KathyG's 2012 Awesome Mentor Group-Full up (Page 19)

If its 110 outside, I'd have an issue going out to run/bike as well. I've always found the best cure for being unmotivated was to go out and be active, even a short easy bike or run, or just playing some sport. The post activitiy feeling usually makes me want to do more.

Have a Happy Australia Day!  Enjoy the time with the friends, food and beer!

As far as getting back into the groove...understand the challenge.  There are days where I don't want to workout...I know if I go to the gym or even change into my workout clothes at home-I will workout.  A short ride or run is better than nothing.  Normally, when I get going I end up having a good workout after all.

I had one panic attack while swimming (first time in a wetsuit).  I was glad we were just in a small lake and I was able to get to the side easy and stand.  I was concerned during my first HIM and triathlon how was I going to handle the wave start with 200 other folks.  The announcer stated that folks wanted to know how deep the reservoir was?  His response put it into perspective...I recommend that you swim in the top 12"-18" of the water.   You know how to swim...you've spent days in total in the water...you can complete whatever the distance the race is...you've done it in training...relax and enjoy the swim.

Happy Australia Day. Enjoy the festivities. I read a Forbes article recently that list Australia #2 (behind the Kiwis) as the friendliest country for immigrants.

Have a great day everyone.

Happy Australia Day! Sounds like fun. For the motivation - do what you can. For me, if I go through the motions of getting ready and tell myself - you only have to swim 10 laps/bike 20 minutes/run 1 mile is enough for me to get the workout done. Also - are you following a plan? The guilt I feel about missing a workout is a strong motivator for me.

I found out today that a very good friend of mine is going to run the Great Bay Half Marathon with me - and she's trying to talk her husband into it as well! We were supposed to run a half marathon last August, but I had to pull out because of my foot...so I'm really happy she's willing to give it another go.

Kathy - wow...that must be frustrating, knowing you completed IM Florida and now are struggling...but please remember - the surgery that you had wasn't insignificant. You need time to heal. Besides - you've got the rest of your life to make fitness gains.

Mike_D - where is the Master's swim in Quincy? I'm in Quincy about once a month for work, it would be awesome to try a different Masters program.

owl_girl - great swim! That's the way you do it.

Happy Thursday everyone - I'm off to try to fit a run in before the sleet/snow hit later this afternoon. I'd say we have a 50/50 chance of a snow day for the kidlets tomorrow. (What a contrast to daisymouse's heat wave!)

Only 4 slots left for Patriot HIM AB in mid June. Need to decide very soon if I should sign up.

I love the race, flat for NE and close to home. It is where I go to train for long rides.  RD will often let folks defer if need be.  I like something to look forward to.

What do you guys think?

So - four months (give or take) of training, right? You said swim is okay, but your shoulder is a little tweaky (that's a technical term) and riding your bike was challenging, but doable. You have been recovering at a remarkable rate so far. Mentally - do you feel like you need the race to get you motivated, or are you motivated without a specific race? How much would it affect you if you signed up and determined later that it was just too much to get ready for?

The good news is the RD sounds like they would accommodate you either way - so it's not an issue of whether you should sign up - it's an issue of whether or not you should participate...right? I would sign up, continue to recover and make a final decision in a couple of months when you will really have a clear idea of how much you have recovered and how much you can train. What do you think?

Do you feel 5 months will give you sufficent recovery & training time? If so, go for it. Make it your early season goal?

Mike

I hope you had a great celebration!

I would totally melt in those temps.  Blah!  The only advice I have is to find a gym with an awesome air conditioning system and run on a tready and bike on a spin bike.  Double blah!

I don't think you should sign up for it.  Allow your body more time to heal.  Can you volunteer at it?

Happy Australia day!!

What are your traditions to celebrate?

Exercising when it is that hot outside is very challenging.  I'm sure you try to get out early or late when it is cooler.

Mike, Jennifer and RJ; I followed your advice this morning, thought I would only go out for 20 minutes or so and would walk/run if it was too hot for me.  Ended up running for almost an hour with only stops at the water fountains.  Tracy, I am really lucky to have a great local gym with good air-con that also has a crèche that is open 4-7.30pm.  We sometimes go there after school and my 7 year old loves it. 

RJ, I am getting better at relaxing, I’ve been doing an OWS course that has been a huge help.

Jennifer, yes I am following a plan and not crossing off the workouts makes me feel guilty but not enough sometimes to get me out the door!

Kathy, congrats on the new additions to the family.  Australia day means the beach, backyard cricket, a few beers, snags (sausages) on the barbie and fireworks over the river.   We had an extra special display last night, as there was a thunderstorm at the same time.  Not much rain but some spectacular lightning

eta I didn't take the photo, it was posted on the ABC

(fireworks.jpg)

thanks everyone for all the inspires - I cannot tell you how helpful they have been. This this little bug I have been fighting has proven to be surprisingly tenacious. Of course the travel and workload has not really been advantageous to getting well either. Really sorry I have been AWOL from the group, but I am able to keep up with you all via email updates to my phone. Really exciting that everyone is staying on it and that your training is going well.

Kathy - I just don't know about that race - I assume you are talking about the AquaBike version? Your recovery and rebab seem to be going extremely well, but the race is kind of soon based on the limited information I know about your surgury. I don't suppose there is any harm in signing up, but I would defer to your doc's and PT on that on whether you actually toe the starting line. If you take the time to heal well, you will most likely surprise yourself with what you are capable of. If you rush it on the other hand, there is a good chance you will struggle forever against your knee.

That photo in incredible!!  Hearing about all the fun makes me long for summer time!

Kathy - congrats on all the little puppies! Must be quite a sight. What kind of dog?

Glad you made it out for a run -- always feels good to just move.

I took my AM run inside today as it was rainy and 34 degrees. So, the treadmill at the Y was my destination. Put in my 45 minutes, and it felt good. It was my longest run since I injured my knee in November, and I feel great. Hope it continues! sunday's long run is planned for 1 hour!

So glad its Friday, and I'm out of work early today, too!

Wow-that is a cool picture!

Kathy, where is the picture of the girls??

OK, tell me what you think about this

My HIM race is June 16th. As a training plan, I'm using Don Fink's Be Iron Fit 30 week competitive IM plan. The HIM race is at week 22 of the plan. Given the work I'll need to put in to get that far, it almost seems to be a logical extension to keep it going post HIM and finish the 30 weeks, and race an IM in August. I see IM Louisville is right around that timeframe.... You see where this is headed, I'm sure.

The family had given me the OK to race IMKY if I want to, and my wife has seen the time it will take for training over the plan. There are still spots open. Hmm... what says you, BT mentors?

Monet and her 5 daughters

Our dogs are mid sized Australian Labradoodles. The guardian program works so Monet & Kona are our dogs but breeder retains breeding rights.  Monday Monet went to breeders house to live with them to give birth. We have the option of having puppies come live with us for some or part of the 8 weeks until they go home with their families. We would be first guardian family to do so. Breeder likes our kids and has them come play with puppies to see how they interact with different ages and kids to help pick which dog goes to which family. Plus more socialization is always good for puppies.  We have committed to have puppies come for at least a week to help socialize them. The big question is do we want them to come and stay for longer as puppies are fun but work.

First - Gwen, what a fabulous picture! So cool

Second - PUPPIES! Kathy - they are so cute. I think about 70% of it would be really fun with the puppies living at your house and about 30% of it would be really hard. Can you handle that along with recovery (and training for a HIM AB)?

Mike - wow! As I mentioned before, I would love to do IMKY (family lives in the area), but the temps really spook me. I do not do well running in hot weather, and I don't have the opportunity to train in hotter temps. If there is any way you could wait until after the Patriot HIM (to see how it goes, and try to imagine yourself out there twice as long), that's what I would do. Being conservative in nature, I would (and am) commit to doing HIMs this year, and gear up for the IM next year to give your knee plenty of time to recover. Maybe another HIM in the fall? I hear Rev3 is doing one in Old Orchard Beach, ME and have consistently heard great things about Pumpkinman.

Mike, always a big question stepping up to Iron distance race.

Remind us what your endurance background is and how long you have done tris?

I totally get the draw of doing one, but always am a bit cautious of doing to much to soon which often leads folks into burn out in the sport.

You have your first HIM in June. You don't know if you like training for the distance and how your endurance and everything will come along. 

IM will always be there. It is a exciting goal but the training is time consuming, and the hard part as Fred points out is getting to the starting line without injury is a big challenge.