Consistency Equals Success (Page 19)

Marathon done, so I will add it here:

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 05 07:08:12
Jim 04 03:40:41
Barry 04 03:30:14
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 03 05:55:00
Jackie 01 01:28:41
Lisa 01 01:01:06
Brian 01 00:42:00

About the marathon... slowest ever, 4:50 something
Perfect weather, sunny morning, temps from 10c to 20c, ideal. However, the cold and foot pain made it not so enjoyable and frankly after the first half I contemplated going home. After 30k there was as much walking as running and the last few kms practically walked all the way. Legs were hurting, cramping, motivation low - the works. Pity, because it was a very well organised event, lots of international runners, specially Japanese, well spaced stations, live music etc. Oh well, maybe next time it will be better.

Edited by markz 2014-07-06 1:36 AM






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Congratulations on the finish and sticking it out Mark! Especially knowing going in that it would be an extraordinary challenge. Kudos!

Mark- Good job toughing it out and finishing. Nice photo of your family. Great photos of the race on FB.

Thank you guys!
I'm beginning to look differently at events like this and appreciate that it's all the runs prior to the marathon that are far more important. The race is just one day, but serves a purpose of motivating. Running to get fit, improve health or lose weight is not enough motivation for me.

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 05 07:08:12
Jim 04 03:40:41
Barry 04 03:30:14
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 03 05:55:00
Jackie 04 08:13:40
Lisa 01 01:01:06
Brian 01 00:42:00

Oh I have so much to share!

Mark, I am so happy your wife has decided to run some. Standing on the podium may be the best thing you could have done for her ;-) I think she will be there one day. Also, I had to laugh on your "slow" marathon time. My qualifying standard for Boston was 4:25. Everything is relative.

I completed my second tri after a two-year layoff. I am working on my race report. I did win Female Great Grandmaster. For those of you that are young and/or new: Master is 40-49, Grand Master is 50-59, Great Grand Master is 60 and over. I was the oldest woman there. The oldest guy is 80.

In the past, I did not see the benefit of a coach. The people I knew that had coaches were either pros or needed someone to kick them in the butt. Since I've always been very self-directed, I thought it would be a waste of money for me. Recently, I've decided that I wanted to improve in all three disciplines. When I first got to Tallahassee, I took Chuck Kemeny (winner of Ultraman Florida, and the world record holder for an Ultraman) to lunch to pick his brain and find out how he fit his training in with a family and a full-time job. I figured if he could tell me how he managed to train for Ultraman with all of his commitments, I could figure out how to make it work for me for an Ironman. It was a great conversation, but at the time, I wasn't looking for a coach and he didn't have any openings anyway.

Fast forward a couple of months. I have now been informed that I will be in Tallahassee until next March. So, now is the time for me to concentrate on my improvement. I visited with Chuck again. He did have a couple of openings and also gave me the option for a different coach with less experience and less cost. I asked a lot of questions. Since I had a great rapport with Chuck and the same kind of analytic and natural philosophy, hiring him was a no-brainer.

He's going to have me use a PowerCal power meter (Mitch, I'm going to be more geeky!). Today I set a PR on my training ride. He told me not to go too hard and I didn't. But the nutrition advice that I got was incredibly helpful. I've done a run test and a swim test for him. I'll be doing work on the trainer and the treadmill because it's a more controlled environment. So far I'm liking this. I know exactly what I'm supposed to do for the day and he works around my schedule.

Thanks for listening!

Thank you for your comments Jackie.
I agree, it's all relative, but in this context my benchmark is usually 4:30. On a good day I can do a bit better, on a slow day - much worse. This time I had a cold and a painful leg, so that's a good excuse.
My wife still wants to do HM next time, but honestly, I'd like to see her run good few times prior to that.

Well, you on the other hand seem to be doing everything right, get all the advice, train and now the coach!

Nice Jackie! Please do let us know how all of that goes.

Got in a 40 minute run last evening. It was 85 degrees but the humidity was 70% and at 230 pounds those conditions were not my friends!

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 05 07:08:12
Jim 04 03:40:41
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 03 05:55:00
Jackie 04 08:13:40
Lisa 01 01:01:06
Brian 01 00:42:00

jackie - Congrats on your great news! I have found that training with Power has really helped me dial in my cycling training.

5 mile run last night in the heat and humidity.

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 06 07:50:57
Jim 04 03:40:41
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 03 05:55:00
Jackie 04 08:13:40
Lisa 01 01:01:06
Brian 01 00:42:00

Has anyone had issues with their HR monitor while riding in aero? My HR was completely screwy on my outdor ride on Saturday. A few weeks ago I also had some odd readings on an outdoor ride. Wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I ran outside last night and had no isses with the HR monitor. here is a link to the ride file and garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/534868553

Below are screenshots of elevation, HR and power.



Edited by trisuppo 2014-07-07 9:04 AM






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1:23:15 on the bike today.

Mitch- I blinked first, too much beech and boating on Saturday, Sunday was a recovery day from my recovery day. I have had some decoupling with my HRM, usually shown as a strange blip either way too high or way too low. Sometimes it was just inconsistent heart rate, especially if it is extremely hot and humid.

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 06 07:50:57
Jim 05 04:57:56
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 03 05:55:00
Jackie 04 08:13:40
Lisa 01 01:01:06
Brian 01 00:42:00

Jim - Sometimes you need a good blink or two!

My HR monitor has to be the issue. No way I was rocking 30 bpm while cycling. I was riding at lower cadence (70 vs 90) but again, no way my BPM was 30. I'll have to put a HR data field on my Garmin so I can watch it as I go in and out of aero while riding.

evening run 36:42.

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 06 07:50:57
Jim 05 05:34:38
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 03 05:55:00
Jackie 04 08:13:40
Lisa 01 01:01:06
Brian 01 00:42:00

I've never had this happen, but I remember when I first started on BT in Ernesto's group some were having monitor connection issues. I recall someone using the gel they use for ultrasounds on the contacts when they started to malfunction. I just wash mine once a month so I don't get a salt build up, which will cause a contact problem.

Yep, that was me using the gel. I've been using a polar hr strap with a garmin ant+ dongle. Has worked well and doesn't give me a rash/cut on my chest like the garmin soft strap did. I just cleaned it on Friday. Maybe some cleaning residue or something.

Evening ride pulling my 4 year old in our wee Hoo. I call them strength workouts on the bike.

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 07 08:28:27
Jim 05 05:34:38
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 03 05:55:00
Jackie 04 08:13:40
Lisa 01 01:01:06
Brian 01 00:42:00

I wash my heart rate strap at least 2 or 3 times a week! Race report is up http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp...

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 07 08:28:27
Jim 05 05:34:38
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 03 05:55:00
Jackie 05 08:58:52
Lisa 01 01:01:06
Brian 01 00:42:00

Edited by jackiep 2014-07-07 10:19 PM

1hr Mtb ride along the ocean.

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 07 08:28:27
Jim 05 05:34:38
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 04 06:55:00
Jackie 05 08:58:52
Lisa 01 01:01:06
Brian 01 00:42:00

Edited by markz 2014-07-08 12:48 AM

Mark--congrats on the marathon! Sorry it was miserable, but 26.2 is always an accomplishment.

Jackie--congrats!

Jim--I also have a Garmin 910XT and love it. I use it for hiking, canoeing and snowshoeing, in addition to the usual 3 disciplines.

Regarding the Garmin and pool swimming: DC Rainmaker says that as long as you have a strong pushoff from the wall, it's usually pretty accurate. It's only if I don't push off strong from the wall or stop halfway through the lap to adjust my goggles that it starts adding or not counting laps. To counteract that, I usually count my laps in sets of 10 or 20 in my head and then hit the "lap" button at the end of each set as a way to double-check. I don't have too many problems with freestyle, but my breast stroke makes my Garmin very unhappy and confused.

On the HR strap: I've been through two of the Garmin soft straps and just started using the Polar strap with the Garmin transmitter. I don't know that it will last longer than the other two, but at least I'm not having chafing issues anymore. Ironically, both of my earlier Garmin straps each lasted a year. The first one I didn't do anything with; when it broke, I was religious about wiping it after every workout and washing it once a week, but it lasted the same amount of time. Go figure.

Adding in today's speed workout at the gym thanks to some massive thunderstorms moving through (51 minutes), Saturday's 10 miles run as 5 as a family fun run race with the husband and 9-year-old, and the 4-year-old in the jogging stroller. It was a walk/run kind of thing. The 9yo was fine for the first mile, mostly ok for the 2nd, completely breaking down for the 3rd and 4th (despite the fact that I was telling amusing stories involving fictional moose and dragons to distract her while pushing the jogging stroller, despite the fact that it's a downhill race, and despite the fact that we were not going all that fast and that there were plenty of walk breaks). When we hit the final mile she perked up and ran most of it. We hit the finish line and I let the 4yo out to run across it too. Then I figured the 9yo would need water and food after all the whining/moaning/crying/drama, right? No. She sees we've ended at a playground and says "oh, a playground, bye!" Grrr. She's a pretty good runner and managed just under a 12-minute pace even with all the walking (and whining), but I think she needs a little more endurance. (She ran it last year, but did it with the husband who is also mostly a walk-runner. It definitely took them longer last year, and I'd run back to join them after I finished and she was whining last year despite the slower pace too.) At any rate, I left the husband with the kids and ran the 5 miles back uphill which was awesome despite the uphill because there was no one to complain about it! And there was about 45 minutes of running on Thursday and about 30 minutes on Wednesday, following 3 hours of hiking along the Continental Divide Trail. Not enough biking, but the weather and such didn't cooperate much and I don't have a trainer in the mountains.

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 07 08:28:27
Jim 05 05:34:38
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 04 06:55:00
Jackie 05 08:58:52
Lisa 05 04:59:54
Brian 01 00:42:00

Hi All - after a few bad days with my daughter and a weeks vacation, I'm back. During my hols I had every intention of training, took all my gear, checked out the hotel Fitness room, but decided to relax instead. Foolishly I tried surfing and bruised my ribs real bad and still feeling the pain now.

Its great to see everyone's stories and achievements and plenty of consistency :-)

here's my updates for July so far ... with one reset day a week I'm looking for a strong finish this month!!

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 07 08:28:27
Jim 05 05:34:38
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 04 06:55:00
Jackie 05 08:58:52
Lisa 05 04:59:54
Mark H 04 03:08:00
Brian 01 00:42:00

Keep having fun! Mark.

58:54 runch

Gabe 05 9:27:00
Mitch 07 08:28:27
Jim 06 06:33:32
Barry 05 04:10:13
Dennis 03 4:25:00
Mark Z 04 06:55:00
Jackie 05 08:58:52
Lisa 05 04:59:54
Mark H 04 03:08:00
Brian 01 00:42:00

Unfortunately (maybe), not here to post about a workout. Like Mark, my vacation has taken to relaxation and spending time with the girlfriend. We have been doing long distance for a little over two years now and this is the most time we've spent together for a while. I've been getting in some good hiking and lake swims, but nothing that I can p

Unfortunately (maybe), not here to post about a workout. Like Mark, my vacation has taken to relaxation and spending time with the girlfriend. We have been doing long distance for a little over two years now and this is the most time we've spent together for a while. I've been getting in some good hiking and lake swims, but nothing that I can post for the challenge. Hoping to get a 5-6 miler in tommorrow morning but we will see what happens.

For the heart rate monitor, I have found that sometimes when I get in aero it is not tight enough and there is a gap between my chest and the monitor. For me this causes non-standard spikes in the hr graph, so that may be a cause of your strange readings as well.

Thanks - enjoy your vacation - there's always time for working out later.

Mark, congratulations on finishing your Marathon and even though you did not hit your time goal, it is still a huge effort that you chose to finish!  Priceless to see your pic with your medal along with your wife and daughter!

Jackie, great job on winning the Great Grand Master award, sounds almost as good as qualifying for Kona!  I'm sure you will continue to improve even more now with your coach!

Mitch, I always have problems with my HR strap/readings whenever I'm riding in an aero position

Did you all watch Germany clover Brazil 7-1? I was rooting for Brazil and at the end just felt really bad for them.  But this WC has been unpredictable...

Sunday rest day :-). Monday 7 mile run, today 1hr drainer + 3000m swim

Gabe 07 12:29:30 
Mitch 07 08:28:27 
Jim 06 06:33:32 
Barry 05 04:10:13 
Dennis 03 4:25:00 
Mark Z 04 06:55:00 
Jackie 05 08:58:52 
Lisa 05 04:59:54 
Mark H 04 03:08:00 
Brian 01 00:42:00 

Edited by trigabe 2014-07-08 6:05 PM