Elaine's Spring 2011 Mentor Group - CLOSED! (Page 2)

Whatever you are more comfortable on.

If it were me, I'd ride the GMC Denali. You'll be able to get a little more aero, and you're on something much more suitable for the course, especially with the gearing. Ask around about borrowing a bike, too. You never know what you'll come across.

For my first tri, I rode my dad's road bike which was too big. For my second, I rode an old steel frame Nishiki Mixte. Any bike that will get you there will work!

Hi Shannon! Welcome to the group!

Make sure you log your workouts here. Are you doing a plan from this site or just getting started on your own first? 

That country club sounds like a great place to live and to be active! 

Hi, Elaine.  I'd like to join the group if you still have room 

NAME: Tom (ladlehaus)

STORY: I was the typical high school athlete that got fat and lazy in college and continued being fat and lazy throughout early adulthood. I finally got tired of it and jumped into triathlon last spring. My wife calls it my midlife crisis; I prefer to think of it as my early-midlife crisis--31 is too early to be midlife, right? Anyways, I ran three sprints last year and loved it. Even my first one that almost had me pull out on the bike was a blast. Any race that I can finish, I consider a win. This year I'm looking forward to running a HIM and watching my son run in his first triathlon, and maybe even running the local super sprint with my son and my dad.

FAMILY STATUS: Married with two children: Benjamin 9 and Genevieve 7.

CURRENT TRAINING: I'm in week 3 of BT's Beginning HIM training plan. Unfortunately this week I'm also trying to get over an injured hamstring from a soccer game over the weekend.

2011 RACES: The Dam Tri (sprint), the Pittsburgh Triathlon (oly), our local YMCA tri (sprint), and Timberman 70.3.

WEIGHTLOSS: I've lost about 30 lbs. since last year to get to 185. I'd like to lose 20-30 more.

Hi Tom! Welcome to the group! 31 is not old enough for a mid-life crisis Maybe a 1/3 life crisis? I really like the quote in your signature. Glad to have you among the athletes again and off the couch! The Beginner HIM is a great plan that has gotten many, many athletes to the finish line of the first HIM, and more. Just make sure you let your hamstring heal. Don't push too hard now, or it'll come back to get you later. It looks like your training has been pretty solid. What are your goals for the HIM? Any concerns? Timberman looks like a gorgeous course! 

Hi Elena! Welcome! I checked out your logs - with those times, your goal of top 1/3 of your tri should be well within reach. I'd stick with running with your marathon friend, but use the mileage here: http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/index.htm as a good idea of where to start cutting back from her plan. You can also try the custom plan creator here to create a run-focused triathlon plan with higher run mileage. I actually have done my best sprint tri while training for an olympic, so if you already have the base there, don't be afraid to train a bit longer.

Elaine,

I  read the bio of the other open mentors and something about yours got my attention.  So, to that end, I would like to join your group.

I just turned 40 one month ago today and it took me a bit to acknolwled that I am middle age! I have done 3 sprint tri's and 1 marathon.  I want to do an olympic tri and I know that I am going to need help, this is why I  NEED a mentor.  I plan to do this race, with my friend, in Oct 11.

I live in phx metro area and love to travel.  I am gay with a partner of 16 years.  We have no children or pets, but  loving families, repectfully, who have blessed us with a host of neices and nephews.

Welcome Melanie!

I wanted to do that reverse tri, but I'm job searching and might be moving, so I didn't register. Have fun! It should be a blast! I did the Miami Man last year, but just the Olympic distance. The course is pretty nice, and the event is really well-run. You should love it

The ING marathon should be far enough away from the Miami Man to allow you to build that run volume safely. 

Your 20 in 2 challenge is pretty awesome, and a great motivation to get out running!

I'm so happy that triathlon is a part of what keeps you happy and healthy. 

Are you thinking of adding any other races this season?

Hi! Welcome to the group! Care to share your real name, or do you just want to be ERiley? Either way is fine with me

You've got plenty of time to get ready for the Olympic distance in October - about 24 weeks. What is your fitness like now? What's your swim, bike, run volume? Have you checked out any of the plans here or somewhere else? Let me know what I can do to help you out

With 13 members including myself, this group is now CLOSED!

So, quick update on my training - I saw the Physical Therapist this morning. We foam rollered, stretched, ultrasounded, and iced. I'm supposed to alternate run/walk every minutes for 10 minutes this weekend, and stop if I feel pain. I'm excited. I haven't ran in a month! We talked about my Olympic distance race next weekend. I'm seeing her THREE times next week, and on Friday, she'll let me know if I can run/walk or if I need to just walk. I'm happy to feel like I'm finally on the road to recovery

How is everyone else doing?

Rest. Stretch. Get well soon!

Finally getting a week where training is more regular: no multi-state drives or illness!   Planning on doing my first ever non-stop mile swim tomorrow night at the pool, so if anyone has any advice, tips, or general words of wisdom I would appreciate it!

A little frustrated with how my Garmin 305 is not working with my cadence/speed sensor while riding inside on the bike on the trainer.  It worked like a charm for a few months since I installed it, but for the past few rides the numbers are clearly wrong.  I will have to check into it further; I checked the sensors themselves last night and they seem to be positioned correctly, and a quick look at the watch settings seems OK, too.  IDK.

I'm getting a bit freaked out about the fact that my first Olympic distance race is in 6 weeks and I haven't been running since late January because of knee issues.  I need to call my orthopedic doc to see if I got insurance approval for a Synvisc shot yet, but that scares me a bit, too, worried I may be one of the few folks that is allergic to the shot or it has a detrimental effect rather than helping.  Anyone ever have one of these shots or know anyone who did?

Welcome to all the new folks, and to the other Melanie!

Good luck with your race this weekend, Elaine.  Make sure you give us a report!

Thanks, Elaine.  I know I have to let my hammy heal, but it's tough. I feel so lazy this week, and I just got a new pair of running shoes. Extra biking and swimming until it's back well enough to run. 

My only goal for Timberman is to finish before they close the course. I really enjoyed some longer bike rides last fall, so I wanted to do a longer race this year. I'm a little concerned about the big hill on the bike course; I didn't do hills well last year. But there are tons of hills where I live, so I'll have time to prepare for it, if it ever stops raining here.

Well this week training has been pretty good.  The weather has been iffy but we have managed to get a couple of outdoor runs in. The bike rides have been inside - one on a regular exercise bike and one on a spin bike.  I am looking forward to getting outside for a ride but it has been raining so much!

My running friends and I are planning 6 in the morning but rain is in the forecast - if it is too bad I will swim tomorrow and we will do the run on Saturday so we are covered either way (weekend looks decent weather-wise -- Yay!)

Diet has been really good this week - I had been out of control for a couple weeks so started planning and logging this week which helps a ton.  I did have a business lunch today (hate those - always too much temptation!) so I got a grilled chicken sandwich with fruit and didn't eat the bun (well maybe a bite or two  )

I love being part of an on-line group and am really looking forward to watching everyone hit their goals throughout the season!

Elena

Melanie - good luck with the swim tomorrow!  You will feel awesome afterward I bet - what a milestone - a whole mile of swimming!

I was really frustrated with my Garmin heart rate strap today.  It was one of those days where the strap wouldn't pick up the heart rate so I was on the stupid bike that doesn't have a TV and the heart rate thing wasn't working AND I had lost the soft ear thingy off one side of my headphones!  Total equipment malfunction - not the most pleasurable ride - LOL!

Sorry about your knee - injuries stink.  I totally messed up my back somehow last year a week before my duathlon - don't even know what I did but just woke up in pain a week before the event.  I've never heard of a Synvisc shot so can't speak to any effects but I hope you can get something that will work for you!

Have a great night!

E

Hey Guys and all the new people.  Thank you for the positive notes about my race.  Right now I am feeling really good about my fitness and ready for the oly.  I am looking forward to seeing how others do during their races. 

I am getting back on board the training boat after my race.  It is great to see everyone starting to fill up the training logs. 

Nice to have you in our group Kate! Don't worry too much about the swimming- I went lap swimming for the first time 5 years ago and could barely make it across the 25 yard pool (couldn't even put my face in the water lol). The next year I completed my first Olympic tri with a 1500m open water swim (OWS), so anything is possible! My advice: take a swim class if you can. At this point, technique is everything!

I don't know exactly what the situation is with your knee,  but I did my first Oly tri on an injured knee (didn't know what was wrong with it at the time, thought I had just sprained it a few months before). Because of the injury I hadn't been running at all before the race, but I had been swimming and biking. I found that I was so warmed up by the time I got to the run that I didn't have any knee pain at all. I think that if you let pain be your guide and walk when you need to you can do it. I hope the treatment works out for you

Little Kate,

I agree with IronCowgirl on the swimming.  If you just start getting some laps in and continue to add little bits it will build up for you faster than you might think.  You will also start to develop a swim stoke for yourself.  My wife was the same way about 1 year ago.  She went to a few masters classes at our pool and had some people give her a few pointers and now she loves the swim.  and beats me at it.  You are in the right group for need of swimming.  I would love to see what elaine has to say to help. 

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!" Dori (finding Nemo)

For your mile, just relax! Take it 100 by 100. If you're struggling on a lap, do some drills and stretch out your strokes for 100 yards, and tell yourself that the next one will be better. You'll do fine!

I had my speed/cadance sensors start to act up. I took it to a bike shop, and he waved a stronger magnet over the sensors. After that, they worked again. They didn't charge me either. It might be worth either calling Garmin or just taking it into a shop. 

I've never had a Synvisc shot. Have you addressed your concerns with your doctor? They might have some good advice. 

For the Oly, have back-up plans on the run. If running starts to not work out, start on a run/walk interval. Be prepared to change that interval based on how you feel.

Logging what you eat is a HUGE help. I do it on occasion, usually inspired by feeling like I'm letting my eating get out of control.

Hope the weather clears up for you soon!