MightyMojoMentorGroup -- (Full House!) (Page 198)

WoW!   I thought nobody was active on the forum the last 3 or 4 days - I used to get e-mail notification every time someone posted and for some reason it has stopped.   Freaked when I saw all the activity.   You guys seem to have so much going on and are full of great ideas and suggestions.  Just skimming through, a couple popped out that I can relate to. 

I've been feeling a kind of 'let down' and no focus since the HIM.   Can't seem to get out of it - both eating habits and training.  

STEVE - I saw your comment to Johanne and went back to find that post and YES, I am VERY envious.       My low back has been bothering me, off and on since Ottawa.   Can't figure it out.    No issues DOING activities, be it biking, strength training, some aerobic classes, yoga, etc. etc.  but afterwards, maybe 3-4 hours it REALLY stiffens up and is quite sore.    Even with stretching afterwards.    

DAVE - I checked out that Matt Fitzgerald link and thank you for posting it.    I have been leaning in that direction but reluctant to follow through.   So perfect timing - my first focus will be my swimming.    I guess I sort of did that last year putting pretty much all my focus on the running and it definitely didn't hurt my biking or swimming.    

With my drift away from training and races and nothing to contribute, was thinking it might be time to drop off the forum but am reluctant to do so after seeing some of the posts from the last few days.    Especially like info and links about training.

ANNE -

Quick note for now.  See my post from maybe yesterday, to JEFF, about post-iron depression (or letdown).  It can also affect half-iron people..and also anyone else who has undertaken a big endurance journey ----- and now has nothing to follow it up with.  (What about Ken; anything similar?)

I too have had a wonky back for about a week.  It is very similar tyo what hit me when i was ealking around at the Fall Colours race with you and Ken last year, except this time it has taken a while to disappear for good.  Bad last Sun-Tues, then okay for a few days, then dicey again Sun and Mon; today is much, much better. 

I am in almost complete rest mode until Giant Acorn races this weekend, with just cold swims yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow. 

More later!

The herbs I have to pay for but I do get a big fat discount

My cold is better. I think my immune system kicked in and it's been pretty mild.

.....and that picture is along one of my regular routes and about 4 miles from home. This was the lake that turned my first tri of the season into a du and my 3rd moved to another lake. It's full of mercury and nasty e. coli from being infested with seagulls. It's makes a pretty picture though

Johanne

Trina,

You should look into doing Big Kahuna HIM next year. It's in Santa Cruz and it's usually nice and cool

http://www.firstwave-events.com

Johanne

GEORGE -

Ever spend time at www.slowtwitch.com?  If not (or if so), you might want to go there, to the forums, then the triathlon forum, and read the posts on pages 17-20 of the thread titled "Ironman Canada 2013".  It'll be right near the to of the first page of the index, and the author is "Zulu".

You will see thoughts on Kelowna vs Penticton, and positive things about Felix of Challenge (Never heard of him before but that means nothing), and best of all -- some stuff about Walter Gray, who sounds like a real chowderhead.  His comments about the Apple athletes are either stupid or ignorant; probably both.  Grrr!

Phew! That was a lot of reading on Slowtwitch but very illuminating.  I was surprised at the considerable support for Whistler (I can't imagine where they would hold the swim) and the condemnation of the WTC and Kelowna.  I was also pleased by the general opinions of Penticton and the area.  It will be interesting to see what happens.

At the Apple Sprint on the day of the race they announced several times that more volunteers were needed.  I think I would still be interested in a repeat run at the Sprint (or Oly in the future) some time.  As much as I would resent WTC for having IMC on the same day as Challenge I'd be just as resentful if Kelowna loses the Apple as well.

I went out today planning to run up some hills with a 5 and 1 run/walk routine (I've never intentionally gone out to run up hills).  I walked 8 minutes to warm up then started running up a hill not far from home.  It actually wasn't too bad and I wasn't bothered by the uphill at all.  At the top I ran awhile on a flat area and then turned downhill - and that I really liked.  I only had another minute to run before the 1minute walk but I enjoyed the downhill so much I forgot to check my watch well beyond the 5 minutes I intended.

I basically continued running up hills then back down again only I modified the run to continue running downhill until I reached the bottom.  I didn't feel ponderous for a change and I enjoyed the whole run.  I did miscount my intervals and stopped running after 9 intervals rather than 10 but my overall running time was the 60minutes I wanted because some of my intervals went longer. 

The last couple weeks have been very enjoyable for swimming and running but I've neglected my bike and my cycling time is growing short so I better get out soon for some end of season rides.  (our oldest Dtr in Prince George 8.5 hours north emailed this morning that they had snow this morning).

Gang,

I signed up for a sprint tri this coming Sunday morning at 9am. It's the IUPUI Jaguar triathlon for those with inquiring minds. I saw the weather forecast for Sunday and it is going to be chilly. The low is 34 and high of 56. I am guessing the temperature will be in the low 40s at race time. The swim will be in a really nice indoor facility so no worries there, but the rest is outdoors. I am trying to figure out what to do about wet tri-shorts heading into the bike, and what I should do on the top half to stay warm for about an hour. Any suggestions? What would a Canadian do in a situation like this?

DOUG -

This Canadian is the one who sometimes acts as he doesn't have the good sense god gave gravel, so with that as a backstory.......

I would wear my tightest tri top in the pool so i wouldn't have to rassle with a top onto a wet body in T1.  I would have armwarmers draped onto my aerobars, and once i got wind-dry, and if I felt cold, i would slip them on around mile one -- while still moving, so I would do it carefully.  I would also have my Bento Box on my top tube, and the only thing in it would be a pair of really lightweight gloves -- in case my fingers got real cold.  Finally, i would have toe-covers on my cycling shoes, just to help prevent the feeling of "running on stumps" for the first few hundred yards, or more, of the run. 

That's the kind of "risks" I have taken several times over the years, and I have made it through some pretty crappy-cold conditions just fine.  I should add, just by way of full-disclosure, that i have never done a pool-swim tri, so all of my dicey days have involved coming out of pretty cold water, where the foot issue is kind of critical.  The toe-covers are pretty much essential for me, as i have lousy circulation to my extremities.  So when I mentioned "running on stumps", above, that is very real and accurate -- i have started about half-a-dozen tri runs feeling like that, and it makes getting into a running groove very frustrating.

I have never ridden (in a race) with a wind-top over my tri top, but i think that would maybe work for you -- cuts out the wind, but if you have one that's not so much a sail, then it will still go on easy enough over a wet top.  Or, you can just do what I suspect most people (men, anyhow) will do, which is swim topless and then either dry throroughly in T1, or take the time to get on a suitable top.  With a decent top, and especially if it has long sleeves, that eliminates the need for arm-warmers.  Gloves are optional!

I have also seen people who wear arm-warmers on the swim, operating on the theory that, even wet, they will dry quickly and at least cut out wind.  I haven't tried that, just prefering to use dry ones and go for warmth AND wind-fighting.

Re-reading your post, I never worry about wet tri shorts, and I have never suffered any frigidity from wearing them in cold conditions.  Maybe I just generate enough heat by kind of being folded into and over myself down there on the bike; don't know for sure.  I guess I'm willing to gamble some with the notion of "core heat", but with my problems with my extremities, i need those precautions with feet/arms/hands.  In fact, my last four races have been with the toe covers on my cycling shoes, as temps were borderline enough to make me worry about running on stumps.  (Remember, i never wear socks for either bike or run.  Doh??)

I don't know how much any of this helps you.  I realize I operate at an extreme, and cuz it's always been like that, I don't even feel comfortable trying to "parrot" what might be more conventional.  So, hopefully, more discrete pople will chime in with what they do to stave off cold and wet aor cool/cold days.

BUT!!!!  Cool beans about signing up, and I hope you have a ball.  And now it's time for me to go check my own race-related forecast for both Sat and Sun in VA!

DOUG again -

FWIW, I will have 49-78 on Saturday and 43-64 on Sunday.  But as both races don't start until 10, it should be close to 60 by race start for both.  Wind looks to be negligible, 6mph on one day and 8mph the next.  Now all I need is for the water in  Lake Anna to be sub-78 so i can wear my wetsuit, adn I'll be one happy clam!

You might be warmer than you think especially in a sprint since you'll be pushing pretty hard. I second the arm warmers. You can roll them up so they look like a donut and just slip them onto your wrist and then when you get going on the bike you can carefully unroll them if you need to. Have fun and go fast!

I thought for sure you would say that the Canadian contingent would wear thongs and be sipping cool drinks with a forecast in the low 40s.

Thanks for the ideas. I will let you know what I decided to do. I will keep a close eye on the forecast as it gets closer. There is no mention of rain right now, but that would complicate the issue some. Good luck at the Virginia races.

GEORGE -

That's very nifty, reading about your hill repeats -- not only that you did them, but that you liked them.  I don't think either of us saw that coming two or three months ago!

And that's a great reason for not feeling remiss about ignoring the bike recently, as in doing so you have found your "third" self (that would be a runner), and also learned some things about your "second" self -- the swimmer.  As for the cycling, well, that was your first self for much of the summer, and there is absolutely nothing wrong in downplaying that while you get more comfortable with the other two.

With the true off-season coming, you will face what we all do -- how to justify the chosen workouts, and how much "balance" is important.  Some people focus on their strength, others focus on their weakness.  Some will eschew the bike if they live in the north and don't have rollers or a trainer, or just really dislike those workouts.  Others who dislike running in the cold will either spend the winter on a treadmill..or bag running pretty much altogther.  And for swimming, those who can't get to a pool regularly will put that on hold for many months.  And, finally, there are many who take the off-season to either be mostly OFF from tri stuff, or add in other things they like -- weightwork, Yoga, Pilates, and myriad other valid forms of cross-training.

ANYHOW, you have done really well at facing up to running, doing more of it, accepting more challenges ---- and lest i be mistaken, you have grown to rather like it.  And if so -- how good is THAT?!?

when you get out of the water you will be warm and comfortable-when you hit the cold air you will still feel pretty good but begin cooling rapidly. You will have a minute or two of feeling ok until you begin to shiver. Use that time to the maximum to get anything requiring fine motor skills done, shoes on, helmet buckled whatever, then hit the road hard. If it is a sprint, like was mentioned, it will be over with soon and you will warm up on the run-let the run be your rabbit-chase down T-2 on your bike hard. You will likely finish in a sweat-have something handy to put on when it is over. Last year in the spring I did one in nearly identical conditions and that is how it unfolded for me. The day before was warm and sunny and I hadn't paid any attention to the forecast-as a result I did it in a sleeveless jersey-the bike was cold and uncomfortable but the run was awesome.

THOMAS -

Those racing fees are insanely reasonable.  So reasonable, in fact, that they go beyond when i started doing triathlon, which was in '00.  I am sure I wasn't at $35 for a sprint, probably more likely $45-50.  Nowadays, the average for a U.S. sprint is probably $80, and for an oly $105, say.  Half-irons have skyrocketed (thanks to the WTC 70.3 series which set theirs at $225-275, causing other RDs to elevate their fees), with those 70.3 ones averaging maybe $275 now, and independents between $175 and $250.

As for irons..........

DOUG -

I guess I could've said that, but it woyuld've misrepresented me!

Well, yes and no on that.  Although i have kind of trained myself to be cold-weather-tough*, i don't come by it honestly.  I grew up outside of Boston, and kind of thought it was cold there.  Then I lived a couple of years in central Maine, and learned that Boston is sissyville in terms of cold.

Then in January of '74 I moved out to Edmonton, Alberta, in what was an unusually viciously cold winter, and ralized that Maine was mostly balmy by comparison.  And after a few years there, I moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which made Edmonton seem rather pleasant, along about December through April.   Seriously --- Saskatoon is high enough up to be under the constant influence of arctic air masses, and yet way too far from the mountains to get any effects from chinooks.

Mostly, my tolerance for cold has come from the past 15 or so years of training --- long after I left the prairies.

*Sadly, though, I'm not at all hot-weather-tough.  I can wilt pretty easily, and real hot/humid races can be sufferfests for me.  I perservere, usually -- but it seems just barely!

You're right I sure never would've guessed I'd have enjoyed yesterdays run especially with the hills.  Up to now I've chosen routes that would be considered flat (some rollers but nothing substantial).  Now, I'm considering attacking some hills that are quite steep and long.  This also opens up the possibility of tackling the Peach City Triathlon (Sprint/Oly) next July.  It includes a pretty good hill within minutes of the start that before now would have scared me out of trying it.

Tomorrow I'm thinking of running out East Lake Rd along Skaha Lake (IMC route).  I'm not sure how far I'll go but I'd like to do 10K if it feels good.  We'll see.

I'm eager to do more events so in that respect I'm not looking forward to the off season but that aside I think I am looking forward to using the time to make improvements in all 3.

I'm being encouraged to do the Oliver HIM next June but I'm not sure I'll be ready that soon.  I am familiar with the course but I'm not sure I'm ready for the distances.

Like running?  Definitely hard to imagine I'd ever think or say that let alone have it actually happen but if it continues to get less ponderous it just might happen.  And, continuing in that vein - at swimming today we did a timed 300m and my time, although still slow, was 11% faster than my time last May. 

GEORGE -

I'm not saying yes and I'm not saying no, but all i'm saying is that it is very healthy for you to respect the distance of Oliver.  So many people don't truly respect those longer distances, and then they do it and don't really enjoy it.  That's the best-case scenario in the not-perfect category; worst-case is that they hurt themselves.

For Oliver, try to figure out if and when it closes out.  I figure it does, so that will, of course, have some bearing on the leisurelyness of your decision.  But if you miss it this year, you know it'll be around in '14, right?

FWIW, I think that if you can get your running in line, the distance is yours.  You can easily ride 56 miles, and my impressiion from your swims is that you can do 1.2 miles quite easily.  And that leaves the run, with essentially nine months to get up to 13.1 miles (or 21.1km, if that sounds better).  Right now you're toying around with 10km along Skaha, so if that's not an oppressive thought for you now.......you have all that time to get used to the concept of (and execution of) those remaining 11.1km.

I'm not saying yes and I'm not saying no..........but i can see it in your future!

MOJOISTAS!!!!

I'm off in a little while for Virginia, to do both Giant Acorn races -- International on Sat, Sprint on Sun.  Both start at 10 (heavenly!!), with the downside being that I won't be home until late Sunday -- or more likely Monday.  I'm not sure where I'll be staying the next four nights, and laptopless as i am, i am at the mercy of a motel with a desktop computer in the lobby; otherwise, it'll be a few days until I'm back to you all.

Training-wise, where are we?  DOUG is racing this weekend, JEFF is prepping for Dallas Marathon, and JOHANNE is heading down the home stretch for Ironman Arizona........and the rest of you are just keepin' it goin' --- which is GOOD!!!!

See you all sooner or later, no later than Monday afternoon!

JOHANNE and JEFF -

Speaking of Giant Acorn.......

JOHANNE, congrats on the improbable story of the Oakland A's -- pretty cool stuff.

JEFF, um, ah, the double-edged sword of that says not-so-cool for the Rangers (also improbable).

Great to see the season end so the Erd Sox debacle is finally over.  Real happy to see O's and Nats in.  real ahppy to see both L.A. teams out (couldn't wish one iota of success and happiness for that uber-dink, Josh Beckett, and the Angels jsut tried too hard to buy a pennant.  Good on St. Louis for overcoming losing Pujols to grab a wild-card.  Good on Detroit for providing something upbeat for that much-beleagured city.

Hey -- Do either of you care at all about baseball???

Have a great weekend of racing Steve.   Hopefully the weather will be a bit nicer than they are predicting for us (at least in Waterloo).    I'm taking it easy till next Chrio appt on Tues for a re-assessment of when I can ramp up a bit.  

Apparently my low back tightness (REALLY hurts) is caused by some ligament that is really low in the back - all across? and attaches through piriformis to hamstrings. Really tight with adhesions versus a sprain or over-stretched. Yanked my pelvis out of alignment again. In talking, he said with this kind of injury - injury?? when did that happen? Lots of easy stretching but NO bending over from waist or squats or biking (especially) or yoga, or pretty much anything except walking/hiking for the next week - swimming but not into it.  Did ART for 20min - first time in weeks where I felt like my pelvis was moving and it didn't hurt. See him in one week for another ART and see if pelvis holds.

Sitting really aggravates it and no problems sleeping, or laying down but usually around 3:00-4:00 I start to feel the tightness and associated pain - I think he said the pain is from the joints because they can't move properly because of the adhesions?  

Looking back at logs they (and me) feel all the hard biking in aero started it and then only taking just over 3 weeks to ramp up from Oly training volume to HIM volume.   Also doing my 'own' HIM one weekend and the Ottawa Oly the weekend after didn't help.   Just wasn't getting enough (any) recovery for my old, weary body.     Live and learn, which I apparently am pretty slow at ! 

Hope you get to enjoy some turkey on Monday.

Have safe travels and great races! I'm racing this weekend too. I'm doing the San Jose Rock n Roll 1/2M Sunday. Dave wanted to sign up for it so he would have a reason to train. That distance run is on my training schedule so I signed up too. Now he has to miss it to go down to L.A. for our daughters father/daughter weekend festivities at LMU. I'm just going to do the race as a training run because Saturday is my long bike and I'm sure I'll be tired. I'm still holding up so thats good

Johanne 

I did manage to run/walk over 10K today (11.77K including 10 minute warm up/7minute cool down).  It was -3C with wind chill this a.m. so it was quite cool and I overdressed which slowed me down a bit.  It took 30 minutes before my hands warmed up and I changed my running route to stay as much as possible in the sunlight.

I'll have to figure out what to wear that will be comfortable and not weigh me down.  I also need to find some good gloves for running although experience tells me that I'll get overheated easily with gloves.

I got home at 10:00 then showered and changed and at 10:30 Ruby and I headed out to meet a couple of the fellows I swim with and we went hiking up Mt. McIntyre about 30km south of town.  It took a bit over an hour to climb up to the top and it was quite a view overlooking Oliver, BC.

It made for a busy day.  I'll sleep good tonight.

Steve, Jeff and Johanne - good luck in your events this weekend. Have a good time.