BigSkiesMentorGroup - COMPLETE! (Page 26)

Well, thanks for sharing this. It inspires me to do the same. I'll see if I can get one of my friends to come with me and tri an open water swim before the race on the 26th.

I've been more and more nervous about the open water swim. I guess after the bad start I had on my first tri (in a pool), I'm now more conscious about how slow I swim. I learned to swim at 36 and never stopped since, but always very slow.

Sandra,

I'm slow.  Everytime I worry about being slow or try to go to fast I get in trouble - like not sighting and going off course.  Now I just start in the back and concentrate on slow and steady.  Sometimes now in a sprint, when I'm feeling totally comfortable, I will pick it up a bit and I've had better times.  But only after I've started slow and steady.

Denise

Steve,

The T1 story - actually I completely forgot about what happened and didn't even put it in my race report.  When I came out of the water, I initially had to go up this grassy hill - at least, it was grassy at the start of the race.  By the time I came out, it was slick mud.  I fell - at least not on my face - but my legs and hands were covered with mud.  Then I had to run up the hill some more and then through the sprint transition area (which was large) to get to my area which was at the far side of the Olympic transition area.  Then I had to clean up the mud as best I could - used a towel but didn't want to use my drinking water.

So that's what happened and why my T1 time was so high - it's always high but worse this time.

Denise

Denise & Mandy, awesome job on your races.  You results and report are quite inspiring and motivating. 

I had my MS150 this weekend. I was at the 75.5 mile mark of the 100 on Saturday when I wiped out going downhill when I hit some gravel.  Not sure if I hit the guardrail or went under it but I was pretty dazed but didn't black out.  In the end, the MS team did a great job of getting me medical attention and then to a hospital.  I have a broken thumb on my left hand, a broken right clavicle and a broken right pelvic bone.  I spent 16 hours at two hospitals but eventually the diagnosis was I didn't need surgery since the bones didn't shift when they broke.  I will verify that diagnosis tomorrow when I visit a hand surgeon and ortho specialist.  My walker allows me to be fairly mobile and with each passing day, I find more mobility and more flexibility.  The IMKY is suspect but I will wait and see how my recovery goes before I dismiss it completely.  I think a lot will depend on the healing of the pelvic bone.  Time will tell.  My patience is certainly challenged but I am trying to be a good patient.  I will keep you all tuned in and will use your successes as motivation.

Belted!! Oh no!! I am so sorry to hear about all of this.  Holy crap. That must have been so scary.  Good luck with the surgeon tomorrow.  Heal quickly. 

Mandy

Nice website Mandy.

Yikes Belted.  Good luck with your recovery.

Belted,

How terrible!  I wish you the best.  Glad it wasn't worse.

Denise

Steve,

Given your success in the sport I don't think much has slipped by you. 

When I was starting out I was confused and all worked up about some issue concerning training (can't remember exactly what it was).  Anyhow, I researched the subject on the Internet and found out that there were lots of conflicting opinions (which happened to make me even more confused).  I'm was a total newbie, who do I follow, what is right?  So I wrote Gordo about it and he gave me a great piece of advise.  His message to me was that "At the end of the day, keep the plan simple and stick with what you enjoy doing daily. That is a lot more important than the specific protocol."  So that has been my approach to the sport as it pertains to technology, training protocols, etc...  I try and listen to what the smart successful people (you included) in the sport do (recommend) and try it out.  If it works for me all the better, if not then I was taught something.

Mandy,

I loved your race report - you even have videos - goodness.

That custom bike rack sticker was awesome!  Did it peel off so you could keep it?

Denise

Off to Iowa City tomorrow for a long weekend - my husband's 50th high school reunion.  I know some of his classmates and their wives so I'll have fun too.

We're staying at the campus union hotel and we get passes to the new rec center - 3 floors and 20,000 ft and just built last year.  And best of all - a 50 meter lap pool.  I've never swum in one.

I'll check back in next week.

Denise

OH MAN!! I didn't even THINK of that!! MAN!! Next time I am totally stealing it!

Steve- 

Mojo is on the shopping list to try for my Sat ride.  Easy/recovery week this week, but have a 2 hr ride on Sat that I will give it a go on.  

I am thinking about special needs, I am not sure how that works.  I don't have a protein drink but was thinking of putting some Ultragen in my Special Needs bag (recovery drink with 320 cals/20g protein) - how important is it that I get that in (protein?)  I didn't even think of that to be honest.  

Hmm.  I like the pringles idea, and also chocolate pretzels but I am worried that they will be a melted mess.  

Right now my special needs bag (in my little head) for the bike have: spare tubes/CO2 (not that I will need them ), Dark Chocolate Snickers, some gels, Ultragen (2 bottles like you said to keep from spoiling), pringles (because I like that idea).  I hope it doesn't cause me to get tied to the porta potties!! I plan on testing it in 2 weeks when I am there actually.  I am doing 2 loops of the course on Sat.

LOL 175 milers!!! I have ridden 112 1x already, will do again next Sat on IMLP course.

Holy crap. It is so freaking close!

Mandy 

STEVE-

What do you think of IMMT (Mont Tremblant)?  I am going to go to volunteer that one for sure, it is a tad closer to me than Placid and a really gorgeous area. 

AND. 

Did you happen to catch the fees for the new IMNYC (which, just as an aside, is in NJ, not NYC)? $1000 entry!!!!  HOLY CRAP!! To swim in the Hudson with the dead bodies? YUCK. They better have someone pedaling beside me to feed me.  

Mandy