Hashers And Mashers - Part 3 - Open (Page 3)

Anna - Stopping at the top of Richter Pass is always interesting.  Spotted Lake changes colours all year so it always looks different plus from the top we can view a few snow-capped Canadian and U.S. mountains.  Pretty decent view.  If we ride down behind Richter the area is really beautiful.  It always blows me away when I ride through the area.

Your swim sounds pretty intense but it will definitely be worthwhile.

Marilyn - For longer runs I go around our planned run route with the fellow I train with and we hide gatorades in strategic spots about every 4km or so.  I'm not a big fan of Gatorade but I tolerate it.  Just don't drink it if it is not sealed.  For shorter runs I drink water before and after the run.  I have used "Nuun" and I don't mind it but it is only good for providing electrolytes.  I also like "Shot Bloks" which are like soft jujubes although I don't always find it easy to eat while running.

Shawn - I'm not at all familiar with Minnesota but I grew up in Manitoba and your area may be quite similar so not a lot of big hills I'm guessing.  Because you sound like you have a good strength base you probably will not have too much trouble with hills but 5000' climbing is pretty hard and it will slow you down and possibly fatigue your legs leading to a slower run.  You should try to ride hills once a week.  Find as long and steep a hill as you can and just ride up then down and back up again and repeat.  You should also practice descending as well.  IMWI bike route looks like it has a lot of both.  You don't have to train on hills but it will help you.

Originally posted by strykergt Marilyn In Strength training to be significantly helpful how often in a week and how long should the minimum time i should spent in a day?? Thanks Carlo

define "significantly helpful."  my expertise in weightlifting is getting swole, not getting fast!

Originally posted by strykergt

Originally posted by mehaner

Originally posted by strykergt Marilyn In Strength training to be significantly helpful how often in a week and how long should the minimum time i should spent in a day?? Thanks Carlo

define "significantly helpful."  my expertise in weightlifting is getting swole, not getting fast!

Anything that helps me in riding up hill and sustaining long rides would 3 times a week every other day 1 hr. a day doing the strength exercises you mentioned be enough? im incorporating it on my training plan.

2 - 3 days a week just to continue adapting, less than that and you won't have any benefit.  i'm not quite sure what you would do for an hour, i get myself good and tired out in 20 - 30 minutes.  one of the things i miss about bodybuilding - the workouts don't take NEARLY as long as triathlon

so the weekend of june 7/8 i have nothing really going on.  there are 2 local tris - should i do the cheaper sprint that is further away on sunday or the slightly more expensive but really close to home oly on saturday?  in case it matters, saturday's post-race food is pizza, sunday's is crab cakes.  HELP ME FIGURE OUT MY LIFE PLEASE.

also note the amount of purple and green in my logs...i have done the oly course and can swim and ride there all i want until that date.  the sprint course is completely new to me but also flat and easy.  

If the Sprint is only a bit farther away and they're serving Crab Cakes (never had one but they sound good) then go for the sprint.  Buuut(!) I am prejudiced in favour of Olys.  They're not too long, not too short but just right (if you're properly prepared).  I always feel like Sprints are over too fast.  All pizza is good but you can have pizza anytime.

Does that help?  Probably not, eh.  Whoa!  Why not do them both?  I didn't really mean to say that.  It just slipped out.

haha, i'll NEVER win a tri.  

i'm very comfortable with the swim but a 40k bike worries me a TINY bit...

Originally posted by PsyTri

Originally posted by strykergt Marilyn In Strength training to be significantly helpful how often in a week and how long should the minimum time i should spent in a day?? Thanks Carlo

It would seem that it's the quality and consistency, not the quantity, per se. With all of the other SBR training you do, fitting it in can be the real challenge. I picked up some pretty neat and dynamic strength training sets at twotri.com. They have a bunch of recommended "time saving" exercises that combine multiple muscle groups in one. I've found them helpful. What I do: I shoot for 15 min, 2 to 3 times a week. If I can hit the gym one time for a longer workout, that's great. There are also some strength exercises I try to go to as well that are aimed at swim injury prevention -- mostly strengthening the rotator cuff and supporting musculature as well as some core. I got those from the Total Immersion book, 2nd edition. Hope this helps.

exactly - said much more eloquently than i did.

Hi Chris, good to see the Aussie contingent still here!

Marilyn, spoilt for choice, or what!  Hmm, oly or sprint, sprint or oly... If you're happy with the distance, go the oly...more time to enjoy the day out.

speaking of spoilt for choices, i'm considering doing this BEAUTIFUL half marathon in tuscany while i'm in Italy for work this July:

http://skyrace.jimdo.com/

Crazy??  Possibly.  Entry is only 45 EUR and I'll be in country JUST in advance of the registration deadline (since you have to FAX the reg form, hahahaha)

I am allergic to crab, so I would pick the other one. Not helpful for you, Marilyn, I'm sure!

George - I'm sticking with 10% grade on my nemesis hill being about my limit. And it's only 0.2 mile long. Not sure I could keep it up much longer. I've done a little riding in Shenandoah in the Appalachian Mtns (not real mountains), and my conclusion was, "the things I know as hills are not real hills!' Fun to see bears and deer while riding though. 

I have been wrapped up in potty training my 2 yr old this week. He was super motivated and learned fast. I'm sure you all wanted to know that. Anyway, managed a few workouts, but going to have a busy weekend trying to get in some longer workouts.

...and I'm turning 40 next week! :/

Sounds like an adventure! Do it and tell us how crazy it was!