Gary's Mentor Group - Re-OPENED for Training (Page 23)

Good luck Dub

I also have a sprint tri on Saturday. This will be my second. Very excited.

Rib - I went back to my master race list and I don't have any of your races.  Can you post your races for the year so I can add them to the list?  Good luck on your race!!  So what are you doing to prepare for your race?  Have you practiced your transitions?  Go back to the first few pages of this thread and I listed some good race tips.

Justin - Same questions!  Good luck! 

Denise - You there?  Are you ready?

BTW, for all of you: Race Reports are required!!! RR's are great ways for you to write down good, bad, and ugly.  Also a good way to brag but also a great way for others to learn.

Go Team!!!

Day 4 of the new job, working and training is going to be tough for awhile until things settle down.  I need to stash some workout clothes at work so I can do runs at lunch or right after work.  Gym on the facilities so I can get a quick swim in.

Working to get ready:

Been working on flip turn in the pool, getting in shoes already attached to pedals and getting out of shoes without unclipping.

Flip turns - haven't decided yet if i will use this in the race or not. I'm at that 75% confident phase. More often than not they work and definitely help the times but the times they don't it really slows me down. Using these will be a race time decision depending on how my swim warm go

Getting in shoes already attached to pedals - not using this for the race. practiced a few times and just need to practice a lot more

Getting out of shoes without unclipping - definitely going to do this, works pretty smooth

As far as transitions, i have been practicing them over the last couple weeks and feel comfortable with everything as it's laid out in my head. I'm sure once i see the venue there will be a couple changes . It's going to be the last minute changes once i see the location, set up, transition areas, and routes where i will make final tweaks on transitions.

Good Luck Dub. Can't wait to read your RR. Will be sending you speed vibes Saturday- ;-)

Shelly

Athleta Iron Girl- sprint- May 22

Sounds like you are very prepared. I predict you will do awesome. Sending you speed vibes as well on Saturday. Good luck,

Shelly

BTW, turns out I am also racing this weekend!  I am running a 5k with my daugther.  She is 10 and will be her 2nd 5k.  She has been training with Girls on the Run and should be a great time.  Yeah, this new job has Gary a little off his game.

JPF - nice job prepping for the race, you will do well.

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend. I can't wait to read all the race reports.

Gary- tell your daughter good luck as well.

Shelly

So of course the year I decide to get into this triathlon business- it would be a year for predicted record flooding. Because of the water levels at present, it is highly likely that spillway gates are going to be opened to release some of the Mississippi River water into Lake Ponchtartrain. That is the lake where my swim portion of the tri is scheduled to take place. Unfortunately it is looking more and more like, there is a strong possibility that our swim portion will be cancelled. I have been working four times a week for months now just to prepare for the swim and now there is a very real chance it won't even happen. And how can I say I'm a triathlete if we don't have the swim. UUGGH!

Of course I'm still a nervous wreck about the swim so only half of me is crossing my fingers that it isn't cancelled- lol. The other half is thinking ok- maybe this is God's way of not letting me drown- haha. Oh well- it will be what it will be. I can't decide whether to be elated or disappointed- lol.

But what the heck kind of luck is that. This will be the first time one spill way has been opened in three years and the other it will be the first time since early 1970's. I promise it's because I signed up for this triathlon  ;-).

What a mess,

Shelly

possible 2/3 Athleta Iron Girl

Shelly, good luck!  lightning strikes twice at NOLA!  FYI, there is a new race on June 18th at False river.  Also, I have signed up for the two upcoming T-Gators in Lake Charles.  Sprints, beginner friendly, cheap registration.

Monday the 12 days of (pre) Summer start challenge starts!  Be ready!

RR is up. It was a great race. Had great weather and finished a lot better than expected. My goal was 1:06 and I finished in 1:03:02. Biggest problem: my right contact feel out after lap one of the swim and as any triathlete would do....I kept on chuggin away. So I will definately be adding:

 - extra pair of contacts

- contact solution

- glasses

to my triathlon checklist.

If the link doesn't work it is the Hastings Family YMCA triathlon

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=251259

WAY TO GO Justin ... nice race and race report!  You should be really proud of your times.  I really like the idea of putting on the shirt during the run to the bike transition.  Too, I'm glad you opted to go ahead, do the flip turns and just go for it.

On the MP3 player, I'm not sure about your event, but some events do penalize racers for wearing these ... don't need that. 

I'd say overall you were pretty prepared and adapted well with the loss of your contact lens.

JPF - Congrats!!! Read your RR and nice job, definitely a speedster!  You did a great job and I liked your RR.

One note: To any or all who are considering putting on a shirt after the swim during T1 I will give the following advice.  Don't!  (or at least advoid as much as possible). If you search the Tri talk forum history you will see the following advice repeated probably 100's of times.  This is typically a bad idea in most tri's, wet bodies and tri outfits don't typically mix.  That said most Tri's don't have your clothes 100 yards from your bike.   Here is a link to a thread that discusses this:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=249654&start=1

In most sprints I have very fast T1 transition times and keeping it simple is the key (probably the only part of a Tri that I am fast!).  A minute saved in transition translate to 20 vs. 21 mph on the bike for a 10 mile course

Okay, as promised I have the next challenge.  I am going to call this the 12 days of Summer prep workouts.  I have blatantly stolen his from my Mentor group but will claim all honor and success that it may cause.  Much like the 12 days of XMas song each day you will be given a new workout each day.  The number of the day will tell you how many to do.  Also, you will do the previous workouts so day 1 you will do 1 of something.  Day two you will do 2 of something and the 1 of day 1, etc.

For Day 1 on Monday it is a 1 minute plank!

Example:

Rules of the challeng are simple:

1.  Do them as they are given

2.  If you are injured you can substitute similar exercises

3.  Have fun!

Ready! Set! Wait for Monday then go!!

Who is in?

BTW, if you decide to sneak out and go to my Mentors group history (Left.Right.Repeat) you can see what is coming up but I am going to substitute a couple of the exercises.

Way to go Justin!  Smoking fast time and great race report! 

Definitely get used to training without the mp3.  I take it on most, runs but leave it at home for some longer ones just for mental toughness training.  I never ride with the ipod for safety reasons. 

So my first TRI was yesterday and there is sooooooooo much room for improvement!! hahahaha I cant even say that without laughing inside.

My goal was 2:15ish and I it in 2:11:25 so I was pretty happy.

 water was 69 degrees (no wetsuit cause I dont own one) and when I jumped/dove in my right goggle filled with water. hahaha first OWS, yeah might need to work on that! haha

the bike had gotten water in the crankcase (I think due to overnight condensation) but it SQUEEKED squeeked all 20 miles. hahaha

and the run, I thought I was pulling a run chute behind me it was so slow. haha but I finished and the first one is in the books - so to say.

I'm in for the challenge.  This first one will be easy - I always do planks in the boys' room in the dark while I'm telling them to shut up, get back in bed, go to sleep, you already had a glass of water, I know that you dont need to go potty again, etc., etc., etc.   If I dont stretch and do ab work then I fall asleep too.

Alright day 1's plank done and tonight will be day 2. 

Day 2 is Three full squats (perfect form) with/without weights

Day 3 is lunges. Three with the left leg and three with the right. Walking lunges are the best as they help with extension and balance as well. Then squats and plank

Elizabeth - you have a race this weekend? 

Who else is racing?

Dub - still need your race list or did I miss it?

Trying to catch up after no email/computer use for 10 days! Just finished logging my meager vacation work outs while in Miami and am going to start the 12 days of summer challenge tonight!

OWS - Wow! I have always loved the water and while not fast, can stay in the water for hours. Tried to swim in the Atlantic during red and yellow flag days last week in  Miami area, what A CHALLENGE! I have new respect for the ocean and open water. Bwtween the waves and current and seaweed, and garbage, the most I could handle without putting my feet on the ground is about 10 minutes. Guess I need to work on OWS more than I thought.