Athena/ Clydesdale Official Mentor Group (Page 34)

sounds like lots of good swim workouts going on.

I bit the bullet yesterday and bough nhl gamecenter so I can watch hockey games on my computer (also great because I'm an Ottawa fan and live in Toronto, so the Ottawa games aren't usually televised). Logged another 34 minutes while watching the first period, was great). Watched second and third while reading my new book (iron fit, I put off getting it for way too long), I was supposed to start LP plan 4 weeks ago to follow Fink, and I can't really run for another 6 weeks till I move, so I am making up my own plan, which is sure to end in disaster, but I'm going to do my best!)

I also realized that I should pick up a heart rate monitor if I'm going to use Fink, anyone have any suggestions for one that works well for a Clyde?

Kent,  my wife bought me a Timex Global Trainer and I absolutely LOVE it!  I don't know what all a Garmin 910XT can do that this doesn't but I can tell you that for right now the Timex does everything I need.  It doesn't work real well in the pool, but then again, none of them do.  For less than half the money, I'd buy it again.

Okay, I went looking for the differences.  Apparently the 910XT will count laps, strokes and such for your swims, which the Timex won't.  I should also note that I have never been real happy with the pace graph in Training Peaks.  It's all over the map.  However, GPS data, average speed, average pace, all of the time functions and most especially heart rate all seem to be fairly accurate.  And since it was HRM data that I wanted the most I have been quite satisfied with it.  Just wish the pacing showed a smoother graph, not so erratic.

Mike, when you find those week stretchers let me know the website.  I definitely need one.

I think I am about to drastically change my schedule.  I am considering waking at 5am to be in the Y at 5:30 for a morning swim.  Then I'll teach and tutor until 4:30 and return for a treadmill workout 2 or 3 days a week.  I can hit my trainer rides the other two days a week and put in a long ride on the weekends.  Theoretically, that gives me 4 swims, 2-3 treadmills, and 2-3 "drainers" a week.  That should hold me over until I can start working outside again.

Hah, I love this!  I can totally relate

I struggle with the two workouts/day too.  I tend to do them one right after another, although it's really a challenge in the winter with wardrobe changes.  For instance tomorrow I have a longish bike session (which I will do on the trainer at home) and then a 10 minute run (outside, I don't have a treadmill).   In Minnesota that requires a whole different outfit!   For 10 minutes!   If I wanted to do this at the gym, my bike workout suffers because I am on a less than ideal bike. 

Swims plus something else are a bit easier, since I will swim in the morning before work and then do the "other" after.  I admit in every scenario that I struggle getting the strength workout in and that's the first to go if anything.  I have a coach who writes a personalized workout for me, which is motivating and I assume she has a long term goal. But I often wonder how she things this is realistic. I do know that she works from home, and has a treadmill, so I guess that's her perspective...

What happens is I am often doing a bit of cramming on the weekends.  Don't tell my coach

38 mins on the DREADMILL!  I had to wait 20 minutes just to get on one.  I really can't wait for the "Resolution Rush" to dwindle.

5m warm-up, 10 intervals of 1m jog/2m walk, 5 min cool-down.  I'm not going to say I enjoyed it, but it didn't kill me.  And I had a wonderful sense of accomplishment afterward.  (Endorphin release?  Not sure I've ever felt that.)

Nice job and yes,  very possibly that endorphin release.  I applaud you for waiting the 20 minutes for the treadmill,   I probably would have found something else to do instead.  I worked today and don't know if it was because of the weather or the resolution rush is already dwindling but there were definitely fewer new faces at the Y today, and when Mike and I were there last night during Danny's basketball practice, we were both able to get onto a treadmill without a wait.

Very creative and heck, you got some weight lifting in while you were at it. 

Just wait, in another month or two we start baseball cage practice and then in a couple more months we have 4 baseball games a week to add to the insanity.  Oh the joys of being a parent.

Guess I should be glad that we don't need NHL gamecenter plan for Flyers hockey, just wish they would win a game, rather depressing start to the shortened season so far.

As for HRM,  I have an older model Polar HRM that I really liked but have since passed it along to Mike.  It has some great features but I know there are better options, check out http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/ for some ideas on what's out there.  I don't know about shipping to Canada but I did order my HRM from them and they had great customer service to help with the selection process.

I applaud you for being able to keep track of your laps with words and spelling them out.  I don't think it would ever work for me.  I would probably forget which letter I was on, as it is, I can sometimes not remember to push the button on the lap counter.

I take that back.  I did end up getting into the pool when the aquatics director arrived to cover for her lifeguard. Swam for 28 minutes and got 1150 yards finished. Skipped the drills and did a straight swim. My arms are a bit sore from the strength training yesterday.  On tap this morning,  an easy 60 minute ride on the trainer.  Like I said to Mike this morning, never thought I would be happy for an "easy 60 minute ride".  I remember when 15 minutes seemed like a hard/long workout. Mike did a great job on the treadmill and I couldn't just sit there like a bump on a log, heck I got out of bed for a workout so I had to take advantage of the time and the empty pool.

Have a great day everyone!

blisters suck...

Got 34 minutes on the trainer last night, I feel like I might be slowly breaking in my saddle, still might buy a new one but that is once expense I am hoping to avoid, moving to a new condo at the same time as getting into triathlon is a bad idea! Swim planned for tonight, I missed my last one due to having to work late, so hopefully I can get a good swim in tonight. I might try a transition workout tonight and go for a quick bike afterwards, I left the trainer all set up so it will be ready for me!

Swim - 1500 yds - 35m 28s - 2:22/100 avg

The middle 500 seemed fairly comfortable.  And I actually slowed down on my cool down laps for a change.

But that 0500 trip to the pool is SO not happening! 

Getting up at 0500 to get to the gym when the outside temp is ,,,,, ZERO was just asking too much of myself at this point in time. Besides, I started thinking about it. I am NOT podium competitive. The goal here is to be able to go the distance, not win the darned thing. But I might be able to see my way clear to doing a 30-60 minutes bike workout before I shower for work. Sounds more realistic to me. I’ll let you know when I figure out the details.

It's official!  I just finished registering my daughter and I to do the Tinman Triathlon in Topeka KS on June 15th.  She's doing the short course for her first tri.  I will be doing the long course as a step up in distance, and as training for HITS Hunter Mtn HIM in September.

I am SO proud of her for taking this step.  Father/daughter finish line pic will be posted.

That is so great to hear!   I am sure there will be some amazing memories made that day!

No workouts this morning for Mike and me.   Our furnace died last night which led to a stressful night and morning.  We just were in no mood to head to the pool to swim to only come home to a freezing, cold house.  Mike is away with the boys, camping in the cold of all places with Boy Scouts.   Sent them with a portable propane heater since it is snowing and frigid here in NJ this weekend.  We have amazing friends.  Some of them lent us portable electric heaters to use and another was able to repair the heater for us and I am warm and cozy this evening.  Looking forward to a good night's sleep since I had zero last night.  Been a busy day moving stuff around the basement to make accessing the furnace easier so we were far from couch potatoes, besides it was too cold to sit still for long.

Trainer ride on tap for the morning and then a long needed massage.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

ModC25k - 3rd workout - 38 mins - 10m running

Another Dreadmill workout. It was 14*, snowing, and blowing when I came out of school. I SO did not want to go the gym tonight. But I did. And as usual, I was glad I did after I finished. The best thing I can about it is that at the end I wasn't staggering or tripping.

Also feeling pretty good that I have actually done all three Dreadmill workouts this week.

I like the name dreadmill. As weird as it sounds I am looking forward to getting to start working on the dreadmill, I'm worries about the run and not being able to train for it. Although I'm worried about all three disciplines...

Back to back transition workouts for me, both yesterday and today did 1km swim and then 15 minutes on the drainer when I got home. Drainer is on tap for tomorrow. Still continuing to count calories whenever I can (when cooking some stuff it is hard to estimate). It seems to be making a big difference, although I started serious training at the same time, so it has been a nice one two punch!