swbkrun Mentor Group- CLOSED FOR BUSINESS!!! (Page 299)

nice avatar. 

x2

x3

You guys can't put that much pressure on me already.  I don't want to train in the cold to race White lake Half in the heat again!! Darn you people, I am such a wimp to peer pressure.  JUST SO NO SUZY!!!  SAVE ME!!!!

Suzy - come to WILDFLOWER!!  First weekend in May.....

I forgot how much running stairs hurt. It was raining at lunch. Like monsoon. I had changed already, went downstairs and thought I saw an Ark being built. So i sucked it and ran stairs.
It hurt.
The end

Hey!!!!  I kind of like this idea....White Lake is the day before my birthday!!!!  And if Tracy, Chris, Linda and Doug would all be doing it--BIG YEAH!....I am sure there are others who would be interested, right? AWESOME!!!  Need to talk to the man of course, but I already warned him with Boston off the table he was going somewhere with me.

PS Hey Dino, check your PMs!


Edited by SSMinnow 2010-09-16 5:49 PM

Come on down Suzy!  I have been trying to decided between White Lake and an olympic I normally do.  If you come down, it will make my decision much easier.  I'm glad you read into Tracy's comments.  Now she has no choice!  No pressure Tracy!  

Check out what I will be doing on Sunday:

http://www.usacyclingchampionships.com/

Unfortunately I won't be able to head to the time trials because of work, but it will still be fun!

Edited by Jeepguy2358 2010-09-16 5:28 PM

Although I have not used a virtual coach I prefer the idea of face to face interaction with a coach. I have done quite a bit of long distance management and  it is so much easier when dealing in person. Having said that if in fact you are using visual conferencing it might not be so bad.

That is of course unless someone is looking for a coach from the Guelph Ontario area. Then I think virtual coaching is an excellent idea

Edited by Redknight 2010-09-16 5:37 PM

hmm, that could be a possibility if everyone else is going, NC isn't too far from here.

Suzy got me hooked on the Endurance Nation podcasts and I really like their philosophy.  Though I am not sure how it works for their coaching, I belive they have their team capped at 400 with a waiting list.  I know they sell training plans but not sure what level of interaction you get with those plans, i.e. customization or any virtual face time with them.

Sam and I both have a face to face coach, we meet usually every 2 weeks, he is by no means perfect, we tend to have communication issues with him from time to time but I think his plans are solid and he provides great feedback.

One think you should do is sit down and figure out what you want out of a coach.

1. Training plans, power vs HR vs pace vs something else
2. Services, FTP testing, Bike fit, V02 testing, Masters, Group rides, whatever
3. Do you want some RA-RA with your coaching, some good motivational stuff.
4. Race advice, the ability to sit/talk with him/her about how to execute races.
5. Nutritional advice
6. What is his overall philosiphy on coaching, let him/her know how much time you have available and what distances you plan on racing, make sure that they match.

These are just some quick things I pulled off the top of my head, I am pretty sure there are more.  Figure out what services you want out of a coach and when you meet with them ask how they provide those services.

IMO these days almost all that stuff can come from a virtual coach but if you really want the face to face meeting time then obviously you have to pick a local guy.

 

Is North Carolina on the way from Boston to San Francisco?   
Aw, I miss out yet again!

X2!!!!   If you do, I would lobby hard to do it.  Steve thinks it is too soon after Boston, but I kind of want to do it for the OWS experience.  Maybe I can do an Aqua Bike and call it a day. 

Not if you fly US Air, they have a hub in Charlotte, NC so you could be coming through our state!

Maybe I should come and do a relay (so I don't have to ship a bike)!! I could swim or run or both!

I love having a virtual coach, mainly because my time is super limited and I don't really want to be meeting up, having them there to do testing, etc.  We can pretty much do all of my time trials by setting up parameters, I upload all of my Garmin run and bike info.  It helps that I have the "stuff" like HRM, power meter, computrainer, etc, but I don't think I would work any harder if coach was local.   I am not a super chatty person and don't even like talking on the phone with him much but we try to at least once a month and definitely prior to races for strategy talks.

The thing I absolutely don't like about him not being local is that he can't help me too much with technique stuff.  Like swim technique especially, however going to masters for the past week has been incredible and I do love the atmosphere, comraderie and already have made some improvements.  And I am trying to lobby for more swim time, if you can believe it!   Run technique, I think I have a handle on it and bike technique, too.  So mostly missing the swim stuff.

Not that you asked but I really have enjoyed having a coach this year. 

I'd do White Lake with the mg.  I've never done it (I hear the swim is beautiful).  I do know that in the past few years it has filled up quick.  This year they added a second weekend...that much of a demand.  So, if WL is a go we would need to decide which weekend and lock it in soon after it opens up. 

Last week I drove down to WL to check out the area (I am heading there in a few weeks for another race).  It is a very small town, nothing really there.

I'd do Washington too.  Washington is a nice site.   Did an Olympic there this summer and had fun.  I can say that Washington has more of a town to it than White Lake.  There are real hotels and places to eat.... I don't even think there is a McDonald's in White Lake

Maybe see what fits into any IM plans    Could be a nice warm up to Texas...just sayin  

And yes Kim, check your geography....it is on your way home.  So definitely a must after your successful boston run

Edited by Havin'Fun 2010-09-16 7:25 PM

Not giving experience feedback...but I'm in the same boat - looking at coaching as well.

Have never used a tri coach.  Honestly, because of my family schedule.  I have been afraid to letting a coach down (my training comes last....even after the dog's needs).  And I didn't want to carry the additional guilt of letting a coach down on top of not getting in my workouts.

I am 90% sure I will use a coach next season.  I am only looking at local....I need the face to face.

 

three weeks out.  no way jose!  but i'll show up for sure!!!!

Ok, let's talk about this a little more....where exactly would one stay? and exactly which weekends are we talking about?  I looked for a website and they say they will announce a date in December.  Is that what you see?

Twin/Linda--I would consider Wildflower, but would really love a big MG encounter so am leaning towards NC.

They usually announce in Dec with the reg opening staggered starting in Jan.
In White Lake there are Mom & Pop places in town.  Or you drive a ways....I think Doug stayed about 30 min away last weekend.
In Washington there are quite a few hotels - all within 10 min of the race site.  The Hampton Inn was pretty nice...there's a Holiday Inn and a couple others.  

And where would I fly into???? getting excited! Can you tell?

Linda's take on where to stay is right on.

Raleigh Durham (RDU) is the main airport and about two hours form both places. Charlotte is an option too. We can work out the other details too, like shipping your bikes to NC. You can ship them to me and I will help set them up and can bring them down in my truck. I can take 3 and can attach a rack for 3 more.

Sounds good, I appreciate it.  Is this a pretty low key event where we can show up on Saturday and bring bikes morning of the race or more like an IM event with a drop the day before, etc???  Realize we have some time since the dates haven't been announced yet