Holt's Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 3)

Money-challenged here too.  I did splurge on a bike, although I bought a relatively inexpensive one and still have cages instead of clipless pedals.  For swimming really all you need is a suit and goggles, cap is optional although most people have them I think.  Some people have wetsuits if they do a lot of open water swimming or races with OWS.  They can be rented for a weekend if you need one and don't have one. 

As for what to wear - I have tri-shorts - similar to bike shorts but with less padding and it dries quicker, and a tri-top - basically just like a tank top.  I wear both for the whole race - the swim, bike and run.  That way the only thing I have to worry about is my feet and since I wear running shoes for the bike, it's just once on in T1 and I'm ready for both the bike and run. 

1) This is where 'tempo' rides/runs AND Bricks are so important.  After you have worked these into your training plans, you'll have all the confidence you need on race day.   Everyone, even the pros, 'worry' about pushing too fast on the bike and suffering on the run.  It's on one the many mysteries that makes the sport exciting.

2) Man, I had the WORST time with the swims.  It took almost two whole seasons before I could make all the way through a swim leg without having a little melt-down and having to backstroke for a few minutes.  Practice and experience breed confidence.  Get out of the pool and into the open water.  For me, the swim start is a mental thing.

3) This is easy...HTFU (lol).  No, really.  This stuff is kinda hard.   That's why most of our friends are sitting on the couch while we're racing.  Immediately after the rush of your first race is over, you'll be kicking yourself for the things you could've done better.  I don't think that ever goes away.  Have a plan, train hard-train smart and expect the unexpected. 

Relax, your concerns are common and very normal.  We'll all be here for ya. 

Well my first race in May is a Sprint with a shorter pool swim.  It's only a 300yrd Swim, 10 mile bike, 2.5 -3.2 mile run (can't remember).

I'm actually not as worried about this race, but more so about the one in July that is a full sprint.  The half mile is in the ocean.  As soon as it warms up, i'll be getting in one open water session a week to help prepare.

As much as I might be sounding like i'm very worried, I'm actually not.  I just finished a duathlon (short distance) this past week, so I know I can do it as long as I follow my training plan.  I'm pretty diciplined and havent' had any trouble doing the early morning swims ... so I think I just need to get to it!

OH and I don't have a wet suit, I guess I'll just rent one in July.  Not sure yet.

To Scott's question, the big "it" - there are two that are related.  One is to be able to consider myself an athlete.  There have been long stretches when I was fit and strong, but never an athlete and I've always envied that.  The second is fear of going back to being fat/lazy.  It happens too quickly and spirals out of control.  It was so much work to get back into it this time - I'm 48 and it will only get harder from here.  Already since hitting my weight goal I've had a harder time keeping my diet health-oriented.

To the question re. "what worries you" about the first tri - I'm really afraid that I've just been deluding myself and there's no way possible I can handle all three events together.  I can do each one separately, albeit slowly, but I just don't see completing the run w/o walking.  My first sprint is in 4 weeks.  I only have two weeks of "real" training left and then two of taper, and I just don't see it happening.  We'll see, and I know walking wouldn't be the end of the world.  It would be disappointing though.

used2Bfat: I got a tri-suit on eBay.  I was worried about the thin padding, but it's fine.  I've actually found I'm more comfortable w/o bike shorts than with them now that my butt is more used to the saddle.  The only thing is if you get tri shorts or a suit, buy black - mine is light blue and it shows a bit more than I'm comfortable with.  PM me if you want details, since I'm not sure it's ok to post "camel toe" here.    I don't think it's necessary though - you'd lose what, 10 seconds by pulling shorts on over your swimsuit?

THIS IS WHAT MAKES TRIATHLON TRULY CHALLENGING!!!

Unless you're a paid athlete (or independently wealthy), we all have jobs, careers, families, relationships etc., that have to be tended to.  Sometimes you just can't get all the workouts that the 'plan' calls for...and (for me) that's OK!  Triahlon training is a way to improve my life-not become my life.

Can you workout in the early morning before everyone gets up?  Pulling kids in a bike trailer is a GREAT workout-and you'll soon be able to go further and further.  Would a jogging stroller be of use?  If the kids are old enough to ride bikes-they can ride while you run.  Or take them to the local HS track and they can play in the long jump sand while you run around the track.  As for the swimming-there isn't a perfect substitute for swimming, but Rowing comes pretty close.  Or you could get some stretch bands and simulate the swim stroke motion.  Are these perfect solutions?  Of course not, but these are the things we all have to overcome.  These are the challenges that make the finish line THAT much more rewarding; the accomplishment THAT much sweeter.  

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

Stephanie, MY GOSH Woman; I've looked at your logs.  You're deluding yourself to think you CAN'T do all three events together.  Are you doing any 'bricks'-if not, then start now.  If you are, then do a short x3 brick just to see how things feel.  And give yourself another week of training-you don't have to taper 2 weeks for a Sprint (IMO). Convince yourself this is possible.  Really, what are your alternatives???

Stephanie, like Jeff said...I don't see how you could not finish. Your logs are impressive! And even if you do "have" to walk, it is better to do that than DNS or DNF. I think that's the only way you could be disappointed. Also, I'm very sorry to hear about your friend's passing.

My "it" thing that I think/thought about for the last year or so is my 10 year high school reunion. It may sound very selfish/vain, but I picture myself walking into my high school reunion and everyone turning and staring (in a good way). And that's my motivation. It will be coming up in November this year and I would love to go back and have that happen. Then I'll have to find new motivation, but for now, that's good enough for me. Since I don't have any kids or am married, I feel like if I let myself go for no reason, then I've wasted my life. 

Last year was my first season in tri and I was broke all the time too. I ended up doing the bathing suit/throw clothes over my suit in transition with running shoes/hybrid bike thing. It wasn't the best in terms of my overall times, but if you can start and complete a race, who cares what your times are the first year? Real quick story: I signed up in the "fat tire" category for my OLY race last year and after almost 2 hours on the bike and most people packing it in to go home by the time I finished (don't even have finishing pics because the photographer left), I was rewarded by winning my category! Not to mention the fact that I was the only one IN my category, BUT I have the hardware to prove my #1 finish. Small victories!

Anyway, on another note, my story (I think I've touched on a bit). Currently have a stress fracture in my left shin bone. Am heading back to the DR on the 26th for a follow-up and hopefully to get me released to run again. After my last Oly last year, I took a month or so off before training for my half marathon and gained back 5 of the lbs I'd lost the last year. Then after I finished my race, I gained the other 5lbs back. And when I started getting back into it in February, I got hurt. So just today I've modified my logs/races based on my injuries and am using the last portion of a 16-week sprint plan as my base plan. Then I start into my Oly plan because I want that to be my A race this year. I have others along the way but want to go longer and faster! Have felt defeated the last couple months, but I now reflect on all the hard work it took me last year to get where I was, and know if I did it then, I can do it now. 

Okay, sorry for the long response, but I'm not on often enough and I am playing catch up. I'll try and be on more to respond more frequently.

Where in Florida are you staying? If you are near Tampa, you are more than welcome to come to my gym and we can work out a buddy pass! I would love to help out a fellow BTer, since I've already gotten so much back in return!

I'll be in Cocoa Beach, just opposite side of the state from you. Thanks for the offer though. My mom lives there so I'll be able to workout a lot more. She can watch the kids so I can really focus on my training. I'm doing the Central FL Triathlon Series race #3 July 16, It's in Clermont. I hope you get good news from your DR, I'm sure your more than ready to get back out there. I totally get your "it" reason. I'm also having my 10 year reunion but I have 3 kids, so I want everyone to be like "wow" she has 3 kids & looks that good. It's not selfish, you've worked really hard to be where you're at & should be proud! I'm glad I found BT, it's good to have the support from others who have had the experience & can offer the help for us newbies.

Jeffriboise, these are great words and I need to internalize them.  It's way too easy for me to become obsessed with a new passion and think if I don't become an expert at it then it doesn't count.  And thanks for all your words of encouragement!  I take it this means I should buy groceries instead of a new bike next week?

I think high school reunion is a GREAT motivator!  Of course you want to make your best showing for your friends.  Who knows, maybe you'll even meet a fellow triathlete there!

I am now the proud foster of a litter of kittens.  (Anyone need a kitten?  Take two, they're small.)  I picked them up yesterday morning.  They were fine, I went for a swim, came back and one was really sick.  I spent most of the evening at the emergency vet, picked him up this morning, and fortunately he seems to be doing much better now.  But between focusing on him and losing some sleep, I did not get my planned brick workout in today.  Tomorrow marks the start of a new build week - I'm hoping to get refocused after a tough time this past week.  At least my body is well rested, lol.

I put some clip on aerobars onto my old road bike.  I am still up in the air about them.  I ride very well on them with the wind and on flats.  I am still having a tough time trying to ride them up hills.  I don't seem to be able to get the same power out of my legs as when I am up on the bar.  I also seem to add extra miles to my ride because of the swaying back and forth while on them.  In time, I think having them will pay off .  It is just such a different position, I will have to keep practicing get used to them.

Do you need to get another fit once you put clip ons on your bike?

Gerardo

The 'fit gurus' will say yes, and while I agree that it's important, it's an expense I can't afford.  Providing your fit is pretty good now, I've had good luck by simply moving the saddle a tic forward on the rails.  Comfort is key-if you keep having to sit up, the aero benefit is wasted.  Mount them and take some pics-between us all, we can probably get you pretty close.

So I am reading and learning like crazy so far.  I am seeing people like me and people way ahead of me.  I love this type of connection with others in training!!

And with that said, I have a question.  I am 9 weeks away from my event (sprint tri 600-11-3.1) and it is my first.  I have been following a BT customized plan for the last eight weeks (and will until race time).  I am struggling a little with motivation at this point and it is not because i can't do them but because life's little nuances are showing up here and there.  So in analyzing this slump I have been experimenting with something and I want to know if it's a bad idea.  Up until this last week and a half I have stayed with what the plan laid out (set times to bike, set times to run, etc).  Now I am feeling like at this point I feel more comfortable with more flexibility and need to ask for feedback.  I still plan on doing the same distances/times on a 2-2-2 schedule but thinking instead of doing a textbook plan I say "okay today I feel like I want to do the run instead of the swim the schedule said and instead throw the swim in the next day"  So at the end of the week, I have accomplished all markers but didn't necessarily do them in the order they came in. 

I do avoid doing both runs on back to back day, same with bike and swim but maybe I don't need to?  I just feel if I try this I won't feel so much pressure to train a certain area if I don't want to that day but instead a day when I will be able to give it the umph it deserves?!

Hopefully that makes sense-PLEASE let me know if it doesn't!!

*AND YES THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE BRICK IN EACH WEEK!!*

Something I did in a former mentor group was have everybody post their goals for each discipline for the month.  That way we can hold each other accountable and help motivate you.

As for the flexibility of your training program...I would imagine there is room for that.  Youare halfway to race week, keep going, you are going to be thrilled after your first event.  Good Luck!