KathyG's 2012 Awesome Mentor Group-Full up (Page 31)

No racing for me this weekend, just keeping up with my training. Next weekend is my HM. I'm already getting nervous!

Can't say I'm a regular smoothing drinker, but I remember having a spurulina (sp?) smoothie on a trip to California a few years back, and it wasn't too bad.

ugh...more frustration....sick again the past 2 days and again zero training. I'm feeling better today, and will get back at it, but the past couple weeks have been a real grind.

Snowing like crazy this AM, and it should be fun to go for a run in it!

The 10 mile race went great!!!!  I finished in 1:21:16.  Here is a re-cap pretty much copied from my log.

Great run! A little wind. A little rain. A little hail. Nothing lasted long, though. I PRed a 10 mile race! Woo hoo!!!! My secret goal was to go under 1:20. Around mile 4, I knew it wasn't going to happen so I just held onto getting a PR. There's always next time!

The finish was exciting! Too bad there wasn't a video of it. I passed a gal during the last 1/4 mile and then she tried to pass me at the very end. I had one more gear left so I turned it on during the last 10 feet and beat her by a toe! That last push almost made me hurl at the finish, though. I ended up with 1st in my age group and 6th overall female! Woot woot!!!!

Nice job Tracy! Congrats on the place finish and the PR!

Signed up for a 10k in June and a Sprint in August - my official first Tri. I find that even signing up for these events I have performance anxiety and feel like I want to barf! Fear of the unknown, I suppose. Tour de Cure is just over 2 months away. Really looking forward to that event even though I never ridden further than 30 miles at any one time. I am confident I will make the distance. The Couch to program I have been doing has shown that I am building endurance. I am so very proud to participate in this event and am humbled by the amount of sponsorships I have raised for the ADA.

Have a good week one and all!

fantastic race Tracy, well done!!

Patrick, your first tri, how exciting, you'll be fine, you're doing the training, taking lots of advice and you have the motivation.  Looking forward to sharing the journey with you 

Fantastic race!! Way to push it at the end, and win!


So, you've spent the money, you have a plan, and you're already feeling good -- sounds like you have the makings of a fantastic first tri happening. The nervousness is totally normal, of course. My only advice -- have FUN, learn from what happens, and truly enjoy crossing the finish line -- there's nothing like it!!! Feels SO SO good.

My first race of the year is next Sunday - my first half marathon. I did 9 miles yesterday AM and felt good, so I'm thinking I should be fine for the race. I have no time goal, only a finish goal. Weather forcast looks iffy, but regardless, I'll be out there. The Galloway thing works great. I used it yesterday (9:1 ratio) and intentionally ran slower than normal. Thinking the race/adrenoline will carry me the final 4 miles on Sunday.

Congrats Tracy!

Way to dig deep in the kick to the finish to keep the pass and win your AG

Don't worry.  I always feel horrible just before a race but manage to pull myself together and rely on my training.  You'll be fine. 

Just make sure you continue to train really well!

Did a 6 mile run (no walking) this AM and I have to say I'm a bit more sore than I expected. I think its a bit of residual still from Sunday's long run. When it comes to recovery, its quite clear to me that I'm no longer 25, thats for sure .

With the HM on Sunday, I'm still going ahead with a 'normal' week of training per my plan, but will likely cut my bike short on Saturday, just so I'm fresh and ready to go on Sunday AM.

One great this about this AM was how warm it was! No jacket, hat, or gloves needed. A couple miles in, I realized I could have worn just shorts, and left the running pants at home. Here's hoping spring is here!

1) I need to replace the brakes on my tri bike (I have those crappy rebagged Tektros that came stock on so many Cervelos) - the return springs are pretty well shot on the rear from too much sweat. I think I may replace both front and rear with a set of Simkins egg brakes.

2) I am thinking about about getting a swim skin - almost all of our races here are not wetsuit legal and I have switched over to racing in two-piece kits for long course races, so I would like something that keeps it more streamlined.

3) Maybe a Finis Hydrotracker - it is getting to be OWS time - I usually use my 310xt in my swim cap, but it would be nice to have something smaller and less expensive in case I lose it. Although if I DID lose it, maybe I could get a 910. Hmmmmmmmmm, I will have to think about that one.

4) I have somehow lost my lifeguard rescue can, so I need to get another one - I swim OW alone most of the time (I know, I know) but I do tow a can. The one I had was awesome - it had a flag on it and everything. Gotta google another one just like it.

5) the last thing I need is a new set of wheels, but I would really like to learn how to build a set up from scratch this summer - this is pretty much the only thing I do not know how to do. I am thinking about getting a white industries eccentric hub to build up - since I got a new road bike this year I could convert my old one to a fixie, but it has vertical dropouts, hence the eccentric hub...I think I have just about everything else I would need, including an old set of spinergy wheels, just so I could be like the REALLY cool kids!

All of this means I probably have WAY too much crap already and don't really need anything else....

Finally got around to the clipless/shoes level. Got a GREAT deal from my LBS on Shimano SPD-SL PD-R540 pedals (great reviews for entry level pedals) and Shimano SPD-SL shoes (last years' model).

Was hoping to work them out tonight, HOWEVER, as my luck would have it, got the left pedal off no problem. Right pedal- no luck. I think they may have welded that one on! Tried all the internet tricks to no avail. Anyone got advice on how to get a stuck pedal loose? Tried WD-40, leverage, mallet and finally blow torch.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Finally back in the pool today, and it was just what my achy legs were looking for. I swam well, and feel totally refreshed, invigorated, and motivated. I have a 1 hour trainer ride set for tonight, which I'll need to work in after the birhday party for my youngest -- she is 9 today.

Been thinking about my upcoming half mary. I'm getting somewhat nervous about this, althought I feel I should not have much of a problem finishing, particularly with the 9:1 run/walk think I'll be doing. The 9 miles run on Sunday was just what I needed for confidence. But, I've *never* run this far, and it will be a big challenge. Will be taking it real easy on Saturday, a short spin on the bike early, then some rest.

I checked, double and triple checked the thread direction so I am certain I had that right. I think I'll head over to the LBS to have them work on it.

How is everyone?  Who's racing this weekend?  I know someone is. 

My husband is doing a half marathon.  I'm just going to ride my  bike and run a little.  Cheers!

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for my long absence but I was just simply so busy with travelling, working, vacation and then some more travelling. Life has sure been crazy the last month!

First of all: THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE for leaving me inspires and congrats about my triathlon in Abu Dhabi! Here is my Race report!

We had an awesome time and I still can't believe my good results and finally I can say that I am really proud of myself (I have a hard time with that). I wish the bike would have been the correct distance (it was short by about 8km) and that was something that they could have easily changed as it was an out and back course but not even that will dampen my spirit about this race!

The biggest difference with regards to races here in Iceland was the fact that it was warm and it was nice to just sit down in the sun afterwards, enjoy some cold drinks and some food and not rushing from the finish line straight inside to get some warm clothes on

I can definitely recommend this race to everyone. Its an amazing experience and we are planning to go back there next yeay! Heck I am even thinking about moving there and I will look into some flying jobs there

After we came back last Thursday I was hoping for a quiet, office day filled rest of the month at home but of course things changed once again and on Saturday I am flying to Portugal and will fly from there for 8 days. I am sure looking forward to getting into warmer weather but my office days shrank from 12 to 3 this months and nobody else is doing my work so that won't be fun once I am back. I also won't have my bike during that time so I will be missing quite some bike workouts!!

As I will also fly to Africa during the Portugal operation I had to get some vaccination shots last Friday (Yellowfever, Polio and Hepatitis A) and of course they made me sick

The last time I was really sick was after the swineflu vaccination in Spring 2010 and now this. I sure hope I will be better on Saturday!

Did the big mistake of going to swim training yesterday (yes that was stupid!) but ended up having to skip my planned bike ride for yesterday and today!

OK I am hoping to become a regular part of this group again and I loved reading about everything you have done in the last weeks. I already left some inspires and will get to some more soon!

Have a great Thursday everyone

hi Tracy - it does seem that race season is finally upon us - both Mike and I are racing half marathons, and I know Kiri has an 8k on the books - anybody else?

It seems like summer is here as well, at least around these parts. Yesterday during my group ride I looked down near the end and my Garmin said 84 degrees!!!!! And today on my run when I finished up I was yellow from head to toe from the pollen. This time last week it was in the high thirties. So much for springtime acclimation... The good thing for me is that while I don't mind the cold too much, I actually love the heat - I seem to manage it pretty well. Everyone's training is looking solid!