Beth and Yanti's Manatees Mentor Group--FULL! (Page 24)

Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death.

I saw this on a church sign near my house and I couldn't get it out of my head.  I have added it to my page.  I think it works for everything.  Have faith in your training and your abilities and your fears will melt away!

I also think that Beth and Erin have given you great advice as well.  I had a panic attack during one of my races and I just got out of the crowd, flipped on my back and listened to myself breathe for a minute, then when the horn sounded, I did the breast stroke to start to calm my heart rate.  After a few yards, I started swimming slowly and methodically and I started to relax.  It all went fine after that.

Hi Terri - I always include my warm up as part of my swim distance, and or time.  I'm not sure which plan you are referring to, some of the free plans give a good idea of the general approach, but not so much on the specifics, I found that to be especially true for the swim.

The length of the Warm up and cool down depends on the length of the over all workout as well as the type of workout - form, endurance, speed, pacing, etc.

One resource that I've used for swim workouts is the Workouts in a Binder: Swim Workouts for Triathletes  by Gale Bernhardt and Nick Hansen.

It's a great book of workouts, it's spiral bound and laminated so you can take it right to the pool with you.  It also includes reference for terminology and things like that.

The workouts detail warm up, middle swim, and cool down 

You can always modify the sets to adapt them to your comfort level.

I know there are other resources available, this is just the one I've personally used and found helpful.  

I do like the workouts that are part of the training plans for the silver membership for BT fwiw.

hope this helps 

So, I've been a bit MIA lately - super busy!  Anyway, so I go on BT today for just a moment to maybe update my log (haven't done that since, like Thursday) and maybe go on this thread to possibly catch up and, lo and behold, Yanti is the triathlete of the month!  

Woot!  Go Yanti!  I am so happy for you!  What are you gonna do now, go to Disney World?

Also, it's nice to put a voice with the picture.

Ask and ye shall recieve.

http://www.sportcount.com/products.php 

I want to order one myself when they are off backorder.

Steve

Terri, I'll take a look and see if I can find the plan and give you more insight.  If the plan is providing you yardage, that's what most of them do.

I personally like to mix up my strokes a bit during the warm up, especially if i'ts a longer one, I'll alternate breast stroke and free style.  I find it to be easier on my shoulders.

Just swim the warm up portion at a really easy pace and let your body get used to the water and get your muscles warmed up and familiar with the strokes - make sense?

Hey gang,

I have been swamped and busy again this week--seriously, I question my sanity.  Training has been very challenging due to the busy-ness and I am frustrated with a capital F.  I did sign up for a metric century ride on Monday--that ought to kick my pretty hard!  I may also swim at 6 AM in open water....we shall see if I can get my act together at that hour.  My neck is really sore, I don't know what I did but I can't turn it much.  I hope to have it professionally massaged on the weekend to assure I can do the bike ride.

I really hoped to catch up on everyone's logs this week, but it just didn't happen, and I am sorry!  I love reading logs more than just about anything, and my lack of time to do that is almost as frustrating as not getting my workouts in!!!  I am not blaming my family though.  Well, maybe just a little. 

Well....got my running in today and I want to recommend something to the group. 

(Background)-I ran for a number of years then had some back trouble and didn't run for about 13-14 years and about 25-35 lbs.  Started back last Sept. and while I am considerably slower (which is fine) I do want to improve my form and effeciency.  Being tall (6'4" I tend to be a heal striker if I don't pay close attention which, for me, is jarring and tough on the body.

(Yesterday)- I am a voracious reader and I have read a BUNCH on running in the past few months that was not available when I was running years ago.  I bought the book "Chi Running" and read about 30-40% of it last night.  Now, whether or not you buy into the energy-spiritual aspects of Chi (which I agree with most of it...I just don't understand the rest ) the rest of the book is GREAT when talking about running posture and form.  I did a hard track workout today...4 miles- Run the straights-under 30 sec. /Walk the turns- at a fast pace.  Well not only did I go faster but it was easier when I focused on the running style.  I still don't have it down but I hope to finish the book tonight or tomorrow and work on it with my runs over the next few weeks.

Just wanted to let you guys know about the book...Have a great holiday weekend and be safe in your training and your travels.

Steve

I started not to get it but I can't pass up a good book...Also when I feel some clouds approaching (meaning mentally...not the weather) I can usually find some comfort distraction at a book store.  Anyway...when I started running I was VERY surprised that I felt it almost immediately (the comfort part, the speed came later).  It is something that is not "natural" for me just yet but I think it could be within <100 miles if I focus. 

What I have been working on these past few months is cadence and turnover rate and this works of off that but from the other direction...What I mean is that instead of focusing on the turnover rate you focus on the lean and stride "type" and that by nature leads to a higher turnover...hope that is clear to all of you Non-ADD folks 

Steve

Thank you everyone, for your really sweet congrats. YOU are exactly the people I were talking about in my interview when I said BT is full of people who reach their hands out and multiply their tri experience beyond themselves. It's such a joy to be part of this amazing group of Manatees.

Suzy—You’ve gotten excellent advice on the swim. Another thing you might try—I don’t know if you do this at all—but practice meditative breathing so that on tri day, when you’re waiting on the bank of the water, you can already enter that peaceful, well-oxygenated state so that when you hit the water, you have a much better chance of remaining relaxed: the key to a strong swim, especially if you’ve had a traumatic experience before.

Good morning, everyone!!  I am behind in here.  Today is a travel day and I am packed up and getting ready to check out to finish up my business then head for home from Baton Rouge, LA. 

Have a great weekend, Manatees!!!  Remember what this weekend is all about and remember those that are still serving!!!

x 2 on what Jeannette said.

Ok...confession time.

My name is STEVE....and I bagged a workout today.....(and the crowd says)  Hi Steve.

On the positive side:

1. I was listening to my body.  I loved the new Chi Running style I did yesterday but my quads are really sore and that is unusual.
2. It did rain and storm.
3. I spent some quality time with D-Gd.

On the not-so positive side:

1. I just bagged it...I had time and could have done it but I just didn't do it.
2. I was not having a great day (depression is a not so funny thing sometimes  )
3. Reason 1 (in the positive list) has some real merit...but honestly reasons 2 & 3 are just cop-outs...Although I did have a GREAT lunch with D-Gd at Chick-Filet  I still had time to run.

As part of my Manatee Challenge I have to post this and I will post to my log tomorrow.  Going to hit the sack now.  I already have a 7:00 a.m. run scheduled with a friend so that should get me going tomorrow.

Hey Beth....the pool re-opens tomorrow and I hope to be in there tomorrow or Sunday.

I hope you all have a great holiday weekend and please remember those who are serving our country and pray for a healthy and safe return for them all.

Steve

Steve, I am in the same meeting as you.  Had time to hit the gym tonight, but chose a bbq hamburger and a hard lemonade instead.  Excuses, well, my neck still hurts, it's still raining, but overall I just don't feel like it (riding the edge of depression too, ugh).  I am also running in the morning, open water swimming (first of the season) on Sunday, and doing a killer ride on Monday, so I am not letting my lack of workouts in the past few days dictate my self esteem, no way!  So I may just enjoy a second lemonade and chill out about it.  Positives-spent an entire day without yelling at or threatening the kids.  Washed the dog at a dog wash (with kids). Survived McDonald's at lunchtime (I never go there, so it shocks my system whenever I happen into that craziness.).  Also survived a bouncy house birthday party and two sugared up kids last night.  So there!  Let's all have a great weekend!

TriAya/Erin

Exactly what is meditative breathing?  I am willing to give anything a try since I am hoping to hit the water at our house up north today or tomorrow!

Suzy

Hi all, I am feeling better now, thanks for putting up with me last week.  Wait, that's what I told my family, too!  Uh oh!  I realize I have plenty of fitness in the books, and plenty on the agenda, so I need to chill out once in a while.  Lesson learned.  Tomorrow is the hilly 100k which I am nervous about!! Gotta go buy some nuun and gel here pretty soon.

I finally got into open water to swim today, tried out the wetsuit beyond just a photo shoot (please see my albums if you aren't already aware of my dorkiness--and oh yeah, my avatar).  It did well, and so did I!  It was cloudy and cool--air was about 50, lake was???, but we swam out into the calm lake, right down the middle, almost to the end (it is a small lake, no motor boats allowed). I felt strong and fast and fluid, much better than I did last year, so I think swimming consistently all winter has really paid off.  I also swam in what seemed like a pretty straight line.  The woman I swam with veered left a lot so we ended up very far apart in the lake!  It was weird being out there semi-alone, but also peaceful and highly enjoyable.  I really hope I don't have to pool swim any more until next winter.

So here's my question about wetsuit swimming:  when I lap swim in the pool, in a swimsuit, I take a breath every three strokes, occasionally on the 4th or 2nd but average about 98% on every third.  While swimming today, I really didn't need a breath at all until the fourth stroke.  When I did every third, I found it felt like I was trying to breathe out of synch.  Is this just from being more floaty in the wetsuit?  Should I try to breathe every 5th so that I am doing both sides?  I am confused now!!!  My gut tells me to do what feels natural.  But I do want to hear what you guys think from experience!