Gary's Mentor Group - Re-OPENED for Training (Page 37)

Nice looking bike Dorm.  From what I've read, the seat should be nearly level.  Also, I bungie cord my front wheel to my frame so it doesn't bang around on the bike rack.

Dorm,

Love the bike. I think it's awesome that you built it. One day I'm going to learn more about things like that. Right now I'm still practicing changing flats- lol.

Thanks for the encouragement. You're right it is just nice to see improvement. At least I know the hard work resulted in something.

Shelly

3 things:

1. Saturday, I swam my first under an hour mile.  I've swam a mile before ... but not in less than an hour's time.  Guess you could say this was definitely a 'mile'stone for me - ykuyukyuk.
2. Took the new bike out for a local ride round home.  One of my shorter loops, I only rode 11 miles and the whole while it felt like I was going at a snail's pace.  Got home - downloaded the Garmin and found the pace was 2/10's faster than my previous best time round this loop ... sweet.
3. I've pulled the plug on doing one more race this season.  It's not that I can't - it's that I'd rather focus on my training, my times and other, and look forward to next spring wherein I re-run the same races as this year and much improved times.

 Some comments on the new bike ... I installed a standard crank (53-39) in lieu of a compact (50-34), thinking to pick up some speed on the flats, albeit suffer some on climbs.  It will take some time to get familiar with the new ride, especially the gearing, but overall this SystemSix seems a very stable, solid bike.

Dorm - congrats on the 'mile'stone and new PR on your loop!  Good stuff.

Hey everyone!  I just wanted you all to know that I survived my first marathon.  San Francisco is hilly (duh), 26.2 miles is far (duh), but overall I had a great time.  I ran a 4:19.  I was hoping to break 4 hours but all of my friends were at least 20 minutes off their goal times because of all of the hills.  I feel pretty good about it.  The race was great until about mile 20 and then I was too nauseous to take in any nutrition and the last three miles SUCKED but I knew that they would so I just concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other and not stopping.  It was a gorgeous course and the people were great.  I'd recommend Nike Women's Marathon but probably not as a first marathon. 

Elizabeth

Liz ... woot - woot on finishing your first.  So avg time was ~9 minutes and change?  I'd love to have that pace for my next event. 

Way to HTFU on the last 3-4 miles too

Elizabeth, congrats and great job!!!  Tough course and you did fantastic!

Hey all!

Austin is this Sunday, looking forward to it.  Latest news is that it could be wetsuit legal and the run was changed (due to the drought) and it will be a triple loop run on cement.  That means the hills are gone (good news), a lot more running on cement (bad news).  My goal of sub 6:15 is now possible but the late hits to my training may have killed that hope.  Either way it will be fun.

So, what is everyones winter plans?

Elizabeth,

Congrats on the marathon. I can't even fathom running that many miles, much less at that pace. Great job!

Shelly

Good Luck Sunday, Gary. I can't wait to read the race report.

I don't really have any winter plans yet. I'm still in my post tri slump- did this after first one too. It just takes me a couple of weeks to get motivated again. I've just been going to my regular workout classes and riding my bike. I have been going to spin classes and am really enjoying that. I need to start figuring out my races for next year. That's on my to do list for this month.

Hope everyone is training well,

Shelly

Gary, have a good race this weekend.  Hang tough and finish strong. 

Good luck this weekend, Gary.

I'm going to spend the next couple of months working on core strength and flexibility with a little cycling and running thrown in.  Then, starting in January, I"m going to start focusing on cycling - maybe Jorge's cycling plan - for a couple of months, and then I'll start ramping up for the Boise 70.3 in February. 

Awesome job Elizabeth!  Congrats, that is quite an accomplishment!

Way to GOOOO Liz!!

On plans across the winter … I'd mentioned earlier, I’m done with racing this year.  I will be a spectator at the Beach to Battleship IM in a couple of weeks, but as to the winter and next year's plans, these include:

• The trainer via Jorge's cycling plan AND mountain biking ... mtb'ing is great interval training
• SWIM, SWIM and SWIM ... spend 2 days a week in the lap pool
• RUN ... this is by far my weakest sport and I will definitely work on this across the winter.

2012 goals include:

• Repeat some events from this year, with much improved results - especially the run
• Sign up for increased distance events, including OWS races
• Participate in at least 1 run only event to force the issue with running
• Compete in an Olympic length race towards the end of the 2012 season

Too, I want to say thanks to Gary and the group as a whole for the help, tips, encouragement and such this year.

Glad that you finished.  Looking forward to hearing more about it and any lessons learned. 

Congrats!  Now you can embrace the off season.

Congrats!

Elizabeth,

I missed this post so sorry about that. WAY TO GO!!!!!! That is an awesome accomplishment.

Glad you shared. I am super excited for you. And way impressed ;-)

Shelly

You beat NOLA time so that's awesome! Can't wait to read RR.

I am just impressed by you HIM guys anyway. I can't even imagine swimming or running that far. I could do the bike- at least I think so anyway- lol, but the swim and the run would never be an option for me.

Way to go,

Shelly

I won a fitness challenge at my gym. It was for a new core class and the rules were pretty much that you had to attend as many of the classes as you could. Then you had to write an essay about what you got from the class, or how it changed you, or impacted your work outs etc. It was a five week challenge and I won.

The prize was

500.00 dollars!

They actually offered me the cash or a ten month gym membership which is a little over 1000.00. Depending on the specifics I will most likely take the membership- duh, but either way, dh says the money is mine to spend. I am super excited. I am going to use it to purchase a Garmin 910 and I can't wait. If I take the membership, I will get dh one as well. I feel like a kid at christmas.

Still smiling from early this morning ;-)

Shelly