Gray Guys/Girls Master's Focus Triathlon Mentor Group--Now Open (Page 23)

Sorry, double post.

Hey everyone!

Memorial Day weekend is here!  The unofficial beginning of summer and our opportunity to remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may have the freedom to pursue this sport that we love so much.  Memorial Day means a long weekend for most of us.  I know a couple of people are racing.  My plans include a long ride tomorrow - roughly 90 miles down to the beach and back,  a full day of watching auto racing on Sunday, with a long run on Monday. 

What's everyone else have planned?

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Congrats Dorm!  With that ride profile your next stop should be France and the TdeF!

I woke up this morning to news that there had been a Great White shark attack at the beach we had done the OWS clinic last weekend.  Fortunately there were only minor injuries but still kinda scary to know we had a bunch of people swimming about half-a-mile south of the pier just last week.  

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/05/30/beach-reopens-shark-attack-oc/

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Congrats Dorm.  I had to convert it to kilometres to relate to the distance and it is 163.7 km.  Something to brag about for sure.

Chris - For your first Sprint consider it a learning experience.  Aim for your time goals but just have fun and don't worry about your times.

I recommend elastic "Quick Tie" shoelaces for your runners and maybe a Tri belt to attach your bib number to.  Not sure if your race is a pool or OW Swim but keep calm and don't start out too fast.  Looking forward to reading any other suggestions you get.

Scott - Too close with the Shark!  And the woman wasn't too far off the shore either.

I attached my new aerobars and the BTA bottle system to my bike on Saturday and took it for a test ride on Sunday morning.  I had diluted Gatorade in the front bottle and water in both my other bottles.  I did 30 miles and tried to make sure I took a drink every 15 minutes or so.  Leaning down to get a drink is going to take a little getting used to, but it seemed to work out well.  By the time I finished the ride (just under 2 hours), most of the Gatorade was gone and about 2/3 of one of my water bottles.  I also felt pretty good.  My legs were a little fatigued, but I didn't feel completely worn out like I did during my race last week.  Granted, I didn't do a 45 minute swim before this ride, but the ride was also a little longer.  Either way, I feel good about how the ride went.  Now if I can just keep increasing my mileage for the next 12 weeks, I should be OK for the Ohio race. 

Chris - I agree with what other said, just enjoy your first race.  The only thing I would add is make a list, especially if it's not a local race, then double check it and triple check it.  There's one here on BT that I use for all my races - it's under the "Races" tab at the top of the page - just to make sure I don't forget anything (learned that the hard way during my first season).  Good luck!

Janet

Dorm - congrats!  That's quite a ride.  Great job!

Chris,

I just want to reiterate "HAVE FUN!"  None of us are doing this for a paycheck.  We're all in it to have a good time and bring some fitness to our lives.  Enjoy the moment and have a great day!

I know at least two of you are racing this weekend.  One I think it's the first triathlon ever and the other the first triathlon of the season.  How about the rest?  Anyone have anything special planned this weekend?

Long ride and a long run for me.  IT was nearly 105 degrees here today so anything I do is going to be done EARLY in the morning!

I have an Oly tomorrow.  Nothing too exciting although we're expecting 33degC/ 91.4degF and the Oly is an OWS and I only just got into the lake today for a first short 750m swim.

I had a distance PR on the bike today - 37.5 miles.  Wasn't fast (but then again, I'm not fast any time ), but right now I'm just trying to make sure I can get the distance in.  Only about 18 more miles to add on.  Yesterday was an OWS without the wetsuit.  Water was 79* but I needed to do it without the wetsuit anyway just to make sure I can.  Hard to tell if Ohio is going to be wetsuit legal.  Went over the park afterwards for an 8 mile run.  Looking forward to a day off tomorrow and a recovery week coming up.  

George - hope your race went well!

Janet

Great work Janet.  I increased my distance gradually by about 10% a week to eventually get to the level wherein I did the 100 miler.  While I didn't get in a 100 mile ride prior to my actual race, I'd ridden several 60'ish milers and these sufficed for me.  Keep up the good work ... sounds like you're getting there.

I just confirmed a reservation to stay at Whistler for the IMCanada 70.3 July 24th.  I'm a little apprehensive about this one because I'm so weak on hill climbing.  I figure if I can get off the bike with some saved energy in my legs I'll be very happy.

My Olympic on Saturday - I won first in my Age Group and won a free entry into the same race next year.  It was that or a bottle of wine.  Turns out I was 1st because I was the only athlete in my AG plus I was the oldest athlete.  I had a fair swim, a slowww bike ride and a slow but better than last year run.  I did finish my run with a 500m sprint and I felt really good crossing the finish line.  Best part of the race was running the 10K in intense heat and crossing the finish line to find some cold watermelon. Tasted so good I went back a couple times.

I stayed at the finish line to wait for the last fellow to finish.  It was his first Tri ever and I had calmed him down before the swim.  Talking to his wife while waiting for him I found out this swim was his first in a wetsuit and his first OWS.  Yikes!!  But he did fairly well in spite of his lack of experience.  

I had yesterday and today off so I now feel like I've been slacking off for a long time.