FancyPants Group- CLOSED (Page 3)

Wow glad we didn't get all that snow you did Anne.  We have less than an inch.  Yesterday it mostly rained and then we got some last night.

Gator- what 1/2 Marathon training plan on are going to follow?  I have my first half in May and have decided to use one from Runners world.  I have it starting this week which will get me up to 12 miles before the half...or starting the end of Feb, which only gets me up to 10 miles.  I'm really hoping to get started this week so I can be more prepared.  My longest run to date has been 8 miles, but that was some time this summer.  Haven't done much over 6 in the last several months.  I'm really hoping to get close to 13 before I have to go out and really try it.   Not sure I'll actually get started this week or not.  If I do, then tomorrow I'm supposed to do a 7 mile long run.  With all the snow/ice we are getting and suppose to get tonight I probably would have to do that on a treadmill tomorrow.  ugh...does not sound fun. 

Not 100% sure on the Masters group through the YMCA, but my group you can join for a month or 2 and then stop no problem.  I actually just pay for 12 times at once and can use them any time during the next 6 months.  That works for me. 

Matt - hope you had a good time with your friends.  Glad your run was better than the past ones. 

Hi Scuba - I'm using the 1/2 mary plan on RW, but I made a few minor modifications to it.   The first (and largest change) is on the speedwork days.  I think that 1 mile repeats are too long.  I shortened the repeats to 1/2 mile and increased the number of them.  Another change that I made was to adjust some of the miles during the week.  I never altered the total weekly milage, but for example on a 20 mile week, instead of doing 2/7/2/9, I changed it to  4/5/2/9.  It just doesn't make sense to me to have one long run a week and a second "almost as long" run.  The hardest part of this plan is not turning the easy runs into tempo runs.  Running slow is really hard!

Matt

Scout - I'm doing RW also.  I agree with you on the tempo runs being almost as long as your long run.  I have no problem with running slow, I'm just naturally slow.  I do want to do some tempo, but may not run as many repeats or as fast as they say.  I tend to have an ankle bursitis/tendinitis thing that if I run fast starts to bother me.  Would rather save that for race day.

I've tweeked my plan some too.  Like in 3 weeks I will have no running at all.  But I'll be spending the entire week skiing in Colorado, so I figure that's a good cross training

My legs are back. DAMN that bike!  No more mashing intervals for a while for me.  Just nice easy spinning.  I did a 5 mile run today at lunch and had no problems at all.  Due for 8 miles on Wednesday.  I'm looking forward to that one!

My swim stroke is coming along very very well too.  In 1.5 weeks, I went from being barely able to swim 50 yards to swimming 200 yard repeats.  I've also doubled the distance that I'm able to swim in an hour.  I have my eyes on a few sprints coming up, and will soon be asking some wetsuit questions.  Gotta save my pennies though.  My wife would kill me if I bought one now.  I registered yesterday for the PDR, so I'm definitely on the hook for that one, and I can't spend my way out of her good graces!

Matt

I own a couple of wet suits for diving.  I just found out though that the max millage for USAT is 5 mm?  The one I thought about wearing for my first tri is 7 mm.  I do have a shortie that's only 3...we'll see if I wear that or end up buying a full length 3.  It's my understanding that the wet suits for diving and the ones for tris are a little different.  But if I bought one it would be only if I could use it for both.

Snow here again today.  Was going to try to get in my long run tonight, but the snow is keeping that away.  Maybe this weekend it's suppose to clear up some.  If not I'll be doing the first long run of my training on a treadmill...yuck! 

Jeez!  I'm having SUCH a hard time getting any kind of consistency with my training.  I don't know if it's mental, physical, or both.  Maybe TMI here (if so look away...now), but I do take a small dose anti-depressant to help 'brighten' my mood'.  I'm a 12-hr shift worker who rotates shifts AND days off every 10 weeks.  Makes for unusal sleeping patterns.  Anyway-I just can't seem to find the motivation time to go workout without sacrificing sleep or family time (I'm a single father of 15 yr old son and I get my 13 and 6 yr old every other weekend.  I also try to see all the kids at least once during the week, but that means a short sleep day that haunts me (physically) for a few days after the fact.  I have my eyes on a 1/2 IM in mid June, but I'm thinking I just don't have the time.  None of the distances, by themselves, pose a problem, but I'm not sure I have the motivation/dedication to make the sacrifices needed to be able to actually RACE and not just finish.  I know morning workouts are my best bet right now, but when 0730 rolls around and it's cold, and my legs are tired from carrying 20+ lbs of gear up and down stairs all night and...blah...blah...blah. 

This has turned into a rather pathetic pity party for myself.  I guess I need to just HTFU and take charge of my time.  Anyway-that's my life and I'd appreciate any comments/suggestions/support you all have.   Whew!  I feel better already.

Shift work can be tough.  My BIL did it for 10 years or so.  Do you have any kind of facilities at work where you could spend you lunch time doing something?  Before I telecommuted, the office where I worked had a shower, so I drive in monday with a bunch of clothes, and they ride my bike to work Tuesday - Thursday and then drive in on Friday and take home all my laundry.

Another thing to try and to just decide one morning to drag yourself out of bed and do something.  It was tough the first few days, but after that, I find that I'm a lot less cranky during the day and I have a lot more patience if I get my morning workout in.

How about just focusing on your weakest part of the tri?  I just started swimming a few weeks ago, and I've found that I really look forward to my hour in the pool.  Maybe you could put some real effort into your weakest link and just maintain the other two?

If all else fails, maybe you could just go into maintenance mode in your training until the weather breaks a little and then go back strong.  I've found that with the weather being so cold outside, I've really enjoyed my trainer rides in the basement, and there's nothing quite like a short rest in the pool while looking out the window at snow coming down! 

I hope that you're able to come up with a plan that will let you do it all!

Matt

Jeff, I know the feeling.  I also am always trying to fit training in when it doesn't interfere with family time.  Plus the days I get up early then I'm dragging the rest of the day.  Sometimes I just have to decide if the training is "fun" any more.  When it becomes a chore then it's not what I want to be doing.  Maybe just allow yourself some time to do some quicker workouts that are more fun. Don't feel you have to run a certain distance etc.  One thing that I do to be able to work out is I train usually during my lunch hour.  Of course that means no going out to lunch w/the work group, but I figure I'd rather spend less time with them and more time with my family in the evening.  It's definitely a juggling act.

 I was going to start my 1/2 training this week, but the weather does not want to cooperate.  Bitter cold and 2 - 6 inches of snow today.  Yesterday was suppose to be my LR and I didn't make it outside.  I'm going to try to stick with the rest of the plan this week and do my shorter runs on the treadmill.  Hopefully this weekend I can switch my schedule around and it might be ok to do my long run on Sunday.  If not, it will just have to wait until next week.  (WHy oh Why can't I live in the South!) It will be my first 1/2 so my goal is just to finish, but I still want to finish strong. 

Feel free to whine any time jeff

Thanks, all!

As you will probably all find out-I'm not a big stickler for 'plans'.  If I'm out for a run and feel good-I'll go long.  If I see a tree that I find attractive-I'll run to it.  etc. etc.  However, I'm at a point where I NEED a bit more...structure in my life.  My GF is a planner extraordinair (sp) so I've enlisted her help.  BUT..This is my burden to carry, not her's or my new friends/mentor group.  I, too, believe that when it stops being 'fun', then I'm done.  I'm not even close to being there-It's still fun-It's still kinda exciting to be 46 (and, frankly-not look it) and be healthy and active.   Gee, I even ride a single speed mtb-how trendy fun  is THAT

I think I'll make it

It's even better if you can start on the side walk and then use the end of a driveway where the curb goes back up to "jump" into the street.  I used to do that all the time and it drove my neighbor nuts!

I love doing track stands while I get my mail.  Tom Hanks has nothin' on me*.

*depending upon your age that reference may not mean anything-'The Man with One Red Shoe" has very young TH doing a wicked track stand at a busy street light.

I'm old enough to get the reference.  And it seems that I'm in the minority when I say that generally I don't like Tom Hanks.  BUT, The Man With One Red Shoe is one of two or three of his movies that I do like.

It's cold for South Florida right now, 65 and cloudy today. Back to the 70's by Sunday though! So no excuses for me.  Plan to be in the outdoor pool tomorrow morning...we'll see.  It's heated so as long as it's not raining it should be fine.

 Scuba- I'm not using a plan.  Probably should be, but I kind of just signed up for this race just to see if I could finish, not to push myself.  Hopefully I don't get picked up for being to slow on race day.  Right now my plan is just to run as much as possible, without over training of course (but there's no worry that will happen) :-)  

Let's just say i completely understand everyone trying to find time to fit in the training and then having the motivation to do it. I wanted to get to the gym every morning this week just to do a little something and wake up, yea...I made it one day so far, Monday of course. Then I thought well three days at least...and now there's only tomorrow left.  5:00am just comes so early! And after being in the classroom for 9-10 hours I just can't make it to the gym, plus my dog would hate me for not getting home until 6 or 7. Excuses excuses, I know.  So basically I just need to kick myself out of bed.  But that's so hard to do when hubby is sleeping so soundly and I just want to stay in bed with him.  Ahh well, we'll see tomorrow if my motivation overpowers my laziness. 

Gator, I just got a pund pup a fw weeks ago-She is slowly becoming a part of my running routine.  Right now, I'll finish a run a then take her for a 1 mile cool down.  Later (hopefully) she's gonna be doing the majority of my shorter runs with me. 

Windchills here are just a little warmer than you have Anne, was -21 this morning.  Now it's up to    -5  (woo hoo heat wave)

I just did strength and 10 minutes on the eliptical today.  I have gotten in all my runs this week (for my hm plan) with the exception of my long run.  I'm still hoping for a miracle that it warms up on Sunday and I can get it outside, but if not I'll be running on the treadmill that day.

Long weekend here, going to be doing a winter hike tomorrow (if the weather cooperates) and probably skiing on Monday.  Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Hi all.  I was with Ann in a mentor group last year and she had invited me to join this group but I never saw her group when it was open.  I pm'd her a few days ago and asked her what happened and she directed me here. 

Will you guys let me join in?  

I am a 44 year old mom of 3+2 kids, my youngest is 16 going on 10.  I only have the one left at home.  I started doing tri's last year.  I did 5 sprint tri's and a duathlon in 2008.  I am not fast but I have fun.  I do these because of the great people I have met on BT who keep me motivated.  Ann is one of them and she is great.  

I am struggling right now with motivating myself to do training when its so cold.  i don't want to get in a pool, and even the thought of putting shorts on to get on the treadmill or trainer is not appealing.  I want to stay toasty warm by the fire in my cozy sweats.  What does everyone do to motivate themselves in the winter?  I'm sure even the warmer states must deal with a lull during the "off" months.