Got Your Mojo WORKIN'! group - CLOSED (Page 26)

stevebradley - 2011-01-05 10:26 AM BOB again - I agree with what WHATO said about concrete --- avoid it like the plague! I'm referring to the grey stuff, and I'm assuming he is too. The purply/black stuff is okay, at least it's less forgiving than concrete. All those trails through Reston, though -- you should be fine. All those trails -- you are really fortunate. I have a few rough thouights about what is ailing your knee, but I will dig deeper and see if i can come up with something conclusive. Have you ever had it properly diagnosed? Beyond that, what running shoes do you wear? Also, do you have low arches or high arches, or arches somewhere in the middle? Finally, do you heel-strike? If so, there will be significant wear on the heels of your running shoes; and look at them, not your daily shoes. My really qucik and dirty assessment is that you might overpronate and could benefit from a fairly sturdy stability model of running shoe. So when you get a chance, let me know what you're currently running in.

jslacker - 2011-01-05 1:58 PM Let me jump on the running shoes soap box with you Steve. 

Three addition things.
  
1.   You forgot Brooks.   Big fan of the Adrenaline

2.   Track the number of miles you put on  your shoes.  You can have the best shoe in the world but if they are broken down, they are useless.  I change shoes every 300 miles.  I know its anal but I start having issues with my calf when my shoes are starting to break down.  I then donate them since they still look fairly new. 

3.   Always untie your running laces when taking your shoes off.  Kicking your shoes off when they are still tied leads to a faster break down of the shoe. 

Off the box now! 

stevebradley - 2011-01-05 3:46 PM ALEX - One of the present downsides of a fairly large and INCREDIBLY active group is that I have yet to learn the history of most of you. So, can you tell me (again?) what your running background is? I readily see the races you have planned for this season (well, minus the late-breaking marathon thoughts!), and they are all sprints, and they end in mid August. So, depending on when the marathon is in October, you have between 6 and 10 weeks to ramp up your mileage enough to be ready for it. How important is the Seattle race to you? I seem to remember you saying that you were going out there anyway, so why not do a race at the same time, and I support that notion 167%. I'm thinking, though, that you will leave your bike back home and borrow/rent one for the race, and if that's the case then you are probably jusyt doing the race mostly for fun and experience. Is that about right? I ask this because if it's a funnish race and not a top-priority event, then I think you might want to begin the marathon training after Philly -- unless you come from a distance running background of some sort. If all you did betwen Philly and Seattle was stuff to get you peaked for Seattle, then you might not have time to get ready for the marathon. But if you can view Seattle as a fun race, and a nice diversion from marathon training, then I think you could have it all -- the 3 tris listed, then the marathon. Let me know your thoughts of Seattle, okay? Is it fun? Is it the culmination of your triathlon season, sort of a "statement" race as to where your tri training has taken you? Moving on just slightly, please tell me again which training plan you are using; that will help in figuring out how and when to adjust it. Without knowing what it is, and coming back to what I siad above, you will be best-served by following a sprint-based plan up through Philly, and then after that jump over to a marathon plan that would hold for between 12 (early Oct race date) and 16 (last days of Oct) weeks. If you look at most marathon plans, I think they will be set for at least 15 and more commonly 18+ weeks, so even with a July 11 marathon training start date, it's cutting it a bit close. Doesn't make it impossible -- juts tight. Of course, some of your decidion will be based on what you want from the marathon. I fyou are thinking of it as a competitive effort, and you don't have much distance running behind you, it is definitely tight. But if you are looking for the experience and won't have a clear time-goal in mind, then it is very doable. So please let me know about this, too -- what your goals for DC might be. You will be in very good shape by the time July rolls around, and that will work in your favor; even with a focus on sprints, your overall fitness will be solid! Thinking on the fly right now, if you begin the marathon training in July, then you will have to reduce your swim and bike work significantly -- maybe just once a week, and kind of "maintenance" at that. If you want to to choose one to continue working slightly harder at than the other, then it's possible to get in two/week in one discipline, and once/week in the other. Really, I'd have to look at marathon plans that might be tailored to your experience and needs. The first few weeks of any marathon plan for mere mortals will not be a killer, so despite what I said at the end of the last paragraph, you may in fact not have to devote the bulk of your time to running. (That'll definitely come later, like late August and throughout September! ) Finally, what is the nature of the DC course? DC and environs is surprisingly hilly, so I'm guessing it's not a "flat and fast" race. Then again, you don't live in a "flat and fast" area, do you, so hills are familiar to you, right? Let me know what you think!

50andgettingfit - 2011-01-06 11:29 AM

To all,
I'm just curious....since we're all spread around the U.S., Canada and the world, what is the average temp of the water when you open water swim? When you practice and then during tri season? My first open water swim was early last spring and the water was 51. I thought I was I was in a freezer! So far, every race (all of 4) I've done has been wet suit legal. I like the security of a wetsuit and I'm not sure I'd want to race without one.
Johanne
 

gdsemiller - 2011-01-06 11:30 AM

Ok I have a wetsuit question.  Since I live in the South and the races I'm planning to do are June and Sept, should I wear a short no sleeve suit or just a bottom only. I was not sure how much the suits help with keeping you up and also would that be to hot.  Also if I wear a suit, what do you wear underneath it? I guess you will take the suit off when you start the bike.  I looked at some folks T1 times for the local races here and they are really quick, I was not sure if they are going from the water to the bike without getting changed.  I have only wore wetsuits duing my scuba diving and I was not sure if the tri suits are the same, because it would take me atleast 2 min to get the suit off where the folks T1 times were under 2 min. Ok one more silly question.  I was reading about shoes on different sites and they were talking about finding a shoe with I guess a liner in it that you an wear the shoes without sock.. Do you were socks with the shoes on the bike and running shoes during the race?  Ok I lied, one more question.  If I do wear a short suit and no sleeves in the races, should I train in the pool with the suit also.  Again I was not sure how much the suits help on keeping you up and I did not want to train one way and then race day it throws me off.

Thanks
George

stevebradley - 2011-01-06 7:20 AM LORI - What type of fin do you use? The best tri-swim-training ones are apparently the shorter ones, such as Zoomers. The bigger or longer ones tend to not only badly over-emphasize the kick, but don't incorporate the upper legs and hips as well as Zoomers do. Due to my neuroma history, and now a troublesome bunion, I am staying away from them. I guess I should give them a short spin at the pool soon and see how the footsies feel......but that's assuming that I really want to work at my kick! Like a bad rash or something, the thought of working harder to kick better never quite goes away!

gdsemiller - 2011-01-06 8:30 AM Ok I have a wetsuit question.  Since I live in the South and the races I'm planning to do are June and Sept, should I wear a short no sleeve suit or just a bottom only. I was not sure how much the suits help with keeping you up and also would that be to hot.  Also if I wear a suit, what do you wear underneath it? I guess you will take the suit off when you start the bike.  I looked at some folks T1 times for the local races here and they are really quick, I was not sure if they are going from the water to the bike without getting changed.  I have only wore wetsuits duing my scuba diving and I was not sure if the tri suits are the same, because it would take me atleast 2 min to get the suit off where the folks T1 times were under 2 min. Ok one more silly question.  I was reading about shoes on different sites and they were talking about finding a shoe with I guess a liner in it that you an wear the shoes without sock.. Do you were socks with the shoes on the bike and running shoes during the race?  Ok I lied, one more question.  If I do wear a short suit and no sleeves in the races, should I train in the pool with the suit also.  Again I was not sure how much the suits help on keeping you up and I did not want to train one way and then race day it throws me off.

Thanks
George

ckallpoints - 2011-01-06 11:07 AM Steve

Kathy and I have been foster parents for about 8 years. We haven't had kids the whole time they come and go. The kids in general are pretty good and need a safe place to stay while the "adults" in their life get there $%!^ together or move on to a permanent placement. Sometimes its hard to watch. Hopefully we can have an impact and show the kids that there is another way to live.

Any idea on size 15 running shoes?

50andgettingfit - 2011-01-06 10:29 AM To all,
I'm just curious....since we're all spread around the U.S., Canada and the world, what is the average temp of the water when you open water swim? When you practice and then during tri season? My first open water swim was early last spring and the water was 51. I thought I was I was in a freezer! So far, every race (all of 4) I've done has been wet suit legal. I like the security of a wetsuit and I'm not sure I'd want to race without one.
Johanne
 

retiretotri - 2011-01-06 9:23 AM

Craig, have you ever tried New Balance running shoes?  They have bigger sizes and several different widths.  Here is a link:  http://www.eastbay.com/searchresults/?Nrt=New+Balance&Nr=AND%28Brand%3aNew+Balance%29&N=61+1796+265&cm_REF=15.0

Nike also has a lot of bigger sizes:  http://www.eastbay.com/searchresults/?Nrt=Nike&Nr=AND%28Brand%3aNike%29&N=61+1796+842+265&cm_REF=15.0

I run exclusively in Asics:  http://www.eastbay.com/searchresults/?Nrt=Men%27s+Shoes&Nr=AND%28Gender%2fAge%3aMen%27s%2cProduct+Type%3aShoes%29&N=1796+265&Ntt=asics&cm_REF=15.0

I hope this helps.  You certainly don't need to spend over $100 on a pair of shoes.  Quality shoes can be had for $65-80.

stevebradley - 2011-01-05 3:30 PM MANNY - I agree with the others - do what the doctor says. However.....I would also say that if that if you have a second doctor from whom to get an opinion, check there, too. 10-14 days is a fair bit for a mild concussion, and certainly proi football players boune back quicker than that from maybe mor serious stuff. (THAT said, there are all the scares and building evidence of what happens to football players who have suffered multiple concussions throughout their career, what with early-onset dementia and all.) Those lay-offs are tougher earlier in one's triathlon career; it'll get easier for you when you get old like me and have weathered countless injuries and some rather lengthy down-time! So, take the next 10 days to be creative or diverse. I'm sure you can swim (just don't hit your head on the end walls!), and there is no earthly reason why you vcan't stretch and do some light to moderate lifting. Core work? Crunch your brains out! Maybe not the rollers, though; now is not the time you want to endure a wipe-out! And no more jumping off tall objects, as your picture shows you doing! (Didn't I warn you about that? )

stevebradley - 2011-01-05 3:43 PM MANNY again - Great attitude towards the hills -- pretty much along the lines of if you can't beat'em, join 'em! I mean, it's tough to live in a hilly area and hate hills with a passion, eh? So wise to take your time moving up through the distances.....but I've said that before, haven't I? Take care of the noggin!