left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 192)

Lena - good luck!  Sounds like a fun time.  If I did my math right that was one hot tub and four women, sounds about my speed!

Daughter tried videoing my swim yesterday but low end phone and the resulting video is too hard to see anything.  Off to the LBS today as I had bought a used rear rim from someone local, bought a used cassette off ebay, then picked up tire/tubes and yesterday put it all together.  Found that there is a shim that goes between the cassette and the wheel which I didn't have.  Hopefully the LBS has one and my trainer wheel will be complete.

Tried to get my wife an iPhone for Mothers day as they were advertising some great prices.  Unfortunately due to our AT&T contract we cant get that price until June 15th.  Stupid!  Going to take a look at the Android and either Sprint or Verizon.

Go Lena go   , Hope you have a good time on your long run. Enjoy the moment. 
Have fun, high five all the little race fans, smile for the camera's, drink when you're thirsty.
Inspire us.  Most of all....

Run Happy.

GOOD LUCK LENA....sending marathon vibes your way!!!!! Wish I was there Have a drink adult beverage for me!!!!

Gary I got and HTC (droid like) phone through ATT for $50 and I LOVE it!!!! My geek friend who has a droid says mine is a much better phone. Check it out. I was due for an upgrade so it was cheap. I love it!!!!

Lena - That's a classic vid.  I knew what it was as soon as I heard the music.  Have you ever stood at the top of the stairs and wondered how something so easy can become so ... Guess you just had to be there.

For you - Endurance is more than a feeling.

Cheers

Hey All!

Well 5 weeks left until my first outdoor Triathlon and training has been going well so far.  The weather here in Central Ontario is horrible but it was nice enough (still only 10C but sunny at least (50F for my American friends...)) to get out for a 40k bike ride.  I have found a new appreciation for the term "Wind at My Back" 1:03 out - 0:44 in.

This week I also ran a PB 5k @ 27:30.  

All things training wise have been rounding into shape.

I was fortunate enough to attend a fitness instructor session last weekend and in a class of 15 students five of them were triathletes.  Two have completed multiple Iron-mans.  Fantastic treasure trove of info.  As I was out for my ride today I slowed downed to pass a walker with her dogs and she waved me down to talk about triathlons and the new Tri Club that is starting up near my home town which she invited me to join.  Its been a good week.

Anyways I'm done taking up your time.  Have fun and "May the wind ALWAYS be at your back" haha.

TTYL

Glenn

Lena, had not seen that video but the last scene is classic!!

Hello all,

Well, I did my first tri last weekend.  My wife and I did the Wildflower here in California.  We ended up camping there for four days.  Our race was the sprint.  I loved it!!!!!  The swim was a bit more hard then I thought it would be.  It was only 500 yards.  I have done way more then that in the pool but only got one open water swim in before this tri.  I had ear plugs in this time and it seemed to cure the dizzy problem.  But the swiiming as a hole was a wreck.  I just need way more open water practice.  The bike was good, really good.  The run was great.  In fact, when I hit the finishing shoot I was a little sad that it was over.

We were able to watch a 1/2 Iron Man and the Olympic over the weekend as well.  We met so many nice people from all levels that were nothing but ecouraging and supportive.  We are hooked for sure.  Once I get this open water swim think settled in I cant wait to try an olympic. thanks to everyone here for the support and advice...

The race was: 500y swim, 10 mile bike, 2 mile run, both bike and run were all hills.  I finished in 1 hour 33 minutes.  Not a record pace by any means but for my first try my goal was to finish.

Thanks MAV.  What you said about the OWS seems so true.  I was warned by so many about just that but until you do it you dont realize how true it is.  I had so much fun.  Can't wait for more.

hey LRR, 

Just in from the Cinco de Mayo Half Mary.  I crushed it.  Exactly 2 minutes faster than last year.  Official time of 1:51:09.  Two minutes is freakly hard to get.  I ran negative splits for the entire race.  This is likely to be my best pacing at the Half distance ever.  8:50, 8:40, 8:30:, 8:20; 8:15 and finishing at 8:11 pace. woohoo.  What I want everyone to know is that I trained in the 9:00 to 9:30 range for most of my run workouts. lots and lots of 9:30 miles.  Build it don't break it.  OK I'll confess to running the first mile at 8:00 flat.  I'll post a more detailed report after I upload my garmin data and come down from my runners high.

Run Happy.
Mark.

Mark, congrats!!! That is a great time!

Been a bit AWOL, between my mentor group, new job, and end of school year approaching its been a bit hectic.  Started my Austin training and contacted a trainer about possible using his services.  Since my goal is just sub 6 hrs not sure if I really need his services.  I will need help getting faster on the swim but the bike I think I have covered and still working on the run. 

Speaking of swimming, I am actually getting faster!  Great, 2000 yrs later and this is the miracle we get?  Just kidding!  Pool moved the bulkhead so it is 50 meters and I swam a 1:40/100m!  I sent an email to the Pope asking if heck froze over, no word back yet. 

Bike I held 20mph for 15 miles over the weekend and it seems between the Jorge plan and the new bike I am making progress.  Considering renting a race wheel for the front and just received my wheel cover for the back.  Ordered some latex tubes as I heard they will help.  Yes, I am totally into buying speed.  If I could get over my ego I would get an aero helmet.

I think I mentioned it but ran a 5k with my daughter over the weekend.  Actually the entire family ran but as this was my daughters Girls on the Run race the emphasis was her.  Yes she beat me by a couple of seconds.  She really kicked it at the end and I was at full stride keeping up but I had THE BIGGEST smile on my face.  That was more exciting then finishing NOLA.

LRR - I stole one of your challenges for my mentor group, hope you don't mind.  Speaking of that when are we having another challenge?  I could really use a June challenge!

Gary - During the winter I suffered thru Jorge's program until it became clear I could not do both the winter cycle plan and train for a winter mary.  But I am significantly stronger and faster on the bike now than at this same time last year.  What is you CTP and what percent of power are you holding when you hammer at 20mph for extended periods of time?  On race day, how long do you plan to stay at 20?  Maybe a nube question but I've been wrestling with the question - how hard for how long? 

Cheers,

Unfortunately I don't have a power meter so I have to do everything by HR and exertion (can't remember the term).  My goal is for Oly's and below to be able to handle 20mph and not blow out my legs for the run.  HIM's I think I am a year away from holding 20mph and still run decently.  I try to hold to the concept that I have to be able to hold it consistantly in training before I do it in a race.  That said, if I get to race this weekend I am going for 20mph on the 13 mile ride but knowing I only have a 2 mile run after that and I will just have to deal with the pain for a (relatively) short period.

Okay peeps.  I've only got a couple minutes, but couldn't let another day go by not reporting back on my wonderful Saturday last week.  I volunteered at the IM St George.  The days started at 4:30a as a body marker, then on to wetsuit peeling, a break, then on to finish line catcher.

Every experience was incredible and extremely inspiring!  Seeing how far the swim actually was put things into perspective for me.  The highlight of the day was actually at the very beginning.  I'm marking people up and my neighbor walks up to me asking to be marked.  He's been training for over a year, didn't tell anyone but his new wife and was totally humble about it all.  Saw him at Church the next day (limping a bit) and he still didn't tell anyone.  Incredible!  He obviously did this for himself and no one else.  No notoriety, just a huge boost to the self-confidence.  WOW.  I'm sure there were many other stories like this on Saturday.

To catch you up with me, I finally signed up for swim lessons.  Got an instructor that follows the Total Immersion approach so we were speaking the same language from the get-go. She pushed me pretty hard and got me over my breathing anxiety.  I'm finally able to make it one lap without resting.  LOL!!  One lap!!  And how many are in a IM distance?  .....

My kick is very weak so she recommended I get some fins so I can focus on technique as my kick gets stronger over time.  Checked locally and no one has any so will be ordering those online.

Anywho, wanted to check in.  Sorry for not posting for the past few months.  I have about 10 pages of posts to catch up on.  Take care all!!

Dang, if I had known they would let us use kayaks at IMTX I would have signed up!