Asphalt Junkies CLOSED AND GETTING OUR FIX (Page 34)

Just a 10K!!!!???? 

I'm going on a short bike ride with a couple of friends soon.  It's sunny!!!!  So excited!!!!

This afternoon is filled with birthday parties and dinner at the in-laws.  Have a great day!

Good luck and hope the run goes well.  My oldest is 15 and I agree the time goes too fast and I'm actually thinking sadly about the day he leaves.  Can't imagine what you guys with kids out or leaving right now are feeling.

Last long run today before my half next weekend.  Looks cold right now - and that means 30s up here folks!

michgirlsk - 2012-04-28 12:52 PM Okay, so I have this mental battle to overcome.  I HATE cold water!!!  I say this because I feel it prevents me from getting to the pool!  The lap pool at my gym is insanely cold (ok, it feels that way to me!), and just thinking about it makes me not want to go.  In the past, I have literally sat on the pool deck with my feet in the water for like 10 minutes trying to convince myself to just get in. (And I actually do remember leaving once without even getting in pool... lol...)  This year, I have started to swim in the leisure pool which is slightly warmer, which worked quite well when I was just doing casual swimming to build my base, and I was swimming just based on time as opposed to distance.  But now that I want to start doing more interval workouts, I need to get myself into the cold lap pool!  I've decided to warm up and cool down in the leisure pool since it is warmer, but still, just thinking about the coldness of the lap pool really gets to me mentally and makes me not want to go to the pool at all!  I know this sounds silly but I think it is a huge problem. 

What kind of temps are we talking?

Does the pool permit lap swimming in the leisure pool? I would just stay there if that is where you are comfortable. Or is it shorter or something and thus hard to keep track of distance? 

Otherwise it is mind over matter. I've been in the pond for some OWS in cold temps - I just suck it up and get in. Of course I'm wearing a wetsuit . I don't really want to tell you mind over matter if your getting in 65 degree water! I know last summer the outdoor public pool started out cool - 75 ish. It was chilly to first get in but actually a really nice temp for interval lap swimming. Just took a few laps to get started.  Later in the year we had an extended heat wave. The pool warmed up to over 90 degrees and the air temp was near 100 - now that was too hot for intervals!

Good luck and not silly at all!

michgirlsk - 2012-04-28 1:52 PM Okay, so I have this mental battle to overcome.  I HATE cold water!!!  I say this because I feel it prevents me from getting to the pool!  The lap pool at my gym is insanely cold (ok, it feels that way to me!), and just thinking about it makes me not want to go.  In the past, I have literally sat on the pool deck with my feet in the water for like 10 minutes trying to convince myself to just get in. (And I actually do remember leaving once without even getting in pool... lol...)  This year, I have started to swim in the leisure pool which is slightly warmer, which worked quite well when I was just doing casual swimming to build my base, and I was swimming just based on time as opposed to distance.  But now that I want to start doing more interval workouts, I need to get myself into the cold lap pool!  I've decided to warm up and cool down in the leisure pool since it is warmer, but still, just thinking about the coldness of the lap pool really gets to me mentally and makes me not want to go to the pool at all!  I know this sounds silly but I think it is a huge problem. 

Dina is on the right track with her question about the temperature of the water.  I believe the pool I use is 82-84 degrees and feels pretty good once I get started.  The first few laps are slightly chilly but then when the MS starts everything is fine and by the end of most of my MS's I am actually sweating in the water.  Today's MS was particularly warm but it was a longer one than many of them, so I was sweating for sure at the end of it.

I guess it is going to come down to sucking it up like Joanne said though.  No time in the pool = no good swim times.  What I think you should do is simply bite the bullet and jump in as soon as you get on deck.  The longer you stand and think about it the worse you make it on yourself.  One other thing you might try is some dry land type exercises to get your body heat up a little before getting in.  Try some push ups, planks, sit ups, etc to get your HR elevated and your body working.  Basically don't get in the water with your body cold.

Karl,  how did the race go today?  I'm looking forward to a race report even if you're only using this as a training run.

I 'm also glad to hear your going to be able to start getting some swims in.  I'm thinking I am going to get additional OWS this year.  IA friend of mine has invited me to swim with him a few times and I am going to start training with a group as soon as the weather and my schedule can cooperate.

The fact that the race is so close sounds perfect except for the cruise....

Are you planning to continue your training on the cruise? When I completed my HIM last summer the taper started the last 2 weeks. The workouts got shorter but added a little intensity 2 weeks out. One week out the workouts were really pretty short - this would work in your favor on the cruise but I'm not sure if you would be planning a taper since you are really preparing for a full IM and just using the HIM as a warm up right?

Can you get everything organized for the race before you leave for the cruise? Then it will all be waiting for you when you get home.

The other issuse is how you will be feeling after getting home. When I get home from a vacation I always feel pretty exhausted. I'm not sure I'd be ready to turn around and race a HIM the next day!

Or, you could just look at it like a long training day with 100's of your closest friends .

*I* would be tempted to do this race just because it is so close. Interested to hear what everyone else has to say though. I guess it kind of depends what other races are available that fit your schedule too.

Sorry to read about your knee pain. That stinks. You may try a compression wrap for your knee along with the ice and rest. You can pick one up at the drugstore. It might help ease the pain a little.

Does it make a popping, grinding or cracking sound? Does it hurt more going up or down stairs?

Just thinking of all the symptoms I had when I was struggling with patella tendonitis. I rested from running for a while and it didn't get better. Finally found a chiro who did some ART and it cleared up pretty quick after a couple of treatments. 

Good luck!

Good news all around! Congratulations to your daughter, sounds like she did great! What is next on the list for her?

First off, congratulations to your daughter on her first HM.  It sounds like she enjoyed her first experience at that distance, especially when she's passing people she knows.  I'm glad to hear your achilles isn't going to be an ongoing issue for you either.

Joanne,

I would suggest you find another race.  The stress of trying to get home, unpack, settle in and then have to try to get your mind into race gear may be pretty stressful.  Besides, you will likely be coming of a week of eating a little more than usual and not getting any type of training or proper tapering for a HIM.  On vacations I know I am not usually hitting the training nearly as much as if I were in my normal routine and I suppose that would apply to most people.

All that being said, if you think you can stay focused on the race and have a decent week at a HIM taper and not stress everyone else out trying to get home and get everything ready than you can probably do it alright.  If you choose this route I suggest you get everything ready BEFORE you leave for the cruise.  Use a checklist of everything you need, check each item off as you place it in your gear bag, re-check your list to make sure you have included everything you need and re-check everything in your bag placing another check next to the first one.  Finally, make sure your bike is ready to go.  Check the tires, pressure, have bottles (empty of course) on your bike, skewers for tightness..............Whatever your usual day before race day routine is, do it before leaving for the cruise.  Check all of these things off the list, then relax on the cruise knowing all the pre-race routine is totally complete.

It sounds like it might be patellar tendonitis.  You could knock the running down a little bit and pick up cycling some.  Sometimes issues like this are caused by a muscular imbalance.  If you strengthen the quads a little bit more you may find relief that way.  Otherwise the RICE should help alleviate some symptoms in the short term.  Adding more cycling to your training will allow your quads to be strengthened but it will take additional time. 

Just a quick check-in.  Sorry I haven't been around much.  Our house got hit by a horrible bug.  I've been spending all of my time sleeping and resting (and not working out).  Ryan left this morning for his business trip, so I needed to save up every bit of energy I have to take care of myself and the two sick kiddos for the next few days.  I hope this passes quickly!

I promise to get caught up later. 

michgirlsk - 2012-04-28 1:52 PM Okay, so I have this mental battle to overcome.  I HATE cold water!!!  I say this because I feel it prevents me from getting to the pool!  The lap pool at my gym is insanely cold (ok, it feels that way to me!), and just thinking about it makes me not want to go.  In the past, I have literally sat on the pool deck with my feet in the water for like 10 minutes trying to convince myself to just get in. (And I actually do remember leaving once without even getting in pool... lol...)  This year, I have started to swim in the leisure pool which is slightly warmer, which worked quite well when I was just doing casual swimming to build my base, and I was swimming just based on time as opposed to distance.  But now that I want to start doing more interval workouts, I need to get myself into the cold lap pool!  I've decided to warm up and cool down in the leisure pool since it is warmer, but still, just thinking about the coldness of the lap pool really gets to me mentally and makes me not want to go to the pool at all!  I know this sounds silly but I think it is a huge problem. 

Samantha I don't think that is silly and I agree with what everyone is saying here. I know I get nervous every time I head out to the pool and I am not sure why. It's not because I don't like to swim or I fear the water or anything like that. I think I worry about whether or not I am going to struggle through my workout. In order to get better I know I have to do it so I just force myself to go. Once I get out to the pool area I just put my stuff down and get whatever I need and then I just get right in and don't hesitate. Once I'm in and I am good to go. The pool I swim at is usually warm but there have been some days that it has been a little cold. When it's like that I find that after a lap or two I don't even notice.

Vero sorry to hear about the knee. I think Dirk and Dina are offering up good advice on treating the knee. Take care of it and I hope it is feeling better and soon.

Allison sorry to hear about the bug hitting you and your family. I hope you guys are all feeling better and soon.

JoAnne I think you could go either way with the HIM. I do agree that if you think you can do it than it is probably best to have everything organized and setup before you go on vacation so you don't have to worry about that when you get back. I know when I go on vacation I do try and workout as much as I can within reason as I don't like coming back and feel like I am starting over plus I always worry about my weight so I try and keep it in check even on vacation. If you are really not going to workout much and really looking to relax and enjoy yourself it might be better to find another race. Sometimes it's hard to come right out of vacation mode and go full throttle.

Another what would you do....

I would like to go for a ride but the weather is a little unstable. It is not very windy, temp is supposed to get up to 70 but a 60% chance of rain. Would you risk getting wet and ride outside or stick with the trainer?

I'd go for the ride.  Take that with a grain of salt, though.  I live in a rainy place.  If I didn't ride outside when it rained, I'd never get to ride outside. 

Another idea..... if it's not raining when you start, then go.  If it's raining, jump on the trainer.