Elaine's Awesome Start to 2012 Group! - Closed! (Page 3)

Welcome! You're right - you need to get cracking, and you're in the right place!

Where are your strengths and weaknesses in tri? How can we help motivate you?

Welcome!

Which 70.3 are you plotting your revenge against?

Get that trainer set-up this weekend! We'll be waiting. Post the picture here when it's up How's that for motivation? 

Jen - that's great news about the asthma! With time and the right training, you'll be ready for Kansas 70.3! 

I swam in HS and college - and my swimming fitness bounces back fairly easily. I'm not seeing the times I was then, but I'm also not putting in upwards of 30k yards a week! You're at a great advantage for a half iron if you can execute the swim easily. 

Are you generally enjoying your runs?

Welcome, Ro!

The ideal way to see swim improvements is with coaching. If that's not an option for you, we can load you up with drills! If  you post videos of your swim, we can REALLY help you out. It's tough to work on technique via the internet, but there are definitely ways to do it

If running and cycling are going well, then it's a sign that you're doing it RIGHT. You will get to the point of really pushing yourself - hitting walls, bonking - but that usually comes after a strong base is developed. You're on the right track - keep it up!!

Are you going to be running a 5k?

Welcome, Terry!

DNF, but not defeated. I like it. 

Recover well, listen to your doctor, and approach your new training carefully when you're cleared. 

Before you can train, focusing on the diet is the first step. Drastic changes aren't necessarily important, but with the holiday season wrapping up, start paying more attention. Plus, your body will thank you and respond better to training!

... and we are CLOSED!!!

Thanks Dave (handyhammer) for posting the list of names. 

The purpose of this thread:

To make YOU a better triathlete! We can do this by helping motivate you, answering training questions, read your postings about your training, help you develop goals, help you find the tools you need to achieve them, share our experiences, and just about anything else you might need.

Post here freely and often. If you rocked a workout - no matter how long or short - tell us! If you had a rough one, share that too. If your happy, stressed, tired, hungry, excited, bored... share it!

Using your logs is the best way we can connect with training. Even if you just put in the miles or time spent, it'll help everyone in the group. If you write small novels along with each session, we'll read them.

So, never hesitate to come here, click "Reply" and say whats on your mind. Feel free to send PMs if you want to address something in a non-public setting. "Inspire" your fellow group members (In the training log, there's a link on each day!)

I'm copying my admin stuff from page 1 for anyone that missed it:

I've got a few quick admin things to make our group awesome 

1. Put your real first name (or if you're uncomfortable with that on the internet, a fake first name) in your signature line. It'll help everyone be a little more personal in the group. If you go to the top, click "Settings". Under "Account Settings" click on "Personalization". You can write your name and anything else you'd like there.

2. Use your logs! If you do already, great. If not, they're a wonderful tool. You don't have to make those public, either. In "Settings" click on "Training Log Settings". Under that tab you'll find "Privacy Settings". If you make it public, you're done! If not, select the "Only allow your "friends list" to view logs you have made public?".

3. Friends list - add us! Assuming you haven't reached capacity, you should add the group. "Settings" -> "Training Blog Customization" -> "Friends". Just put the usernames of the group members there, and they will all be linked from your training log 

... and with that, I'm off to run, and then spend about 20 hours in the car driving from Philly back to Florida. 

Elaine -

A friend of mine gave me a real basic Schwinn Road Bike to get my legs moving.  I have done a couple of 20-25 mile rides on it and I just got a basic trainer to use while watching TV.  I plan on getting a better bike before the season starts, nothing fancy just better.  As far as a plan goes, I am about to start my second semester back in college after 13 years, so a loose plan with mileage/ yardage will probably work best until I am able to work out my schedule.  Once school starts I will have a better idea and be able to schedule my workouts like classes and stick to it pretty well.  November is the goal but there are several great Sprint and Olympic distance races I will probably give a go at before then.

I have always had a problem maintaining a zone 2 type heart rate when working out so I hope that using the bike trainer will help. I am currently avg between 2500 and 3000yds in the pool with a 100m time of about 1:50 and my marathon time was 3:50:54.  At this point, I am looking to have comfortable races, if they happen to be quick even better, but not mandatory.  I would prefer to feel prepared, but I know that is up to me

I am looking forward to your insight and help.  Let me know if you have any other questions!!!

Jon

Been there...it takes some time but it will come together.

My boyfriend rides an old Schwinn. It's a solid bike and does a great job! If you're in no rush to get a new one, you've got time to wait for a perfect deal in the classifieds here, on craigslist, or at a bike shop. 

As for your training plan until you settle into one for Austin, check out a few training programs and see what the first week's volume is like. That'll give you a good idea of where you should be performing comfortably to start the plan. You've got LOTS of time to build. 

If you add me as a friend, I can check out your logs.

Everyone's been there. 

When I started swimming, during swim meets they would start the next event while I was still in the pool - I swam off to the side in an extra lane.

It'll do fine for your first tri.  Lots of folks start out that way (me included).  Do a search on "hybrid bike" in the forums and you'll find lots of information on the differences, but the main component is the engine. 

If you're interested in another wordy post from me, I did a write-up on the hybrid thing back in April:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=249042&posts=5&start=1

Elaine,

I will get my revenge on the run course at IMKS 70.3 in June, Lawrence KS.  Hitting mile 7 there was like hitting the infmaous wall in a marathon.  And yes, I plan to get that trainer set up this weekend.  Thanks for holding me accountable.  Don't hesitate to prod me with a fork from time to time, I don't take things personally.

I still dread the word "running", but it's getting better. The first time I ran, it was just painful... you really do use different muscles than you do for biking. 2nd time, was a little better. This last time I went I felt like I was finally getting into a groove. My goal is to be up to 5 miles by Feb and 10 miles by April.

I'm in Overland Park too!

Small World!  Also, I lived in Fresno, CA from 1991 to 2003, so I've been to Sequoia many times.

Be careful on upping your long run mileage that quickly...you'd be better off running 5x/week in smaller doses at first, then gently upping that long run.  It's not only the muscles that have to adjust (which they will pretty quickly, probably within a few runs), but you have to adjust the tendons and joints to handle the pounding; VERY different than cycling.

You have plenty of time before your June 70.3 to get up to HM running distance; most plans peak mileage around 3-4 weeks before the race so you don't need to be hitting 10 miles in your long run until late April/early May.

Feel good tonight. Ran 7 miles which is the longest run of my life. Tired but not about to pass out when finished. Plus, today's run puts me within 2.3 miles away from 50 running miles for the month.... For me, this is a HUGE mile stone... knees are a little sore so I will not do another long run for at least a week.

I was one of the ones who hated running and I am finally enjoying it. Been running 2.5 to 3 miles a few times a week with one long run a week. 

Mike's right. A lot of people do their first few on whatever bike they have on hand - and with a nice hybrid, you're better off than a lot of them!

Slicks and aero bars are helpful, if you're looking to invest a little money. Otherwise, your hybrid will be just fine

That's what I'm here for!

That run in the 70.3 is a factor of fitness, nutrition, bike pacing and race execution. I'm sure you learned all of that! I read your race report - that's still a good time for your first half iron!

What were you doing for nutrition on the bike?

Those are reasonable and very achievable goals. You'll get there. More importantly, I hope you'll find the joy in running! It took me a few false starts (maybe 3?) of starting to run, then quitting, before it finally stuck. 

Slow and steady, and you'll get there!

AWESOME! Congrats!! You'll get in at least that last 2.3, right?

Definitely keep some time between those long runs. You're being very smart!

Hmmmm bike nutrition... I think I had 1 or two gels, and a couple of shot blocks.  I had gatorade and water along the way.  I also had gels during the run.   I didn't really have a nutrition "plan".  I had no clue of what my calorie consumption would be.  I just packed 4 gels on the bike, plus a shot-block, then took 2 gels on the run.  During the run I picked up a banana, a can of coke, who knows what else.  If I were to have averaged say 18.5 or 19.0 mph on the bike I probably would have had a better run.

I think that when you start racing for more than two straight hours, you need to develop some sort of nutrition plan. 

A good place to start is 1 gram of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight per hour. I weigh about 130lb, which is 59kg. Each Gu or serving of shot bloks is about 25g of carbs. So, I'd need about 2 Gu's per hour. 

This is just a starting point, so you'll want to test it out, and decide if your body can handle more or less.