SWBKRUN Mentor Group-"Off Season?" What is that?!! (Page 257)

Hey everyone!  First off, let me get to the kudos -
Steve - congrats on getting 2nd AG in your Oly!
Suzie - great job on your HIM and getting 2nd AG also!
Rob - congrats on finishing your first HIM!
Tracy - nice job on the swim!
I'll post more on those after I get a chance to read your RR's (crazy busy here at work today for some reason). 

As for me - I ended up doing a double over the weekend.  Not sure if it was the smartest thing to do but I'd do it again.  I started off with the 4k open race at the XC festival my daughter's team was competing in Saturday morning.  The course was rougher than I expected and there were times when I had to watch where I stepped but it was a neat experience.  I finished that race in 27:18 which isn't bad for me, but more than 5 minutes slower than my daughter.  She ran the same course a couple of hours later and finished in 21:53.

Sunday was my half marathon.  This was my second half and I thought I was ready for it.  I did OK - my goal was to finish somewhere between 2:45 and 3 hours and I finished in 2:57:04, but the last 4 miles or so were rough.  I think the race Saturday morning was part of that, only in a way I hadn't expected.  My legs were feeling good so no issues there, I just felt like I had no energy after about 6 miles.  My eating on Saturday had been pretty bad and I hadn't slept well either Friday night or Saturday night (woke up at 2:30 am in a panic about the drive over to the race start - not the race itself, just the drive to the start - how stupid is that?) After finally getting up on Sunday I wasn't able to eat anything.  My stomach just wouldn't accept any kind of food.  But I managed to finish the race.  I'll try to get a RR up tonight after I get home from work. 
Janet

Great job Janet!  I know exactly what you mean about those night before a race nightmares.  Aren't those the worst!!  I never sleep well the night before a race.  Looking forward to reading the RR.  Congratulations.

X2--- Way to go Janet!

That is why it is SO SO important to get a good night of sleep 2 nights before the race.  Most usually don't sleep like a baby the night before a race!

Great job Janet!  Way to hustle through those last 4 miles!!!  Very cool you did the run Saturday. I bet that's something you'll be looking back on in a few years. 

Great job, Janet!  I have those kinds of nightmares often the night before races...just weird panicky stuff, so like Suzy, I really try to get a good night's sleep 2 nights prior, as I expect not to sleep well the night before.  Eating right is now something I try to do the whole week before, for anything longer than an hour.  I know I should be trying to do that all the time, but I love cheese and ice cream...not together, well, you know what i mean...

Anyhow, great race and looking forward to your rr.

I did a one hour bike TT today and it was the first time I have done one.  I found it difficult to gauge my effort, and ended feeling like I should have given a harder effort in the last 15 minutes, but I just kept holding back that little bit til the last 2 minutes.  For some reason, I don't mind hurting on the run, but I do find it hard to give my all on the bike.  At any rate, I am still exhausted from the effort.  

SAVAGEMAN!!   Are you savage enough?

 

Edited by tahrens 2009-09-14 7:52 PM






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Good luck Tracy - I admire anyone who tackles that course.  Those are the nasty hills I've ever seen.

Great job finishing Janet!! Way to push through those final 4 miles. And you leanred a lesson it sounds like it to. Next one will be under 2:45 for sure.

MMMM Ice cream and cheese sounds so good.

Ditto

Dang it Trevor - I'm sick of this sig line already..... And it's only been a week.... 38 more days reminding me not to be a slug....

Edited by ashort33 2009-09-14 10:54 PM

For anyone unfamiliar w/ Savageman - take a look at part of the HIM's claim to fame.

Video of the Westernport Wall http://www.savagemantri.org/Westernport_Wall.html

About it:Welcome to Westernport! Check your pride at the door. The Westernport Wall is the steepest climb in all of road triathlon. At just four street blocks the Westernport Wall is not particularly long, but it starts steep and gets steeper, culminating in a final block on a stretch of road so steep that it has long been closed to traffic.

With its poor pavement, an average grade of 25% and a max pitch of 31%, successfully getting up the final block of the Westernport Wall takes a bit of skill, a bit of luck, and a lot of True Savage determination! All savages who conquer the Wall without putting a foot down receive a special "Brick In The Wall" prize. Those savages who choose not to tackle the closed block have the option to take a slightly longer, more humane route around the block.

The Westernport Wall takes no prisoners and respects no pedigree. In the inaugural year of the SavageMan Triathlon the Westernport Wall laid claim to many victims, and not just your everyday triathletes. A multiple Ironman pro podium finisher attempted the Wall and had to unclip and walk, as did other pro triathletes. The 12th overall pro at the 2007 Ironman Hawaii World Championships took one look at the Wall, said "No Way", and elected to take the slightly longer, more sane route around.

Just Another Brick In The Wall
While the Westernport Wall may have claimed many victims in the SavageMan Half, many Savages have attempted and conquered the Wall as well. And those solo participants who clear the Wall without unclipping and walking and go on to complete the SavageMan Half are rewarded with triathlon immortality: personally engraved bricks laid in the Wall for future Savage triathletes to ride over and perhaps fall onto.

In 2007 45 individuals conquered the Wall and received their brick, and 114 athletes earned their bricks in 2008. Be a True Savage and earn your brick in the Westernport Wall!

not me

DEFINITELY NOT!
Seeing all those amazing looking athletes fall flat on their butts, tells me NO WAY.

Great job Janet.  Cool that you did both races.
I too have weird dreams before races....I use to try to figure them out, now I dont bother since they never seem to make sense.

I had a wierd dream night before last about IMFL......but I think that was because I watche da read so much about IMWI.

Anyway, hope everyone has a great week!     

SAVAGEMAN....Good Luck Tracy!
You are incredible!  Have fun out there.

Great job Janet!

Heading out to WY for a few days for work, should be interesting..  Anyone ever been to Cheyenne?

Ditto nope nada now way. I've seen enough hills for a while.

You go   SUGAR

Edited by Redknight 2009-09-15 8:21 AM