Ken Nail's Group -- Closed (Page 3)

I have felt the same way lately about not doing enough. For me it might just be that I am getting into better shape and want to charge forward! I have not done a simualted sprint yet and that mybe what I need to do soon.

Jim and Fokker,

In addition to the gradual increases Ken describes, I like to measure things, so after a few months of training I started adding new measurements to make sure I was working hard enough during the workout.  Things like average pace, time spent in each heart rate zone, average power (bike), 100 m swim times (my pool has giant digital clocks all long the side).  These things may not be too important in the long run, but they give me feedback on what I'm doing, which I really enjoy since I have no one physically present to coach me (aka tell me when I'm slacking).

Oddly, keeping track of my HR has led me to actually decrease my intensity.  Turns out I felt like I was dying during some of my runs because I probably was (i.e., too high HR, not enough time for blood to feed my heart = yuck).

Trading more shorter runs for fewer longer runs, like Ken described, has been a big help for me.

(edit: removed the stuff that basically repeated what ken said)

Hey everyone,

I read that some of you aren't certain that you are doing enough. I can share with you that last year i was training for a half marathon and started feeling much the same way and I ended up hitting a wall about a month before the event fortunately i had time to figure out what was happening to me and was able to recover and ran a good race. I still push my training but have learned to listen to my body I am 54 so i have to or else.  Also i want to tell everyone about my first BRICK I did an 18 mi. ride in which i tried out my hydration backpack (didn't really need it) and put my feet in toe baskets for the first time. I did this in my new tri shorts (Pearl Izumi) and they felt good. When i took off on the run I could barley feel my legs, i would glance down and see my feet but it was like they were someone elses i kept thinking ok you will get the feeling back any sec. and at the end of the first mi. i did feel them some. So i did 2mi. in 15:49 a good start for me but i can tell this something i had better do a lot of to get my body to accept what i am asking of it. Next up is a swim/bike brick.

On a different subject I wanted to ask if anyone uses any supplements such as protein? I have been using Hammer soy protein. And does anyone listen to Ben Greenfield podcast? I have learned more about nutrition and fitness in the last 4mo. than i ever thought possible. Go to One last thing does anyone supplement with Chelated  Magnesium? Check out this very important mineral that virtually everyone is deficient in. Thanks for listening 

The report looked great.  Always good to read about other experiences.  Still need to put mine in from this weekend.

The race was neat and good to get back into the triathlon mode.  Only second time on the bike since Sep 10 (yes, I'm more than ready to work on something other than running).  The swim,  however, was difficult.  Water temp was only 50 degrees (they actually changed it to a duathlon two days before, and switched it back just the afternoon before the race).  Still need a lot more practice in transitions, as well.

Question for more experienced triathletes ... how long should it take to prepare for 1/2 IM??  I'd love to do one (one of my big goals), and I'm thinking of signing up for one in September.  Will that provide enough time to prep (already have the run base, but far behind in the bike, and need some more polishing with the swim)??  I still intend to do a few Sprints and Oly distances, but would really like to do a 1/2 IM.  What are some thoughts??

Also, I learned this weekend there is a new website:  www. that provides rankings (with tweaks based on race conditions and competition fields).  I just registered and uploaded previous race performances to see how it does.  Thought I would put the information out for others (not sure if it's European focused, or will take races from everywhere).  Have a good week, all (who has races coming up??),

Rich