Aaron Davidson's Group -- Closed. (Page 35)

Matt - nice race report. from just getting into racing a few months ago to already completing an OLY distance...that's awesome! congrats on a great race.

Just over the newswire...

BOSTON – Kenya's Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot won the 114th Boston Marathon on Monday, breaking the course record with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 52 seconds.

OK... that's the exact time it took me to run my HALF marathon.  RIDICULOUS!!!

I was looking at the AG race results and was shocked at two things:

1. just how darn fast my AG was in the run. Here I am busting out a 25:15 5k and I was 18/22! I couldn't believe most times were 22s, 23s and 24s.
2. where I came in on the bike - 5/22 - I knew I could ride ok, but I've never ridden with a group to see where I stand (if that makes sense, just a comparison to other riders) - so it's a feel good thing I guess.

And I know it's you against the clock and you don't control who comes out to compete or how they perform. it just made me laugh when I looked at this closer.

but I stick with my plan - focus on the bike to cut a larger % of time and continue to improve my run/swim legs.

Jeremy, there's no doubt you're a strong biker, and it also sounds like you probably paced the run better than most of your AG. 

25:15 is a very respectable 5k time for a tri, so to have that many so far ahead sounds like they may have gone a little too hard since the run was first.  And your bike time was still fast, so my guess is you have even more running speed in there but you paced it well.

I agree with Warren here - I think the fact it was a reverse tri meant people were feeling a whole lot better at the start of the run than they were used to - so they went out fast...but you paced yourself right on to be able to finish the swim without drowning (;-)

Still - a very nice effort!

After reassessing my race plan compared to execution, it appears that I didn't take in the proper nutrition on the bike.  As I mentioned in my race report, I probably over mixed my endurance gatorade (too much powder v. water ratio) as I got a very dry salty crusty mouth after just a few drinks, so I switched to my water bottle.  I looked at the gatorade bottle and it appears I only took in about 4 oz of gatorade on the bike, even though it was at a bit higher mix content.  I switched to water and probably should have mixed it up some after taking in water.  I did take a gel a little halfway through the bike and that probably helped.  I basically ran out of gas at the end of the bike and felt it in the run.  Now, this may not all be related to the nutrition, since it was a longer race for me and I felt I used up a lot more energy on the swim than I planned/expected.  I also felt the water splashing in my stomach on the run, which never seems to be a good thing and may contribute to the stomach cramps.  On the run I basically just sipped the water at the stations and/or swished it in my mouth and spit it out.  I was very satisfied with my race results, but I was definitely uncomfortable on the run with the cramps and ran slower than plan/expectation by about 15-30 sec per mile, again that just may be what it is.

So my question is what is the difference in taking a gel and/or gatorade during the race, is there a reason to take one or the other or both?  Also, is there a reason to wait to drink or take a gel on the bike after say 15 minutes or can I take a gel/drink right after getting up to speed.

With my HIM coming up on 4 weeks, it appears that from training and my race this past weekend that I still need to hone in my nutrition and execute the planned intake on the bike better.  This will be especially important I think due to the expected increase in heat/humidity in FLA.

Back from vacation #1.  Scuba diving in Cozumel is great, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Reading everyone's race reports and successes has got me ready to do some racing.  PR's, some serious mental toughness (bouncing back after bonking), first oly's, tough 10K and fast run times.  Kudos to all.

I am heading out on vacation #2 tomorrow.  I am trying to get some decent training in on the three days I am at home.  Hopefully, I will be able to get some running and indoor riding in.  Then 22 weeks to IM.

I am glad this group is staying active.  See ya'll in a few.

Have a great second round Ray, and come back ready to hit it hard.

I did a 5k TT today by the way: 23:18.  I went out way too fast, but it was fun and I plan to hit these every 5 weeks to benchmark progress.

Edited by wbayek 2010-04-21 1:32 PM

Nice! I think it is very useful for me to see the progress that I am making (or have made)...and that's nice and quick!

Ray - enjoy your time

This week is spring vacation for the kids - I'm taking both girls to Boston tomorrow for some shopping (just me and them...should be a hoot)...back on Sunday for my last long run before the half marathon. Have a great weekend all!

Great job on the 5k TT, getting closer to your goal, which is quite impressive.

Ray - have a great vacation!

Jennifer - enjoy Boston shopping with your girls.

I have a swim/bike brick this weekend.  What are everyone's plans?  Bob, has a HUGE day on his schedule for Sat. 4+ hr training!! Way to go, you are getting serious(er)!

I had my first outside ride of the year last night!  I plan another longer ride this weekend, along with some kind of a run, but not likely a brick.

My wife leaves with the two older boys Sunday for a week, so I'm home alone with my youngest (the 8 year old with Down syndrome), at least while he's not at school.

It is a much deserved break week for her away from the stresses of day to day life with a special needs child.  I hope she can truly get her mind away and just has a great time.  The two older guys are pretty independent so it should be great.  So next week I'll have no outside rides and probably no swims.

I also am opening the cottage tomorrow!!!!  Yeeeehhaaaa.  The water is pretty cold right now, like 44, so it will be a while before I swim up there, but it's coming.


Edited by wbayek 2010-04-22 3:39 PM

hi guys.

Warren - first ride outside??? wow, I wouldn't cut it with you noreasterners! I'd go stir crazy not being able to ride until April outside!

I thought you would enjoy watching a video from the tri this weekend. it's pretty cool.

I come into the video at the start of the run, clock is at 1:07 (I'm in the middle of the video wearing a black pearl izumi jersey with grey flames - just on the sidewalk) and again at 1:26 coming from left screen to center.

http://vimeo.com/11035549

Edited by barelfly 2010-04-23 12:22 AM

Awesome that your wife is getting a break.  You're a good man, Charlie Brown!  Opening up the cottage... You must be very psyched... Summer's right around the corner!  We're opening our pool in a week and a half.  Water temp will probably be about the same (brrrrrr!).  I still haven't gotten in an outside ride... need to get the bike to the shop for some much needed repairs and a tuneup first.  I keep putting it off, but time's-a-wasting!  Have a great weekend!

How often do you guys do TT in each sport?  My 20 week HIM plan only had a couple swim TTs and I think a 10k race, that I didn't fit in.  I haven't done any TT in bike or run other than my races.

wow, I just figured out what you were talking about Matt...That's just what the training plan had scheduled for that day. I'm not seriously planning on trying that volume. Seems strange that the plan would have that on the second weekend of 16 but I guess they expect people to come in some decent shape. We'll see how it goes.

Which leads to a question...do you guys customize your plans and how much? I usually just look at them from an overall weekly volume perspective and try to match it up somewhere in that range. Would you recommend following it exactly or just loosely?

I plan to TT my run every 4 weeks on the week I'm doing a shorter long run.  I'm not sure about the bike yet.  I have a route I've done a lot in the past and plan to use it, but I haven't figured out how to fit it in yet.  Maybe as the interval bike for that week (it's very hilly so the hills sort of build the intervals in).  Swimming sort of TT's itself since the workouts are interval based, so I may not TT swimming at all.

In terms of a plan, I'm planning to use the general ideas of a plan, and tailor it around my available times.  Essentially, most plans seem to have the key workouts, and I'm making sure those fit and the rest I'm doing my best to fit the volumes and lower volume days to be sure to have rest built in.

I customized my plan this past 3.5 months. It was a mix of a sprint and oly distance that built up in time. I was past the "beginner" plan but didn't think I had time for a 3x workout for each. so it was a mix of 3 runs, 3 bikes 2 swims mostly. And based on my schedule for the next week, I would develop the workouts.

I enjoyed making the plan myself, it just adds another level to your training, if you like that sort of thing.

Hello Folks,  hope all the training is going well!  Sorry I have been out of the loop, the race of life has been going pretty fast so I need to try and keep up. 

I was an employee of IBM and on April 9, I was laid off.  My job was outsourced to Brazil.  The Monday following I had two interviews.  This last Thursday I was offered a job as a Computer Programmer with a significant pay cut.  I will probably accept the job on Monday, as many of my friends have been unemployed for 4 months or more.  The Monday I had two interviews my daughter (8) came home with lice, 3 or 4 kids have had it in her class.  We had to wash a ton of clothes and clean the house thoroughly.  Fortunately, me, my wife and other daughter did not catch the lice.  Yesterday was my other daughters 5th birthday.  It was a great time and I ate lots of chocolate Costco cake, Yum!!

In any case, I have been training a bit and my Tri last week went GREAT.  I am working on a race report.  The Race for the Cure (5K) the following day was pretty much a family fun run.  I ran and pushed the stroller with my then 4 year old while my wife and 8 year old ran it.  My 8 year old ran the whole thing in 31:32!!  We were very proud of her.

I did comment on a few races.  It seems to help when folks post that they had or will be racing on the forum.

Have a great rest of your weekend!

That's a tough couple of weeks Rene.  Hopefully the new job isn't enough of a drop to be too stressful.  How long were you at IBM?  It's tough in the tech world.  At least you've got something lined up pretty quickly, even though it's not ideal.

I'm dropping my two older guys and wife at the airport in the morning and then I'm on my own with Jeremiah for the week!   But I'm not as nice as everyone thinks - I'm away the next week for four days of work/golf in Pinehurst, NC.

Have a great rest of the weekend everyone.

Rene,

Sorry to hear about your job.

The latter half of the week sounds much better! celebrating a birthday and eating lots of Costco cake (something I did today as well! My daughter had her 9yr bday party a week early). But, it sounds like you had some great family time, which is just what is needed in times like this.

I wish you luck with the new job - or whatever is in store for you.

everyone enjoy Sunday!