JFord Bradleyd3 2013 Spring Group- Closed (Page 22)

Quickies:

• Great Duathlon, sorry about the weather.
• Stu - swimming sucks, but I am starting to like it.  Maybe I should get a speedo....nah - bad thought now that I think about it.
• Brad - I agree the weather sucked, but I nailed 3 hrs on the trnr and 8 miles on the dreadmill.   You ever ride the group rides out of the TRI shop in Plano?  I may go there this Sat morning at 8.  Tri bikes - about 20 rider I hear.  I know one of the ride leaders, seems like a good ride.
• Elena - drove home with head out the window?  What do I say about that?  .....hmmmm (so many funnies in this one....I will hold off).    If we ever travel to the same venue, I am not following behind you. Actually it is probably not safe to be in front either.    But having a jeep, you would probably roll over anything you crunch.  What is the status on the carbon handle bar riddle?  I know you need a "strong, deliberate and forceful" grip on the bars to gain maximum torque as your grind up hills on the bike.  (sorry, couldn't resist).
• Mileage - I have had a great month, but never really defined my targets.  I just wanted to beat Brad since he is a fellow Texan and we all know 'everything is bigger in TX' so that means my numbers would have to be gargantuan! 
• James - I checked out the Redman course - fast times for sure.  I think I will lock in on that one b/c the one I am doing in late May will be slow - very hilly.  

Ya'll have a great week.  Crank up the volume!

Great video for inspiration.  Listen carefully to the message - I share this with my students each year, but to a different video, but same message.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cVxdaOU76A  enjoy!

I definitely have a cold coming on and I am feeling like crap, but I am still debating on whether or not to get my run in. I have always heard/read that a head cold is fine to train, but once it hits your chest, then you need to rest and recover. Mine is a head cold right now and while I want to run, I also want to go home and go to bed...

decisions, decisions!

What a weekend I had.  I drove down from Ohio to Ocala Florida for an Olympic race.  I definitely had some new experiences.  The day before the race I wanted to take my bike out for a short ride.  I had replaced my trainer tire with a new tire and wanted to make sure all was ok.  It had just rained in Florida as I was getting ready to head out (do you see trouble coming). I didn't make it but a few feet from the front door of the hotel when my tires slid on the wet pavement.  Down I went.  All I remember is hearing my helmet smack the ground.  I managed (with help from the greatest husband in the world) to get up and get back on my bike.  I did a short ride and then we headed to the lake for packet pickup.  My plan was to get in the water for a test swim but after hitting my head so hard, I didn't think it was a good idea to swim in the lake by myself.  Now I wish I had.  The next morning everything seemed to be going fine.  I didn't even feel super anxious or excited.  I was just ready to go.  The lake was pretty shallow.  You could walk almost half of the swim.  The gun went off and we all walked until it was deep enough to swim.  I tried to swim and couldn't!  When I put my face in the water and tried to exhale, it was like blowing against a solid mass.  I couldn't get air out.  I didn't know how I would get through 1500 meters with this problem.  The water was 65 degrees but it didn't seem that cold.  I am sure somewhere I let panic set in.  I pretty much hyperventilated for 1500 meters.  I was never so scared in all my life when I was at a portion that was over my head, my goggles are all fogged up so I can't see anything and I'm floating on my back trying desperately to get some kind of control and can't.  I thought I was going to be the next triathlon death.  Once out of the water and on to the bike the race improved.  After about 10 miles on the bike I was able to get my breathing under control.  I don't know what happened but I need to figure it out.  I need to find out how to handle it once it happens.  I don't want to do that again - EVER!  I did end up with a decent bike and run that helped to make up for my horrible swim. 

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.  I have a HIM in 6 weeks.

how much OWS have you done? was it wetsuit legal?

how much OWS have you done? was it wetsuit legal?

I haven't done any OWS since September.  It hasn't ever bothered me before.  I did wear a wetsuit. The water was very calm.

bradleyd3 - 2013-03-26 2:42 PM Michelle....I'll just make fun of you for this so when you do your HIM and do it well, you can write me and say "who's laughing now buster!" reverse psychology!

You can count on it!!! 

my head cold has turned into a chest cold now, so I am pulling back on any traiing and just going to get some rest and drug myself up to try and kick this bug.

Someone please pick up my bike and run miles???

James I have having a record month - you can take my ride last night 100 min and run 55Min.   I will keep my swim time today b/c I need the work on my form (sorry, I am going to be selfish on this one).  Hydrate and rest -visit the doc if longer than 2 days of course.  You prob need a little rest, this will be a 'good thing'.

Michelle:  very sorry to hear about your OWS.  Honestly, the OWS scares the crap out of me because i have no experience there.  Arm floaties are not legal are they?  I keep reading about OWS and can't find where they are illegal.  I will email the race director I guess.   I know you will be focused and relaxed on your HIM - you will do awesome b/c of the prep. 

I have been right there with you.  I have had head cold/chest infection/flu symptoms over the last 5 days.  I got it from my 4 month old son who is battling a pretty bad ear infection.  I missed an indoor triathlon and I haven't been able to swim at all over the last week and I'm going to miss my goal for the month.  I'll be 2900 yards short for my goal.

I'm not very happy, but I need to focus on getting healthy.

I don't know about floaties but I did learn some things.  Did you know that snorkles are legal?  I didn't until the race.  There was a guy who came out of the water with a snorkle.  Also, if you have a problem during a portion of the race, you can go to the end of that element and wait for the last person to finish that part and follow them in.  From there you can continue to race.  I had no idea.  That might have been an option for me.  I asked my husband about a lady that was standing in the water close to shore but not going on to transition.  He said that she struggled in the swim so she came to the beach and waited for the last person to exit the water.  She followed that person in and then continued on with the race.  I doubt that option is available for the half and full distances since they have time cut offs.

Update on my training numbers.

s: 4000/7200 (will get close, but not quite there)

b: 170.73/252 (Likely won't break 200)

r: 41.32/58.5 (will hit this if all goes well tomorrow)

Overall, didn't quite hit my goal, but I did have a couple of set backs with sore knees and such.  The training will ramp up some more as April kicks off and the weather gets warmer.  Excited to get outside and enjoy the weather.  I've also got a 5k and a marathon to keep me busy this month.  Should be fun!

Sorry to hear about the OWS issues.  My first OWS I started to feel constricted due to the cold water.  Thankfully I had gotten in some swims in just the week before and had run into the same problem.  Figured out that (for me) the best thing was to just slow down, relax, and get out of the pack.  It worked well and got me to calm down.  Was able to jump right back into it after a minute or two without losing much time or position.

I am just now starting to cough it all up and getting rid of it! Besides, doctors have not cured anything in a lonnnnnnng time!

Oh that just sucks!!  So sorry this happened!! Your story sounds like it could have come out of my own mouth!  My 1st OWS I experienced my first real panic attack.  Then again during my  2nd & 4th OWS and even occaionally while swimming in a pool!  Before then I seriously didnt believe there was such thing as "the feeling of impending doom".  But realized that THEY are REAL.  And just as you stated, you feel like there is no way out of that downward spiral.  To me it sounds like panic was setting in during your swim.., thus hyperventating. All those other little things exacerbated a crappy swim...then the goggle issue..face in water-or lack of & frustration.  

What I have learned from my experiences is that I have to be keenly aware of the very first signs of panic when I am in the water.  I can sense when panic is creeping up.  Thats when I focus on my breathing.....breathing.....breathing... and staying calm....calm....calm.  It has worked duing my last races and ended up having a good swim (i didnt say fast!) but finished strong IMO. 

Personally I think your HIM will be an entirely different beast...but in a very good way!  Thats the other thing Ive seen with my races.  If one turns out to be terrible the next turns out to be good or even great!!  Keep training, Excited for you!!

Stu - great job.  Loved how you even simulated the water breaks.  I totally get the sore seat bones:  I rode 78 today and haven't ridden that far on the tri bike ever.  So yeah, I get it.   That wasn't the plan, but  I got dropped and missed the turn during a group ride with a bunch of legitimate IM triathletes.  It was still great trng and good fun.  Added a few extra miles getting back by mistake.  I had never ridden with this particular group.

How is your open water swimming going?  Keep up the great work