BigSkiesMentorGroup - COMPLETE! (Page 22)

Trina/George

Congratulations to both of you.  Looked for your results but looks like they only have the pros up so far.  So sorry about the wind - I just hate, hate, hate wind on the bike leg.  But what can you do - it is what it is.

I was just reading on the web site about the Doggie Du Dash - a owner/dog duathlon.  Boy, I would have loved to see that.

Looking forward to your race reports.

Denise

Sandra,

Wow! You're really making progress on your bucket list - masters and triathlon.

Are you signed up for another yet?

I hate to tell you this - but most people are nervous before a race no matter how many they've done.  I think Steve still gets nervous, even.  I'm ok once the race starts, just focus on what I'm supposed to be doing.  Even if things are going badly, do the best you can, then you won't have any regrets.

Denise

Had a great time in Madison this weekend.  Our daughter completed her 1st marathon.  Her time wasn't real great but she did it.  She was emotionally down around mile 18 when she couldn't feal her legs anymore, but then she realized she could still run.  At mile 22 she was smiling because she knew she was home-free.  She had porta-potty issues and I forgot to ask her what she'd eaten the night before.  I had told her to carbo-load 2 nights before the race.  The runners had great weather - cool and overcast and occasional light rain.

Denise

Steve/Mandy - and anyone else who might be able to help me:

I don't want to be gross - but now that I'm doing more bike miles - my crotch is killing me.  It's a real limiter on my rides.  I've tried standing on the bike but that only helps for a few minutes after I sit down again. I did 45 the other day, but really anything over 25 is painful.  I wear padded bike shorts.  I could just gut it out in a race but all these training rides are killing me.  I think my seat is positioned correctly and I can't afford to buy a bunch of seats to try to find one that's better - and maybe none would be.  I'm pretty thin so I was thinking maybe that is part of the problem.

Any advice appreciated.

Denise

Thanks everyone for your comments,

Today is Tuesday, and I'm still living in limbo) As Steve said, it was a memorable weekend!

I have to calm down now, and work slowly one step at the time. First I'll get organized with training, prepare a proper plan, schedule, time of the day, etc.

Once that is in place, I'll start looking into my budget and prioritize things that I need to buy. A proper shirt will be the first purchase

hummm... I also should start thinking on a diet. (need to lose 25 pounds minimum)

Then, as Denise asked, I also need to look into other races. There a few more around this area, one on June 26th... that will be my first open water and sprint distance.

I also would like to read something about sport psychology, positive thinking, mental preparation.

By the way, can anyone recommend a beginner's triathlon book? I know I'm anxious and exited now and want to do all at the same time which is impossible.

I need a plan. The ideal situation would be to have time lines, training plan, diet plan, budget, all in one big wall. Wouldn't that be fantastic. I would wake up in the morning, look at the wall and do whatever it says I have to do that day

Focus. That's what I need.

Denise, I have been riding long distances during the last few years and luckily I haven't had any major problem. So I can't help you from my own experience.

But on bikeforums.net there is one subforum about touring.

Machka, one of the ladies, is very active in that forum. She does not only does bike touring but also randonnering and ultra-distances. You can ask her, she is very friendly and also has a website http://www.machka.net/ She is very resourceful and very helpful. I'm not active in that forum, but read it once in a while.

There is also a hidden "women's cycling" subforum. Once you sign in to bikeforums.net and introduce yourself as a women, you will be probably invited to participate in that forum. Or you can ask and they will tell you to whom you need to send a PM. The ladies on the women's cycling subforum have no problem to talk about any women specific issue.

hope this helps.

My hubby gave me one for Mom's Day, and I love it. Recommended it to two women yesterday complaining of a sore crotch and rear. If yours is not a chafing issue but more a sore soft tissue issue, then I've found that more padding actually helps. I also try to remember to shift my weight to the back of my seat instead of the front (I'm still trying to get into the habit of this...takes a while). But Steve is right on the chafing - more padding = hot spots which lead to chafing, so if it is chafing more padding is not good.

Never had the problem until I lost 40lbs. I still have around 30lbs more to go, so I'm hoping the problem won't get any worse. Keep us posted on what helps you.

Sandra - thanks for the link - I'm looking at a bunch of stuff on bikeforums.net - I see they have a triathlon sub-forum and several threads about saddles.

Trina - it's soft tissue issues, not chaffing - I do see lots of great Butterfly reviews.

I stopped and talked to my LBS guy today and he said I should try both lowering and raising the front of the saddle a small amount.  If either of those don't help, then consider a new saddle.

I'm also wondering if it isn't just getting acclimated.  When I 1st started riding, it would bother me after about 8-9 miles, but got better over time.  I haven't been doing more than 20-25 miles until this season so possibly I just need a little more time doing longer rides.

Thanks for your feedback.

Denise

SANDRA, CONGRATS on both completing your first tri and your master thesis ... all in one weekend.  Everyone is right about the nervousness. I guess a little nervousness helps with the adrenaline! At one of my tris last year, I was having some of the same issues ... wondering what I was doing there while watching the OWS start (I was in the last wave) ... until I saw a fit looking likely 35-39 year old man start to panic on the swim. He swam to a kayak and unzipped his wetsuit, started swimming again. Then he swam over to the side and took off his wetsuit and I placed it up on shore for him. He swam to the next kayak and that was it. He was a DNF. I felt so badly for him. I'll I could think to say to him was "I'm sorry". But it made me realize, many of the athletes out there have the same self doubt at the start of the race. Just go out with the confidence you've earned from training ... do your best ... and have fun!

LISA

TRINA and GEORGE, congrats on CapTex!  How hilly is that bike course?  TRINA, how did it feel to finish your first oly?  That's still on my list!  I think it's the bike that's holding me up.

LISA 

DENISE, congrats to your daughter for completing her first marathon! I'll be interested in hearing if the saddle adjustment helps. I agree with Trina about trying to sit back a bit more. I have to make a conscious effort of that as well. I have heard good things about the Terry Butterfly and may check that out myself. How is your husband feeling?  All recovered from his surgery?

LISA

Denise-

Oh girl, I hear you.  I tried teh Terri Fly and it was like sitting on a bandsaw.  

Sorry.  But honest, it hurt so bad.  

But some people LOVE it. If you have a bike shop nearby that lets you try saddles before buying, taht would be great.   BUT what I finally settled on was a Cobb VFlow Max.  I love it, it works for me. Everyone's pelvis is different though so that is why what works for one might not work for another.  But the Cobb bailed me out.  

Something else I learned from Cobb - messing with the seat position (not height) but moving it forward/backward also helps.  Here is their page http://cobbcycling.com/ they have GREAT customer service and if you follow their instructions for putting seats on it seems to work (for me).  ALSO lots of folks swear by ISM saddles as well, that was going to be my next test if Cobb didn't work.

Also I don't think the fact that you are thin is the saddle problem (I wish I had THAT problem! ha)- I think either the saddle is the saddle problem or there is a fit issue.  I am GUESSING saddle because you have been riding a while and stuff, but double check the seat height to be sure..  Sometimes if it is too high (or too low) it can cause some issues.

What I did BTW, was found a place where I could exchange saddles - All3Sports let me with reservations, I put a cloth in the place where you tighten the saddle so it didn't scratch the aluminum part (I don't know if it is aluminum or not, but you know, the metal part taht attaches) and I had no problem.

Hope this helps.

Mandy

Trina, George!!

Congrats!  Can't wait to hear all about it.  Although if I keep working my way down the forum, you might have already told the story and I haven't gotten there yet.  

Mandy

DENISE!

Congrats to your daughter!! So cool!  You must be SO SO proud!

Mandy

Mandy,

Thanks for your feedback - much appreciated.  The more I hear about this issue, the more frustrating it becomes, since it seems the solution is an individual one - but I will solve this.  I've decided not to do anything until next week since I have my 1st Olympic Sunday and I don't want to make any changes before that.

One thing I've wanted to ask you.  How the heck do you find time to train? - you work, don't you?  I'm retired and only training for a 1/2 and I feel like it's taking up all my time.  I don't know how you do it.

Denise