stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL (Page 21)

prize?

500th AND the first post on a new page?!  that is like using "Q" on a triple letter score! 

JESS,

that is awesome that you are doing the cherry blossom too!  we will have to set up a meeting point afterward!  Do I hear a post-race beer approaching?

....i know.  i have been reading about it too.  i've read a bunch of reviews on those vibram 5 fingers shoes, and it is really quite interesting.  i haven't read a bad one yet.  i did watch a video of someone putting them on, and let's just say he wouldn't have the best T2 time.  that is the only downside i have seen so far.  might have to bust out the running shoes for the tri.  interesting stuff.  i just don't know why they can't just put a sheet of fabric over the toes so they wouldn't look so stupid.

I can't believe now we all want to regress to childhood and run around barefoot.  Although those shoes look decent...a quick glance at my toes show that they do not have the 5mm spacing in between them like the shoes have.  So not sure if it will work for me.

I did try my run today on my forefoot.  It was a 5 miler and I did mile 2 completely on the forefoot.  It was a bit awkward but I appeared to be driving forward easier.  I maintained the same pace which is a wim considering it was something new.  Towards the end of that mile I felt a slight twinge...very slight in my calf.  Rather than risk it I figured one mile was enough like that.  Thankfully I had read Steve's post about hurting his calf's when he started out so I figure 1 mile at a time in the middle of a run until I can do the full duration without pain.

One thing I have learned training for tri's is that you have to be very mindful of your body when something doesn't feel right.  For years I could play baseball, surf, soccer, etc with little twinges...but in long distance stuff that is just asking for trouble.  My trng partner has been hurt now from some lower extremity issue for a few months and I am getting much closer to him through consistent, persistant, approaches to training.  He's running 8's for long distance so I have about a minute to go to catch him.

Hey steve,

you can send the gel sampler down the ladder.  While, I LOVE gel i can't take it because

1.) i cheated

2.)i just bought a whole box of gu at the MB expo.

3.) it sounds like a perfect way for a new triathlete (grace) to experiment with what works.

I really just wanted the glory

.....and it will be easy to find me at the cherry blossom 10 miler... I will be the one running barefoot

.....and yes, I am about as extroverted as they come....not a partier really, but an extrovert.  Oh, mentor!  How well you know us!

HEY JESS!!

i just found out that our local swim club, the reston masters, does a ows clinic and 1 or 2 mile ows on may 23rd and 24th.  the clinic is sat and the races are sun.  i am pretty sure you can just do the clinic on saturday if that is all you want.  it isn't too far from you so i thought i would pass it along.  here is the website.  the clinic is only $10.50! 

https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=1107&smid=1465

Steve -

Ugh, went to the community center bright and early today to get started on swim training.  That was terrible!  It has been a long while since I really swam at all, and I was never proficient at breathing.

I'm going put in three swims a week, and look for some guidance on my stroke, so I know that at some point I will improve - but sputtering along breathing water just trying to finish one 25m leg was very dis-heartening.

On the upside, ran 25 min yesterday and it was much more fluid than previously (as well as being a pseudo-brick due to my commute).  

Regarding BARP, Sax has obviously called all of the bluffs. There is a barefoot run in my near future - though I don't have the benefit of SoCal weather, so "near" might be a flexible term.

Steve-

Free thoughts from a complete novice, worth what you pay.  Regarding "pushing off" from the mid foot strike.  As I understand (which is vaguely at best) the Chi running theory there would be no pushing.

The idea at its simplest is to lean forward and use the legs to "catch" you as you fall, over and over again.  The muscle motion is meant to be a picking up of the foot using the hamstrings (? my anatomy is failing me, muscle opposite quad) without any effort from the lower legs.  The ideal condition of the foot/ankle in this stride is floppy loose, literally as if you were trying to shake something off the bottom of your shoe - or bare foot :-)

According the the Chi guy, whose name escapes me, you would be moving forward mainly via the force of gravity (falling) and using the legs only as a temporary support - moving on as quickly as possible. The idealized gait (in this theory) would be similar to running across sand while leaving the shallowest footprint possible.  He advocates lengthening the stride behind you rather than in front to increase speed.  He does this by leaning farther forward - referring to the lean as the "gas pedal".

I think this follows the general outline of Neil's earlier post regarding the placement of the foot in the stride - essentially under the body not in front of it.

There you have it, running theory from some body who has racked up all of five miles in the last two years.  I'll take my ego and go now.

I am going for a swim.