Tri/tbay group closed (Page 21)

Great race mike

My report for another Sprint.  This was my first race last yr, so fo the first time i am able to gauge progress in actual race conditions.

S Rank 13   S Time 10:59   (600 yd)
B Rank 11   B Time 31:51  B Speed 20.0   (10.6 mi)
R Rank 17   R Time 27:10  R Pace  8:46 (3.1 mi)
Final  1:09:59

I am really excited because last yr my time here was 1:27.48 (18 minutes slower)
Even since my last race in July, my running has improved.  Being able to maintain 8:46 pace after the bike is huge for me.  My goal was 1:15    At no time in the run I felt like there was no end so I kept pushing hard (this Garmin is a great motivator - seeing what you're actually doing and figuring out you can maintain that pace for another mile really helps)

Overall: swim was middle of the pack, strong bike, and back to middle on the run (215th, 78th and 216th respectively). Running in the middle of the pack feels lots better than near the tail end. The OA place was 130 from 500 athletes - almost on the top 25%  And it would take just a couple of seconds to get there, so I am ready.

I am also ready to start training for OLYs.  Although I will probably repeat this race next year as well, I plan on doing only OLYs and train for the full marathon. 

I swam on the first wave and decided to stay on the inside.  Although I got my share of kicks and elbows, i am happy with that decision.  There was a bit of a current against us but 13th/34 out of the water is a good way to start the race. I looked back when I was on the sand and the next wave was just passing the slower swimmers.

The one thing I really hated most was landing a great rack (first one next to the bike start).  This menat I had to run over the entire parking lot (pebbles) to get to the bike from the water, but also coming in from the bike, they made us walk our bikes all the way to the end and back to our racks, then run all the way to the back for the Run start.  That long bike push was crazy and added some unnecessary time, but it was what it was.    My garmin time was 1:07:10    That would have just given me a 12th place on AG but the satisfaction of beating one of my local training buddies.  Next time he better look out. 

Let me preface my next sentence by saying, I am not a doctor, never even played one on TV.  Mike, I don't want to sound like I'm piling on, but one thing that really changed my workout/overall hydration was the book Olman is talking about.  It encourages drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day not counting anything you drink during exercise.  For me that means a minimum of 80 ounces of water per day (160lbs/2 in ounces).  Since I've started doing that I have found that I start my workouts topped off and feel better longer.  I usually hit 96 ounces (fill up my 24 ounce water bottle four times during the work day). 

Today I leave for Phoenix for the greatest fantasy football league in history.  Me and two other guys started it ten years ago.  It has evolved into this same group making this trip every year.  A friend of mine has been blessed with the ability to sustain a 14 year MLB career and currently plays for the Astros.  Starting 7 years ago, every year (usually Labor Day) the other 9 of us in the league travel to wherever he is playing for our draft.  He gets us rooms at the team hotel and tickets right behind home plate for all the games that weekend.  We've been to KC, Cleveland twice, Detroit, LA (Anaheim), and Houston while he has played for Anaheim (won WS in 2002 with them), Chicago White Sox and now Houston.  There is a waiting list of 9 replacements if someone gives up their spot in the league (this has never happened in the last 7 years, although we kicked a guy out two years ago).  There are 4 original members of the league left that were there in '99.  The league is all about this draft weekend.   Here's the link to the hotel we're staying at:

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Phoenix/Default.htm

Yeah, kind of looks like a dump.  Have a great weekend!!  I know I will!!

I'll chime in on  the Hammer, although my knowledge is limited. I have studied the product information and have shared it with a dietitian friend to look at. I feel they have done their homework and produce very high quality products, with performance being placed at the highest regard. I haven't been using as much of their product as I did last year, but I use perpeteum, endurolytes either powder of capsules and the gels when I get a chance. I haven't used any of the other products, ie. race caps, recoverite etc. I was using their Whey protein, but its a little expensive and I found another comparable brand that is more cost effective to use.

Steven have a good trip and have some fun. I was an Astros fan when I lived in Houston, had a couple of dome foams in my day. 32oz Pearl beer in a cup, blah.

Hey Mike I tried the start out with the gel pre-race in the absence of a regular meal, I didn't like it. I understand their thought on getting a little more sleep but I think it is another area that needs to be rehearsed. So see how it goes this weekend. I'm going to do around 10 miles tomorrow, I won't eat that much in advance and mostly rely on what I take with me during the run. I'll mix a bottle of electrolyte and take a gel with me, that ususally takes care of a run this distance.

I just scratched from my HIM race on the 13th.  I have a stress fracture in my foot.  I've had it since 8/1, but now the pain is no longer bearable.  I suspected it for a long time, but I blocked it out as long as I could.  I was hoping to just get by until the 13th and then rest it for 8-10 weeks.  If you need me, I'll be in the deep, dark recesses of the injury cave.

Hello Boys,

Good to see your posts. Steven, thats no good, a friend of mine also has the possibly the same issue. He upped his run mileage considerably and might of worked himself into an injury. At least you caught it, and  rest will cure it. I'm sure your dissapointed not to do the HIM. Mike I hear you about staying healthy. The swine flu is running rampant around my area, I know 5 who have had in the last six weeks. So I'm trying to be careful. Also one of my daughters friends at college has come down with it as well.

I'm feeling ready for Oct. 3rd a couple more weekends of some long ride/runs and it will be showtime. Mike how are you feeling. There are alot of BT'ers doing that race. Your run  training should right on to do a 1/2mary in the HIM.

My recovery has been really good after hard/long workouts which is encouraging so I'm looking forward to the day.

Have a great weekend, keep talking  to us Steven, we need to hear the echo from the pit.