triOK's Group - CLOSED (Page 27)

...And what are you gonna name her?  All cool bikes have names, ya know...

Keep doing it. Swimming will get easier.

Change of topic. Has anyone used a good Marathon training guide book? After my last tri in Sept., I am going to try to get rady for a Spring marathon (Cincinnati ?) and I would like to follow a program....

Kriscrn,

I really hate to contradict Robyn, but on this one I have to.  When you are doing big gear work, specifically designated as such, you should be spinning at around 65 - 80 rpm.  This is where you are building the strength in your legs to turn over a larger gear later.  That's why you only do it in sets.  The spin phase (recovery) should be a high cadence 95+ to flush out your legs and get you ready for the next interval.

In regards to back to back workouts, they are really taxing!  I have learned, the hard way, that it's better to do them with some rest inbetween unless it says brick.  I too, made the mistake until earlier this year.  I would do an hour swim workout and then go out and do a 2 hr bike...imagine my suprise when my bike workouts ended up like crap!!

Edit:  Almost forgot...Congrats on the new bike!!  And yes...it is worthy to be called porn.  It's new to you right?!

I did Steelhead 70.3 this past weekend in Michigan.  Did ok, no complaints. 

I got a Raleigh Intrigue 2.0. I have no idea what to name her.....right now I'm thinking of naming her the A** Killer since I'm not used to the saddle yet.

Thanks!

Here she is!

(BikePics 048.JPG)

Not at all Dan, in fact, I don't think you contradicted me at all... You said exactly what I was TRYING to say.  You just did it better....   I was just saying that you shouldn't be mashing away at the hardest gear possible.

I think you just need to keep trying, taking baby steps, until pretty soon you are comfortable in the water.  Learning something new is really hard, and you just need to be persistent and be proud of what you have accomplished so far!!   Also try visualizing yourself swimming in the open water, do that a lot!  We are here for encouragement! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

Heather, don't give up on yourself just because you had a bad workout.  It comes with the sport... well, any sport for that matter.  Suck it up, learn from the experience and move on.  Swimming is difficult to master, but look how far you have already come.  No more fear.... and wasn't that the hard part?  You did an OWS yesterday!  You should be sooooooo proud of yourself for that!  Congrats to you.  Now get out there and do it again.

After the panic attacks, bonks, bike wrecks, unimaginable soreness, road rash, and goofy tanlines that last all summer long, the joy I get from this sport is worth all of that bad stuff ten times over.  I am sure that you have found joy in doing this so please don't give it up just because you are frustrated.  Keep your head up... we ALL have days like that.

Oooo, very pretty! 

 Keep practicing your OWS. My first was a disaster also. I was panicky, couldn't breathe, the current where I was swimming kept me from making any headway. I'll admit, I was pretty darn nervous about finishing my swim in my race after that. BUT, I kept getting back in the open water until I felt more comfortable. If you look on different threads you'll see that this is something almost every triathlete goes through. Pool swimming and OWS are so very different.

When I had my first race, I still panicked, but because I'd read so much about how other triathletes had dealt with that feeling, I knew that it was pretty common and that I just needed to talk myself through  it. Once I got into my stroke I ended up finishing  MOP for my age group (which is saying something since I was BOP for both my bike and run).

All of this is my long way of saying, keep practicing; you'll start to feel better.

Good luck!

MOP= middle of pack

BOP= back of pack

Another triathlon milestone...I fell off my bike today. LOL

I'm totally fine except for some scrapes on my knee and wrist. I was trying to stop and couldn't get my foot unsnapped.

Note to self: Unsnap first THEN slow down.....

Yep.  Welcome to the club.  At least you didn't do it at a 4-way stop with a car full of people watching you.  Yeah, I think I am the resident dork of that club.

 I was thinking more like hell...LOL but I'm just grumpy about the fact that I can't believe I live in Texas. I'm a little homesick.