stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL (Page 236)

i loved this desoto story.  made me smile.

the fexy gear is through champsys.  it gets major complaints from our larger busted and curvier teammates.  i'm in charge of the women's committee and we have gotten a lot of requests to use desoto for our womens gear.  there are a lot of people that love it.  i am not a fan of our champsys gear for other reasons, but it's what i have, so it's what i will wear.

okay, i have a whole list written down on all the stuff i wanted to address....phew this is going to be a long one.

on the 1 piece tri suit:  i was interested in trying one this year, but was advised against it for anything over an oly.  apparently if you need to make a bathroom stop, it's harder to pull a tri suit back up over a sweaty body than to just worry about shorts.  made sense to me.  i've heard other women complain about the ride up problem of the tri top and most have had success in just getting an extra long womens top.  i believe desoto makes these.

i second the built in bra opinion jess had.  i am about as small chested as they come and i would NEVER just wear the built in bra.  ever.  there is no support for me.  i can't imagine someone with an actual chest just counting on that. 

steve: that sucks about the flat during your race, but it really just speaks to how amazing you are that you were still able to place.  it's silly actually.  i guess that is the only plus side of something like that. 

neil: i agree.  "mere" is not an appropriate description of any of your runs so far.  i am so impressed that you have been able to get back in the mileage you have already.  and 9:30s are nothing to sneeze at.  we all know how hard it is to get back to running after you've been out for a while.  that is a really great start to your re-entry.

jess: congrat on the century.  that is an awesome accomplishment!!  "firsts" are the best.  it's great too that you fell in with a supportive group!  that makes a huge difference.  ...and really nice pace for your first!!  i don't think you're crazy at all for the loops around the parking lot.  ryan and i did the same thing at the seagull century in salisbury, md last year.  you don't ride all that way to just do 99.whatever.  i did my first century (reston century 2008) by myself (mistake number one).  it wasn't a well marked course and i, as well as many other riders, took a wrong turn that took our total mileage to 110.  that was miserable.  i wasn't in shape at the time to ride 100 let alone 110.  ugh.  that sucked.  i remember telling ryan i would never ride that far again.  hmmm.

steve: i have the wingspan too and i love it.  it's my first aero helmet.  i've heard a bunch of people say the don't wear aero helmets for iron distances because they are hot and uncomfortable.  i wore my wingspan at Eman and was never hot or uncomfortable.  i'm planning on wearing it in loo unless scott suggests otherwise.  i had no issues at all in eman with it.  i wish you would have told me you were getting it.  i could have ordered it for you.  rudy project is a major sponsor of ours.  we get something like 40% off.  next time.

neil.  thanks for the hydration advice.  that sounds exactly like something i would do...drink 5 gallons of water the day before.  i'll remember that.  just. be. normal. 

so loo stuff:

first of all, good news!  i was able to successful train myself to pee during the swim without breaking stroke.  my speed per 100m only dropped by 1 second.  i believe i am finally race ready

i have decided not to do irongirl the weekend before (this weekend).  too risky.  my gut was telling me not to.  the water temp in centennial lake is 86 degrees and it's already known to be disgusting.  i was afraid i would get a first class case of "lake funk" and feel sick in the days leading up to loo.  i also know i would push hard to place high.  i don't need to be racing that intensely the week before loo.  decision made.  feel good about it.

bib numbers are out!!  I'm #281 and ryan is #1833.  i like mine.  ryan isn't a fan of his (no 7s).

2 week forecast is out through race day.  it's looking like sunny and mid 90s.  operation hydration is underway.

we had dinner with another couple who have both done loo (her in 2007 and he in 2008).  they gave us great advice, especially for the bike course.  tips on how to break the course up mentally.  tips on what part of the course to take the time to drive to to test ride.  great pieces of info. 

jess, you asked...we are leaving next tuesday and stopping in wv somewhere and then leaving for louisville on wed morning.  we wanted to get there with plenty of time to settle in, ride parts of the course, get a feel for transition and the lay of the land, etc.  we'll be on our way in a week.  whoa.

my mom is coming!  we didn't think she was going to be able to because the rooms are so $$$.  ryan, being an amazing husband, surprised us and called our hotel (the galt house) and booked a suite with two rooms so now my mom can stay with us without being in the same room.  with her contribution, it will actually save us a little money and my mom was so happy that she'll get to watch us.  now, what other man would do that for his mother in law?  love him.  it will be really special if my mom sees me have a good race. 

working on my race/nutrition plan this week.  have a meeting with scott to go over things this friday.  it's starting to get real now!!!  egad!!!

I read somewhere, and I think it was on Macca's website, that during the pre race taper and post race your immune system is at its most fragile.  It's actually stronger on the build weeks.  He didn't go into why but I know its true.  My buddy got a scary cough week of IMAZ and I was in the ER for a skin rash 5 days later after being irritated by soap...and nothing effects my skin, ever...until then.  So perhaps there is something to it.  

Just a thought...I'm not sure what we can do to protect ourself.  Maybe take in some Vitamin C or something.  BUt just be aware.

ahhhh!!!  running for the emergenC now!!!!

...oh i read the post.  i stopped paying attention around the point where you advised to do the shoeless tire change if you flat on an uphill.  since i can't put my shoes on the bike at all, it would be pointless for me to attempt it on an uphill while dealing with the stress of a flat.  if it works for you, great.

i'm wondering, in this case, just for this race can't you just say, "oh well, i got a flat.  I would have crushed it otherwise."

you flatted, sir.  out of your control.  on to the next one.  rest your weary brain

steve, i just suggested ryan as a facebook friend for you.  you made him so happy with your breakdown of his bib that he made it his facebook status!!

neil, i agree.  it is a sign.  i looked at the website.  it looks like a great race.  i think one of these years we should set up some kind of triathlon exchange program, where you come here for a season and i will go there for a season and then we can do all the races from the opposite coast. 

I REALLY want to do the bay to breakers in may 2011.  it's the 100th running of it, and looks like it would be awesome.  i just can't justify it will all the other trips already in the works for next year.

....i did a quick g-search and turned up this article on tapering and immune system.  interesting stuff.

http://mytrilife.com/?p=542