Gray Guy/Girls Tri--Masters Sprint/Olympic Mentor Group CLOSED (Page 21)

Originally posted by tkatzhyman

Yes it was a nice day for the swim and good to meet Stu too. Ended up 2ed in my age group out of three.
I've posted a short race report http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp...

Have a Sprint Triathlon coming this Saturday in Hampton, VA. Short 500m swim with a flat 10 mile bike and 5k run and then six weeks of serious training before The Nation's Tri in DC.

Originally posted by dustytrails


I am so jazzed about someone taking the time to be so nice and order and send that mug. Thanks again Guy!

WHAT EVERYONE GOT GOING THIS WEEKEND ? ? ?

My Race is next weekend. I been track running race distance every other day..totally ready for Swim leg. I will start last and finish last...but thats okay for now. it is what it is. The bike part intrigues me the most cuz I have never been timed on this bike before and I know its fast.

Originally posted by JREDFLY


RUNNING HELP NEEDED: Been disappointed with my running lately because I have been trying to keep my BPM down in the 130's and I have had to run as slow as 13 min/miles and it is still in the 140's. I heard this is because of the heat, yesterday it was 92F. I literally felt like I was practically walking out there. Now I am thinking to hell with the heart rate monitor and just run at a comfortable pace 10-11 min/miles and do some of Steve's speed work to get ready for my sprint tri in two weeks. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Originally posted by Bull

Injured my Calf Muscle doing my run this morning. Then again, when you have lemons, make lemonade. Since swimming has been my weakest part, I'll probably spend much more time in the pool instead. Just curious, how do you handle the mental aspects of injuries?

Originally posted by Bull

Just curious, how do you handle the mental aspects of injuries?

Originally posted by k9car363

Bull -

First, so sorry to hear about your injury.  Hopefully it will not be too serious and you will recover quickly.

I have said for ages that the mental aspect of athletics is at least as important as the physical aspect, if not more important.  Simply put, if you don't THINK you can do it, you don't have an ice cubes chance in hell of doing it.  You have already taken an important first step when you said, " Then again, when you have lemons, make lemonade."  That mental state will overcome your minor physical setback.

I will tell you a quick story that I have always found somewhat inspirational.  Back when I was swimming, we had an individual on the team that was a very successful age group competitor who had qualified for his first short course national championships.  The week before the nationals, Jimmy was helping his dad in their orchard and fell out of an Avocado tree, breaking his neck at C-3.  Thank goodness their was no paralysis, however, the doctors said his head had to be immobilized for six months and he would not be able to swim.  Jim Montrella, our coach, said that was unacceptable - 6 months without working out would essentially end his swimming career.  So Jim, Jimmy, his parents, and the doctors all got together and formulated a plan of alternative workouts to keep Jimmy's fitness up.  He had this big contraption on his head and shoulders and ended up kicking, every night while we worked out, he also did about an hour of weights, every night.  His first meet back after his injury healed he set personal records in every event he competed in.  His apparent setback turned into a positive because he was able to increase his upper body strength through the strength work.

Yes, it may be true that you will not be able to run for some period of time.  But you can swim.  You said that swimming has been "your weakest part."  Here is your chance to fix that.  You can do strength work.  I would bet my income through the end of the year that you, like most of us, can afford to do a significant amount of core strengthening work.  Here is your chance.

Don't let this minor setback become a major obstacle.  With a little thought and a bit of determination, you can find ways to make this a positive.

Originally posted by JREDFLY

Thanks Steve - I will start with this new routine. Today I actually turned off the HRM and just did a 10 min/mile for 3 miles in 90F. It felt good to push it a little again and I don't think my heartrate was all that much higher. I think there may be sometting to what Linda (Thanks Linda!) was saying about the heat and humidity affecting heartrate. I think my hearteate is going to be high anyway in this heat whether I am running 13 or 10 minute miles.

Track work starts tomorrow. I'll let you know how I make out. I know it may not help much for my sprint in two weeks but at least it will be a start

Thanks again!!!

Originally posted by dustytrails

I don't know about Kentucky area sorry.

I am working toward the intermediate distance for next July 2014
1000m lake swim no current.
20 bike hot and potentially windy. none of its flat.
4.4 flat run with partial shade

No hills in run but a killer hill first mile of bike. I could switch it for a flatter race...but then it would be unfamiliar territory and thats stressful to me cuz I am a chicken on the bike.

I bumped up my track w/o's to at least twice a week....

and it has really helped a lot. I cheat too much and tend to go very slow at times on pure trail....

Originally posted by Kay Ewing

Race report.
Muncie Half was this Saturday. I signed up because my training buddies were doing it and I was doing the training anyway.
My race goals were pretty much the basic, "try to have some fun with this" and to follow a run/walk plan during the run.

Swim - It was my second slowest half swim ever and it was of my own doing. I was in the first wave of swimmers to start and admiring the pro's swim from land when the horn went off. Kept my cool and accepted the laughter of the second wave young men as I made my way through them and into the water. Started swimming through the group and decided to swim around them - probably would have been illegeal but the sun was so bright, swimmers were going in all directions. It was wetsuit legal, but I did not wear mine because I haven't practice in it. I follow the "nothing new on race day" rule. The water was warm so really don't know how this was wetsuit legal. Time 38:50, was hoping for a 30:00, that is what I usually swim at this distance and I am swimming stronger now than ever.

Bike - Time 2:54:53 average 19.21 mph. Faster than the 3 hrs I thought I would do. Was pleased with my performance but road conditions were awful. There was a 20 mile stretch of chip and seal asphalt that was not suited for road bikes. Shame on the person that changed the coarse and had us ride this unsuitable road. Being in the front wave group on the swim I had young riders from the second wave group racing around me (20-25 male). But I caught around twenty riders back on the last 10 miles of the ride and that was fun.

Run - Time 2:39:12. Now don't laugh, but I was pleased with this. Followed a run/walk plan of walking up the hills and running down hills and any flat areas. The coarse was hilly and difficult. I was hoping for 2:30 but stopped a couple of times that were not planned to help fellow runners. I was passed by many runners and most said words of encouragment as they passed. It was a fun run in general with great volunteers at every mile marker. The miles seem to go by fast.

Overall - OK experience, BUT I am putting this race on my Reverse Bucket List (things I never want to do again). Road conditions were very poor, the run is too hilly for me, and it was not worth the pricey entry fee. Everyone in our group finished and that was exciting.

Originally posted by Bull

Injured my Calf Muscle doing my run this morning. I'm running along at a somewhat leisurely pace when all of a sudden, something in my right calf snaps and then the pain. I wasn't pushing myself hard at all because I have (had) the Triangle Tri this Saturday and was really just out there taking it easy and enjoying the first morning in almost a month it hasn't been pouring rain. Until the injury I had no idea anything was wrong, no aches no pains, feeling good even to the point that I was marveling at how good I felt this particular morning. The ironic thing is, I didn't intend to run this morning, but it was so nice I decided to do an easy run instead of the swim I had originally planned because the weather lately had prevented me from getting out as much as I would have liked to and I thought what harm could come from a little leisurely jog. I soon found out the answer.. As a matter of fact I was thinking to myself how good I was feeling when all of a sudden. SNAP. Of course I 3 miles from home. Tried to call my wife to come and get me as I didn't feel like nor did I want to walk back home. Couldn't get thru to her and left her a voice mail. So, after a few minutes I decided I'd try to hobble on back home thinking surely my wife will get the message and return my call. She didn't. SO I ended up limping all the way back home. Probably not the best thing for the calf. It seemed the more I walked the less it hurt so maybe not so bad, I even attempted to jog a bit, that lasted about three steps. Anyhow, I'm really bummed out right now as I was really looking forward to this weekend's, Tri, it's virtually in my back yard and I'm familiar with the lake and the bike and running course. My doctor says I'm looking at probably six weeks before I can start running again. Now it looks like I'll have to pull out and maybe even ultimate goal for the season the Beach to Battleship this October in Wilmington NC. I was just beginning to get back into the swing after my free range dog incident, got my bike repaired, the shoulder had quit hurting and was making strides. I've been working diligently for almost two years to get to this point, had everything planned out and taking great care (I thought) to avoid over exertion type injuries. Training for my tris and my morning workouts have become such a part of my life that I don't know what I'm going to do. Having started at 350 pounds, my biggest fear is that I'll start putting on weight again. Then again, when you have lemons, make lemonade. Since swimming has been my weakest part, I'll probably spend much more time in the pool instead. Just curious, how do you handle the mental aspects of injuries?

Originally posted by charlotte hobbs

I have my first race of the season this Saturday - sprint triathlon. My training has been inconsistent to say the least. I am trying to determine if i need to do anything more to taper than just take a rest day on Friday. I would like to do a brick today and another bike ride tomorrow, and then rest on friday. any suggestions would be appreciated.