rode it until I was 6. I remember the year I got my first geared bike - it was a red 3-speed but I don't remember what brand. Sadly my racing Schwinn can hardly be considered a Schwinn because apparently the company has been sold & re-sold so many times and this particular bike is only sold at Walmart. Weird, right? But it's decent regardless, and it was free!

1.) What kind of bike do you ride?

In January I bought a new Felt S22 w/Ultegra components.

2.) Are you confident in changing your bikes tire?

No - I've watched some videos but need hands-on practice. 

3.) Have you ever done an open water swim?

No - I've spent a lot of time playing in area lakes, it won't freak me out, but I need experience - I live next to a little mountain lake, the ice melted a few weeks ago - should be able to swim in it soon.

4.) Do you breath bilaterally or to one side?

I prefer to breath bilaterally every third stroke, but after about 200 yards I go to left side every other stroke - the turns in the pool seem to mess up my rhythm - hoping I'll be able to hold bilat longer when I get in open water. 

5.) How long have you been involved in endurance sports (running, biking, swimming, etc)

Started training last winter for my first tri in June.  Ran track distances and a marathon in high school - but that was more than 30 years ago.

6.) Who's your favorite triathlete? (maybe you done even know one , thats totally cool too! )

Andy Potts - watched him win his first Ironman here in Coeur d'Alene last year - seeing him rolling around on the ground at the finish line with his little boy - you could tell he was a good Dad.

7.) Favorite Nutrition Suppliment you use?

Haven't used them much, but I really like GU Espresso Love.