Ernesto's group (4th season) - Closed (Page 21)

Another good week in the weightless challange. With 2 weeks to go i need to start trying to keep the weight on. Been at least 5-6 years since i have been 90kg so it feels very good.

WOW! Thanks! I will PM you my address. And I can do better than a Mojito, let me know when you have plans to come this way (don't worry though, a mojito will be included with the whole package).

so after another good swim workout I finally convinced myself to reduce the seeding 100 time from 1:45 to 1:30; only problem the registration had locked out already!!! Now the stark realization of this has just hit me - every length I will be 4 seconds faster which means lots of passing or simply suck it up and draft to the finsih :-)

Lesson - read the rules carefully next time and ensure any deadlines are fully understood.

Check out this site and this one. 

Completed my second triathlon on Saturday. The good news is that I finished 3rd on my category (Podium!), the bad news is that here were only 4 of us .

This was a "c" race for me, just to get more experience under my (racing) belt. Previous to my first tri in February, I have never done any type of organized race (tri, running, or anything) before. Heading to the race was raining quite hard, with lightning and thunder. That continued until 10 min. before the race where it magically stopped. So the race was overcast, but no rain. However setting up transition in a downpour is not fun.

The race was supposed to be 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 3 mile run. Organizers decided to cut the bike to 5 miles (1 lap instead of 2). I think they did it 'cause they had a window of about 2 hours before more rain, so wanted to get the race in. Due to the rain, the organizer mentioned that about 50% of the registered racers did not show up, so a small race became even smaller (about 90 racers in total for the triathlon, don't know how mnay for the duathlon).

Race went well. Total time 0:59:56, 3 out of 4 on my category (Clydesdale 185+ lbs - 40+ yrs). My swim went as expected (which means slow), but I finished tired enough to affect my T1 and the rest of the race (same as my first race). Despite the bike being short, I caught myself not pushing, as if I was in training mode and not racing mode. I think that not knowing if we were having a race until almost start time, and the whole rain thing took away my "racing edge". Thus a relatively slow ride. The run was good. On my first race I barely managed a 10:40 pace, this time it was 9:22 (28:07). Obviosuly the short ride has something to do with it, but happy with my run. And this despite having to stop 3 times to tie my laces. Very annoying.

Overall, a great experience, and enjoyed every second (even the rain). Especially my first podium. I joked that I got podium and was also on the bottom half in my category, but I can only race against the people who show up. Just hoping my next one will be in normal weather (I had wind gust of 25 mph on my first race). Key lernings:

1) Will look into swimming lessons. Not only I am BOP in the swim (although I am a BOP for all three segments, so that is not of great concern as of now), but I finished tired enough to affect the rest of my race. I know that an improvement on technique will help tremendously. Only need to figure out the schedule.

2) Need to practice my transitions. Up to now was not too worried about it, but I can see I am leaving a couple of minutes on the table that should be easier to eliminate than improving my swimming/biking/running by the same time.

3) Need to keep my focus. This was not an issue for my first race. But for this one, focus and edge were not 100% there. It showed in the bike, were I held 18 mph for my first race (12 miles). For this one, a 5 miler than i should have pushed, I did not reach 17 mph. COnditions were very wet, but still, it was only 5 miles!

Next race is in June (cannot wait!), my last sprint before moving up to olympic/international distance in August. I am also planning to do my first 5K on May, so I am sure to PR that one.

My entire week was pretty poor training wise, I've been sick for the most part and today I coughed so hard during my run today that my ribs are still hurting. Hoping to get healthy quick and to be consistent, I'm only six weeks from my 70.3 and at this pace I am facing a disastrous race.

We'll see how I recover, the good news is that being sick I had time to go get a Retul bike fit (it takes over five hours) on Saturday morning. The results are incredible. I squeezed an extra 17 watts of power, a more aerodinamic position for both road and triathlon bike and much more comfort. Retul technology takes the artisan part of the bike fit and the guessing to replace it with empirical data in real time and comparisons from column to column. It is also incredible to see how a quarter of an inch on the cleats will do, half an inch higher or lower, etc.

Thank you! The Zero to One Mile plan is exactly what I'm looking for. 

Keep the enthusiasm too, I love that passion.

- Yes Jim, IM Texas is getting closer and I already got my number #2115!!! How did your friend do today?

- Lynne, I hope you are feeling better from your appendectomy!

- Sammy, congrats on your 2nd tri today and even better a podium finish (half the battle is just showing up!)

- Mae, congrats on your 10K PR!

- Ernesto, hope you get better soon and even with little training, I'm sure you can ace your HIM in 6 weeks!

- Joe glad to see you had a good workout and that all the hard work you are putting in is paying off!

- On my side I also had some good workouts this weekend and focused on testing my nutrition strategy for the IM, which is slowly getting better.  I had a nice 20.5 mile run one day and finished feeling good at the end.  Yesterday I did an 88 mile bike ride (5:35) with 9,600 ft of climbing + 6 mile brick run and was also able to finish feeling good and not overly exhausted.

Since Mark shared some awesome pics from his ride, here are a couple of pics from my route yesterday (I could not embed them in the post so I'm pasting the links)

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=16404&photoid=142440

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=16404&photoid=142439

Gabe, your pics look very exotic and you look super fit!

Samy, congratulations on the hardware and, most of all, on your enthusiasm!

 There's some good stuff going on here!  Good training, weight loss and congrats on the first tri Samy!  Well not such good news for Honeybadger - hope you are feeling good soon.

I've been stressing about my training.  My A race is in June and I'm just not where I want to be at this stage.  It seems it's one thing after another.  I slowed down on the running and legs are feeling way better but now I seem - for the first time in my life - to have developed allergies and I have a new appreciation for what people go through every bloody year.  Sinus headaches, stuffy, runny nose.  Blah!  I went to do a long run last night and to my surprise the bugs were out - swarms of them aiming for your face and eyes.  Between the bugs, the snot - I just bailed doing only 10K.  I guess on the upside I had mini protein fixes whenever I wanted (and mostly when I didn't want them!!).  But ya - another missed long run eek!  I don't know if I have enough time to turn this around and do this the way I wanted to do it.  And so then the decision becomes - do a race knowing you are unprepared?  Or just pass and focus on one you can perform properly in? 

Samyg

Good job on your race. Hey a podium is a podium. Its like you said, you can only race the people who show up.

Gabe

Great pics, you are making me miss Guatemala. We are still trying to pull together the logistics for my daughter's trip. I will let you know when I am coming. The guy I know that did IM South Afirca finished in 12:41:34. I have not seen his race report yet, but according to the IM website it was a very slow swim because of heavy surf.

Mathews

Lake Huron where I swim may be very cold and barely breaks 60F, but nothing in it can eat me. Be careful.

I've been stressing about my training.  My A race is in June and I'm just not where I want to be at this stage.  It seems it's one thing after another.  I slowed down on the running and legs are feeling way better but now I seem - for the first time in my life - to have developed allergies and I have a new appreciation for what people go through every bloody year.  Sinus headaches, stuffy, runny nose.  Blah!  I went to do a long run last night and to my surprise the bugs were out - swarms of them aiming for your face and eyes.  Between the bugs, the snot - I just bailed doing only 10K.  I guess on the upside I had mini protein fixes whenever I wanted (and mostly when I didn't want them!!).  But ya - another missed long run eek!  I don't know if I have enough time to turn this around and do this the way I wanted to do it.  And so then the decision becomes - do a race knowing you are unprepared?  Or just pass and focus on one you can perform properly in? 

Move in the positive for the first time this week. Dropped 5lbs from last weeks increase to 184, so down 4 total. Funny what some training and focus on diet can do

Also a newbie, but another option would be to look for another "A" race and still do this one as a B or C race. Don't know what would be your alternative race (or how soon) if you don't do this one, but you have to ask yourself if you pass on this race, will you regret it?

If you skip it, on race Sunday, while eating cocoa puffs and watching Sponge Bob Square Pants in your jammies, are you going to think "I wish I was racing?"

Wow, miss a coupla days around here and you find lots to catch up on!!

Honey Badger - Major suckage, feel better soon!

Sammy - Congrats on the HW!!

Playlists - This is kinda funny to me as I have the exact opposite problem where I need to ditch my playlist to slowwwwww things down after attemtping to run in my MAF zone of 136.  I may need to start looking for some good chamber music or psychedelic 60's stuff to keep me in the zone

Yesterday I worked transition at a local mini sprint that I try and volunteer at each year. It's alot of fun as there are alway a bunch of nervous 1st timers and it's one of the few places in the Tri world where I can offer some advice and try and take help the edge off with a joke or two. Oh, and I get race credits for future events that makes my wife happy.

I am debating the same about not competing in a race I already registered for.  I was going to do the Boulder Sunrise Sprint but the past two weeks have left me with very sporadic training and my swim was already very weak! Not to mention the bike!  This sprint is a little longer with a 750m swim and a 17.3 mile bike.  I could finish but the state I'd be in mentally might not be worth it.  Plus it's 2 hours away and I'd go the day before, not seeing my son and possibly Scott before they leave for camp.  I did find to other Sprints that are 500m swims with 13mile bikes that are in July and August.  I want to do the Denver 1/2 mary in Sept so I do have options.  Just not sure about the one in June.  Hate to not do it and be stuck wondering but on the other side...I don't just want to "finish".  So....Tomorrow I will bike and hit the pool again.  

On a bright note...  The pediatric neurologist cleared our son and said the "abnormalities" were within normal range of deviations and he has a "beautiful Brain"  Then she said he was cleared to return to football!  Not sure I'll make it through another season but with the scans already done and more baselines being completed... We are better prepared.  she did say..."at least it's not hockey".  

Public Service Announcement:

Children+Influenza=No Training for Parents

That is all.  Please carry on.

Question for the group:  I'm going to start pre-clipping my shoes in T1, partly to save time and mostly because the cleats for speedplay pedals seem awfully hard to walk around in, let alone run.  My shoes (Specialized Trivents) have a little thing on the insides where a rubber band or whatever can attach to for keeping them oriented correctly while awaiting me to get on the bike.

Can someone please post your favorite youtube link or link to an article with explanations of how to tie the shoes upright and methods for mounting the bike?

Thanks!

Great news! I know it has been difficult, so I am sure you are elated and relieved. Maybe you should compile a great video of game winning field goals and hope he becomes a kicker. ..

All I have to say about transitions is: practice, practice and practice some more. In thirty minutes or so, you should be able to do it with your eyes closed.

Congrats to all those who raced!  I'm jealous and reading the race report posted made me a little sick to my stomach for my first sprint which isn't until June yet! 

Honeybadger - get better soon!

Goblue = boo to the kiddos and sickness - we just got over strep here.

On the training front here I bought a Garmin Forerunner 305, it should be here in a few days.  I also purchased the Maf book so will begin formal HR training with ya'll.