Scott and Kelly's Mentor Group- Closed (Page 29)

Thanks, Crissy. I almost missed your post b/c we were typing at the same time and cross-posted. My trainer was telling me all winter to back off on the training and see if shorter sessions would help, but I couldn't do it. I just love my workouts. I think your experience is also the case with me.

Awesome job! That's some real beast mode right there.

Also, nice new pic Scott!

I'm accepting that my weight is not going to change, at least during this season. I'm not happy about it b/c I know that's weight I have to drag around on the bike and run courses. What I hope to accomplish is 1) complete the triathlons this summer and 2) figure out how to periodize my training and focus on recovery in the fall. It's hard for me to think about not being at the gym every day. Not only do I love working out, but my social life is there, too.

Finally starting to feel like spring around here in DC, makes that long winter a distant memory!

Sweet new picture Scott!

I am also loving the Spring weather, even if it's still a bit rainy. It's nice to get some longer, warmer rides outside!

IM Maryland!

On another note, I discovered that 4 x 1 mile is the devil -- it teases you into thinking you should go faster than you are. Then right around halfway through #3 you want to stop and puke everywhere. That being said, it made me push myself harder than I ever expected to for a run workout.

#1 - 6:24
#2 - 6:17
#3 - 6:21
#4 - 6:28

My region took first place in men's AND women's AND the relay portion of US Master's Swimming Nationals this past weekend. I didn't go, but it makes me realize the type people (on a national level) that I am swimming against at the races here. I feel pretty slow when we get the heat sheets and I'm in the bottom 1/2 or 1/3 (even though I did get 3 2nd places in my AG at the regional meet.) They had Olympian swimmers there (I suppose that happens every year). It would be fun to go and swim/watch. Maybe next year. It'll be in Texas.

It's not a tri thing, but I'm excited since it's a part of my training - and since Christina is thinking of swimming some meets with the same region.

Just *reading* that 4x1 mile report makes me want to throw up. Yikes!

How hot would it be in Cozumel? I think that one would get my vote. Would your family go with you?

Sigh, I know you're right haha

Bike Q - If I can ride w/o any issues for 3 hours (just a tad soreness in my knee and also need more Chamois Butt'r) - should I think about going faster during that time, or still working on upping the saddle time?

My mph was only 13 today b/c we did a killer hill route in my group ride and I couldn't really coast on the downhill - anxiety - so I braked it most of those parts, and then I took my boys out for another hour - they do not know how to ride in a group ha,ha.

I am hoping to go out on a longer ride this week. It's not in my plan, but I want to go - it's a nice paved trail and the weather should be great for it this week. I'll probably just do it in place of a one hour ride. It'll be very gentle slopes so I suspect I could easily do 17-18 mph for 3ish hours. Or should I focus on a lower speed, but go longer - like 16 mph for 4 hours to get used to the mechanics/duration in saddle?

My goal for Lake Stevens is 17mph, but the route has some hills. One of the ladies I ride with - we are a very similar speed - will be doing it for the 4th time this year. She said she definitely goes faster during the race than our rides in the area have been and doesn't think I'll have a problem reaching 17mph (or more). We have been doing a little over 16mph so far, though I think with a bit less hills than the race route.

Was a bit sad when I couldn't find this to read today. Glad to see it was just moved.



In my experience, having moved from a rural area to here, my averages riding around Seattle are slower because I slow down/stop for intersections and lights. And that's with my Garmin set to Auto Pause under 6 mph. This will not be the case at your race. And those slow downs do make a difference in your average pace.

I would not worry about doing longer workouts. 3 hours is plenty for Lake Stevens. You could introduce some speed work into your workouts, either on flat ground doing sprints/accels or doing hill repeats where you really push it for a set amount of time.

Hope you've been enjoying this beautiful weather!

Thanks, Christina.

Yes, I have been enjoying the weather. Lucky for me it's been during the week - so I could ride and lay outside. Then, it's been rainy while I'm at work on the weekends. Usually the weather goes the other way for me.

Have you been able to enjoy it, too?

I went with just time in the saddle and didn't try to push it. Even though I've had some workouts approaching 3 hours on the bike, they've had regroups/etc and this was the first extended time sitting in the saddle (a little painful, might need a different style) and I didn't know what I would be capable of for that duration. I also had to make two unplanned trips to the bike shop in the opposite direction from the trail which factored in a bunch of stop signs every block. On the trail, I could go for 2-3 miles in the aero position before I had to slow/stop for a crossing. It got to where I was ever so thankful for the 2 second stop as I unclipped and put one foot on the ground before restarting. That small amount of time off the saddle helped.

The Lake Stevens course is pretty hilly I hear. So I will have to start working that type of riding in. This ride was my first major one on my own since my crash last fall, and even then, it was mostly on the trail. I'm slowly working my way up to doing street rides on my own. It's the down-hills (esp with corners) around here that I have to work through with the anxiety. Just coasting down hills I can get over 43 mph, and I'm trying to be as "big" as I can to slow down. Once I got to 50.1. I'm pretty sure my eyes were closed at that point. I usually pass the guys, even when I give them a good lead, and it freaks me out. Them, too, because I am total crash material from lack of handling time. And we haven't done anything like the big LS hill yet.

I'm feeling pretty confident in being able to get through the swim/ride portion, but still pretty nervous about the run. I keep questioning if I am going to be able to do it.

How is your training going for CDA? A guy at my gym is doing it. He's been upping his time in the pool the last couple weeks. I hope he keeps at it (tris in general). He's a little slow swimming, but he looks good/strong and I think he has a lot of potential to get faster.