Mndymond and Disturbed275's Awesome SBR Mentor group---Full! (Page 3)

Hi Lorna! If you don't fit in this group then I don't either. That is awesome that your kids are involved in tri's. Mine are a bit too young but I look forward to inviting them along in the future. Here's to setting good examples for our kids!

As a married guy, I would say don't fret. I encourage my wife to buy and wear what she is comfortable with. She shares this lycraphobia. I, personally, don't really like the Richard Simmons running shorts so I have found light, long alternatives. There are alternatives and you just have to find them. The swim is the only time you'll HAVE to wear tight stuff and you can get loose pants and shirt to cover up until its time to dive in. You can also use your lycraphobia to motivate you to train just a bit harder. Don't let this mental hurdle stop you!

Way to go!! I was a swim coach for a couple years up in Ohio. The key is to be patient. Swimming is not something that comes naturally for most. I did free weekly adult swim lessons and patience was the hardest lesson. Swimming results don't come fast but they do come. 

Keep up the great work!! What races are you planning?

Thanks for the support! No firm plans yet as to races. I'm waiting to see how the training pans out but I'd like to do a local sprint here in August for sure and, ideally, I'd like to do one or two before that.

Also Sean, I notice that you're doing your counselling degree. I'm an MSW and have been professional therapist for 10 years so we have that in common. We should talk shop sometime!

Thanks for the encouragement!  I will have to look around for options.  I did watch a video of the Xterra I signed up for and a lot of people were wearing baggy stuff.

Went to yoga tonight, then lifted weights, and then finished off with some run intervals.  Definitely feeling like a rock star today 

Regarding the lycra issue.... I'd recommend going to a tri store and trying out all the tri outfits they have that looks like it fits you, and buying what looks best.  I've never done an Xterra race before, but for regular tris, I wouldn't want anything too baggy for fear that I'd lose it in the water!  I know a lot of men will swim in just their tri shorts under their wetsuit (or if they don't wear a wetsuit and feel a bit modest, they will wear a one-sie)... then throw a bike jersey or running shirt on top in transition.

But in any case, definitely be sure to try everything on before buying, then practice in your race outfit.... You don't want any big surprises on race day!

Yay for a rock star work out!  I went running today and felt a heck of a lot better than I expected.  It being 55 and sunny didn't hurt of course.

I was thinking back to what I wore the time 3 years ago that I did a sprint and I'm pretty sure I wore tri shorts and a bikini top under my (borrowed) wet suit and just put a baggy shirt on for the bike and run part.  Sounds like I probably need pockets for snacks for the Xterra though.

So, I have tri shorts that hopefully still fit.

Can I ask how people track their workouts?  Do you use a bike computer or GPS watch?  A HRM?  I've never used any of them.  My husband has one of those Garmin watches with the GPS.  I've only ever used it to see how fast my horse could go (and I put the HRM on the horse.)  I'm not really sure how far I've run other than guessing based on time and perceived exertion.

Oh, haha, sorry, still suffering from workout brain fog.  I misread the thread above and thought it was a guy asking about the lycra!  I'm sure you could find a tri top with pockets and such.  I hate trying on tri tops, though, because it's hard to find ones that fit just right.... but then when you find one it's teh awesome.  Bike jerseys would definitely have pockets in the back, but you'd still need something up top to swim in!

Regarding tracking workouts-  For a while, I was really into my Garmin, until I realized I wasn't really enjoying my workouts because I was busy looking at my watch.  So then I just used a regular sports watch that takes laps... but then that broke, so now I've been working out without a watch.  I kind of like training without one now!  Though, I do like having a bike computer, just to see how fast I'm going and how far I've gone (mostly helps to make sure I'm not lost, actually!)  Once the season nears, I'm sure I'll buy another watch with lap capability, just so the times on my logs are accurate... I usually figure distance by mapping my route afterward.

Welcome to the group! Could you give us a synopsis about you like Missy did below? Thanks!

Hey Missy! Nice to meet you. Glad to see you getting back into the swing of things. 

Hey Robin! Welcome! Always room for you!

Welcome Lorna! We all start or restart somewhere. Sorry to hear about your accident, but it is good to see you trying to maintain and get back in to training. I'm excited to see your progress this season!

I find a lot of people get distracted by information overload. I'm kind of half half. I tend to never use watches during races but use a watch when I train. On my bike I usually do use a computer so I can get distance to know where I am when race distances arn't posted. I'm getting the new garmin whenever it comes since I wanted it...haha...but I used the time and then mapped my route with BT after sessions where done when logging the workout. 

HR isn't the best indicator as mentioned above as there are many factors involved in heart rate variability/fluctuation from day to day and throughout the day.

Edited to reformat! It was bugging me!

Hey, thanks. Good to get to know you all

Here are my basics:

NAME: Robin/  Ceilidh

STORY: I did my first sprint tri in 2008 after being non-athletic for life. Well, never running. I Mountain biked, kayaked and hiked but always thought that I wasn't an athlete. I must have had a mid-life crisis and being rather cheap, figured doing a tri was cheaper than a sports car. Also, the novelty of doing something that was totally out of the realm of anything I had ever done (or anyone that I know would do) was appealing. Various life situations and illness or injury (nothing dramatic, just frustrating) have prevented me from doing any tris since then, though I have done a couple of HM's and other running races. This year I want to get back to training and I WILL do an oly this year. With life, and job and other things I like to do, I have finaly figured out that is the maximum race I will most likely have time to train for. Even that is pushing it, until I retire that is!

FAMILY STATUS: Married and post mid life crisis with grown step kids.

CURRENT TRAINING: Focusing on getting back in the swing of thngs and Oly training

2012 RACES:  have an Oly race that is my only tri in Augus of this year that I plan on doing. There is a small possibility of a local sprint, too. I have a couple of local HMs that may be in there.

WEIGHTLOSS: I have gained a huge amount of weight in the last 2.5 years and getting rid of that is my primary focus for the next few months. 30, if not 40 pounds needs to GO! 

FWIW, I use my Garmin (bottom of the line) as a tool to keep up with myself. There is no way for me to train with anyone because of where I life, so I use it as my training buddy. Because of the size of the thing, it is really too small to see while running or biking so it is really only used post training to see how I did. I have a bike computer that I use for the same reason.

I forgot to mention that on my runs and bikes I use MyTracks (Android) to keep track of distance and speed. It also offers distance indicators and elevation changes. It helps me analyze AFTER the exercise.

Someone asked about cycling and hydration a few threads back. A Camelbak might be a good resource. It is a slight motion to put the mouth piece in your mouth. You can also just leave it in your mouth but that will make your jaw sore. Also, be encouraged that, according to physics, your bike does not want to fall over. It will take time to get comfortable and break the physical and mental barriers.

Melissa- Is it beneficial to spend the effort in doing a marathon and century race before attempting an IM? Are tri's just different all together at the those distances? What is nutrition like when you're competing for 12+++ hours?

My wife, Lindsey, also enjoyed Emergency Med but it didn't offer the primary care and patient relationships that she enjoys. Psych sucked for her. She did well but it is just a different animal. Working with children who have serious mental health issues was difficult.

Eventually, we want to end up doing mission work/rural med in Africa and Latin America. The U.S. Army is paying for her schooling, so we will have 4 years to serve after residency.

Don't worry about the residency decision. You'll figure it out when you get in a rotation that just flips a switch in you. If not, there is always a general med option. We have found that each specialty has its personalities. You'll find where you fit.

Thanks for doing this!!

Thanks for the feedback, I had considered a camelbak for the sprint tri I did last summer but decided to stop and get off the bike and drink instead (I know, a waste of time!).  That is true that the bike is going forward with a lot of momentum and shouldn't be inclined to just topple over, I just need to keep telling myself that and try to get more comfortable.

Sounds like we have a good group, excited to train with all of you!!

For hydration, I have the clip-on aero bars on my road bike, and have an aero bottle attached to it.  So I barely have to move to drink!  I also have a camel back that I use for distance running.... for some reason the nozzle bothers me on the bike (since it's hanging down), so I don't really use it to bike with.

In the meantime, I've just been practicing a lot with reaching down for my bottle.  I only have to grab it when my aerobottle is empty and I need to refill it, so I only have to grab once every hour or so.