SWBKRUN -CLOSED DUE TO TRAINING (Page 20)

Its now official -- I am registered for my first HIM. Did get a 'registration' for Christmas, but it was just the reg info page from the web site printed out and a 'good luck, we're there for you' note from the family. But now, money has been paid, and its game on.

I'm sure I'll have a gazillion questions for everyone, so your patience is appreciated .

Race training plan starts 1/15/12. Using Don Finks "Be Iron Fit" full IM competitive plan, up to week 22 where it calls for a HIM.

I feel exited as can be, but also a bit of nausea as well.....

Congrats!  Let the obsession begin........

Mike, that is very exciting! You have a lot of knowledge available here with the experienced MG peeps. They are great people : )

BIG CONGRATS!!!!  It'll be a great experience!

Can I ask why you would use a full IM plan for a HIM?  Typically HIMs are slotted in full IM plans to assess fitness or test something, but most of the training is geared to longer distance racing---read as longer and slower.  Might a straight up HIM plan be better?

Hi gang. Thought I would throw my .02 worht into the IT band issue

The glut and the tensor fascia lata (TFL)muscles attach to the top of the IT band, and the lower part attaches to the tibia, just below the knee. It functions primarily as a stabilizer during running and can become irritated from overuse. You will usually feel the pain on the outside part of the knee or lower thigh.

Some causes of IT band inflammation include training errors and abnormal biomechanics. Sometimes it can be something as simple as  running on one side of the road. Most roads are higher in the center and slope off on either side. Therefore the foot on the outside part of the road is lower than the other. This causes the pelvis to tilt to one side ( lateral pelvic tilt)  and stresses the IT band. Other biomechanical issues that may lead to IT band problems are, “excessive” pronation of the foot and leg length discrepancy. Tight gluts or quads  may also contribute to the problem.

There are several good stretches for the IT band. One of the best I use for my clients is to lie on your back with knees bent. Lift one leg straight up and let your partner (this is a two person stretch J ) hold that leg. Your partner places one hand on the hip of the leg which is up and gently pushes across your body. Make sure the hip does not move and the knee does not bend. Hold 30+ seconds and repeat 3 sets. 

I'm interested in Suzy's question as well. I used finks plan for IM and saw a lot of people using it for a half iron, but I could never understand why, again going back to Suzy's post I saw it as a measure of fitness rather than a half iron training plan.

Intersting point about the HIM as 'fitness check' and not necessarily the goal of BIF plan. I hadn't considered that, and its giving me something to think about.

Any recommendations on other plans beyond BT or Fink? I have a couple weeks to finalize it and would be interested in seeing what else is out there.

You can create a custom workout and do it that way.  It isn't walk per se, but I used to do it for my rest intervals between mile repeats.

Cool for you!  Which race??

Patriot Half Ironman (not a WTC race). June 16th, 2012, Freetown, Mass.

Thanks!  I just programmed it and will try it this Sunday....very cool!

Awesome, Mike!  Should be a blast and not too hot at that time of year...is that the one that Christina (mighty mom) is doing?? 

I used Gale Bernhardt's half iron plan for my first HIM last year and liked it.  I'm putting it into a Google spreadsheet and will post a link to it when I'm done.  I jumped in a week 20, 27 weeks is a little too long for me. 

I'd be interested in that plan, I can see why Mike is looking at the Don Fink plan though, it just fits my lifestyle so well. (By the way, good for you Mike, great to pay your money and commit yourself!)

I'm on the final day of my running streak - it's part of the Challenge me section of the forums. I'm amazed that I haven't injured myself, I never normally run on consecutive days. This is partly due to most of my runs being short but I'm sure that doing most of the runs barefoot has made a difference. Next week it's back to swimbikerun!

Haven't heard anyone mention that yet except you.  I would like to do it someday but it is at a really bad time of the year for us with other stuff going on.  One of the guys from my tri club got selected for the Rev3 Team this year so I am sure he will be there. 

Happy New Year's Eve! 

I hope everyone has exciting (and safe) plans for the evening.

Sadly my 2011 is ending with a wimper.  I've been knocked down all week w/ flu symptoms and then a nasty case of strep throat.  I scratched my race today.  A shame too b/c the weather is quite nice outside.  Hopefully I can get out for a few easy miles today. 

Looks like everyone has great plans for 2012.  It should be lots of fun to watch everyone's progress. :-)

Sorry!  Get lots of rest and fluids.  I seem to be better symptom wise but now I am just so tired and weak.  And I can't even blame my kids.  I have no idea where this came from.  I hope the rest of the family avoids it.

Sorry you're both not feeling well.  Hopefully it ends soon.

Well, today is the final day of holiday gluttony - and not the getting drunk type.  We do Oly Bolen today.  It's a dutch tradition and it's probably the only food connection that I've been entirely unsuccessful in disconnecting the food from the emotions.  

What are Oly Bolen, you ask?  Well, they're like a donut, deep fried in oil, and then dipped in copious amounts of icing sugar while eating.  Tasty?  I think so, and I've had them every year since childhood.  I didn't even have a cake on my Birthday (and was totally okay with it), but I'll be eating some New Year's Oly Bolen.  Having said that, I'm planning on running later today, so I'll have to keep it in check so that I can still run.

I've got a couple (short) trainer rides in the last two days.  Only half an hour each, but aside from a few spin classes, I hadn't been on my bike since September.  If anything, the bike has probably become my weakest discipline, and that needs to change.  (When I started, it was the only one I could do, so I didn't prioritize it).  I'd like to start getting into the habit of spending more time on it, particularly since my HIM plan will have me on it 4 times a week (for longer then half an hour).