2014 Rookies - CLOSED (Page 3)

Welcome Mo and Jack.

Can I ask everyone a huge favor.  If your screen name doesn't clearly imply your real name, can you end your posts by typing out your real name.  It just helps everyone reply back to each other on a first name basis.  THANKS!

As for logging workouts for others to see, I don't always upload to garmin connect, but do upload all my rides to Strava.  Not sure if all of you are familiar with that site (www.strava.com), but if you are, you can follow me as I can be found by searching my full name (Jason Nakayama).  If there are two of us...I'm the one from Hawaii. 

I know a couple of you have hinted that you needed help selecting a training plan.  While this is one of the topics I plan to discuss shortly, I will start off by saying that unless you are working directly with a coach, there is likely not to be one perfect online plan for you.  So don't be afraid to make adjustments where necessary.  If you are an experienced runner, but don't care for a plan that only has you running 3x a week...then it's okay to schedule in more running.

Welcome to the group, Jack!  I'm glad to hear that changes in 2013 will allow you to finally do what you've wanted since 2006!  What's the tri community and training like in Krakow?  Good access to swimming, biking, and running?  Do cold winters keep you indoors?

Hi Nicole, 

In this year winter is very kind for us, there is no snow and frost in December - unusual
Access to swimming pools in my area is excelent, i have three nice sports facilities near my home - with gym, and 6x25m swimlanes - the only problem is they are very crowded... There is a lot of planning with schedules (free spot on lane), free time in work, at home - so i do not swim to often - i've got to do something about it
Runing is simpliest to organize, there is a lot run path near river or in the park's where people jog even very late at night (11pm).
Cycling is more complicated - bicycle path in city center are in very poor condition, car traffic is horrible all the time, so i have to go bit of town to make a training - so, long rides only at sundays

Tri - community - there is strong cyclist amateur training group (called OCT - Open Cyclist Training) and a lot of runner clubs in Kraków - but nothing amateur (and free) for tri actually.

Regards

Happy Monday everyone!  

I hope everyone had a good weekend and was able to get some training in.  Myself I went for a short run on Saturday and was supposed to do a longer ride on the trainer but didn't get a chance to fit it in so it was done Sunday morning instead.  I also went for a longer run on Sunday afternoon, not ideal to do on the same day as a longer trainer ride and I felt it in my legs for sure!

I have compiled a list of who has joined so far with usernames, actual names and a link to their training log.  Someone mentioned Garmin Connect earlier and that can be a great option but BT also has a friends option where you can keep track of others training and comment on that they are doing using the Inspire function.  You can find the friends list under the Community menu at the top of the page or also from your training log along the right hand side.  

2014 Rookies

Brenda, I asked a friend here on BT (marcag) for bike shop recommendations in Montreal and this is what he said.

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Cycle Technique is very good. They are not that "beginner friendly" in that they don't have a lot of lower end stuff. It also depends on who the sales guy is. 
If she is on the west island, there is a place called Paul's cycle that is very service oriented. 
If more downtownish I like Momentum. They are the official sponsors of our tri club. Honest guys with good service. They have a tendency to push Marin and BMC bikes. 

There is Primeau in Laval that has a good selection of brands. Same with Boutique Courir downtown. But you need to get the right sales guy, of course. Jocelyn at Boutique courir knows his stuff. 
I believe Boutique courrir gives 10% off to tri-quebec members (need to check this) so it's probably worth joining if so. 

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I hope that helps in your quest for a new bike!  

Welcome Sean, that's quite the adventure you have had so far!

Long work hours like that must make it difficult to find time to train, especially for IM!  What is your training schedule like now and/or prior to the IM?

Great, good luck!  Take your time and do some research before committing to anything.  Watch out for those pushy sales guys!

Welcome, Sean!  Have you done any shorter races?  Maybe signing up for an early season sprint and completing it would help to boost the confidence.  It sounds like swimming (especially in open water) is something you would consider a weakness -- do you have access to a Master's group or an instructor of any sorts?  While the swim is the shortest (distance and time) leg of a race, having a solid swim helps set you up for a good bike and run. 

Welcome Sean.

Arend, thanks for putting the list together.  By my count, we've got 13 members.  Let's shoot for a few more before closing up.