Dream Chaser's 'Set a Goal and Capture it!' Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 33)

Sounds good!  Thanks for all the advice.  I'm up to running a comfortable 2x1hr run plus a long 8 mile run over the course of the week but according to the plan I'm supposed to be running for 2.5 hours and that's just not in the cards at this point.

The last time I trained for a 1/2 mary I ran almost every day - some were short easy 30 minute runs, then 2 mid runs with long run on the weekend.  I think if I can find the time I'll go back to that as I don't feel as creaky.

I feel as though it's already the weekend but one more day...

Good luck this weekend Greg!  I have full confidence that you'll have an amazing race!

so my Oly tri is coming up this weekend and excited, finally get to see with all the swim that I have put in if it will pay off. 

So I'm thinking about a HIM next year, how much time commitment is that in terms of training? 

Honestly, not much more than being ready for an Oly.  Check out the Beginners HIM Plan here on BT...should give you a pretty good idea.  I think it averages around 8-9 hours over 20 weeks with peak of 11 or so.  I would recommend going a little higher on the bike, but I'm only a couple years into cycling.

Good luck this weekend!

LET'S ALL WISH MARCIA LUCK WITH HER CENTURY!!!

It seems like just a few weeks ago you were talking about this day, meanwhile it was back in January!!  But it's here now!!!!

Have a great day out there, Marcia!!  Make us proud.

Or TdC, for short. 

Good luck everyone...can't wait to race vicariously through you!

Hi all, First off – best of luck to all of our racers this weekend! I know that Marcia, Greg and Jeff will all do great!

Also, a belated big congrats to our fearless leader. Wowsers, that was quite a race you put together!

I just wanted to check in and comment on my May totals. Yeah, it was bad again. That makes 4/5 months so far in 2011 but I think I’m in the process of rebounding. As stubborn as I am, even I have had to realize that I have to change things because the current plans/wishes aren’t working. It looks like I’ll be becoming one of those people who needs to get up at 4:30 and go to bed by 9 PM in order to make it all fit. My goal for June is simply to get 20 swim, bike or run workouts in. Hopefully, by keeping things simple, I will be able to meet this goal and start feeling good about my triathlon self again.

I do apologize for not being around more.  You all are a great group.  It's just hard to want to participate in a triathlon forum and/or mentor group when you're not actually "triathloning".  My thanks to those that do pop by my training log every now and then though.  It is appreciated!   

Have a great weekend everyone!

Bobby:

Thanks for the input.  I have in my mind that I'm going to kill the swim since I feel that's where I've spent most of my time training. But you give a good perspective, I might not "kill" it in terms of time but if I come out feeling strong and good, regardless of time, that is a winner.  Thanks for putting that into perspective. 

do you have a sample of what your training plans look like for HIM?  gives me a good idea what i have to sacrifice in terms of sleep to train (and not give us family time)?

Can't wait to race!!

Good luck Marcia and Greg

You guys are great! Thanks for all the well wishes.  Jeff - if I can attempt an HIM - so can you!  Have a great race this weekend.  You too Greg!  The whole reason I decided I wanted to train for a century ride was because I was thinking of doing this:  http://centurioncycling.com/canada/ Doesn't it look so cool?  My plan was to get the volume up by June (which I will this weekend) and train hills all summer so I'd be ready - but did I sign up for it?  Noooo instead I went for a hilly HIM!!??  I make no sense.  If it wasn't the week after the HIM I'd do it.  I think the HIM bike course would be good training for it but I'm thinking I'll probably be hurting the week after... no?

Ummmm to answer Bobby's question - no I haven't started Born to Run.  I have cracked the cover but then promptly fell asleep with the book open and haven't attempted it since.  I'll bring it with me this weekend and see how it is.  Shawn - you mentioned the only way you'd be able to train is to wake up early and be in bed by 9pm well THAT'S ME!!  I finally reached the conclusion that if I didn't put my training first - as in the first thing I did during the day - it would never happen.  So I completely changed my schedule and now wake at 4:45am and I HAVE to be in bed by 10 to maintain this.  I'm zonked today because the swim pushed bedtime back to 10:30pm.  Crazy but once you get the hang of it - I think it's actually a healthier way to be.  Rest has become a very important part of my life now. 

As for the new food - I've been to three bbqs in five days and guess what was on the menu.... hamburgers!  I finally fell below 140 and today even weighed in at 138 but if this keeps up oye!

Glad to hear the training is going well Chava.

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Hello gang - finally lifting myself out of the rut of the past couple months enough to stop in and say Hello! I haven't trained a single day since sometime in April until last nite - I made it back to CF and while I am oh-so-sore this morning what I am most pleased with is a mental clarity that seems to be beginning to shine thru. Feeling great today!

Lots of personal issues over the past couple months that just kept beating me down. And it seems once I get started down that road....well, the hole can get very deep and the shovel gets harder and harder to put down...

I lost a SIL to cancer this past month who became sick only a few months ago. She lived 7 hrs away and we made many trips back and forth over the past few months. During this time work has exploded for me and the double edge there was loosing a few employees which made for some long & stressful days for those of us who remain. It was SO easy to slip deeper into the hole in hopes of some magical load lifter to swoop all these issues away. I not only let go of all training but have been eating everything convenient, fattening and terrible for my health that I could find....Krispy Kreme custard filled, chocolate covered donuts & Breyer's cookie dough ice cream covered with syrup, peanut butter & Capt'n Crunch cereal are not considered healthy to eat daily....in multiples sometimes, aren't considered healthy meals are they?

What does exist is the love & support of family & friends - but you have to be a willing participant and seek to find those things which bring reality back into focus. I believe I have finally found those glasses....again!

My oldest daughter graduated high school this past weekend. It is a thrilling yet anxious time trying to embrace this present time with her. While I am very proud of the young lady she has become - I am scared to death of sending her off to college & into the world. Deep down I trust she will make good decisions but that doesn't make it any easier to make the knots in my stomach go away!

Enough of my drama....I am sure we all have it in some shape, form or degree.

Not sure my plans moving forward in terms of racing. I'd still love to race something this year. I know from last nite that my fitness level has dropped alot. I think I will just spend the next week or so trying to reacclimate myself to consistency and look at whats on the calendar.

I know my Xterra sprint is only a month or so away...possible I guess. My HIM/Oly in Oct could still be achieved I think. Really feeling like not getting any race in this year would make it a tough mentally. I think anything would be a mental trophy.

Good luck to Greg, Marcia, Jeff and anyone else racing this weekend - you guys ROCK! I will have to spend some more time catching up on what everyone has done over the past couple of months....but now I am out the door for a leisurely bike ride

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thanks for all the well wishes for my race tomorrow.  Training this week was impacted by weather/storms and life.  I will take what the day will give me and get some good transition practice and training in as well.

Looking forward to the event, mostsly because my oldest son, 9 years old, is going to participate in his first duathlon after my event.  A 100-300 yard swim (kids choice) and a 1 mile run.  What is cool is that parents can assist during the event.  So after my Olympic I will right beside him during the swim and what I imagine will be a fun run/walk.  I am not going to be the overly competitive parent yelling/pushing him but will be their to support whatever pace he feels comfortable with.  You would be amazed at some of the parents I have seen "encouraging" their kids at events like this before.  My approach will be to make it enjoyable for him so he is not turned away by overly intense pressure/competition at such a young age. 

Best of luck to Marcia and Jeff this weekend!  Looking forward to hearing about your races/events.  Good luck to my son Alex as well!

John, sorry to hear about you loss.  You're family will be in my prayers.  Try not to focus on the lost training and diet it will serve no purpose.  TRy to live in the "Now" and move forward from your current position.  This is easier said than done and something that I struggle with as well.  Your fitness will come back rapidly and the exercise can be a great stress relief as well. 

You still have plenty of time to train for a HIM in October.  Slowly build up and don't try to make up for lost training and you will be fine. 

Done!!  It wasn't easy that's for sure but I did it.  Fortunately I met up with some other BTers and had a good ride up to the 100km mark.  Then had to finish the rest on my own.  Had a dark hour or so where I seriously considered bailing but then it was YOU GUYS that kept me going!!  I couldn't face the shame of being a quitter!!  So thanks to all of you.  I described it in more detail in my training log.  Now desperately need a hot bath  

AWESOME race Greg!  Ohhh to be so fast!  Can't wait to read the details.

Role call on Jeff... how was your race????

So while everyone apparently was hammering out some VERY impressive workouts and races, I was busy watching my daughter participate in the Honette contest at the HonFest festival in Baltimore.  Google HONFEST to get the idea behind it, but basically think of the girls in the movie/musical Hairspray and you get the picture.

So all of these 8-11 year old girls get up on stage in their HON costumes and do their best Baltimore accent (which is the worst accent I've ever heard...think of a really harsh nasally southern drawl where some syllables are left out, and every long vowel is accentuated).

Some pics:

Unfortunately my daughter just doesn't have enough sass to win this thing...gotta work on her 'tude for next year. 

Seriously, though, some of these kids are scary good at this...makes me wonder if they're even acting/dressing up!

Then on Sunday while Marcia was enduring her sufferfest in the saddle and a lotta my MD peeps were either slogging through the humidity at Eagleman or dodging lightning bolts at the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim , we had lunch in downtown Baltimore where I hammered through a plate of ribs and fries; THEN we went to the Italian festival and had cannolis and plenty of frosty beverages in the 90 degree heat.

So, while my training group was actually, you know, training, I was in complete glutton mode.  Needless to say, I feel like crap today. 

Happy Monday!

That's so cute and funny!  Any excuse for a celebratory party hmmm?

Those ribs sound good!  If I never see another cookie again...

Dream Chaser - 2011-06-13 7:50 AM Greg, by the look of your splits (and with the warm weather conditions) you had SOLID splits in all three disciplines.  Nice Race, Soldier

Jeff - how did your Oly go?

Bobby, I will write up a race report later tonight.  I was kind of torn on my results for this one.  I improved overall from last year by about 5 minutes for a new PR on this course, so that is the good.  The bad is I was racing somewhat sick.  Turns out I had some GI issues/food poisoning from the night before.  Didn't realize this myself until about half way through the bike and l later learned that my youngest son was also getting sick/vomitting on the way to the event.  I suspect the pulled pork we had for dinner Anyway not to gross you guys out but the second half of the race was really a challenge for me, especially the run.  I feel like like I could have been about 5 minutes faster without the challenges, but as I said going into the race I will take what the day gives me. 

I was about 6 minutes faster on the swim from the previous year!  This is the only real area of improvement.  I basically had just about an identical bike split, 16 seconds faster.  I averaged 20 and felt 21 was more realistic this year and my run was slower.  The bike and run is where I lost time due to my GI issues .  I moved up in my ranking this year to 13 of 38 in my age group, I think I was 18th last year.  Overall I can't complain to much as I did improve by 5 minutes from last year.