Penn State's mentor group - CLOSED! (Page 25)

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I guess I'm a little lucky in this group... you guys get to go be the guinea pigs for me since my IM isn't until Novermber   So my questions on pacing will probably come around the end of October or beginning of November.  I should have some great race data on recent performances to use at that point (mid-August HIM (moderate), mid-September HIM (full speed), mid-October marathon (easy), late-October Marathon (full speed) )  I will definitely be watching you all closely

absolutely.

Plans for this weekend - this is the last big push before Wildflower next weekend!

Today - Rest
Saturday - 40 minute OWS in Aquatic Park followed by a ~6.5 mile run
Sunday - Double brick, 9 mile ride, 30 min run, 9 mile ride, 20 min run

double brick... I never even thought to do one of those... that sounds like a lot of fun.  I think I'll add that to my schedule sometime in the next couple months.

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They are really fun! We did a triple a few weeks ago that was 9 mile bike, 30 min run, 9 mile bike, 20 min run, 9 mile bike 10 minute run. We're lucky that we have a really good bike loop near a great running path that makes it easy to do. We set up a little transition area in a park nearby.

That does sound fun...and not to mention good reptative transition practice

For what it's worth,

I did one HIM last year.  I was 29/45 in my age group and 391/700.  So, roughly MOP.

Swim time: 30:01
Bike time: 3:12:39
Run time: 2:10:44
Total time: 5:56:58

I completely freaking bonked on that run.  My nutrition fell out of my cycling jersey twice and the second time I said eff it, I'll eat off the course.  Seven miles into the run I was hallucinating about Chinese buffets and running with my eyes closed because I was so tired (I couldn't make up for fewer gels on hand, no way, no how).

So, if you double the run time then hypothetically I could do a marathon in 4:21:something.  When I ran my first marathon this past fall (a few months after the HIM), I finished in 4:06.  I ran the first 13 miles at a nice easy clip and based off of RPE.  I forget if I had my Garmin with me.  At the end, say the last 3 miles, I tried to pick up the pace to break 4 hours, but it was too late.  I was still happy with my execution though (it WAS tough passing up the beer stop before the water stop at around mile 22 on that route!).

I'm going to be happy with a marathon under 5 hours, but I'll give myself a pat on the back just for finishing IMLP.

ANDDDDDDDDDDDD....

For what it's worth.  At my Philly marathon (this is a secret!) I walked. Every (EVERY!!!!) water stop. 30 seconds.

Here's a question I just thought of regarding the swim and training.  For my HIM last year I trained enough in the swim to feel that 1.2miles was easy.  I even did a few 5k swims in the pool months prior to the race and just swam easy once or twice a week for the 3-4 months leading into the HIM.  I never felt I was pushing hard during the swim, just kind of used it as a warm up for the rest of the day.  My split for the swim put me basically dead center MOP, which was all I was aiming at being my first HIM.

I kind of figured this year I'd do a similar training style, figuring the amount of time required to train for the swim to gain a minute or two was better spent on the bike and run training, which I feel is more likely to lead to larger overall gains.  I was basically just going to the minimum required in the swim, not because I don't like it, but because the return on investment seemed much lower for HIMs and IMs.

Am I looking at this the wrong way though?  Would boosting my time spent swimming during training lead to more energy reserves for the run allowing me to gain that time by having my splits be closer to my solo half mary/mary times?  I still consider that I will continue to progress rapidly in my bike/run abilities, it just feels that those sports are giving the best return on investment at the moment, but I might not be looking at the whole picture?

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It definately is a rich mans sport;  when I blew out my achilles I lost $220 in race fees from races I couldn't do;  that hurt some. 

When I signed up for my I had the 'go for broke' attitude as well.  Within a month of signing up I did 5 rides over 70 miles and was putting in serious time in the pool, and running to work.  After I got hurt I had to change my philosophy; probably for the better.   Swimming is the only sport I've been able to train full time and I'm no where near where I should be at it.

My advice is to take it easy for the first... Its an Ironman so you should be at an easy pace even if you are racing.   I have a feeling a few years from now you'll be able to revisit Ironman with alot more cash reserves. 

After this race I will probably take a few months off and only work on the swim;  if I can get my times to just above average (1:30/100) I could actually compete for my age group.   Someday I actually want to win my AG at one of these races,  if I ever do,  I'm bringing a bottle of champagne with me to the podium and spraying the crowd; the overall winner is going to be thinking; 'This is bs, he gets champagne and I get a coffee mug!"

I'm not sure what others opinions are on this but to be honest I'd rather win my age group in a race than finish an Ironman.  This of course being that its a competitive field and I'm not the only one out there.

I just swithced from Lake shoes to Specialized sports.  I like the Specialized and the concept behind their insoles. 

I have been using Speedplay pedals for years.  Great float and they have never given me any problems with knees etc.

Greg

I think that would be awesome if someone did that at a local event I was at.  I typically don't care much about who gets the top 3 overall spots (unless my one friend is racing who often takes one of them), but the AG awards are great when you can tell someone worked their butt off to get there instead of it just being "another AG podium spot" they got at yet another race.

I think Ken would have a good idea of hills that compare Musselman and Lake Placid. Thoughts, Ken??

 So far, I'm way more consistent with training than I was last year, so that'll help.  

And, I may sound like a hypochondriac in my blogs, but I'm merely tracking aches and pains in case an overuse injury does pop up and I think I'm complaining a lot less this year. =p 

Right now, I know the lack of saddle time is the one thing that I think I could really, really improve on to help come race day.

Plus, I'm externally motivated.  At most of my races I've only had my mom as my cheerleader.  This year my husband will be volunteering on the IMLP course and we have a bunch of other people in the family coming to watch.  My spirits will be high and that'll help.  "Knowing" some folks through the IMLP thread will help, too.  I usually get boosts of energy just by seeing people on a race course on race day. 

Wooooohooooooooooooooooo!! 

That really does help you to keep moving.  I've done a lot of races with no support other than random "Go number blah" yells from random spectators and not knowing anyone else at the race.  The times others I know are in a race or hearing a familiar voice on the sidelines definitely helps keep me moving when I start thinking how easy it is to just back off the pace a little.

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Walking out the door right now to go for a group run at 9:30. This is one of those days I'd like to have slept till 11, but have to get 'er done.