kaqphin (Super Cat's) Mentor group - CLOSED (Page 24)

Hi Jeni!

Ive never seen anyone do it but i think its an awesome idea... Id still have some sort of back up plan (counting the racks and a landmark) just in case it popped!

Hi Jeni - I mentioned this in your inspires but I thought everyone else might be interested... BT has a series of podcasts each featuring a different BT Member talking about their triathlon journey...

There are some really inspirational stories (KathyG is one of my favourites) so if you want something different to listen to i'd definatley recommend downloading them

Hi everyone - just a heads up - the Bike challenge just hit 100 people so I might be a little busy for a few days... I will still be checking in here but if it feels like Im not around enough in the next few days or so, thats whats happened!

Just a warning!

Also... in a couple of weeks Im on conference for work so will be away for a few days too but I will post a reminder about that before I go!

I love the BT Podcasts--and Endurance Planet (that hosts the BT'er of the Month) has a lot of other great podcasts as well--I've subscibed to them through iTunes, and really get a lot out of them! Highly recommended!

Im with you I really love the great stories.... other places to look for inspiration is the before and after thread in tri talk and the weightloss forum, the BT race reports and of course Triathlon magazines!  

barqhead - 2008-03-02 4:06 AM Well I finished my 10K. No PR. Slower than last year. But not as slow as 2006. Not surprising with the light run base that I have right now. Trying really hard not to beat myself up about it. I'm feeling better than when I was driving home. Running = lots of work and determination. I've got the determination, I just need to do the work

And pain free???? (outside of the part where running hurts)

YOu've been injured and tha fact youve rehabbed properly and come back to run a substantial distance injury free is a MASSIVE achivement...

So many people give up due to injury or dont take the time to properly heal nad end up causing themselves more and more damage.

Your base is light right now, but your body will remember what it used to be like and it will come back faster because you are injury free and able to run.

CONGRATULATIONS!   

So another month has rolled by and I guess its time to reflect, and look ahead.

February Successes:

RUNNING RACE!!! SO AWESOME!!!
lots of time on the bike, and going up a really big mountain
fairly consistent strength training that shows.  shoulders of steel baby!!
getting mentally stronger and pushing my limits

February Weaknesses:
Diet- yeah it went to hell with chocolate.  Gained an inch around my waist
Drinking coffee when I should be drinking more water.

TO WORK ON IN MARCH

I was thinking about it today and my one major obstacle in my training is my weight. Having hit 180 this month and then gained 5 lbs back I almost feel like I can feel a difference on the pavement and dragging myself up a hill.  And it's all diet based.  I notice workouts feel worse when I eat a lot of sugary, chocolate goodness the day before.  I definitely suffer from food hangovers. And I realized that before the training started I would loose weight by skipping meals (yup the bad approach) and I can't do that because I feel aweful 2 days later if I didn't eat enough after a long bike ride ect. So I am still working on what works for me to loose weight and still feel energized.

But thinking back to Cat's advice about women and men I am not going to stress over not hitting my race weight goal but just focus on getting to where I want to be.  Eat well and watch the numbers on the scale go down.  that's my march for MARCH!!

oh... and then there's my first triathlon in 1 WEEK!!!!!!! 

Woohoo--it is March, I'll follow Jeni's footsteps here:

February Positives
5K PR and win, BQ for Marathon--no complaints, was truly awesome month.  Really got in some great bike/swim time too.  Found a swim coach and have improved a lot already.  Water drinking habits are at all time best.

February Negative
Yeah, did good nutrition up to the race, but not so hot since.  I really would like to see 10lbs go.  I can tell when I've made bad chocies, but I've just let weather and some stress suck me down some.  MUST refocus here...a little snacking is okay, a lot is not. Would like to see at least 5lbs gone this month.

March Focus:
1st Triathlon-Sprint starts the month this next weekend. Doing an Oly distance end of the month.
Healthy eating
Good use of time.

Trying to balance lots of things right now...so that makes some of it tough, some of it is just a mental attitude I need to keep focused.

February Positive

Resuming training and exercise in general in a more regular fashion after battling injuries for so long

Rediscovering the FUN!

February Challenges (i dont think negative is positive enough!)

Calf injury

Nutrition

March Goals

Rehab calf without any further injuries

Get back on a 6 day training schedule

Survive 3 days away on a work conference without completely blowing out the nutrition (last time I drank WAY to much both days) or dropping out of exercise

NUTRITION! Keep working to find something I can live with that is natural for me!

And finally.... ahve some FUN! I need more fun and enjoyment in my life!

Balance is a goal all in itself! Its hard hard hard!

Also after something like a marathon its very natural to take a mental break from all that training  which means eating some yummy food, backing off the training a bit etc

Its natural AND healthy because when youve been focused on something for so long your body needs to chill out and reset too... dont forget a time out is just as important as perfect training and nutrition!

And its also normal for your weight to be elevated up to 4 weeks after a marathon - thats a lot of stress to put on a body!

Food hangovers are the worst! I always feel vague and icky after junk and its funny - if you eat completely clean for a few days all of a suddne the world un-fogs! (i should take my own advice... I ahve a killer sweat and salty tooth!)

On the first triathlon - remember all the hard work is done now... nothing you do in this week will make you faster for the weekend so rest up, taper well, drink plenty of water and eat good food! (You can have some fun food when the race is over)

Keep the body fresh with a few light workouts and include maybe a few pick ups...

Make a list of everything you need to take to the race so you dont panic and make sure you pack your bag the day before (including a bike pump and a spare set of googles)

Then - ENJOY!!!

haha there is one thing you will learn about me... when i get into something - a sport, a hobby etc I get really into it  and learn everything I can... (obsessive compulsive has been used about my personality... just wait til July and Tour de France time... thats something else again!)

Plus being on BT for 3 years is awesome too... you learn SO much from the others!

On the weight thing... each person is different on how the gain weight from a race so as you get to know your body you will see what affect it has on you... but all Im saying is dont worry - what you are going through right now is 100% normal! If you can consider running a marathon in the first place normal

WOOWHOO!  sorry, just got back from a great run. I thank all of you for helping to encourage runs to be enjoyable.

Thanks for the words of wisdom Cat.   I need to remember how good it feels with nutrition rest and everything clicks. 

(pausing to take a mental note of how I feel right now)


..and ok there we go...

Just have to say thanks to everyone for all the advice and mentorship, encouragement, inspiration and everything !!!

I love the cycle this website puts you through by encouraging you to learn and then share your experiences with others.  Tomorrow I meet up with my first BTer!!   Jill (couch_potato_no_more).  she's been posting in the forums about her troubles with the clipless pedals.  So I am meeting her at a park tomorrow.  She'll practice clipping in and out and I will practice my transitions and try to get faster and more comfortable with my own clipless pedals. She lives right near me and is also free mid day so I might have a new riding partner.

I'm trying to just feel good with each workout this week and as of right now my biggest worry about the sprint is just the weather.  Trying to mentally prepare myself for the rain and cold they are calling for. But heck, I enjoy telling myself to HTFU.

 What is everyone's bike goals for the challenge our wonderful Cat has organized for us?

mine is 500km. 

I do have to say this group is really awesome! Better than I ever could have hoped for when I signed up for the mentor program!

50 degree high for Saturday and 37 degree low...it's going to be a cooooooolllllldddddd first triathlon for me...

Take some disposable clothing that you can ditch on the ride or run and not miss if you dont get it back!

Just hand it off to one of the volunteers... like a jumper, gloves etc...

I havent translated the temps into celcius yet but I know thats COLD!

of course they're calling for rain on sunday for my tri.  the annoying thing is they are calling for sun on every other day!!! High of 8 degrees for Cat.. that's about 46 for everyone else. Been trying to wear a bit less clothing on my bike to get used to the idea of it being cold.  So far not to bad.

Had my first training/tri related dream last night.  I was cheering on a friend who was racing the olympic distance several hours before my heat (somehow I was cheering him on from in the pool only it ended up being the  wrong pool for my race) and looked at my watch and realized it was daylight savings time and I it was 15 minutes to the start time and I hadn't gotten my race package or gotten any of my stuff together. the realization that there was no way I was gonna make it woke me up with a start. That's what I get for running through my transitions in my head as I fell asleep last night.

Great Jeni, thanks, I'm sure I will have some sort of tri-related nightmare tonight... Though I have awakened drenched in sweat the past two nights--don't remember the dreams, but it's possible they were similiar to yours as I too do the transition in my head as I lay there to go to sleep...it's a good thing we are ALL insane on this site, or someone would report us and "put us away." Hahaha.  I am sleeping in these next couple of days--a mini-taper if you will. 

Oh, get this, yesterday at the pool a guy I know (he's a Major, I'm a Captain--one rank between us) from our higher HQs came to the pool, and I had the big lane, so he asked to share. No problem.  He had ZOOT tri shorts on, so I suspected triathlete.  Anyhow, in an email convo going back and forth (where I of course advertised BT) he did say he was a fledging triathlete and then asked if I had swam in college (we have the same alma mater as well) cause of my "form and speed." WOW, what a complete shocking statement--my swim coach would be thrilled, cause I'm sure 1 month ago he wouldn't have been saying that! I am not "that good" as I have lots of speed to gain, but I know my form is much better...but it was encouraging.  Oh, and yes, he's married...darn it...always happens that way!

Thats awesome Britt! what a great compliment Im sure you are quite speedy.. youll get a good judge at your tri!

Sounds like your hard work and dedication is showing some HUGE benefits!

My dream came true!!! sorta

my friend convinced me to do an orienteering run tonight.  that's where they give u a map with a bunch of points and you have to run and find them and it equals about a 5km. well I got the location wrong and figured it out only a half an hour before the race/run and realized there was no way I would make it the correct place in time.

Went on the bus there and on the way realized it was just like my dream!! Found them in the middle of the run as all these guys with headlamps ran towards me. Pretty funny seeing a dozen people all with headlamps running different directions in an urban neighborhood.  I didn't have a chance to grab my own map so i just followed along. WOW!! What a way to do a speed workout.  sprint- touch a flag- stop for 15 seconds and look at your map- sprint to the next spot- stop cause you're lost- turn around and sprint to where you know your going- touch a flag, ect.  They meet every wednesday so it may become part of my workouts.