Experior and Slornow's Winter Mentor Group-CLOSED (Page 33)

LOL...I can handle that type of pain and suffering on the bike.  I wouldn't want to experience such agony while running.

Jason/Michael-your posts got me to thinking.  Which would I "rather" do a 5k road race or the 20 minute FTP test.  Both hurt like he!! but not sure which I dislike more. Anyone else?  Which torture do you prefer?

For the folks unfamiliar with FTP/training with a powermeter. The functional threshold test basically has you do a warm up with some easy pedaling, a 5 minute hard effort to flush your legs then 20 minutes "all out".  Of course, you really can't go all out for 20 minutes so pacing is key.  If done right you should almost fall off the bike at the end from exhaustion....at least that has been my experience.

I just got off the trainer. Good interval workout. Warm up then 5x6 minutes at FTP with 4 minutes recovery between intervals.  Was harder than it should have been in large part due to fairly hard swim at lunch.   Time for some red wine recovery

Randy

Would much rather do a 5k road race TT.  I have done a 9 mile Bike TT all out this past year and it was torture.  The run is hard as well but more used to it from track and college workouts. 

Just back from a nice run along the river in Savannah, GA on one of the historic streets.  The cobbles were a bit challenging, but the run was pretty.  (I skipped out on the conference lunch to do it.  Shhhh!)  Back to fun meetings...

Michael-great picture.  We love Savannah.  My wife and I have been 2-3 times.  Lots of good places to eat, hsitoric places and beautiful scenery. Enjoy!

Randy

Michael, beautiful! I would love to run or walk through those streets!

Chilling with the husband and kids this weekend. If we do anything, it'll be a family run so husband can get a workout in. He's been missing his runs because of the late nights.

Have a great evening!

Good morning everyone-heading out for long ride followed by a short run.  Cool and breezy here.  Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Randy 

Took this whole week off.  Am trying to stretch the calf out and am feeling better.  Man it was a tough week at work.  I may go to the gym and sit in the whirlpool for a while today and jump in the pool.  Have a great weekend.

Next week I may begin training on a Half-Iron Plan for a race in early August (it has a Sprint and Olympic distance race built in that fits perfectly with races our Tri Club is participating in as a group), but will use my running plan modified for the half-marathon instead of the marathon.  I have come to a decision that I will downgrade my Marathon to the Half-Marathon.  I am more motivated and excited to begin Swimming, Biking and Running again, being involved in our Tri Club races than training for a marathon.

Maintained my weigh this week so I am looking forward to losing some weight this week. 

Good luck training everyone.

Back in Columbia.  I had a nice bike ride today, though the wind was very strong.

Brian: you probably made a good choice, especially as it has got you excited about training.  That's always a good sign.

Randy:  Interesting question.  I'm not really sure which one (5K or 20' TT effort on bike) is more intimidating.  I think probably 5K, for me.  Every time I do one I definitely find myself feeling a little afraid at the starting line.  I'll be doing one in a few weeks at the request of a few cousins whom I rarely see.  It'll be interesting -- obviously I won't be well trained for it, and I wonder whether that fact will make me relaxed, or just more nervous at the start.

Rene:  Did you try the run?  How'd it go?

So, picking up on Brian's post:  what has gotten you excited about training in the past?  Races?  Prospect of weight loss?  Joy of being outside?  Training with others?  What???

Had a full day at work yesterday, but still not caught up.  Did get to the gym at lunch for a little bit of everything workout.  The swim has definitely taken a back seat the last few weeks, but as long as I can get a little in here and there, I'll bounce back on that.  Will be doing a half marathon next weekend which I will use more as a training run, but it is also a fundraiser for where my Dad had his cancer treatment, so it is a win-win! 

As far as what motivates me for training, that's been a good question as of late. I think it is just that I'm all around happier and healthier when I'm training.  My challenge is that I can achieve that working out 4 days a week or so at a lower level.  I definitely need the focus of a longer race to move past the casual workouts.  In the past, I've mainly trained on my own and enjoy the break that it provides... now, I'm feeling more of a pull toward making it more social.  I'm thinking about trying to organize a group ride on a weekend morning up on the Blue Ridge Parkway over the summer.  We'll see.

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

What motivates me?  I guess it is the feeling of accomplishment or satisfaction I get from having a particularly good result in a race or even from completing a tough workout.  The race results are the greater motivator but that can't pull me through the off season/winter months so I focus on doing my best in key workouts or exceeding my own expectations in those workouts.  I feel especially motivated/satisfied when I complete a workout that going in I wondered how I would be able to do it.  Today I have a 3 mile tempo interval at just above 10k pace in the middle of my run.  Given how my legs feel after yesterdays bike/run I really don't think I will be able to hit the numbers I should.  But, you never know and I guess that constant challenge is motivating as well.

In early 2011 I got a new bike and that motivated me.  It's a really nice bike and I wanted to be able to ride well enough to justify having it.  So, I rode alot in 2011...over 5000 miles.  I was motivated to ride alot to get better but the new bike also added to my enjoyment of riding.

Of course, staying fit and feeling healthy is a huge motivator as well.  I suspect that is the driving force that got most of us involved in triathlon.  The other motivators have grown out of that initial desire to be healthy.

OK, headed out to do the run.  I have that "fear" feeling that Michael describes experiencing at the beginning of a 5k.  I think for me its the fear knowing that it is going to hurt and whether I will be able to handle it.   

Randy

I like the answers so far.

One thing that motivates me is mortal fear that I'll return to 170+ pounds, though honestly if the other motivators weren't there, that one wouldn't be sufficient.

I love being outside, and I love the accomplishment of a hard day of training.  Same as for Randy, long races also keep me focused!

The occasional little successes in training motivate me to get back out there and do it again.  I had one today -- 5 miles run at an effort other than my usual (recently) 'very easy'.  I'm still not willing to push it -- I'm too scared of taking a major step backwards -- but it felt good to breathe a little hard during a run.

And finally -- and yes, this last one is going to seem a bit silly and probably somewhat vain -- I love having 'good looking' logs.  Honestly, there are some days when I train (especially swimming) only because the thought of empty logs is upsetting...

My ultimate motivation for doing anything is taking advantage of having this body with working limbs and living where you can do things outside year round in great weather! I always tell my kids that they are blessed with good health and strong bodies, so take advantage of those things by playing outside and participating in sports.

I'm also motivated by my fears of the unknown, my ability to gain weight looking at a McDonald's building, not having my feet on solid ground.

Pretty lackluster performance in my TT today.  Was hoping to hold 280 watts, but only managed 265...over 24:49.  Not too good considering last year I held 269 watts for 31:53 in a similar time trial last year.

It was all mental...I just wasn't willing to suffer and pay the price today.  I saw my wattage slipping...and I didn't do anything about it.  Not sure why.

Jason-tough day on the bike but still a great effort.  I agree about those small differences in performance being largely mental.  Takes us back to out discussion about suffering through those tough workouts.  You have been putting in some good work and will be ready come race season.

I survived my run and it actually turned out pretty well.  Plan was 2 mile easy warm up then 3 miles at 10k+20 sec. pace followed by a one mile cool down.. Not sure what my 10k pace would be right now so estimated 7min/mile.  I did the long interval on a track to make it easier on my legs and that was a bit of a challenge mentally....having to count off the laps. Splits were 7:05/7:05/6:51.  Better than expected.  I'll take it on a cool, breezy morning, running by myself with tired legs.  Tomorrow is scheduled rest day but I may get in the pool and do some easy swimming/drills.  

Randy

Agreed -- good effort on the bike today, Jason.  They can't all be A+ efforts...  I also agree that keeping the effort up on the track for longer distances (for me, anything over 1600m) can be a real mental challenge.  I much prefer to do longer hard efforts (anything longer than a mile) on the road than on the track.

Nice run, Randy!

Agreed Randy and Michael.  I know I'm on the right road for the long haul this season.  Last year I had a real carrot in front of me as it was my second season...I was making my largest improvements, and I really wanted to prove myself.  I had a REALLY GOOD year last year.  This year, I feel that I have a bit of a hangover.  While I still really enjoy training all the time, I find myself lacking a little motivation to push that little extra sometimes.  My overall engine is bigger...but I don't seem to have as much in the super charger when I need to call upon it.

In any case...this was more of a "test to see where you are now" race.  I know now where I am...and I'll use this performance to motivate me my next races.  Knowing you left some in the tank is a pretty crappy feeling...I don't want that feeling again anytime soon.

I thought about this one too - I figure I'd choose the 5K over the 20min test - cause there's always the chance it will actually take less than 20min!

As for Michael's comment about fearing a 5K, I fear the 20min tests.  I know that if I do it right, then I'm in for a world of hurt...all to chase just a couple of extra watts.  Oh, and I've never tried one outside, cause I'm not sure I'd be capable of getting home afterwards.  I've only ever tested on the trainer.

Neil-I'm with you. Never done one on the road.  When I do a test I actually tell my wife to come out to the garage a couple times during the test to check on me.  I always worry that I'll fall out at some point near the end.

Randy

3 miles and abs/arms with medicine ball last night. Might get a few swims in this week, but next week husband will be gone and I won't have a sitter for the hooligans. Don't know how I feel about that. I guess I'll be as ready as I'll ever be by my last swim this week, whenever that may be, but I'd love to get in the water just before the race on 3/10. Maaaaybe I can ask a friend to sit for me for a couple hours the Friday before.

Tired and not in a good mood this week. Days leading up to deployment are hard, especially knowing one of the kids is going to have a hard time at the airport. Things should mellow out over the weekend.

Hi folks, no I haven't quit and don't plan on it.  Just that my workload has morphed into....into...I jut can't think of a word to describe it.  It's sucking the life out of me, not a good thing.  The good news is one of my major projects will be done in about two weeks.  For those of you in the US, if your familiar with RBC Bank, we sold 400 branches to PNC.  March 2 is d-day, and the week after that is cleanup of network so lots of extra hours.  

But still after that is completed my workload will still be high.  So I need to change the way I train.  I've been trying to follow regular plan with 3 weeks training and 4th week recovery.  This aproach is not working as I seem to get a forced into recovery every other week.  Also, I seem to be limited to one hour whenever I can get a workout in.  Weekends are the only time when I may have a chance to get over an hour. 

My goal is complete HIM on July 8, no time goal (originaly was under 6 hours).  I'm thinking I would need, per week, at least one Long workout (as long as possible) and one interval per sport.  Knowing that I will be limited I would push hard almost every workout, depending on rest between workouts. How would some of you aproach this kind of restriction.

Thanks for you opinions!

Morning all!

Blanda -- if you can get in a swim,go for it, especially if it will boost your confidence.  But if you can't, don't sweat it.  As they say, by this time the hay is in the barn.  You will be fine.

Sylvain -- sorry to hear about the tough work schedule.  Take care of yourself!  Sure, do some long stuff on the weekend if you can.  My primary concern would be consistency.  So, even if you can just get in a 30 minute run or bike on a given weekday, that's actually much much better than nothing.

What have we got on tap for today?  I've got  pretty busy schedule too, but not selling 400 banks...  I'll manage a swim and a bike for sure, and if the foot feel up to it, a run.

Have a great day everyone!