MightyMojoMentorGroup -- (Full House!) (Page 206)

JEFF -

YOUR rankings baffle me, too.  Didn't this same thing happen last year, where you seemd to have a rankings score, and enough races.....but you weren't on the fullrankings list? 

So, i went there last night, and there you weren't.  I saw you had three races accounted for, but nothing for King Tut.  i then checked to see if any scores were up for King Tut, and for both KT races -- nada.  The races times ar there, but no socre, and so i think USAT is waiting on something -- don't know what, but the ball seems to be in their court.

But here's an interesting twist.  I decided to do a different search fo you, wondering idf something would suggest that you are not a USAT member, and typed in your name, but without an age-specification............and there wwere the same ones for Jeff Cramer, 49 --- but now another for same name, but 45, and that was for McKinney.  I took done the time for the 45-year-old Jeff Cramer, and it jived with the time for you in your race report.

It turns out that was you best race, at 6-.857, and right up until about two minutes ago i was thinking that you needed to phone USAT and (a) ask why your aren't listed, and (b) tell them that you are the guy who did McKinney in 1:14:50.  BUT NOW..........I wonder if you show up in the list afterall, but at the McKinney-added average of 65.570-something.

So, i'm gonna check that now!

King Tut was shortened to a mini sprint due to thunderstorms. I wondered if that was why

JEFF again -

Nope.  That didn't work.  So, I'm back to my suggestion of phoning them and giving them all your particulars -- age, USAT #, races done that were USAT-sanctioned.  I have phoned the rankings geeks just once, and got immediate satisfaction; hope you're as fortunate!

Onwards!

JEFF once more -

Woth asking, but the general policy is that when a tri becomes a du (as happened to me at Mainiac this season), it counts aas a TRI.  So, i can't see why they wouldn't count a mini-sprint, especially when I have seen times for races of under 30 minutes in the rankings.  In fact, that is very common.  Something else to bring up in a phone call!

Onwards once more!

JEFF-for-the-fourth-time --

I will look into your logs later, but as your decribe things, i'd say you are doing it right.  If I had to quibble some, i'd question the bike rides (and suggest that you drop them until post-DM), but just viewing the running with run-onkly blinders, it all looks pretty good to me.  To wit:

• Admirable mileage, and with no "typical" injuries or even aches.
• No tiredness.
• Right distances (20 and maybe 22) still to do.
• Conservative approach with the walk segments.
• Using HRM to keep you honest.

All of that is good, to be sure!  And now to (hopefully) allay some of your concerns.

As to your thoughts that the training should be harder and/or more painful --- "possibly" for the former, "NO!" for the latter.  The only way you might want "painful" is in terms of overriding fatigue, but that doesn't count as 'painful" in my book.  The fact that you are NOT feeling pain is very positive, and while it might nag at you that you aren't working hard enough, it is far better to proceed through marathon training pain-free than to be hurt on and off -- or even just once.  I doubt I have this info in my logs, but i would say that my best marathons saw the training proceed without problems.

In fact, in '09 I trained really well for Kiawah marathon (~Dec 11), got up to maybe 323 miles, everyting seemed perfect -- and then about ten days out my ITB acted up.  I had to bag the race, which of course was a shame, but I look back on that training experience as near-peerfect -- i juts need the race to be about three weeks earlier!  Specifically, i had no injury/ache issues before the ITB falre-up, and I finsihed all my long runs feeling not much more than I had done a long run.  I'm guessing that your longer runs in this training cycle have left you feeling about the same.

Moving on to DM being another "death march", well, from what you've said I can't see that in the cards at all.  Is it possible that you equate a slower time than you want to being a death march, or does a death march carry with it a fair degree of physical suffering?  If it's the latter, i see it all the opposite -- that your trianing is on track to get you to the race in good health, and that you will successfully knock off the event mile by mile by mile. 

So, I guess what I'm curious about is (a) where do you think you have "really screwed up this training cycle", and (b) what exactly are the suspicions that you fear wil be confirmed.   Thoughts?

Anyhow, I think you're doing well with this, Jeff.  You are in a great position to have until Dec 9 (?) to fine-tune stuff, which is really a mammoth chunk of time.  But just be careful about doing too much big weekly volume, and if you must choose, err on the side of getting in ther requisite long runs.  And if you'v eknocke doff a few big weeks in a row, think really seriously about a drop-back week to maybe 25-30 miles.  If the 20-miler is part of it, you might look at two other (a 6 and a 4?) runs to bring it up to 30, or "save" the 20-miler for a bigger week and do a 15-miler as part of the drop-back week. 

Take the long view of this, meaning that even though you don't feel things are hard right now, project up to the two weeks aout from DM and how you might be feeling if you keep the trajectory you're on. A touch of fatigue might well be okay now, but you don't want it once Thanksgiving is past!

Im probably comparing it to the busyness of iron training, always having to gear up for another workout, squeeze in something else, recover from one etc. In retrospect, at Redman circumstances enabled me to arrive at the start rested (other than that weekend) and uninjured and this seems a worthy goal for the DM.  Running alone today made it easier to pace myself slower without guilt, and I fueled well. I planted water every four miles, had a small gatorade in 2 spots and 2 mini cliff bars and 2 granola bars alternately along the route. Coming home I felt good and felt like I had fun-like I had just done an easy 6 or something! So I suppose I just had one of those transcendent workouts where things click right.

I understand the point about the cycling but I probably won't stop, I'm just not taking it very seriously other than seeing the 3000 mile point creeping up on me! I also noted that my ankle felt much better saturday after a couple of hours cycling, the odd ankle/foot pain I had from my race was soothed somewhat on the bike..maybe some sort of physical therapy for the tendons? Near perfect weather makes both my bikes restless and need to exercised a little.

JEFF -

Good posts, to which i have three responses.

As for comparing what you're doing now with the busyiness of iron training --- you've got THAT right!  The few times i have ended the tri season with some running races, it has seemed almost a gift to have life so simple, gear needs so minimal.. It does make me feel sort of "slack", however, I guess similar to what you feel about needing to keep squeezing stuff in.

"Transcendent" would be nice; wish they could all be like that!  You planned and executed it brilliantly, with all the caches of nutrition/hydration stuff, so it doesn't surprise me at all that it all seemed to "click right" for you.  It's been a long time since I viewed myslef as a serious "stand-alone" runner, but back when it could easily get tot eh point when it just mostly seemed like fun.  I'm really pleased for you that yours was like that, and have to wonder if you've done enough running now, and leaned enough about pacing and nutrition, to be at the point wjhere most longer runs will seem like close to pure fun.

Finally, cycling and the ankle.  I think it is very likely that riding serves as physio for whatever the foot/ankle problem is, and so my quick responsse is that for every run, spend a few minutes doing some gentle ankle stretching and flexing.  It could be simple ankle rotations, around one direction a few times and then reverse it, or maybe even flexion stuff that simulates what your feet do on the bike.  I wouldn't be surprised if efforts in the stretching/flexing area brought good relief to your ankle when you're running.

If so, then the bigger question becomes one of what exactly is happening to your ankle when it is problematic....but we'll save that one for later!

Steve,

I saw you guys were talking about USAT rankings. I should qualify for one this year having done 3 races. When I log in to USAT it is not showing my September race as most recent, but one I did in August. I figured they were behind on the rankings stuff and haven't checked. Is this a reasonable assumption, or do you think it might be there?

Hoosierman

DOUG -

There's a link on the USAT site to see races that haven't turned in their results yet. I'd check there.

DOUG -

I only found one of ours, that being Columbus.  I went to the Hoosierman website and they proudly carry the USAT there, but I couldn't find the results/rankings for it at USAT rankings.  I haven't gone to the Jaguar website to see if they are in fact USAT-sanctioned.

The rankings website was having difficulties a few weeks ago, and there were sweveral days it was shut down for "re-calculations".  But there are no disclaimers on the site now, suggesting thast they have calculated for rankings for racs that have been submitted to the.  That said, though, i found one of JEFF'S where the race is there with individual times for it........but no rankings.

Go to the link DAVE suggested and see if either Jaguar or Hoosierman is in that list.  if not, maybe email them and ask why they haven't yet submitted the race results.  USAT seems to have cracked down quite a bit on  procrastinating RDs who take forever to send in their results, and it's a far more timely operation now than it was just a couple of years ago.

I hope you get some satisfaction from this.  So far, i have yet to "lose" a race that I thought was USAT-sanctioned, but i know it happens.  Hopefully that's not the case for you.

Semi-funny story.  I have eyed a race in MD the past few years, and it is done by a group that alwys USAT-sanctions their races.  I came very close to signing up for it this year, and then chose another race instead.  It wasn't until a few weeks later that I just randomly came across a thread soemwhere saying that the race (Half-Full) was NOT sanctioned due to the presnece of one particular athlete.  (Hint:  His initials are L.A.)

i would've been furious had I down it and then learnd that the sanctioning had been pulled.  But an odd thing is that in the USAT rankings for 40-44, there in the #2 spot is our friend, Lance.  Now, maybe that reflects races he did before the boom was lowered a few weeks ago, as it doesn't make sense that he would be included in the rankings if USAT did not sanction Half-Full back in late September.  Hmmmm.

Had a decent swim today and a good run on Saturday.  For the run, I felt like I was running faster than I usually do (without trying to) and it seemed easier.  The Garmin did show a modest increase in speed.  While running I have no discomfort at all but the next day I do feel the knee problem I mentioned before so I am running less often and with caution to not push too hard.  I'm hoping to ease through it without aggravating it.

We've been experiencing some phenomenal weather the last few days.  Today we got up to 17C/62F and after swimming a group of us went over to Timmy's for coffee and we sat outside!!  Maybe not a big deal to our southerners but I can honestly say I've never sat outside in November ever (especially without a jacket) and I usually expect some kind of snow storm on or by November 4th.

Jeff - amazed you were out cycling in such cool weather.  I went out in March in 41F weather and it was wet and windy - just not very nice.  A tuque, gloves and booties might have made it bearable. 

"tuque" makes me laugh-especially since my appreciation of Canadian culture is limited to those of you on this forum, a brief girl friend from Manitoba and Bob and Doug McKenzie!

We hit some record highs last week-back up near 90, expecting some wintery precip this weekend-the fall roller coaster. It was about 75f and sunny when I took my little recovery jog today....

Steve,

Emails are sent. Got a response from the IUPUI Jaguar sprint tri who said he "thought" the results had been turned in, but would check with his race director. No response yet on Hoosierman.

Have a great, fast time! It sounds like a fun race Mucho mojo coming your way.

Johanne

Jeff - your temps sound pretty good from here.  By Friday we're supposed to be down to 32F.  We moved south to have a bit less winter.  Where we used to live they already have a fair bit of snow on the ground and the lakes will be iced over in the next couple weeks.

As for Canadian Culture, Bob and Doug pretty much sum it up.  I mean who doesn't like back bacon (plus poutine and beavertails).

Dave - I can't wait to see your times for your Sprint.  Have fun.

Today I had my first cycling trainer session with a coach and about 25 others.  He took it pretty easy on us today but the time went by quickly and I worked up a good sweat.  I really had trouble with gearing down and standing up on the bike.  Hopefully I'll figure that out fast. 

We're also keeping an interested eye on the US election results tonight. 

GEORGE -

Do you ever try to be "proactive" with your post-run knees soreness?  That is, do you ice a bit after your runs?  It can be that simple, just some ice; think of it as a "cold-down" as opposed to "cool-down"!

As for the indoor cycling sessions, I'm sure you'll get better with the shifting real fast.  Being able (and willing!) to use your shifters can be a real boon come race day, as many people just get stuck in one or two gearings which keep them in a perceived comfort zone, but does little to help them go faster --- and may actually make them struggle more on rollers and moderate climbs.

Where exactly did you have trouble with that gearing.  I'm on your other post now, but seem to remember a relationship between "gearing down" and "standing".  (I'll check it after I post this.)  Is it getting into a gear where you don't have too little resistance, and then overcompensating with the shifting and being in a gear where you're pedaling through a seas of molasses?

GEORGE again -

I had it right as to what you said, but now have to learn what the functional (you as a rider) effect was.

I stayed up until about 2:20 a.m. with the election coverage.  I still hold U.S. citizenship, so all of this matters to me to some degree, and I was maybe making up for four years ago when we were in Spain and there was ZERO election coverage.  That was really frustrating, and it wasn't even in the Spanish newspapers the next days.  And wherever we wera t the time was without internet, so I couldn't even work through that.  Argghhh!  So, I figured I could afford one night every four years when I indulge like that, and it was made easier by not having to be anywhere at an early hour -- and then perform!

DAVE -

How'd ya do?  How'd ya do?

Mojo was there, and I tried to make sure there wasn't any left wafting about that the main mass of competitors could access today.  I think you have a decent amount of experience on treadmills (right?), so that should give you a big advantage over the majority who either have never been on one, or have a defeated attitude about them tied in with just avoiding them like the plague.

500y swim -- would that be about 7:30 for you?

DOUG -

Any word back yet on Hoosierman?  i haven't looked at the rankings to see if they have been added, but they could be there just through the prod of your emails.  We can hope!

JOHANNE -

Getting cloooooooooser......!!!!!!!

OK. I ended yesterday in 1st place at the 24th Annual Indoor Triathlon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society . . . . . . . .out of two early participants! The main group will be competing this evening. I'll get periodic updates since some Pgh Tri Club people are participating.

Swim was held in a three lane, 20 yard long pool. So we had to do 25 laps to reach 500 yards. I took the middle lane and swam pretty well to knock it out in, I think, 6:19. The RD said that would be a pretty competitive time.

The bike was on Schwinn Airdyne bikes (the ones with fan and the arms that go back and forth). I wore my trisuit, which was still a little wet, and I kept slipping forward on the seat, which didn't help matters. The RD warned us not to go out too fast. He recommended 72-73 RPMs which I stuck to exactly. My competition was a pretty mucular guy who is probably a stronger cyclist. However, I peeked over at his screen, and he was doing about 75 RPMs for the first mile or so, so he was ahead. At about halfway, we were neck and neck, and in the second half, he dropped to 60-some RPMs and I was able to kick it up to 75. So I did 10 minutes something and beat him pretty good.

My quads were so full of blood from the bike that they felt ponderous starting on the run. I had them start me out at 7:00 miles but quickly ramped it up to 6:00 miles. I held that for the first mile, then dropped slightly to 6:18. For the final .25 mile, the RD told me to not leave anything on the treadmill, so I dropped it to 5:45 mile pace and finished in 12 something and won that segment too.

So having a private race was a unique experience, but it would have been more fun to have compeitors cheering one another on. And it was pretty weird sitting at my desk in my work clothes having already done a triathlon that day! (and resisting the urge to tell every single person about it!). We'll see how those times hold up.

No going back nooooooooooooooooooooow!!!!!

Steve,

Nope, not yet. I wonder about sending something to USAT. I think USAT has an interest in making sure they get the results from races they sanction. What do you think about me contacting them about this?

DOUG -

Yes!  You should contact them, and they do care.  The past two seasons have seen enormous improvements in how quickly most races are ranked, and of the 18 or so USAT races I did in '11 and '12, I would guess that 10-12 had rankings within two weeks of the race,  another 5 or 6 were within three weeks, and 2-3 within a month.  I can't rmemebr any that were lagging by more than four weeks, whereas for years that was pretty common; within two weeks was unheard of.  So whatever changes USAT made (be it internal as in software, or external as in thmbscrews applied to procrastinating RDs), it has had a very positive effect for rankings-freaks such as I.

Keep me posted on this, okay?