Matt Gilmartin's Group- CLOSED~ we're swimming! (Page 30)

February turned out to be a horrible training month for me - work got in the way and I pulled many, many 12-15 hour days So far, March isn't looking better. We have a big inspection this next week that has been making us CRAZY at work. One department will want something changed, so we'll all have to go through our binders or bulletin boards and change it, only to have them send another e-mail out the next day stating they want what you changed yesterday to something different today! I'll be SO happy once this inspection is over and people get out of panic mode!

On a good note, we bought our 4th bike trainer today! I bought a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine for my bike back in December and a CycleOps SuperMagneto Pro for my son's bike around the same time. I had the chance to buy a CycleOps Fluid for $25 last month, which meant that 3 of the 4 bikes were able to stay on a trainer. When the 4th person wanted to ride the trainer, we would have to move one of the bikes, so only 3 people could train at once. 

At Christmas, our LBS had a special that whatever you purchased between certain dates, half the amount of your purchase price would go on a gift card for future use. We purchased several items that came out to $220, so we got a gift card for $110. Then last week, they had another special where they were selling gift cards worth $50 for $25, limit 4. We purchased 4, which came out to a gift card total of $200. Basically, we had $310 worth of gift cards, so we decided to purchase a 4th bike trainer so everyone can do a SufferFest or Spinerval video together!

We got to the LBS and asked about trainers. They usually only carry the CycleOps in stock and have to order other brands. My husband decided that he wanted to purchase another Kurt Kinetic since we already have 2 CycleOps. We asked about KK trainers and they happened to have 2 used KK trainers that someone just brought in to trade for a pair of bike shoes. The shop was selling them for $125 each, including the block! My husband put one of their bikes on the trainer and hopped on it just to make sure there was nothing wrong with it. We took it to the front and I used my $110 gift card for the purchase (paying the remainder with cash and keeping the other $200 gift card for later use)!

We also bought my daughter a computer for her bike as well as some shoes. I ordered some double sided pedals for her bike that are clipless on one side and platform on the other so she can ride with the platforms outside and clip in while inside on the trainer (yes, my children are spoiled)!

We'll be doing our first family trainer ride tomorrow afternoon once I can figure out how to fit a fourth bike in our front room (I currently have the three set up, just need to configure things for this to work)!

Found a great quote today we all can relate to:

Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Stage 1 of beating up my IT band is complete, my first half marathon in 1:52:53, 8:37/mile.  5 days rest then Gate River Run (National 15K Championships) on Saturday.  

After that I'm bagging training for a few weeks to get into PT.  Hopefully, I'll come out the other side of 4 weeks of PT with stronger, more flexible legs and be able to get back to training.

Congratulations on a great first HM!! You rocked it. Enjoy your rest days!

Nice job, Aaron!  With a healthy IT band that's a great time.  Injured makes you a superstar~ way to rock it.

One thing I have not done since my college swimming days is the good old 100 100's workout.  Yep, that's 10,000 meters in the pool.  My friend MJ runs a tri club here in Chicago, and she's organizing a 10000 meter swim on March 25th.  She has options for shorter distances, but I'm going to go in for the full 10,000.  Anyone want to come along?  LOL- they even allow zoomers

http://ilmsa.com/files/TriSmart2012.pdf

That sounds tough! Good luck! 

Sounds like you had a great race----I can only dream of HM times that fast!!  Congrats---you showed that IT band who's boss!

Hi all,

   I don't post much but it is great to read about everything you are all doing!  I keep pushing along from the not a swimmer, not a biker, not a runner yet category.  I'm finally able to swim nonstop for 15 miuntes and can get my 1/2 mile distance regularly and am ready to go a bit further.  Weather in Seattle hasn't been great for outdoor biking but inside can do my 12 miles in 45 minutes and getting better.  Running - wow, tough for me but down from a 20 minute mile to 16 minutes - no injuries and using a heart rate monitor to use some science and fitness.

   First Sprint is in June but I have a goal to do a "tri" at the end of the month on my own at the gym.

   I'm  in North Carolina now on holiday and headed for Baltimore next so am trying to work in some runs early in the morning while families sleep.

  Great reports!!!!!   Very cool!  Melinda

I will take all the swim workouts I can get! I am having a hard time getting my stroke right. A couple of weeks ago when I signed up for the indoor tri this Saturday I decided to see how many laps I could do in 15 mins and I did 15. Not what I had hoped but I'm still working on it. I guess that's my time trial 

50 meters, if that matters. In the summer I swim in the outdoor pool, which is yards. Confusing Lol

Thanks everyone for the kind words.  I had a fairly painful race, but made it through.  I went to PT this morning and had an ultrasound and massage on my IT band, which helped A LOT with the pain. 

I'm excited for my 15k coming up, but kind of sad because it will be the last real training I do for about 4 weeks while I go through PT.  I am going to hit the weights, though.

Aaron, try getting in some swimming, too.  Pull sets in particular will get your upper body strong and will help you on that critical hip rotation I keep preaching.  Hit me up with PM's or here if you need some advice.  Take your downtime and make yourself better!  

Of course, reading biographies and Triathlete magazine are a great way to pass downtime too  

Is it too late for "What did you learn?"  Had a minor epiphany last week.  

I've been re-learning the importance of strength training over the past week.  I think my little IT band flare up was caused by overuse and lack of strength training to balance it out.  So, it's back to the gym for me at least once a week working on problem areas.  Hopefully I will put this behind me and create new habits for the rest of the season. 

The same thing happened to me last year.  I was riding a lot and my IT band flared big time and put out for a week or so.  I got back to strength training and didn't have an issue with it for the rest of the year.  How many times do you have to repeat something before it becomes a habit?

I love my current goggles but have had major fogging issues with them.  Came across this defogging article and thought I would pass it on in case others were wrestling with the same issue.  Toothpaste and spit---who knew?

http://www.livestrong.com/article/378992-how-to-defog-swimming-goggles/

Robin- how often do you change your goggles out?  I used to do that and it got kind of annoying.  I now just replace goggles every six months.   THey tend to be less leaky when they're new.  I also figure $15 for a new set isn't a big investment.  Of course, this is just me and my personal need to be a prima donna.  LOL

Hmmm--maybe I need to look for a different line of goggles.  While I love these (don't leak, don't make my eyes feel like they're going to pop out of the socket), they have fogged since the very first time that I've used them (and I've only had them for a couple of months).  Happens regardless of whether I'm swimming indoors or outdoors.  Anyone have a goggle that they love?  Here's the one that I'm currently using:

http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/1131.htm

My kids LOVE Honey Milk and ask for it every time we work out! At almost $3.00 a bottle, however, it's more of a treat for them.

20g of protein----Nice!  Reviews look good---I'm definitely interested in trying it. Would be very grateful for the promo code when you have time.  Thanks!