left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 29)

Dan - what day is your tri?

Leston - yours is Saturday, right?

Hey gang. I snuck out of the final presentation of teh day a few minutes early so I could get to teh "Cyber Cafe" before the rush and post a note.

Had a great time in the marathon relay yesterday. I was up WAY earlier than I needed to be but decided to head out to my relay spot. Took a cab driven by a fellow from Guyana who had the reggae music pumping in the cab as we tried to find the spot where I was to be, avoiding all the road closures along the way.

This is the first time I've been able to see the "behind the scenes" stuff of a big race. There were so many volunteers - people looking after water, gatorade, misting stations, sponges, music, clowns, etc. etc. Remember - thank the volunteers every chance you get because they work hard and without them we don't get to play!

I was surprised how many relay teams took part - close to 800 I found out today. There were over 1000 marathoners as well so made for a busy spot at transition. I managed to stake out a great spot early on and so I had no trouble seeing our #2 runner arriving to pass off to me as #3.

It was quite a feeling to take the timing chip and race off like a scalded dog passing people instead of being passed!

My route went through one of the nicest neighborhoods of Winnipeg and then through a lovely park. In the park there was a japanese-style drumming group which really got your heart pumping. Also a bagpiper as we exited the park.

As we were nearing the end of our leg I was beside a lady who asked me if I knew how much further to the transition. I said I thought it was about 1k but wasn't 100% sure because I was from out of town. She asked where, I responded Fredericton New Brunswick and she shrieked, "I'm originally from Nakawic" , which is a town about 25 miles fron F'ton. We laughed at the coincidence.

As mentioned yesterday, I finished with an average pace of about 5:20 per km which was very satisfying.

Today was a rest day. Tomorrow I plan to hit the pool for a swim. There isn't a pool at my hotel but there is in the one where the conference sessions are being held and I sweet-talked my way into a guest pass when I mentioned I am training for a triathlon!

Cheers for now,

Peter

Hey Dan! You are going to be fine with or without the sausage casing. *grin* I have a stocky 'torso' as well, (and it's definitely not as attractive on a woman as it is on a man *blush*), so just the thought of trying to get into a wet suit causes me claustrophobia. And I know nothing - absolutely zilch - about wetsuits. Looks like great advice from Bryan and Marianne. I do know though, that I can get acclimated to reasonably cold water once I swim in it for a hundred yards or so and work up some body heat, so trying out the lake without the wetsuit before the tri sounds like a plan. Regardless, you are going to be awesome! You're going to have a blast!

For both Dan and Leston: I had a panic attack in the water on my first tri, and holy cow, it was a POOL SWIM! And I adore swimming, go figure. For the second tri, the swim was an OWS, and I was fine. I just know it will work out fine for you guys. Marianne nails it when she says "relax". That's definitely the key. You have trained, you are ready. You are mighty sTRIving turtles and you are going to LOVE your finish lines!

Go Dan and Leston! Go, go, GO!!!

Congrats on the relay, Peter! Wtg!

Leston - Get back in the water....go NOW....I mean it....go NOW....suit up....wade out....and float on your back.  Let the wetsuit show you how buoyant you are....you will bob around like a cork.  RELAX.....RELAX some more....now just roll over on your side and swim 4-8 strokes....then back to your back....RELAX....over swim a few....on your back...RELAX...now this time you are going to laugh at yourself as you roll over onto your side to swim but do it one more time....5-10 strokes and back to your back....now roll over and swim little turtle....just like the little turtle who could.  You got it....no problem.  Mav's advice was great....don't swim ANYONE else's swim...just yours....there is no podium for swim time.....you WILL make it up on the bike and run....750 could only cost you 5-7 minutes if you dog paddle the whole thing....think about that on your swim and laugh.  If there are waves and there is water flowing into your mouth....just roll further to your back...it won't cost you more than 2 seconds if that....and it will keep your heart rate down.  All those drills and technique swims go down the drain (at least somewhat) in an open water swim...especially at the start....get to the outside/rear....or if you move to the center keep some clear water around you.  You should also "stand" in the water in your suit....you will be either buoyant enough to breathe without moving or moving very much I would think....the key again....RELAX.  Now, I personally like getting right in the middle of the pack and riding the washing machine....I think it is kinda fun to get bumped and jostled....swimming can be a contact sport....I think it is like a ride at a water park....and I didn't have to buy a ticket...

Go forth and paddle little turtle

Dan - if buoyancy is an issue for you...wear the suit....the confidence is worth the time in T1 to get out of the casing.....If all is well, go suitless.....smile....

Your finish lines await,

B

Flipper - when's your next event?  What's on the calendar?

Hi Bryan! Thanks so much for asking! The only thing on the radar is my first 10K planned for the 2cd week in Oct. We have this silly financial crunch going on. *sigh* The good news is, I have a job interview coming up. I refuse to go back to teaching, (I feel that, at my age, I deserve a less stressful job) so I applied with the county to work in our local public library system. I applied and took the test 6 months ago. Mom went back to work Monday a week ago, releasing me from my obligation to taxi her around, and I hear from the county on Friday. Unreal! Coincidence? Don't believe in 'em. *ear to ear smile*

So, keep your fingers crossed for me folks! And thanks again, Bryan! You are such a sweetheart for asking.

This is the race I wanna do. Work hard first thing in the A.M., play and eat the rest of the day! Woohoo!

http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1491125&assetId=c275a92d-030c-477d-8f27-3f49ea854ed8

sTRIve on Turtles!

OK, let's knock out some of these.  Lose the time goal.  No big deal.  You can have a target or a hope, just not a goal. By the way, that's a pretty tight goal....give yourself a break...it's your first triathlon for crying out loud.

Flipper - karma for the job....and dad gummit it's only 11 and a half hours to drive to Gulf Shores....I may come for the Shrimp Festival....I love me some shrimp as you know.

Leston - I wear the Seal and love it.  Are you sure you have the strap in right and clipped down - mine have some little stays on the side.  I have never had it get lose.  I might even try taking out the strap and flipping it around...maybe that makes sense....but bottom line, go with comfort and confidence.  By the way, thanks for the respect of the law....LONG LIVE THE LAW.

Dan...you cracked me up....your comment about Sticka chasing chicks reminds me of the butt honking that occuring earlier in our little group....next thing you know we'll have something on youtube.....wait maybe we do....did anyone post Sticka's transition shots....

Dan...worst case....get the wetsuit, take it to Lifetime - put it on and go get in the pool....no biggie....I have swam in mine before in the outdoor pool during the winter...yes, people looked at me like I was crazy....that's okay with me because I think I am crazy...and I also just look back at them like a deranged serial killer and they quit thinking about my wetsuit and move the women and children to the other side of the pool....it's really easy to get a lane that way....smile....and I agree with Mav....screw the salespeople...many of them have never seen the water, much less swim...and they could never hang on a triathlon.....and I have seen some HUGE wetsuits....you are not the biggest....

Dan....shoes....put them on in T1 and walk/run out of transition....be careful on concrete as they will be slick.  Again, it will take a few seconds off your time but you can make it up on the bike.

Dan....arrival time. I would be there at 6.  Yeah, we get up early in this sport.  You want to try to get a bike rack spot (if they are not assigned) as near the bike exit as possible.  That will shrink the run you have to do in your cleats.  It also lengthens the run in your running shoes to the run out as most transition areas are arranged.  The earliest arrivers will get those spots.  It also gives you a chance to get body marked, final sign in, chip on, early to the porta potty....always go before the start, then get out of transition and away from all the nervous people trying to wig everyone out in their nervousness.  Put in the ipod and just relax.  Then right before transition closes, go check on your stuff and make sure no one bumped it or moved it around.  Then get back down to the swim start area and try to zone out.  Give the family the approximate times you will be back in transition and tell them to yell at you to drink water in T1 and T2.....you mind will be mush....you will not want to think.

You will have a great time and I will be nervous enough for both of you.  Get in your race reports asap.

sTRIve, your finish line awaits,

B

No embarrassment allowed....we are a bunch of turtles for crying out loud....there is no embarrassment in turtle land....

That said, if you want some, here's some.  Check out the Food Network - Diners, Drive-ins and Dives - the comfort food episode showing now - one of the three restaurants is the Tip Top Cafe in San Antonio, TX.  I and my wife both appear in the story....yes kids, I am famous....ROFLMAO!!!!  Honestly I have been eating at this place more than 45 years and they were filming one day when Debbie and I went in - the filmed us and while most of our interview is on a cutting room flow somewhere, we both made the show.....unbelievable....they were really hard up for interviews that day.....smile.

There you go....enjoy!

sTRIve

Leston...I think the show is on Saturday at 2 if you are home...that is central time.  The goggles sound great and sound like a good fit.  On a race over an hour and certainly over 2 hours - no matter the distance....you need some calories.  The base rule of thumb is 200-300 calories per hour but I really would emphasize that this MUST be practiced to see how your stomach works.  Somethings get rejected.  A gu would probably be fine and that is about 100 calories....the GU20 is probably about 100 as well so that should work fine.  Just be sure not to take in too many...typically too many is worse than too few.

sTRIve

Dan - glad the suit fits well....ordering is always a challenge...I don't think I would worry much about the area behind the knee - I would butter it pretty well with body glide to prevent chafe.

Dan and Leston - our thoughts are with you guys....good karma shooting your way.

Just remember it is only a matter of "left.right.repeat" - they will tell you when to stop.

sTRIve

Sticka running home, Marianne?! Too funny!

The interview went well, and they called yesterday afternoon and offered me the job. Yey! Just part time at present, but it's a start. And I can keep my membership to the gym!

Dan and Leston! OMG, I can't wait to hear~!!! Go Dan, go! Go, Leston, go! Woohoo!

(I written myself a note to check out the food channel network at 2pm today. ) ONLY 11 1/2 hours, Bryan?! Yikes. *grin* But hmm, the shrimp just might be worth it.