Experior and Slornow's Spring/Summer Mentor Group-CLOSED (Page 34)

Steve -- great job out there!  Swim courses (and bike courses, and run courses...) are notoriously off; I wouldn't be at all surprised if the course was long.

Weigh-in:  142.  I'm hoping to be down to 135 by Sept.  If experience is any guide, getting to 140 will be easy, but the last 5 will be tough.

180.6 - Right back where I started.  I think I will log for a few days to jump start things.

IMAZ is now 24 weeks out.  Time for a renewed focus on training.  Have a great week everyone.

Jason -- you have every right and all of our permission  to KILL IT this weekend!  Enjoy the race.  

Unlike you, my training has been very up-and-down, but I'm also going to race this weekend.   First Oly (sort of -- swim is slightly long and bike is slightly short) in a while.  I'm hoping to do well at Chattagnooga later this year and this race will be a test-run to see where I'm at.

Benett -- I agree that logging nutrition can help jump-start weight loss.  It sure is a pain in the backside, though.  In fact, sometimes when I spend a few days logging I eat less just because I don't want to bother logging it!

I just noticed that the local Triathlon is adding a Family Relay category this year.  And guess what, I talked my kids into doing the relay with me.  I'm so excited!  And it fits us perfectly.  My daughter is a swimmer, my son is a soccer player and runs all the time, and I can hammer the bike and not have to worry about a run after.  On the calendar 7/14!

-Steve

Steve-great job on your race.  Interesting format....sounds like fun.  Relay with the kids sounds like a blast.  Can't beat that kind of family time!

Randy

Jason-Thanks for the kind words.  Things are going better than expected this race season.  Hopefully, it will continue and I can remain healthy.

Your training looks excellent.  Your consistency will pay off in your race this weekend.  I'm bad about getting butterflys before races as well.  Anxious about how I will do or whether I will be able to push through those tough patches.  That's where I think those tough training sessions pay off...not just the physical side of a hard session but the mental side as well.  Put together a good race plan and crush it on race day!  Looking at your calendar..are you doing a HM a week after the HIM?

Randy

Michael/Experior-curious if you felt any improvement with the foot issue as a result of the time off due to the diverticulitis? 

Randy

Managed to get in a run after work before my evening meetings.  I love it when I can do this, it's as if I won over work!

Still don't have my summer work schedule ((.  In order, once I get it I need to make plans with the boys, weekends at my place and hopefully a few small trips this summer.  Then, I hope to get in some tri's and/or runs through the summer.  IM AZ is 24 weeks away, and I hope to fill the interval with varying distance tri's and maybe even some new things I've never tried before.  Need the darn schedule first.....  

Thanks for the “good lucks”  I didn’t come in last, just close to.  My total time was:  2:37.47 and I felt out of shape, but had enjoyed it overall. Being passed by so people on the bike leg, just makes me want to train better and do it again and be the one passing others by. 

 Some things I learned:

1) Got great advice at packet pickup – freeze water bottles so they are still cool for the bike & maybe the run.

2) Thankfully the water was quite water so no worries about needing that wetsuit for my first time.  Learned that I really need to warm up to loosen the muscles. 

3) Gonna get a cyclemeter so I’ll know how fast/slow I’m actually biking. 

4) Never did get a brick workout in.  Can definitely see the need to have those included in workouts.  Experienced cramping in a new spot (inside of knees).

5) I knew it’d be really warm out toward end of race (day’s high was 97) didn’t take into account for swelling of feet when tying the shoe laces.  I will remember that next time so I don't end up with a numb foot again

Totally forgot to tap watch for splits.  Thanks for letting me share with you. Here’s the link for my race report:  http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=443962

Yes, forced time off has helped with the foot issue.  I continue to ice it, especially after longer and harder runs and bike rides, but it is definitely feeling better.  I'm hoping to be able to run more in the near future, and it'll be interesting to see what happens then.

Great job!  Really great to see you enjoying the race.

A few comments in reaction to your very nice observations:

Yes, that is a great plan. Just be sure that it is actually melted by the time you want to drink it!

Warmup is highly underrated, IMO.  I know that I basically ignored it until very recently (i.e., the past 12 months).  I know that I have gone into most of my races UNDER warmed up, even recently and especially in running races, and that's something I want to work on.  In general I'd suggest that warming up a little too much is far better than warming up a little too little.

I got in a hilly 5K run at lunch and then 2000 meters in the pool with "swim team". We did some kick drills that killed my lungs and legs, then a ton 100's freestyle to practice kick.

Michele-fantastic job on the race. As always, Michael provides some great advice.  Don't diminish your accomplishment by worrying about your time or how many people may have passed you during the race.  Getting out there and actually doing a triathlon is a HUGE accomplishment . So happy for you!  I know I learn something new from every race I do.  Hope this will be the first of many races to come.

Blanda-nice job on the run/swim.  Always good to get 2 solid workouts in.

Rene-keep up the good work.  You getting excited about Buffalo Springs?

Randy