left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 25)

Some tri humour for you on this, your Memorial Day ... 

On my other discussion board (www.runningmania.com) I posted the following:

I just registered for my first (outdoor) triathlon - the Duncan Hadley Memorial held here in Fredericton on July 6th - and I was the first person to register. That's got to be good karma!

For you experienced dark siders - when I registered it asked whether I wanted to be in the "beginner wave" and I checked yes. Does this usually mean starting after the main group or before?
 

Here is one of the answers that got posted. It had me ROTFL - Rolling On The Floor Laughing:

The beginners start first so that the fast people can swim right over the top of you and push you down. Its an initiation ritual. You weren't supposed to know.

I've since found out that the "beginner wave" will start after the main pack without a time penalty

Dan - good to "see" you back on and posting.  Keep up the good work.

Leston - You are ready for that finish line.  It awaits you.  The 10 lengths in the pool will fly by.  Just relax and enjoy the moment - revel in it and we will await your race report.  As far as touching Sticka's shoes....I think our fingers would melt...that is one swift dude.  My thought is that he will end up as the fastest on here....but touching his shoes absolutely cracked me up.

FBP - Sticka - after cracking up at Leston's "touch your shoes" comment, I doubled over reading your post about the folks behind swimming over you.  That was classic and no doubt, just a continuation of triathlon humor.  I personally think that first race and the nerves are initiation enough.  There is no time penalty as they adjust your chip time for the offset.  I also think that is a great idea for newbies - a smaller swim start is a good plan.  By the way, consider finding a spot with more water.  Try to swim yourself into a hole before the start and then protect your front.  If you start in a big clump you will undoubtedly be disturbed as you start to establish a rhythm.  Many people say hold back and get to the outside. I think that is bad advice as you swim further and for most of us, the swim is plenty long (Flipper - you may want to be sure you protect your water and since you are so strong on the swim I wouldn't hesitate to go to the outside if you want) therefore, I decided a long time ago to just get in the middle, mix it up and take what comes - banging around a little takes your mind off the swim for a few minutes too.  I think it is fun.  Try to keep that in mind. Smile, laugh and enjoy the ride.

Happy Memorial Day everybody.

Turtle on

B

Just a quick idea.  There is a checklist posted here under LINKS - then look up into the right hand upper area.  Also, I have one I print out and use for every race.  There is way more on my checklist (as you might imagine) than you will EVER need but I like to be prepared.  As an example, I carry two flashlights in case one doesn't work.  If you would like a copy of mine just shoot me an email and I will forward it to you.

Shoot an email to [email protected]

sTRIve for the finish line

B

Here's what happens when a mild-mannered HR executive by day gets left at home one evening with too little to do. Get ready for ...

The FreddyBeachPete Triathlon Transition Session (as promised to Mav in a post a couple weeks back...)

Sticka enjoying a leisurely time in the hot tub

Emerging from the water he prepares to sprint to T1

At T1 he easily finds his gear due to the cool customized bike and the green towel

Note the helmet on the handlebars with glasses inside, number belt ready to go, shoes open and socks ready.

Sticka quickly dons his lid, ensures the strap is done up, gets on his shoes and sucks down some Carb Boom (because he is diabetic and can't let his blood sugars get too low)

Quickly he runs his bike to the mounting line

Seemingly only moments later he's back in T2. Bike gets racked, helmet off and into shoes that have been left with laces loose

Faster than a herd of turtles he's off and then ...

Is that FBP at the finish line?

Indeed it is. The WINNER of the first annual FBP/Sticka Backyard (Very) Short-Course Triathlon

Sadly, the only other registered participant, a Mr. Rub Berducky DNF'd after experiencing trouble exiting the water ...

Mr. Berducky has been given redress by the race officials and it seems that a hearing is currently being held to estimate his overall time.  If I was a betting man, I think most ducks are swifter than turtles.  ROFL!!!

Let me suggest Yankz! for a faster shoe entry to the running shoes.  Just don't tighten them too much.

Second suggestion - I have found it impossible to sit in a hot tub without an adult beverage of some sort so obviously this was a scam.

Last question:  Who took the pictures?  They were spectacular in keeping the camera level and still while undoubtedly laughing their a$* off.

You made my night...that is great.

sTRIve - the one group who always does whatever it takes for their friends.

B

Used a tripod and the self timer None of my sane family/friends would ever get involved in something this silly

Of course, as I'm out there getting everything set up a friend that Jill and I have made through running (in fact, she was one of the participants in the 5k clinic that Jill taught and teh 10k clinic that I taught) drives by. She stops and we have a great laugh about what I'm doing.

Wonderful, Peter! Dang, you need to copyright this method and start training immediately!

I'm going to be laughing in my sleep tonight!!!

AWESEOME!

sTRIve Turtles!

And just to prove that every goofy action can have an unintended useful outcome ...

It looks like the saddle on my bike is tilted a little too much "nose up". I'm going to adjust it slightly. Hopefully that helps the um ... boys ... stay awake on longer rides.

FBP - I think your seat may be too pointed.  You might set a level on it fore and aft and see how close to level it is now.  I would start with it level and work from there.  Some riders also angle there seat slightly to the left or right, positioning the seat for straddling comfort.

Leston - number belts are wonderful.  I hate safety pins but sometimes you have no choice.

Mav - been there done that myself.  I taught water skiing as a kid at a country club for 9 years in junior high, high school and college...outside all day every day of the summer - no one had heard of sunscreen....I have had a couple of things dug out myself.  My thoughts are with you.  Keep us posted on when the dig occurs.

flipper - how's the swimming going this week?

sTRIve

B

Hey gang. I've been away on business the last 3 days hence my absence from the discussions. I trust you missed me I did manage to get a 6k run in on Wednesday when we arrived at the meeting site and then I got in a short swim at the hotel pool (I think it was only 10-15 meters in length ) both yesterday morning and this morning. Barely offsets the quantities of food though that I consumed

Mav - sorry to hear about the medical issue. You made me laugh though with the comment about why couldn't they use "jiggle" from somewhere else on your body . You are clearly addicted to Tri when you think about scheduling surgery around your training/race schedule.

Race number belt - I wore it for the first time on Sunday in the 5k and then used in for my Playgirl BT Forum photo shoot. They are pretty cheap (I think around $10?) and I like that I will be able to wear the number on my bike during the ride and on my front during the run.

Agree about shoes - the wrong ones and/or worn out ones seem to be the #1 source of problems for people.

B - I am going to adjust my seat slightly prior to my next ride to see if it makes a difference in how things feel. I know that some may roll their eyes when I say a problem for me is the absence of god-given padding in the posterior region .My wife is more succinct. "Peter, you have no butt".   

Leston - thanks for the link. I'm going to fiip to the article once I post this message. 

To those racing this weekend - let your mantra be "Turtle Power!!". Best wishes and God speed.

Sticka   

Dan - get it looked at.  End of discussion.  Sounds like it may be PF - if it is, you are only going to make it worse.  You CANNOT train through PF.  I agree on the shoes issue.  How old are your shoes?  How many miles on them.  Get a foam roller and be sure you use it after every run.  Ask a trainer at the gym how to use it if you need help.  If it is PF, there are some socks which strap your toes it the "up" position to keep the leg stretched out while you sleep that are supposed to be pretty good.  The main thing, don't mess around here.  Get it checked but a SPORTS MEDICINE DOC - more than likely the first words from your regular doc will be "you need 8 weeks of rest - no running".  Sports medicine specialists are going to try to get you back to training as soon as possible.

Leston - whoa there Slugger....take a break dude - I don't care if little bro beats you by an hour....you are still not doing his race...you are doing yours.  As far as going out hard on the swim - no doubt you will be tempted...here is your mantra....I can't win this triathlon in the swim but I can certainly blow up my ride and run in this water.  Save the speed for the run....if you feel it....let it fly....preferably on mile 2 and 3.  Pacing on the bike is important...you still gotta run.  Push a little on the bike but not too much more than your pace in training. No exercise day before the race...if the race is Sunday then do only a short swim tomorrow.

Flipper - taper taper taper...enjoy the swim....revel in the water like the Flipper that you are....one stroke at a time....left-right-repeat.

Mav - what's the status of the cut?  Maybe it is there to distract you from your Oly nerves....smile.

FBP - Sticka --and now we can add Buttless....too funny.  Just don't over adjust your seat.  Very very minor moves make a big difference.  I would see how far I would need to move it to get to level.  The point up puts some real pressure on the perineum.  How's that for my medical lingo!!!!

sTRIve

B

Aw man, Marianne! Vent away, girl! I'll scream for ya:
ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! We're pulling for you! Hang tough. Your oly will put it right out of your head. *smile*

Thanks, Dan! Feeling pretty good aside from hormone issues. Yeah, they picked this week, can you believe it?

Have a great trip, and be safe!

Thanks, Leston! I'll be thinking about you this Saturday, too! You'll be great! Can't wait to hear about it! Go Leston, go!!

Thanks for asking about the swimming, Bryan. The gym was closed Monday, but I swam a mile yesterday, and loved every minute of it. I know I wasn't supposed to go that long. Jack (my friend from the gym who's been encouraging me all along) didn't want me to bike or swim at all. (I did an easy 15 miles on the stationary bike while talking to him... but I promise, hardly any resistance at all. I read a book and kept my mom company when he went to spin class. But I needed to get into the water, too. I just needed to know I'd be ok. I took it WAY easy, long comfortable strokes, and tried to figure out just why I freaked last weekend. I still can't figure it out because being back in the water felt GREAT.

Since the gym was closed on Monday, Bill and I drove across the bay to check out the bike route for the Grandman. While I was there, I decided to try the water. I swam for about 200 yards. The water was warm. There was quite a chop, and I had to fight the waves, but it didn't bother me at all. There is honestly no reason for me to spazz out this Saturday. *fingers crossed* I rode about 6 miles of the bike route on Mon then went back on Tuesday, and biked the entire thing. OUCH. I had no legs after, Bryan. Rolling hills for almost the entire 16.5 miles. I was tempted to bow out of the tri, but heck, I'll walk the 'run' if I have to. At least I'll finish. The first couple hundred yards of the run is a sharp incline up a bluff away from the bay. STEEP; like climbing steps, steep. And the run continues uphill for the first mile. But heck, after that, it's all down hill, right? 

Took today off, and the only thing I have on my schedule tomorrow is a haircut.

No natural padding, Peter? I wish I could give you some of mine! *grin*

sTRIve on Turtles!

Dan - one other thought on the shoe - the Infiniti is a stability shoe.  Were you wearing stability shoes before?  Hanson's looks like a pretty decent running store from their website however that doesn't mean every employee knows what they are doing.  I agree with Leston, did they watch you run?  barefoot and in the shoe????  Either before or after the doc, do a  short run in your old shoes and see if you have pain.

Flipper - swim girl swim...you will be great....good luck tomorrow.  Here's my advice:  Walk up the first hill...don't even try to run it.  Then get after it.  Rolling hills won't be as bad on the bike tomorrow....go right on around the course.  Go get em.

Leston - you are ready...just be sure and smell the whole enchilada....take in the entire race.  What an accomplishment!!!  Just keep moving toward YOUR FINISH LINE.  Keep on working knowing what awaits.

Your fellow sTRIvers will be waiting for your race reports...

Go For It Turtles!