Fred D's Ironman/Half-Ironman focused Mentor Group --CLOSED (Page 35)

Welcome James.  I would agree with this.  I always keep my goals in focus and know that I need to do the work.  At a minimum, I try to get the warmup done and then evaluate how I feel.  Usually after a warmup I am fine.  If not, bag it then.

go look at mine, you will feel better...LOL!!!!

Solid trainer session in the books plus strength and core.

Trying to decide if I want to add an additional short run this evening or just hold off for a short run tomorrow. Legs have been doing a lot of hard work the last 4 days...a bit of soreness, but nothing major.

Very nice! I want your job.

Fred, i just read through that thread about cycling efficiency and pedaling technique, I am truly impressed by some of the posts, and information that is given by some VERY good athletes and coaches, to the point where i see no value in adding anything to that thread.

That being said, if i want to go faster, i push harder and try to maintain cadence or even increase it a bit to achieve the desired effect, it is not rocket science no matter how much Garmin or Tom or Tri Sports tries to tell you so. FWIW, i have never trained with a power meter, i have on occasion borrowed one or have been hooked up to one, but it was usually for me to see if my training was working and/or if i was making progress. I learned how to pedal from riding...a lot...with faster guys and learning how to manage the "uncomfortable" feeling you get when you ride harder/faster/longer.

Thanks!

You describe somewhat my approach to workouts when I am in very heavy IM training mode.  You know those times when fatigue start to really set in but you know you have to do the training.  This kind of plays into something I was thinking about on my trainer this am. 

It’s a term that I do not believe in called “Junk Miles”.  My thinking is when you are super fatigued and you start your training, warm up and it’s still not happening.  I may throttle back the intensity but still push forward and get the mileage done.  So even it’s not as planed and maybe be easier, the overall goal is still done.  At the same time the overall effort is still the same relative to the fatigue.  I believe every mile matters.

I agree that this is true for the vast majority of athletes - like 99.9%. 

It's only difficult when you no longer want your toes to be locked in and your leaning to one side.    I admit, I want power.  I am just not sure why I want power.  I like numbers I guess.  But, I am so at a point that power isn't what I need, I need to just bike.  And then when I am done biking bike some more.  I can see improvements in my speed, I don't need power for that.  Maybe at some point the power readings are the motivation I need but I am not there yet.  But if I win the lotto, I am getting power...

This might be a bit of a post barrage as I just haven't found time to read the thread for almost a week!

First sprint of the year (400m pool swim) - Under 1:15 (if the stars align I think I can just miss out on breaking 1:12)

Oly - I'll be happy with breaking 3hrs for this (managed 3:01:06 last year!) but think I could get as low as 2:48.

HIM - Like Adam said I'll be happy to just finish it as it's our first one, though being the type of person I am I still have a target of under 6:30 (though this may change closer to the time)

Last sprint of the year (414m pool swim, 12mi bike, 4.5km run) - 1:10 or under!

Yeah, I like consistency, it keeps me focused . The good thing is that because most of my p.m. workouts are only 25min runs, I can still do stuff afterwards if I like. And, maybe once the weather improves, I'll cycle to work (somewhere around 12miles away).

Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with the thread a bit better and won't have to do a monster post, but that looks a little unlikely this week .

The early morning trainer ride is done and in the books.  The legs suffered a bit this morning...they have been working hard the last few sessions.  The last two workouts....swim last night and bike this morning...I have tried to push the intensity a bit. 

I have had issues with cramping...mainly the calves...since I started triathlons 3 years ago.  The cramping has been an issue in both training and races (mostly HIM).  Also, the cramping starts in the swim and then I am just battling them the rest of the day.  I read a thread about cramping and it suggested the intensity of the training does not match the intensity of the race and that could be why cramping is an issue.

My questions is...how do I increase intensity in workouts (so it matches race) and avoid cramping during the training?  I have tried several things...different stretches, increase salt intake, eat more bananas, drink more water and gatorade....but I am still having trouble.  Does any one have suggestions on a good way to approach the problem so it will not continue to be a problem?

I would love to have a HIM in April without having to deal with cramps. 

I have to admit that my general daily hydration is not as good as it use to be.  Last year I paid attention to how much water I was drinking but this year for some reason I have kind of let that go.  I am trying to do better in that area.

?   Is this painful? 

AM run for me today and then a PM swim. 

GAD for me as well.  Just like Christmas....

Some crazy, no hope in hell of getting it all in, swim this morning and a tempo ride later in the day.  Hopefully outside but I haven't checked my meeting schedule yet. 

Hey Thomas,

Thank you for all the kind posts. 

What tri club are you with inLancaster?  I started one in theHarrisburgarea a few years ago but it lost momentum.  I was super busy and had a dog club as well.  It’s a lot of work starting up a club and keeping it together.

Anyway I am on a club break for a while but I see a rather new club in the area Endurance Multisport.  Do you know anything about this group?