stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL (Page 25)

2009-02-21 10:17 PM

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stevebradley - 2009-02-21 9:14 AM GRACE - Happy swim, happy climbing! Where are you climbing, and what will the temps be. Your weather can't be all that temperate compared to my weather, can it? (PA, correct?) P.S. As for real-food thoughts, did you see the post I did on the glycemic index, yesterday I think? I WILL post a list of foods and their GI -- as soon as I can find one!

STEVE,

Yes I enjoyed your post on GI, and I have been thinking quite a lot about what real foods I could eat that would be in line with my health-maintenance needs (high protein, low carb, very little sugar). Today I chugged a yogurt during my 6 mile run on the treadmill and it stayed down quite nicely. I drink lots of raw milk and also used to eat lots of homemade yogurt. I think I will experiment with packing half-fermented yogurt for long bikes/runs, allow the yogurt to continue souring (mmm milk predigested by germs hehehe), and eat it during that time. Over-fermented yogurt tastes really sour after a day out, but I've never gotten tummy aches from it (homemade batches that is).

I had a great time bouldering at The Climbing Wall in Pittsburgh. It is chilly here in PA but was nice and warm in the gym. I found that I was a lot stronger in the arms (must be all that swimming) but my fingers are weak from lack of practice. I would probably climb more if the gym weren't 45 minutes away and if it didn't cost $12 per day.

Didn't make the swim, but the slow 6 mile run felt good in 45 mins. I'd actually wanted to pull my first 10 miler, but the skin on the soles of my feet started to feel tender by mile 5, so I stopped. I still have time to toughen them up on the treadmill.

Such a romantic story about how you met your wife. *sighhhh* Spencer and I met through Match.com.

2009-02-21 10:18 PM

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Wooo hooo!!!!

2009-02-21 10:19 PM

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Yeah!! My first top of the page!!! Yeee haaa!

2009-02-21 10:24 PM

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stevebradley - 2009-02-19 4:36 PM "I think it would be too risky to try to eat raw eggs.....because if they get smashed during the race I would be left hungry!" - gracetaBitha CREATIVE CHALLENGE FOR ALL -- Let's continue to construct a truly unique racing creature. So far we have one that runs barefoot, sucking 'rocky-style' eggs in the process. What next?

STEVE,

The creature also displays an atrophied right quadricep and is aided by vision corrective implements.

2009-02-21 10:50 PM

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hooslisa - 2009-02-21 9:21 AM Grace & Jess, if you enjoy reading, check out Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes. it is a very quick and easy read. The man is certifiably crazy, but it is very inspiring. his website is ultramarathonman.com

LISA,

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm downloading the MP3 of the book from Netlibrary now, and we shall enjoy listening to it tomorrow. One of the perks of library membership!

2009-02-21 10:52 PM

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ThatGirl - 2009-02-20 11:31 PM... And to answer your previous question, Grace, I use my watch to keep track of my laps - it has a little lap button so I just press that every 100 and I check every once in a while to see how close I am to finishing.

JESS,

Thanks for the tip. I now know how to operate that lap function on my Timex. Nice! I'll be trying out the fliptabs tomorrow too.

2009-02-21 10:58 PM

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hooslisa - 2009-02-21 8:25 PM

sax - 2009-02-21 5:44 PM I desperately need to get back in pull up shape...it's embarrassing what I can do now. But give me a challenge and I will be back to 20 straight in 6 weeks or so...OK at least 15 straight...do I smell a challenge?

sure, i'll jump on that challenge. what's the wager?

I can do two pullups right now. 10 would be nicer...

NEIL - love those pics you posted!!!

2009-02-21 11:07 PM

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ALL,

A public service announcement: Grace has gotten tired of looking of her smiley happy sunshiney mug. Grace's split personality has taken charge temporarily.

Do not panic.

hooslisa

2009-02-22 7:07 AM

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Master

1524

Reston, VA

Subject: RE: stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL

if sucking down raw eggs gets me running "easy 6 miles in 45 minutes", then find me a chicken.

2009-02-22 7:41 AM

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Subject: RE: stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL

VARIOUS AND SUNDRY -

What happens when I disappear for 18 hours or so? Grace's split personality has fissured like a fault line, Lisa is scouring the kudzu of VA for a chicken, and Neil has launched into an assault on the existing world record for pull-ups.

I am still running behind, due to a rare social engagement last evening and night, and I know that I owe comments to Lisa and Jess from 36-48 hours ago. Yikes! I've been cyber-pummeled! And speaking of running behind, my dial-up was taking forever to load Neil's photos, but what I saw I really liked. Thanks for those, Sax!

Lisa -
It's Lynn's fault we live here. She's the wanna-come-back-home Canadian, dragging us from the warmth and chiggers of Texas. Growing up just outside Boston, I thought I grew up in the True North, but moving to Edmonton, then to Saskatoon, disabused me of that notion. Here, east of Ottawa, is realtively balmy compared to those places in the prairies, but I'd still love to be about 500 miles further south, minimum. Right now, though, I'm holding out for an offer from Neil to take up residence alongside his bike trainer.

Grace -
ClimbingWALL! Okay then! When you said climbing, I was picturing some metamorphic peak somewhere, you know, scrambling up the hillside. But, noooooooooo!!
I really should renew my interest in doing wall-climbing. I have a fairly successfully supressed desire to learn serious rock-climbing and/or bouldering, but I never give it much light or breath. For a while my son was loving wall-climbing, but I've never tried it. Keep talking, and maybe I'll get inspired!

Neil -
Pull-up challenge, you ask? Hmmmm. Can that be a one-way challenge, as in challlenge for just you alone? I guess I can go for a personal challenge as well.....but I'm not about to tell what my current pull-up ability is. As I said a day or two ago, upper-body strength was never my strength. Lifting the past few years has helped, but I"m still mga-pathetic in the pull-up department.

Okay!
Now back to check out Neil's photos, and then I have to surrender the computer so that Lynn can use the phone.

Bye for now!

2009-02-22 8:56 AM

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LISA -

Well, the part about the " 'dopey' college-age Steve" would be a bit sweeter were it not for the fact that at that stage I was just-recently-turned 25, and so should not have struggled so mightily with the pick-up lines. Alas and woe, a silver-tongued devil I never was......

When did you and Ryan start seeing eye-to-eye (beside the time he realized that you were always right, that is)? I, too, enjoy relationship-starter stories, but it seems that most of our acquiantances have fairly straightforward ones - or at least the version they're putting out into the general public! The one about the exchange student in S.A. is a terrific story. True love hath no borders!

I've hard good things about the Richmond Marathon, and for a couple of years I thought seriously about doing it. (They had a nice logo made out of the image of the bottom of a running shoe.) You and Neil doing marathons has kindled that spark in me, but what I said to Neil yesterday about speedwork also pertains to marathons - I'm pretty spooked by this Achilles thing, and I don't want to do anything to compromise it or my tri season, or any future tri seasons. So, if my body is telling me that it just can't handle the really long stuiff, then I'd better pay attention.

I have told several friends to count me in with them on Great Floridian Iron, but right now I don't think that is possible. I'm even very nervous about Musselman half, which is one of my favorite races, but I'm not sure all that wise for this year. And, as for Columbia, I still haven't withdrawn and would love to do it, but if the Achilles is still acting up, then the climbs on the run are not exactly what the doctor ordered!

But I digress. This started off as a recommendation for you and Richmond, and I will come back to that and say that a late-season marathon might be a great goal for you by way of redemption. I have never been good at "letting races go", and I can tell that you might not be, either. It's especially vexing when you know you have it in you to do better at a given course, or a given distance, and then it becomes a question of when and where to climb back into the saddle. I seem to remember Richmond as a November race; is that still the case?

2009-02-22 9:06 AM

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GRACE -

If we're not supposed to panic, what then is our wisest course of action??

2009-02-22 9:11 AM

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GRACE again -

"I'm downloading the MP3 of the book from Netlibrary now, and we shall enjoy listening to it tomorrow. One of the perks of library memberships!"

Not to mention one of the perks of having the right gizmos and the grey-matter wherewithal to use them to full advantage!

2009-02-22 9:21 AM

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GOALS FOR THE WEEK (23 Feb- 1 Mar)

Anybody have any? Mine are modest:
(1) Get up to my first two-hour plus ride on the trainer this winter. (Should be easy, as Lynn will be out three straight evenings so I have ample time to whir and clatter in the basement.) The following week should see close to three hours.
(2) To counter-balance the above, do a few sessions of short, intense, controlled work on the rollers. I have yet to use them this off-season!
(3) Start building back up the run strength, as the Achilles seems ready to go. Yippee!

Anyone else? (Don't be bashful -- Any of yours have to be more inspirational than mine!)

hooslisa

2009-02-22 9:39 AM

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Subject: RE: stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL

STEVE,

ahh, well, it doesn't matter if you were ever a smooth talker. in the end you won the prize.

you know, i don't know how/why the arguing stopped. we were always friends, and we always cared about each other, but it was always bickering at work. maybe it was just subconscious angst because we weren't together. it would take way longer than you care to hear to analyze the origins of our relationship. the people who have known us through all our stages have certainly gotten a kick out of it.

yes, richmond is a november marathon, the 14th to be exact. I have also been toying with the idea of doing to jfk 50. i was registered in 2007, but that was the beginning of my hip problems (the same ones i am currently dealing with) and i had to drop out. i crewed it last year for a very nice gentleman from Toronto. if i do decide to do jfk than i will likely look for an october marathon instead so i have some recovery time. in the end, it is all going to depend on the next 2 weeks docs appointments. i am so so nervous that that is going to put the kabash on my 2009 schedule.

I must have misunderstood when you mentioned the columbia earlier. i didn't realize you were registered! that is cool. you are right, though, that course is not for the faint of heart (or achilles). i guess all you can do is see how the next few months go and make an honest assessment. i always struggle with that part.

hooslisa

2009-02-22 9:44 AM

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Master

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Subject: RE: stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL

Goals for this week:

1.) not to miss a scheduled workout

2.) have ryan video tape my swim so i can see what needs improving

3.) begin monitoring my nutrition to get a baseline of what my intake is. i will do this through a food journal.

mindymcc

2009-02-22 10:01 AM

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Subject: RE: stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL

I finally made it to the Silver Comet trail yesterday. It was a beautiful day, 60 degress so everyone was clamoring to be outside. The trail was crowded, but not dangerously so. A lot of bikers, some runners/walkers and rollerbladers. It is a great resource I hope to use a lot as the weather improves. It is relatively flat, but with a strong cross wind felt like we were going up hill both ways! A great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

2009-02-22 11:50 AM

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LISA -

About Columbia, and redemption:

I did my first Columbia in '03, and it was a terrible, miserable day - cold and wet. I had spent the spring doing a series of cold and wet bricks, and joked with my coach (with whom I had just started) about "running on stumps" when getting off a cold and wet only to do a cold and wet run. But i felt conditioned for this sort of thing ------ and then when I got to Columbia that day I realized I wasn't at all. I'm looking at my t-times for that day, and they were a staggering 6:09 and 3:25!!! I can't remember exactly what slowed me down, other than a vague recollection of struggling mightily to pull arm-warmers over wet arms. That doesn't explain all the time lost at both transitions, however, and anyhow I ended up with a not very satisfying 2:54. My times for the three disciplines were okay, though, but the t-times killed me

I went back the next year and had a pretty good day, 2:45, good for 4th in the a.g. My t-times there were a much more reasonable 2:55 and 1:03. And as this was only a month after Boston, I felt quite good about a 49:35 on the run!

The following year I was really stoked, but for no apparent reason my swim was the slowest of the three years, almost two minutes slower than in '04. Then I got to T1 and found that my rear tube had burst, attempted a quick fix, headed off, and flatted again about 1/2 mile from transition. I wrestled with the tire and tube, and also wrestled with whether or not I should just bag it and walk back to transition and head home. And all those bikes whipping past me just added to the utter sense of dejection. But I finally decided that I would finish, having come all the way down there, and would see if at least I could satisfy my primary goal of doing that damn run to the best of my ability.

Betwen indecision and ineptitude, it took my 21 minutes to fix the flat, but then I was off. I was riding with a lot of anger, actually, and my "real" bike time ended up being 1:18, as compared with 1:22 in '04 and 1:25 in '03. I then tore through T2 in 0:48 and kept it up through the run, finishing that in 48:05 - a minute and a half faster than the year before. BUT, there was still a strong sense of unfinished business!

'06 was out because of Jane's graduation, '07 was out because I committed to mostly local races as a money-saving technique (that I ended up doing 17 tri and du in '07 did nothing for saving money, however), and I missed the sign-up for '08. So, I got registered right on the first day it opened for this year's race.......but then got to thinking about money again and maybe doing something closer to home and less expensive. That led me to sign up for Harryman, in NY, where I could do it relatively inexpensively with a tentsite, and the cost of resistration would be offset by the Columbia refund.

So, that was the plan until you mentioned redemption for M.B., and now I feel strongly that I should head down to Columbia and have my hacks at it. I mean, I left there in '05 with a sub-standard swim and THOSE STUPID FLATS - and the knowledge that without the flats, just adding up all my actual racing times, I would've been 3rd in the a.g. It may be that I still end up "letting it go" and "moving on", but right now I think I want to think about committing to it -- Achilles willing (or, Achilles be damned?)

Thank you for letting me vent! I owe you one!!

2009-02-22 4:50 PM

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LISA -

EXCELLENT goals!

I am especially excited for you about #2. I love being videotaped swimming, I guess because hope springs eternal in the human breast and I keep hoping that my stroke will appear to be poetry in motion. (Actually, from above it usual looks pretty good; all the inefficiencies happen below the surface.) But above-water is a great way to get some insights into your stroke and kick and buoyancy. You'll be able to see if your hands cross your midline and how far in front of your shoulders they enter; you can judge how mirror-image your two arms are, as well as how high your elbows are, during recovery; you'll see how much of your lower body rides at the surface; you can tell how efficient your kick is, both vertically (amount of splashing) and horizontally (width of kick); you can get a good idea of how economical your breathing is. It's all good info!! Can we please have your post-taping self-assessment?

#3 will also be very enlightening, and should pay some nice dividends as you fine-tune -- or overhaul -- things as you progress. Are you doing this for overall health, or as a way of competing more effectively?

For #1, I'll just say that I hope your work schedule and health allow you to meet it. Somehow, I don't think lack of motivation is an issue with you!

Well, I just booked a room at my old Columbia stomping grounds, the Comfort Inn in Jessup. I think I feel good* about this; at least for today, I have enjoyed the feeling of being very hungry to tackle Columbia again. Thanks for igniting that spark in me, Lisa!

* Body willing, I WILL feel GREAT about this! But, at least I know that the motel has a very generous cancellation policy - 6 p.m., day of arrival - which makes the awful task of bailing slightly less miserable.

2009-02-22 7:23 PM

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stevebradley - 2009-02-22 10:06 AM GRACE - If we're not supposed to panic, what then is our wisest course of action??

No action is needed. Nice gracie is back.

2009-02-22 9:16 PM

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My goals for the week are:

1) Stick to my training plan

2) Start weights twice a week

3) Write my first blog entry for http://gracestribulations.blogspot.com

Iam really excited about this upcoming week. My recalcitrant knee is behaving and I haven't felt any soreness from biking or running, and today I shaved another minute off my 600m to finish strongly in 16 minutes. My 5 K run also improved this week to 17 m 50 s, and I am getting a better idea of what it means to pace myself (eg to complete 5 K in 15 min I would need to run at 20 kph). I think my improvements are from paying better attention to technique in swimming and running, and by allowing myself to rest, even on days that I am supposed to work out.

Edited by gracetaBitha 2009-02-22 9:19 PM

sax

2009-02-22 9:28 PM

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Subject: RE: stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL

Goals for week, and for this I will be out of town on business in Tucson Mon-THurs

1) Mon-run before going to airport

2) Get in at least 2 runs while in Tucson on Tues, Wed, THurs, and be OK with missing one day of working out.

3) get in a 50 miler on the Tri bike next weekend.

2009-02-22 9:42 PM

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GRACE -

"nice gracie is back"

Yeah.....but for how long??

2009-02-22 9:54 PM

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GRACIE again -

Start weights twice again? Allright! Another gym rat!

You know, there are several of you with blogs and /or websites, and so far I have been slack in never remembering to visit them. I'm going to have to go back and scour all of the earlier posts to find the addresses and start visiting them regularly.

There. Yours has just been put on a new list on the wall, and I will pay it a visit shortly! This should be fun!

You've got a good couple of success secrets going for you right now in your attention to technique and focus on rest. I really think that poeple beginning a plan need to approach it as something not carved in stone, and make sure that it REALLY works for them. We've hit on this topic before, haven't we? YES! I remember now! It was you who wanted to jump up into a more fast-paced program, and you realized that when you did your first brick, which was unscheduled, and then you looked at your plan and saw there wasn't a brick in sight until well into March. Or something like that?

Anyhow, after that digression down memeory lane, I'll just finish that loopy thought by saying that rest is a critical component of any successfully executed training plan, and if you are finding that your performances are more solid with more rest - even if thsat means skipping a workout here and there - then that's an approach well worth cultivating and nurturing.

Fine weekend, Grace -- the personality schisms notwithstanding!