Athena/ Clydesdale Official Mentor Group (Page 27)

Okay,  been a while since I posted so here goes...suffer from plantar fasciitis and shin splints which both still flare up at times.   The last time I raced was July 2011 and even that was just a sprint swim as part of a relay.  I am ready to get back to training and racing...well more like just completing...but regardless, now is the time for me to register for the race (CGI NJ State Tri).

I was planning to do the sprint distance all by myself this year  - no relay for me. I love swimming and enjoy biking.  I seriously struggle with the run and usually end up more walking/shuffling and taking close to an hour to do the 5K.  Makes for a long, hot race and normally puts me out on the course all alone and at the very back of the pack.  But, it is a distance race that I have done before and know that I could do it again.  My plan for this year was to treat it like it was my first race again and just enjoy it but not sure I can really do that.  Having done it before I probably will end up still comparing it to the first 2 times I did the race.

I learned today that CGI is offering a Aqua Velo for the Olympic Distance race and I am intrigued. I did a sprint Aqua Velo a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it,especially the not having to run part.  

Here's my dilemma.   I know that I can finish a sprint distance triathlon with the proper training. While I have never competed at the Olympic distance, when I was seriously training I was able to swim 1500m+  do it at a decent pace.  I am pretty sure that time on the bike (on the trainer in the winter and outside once the weather gets nice) will get me to the 26 miles I need for the bike distance.  I guess the distance seems so far compared to the sprint distances which is what makes me hesitate.  Do I go with what I know and pretend it is my first race again or do I challenge myself with a new distance and a completely different race?   On the upside, if I don't have to focus on the run training, I could spend more time in the pool and on the bike and won't aggravate the shins and heels all that much.

What do I do?????  Any words of wisdom or advice?  Anyone know if the custom plans on here would allow me to do a aquavelo training plan?  If not,  any suggestions where I could look?

Albury, that's awesome.  I've said it a million times, but I can't wait til my little guy is old enough to understand all this stuff and do that.

Fecht, I don't really see anything wrong with doing the same race again. Your old times may linger in the back of your head but if it's a distance you're comfortable with and you have a better idea of how your body will react to the training then I see nothing wrong with it?  I'm also looking to move up to an Oly next year but I'm also looking forward to doing the sprint I did this year beacuse of the familiarity.  Also, who is to say that you can't start training for one and then decide to do the other?  Sure the training plans will be a little altered but if you think you can do the distances already then it's really just building up your stamina.

Jon,  thanks.  Good point about doing the familiar.  Issue I have is this is a race that sells out early so have to commit now.  I am pretty sure that I can switch from the Oly AB to Full Sprint but won't be able to go the other way.  Maybe that is the best advice - register and plan for the Oly AB and then switch to the sprint tri if I don't think I will be able to make the distances.

Thanks everyone!

Took about a week off -- my training plan called for a down week anyway, and I decided to rest completely as I had lingering pain in my leg and didn't want to risk further injury.  (I've gotten spooked by some of the BT stories around overtraining)   Ran this morning for the first time (30 min) and no problems -- very glad I let it fully heal.   I'm not doing a tri again until spring, so I had the luxury of being able to flex the plan a bit.

Strange feeling -- I actually missed running.  (???)

Best news -- the time off didn't take a toll on my weight -- in fact it kept dropping!  Now down 20 pounds since the start of tri training (about a pound a week)

My trainer is delivered and waiting for me at my house.  I'll be at the office late, probably until 7 or 8, so I won't get to try it out unitl after.  My Cadense/speed sensor also arrived, so once I get the ANT+ stick, which should be today or tomorrow, I'll be ready to get on trainer road and start torching the bike.  I'm psyched about doing all this.  I can't wait to ride whenever I want.  I have no qualms with my bike time so far but I can't wait to put some actual training time into it and see how I come out for next season.

Most times before, when I've lost weight, it's been primarily through changing diet.  This time isn't the same -- if anything, my eating has gone noticeably up.   This is a lot more fun.  

All the available choices make your head spin, don't they?  My fitter (and most of what I've read) has convinced me not to go with a tri bike.  I'm leaning heavily toward a road bike (Cannondale Synapse 5 or Trek Domane 2.3), but have lingering thoughts of getting a more multi-purpose bike (Cannondale Quick 5 or a Trek FX 7.2).  Every now and then I try to convince myself that getting both is a realistic investment, since my goal for next riding season is to relegate my motorized vehicles to "rainy day only" use.  See, most anywhere I would want to to go is between 6 and 12 miles from home.  A rear rack and some folding baskets on the sides seem like an easy way to carry anything I would buy back home.  I think that would be a neat way to build on my fitness.

^^^ for what you're describing, I'd say the Trek FX line is perfect. I'd highly recommend putting in the extra couple hundred for the 7.3 though...big component improvement for not a lot of money. I have one for my family cruiser bike (pulling the little ones in the trailer and around the neighborhood stuff), and love it. Compliments my 2.1 roadie well.

Finally got cleared by the doc yesterday to get back in the game. I had a soleus tear back in Sept that sidelined me for a LONG time. Cold, rainy trail run this morning...only 3.5 miles but it felt GREAT to be back out there! Most importantly, never felt a twinge of pain from the calf. Lungs...that's a different story! They definitely feel the effects of the layoff.

I'm back!!! Have a great weekend everyone.

First run for a while today. Bought some new shoes and thought I would take them for a run. Up in the hills behind my house, so crazy elevations, lots of walking but better than nothing. Beautiful views too. 

Have a great weekend all

48 min run on the treadmill last night -- and probably could have done more.   60 minutes is tantalizingly close!   (nice run kid... don't get cocky!)     My feet, however, are getting more sore as the runs get longer -- I may be exceeding the technical limits of my el cheapo shoes.   How long till Christmas again?

Also did a swim last Thursday (mainly short sprints) -- it's interesting, I seem to be getting the hang of a more powerful pull -- just need to sustain it over longer distances.   I've never had great upper body strength.

Had plans for additional workouts, but had to prep for a toddler birthday party -- where do I log dollhouse construction in the training log?

I do math in my head.  But then, I'm a nerd.   It works though... how many laps have I done, how many laps do I have to go, how does that translate to meters, what's my current pace, how quickly could I walk the same distance, gee that other person is going a little bit faster I wonder what pace they're doing, hey I wonder how far that drain is from the end of the lane,  how many more laps could I do at this pace before the pool closes, etc.   If you keep the mind racing on little stuff like that, the time goes quickly.

The other (more standard) tip is to break up the swim into smaller chunks -- 100m sets, 200m sets, etc. -- so that you're not trying to do 40+ lengths in one shot.

I sing to myself in my head.  Unfortunately I learn how badly I mess up the lyrics or just flat out only know the chorus.  I am planning to start the zero to 1650 next week and have added a waterproof iPod shuffle to my wish list for Christmas hoping that I can stop singing to myself.   Sometimes I also count my strokes or my breaths.  I find that I breath after one stroke, then breath again after 3 strokes.  Yes,  weird, I know but seems to work for me.

If you scroll down on the training log page to where you are supposed to enter sports and click on the button to "Add a Sport".  Then scroll down their list.  You will find "Home Improvement", "Meditation", "Miscellaneous", and "Stretching".  Take your pick.  Or you can even create a "Custom Sport" with the button below that.  Assembling tricycles, bicycles, and swing sets are better workouts though.

PS - I didn't see one for "Cussing".

When I starting running back in May, I tracked my progress with the critical metric of "distance run before uttering the first curse word."  

Had a quick, interrupted swim today (I had the mini me with me). Then after dinner, saw my pretty new shoes, so out for a quick 30 min run. Feeling much better, feet less sore, no knee pain and actually enjoying the run (a bit). I live close to the bush (a forest for my American friends), with a lot of single track, so its pretty easy on the eyes too.

I have been doing some pose running drills as well (my cousin is an instructor), and I would have to say, even though I was/still am sceptical, it seams to be doing the job. I certainly feel better on the run, and have a lot less foot and shin pain.

Have a great week everyone

Major milestone this weekend - I flew to Tucson AZ and rode the 111-mile distance of El Tour de Tucson.  Actually finished (like I'd be bragging about it if I didn't, right?).  This was my first century ride, and I felt like I knocked it out of the park.  My goal was to finish in under 9 hours, and I came in under 8.

Now here's the funny part.  About mile 90 my brain realized that I had this thing licked, and the endorphins kicked in like crazy.  Mile 90 to the finish was uphill, and I was passing everybody in sight - sometimes by a 5 mph differential.  On top of that, I ride the big fat mountain bike hybrid I bought to hold my old 400-lb self.  There is no feeling quite like hearing grown men cry when a fat dude on a beefy bike blows past on an uphill climb.

Now that a century ride is out of the way, my next goal is an Oly-distance tri in 2013 - to finish and finish it happy.