Disturbed275's Mentor Group - CLOSED! (Page 36)

It is interesting how popular aquabike are getting even if it is for training or for people testing longer distances without the run to worry about.  I think they are great (I have both back and knee problems) and it you can totally push yourself and not worry as much about it.

I do have to admit though, this having been my first long race, it was a bit of come to Jesus . . . I felt good in the shorter races, placed really well, then you get to longer races and you aren't nearly as good as you thought you were.  It seems that shorter races seem to be the bread and butter for the beginners (and a few experienced), but the hard core triathletes do the longer races and they are far more prepared.

Thats OK, I still had fun

It is interesting how popular aquabike are getting even if it is for training or for people testing longer distances without the run to worry about.  I think they are great (I have both back and knee problems) and it you can totally push yourself and not worry as much about it.

I do have to admit though, this having been my first long race, it was a bit of come to Jesus . . . I felt good in the shorter races, placed really well, then you get to longer races and you aren't nearly as good as you thought you were.  It seems that shorter races seem to be the bread and butter for the beginners (and a few experienced), but the hard core triathletes do the longer races and they are far more prepared.

Thats OK, I still had fun

I think the one I am doing (Redman) has an actual finish line for the aqua bike.  So, I guess I'll have to decide if I want to run barefoot off the bike to the finish and then go back, put my shoes on and do my brick; or if I want to take the time after the bike to put the shoes on, run to the finish an just keep going for my brick.   

Glad you had fun and, yes, those longer races are definitely a learning experience the first time around.  I remember being extremely humbled by first HIM when I had to walk quite a bit of the run course.

I think for me that is the allure of long course racing.  It's not just all out speed.  It's endurance mixed with pacing and nutritional strategy and doing it all right is very hard to do the first few times around.

Multiple race reports from this weekend.  They are here and here

Awesome job Carrie! 

Wow, Neal... Sounds like a crazy weekend!

Sorry I've been scarce this week... I'm tapering for my HIM, so I'm trying to keep my mind off tri training otherwise I might get too anxious and try to do too much this week.  I figure with 4 days to go, I can't really do much besides rest!  It makes me wonder, though... What did I do in my free time before I got into tris??  Haha, I feel like I'm trying to figure out things to fill up my time instead of training!

I've been thinking of what to do after my race (beside train for my marathon, lol).  I think I want to aim for a century ride in the fall and/or an open water swim race.  There's the Big Shoulders 5k that I'm looking at, and if I train enough, I think I can do it without a wetsuit.  And if I chicken out, I can drop down to the 2.5k race.

Yup, with only 4 days to go the only thing you can do is hurt yourself by trying to do too much.  Might as well rest up.  Me, I tend to clean a lot when I taper since that seems to get the most neglected during the long training weeks.

Both the 5k swim and century ride seem like excellent late season options

Ha!  My house is now the cleanest it's been in months!  And my commuter bike got a thorough cleaning as well (and whaddya know, it rides much better now )  I almost went the whole nine yards and googled how to take the chain off to clean it, but then thought better of it since my bike mechanic skills are non-exisistent.

I've also been to a bunch of nice restaurants recently as well.  I'll chalk that up to carbo-loading, though really it's because now that I have free time, I can have dinner with friends again!

I clean a lot when tapering too.....must be a place to put nervous energy like nesting when I was anticiapting to deliver my kids?

Time for the weekend roundup.  Missy has her HIM.  Is there anyone else racing?  Any other exciting plans?

Unfortunately I got sucked into helping my brother move tomorrow.  Other than that just a typical training weekend for me.

I've got a century ride on Sunday that should mimic the IMFL course fairly well (in other words - FLAT).  Not sure how hot it will get, but hoping this will be a good training ride as far as pacing and nutrition.  

Long run, long ride....race volunteering Sunday....swimming....the usual   Taper starts for the Oly I have next week though

Long run and a swim this weekend.  Going to be a hot one!

Good luck Missy!

I'm fighting a lack of mojo these days.  I think it's a combination of issues.....fear of pushing too hard after how sick I was. Dealing with the heat and humidity that have engulphed the area.....I have no energy to go hard and find myself opting for the trainer & tready for comfort and "safety".  Any suggestions?

I understand the challenge with the heat here in Va.  Did the Rocket's swim and 55 bike ride today finishing after 1:00 pm and it was tough even though the ride is pretty flat.  I'm coming back from my achilles injury that had me sidelined for two weeks, but getting out there feels pretty good.  I've really loss some fitness and gained some weight so the speed just isn't there but feels like I'm starting back again. 

Maybe go for a slower ride early so the heats not too bad, and pace is doable.  I think that will help build your confidence.  Even split the ride and finish off on the trainer.  

I'll be working at the RTC tri tomorrow.  Maybe I'll see  you there.

Edited by Jacklcm 2010-07-17 7:36 PM

I will be manning chip hand out and removal!
The rides aren't usually an issue for me...though tonight I had no mojo for it.  The running is killing me.  Seriously over 2 minutes/mile slower than usual in this sufferfest.  Swimming has never been my strong suit and the few gains I made in May when I was working with the new coach are lost in terms of speed. 

I think it's a fear of pushing so hard I'll have too hard a time breathing again.

Hi everyone.  Sounds like a hot weekend all around!

Question:  What kind of time should I expect for my body to rebound from my half race last week. Seems like my swim yesterday was like I was a beginner swimmer.  Body just wasn't interested.  Anything you guys do to try and speed things up or lessen the impact?  I have another an olympic aquabike in 3 weeks and another half first week of September.  Just want to be ready and feel good.

Just trained in this awful heat, thinking of signing up for a sprint in Culpepper Va. the 1st of August just for fun and that will give me 5 races in the va tri series.

So I did my race yesterday and came back today... Then immediately went for a recovery run & beer

Wow, I think that was the hardest thing I've ever done!  I've heard people say that marathons are harder than HIM's, but I'm a much better runner than cyclist so I thought this was harder!  But I hit all my expected time goals (they weren't really goals... just estimations of how I thought I'd do based on training) and coincidentally I got almost the exact same time for my half marathon split as I did for my first half marathon race last September!  So that definitely means I'm a stronger runner since I'm the same speed as before even after the swim and bike. 

I'll take the time to post a more detailed report sometime this week.

Up for this week & after: lots of recovery swimming and yoga.  I'll resume marathon training this weekend.  I'm thinking of doing an Oly August 8 just for the heck of it, then focus on a 5k open water swim race Sept 11.  I also wanted to do a fall century ride, but the 2 main ones I was looking at are on Sept 12 and Sept 26.  Neither of those days really work out... Sept 12 is the day after my swim race; it's also the day of IMOO, and I wanted to go up to Madison that weekend to cheer people on and volunteer (Neal if I go, I'll make you a sign!)  Sept 26 is 2 weeks before my marathon, so doesn't sound like a good time to do my first century.  We'll see if I can find one to do in August or October, otherwise I may have to wait until the spring!

In your case I don't think I would put safety in quotes.  Your coming back from that nasty respiratory stuff exercising outside right now probably isn't the best option.  Hit the trainer and tready and if some more enjoyable weather comes along head out then.

As far as finding mojo goes, that usually comes unexpectedly for me.  I'll go through points in the season where I am despising one (or more) of the sports.  Biking in the early spring when I'm sick of the trainer and rides out in the cold are no fun.  Running right now when I overheat in a mile and suffer the rest of the way.  Swimming coincidentally right now too since I've put in a lot of volume since last fall without much of a break.  For me, it help to have the IM to look forward to and know I need to get the workouts in.  Usually I will skip (the swim today) or scale back the sport that's irritating me at the moment and after a couple of suffering through lackluster workouts something clicks and I remember why I like the sport again and I get past my funk

For recovery, I usually do yoga, go for a massage (with a therapist as well as self massages w/foam rollers & the stick), and (if you have access) a steam room/sauna/whirlpool.  I find all those things help me rejuvenate and recover. 

Everyone's recovery time is different.  It's good that you could tell that your body wasn't quite ready yet.  Scale back some workouts, rest a little more.  Just don't rush back into things (I've made that mistake and gotten injured).  Next workout, assess where your body is at and adjust accordingly.