left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 191)

Thanks!!!  Picked up my packet today and am starting the packing procedure.  I coach my daughters softball game tomorrow then head out to bike check in.  I have a room not too far off transition and will spend the night in NOLA.  So far everything looks good.  Only downer is my wave is at 8:02, 2nd from the last to start.  Oh well, hopefully means lots of people to pass and not many left to pass me!

Hey all!

23mph winds so the swim was canceled.  Waves weren't too bad but they could not get the safety craft out on the water or set the buoys.  So we did a time trial start and the winds were pretty wicked.  One mile I avgs 25.6 turned around and avgd 16mph.  Run weather was perfect but somewhere the 9 mile mark my knees started aching something fierce.  Finished but definitely lost a good chunk of time.

RR to come.

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Congrates Gary,  Too bad about the swim.  Glad to hear you had a successful finish.  When is your next tri.  Hope the wind is at your back both ways next time.

Did you ride on areo race wheels? 
What would you have changed in the training and race prep?

Cheers

As for my next race the only one I am signed up for is Redman full.  Most likely a sprint or two and one Oly before.  That is if I do the full.  The knee problems I encountered have me a bit worried and not sure I want to walk that far.  Next year is going to be a short course year for me and I will concentrate on Olys or below.

No I don't have race wheels.  I am going to get a wheel cover but at times there were some pretty bad cross winds and was okay with not having a disc cover.

As for training, less swimming for sure ;>.  I think a few more longer rides and longer runs would have helped.  With my schedule 20 weeks just isn't quite enough.  More hill work would have helped also.

Okay folks I need your help!!!  Too quiet here!

I am happy with my 69.1 distance but want to get faster and my knee issue has me questioning a full for this year.  SOOoo my options are:

• Redman Aquabike
• Redman 1/2
• Austin 1/2 - I think its still open.

I am really thinking 1/2 mainly because with the new job I am going to lose training time.  Also, I want to get faster.

Now surprisingly my preference (and my wife's) is Austin.  Why you ask?  Several reasons:

• longer to train with an extra month.  With new job I am going to lose training time initially
• Closer to home 7 hr drive as opposed to 10+
• There are a couple of races here in Aug/Sept that I want to do.
• Wife wants to visit Austin

So, your thoughts on this?

CONGRATS GARY!!!!! So sorry the swim got cancelled...but wise move on the race directors part.

I hear you on the knee pain!!! LOL. I would suggest doing a 1 hour run, 1 hour bike, 1 hour run. This helps build your endurance and limits the beating that your knees take.I did this for my IM and I was pleasantly surprised how well I ran on race day. Also EVERY long ride follow with a brick run of at least 15 mins. Gotta love the jelly feeling!!!! I am a firm believer that the longer races are all about the bike. The more comfortable you are doing a 50 mile ride, the easier the run. The more you ride the greater the quad strength...the better the run. I also think that as we age it is much harder to  pound the joints with running. I would suggest two short runs/ week 3-4 miles and a long run that gradually increases the distance.

I vote for the Austin race

Race Austin - With a bit more time to train, you should have plenty time to gradually add volume to build up the knees.  You may find training to a 2+1 program will provide more recovery time than the typical 3+1.  2working weeks followed by 1 recovery week should fit nicely with that extra month and compensate for the increased pressure on you workout schedule from your work schedule.

Plus it's a good idea to keep your team sponser (mrs Gary) happy.

Hey all,  I havent been on the board all week.  Instead, I found a "fitness Boot Camp" in my area.  Two of the coaches are Iron Man finishers several times over.  I have spent the week doing running workouts, tons of core, and some other cool stuff with them.  My first Tri is next week at Wildflower.  This camp has been a great way to peak my training the week before my first tri. They have been really helpful and I really needed that added push from someone else other then my internal voice to up my training. (I have sprinted more hills this week then I have done the rest of my life)

Talk to you all later!

Billy - LOL!  Yeah, I agree but the concern about my knees has me really worried.  I do believe if I become a stronger cyclist then I can hit the run with fresher legs.  Also, next time I am going for a run/walk.  I had planned to do that for NOLA but felt so good the first 6 miles that I only stopped briefly at a couple of aid stations. 

Today was the last day at my current job.  Start my new one on May 2nd.  Closer to home, kids school, pool, has a gym on site, all good stuff.

Not one to call attention to myself, but this is pretty cool........I entered a contest by writing a bio in hopes of winning a free entry to my first tri.  I did not win but they liked my story and are using it for some PR for the event.

Finish line today.  I decided to run a 5k with an 8 year old boy that doesn't have a father figure.  I have been talking to him over the several months to get him ready, but it really didn't prepare him very well.  He took off like a bat out of #&!! for about 200 yards and then it was over.  Walk and explain how we don't quit in the middle of something  we started, and so on and so on for the next 3 miles.  We did finish and that's whats important.

Now the fun part.  Since we were going so slow I decided to have a little fun.  I turned around at the half way point and finished the race....... in reverse.  I ran or walked backwards the last 1.55 miles.  Got a lot of comment and stares.  This is supposed to be fun right?

Graham, thats awesome!!

I was sooo planning on going to wildflower, but work has blocked that one I cant wait to hear how it goes for you.

Speaking of getting attention, here's a little email I just got from Sketchers:

Congratulations!  After reviewing your application, we are happy to announce that you will be representing Team Skechers Endurance 2011!  We were super impressed with your accomplishments, your stories, and your passion for the disciplines in which you participate.
 
We will contact you in the coming days to confirm your gear sizing, as well as your committment to the team with an official welcome letter, in addition to putting you in contact with the team members in your respective markets (just for fun and in case you end up at the same races!).
 
Until then, happy training!
Skechers

This is going to be fun!

Jeff

That is cool Jeff.

Training is going good. Not much time to check in. I see though its not just me. Does it usually get this dead in here this time of year?

Yesterday I went on a 40+ mile bike ride with my brother in-law who is getting ready for the Rosarito to Ensendad ?bike ?ride in a few weeks.  I never have to go to the bathroom but I had to stop twice in the 2 1/2 hour ride. I drank less water and it was a shorter ride then the last two weeks but slower. Does anybody else find that when they are less focused/going slower they have this problem?

My training isnt going so good

work is not playing fair!

As for the sponsorship, I had recently joined a triathlete group on linkedin and someone from Sketchers posted in there about the sponsorship. They were advertising for the NY, Chicago, LA and san diego areas. Some how I conviced them to pick me with zero finish lines and NOT in the areas they were recruiting for! haha.

OMG thw sun just came out....I need to have a heart to heart with my training schedule and figure this out!!

Peace!

Jeff

Billy - nice job!

Lena - thanks, I think I doomed myself a little in my HIM by not walking early enough.  Just felt so good!

Started JorgeM's bike program again.  Hoping to keep with it thru May then start another HIM program.  My key for a successful HIM is a fast bike split and fresh legs for the run.

Jeff - congrats on getting sponsored!!!