Fred D Mentor Group Part III (Page 19)

Hey Rene! Glad you are here! I'll be in Boston for the marathon with the kids to help cheer you on! Race report link here: http://wwww.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=460192

Man - you all move fast! I was out of town for five days and you all jumped 15 pages! I just barely caught up. It was very helpful to see the video swim and subsequent evaluation of the stroke/recommedations for drills. More of that please! (Now - if I could talk the local YMCA into allowing cameras on deck, I'd try to get a video of me).

For bike clothing in the cold - it's all about the layers for me. Duct tape on shoe vents, beanie under helment, windproof jacket over at least two if not three layers, wool socks and balaclava/neck warmer. That or down to the basement in t-shirt and shorts. I'll ride outside when I can - but have put the limit of if there is snow/ice on the road - I won't do it...not because I'm not careful - but because I don't trust the other drivers at all.

Yanti - so sorry! Take it easy and heal up.

Absolutely no working out while on vacation for a variety of reasons...but starting tomorrow I'm back at it...the leaves are at peak right now here - so I can't wait to get out for a nice run. My favorite time of year for running.

Unfortunately no.  Still something I haven't gotten a chance to do yet.

Does anybody else in the group plan vacation with training in mind? 

Unfortunately no.  Still something I haven't gotten a chance to do yet.

That is correct.  You need someone to look at your stroke/kick or if you just know what issues you need to work.  Sometimes you can just do the drill to see if your stroke will improve but make sure your doing the drill correctly.  Youtube to get an idea then have a swim buddy/coach check the drill. 

 
Does anybody else in the group plan vacation with training in mind? 

Wait......Jason are you on Ohua or the BIG Island? 

Dang! I was going to see if you wanted to meet up for a beer while I'm over there.

My next big vacation I can't even go to the bathroom without an armed guard so I guess that is a big no for me.  Of course I don't plan my vacations, I just nod and agree.  I've planned minor vacations around races when I can though and generally my vacations have some level of activity in them.  Often I can't "train" though

Does anybody else in the group plan vacation with training in mind? 

Third Masters workout since the crash.  Feels so good to be back in the water!  The first Tuesday of the month is always a 1,000m TT.  I was NOT looking forward to it since my shoulder has been a little sore post wreck.  Went to sleep last night dreading it, alarm goes off this morning, still not looking forward to it.  I tell myself on the way to the pool to just take it easy and work on form, don't worry about the time.  I felt OK after the warm up and drill sets, but moved back to third in my lane.  I kept focusing on being long and feeling the water.  I found a nice rhythm for 1 thru 6, picked it up a little on 7, and emptied the tank on 9 and 10.  16:14 LCM.  Super happy since I missed a month after my accident.  I still have lots of work to do to reach my goal of a sub 15 in 2013, but I know I can get there.

3 mile run this evening.

Keep at it everyone!  Send some rain to California, we need it.

This is the rub isn't it?

I'm sure many here have read the threads on ST where someone did exactly as Neil described (2 days in a row of huge bike intensity then 1 rest day and rinse and repeat) and massively improved their FTP.

My concern is that in the context of triathlon, it is tough to do much in the other 2 sports when you are exerting yourself so hard on the bike. So the question is, do the losses in the run and swim balance with the gains on the bike? Will the bike gains stay with you when you re-intro the run and the swim?

Over my 6 years in this sport I have learned for *me* that I don't do well dropping one sport as so much is lost and the 'gains' I make tend to be countered when I re-intro the other 2 sports.

Again, that's for me, but I suspect those with busy family and work lives are probably similar.

My preference is a focus on one sport with maintenance in the other 2, and actually really as I just stated a priority list where the other 2 sports are not really dropped, but that one is de-prioritized a bit more than the other.

Thoughts??

FAMILY STATUS: My husband and I have been married almost 8 years. We have a 5 (almost 6) year old boy together. I have two boys (11 -- almost 12 and 16) from a previous marriage, and my husband has five adult children from his previous marriage. I work in academia and am currently in the midst of an interview process for a position in California. (EEK!!!) We have two dogs and a kitty (my princess). We are also currently battling field mice -- 'tis the season. As a family, we love to camp, hike, and take very slow (and ridiculously short) family bike rides.

A first for me.  last night at masters, near the end of themain set, I am swimming along in the fast lane and BAM, I hit something.  I see stars, not sure if I pass out a little, wonder what I hit, the guy ahead of me?  An elbow from the next lane?   Nope, guy in the next lane coming off an open turn into backstroke pushes off his wall, UNDER the lane line and into my lane, where the back of his head hits my forehead, both going full speed.  Some blood, a nice bumo, some good bruising.  Being on thinners doesn't help either, as a head injury and brain bleed fall into the "definitely not good" category. 

So question for the folks who are considering Quassy vs. Eagleman next June?

I just found out Dream Chaser is doing Eagleman and want to know your preferences as to which one to go for. As you know I am looking also for a Vegas slot next year and would actually prefer two chances to do it (IMMT 70.3 is one I am up for).

James, and everyone in the group contemplating the races let me know your thoughts?

Thoughts on the best resources that will follow some of these principles, and let you create your own plan?  I can just workout, but I'd like to move to something more structured that will result in some improvements.

Great advice guys. I guess my racing plans for next year are so varied (tris, mtb race, time trials) that it would be hard to find a plan for that. I also have loved the freedom of not having a training plan. For me, I needed a break from the type A-ness of Triathlon, I don't use data (HR/power) and I found that I don't need to have an A race on the schedule to get me out of bed to train.  

My goal this year was to get better on the bike, I did this by riding lots and lots (compared to previous years). However, I don't think I can continue to see the same progress/improvement by simply riding a lot, I need to get more specific. I will probably switch things up a bit and do some more intervals and hills this winter. My running is limited due to my knee but it's been my choice to be conservative, it doesn't hurt at all, I'm curious to see if I can still be a decent runner on very low volume. So, I guess I do have plenty to work on this winter

There's only one thing better than having an ice cold beer after a tough race.  And that's having an ice cold beer while watching other people endure a tough race!  Kona Longboard is my beer of choice.  Kick one back for me and enjoy your stay in Kona.

Nope, but I do always suss out the local pools and try to get trail run routes, etc.   Or if there is something unique, lke the Haleakala climb, I'll do that.

Although we are tentatively planning an Ireland trip around Galway 70.3 next year.   Helps that the wife loves Ireland

Awww, thanks Yanti!

I wrote this in my blog today....

I forgot to add a story from yesterday's race. There was a lady doing the 5k who approached the race director about 15 minutes before the start, she asked if she could start the 5k ahead of everyone because she was slow and this would be the farthest she had ever walked and she didn't want to hold everyone up at the end. They let her start 10 mins before us and we passed her pretty quick. I found out her story later, she has lost 80 lbs and still has well over 100lbs still to lose. She took up walking to lose weight. This was her first 5k, she finished with a smile. I know that a lot of folks on here and ST are pretty harsh and unsympathetic towards the overweight population but I really gave that lady kudos, not only for completing the distance but for having the balls to come to an event where there were hundreds of skinny runner types, where kids and people walking their dogs would be faster, that is what impressed me the most. There have been times that I didn't want to race because I wasn't in good form, or I was self conscious because I'm a bit heavier than I used to be...well, I'm going to remember that lady when I feel like that, and I truly hope she achieves her health goals!