Super Cats Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 20)

D001 - 2009-05-04 10:29 AM

kaqphin - 2009-05-03 8:03 PM

D001 - 2009-05-04 6:32 AM

JoeBWan - 2009-05-03 12:54 PM Great job, Dee!  I knew you could do the 5K just fine, but improving on your time?  That's awesome!

Thanks, everyone! Yup. It took me 41 minutes last week, and 38 minutes this week. (No hills, and I knew more of what to expect this time.) Now, I just need to work on my running technique for awhile.

WAY TO GO DEE!!!

Great that you arent as sore today!!!

Sounds like you have a plan too which is awesome... so whens the next race?

Well, the thing is.... athletic events aren't big around here. Then, this year, then announce TWO 5K local races. (On consecutive weekends, but that's another story.) So I did both..... But now, I don't think there's anything else around here. So I'm looking online to see what else I can find.....

There might be SOMETHING within driving distance... you definatley dont need something every weekend but a couple of things scattered throughout the year can help with your focus if you enjoy racing...

Clearly Cat hasnt been on BT as much the last few days so cannot be trusted to update the weekend news yet

Joe - thats AWESOME about you and cinnamon Way to go!!! Yes yes yes RACE REPORT!

Oh and Cat is still feeling pretty icky... whatever this thing is... tis evil!

D001 - 2009-05-04 11:22 AM

kaqphin - 2009-05-03 8:43 PM Clearly Cat hasnt been on BT as much the last few days so cannot be trusted to update the weekend news yet

Clearly, Dee has been spending TOO much time on BT. (But that's nothing new.)

Umm yes I would think that is to be expected!

WOW!!! Great pics!!!

That sounds like such a fun race to take part in!!!! And really really well organised and supplied - awesome!

Takes awhile to get that kind of routine going too... I find going to be earlier does not always mean sleep unless you keep it up for awhile and the body gets used to it!

Good Luck!

Congratulations!

Keep up the trainin and Im sure all of the races will be an absolute BLAST! Way to go!

Its no secret I go through bursts of insomnia I wouldnt wish it on anyone!

Flaco checkin in!  Sickness has gone and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be.  Must have been a 24 hr deal.   Awesome bike ride on Sunday.  It was one of those where the weather was perfect, pace relaxed and the endorphins were flowing.  I LOVE THOSE RIDE!  No pressure....just enjoyed the morning. 

Here is my current dilemma;  I want to will run a marathon under 3 hours.  If I were to use a 24 week schedule today would be the start.  If I did a 20 or 18 week schedule I could bike a lot more.  The schedule doesn't really allow many cycling/cross training hours.  In years past I would have never used such a long plan but I know what I did when I ran my PR.  I was running ALL the time.  That is not a bad thing, I'm just enjoying cycling too much right now.  I was born a runner and that is what I do best.  It doesn't look like I will do many if any tri's this year so I want to kill the goal I have set for myself.  I just want to do as little as possible to accomplish it!  So help me 24, 20, 18.......what to do?

I would say its more about how long you can focus on a goal...

For me... if I start to focus too far out I tend to loose a bit of momentum in the middle... not something you want to be doing on the road to a PB!!! Im assuming you would still be planning to run some between now and the start of the program? At least hitting some key sessions every week including the long run?

As for cycling... if you can keep the pace easy and the pressure low Im sure you can fit in some gentle easy (and short)spins around your running. You will just have to accept NO HAMMERING, NO MAJOR HILL CLIMBS, NO INTERVAL SESSIONS to keep your legs able to run!

So last time you hit a PB how far out did you start seriously training? What level is your running at now?

Have a look at the first two weeks of training for each of the plans and workout whether you would be able to comfortably start running those sessions today or not... if you think not. Then you probably should do a shorter focus plan and use the time in between to get your body prepped for the running.

Personally I would think a 16 or 20 week plan would be mroe than enough. Most builds for IMs etc often do not start until 12 weeks out. In the interim though you need to be making sure you are still running regularly and hitting a minimum of 3 key sessions a week. Get your base back up after having had some time out and work on getting consistent with yoru training.

In the base phase cycling would provide a great cardio compliment and a great different stressor for your legs. There is quite a lot of overlap between running and cycling even if the impact on the body is quite different. So the cardio gains will help and the new stresses on the body will certainly not be to the detriment of your running.

Remember... I have never run a marathon though... just read a lot about it!

I-C-E... and if you need to wrap it up!

D001 - 2009-05-05 10:20 AM Well gee. Cat's answer was much better than mine. But that's why she's Super Mentor. I'm thinking that my problem is that I don't have clear-cut goals, so I just kind of muddle through. (And this doesn't apply JUST to tri-training. Unfortunately, it also applies to my life these days... But enough of that. LOL) P.S. I hate ice. I don't want to put it on my knee! But I'll go wrap it now.

Well... goals are funny things... some people like to be really specific and precise with theirs such as... 'I will do x event in y time on z date'.

Some people like to have more non date specific goals such as 'I will run x distance in under y time'

Others just like to have a distance goal 'I will work up to being able to run x distance in one go'

All of the goals are right to be honest. Something like hitting a number of workouts in a week or an average workout time per week can be the ultimate goal!

Another thing that can work is bribes (prefereably not food related). So something like 'I will work up to a 3 hour bike ride and when I achieve that goal I will get myself a mani/pedi' or whatever else might work for you.

One example I have is I have wanted a new road bike for YEARS. I knew NOTHING about bikes when I bought my Trek so I have been wanting something better for a long long time. So I did a deal with myself..rather than just talking about it I would get myself a new bike if I could earn it by stringing together a racing season (done) and saving at least 50% of the cost before going looking (which I also did).

So now I have a road bike thats all mine once Ive finished paying for it She is soooo pretty!

One thing to remember with a goal is that they are not neccesarily exact though. There is NO shame in aiming for a goal and missing the mark either... the most IMPORTANT thing is that you try in the first place. If you meet your goal great! If you dont... Great! You tried, you aimed, you were prepared to achieve or fail and you will have learnt a lot along the way!

  Sept. 08 to April 09 is the only break I have taken since I started running regularly again many years ago.  So I would say my training is none existent right now, compared to before.  I feel like I might be starting from scratch.  That is why I'm eyeballing the 24 week deal.  In some of the runs I have had recently I have felt OK and I have been pleased with the pace, all things considered.  I have faith I could go out and hold 7:30's for a half-mary at least.   

  When I set my PR I consulted with one of the Wichita running "Gods" and he wrote a plan for me.  I had trained with him quite a bit leading up to me asking for help so he knew what I was capable of.  I think it was a 18 week plan but I had been racing much faster than I am currently.  My long run the first week was 15.  I remember that much.  Based on previous experience I haven't had trouble staying focused on a plan.  By nature I'm a very competitive person and if I set a goal and put some "friendly reminders" around the house I have been able to achieve the desired result.  With the exception of 2:59 or less!  When I was on his plan I was running 70-75 miles a week and that was all I did.  Thank goodness my SO is totally supportive and helps me all she can.  It just seemed like it was wake up, run, work, run, shower, then crash.  There are several plans that I have at my disposal, they range from 50 to 90 miles a week and last from 18 to 24 weeks.  I don't think I want to run 75 miles a week for 24 weeks. 

  So I guess what it boils down to is:  Based on my current fitness and time between now and the goal race what is the least amount of time that I need to follow a plan to get me there.  The distance doesn't scare me it is just covering it and still having fitness in the tank.  I think I have a decent understanding of my body and what I need to do it to get it to do a 3 hour marathon.  Maybe it's more mental than physical. I just need a little help!!!!

  I appreciate all the input I can get.