BamaDC's Mentor Group - Closed (Page 2)

Thanks for the input.  At my gym we use a Biodynamic machine and it uses the electrical current.  I've never thought of the hydration levels affecting the results.  We have a few people that get scores way above their real body fat.  So I'll start paying more attention to the H20 levels that the machine provides.

The Coach.  Last year I completed IMKY and my training was sporadic.  I finished in 14:19.  I swam easy 1:14 and biked even easier 7:00:01, you have no idea how pissed I am about those two seconds.  My fastest split on the bike was my last.  And I talked and goofed off on the marathon.  Would I change anything, NO.  Yeah I'm sure I could have broken 13:XX, but I had a blast.  And I could walk well the next day.  We were on the 15th floor and I climbed that twice the next day.  About a week after the race, I started thinking man with some proper training I could do alot better.  That along with tighter time constraints, I decided I wanted a coach. I'm 3 months in with my coach and I'm very pleased.

BF - Stuart had a great post on the bio-impedance machines.  I'm sure I'm constantly dehydrated and/or inflammed due to training.  I do my body fat by machine every two weeks first thing in the morning.

I became a early morning person when I had my frist child.

HR Monitors and other tools. 

1. Old Sigma Sport HR monitor.  Its 3 years old and I paid 39 dollars for it.  It only tells you max and currnet HR.  Simple but it works and it out lasted two Nike HR monitors.  Similar to this model.

2.  Garmin 301.  Bought it 2.5 years ago.  A little big, but works great.  It nice seeing pace and HR during runs.  Also, its fun to look back and see your progress.  I got mine on sale at Walmart.com 2.5 years ago for 99 dollars, but here it is.

3. Current primary HR monitor is a Polar RS 200.  I needed this HR for non Garmin runs.  I need to know average HR for my workouts and the Sigma DIdn't provided this.  It can be linked up with a foot pod.  Here.

4.  Swim watch is a Timex Ironman 100 lap watch.  All I use it for is time/100.

5. My newest tool is a Powertap SL wired in a Mavic open pro.  I bought this used on ebay for 650 USD.   The seller had a buy now option and it was online for 10 minutes.  I'm still learning all the options, but I'm sold that training with power is the way to go.  The amount of info it provides is amazing, when paired w/ cycling peaks WKO.

These are the tools I use.  My bike is a mass produce Taiwan frame w/ 105 components.  When the engine gets bigger, I'll splurge on a fancy tri bike and race wheels.  But right now my money is going to coaching and a tri-camp July. 

Hello Mark,

 I am interested in joining your triathlete group!!!  My name is Sean and I live in Kingston, Ontario, Canada (and yes it is freakin' cold here right now!!!)

About me....well I am 31 years old and 215 lbs...oh yeah and 5'11"...not a great combination...I have been in the Canadian Forces since 1997, and last year I decided to make my life even more interesting and came to the Royal Military College of Canada to become an officer and get an undergraduate degree (I am currently in 2nd year Psychology).  I am married for going on 8 years now, and I have 2 small children, Paxton, 4 and Addison...she'll be 2 in March...So put all that in the blender and I have little to no time for anything, so I decided that I would start doing triathlon....

 I was sick of my weight and have a dream of once again some day being under 200 lbs...figured this was the best way...and I was a little inspired by my Commanding Officer here at the college, who is a world class endurance athlete...He just finished 2nd at the Ultraman in Hawaii in November and is currently training for his 2nd RAAM.  He's 47 and if he can do it, why can't I?

 Last year I competed in my first Duathalon here in Kingston and after I got over the pain, I feel in love....loved the feeling of finishing...This year, I have upped the ante and on 09 May will be competing in my first Spring Distance Triathlon here in Kingston...I also hope to do a Half marathon at some point this year as well....

I have no idea what else to write except that I hope we can chat some time and you can help me focus...I have started the 16 week 2x balanced spring program which takes me right to race day in May...

 Cheers, Sean. 

Welcome, I feel like a wus because I'm fussing about 30F.  You do have a busy plate. Let me know what info you need or how I can help.

Its no Cervelo.  The geometry fit me well, and its a very stiff.  But, if your into very aerodynamic bikes then don't buy this one.

Like I said earlier I have a RS200 and its great.  But I don't have any experience w/ the footpod.

This was the first triathlon book that I read.  Good book that covers most of the basics.  Looks like it can be had for cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/Triathletes-Training-Bible-Competitive-Multisport/dp/188473748X

phoenixrising404 - 2009-01-20 3:52 PM Welcome New members! I have enjoyed all the posts latelyt ! I have one of those expensive HR monitors, a Garmin, and to tell you the truth, I almost never used it. I think it is not so good for someone starting out to pay toooo much attention to HR, but rather use the standard tried and true method: if you can't talk while running or biking, you are training outside of your recommended range and are going anaerobic. Anaerobic training is good sometimes, but it is NOT fat burning, and you aren't exactly building your engine in that range, you are pushing it to overheat so to speak. But, once your engine is built, and you want to be sure you are not overtraining, then it is good. You know you are overtraining when you feel really weak, dizzy, are losing unexpected weight, and you can't get your heart rate UP. Or when it is lower than expected for the level of exertion you are putting out. Enjoyed the info on the waterproof lap watch for swimming! Been looking for one of those! I think those are useful because it takes too much time for me to squint and try to see the clock on the wall and figure out if that lap was faster or not. Better to just go all out and analyze it later. I am looking for a GPS type watch for open water swims so you can know how far out you have gone and can know when to turn around and head on back to shore to correlate with your level of training. I tend to swim alone in the lake and it is scary when you get to a point where you feel yourself getting REALLY fatigued and you have a LONG way to go to get back to shore. A fun Q: Do different IM's have different tatoos? The Irondudes here have a red IM 140.6 on their right calves. I have seen others with an IM in a flower and other designs...Bama...did you get the brand???? I am not inked but would consider it if (when) I become an ironchick

So what Pene is talking about using is the RPE method.  This works for most individuals, and alot of coaches use this in training plans.  Through metabolic testing I found I'm an odd ball.  My "Base" training is about 10 beats more per minute this as compaired to last year.  So the gadgets and testing have actualy helped me.

"You know you are overtraining when you feel really weak, dizzy, are losing unexpected weight, and you can't get your heart rate UP. Or when it is lower than expected for the level of exertion you are putting out."  But this is very true for me.

I use my GPS for every outside run.  I enjoy seeing and having my pace and HR data.  When I run my half marathon in feb. I think it will be interesting to go back and compare the data between the two races.

As far as tatoos, I'm out.  If I qualified and finished the Hawaii Ironman or finished Ultraman I would seriously think about it.

Nice questions

If I need to clarify anything please ask.

Group Members.  Try to keep your logs open to at least the group members.