jsiegs and slornow's Train Hard and Have Fun group - CLOSED for Training (Page 19)

Matt, Great job! Look forward to your race report!

Randy, eegaads! Probably a good thing you didn't swim...no telling what might have attacked you in the pool.

That's awesome, Matt!  Nice job.

Randy-I hope all the crazy bike stuff is behind you.  I can't believe you ran into a bee (or a bee ran into you). That's crazy.

I had a pretty good race.  My time was 14 min faster than last year.  My hip was really hurting on the run.  I walked up all the hills (and there were lots of hills!).  I'll give more details later.  I'm going to bed now.

Christy

Nice work Matt and Christy! 

I got in an 8 mile run yesterday, then we had an evening of bad decisions with some of our best friends to celebrate my boyfriend's law school graduation. I'm super hung over, on the couch. Can't fathom a workout today. The good news is all our graduation celebrations are FINALLY over and the next few weeks should be pretty solid workout weeks. Until we go on vacation in June, that is, about a month before the big triathlon. Still trying to figure out how the heck that's going to work. I hope there is a place to swim in Carmel, CA and Napa.

Back on the horse tomorrow. For now, back to my couch. Race week this week, too!

Randy - He actually finished up classes in December and took the bar - and passed! - this spring! He graduated officially last weekend, and this was the celebration to recognize nearly four years of VERY hard work. I'm so proud of him! If anybody knows of an opening for an environmental lawyer, let me know 

And despite my horrible hangover, I DID manage to make it on the bike trainer tonight and have my workout planned for the week. Good decisions start now! 

Here's a link to my race report. http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=253327

I hope it works.  I tried to copy and paste it in here, but that didn't work.  Not sure what the deal is.  Guessing user error.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the race.  It's funny that the more races I do, the more I realize I have so much to learn.  I really need to work on my transitions.  I sometimes forget that is actually a part of the race.  I had a conversation with a lady while I was trying to get my wetsuit off.  Guessing that's not the best thing to do.  I tried to practice my nutrition for the HIM next month.  I think it was ok.  I felt bad on the run, but I don't think it's nutrition related.  Except maybe the leg cramps.  Does anyone use electrolyte tabs?  I might try some.  I also think I need to start training in the heat.  I'm pretty sure WV at the end of June will be hotter than Baltimore in May.  Plus I'll be out there a lot longer. 

I had goals for each part of the race (other than transition).  I didn't meet any of them, but I got close.  For my swim I wanted to be 25 min.  I was 26. For the bike I wanted to be 1:30, I was 1:34.  For the run I wanted to be 59 min, I was 1:02.  So, I was pretty close with everything.  Next year....

Christy

I can't believe you worked out with a hangover.  Good for you!!  I'm guessing there will be some bad decisions when you're in Napa . 

Christy

I agree - it can be confusing. Calling a 2.4/112/26.2 (adds to 140.6) race an?? Ironman is like calling a tissue a Kleenex.  A Kleenex is a branded trademark and only one company actually sells Kleenex...but you or I use them interchangably (same way those crazy people in the South call every type of soda "Coke").  Ironman is a brand name owned by the World Triathlon Corperation (WTC).  So only WTC's races are actually Ironmans (other conventions are usually to call them "Full" distance or something like that.  WTC's brand for half that distance is Ironman 70.3 (1.2+56+13.1).  I believe that the 70.3 is trademarked (not sure about the 140.6). 

When people refer to an Ironman or that you are an Ironman, they mean the 140.6 distance (which does not need to be a WTC branded event).  I have not heard people call finishers of 70.3's Ironmen though - but you have have done a race with Ironman in the name (becuase it's actually a brand).

Does that make sense?  Hopefully I didn't make you more confused

Whoa!  Do you know what?  Or why?  Was it a malicious act or a mistake?  How did they know (did people start getting sick)?

I work in chemical detection, hence my interest.

Crazy.  I get nervous sometimes when I'm out in the middle of nowhere on a Friday ride when everyone I know with a car is at work (I get every other Friday off ).  I'm not sure my fiancee or friends would be available to just leave work to come get me if something like that happened.

maybe that's a perk of having kids (once they can drive of course) - they can be at your every call when you need a ??chauffeur?

Congrats!  Definitely post the report when you write it!

Funny how "bad decisions" are usually our best decision

Nice race!  Sorry I didn't get a chance to say hi (more on that later).

RE: endyrolytes.  My opinion (and I say that specifically that this is an opinion - though I have researched it quite a bit and read lots of the latest research and scientific articles on it) is that the eletrolyte loss causes cramping theory is bunk. (a link to a great site with some of the studies mentioned ??http://sweatscience.com/tag/cramps - there's a lot more out there though and on this site - I encourage you to look for more info).  I think we discussed this very briefly before, but if people want to discuss, we can revisit it!

Ok - wanted to share my update and a funny story from volunteering at a race (same one Christy did) on Sunday.

I was referred to a neurologist.  Long story short, they've told me they can't help me either.  I just need to wait and see.  Could be a couple weeks or a couple months or more.  Needless to say I'm not real pleased with my doctors right now.  My cousin in an ENT and he's helping me to ask the right questions and see the right doctors (he's not pleased with the care they've given me either).

I volunteered at a race on Sunday.  I got assigned to direct people on the run course.  I got to stand at a split in the path and yell "left!" and point to my right as 2000 runners ran past.  I started at 7 and didn't end until noon.  Well, about 10 or 10:30 I got hungry (I thought I'd be at a water stop and that they give volunteers food...I was wrong).  Anyway, I was pretty hungry and haven't been feeling well since I had a migraine earlier in the week, so sort of zoning out (sorry Christy, I missed you and a few other people I knew run by), when a lady runs up to me and just says "here can you throw this away for me thanks!" and shoves her trash into my hands and was gone before I could even react.  Here is my train of thought:

1)  I'm not here to pick up your trash.  This is ridiculous.  I instantly really dislike this woman.

2) This is illegal.  I'm providing outside assisstance taking her trash.  If I just dropped it and refused to take it she'd be littering/leaving stuff on the course, also illegal.

3)  I'm not even close to a trash can...I've got to hold this for the next 2 hours because I can't leave my post (I'm not even close to a water stop).  Who does this woman think she is? 

3)  Hmm...this trash is a package of Sport beans...and open but half full package of Sport Beans.

4)  I'm still really hungry.

5)  mmmmm...Sport Beans are tasty.

Crazy how things work out sometimes, eh?  They were perfect to get me through the rest of the race.  For the record, I still think it was ridiculous that she thought that doing that was an acceptable thing to do.

I'm glad you enjoyed my sport beans .  I'm kidding.  Were you inside the park?  At the end?   Thanks for volunteering.  I tried to thank everyone as I passed them.  But by the run, I wasn't up for talking.

Sorry to hear about the ENTs.  I hate when doctors aren't helpful. Does that mean you're out of Eagleman too?

Christy

Any thoughts on why you cramp up?  Is there anything I can do to avoid it?

Christy

We had some sad news in the Walla Walla cycling community this weekend. A female rider in her 60's was struck and killed on her bike on Saturday morning. Its a road that I very often ride on and I have had been scared by a few vehicles before. Just a reminder to be safe out there and do as much as you can to protect yourself!

RACE REPORT FROM SUNDAY:

PRE RACE: took down a bottle of ensure about 2 hrs before race start. I walked across the street and put my bike in transition and went back home to relax for a bit before my heat started. Went back to transition and chatted with some friends and did a light bike and jog warmup about 45 minutes out from race start. Counted laps for one of my friends in the wave before me and then hopped into the water for a few warm up laps.

SWIM: 500 yards - 7:48

We swam side by side and I managed to get the lane closest to the door with a rather fast swimmer. We stayed side by side pretty much the whole way and I felt like I pushed the pace hard. The last two laps I started kicking pretty hard and opened up about a 25 yard gap on him coming out of the water. When I came out of the water I kind of glanced down the lanes and saw everybody else still swimming and then saw no one in transition so I thought I had the fastest swim. Ended up with the second fastest swim split in my heat and 6th overall. One thing that could improve my time would be using flip turns, but I am just not comfortable enough with it yet.

T1: They didn't have transition splits for us unfortunately, but I thought I did really well. They just started your bike clock when you exited the pool area. I was way faster than the swimmer I came out of the water with and didn't really make any mistakes at all.

BIKE: 12 mile out and back- 32:03

Its a slight downhill going out, but we had a slight headwind so it pretty much evened out over the whole course. I felt like I probably could have given a little bit more at times but my run split did suffer a little so maybe it was the right pace for me who knows. I got passed around mile 5 by the eventual 2nd place finisher. A good friend of mine who is ridiculously fit right now and will definitely be in contention for a Kona slot in the 40-44 AG at IM CDA. Just before the turn around the eventual winner came past us going the other way. In my mind I thought he was behind me because of what I saw coming out of the water, obviously he wasn't and I let out an 'ah crap'. It was another one of my training partners who just so happens to routinely throw down 5:30 mile splits on the run. He was a pro for the last 4 years but has been struggling with some injuries and increased teaching duties so has dropped his pro card and slowed down his training a bit. He actually had a cast on his left arm due to a torn ligament in his thumb. Thats why I was so surprised he was ahead of me I was hoping I could put a gap on him going into the run and magically stay with him as he ran me down. No such luck! I held tough though and finished with the 3rd fastest bike split behind those two monsters.

T2: I did a really good job of getting out of my shoes on the bike and running the bike to the rack. The only issue I had was the time recorder for some reason wanted to dance with me and stood right in front of my rack and kept moving right into the direction I was trying to go with my bike. Finally racked it and quickly ripped off my helmet and slipped on my shoes. One of the fastest transitions I think I have had. 

RUN: 3.1 miles- 20:04

I took off out of T2 and just hammered it! My legs felt pretty heavy but I pushed it from the start to hopefully try and catch back on to the 2nd place guy. There was a slight uphill around mile 1 and I eased off a bit there and when I didn't see him at all in the long straight away section on the downhill I just settled in and finished the rest of my run off strong but not killing myself. I definitely felt like I left a little out there and could have run a bit faster but I was still happy. I had never broken 20' on a 5K before this year so to get that close at the end of a triathlon felt pretty good!

FINAL TIME: 59:55, almost 4 minutes better than last years time but still had to settle for 3rd place.

Matt-I'm sorry to hear about the cyclist.  You hear about it too often.  Congrats on the race.  Sounds like a great day.

I'm not sure if I've asked this here, but I don't understand what I need to do to get faster biking.  I feel like I'm missing something.  I should be able to ride faster than 16 mph. I'm in good shape, I feel like I'm strong, and I have a nice bike.  There is clearly something I'm missing.  Does anyone have any advice?  Should I do more tempo rides? Ride more? Do some kind of drills?  I'm so frustrated.  It was upsetting to realize I was 17th in my age group after the swim, and 63rd after the bike.  That's a lot of people passing me .

Christy

You know - I had a 5 second panic attack right after hitting "submit" of what if it was you.  I'm glad it wasn't

Yes, in a short and sweet sense, you cramp because your muscles aren't trained to handle the stress you're putting on them.  If you've never trained at race intensity or for race duration, you may not know if your muscles can handle it.  It happens a lot on first bricks or long runs if you're pushing too long too soon.  It happens specifically to the muscle(s) you are over stressing (if sodium loss was causing it, theoretically every muscle in your body would cramp, but that doesn't happen - it's just the one you're working hardest).

I cramped as I moved to longer distances (my first Oly and mid light "50" I had major quad cramps for the run).  more training (and better training) solved that and I've honestly never cramped in a workout or race for the past 2 years without adding any electrolyte supplements (including during the 100 degree humid summer days in MD).  If you're cramping you solve it by simply increasing duration/intensity slower because something is over stressing your muscles.

Again, this is my opinion on the matter after doing a lot of research and reading about it.  This topic is touchy and you'll find plenty of people who swear by supplements and won't train/race without them.  I'm not saying their wrong, I'm just saying this is what I think happens to me and a lot of triathletes.