Have I lost my mind to consider a HIM? (Page 25)

kirih - 2009-11-19 11:08 PM Drainer & Dread double whammy for me today. I'm really glad I have tomorrow off from running... i'm pooped. Trying to find that happy medium between feeling fatigued from not eating as much to lose weight while keeping the training consistent is difficult!

Hey anyone try mixing up bulk maltodextrin based hydration/nutrition bottles? I'm thinking about giving it a whirl w/ fruity teas as flavoring. It's supposed to be tons cheaper than buying brand-name mixes. Although i'm perfectly happy with gatorade and gu, they get boring after a while so i'm trying some new things out in prep for eventual transition to HIM training.

happy training all.

k

~ AZ Sunshine ~ - 2009-11-22 2:02 PM Hey gang!  I survived but it wasn't pretty.  I'll put up my race report later.  The best part was doing it with my honey.  I know he could have went much faster but he stayed by my side! 

I'm going to sign up for IMAZ tomorrow morning in person before work.  I figured that is the best way to make sure I get in. 

KiwiJDRPH - 2009-11-22 6:19 PM Hey everyone! Well, I tried my first "RPM" class Friday night and felt pretty good all weekend! It was a GREAT workout! My thighs were burning about 15 minutes into it! I didn't turn up the tension as much as I wanted because I was a little nervous about how well I'd hold up. So next time I'll try a little bit more. This morning was my Cold Turkey 10K with the girls I run with. They did a training program but I just ran with them during the weeks leading up to my half marathon back in October then this past week after surgery. I was going to do my 1:1 intervals with some girls but realized they were way too fast for me and a few of us that haven't been able to run consistently decided to do 30:1 which worked out great. About 2 miles into it we figured we'd finish at about 1:45..a bit slower than I wanted but I was happy to finish. I didn't have my usual pre-race anxiety. Probably because I was with the whole group and knew that all of us are back-of-the-packers so that made me feel good. There were a couple of short steep hills that really got my breathing labored but it was fine. Around mile 4 a couple of the girls started getting ahead of us so Michelle, an older woman with our group, and I stuck together. I was so thankful to have someone to chat with! We finished in 1:27!!! I was so excited! I couldn't believe I did it in under 1:30! Now I just need to work up my speed! There's another 10K put on my Clyde's restaurant in April that's supposed to have GREAT post-race food..it's put on by a restaurant so why not! It does feel great to be back in the saddle exercising again! I also found out that I have 16 personal training sessions left! So after the holiday I have to pick a new trainer and I think I might work out with the trainer once a week and see if they will give me a workout plan for the remainder of the week so that eventually I can do strength training on my own. I also posted a photo with my race report of the girls in my running group! I'll check in on everyone tomorrow from work!

LeahDD - 2009-11-22 6:43 PM

I've been following IMAZ today on the Watching Thread.  I couldn't believe how much I got into it.  I mean, it was time to go out for my bike ride, but I couldn't leave until BryanCD came in and I don't even "know" him.  By the way, he came in third in his age group and snagged a Kona slot.  Anyway, watching it all day long has sort of brought home how long this day is.  Nevertheless, tomorrow morning I will sign up on line, as long as all the local Arizona people don't go and get all the slots before we out-of-towners can sign up. 

I feel like I have had a break-through on the run.  Still hoping for break-throughs on the swim and bike. 

~ AZ Sunshine ~ - 2009-11-22 10:44 PM

El Tour De Tucson - 66 miles of fun?

Yesterday was the El Tour De Tucson.  It was my very first bike race.  I had no idea what to expect.  The best part about it was that my husband rode with me and I had my two tri buddies with me.  Their were about 2000 people at the 66 mile start.  Their was also a 100 mile distance, an 80 mile distance and a 35 mile ride.  I was so impressed with the Tucson police officers.  They had traffic controlled all they way around the city.  I was more worried about the other riders then I was the vehicles! 

We started out very strong.  We weaved in and out of bikers and had a good pace.  The weirdest part was that about 5 miles into the race we had to get off our bikes and walk them trough a wash.  The walk about about 3/4 to half a mile!  It was crazy.  I don't know how that factored into our times.  Oh well.  My tribuddies pulled away around mile 10 or 12.  They did great. 

Ron and I were doing well and he even commented that he could tell how much stronger i was getting on the bike as we tackled several hills.  Unfortunately, I totally HIT THE WALL at around mile 44.  From 44-56 I was DONE!  My lady parts hurt and I was so tired.  It didn't help that we hit some rough roads during this time. 

We ended up around 5:03.  It was much slower then I had hoped but I'm happy to say I completed a 66 mile ride.  This time includes a stop for Ron to put his chain back on, a stop to fix a break problem, a big water food stop at mile 30, and 3 Kate's got to get off this damn bike and stretch stops.  I think my mind started messing with me after my usual 40 mile distance. 

Lessons Learned:

1.  I need more time in the saddle.  My one long ride a week isn't going to cut it for my HIM. 
2.  I need a woman friendly bike seat and a new pair of bike shorts. 
3.  I should really scope out the course and plan my nutrition stops before the race.
4.  I HAVE to do another bike race.  Love them.

kirih - 2009-11-22 10:19 PM

...I had another longest run ever today - 7.48 miles (this'll probably be a regular thing from here til the end of the plan ). My best mile was 1:02 faster than any mile I've ever run before - so i'm quite pleased with the progress that this half plan is delivering in terms of distance and speed. 8 weeks in and i've upped the longest mileage from 3.1 - 7.48 miles and decreased pace per mile by at least a minute.<...

kirih - 2009-11-22 7:19 PM

Good luck with the sign-up - and do tell more about running breakthrough?

losta - 2009-11-22 8:01 PM Congrats Kate! What did you eat/drink on the ride? Did you plan your nutrition? What saddle are you on now? What type of shorts? Did you monitor your cadence and HR? What do you think of Tucson? I recently got an Adamo saddle and like it alot but haven't gone on any really long rides with it yet. I like zoot trifit shorts with light padding but if I was planning to go over 50 miles I'd go with a cycle short with a bit more padding like pearl izumi or desoto.

LeahDD - 2009-11-22 8:03 PM Kate - The first lesson you learned is that you are essentially strong at the 44-mile distance.  That's a pretty good starting point.  And you know you aren't yet at 66 miles, but you have time to get there.  Didn't you say that you were going to follow a BT HIM training plan or am I mixing you up with someone else?  Anyway, you don't have far to get to 56 miles and I am sure that steady and consistent biking will get you there. 

Be careful about getting a girlie bike seat.  I have heard that those big, soft bike seats are really much more uncomfortable that those narrow, hard pointy ones.  Sounds counter-intuitive, I know.  Now, there are seats with cutouts and such that are supposed to alleviate a lot of pressure.  I know that when I haven't biked in a while, it takes a while to build up my "seat endurance."  Do you think maybe that just more time in the saddle would help all your parts adjust and adapt? 

LeahDD - 2009-11-22 11:25 PM

~ AZ Sunshine ~ - 2009-11-23 8:52 AM Hey Gang - It is official!  I signed up for IMAZ 2010!! There was a big line and I actually didn't get to the front of it until about 9:15.  Good luck Leah!!  I'm excited about taking this adventure with you. 

PS - There is time for all of you others to join us if you want.  I year to train! 

~ AZ Sunshine ~ - 2009-11-22 7:44 PM

El Tour De Tucson - 66 miles of fun?

Yesterday was the El Tour De Tucson.  It was my very first bike race.  I had no idea what to expect.  The best part about it was that my husband rode with me and I had my two tri buddies with me.  Their were about 2000 people at the 66 mile start.  Their was also a 100 mile distance, an 80 mile distance and a 35 mile ride.  I was so impressed with the Tucson police officers.  They had traffic controlled all they way around the city.  I was more worried about the other riders then I was the vehicles! 

We started out very strong.  We weaved in and out of bikers and had a good pace.  The weirdest part was that about 5 miles into the race we had to get off our bikes and walk them trough a wash.  The walk about about 3/4 to half a mile!  It was crazy.  I don't know how that factored into our times.  Oh well.  My tribuddies pulled away around mile 10 or 12.  They did great. 

Ron and I were doing well and he even commented that he could tell how much stronger i was getting on the bike as we tackled several hills.  Unfortunately, I totally HIT THE WALL at around mile 44.  From 44-56 I was DONE!  My lady parts hurt and I was so tired.  It didn't help that we hit some rough roads during this time. 

We ended up around 5:03.  It was much slower then I had hoped but I'm happy to say I completed a 66 mile ride.  This time includes a stop for Ron to put his chain back on, a stop to fix a break problem, a big water food stop at mile 30, and 3 Kate's got to get off this damn bike and stretch stops.  I think my mind started messing with me after my usual 40 mile distance. 

Lessons Learned:

1.  I need more time in the saddle.  My one long ride a week isn't going to cut it for my HIM. 
2.  I need a woman friendly bike seat and a new pair of bike shorts. 
3.  I should really scope out the course and plan my nutrition stops before the race.
4.  I HAVE to do another bike race.  Love them.

~ AZ Sunshine ~ - 2009-11-23 2:06 PM

Here is the picture of me in line for registration.  http://swimbikerunwine.blogspot.com/

losta - 2009-11-23 11:14 AM Congrats Kate and Leah! Big road ahead! Do we have to change the name of the thread?;-)