Experior's Group - CLOSED (Page 23)

1,2,3...  Sorry couldn't resist. 

Well, first I'd say that focusing on technique is much more important than worrying about counting laps.

Second, I think it gets easier.  I used to lose count a lot, but don't seem to any more.

Third, when I do lose count, I can usually figure it out based on time, just as you said.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Michael sent me an inspire asking me about an entry in my training logs.  I thought that I'd post it here to show everyone a little about the part of the country where I live.  The video link is about Dowlin Forge, which was an early iron forge.  This forge is just off the Struble Trail in Downingtown which is a walking/running/biking path that is closed to motor traffic and runs right along side the brandywine creek.  I ran there yesterday, and it was one of the most peaceful runs in recent memory....

Michael asked me to explain my log entry "finally got to the struble train in downingtown".  This is the answer...

It's a paved bike/running path that goes right along the Brandywine Creek.  It's 2.6ish miles long and there is no motor traffic, so you don't need to worry about bailing into the bushes when cars aren't paying attention.  It's going to be the site of several of my brick workouts this spring/summer.  I'll ride my bike there, 12 miles, run 5 miles, then bike another 12 home.  Also, that's a typo...should say Struble Trail, not train.  Take a look at this video on youtube to see what this trail looks like.  The video is about Dowlin Forge, but there are glimpses of the trail and surroundings.  That's one of the great things about living in Chester County.  TONS of history around here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCdBznn8O4U

Scout

I've got to write an old-time song with that chorus (trail or train both work)!  Looks like a wonderful place to run/bike.  Thanks for sharing Scout - love historical places!

I wasn't worried about it I just thought I'd ask in case someone had some scientific formula that I can use in the pool. I have a bad habit of never asking questions and just try to figure it out on my own. I do this in everything, including work, so I decided this year that I would ask instead of spending extra time trying to solve thingson my own so I can move forward faster (here's the speed thing coming in again). I've wasted too much time in my life trying to do it all on my own.

Sylvain
1,4,5,6,7,10.....

hey happy monday to all. nothing like a nice cold to sabotage my weekend workouts. darn sinuses and congestition. not really feeling much better today. the only good thing is maybe i have lost a few pounds. hopefully getting back out to pound the pavement soon.

Here's something I used to do.  I had forgotten about this.  Our pool has overflow grates at the edge (a series of gaps).  I used to place my water bottle on the first gap in my lane.  Then after each 100 (or 200, or whatever kind of set I was doing) I'd move it over one gap.

A watch with a lap feature also works.  I sometimes do that, especially when I've decided not to bother with contacts, in which case I cannot read the clock in the pool so I have to use my watch if I'm going to time anything.

Thanks for sharing, Scout.  It looks and sounds like a beautiful place to train.

Here's hoping you get better soon!

Phil, congrats on moving closer to your goal!  I laughed when I read the 'giant pants' comment.  My wife keeps trying to throw out my old / big clothes, but I counter with the "I could be in the next subway commercial..." argument. 

Great job!
- Mark

I can't count laps either.  Right now I'm just going by time, I need some extra brain power so I can keep track of the count and then know my pace; then again--maybe I don't want to know pace.

Melinda

Hard to eat vegetarian when you're not in control. Most places when you ask "do you have anything for vegetarians" the waiter says "sure, PASTA"!

Phil

This was worse... I got "Well, there's chicken breast on the other table."

That's right chicken ain't meat, it's chicken! BTW have not eaten yet. I have left over Tofurkey in the fridge. Love my Tofurkey!

Phil

Edited by StlPhil 2010-01-25 8:44 PM

I always feel like when I post most of the time I am not on topic; sorry.  I think it is because of the time difference from East Coast to West Coast.  I am either posting late or early.

Got my long run in tonight; 8 miles.  I was on the upper end of the my expected pace according to McMillan's Running Calculator for Long Runs.  10:08 per mile (Expected 10:05 - 11:05).  It is interesting in how when you run this type of a distance you find out so much about how your body responds to it.  I am finding I am going to have to use some ointment in different places to assist with rubbing and sweat irritation; luckily it came towards the end of the run and didn't get bad; just enough to notice.

I have alot of reading to do this evening to catchup on the conversations.  Briefly viewed them at lunch. 

Did threshold testing tonight in my spinning class. Just what I wanted right after a bit of a recovery week. Performed 2x20's. Maintain threshold for 20 min. each time.

1st - 172 BPM maintained for 20 min.
2nd - 168 BPM maintained for 20 min

Mid-December test 142 BPM maintained for 20 min

Yah! Go cardiovascular! Bet my legs will be sore tomorrow. : (

Phil

That's great! Impressive improvement!

Nice run!  Yes, chafing does start to be an issue.  Body Glide is a wonderful thing...

Nice!

I did a hard bike session on Sunday and I just can't seem to shake the tiredness out of my legs.  Not sore, really, just tired and heavy.  I have another hard session scheduled for tonight, but we'll see...

Joining the bandwagon on this endurance pace training today.  Target pace of 10:30... should be interesting.  Not the way my sprinter's brain is wired.  So this will obviously be a character-building experience for me ;-)

Hope to be able to get outside for a long bike ride tomorrow to get ready for Florida.  I need to get my head around biking 50 miles instead of 25.  That will take some getting used to both mentally and physically.

We had massive rain and flooding here Sunday night, so all the roads have alot of debris.  Schools closed... people in the hollows couldn't get out b/c the small streams were flowing over the roads.  Been a good 10 years since we've seen anything like that.  Kind of like the snow last month (and the mountain run-off from the snow probably contributed to the flooding) .  I'll be spending some time on the tractor re-grading our road after I get back from Florida.  Unfortunately, I don't recall seeing tractor time as counting toward workouts.

Have a great day everyone!
-Stu

Michael, a belated 'thank you' for the informative write-up on endurance training.

After weeks of fooling myself into thinking I could get away with outdoor riding, I finally broke down and purchased a trainer yesterday.  Chicago weather had afforded me one too many chances of looking out the window and saying 'ah, manana'.  I went with a magnetic trainer from Performance.  Do you folks use magnetic or fluid?  Seeing as I'm nearly a beginner when it comes to cycling (I haven't ridden a rode bike in about 15 years), I figured the magnetic trainer would suffice for the next two months as I logged time and build up a cycling base.  However, while I got a decent cardio workout and was sweating quite a bit, it felt like I was just spinning.  I had the tension on max and was in the 3rd highest gear...a decent work out for the first time, but I've only got two gears left in the resistance arsenal.  Are magnetic trainers meant for recreational users?  What do you folks use?

One last question- how do I join the weekly weight loss competition?  I'm assumng the numbers are just pulled from individuals' training logs (the 'health' section).

You should be able to get more resistance than that out of it.  If you are spinning in nearly your hardest gear, then something is wrong.  Make sure it is set up right, and if it is and you still can't get real resistance, take it back.

I have a fluid trainer, but I think that the magnetic ones are fine.



Just send Stu a message or Inspire with your goal(s), then again every Saturday.

Stone_Cutter...I have a nashbar mag trainer and I get far more resistance than that between the bikes gears and the adjustable resistance on the trainer itself. Did you check the magnetic resistance? Not sure if they're all the same but mine has a lever that you attach to the handlebars, kinda like a shifter.

Did an easy run today just before lunch. I kept it sloooow avg was about 11:00 pace and kept my HR around 125. In other words I could have gone forever. One thing I'm never doing again is not eat before goign out. I normaly eat every 3 to 3.5 hour and this morning I ate at 6:30am and missed my mid morning snack because of meetings (don't you hate when work gets in the way). I didn't have anything to snack on before the run, a little dis-organised this morning, so in the middle of run I felt a little light headed. Lesson learned, miss my meetings so I can have snack before run

Will try to get my core workout in tonight, maybe I can get my 5 yr daughter to do workout with me. Nah! she'll just want to bounce on the fit ball.

Sylvain

Oh yeah, Sylvain, I hate it when I haven't eaten soon enough before a workout.  But slightly worse (for me) is eating too close to a workout.  Running on a full stomach is no fun.

I got about 4 hours of sleep last night -- half my usual amount.  I considered taking a nap, but decided I'll go for a swim instead.  I hope I don't fall asleep in the pool!

Stone Cutter - I apologize if this is a dumb question, but the back wheel is in contact with the drum on the trainer, right?  Can you feel tension in the adjuster as you're moving through the different settings on the trainer?  I have a Minoura Mag trainer, and I find that if I keep the trainer set on 3, then I can use the gears on the bike to give me the resistance I need.  In fact, just yesterday on my training ride, I hit 40 mph for the first time ever....

Speaking of that training ride yesterday, that coupled with a 12 mile run on Sunday and a 5 mile run today have my legs sufficiently trashed.  Looks like tomorrow is a swim only day.  Oh...and on that note, I got a message from the Y today...I might have a swim instructor.  Need to call her tomorrow to make sure that she can provide what I'm looking for.

Scout