QuincyF and Oriolepwr's Magical Mys-tri Tour for Newbies Has Begun (CLOSED) (Page 39)

Relentless Forward Progress.  I guess I should tell DH that I've stolen his group's tag line. 

Big old GOOD LUCK on your race tomorrow Yvonne!!! Go get'em but most importantly, have fun!

Can't wait for the race report. Oh, and don't pin your race # on in transition

X2!!!  good luck Yvonne!  you will have a blast!  

X2 on the race report! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

When you get a chance, come back and let us know how you're doing. It's ok to swing by once in a while.

Kent,

I learned how to do swim workouts by following Ruth Kazez's 0-mile program about 2 years ago. I had nothing to work towards so I just picked something and did them for a few weeks. It was helpful because she gives you different workouts to get an idea of how swimmers structure their training and also gives useful guides like, take 12 breaths inbetween sets (instead of swim 5x100 on 2:00...I mean, what does that mean to a non-swimmer at first).

Here are some sample workouts from her website but I highly recommend everyone still trying to figure out how to structure swimming to take a good look all around her site...lots of great info on there...

Let us know how you like that...maybe it will spur someone else to check it out if you have luck with it. I am trying to get my husband to switch over to her workouts for a while. He did Total Immersion and can drill like nobody's business, but he still doesn't really know how to do a swim workout. He can get away with it because he's a beast on the bike, but he'd really benefit from this. I certainly did. Good luck...

Q

My opinion is that you can get away with no butterfly.    The other strokes you ought to practice.   

Breast stroke-  When in open water sighting is a big deal.   Cant always see that well in the middle of the fray.  Ok wait a sec.I mean I'm in the back third of the fray....  lol     

  There are no lines at the bottom of Lake Michigan to swim straight.   Plus the wave action can kind of make you lose your senses a bit.    I use the breast stroke to catch my bearings, look around a bit, then back to free.   So do you have to practice this?  Yes Breaststroke is a biggie.   

  Back stroke-   Just hammering away freestyle can lead to over use injuries.  Working back stroke into things can give the muscles you use in free  a break  plus improve some of the other muscles that help support swimming freestyle.  I think it helps to keep away the injury bug.     So do you have to practice this?  perhaps not, but I think you should!

Butterfly-  I can't do it!!!!!!   I totally cannot do this.   Not coordinated enough or whatever.  It also seems super inefficient to me.  But i do believe in it as being something that would improve a persons swim ability pretty quickly.     So do you NEED to butterfly?  I don't think so.   (nice to do)

I've seen it at the Chicago Tri...I've also seen a guy scaling a wall...seriously the things people do to avoid swimming, hahaha...

I agree with Dave's take on this...that being said, I don't do anything but freestyle right now. Well right now, I just talk about freestyle.

Anyhoo, the thought is the better your feel for the water, the more adaptable you are and the more things you learn about swimming, the better you will be. I believe this, but I also respect the limitations of my time and don't worry too much about the extra.

I guess my point is, don't let this make you crazy. Get your workouts in. If you feel great when you're done with your sets, noodle around a bit. Try butterfly, do a 100 of backstroke (I hate backstroke, but I should probably do it more), warm up and cool down with breast stroke, whatevs. 

Glad you liked the website. It is an amazing resource.

Q

"Whatevs"...I love that...b/c that's what is in my head.  WHATEVER gets me through the swim.  I hate it so much that I don't care...just want to get through the swim part of a race without freaking out.  I have 2 Tris targeted...an easy one at my gym in June and then a more challenging Sprint in Indy in Aug.  Really...I NEED to get to training on the swim, but my head needs trained more than anything else. '

The run?  Seriously...couldn't be easier.  The bike?  Got it handled.  The swim?  Hate it hate it hate it hate it hate it hate it hate it.  RiDONKulous.  Got to get back in the pool soon!!

I think this is smart...such a simple thing to avoid burnout. 

2 outta 3 ain't bad.

Seriously though, how can we help you not hate the swim so much? How are your swim workouts structured? Do you need a new bathing suit or goggles? Sometimes a new piece of gear gets me motivated again.

Well, first tri of the season is done done done! I've had a really stressful couple of days with work issues and I DID NOT have the mindset for this race.  I had some major anxiety a couple of hours before my start time and had a REALLY hard time getting it under control...it's a good thing I had travelled to the race with my family or I probably would have bailed all together.  So I think I definitely could have done better, especially on the run.  I now know that I will not register as a master novice again because I didn't realize that meant I had to wait around to start.  The race started at 8 am and I didn't start until 11:28.

Here's the race report

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=429696 

Think I'm going to sneak in an even shorter sprint on March 25th to make up for this one

Congrats!  Awesome job!!  I bet it feels good to have one under your belt.  I hope it builds your confidence.  IT SHOULD!

I have to admit...a little red-faced...that I may have had a few cocktails Friday night when I posted and may have been a little dramatic.  I've been known to drink and post on other social media outlets. 

That said...it's a situation that I've let myself get intimidated by my own thoughts.  I know that phnyscially I've got no problem.  My stroke's not great, my breathing's not great, but I'm more than capable of swimming the distance required in a sprint tri.  I just have this mental block about it b/c of the panic attacks I've had during races before.  I think I said this before...I have to decide to get past it.  My initial plan was to have my first race on June 9.  But honestly, I think I need to find something sooner so I can prove to myself I can get over the hump.  And Yvonne's post and race report today are inspiring me.  So, I think I'm going to look for a small indoor swim Tri in my area in the next couple months.  Just get out there a do it.

It's a gorgeous day here in Indy and we're supposed to have a warm week.  Hope you guys are enjoying a taste of spring too!

Jacki

Good for you!!  I promise it will be a little easier next time.  Keep leaving your glasses case at home!

Not bailing is pretty big victory!  Congrats on Tri #1  

Ugh yes its hard to wait before your wave starts.     Work is a 4 letter word ya know?   at least we can take it out on the course.   I was hoping pot hear that despite all of the struggle and all that you were really happy.   Can always do better.   If that becomes the criteria for feeling proud of yourself, then it will never happen.   Even when you improve, there will always be something you did not do quite right in training.  Or that Beer(s) you had to have.  Or whatevs. (heh)

BUT you did do it!   So I'm proud of you!        Next time you should be able to be less stressed  which will help.  Your heart wills till be pounding,  but your brain will say "been here before, stay controlled" 

I like that you right away are planning on another.   

LOL  that's great Peter!   Glad you didnt take a header down the stairs.    Maybe next time!  

Jacki- 

That is a good plan.  do an indoor tri   they are fun, and yes it will help you get over the mental block.  So which one are you going to do??

weather today was AWESOME!  here in Chicago-land.   But  no training for me today  BOOoooo  

Its our fearless leader's Birthday today!     Happy Birthday Q!    Hope you are having a great day.

Got together with Q and her family last night and met some other friends of theirs for a yummo dinner/drinks last night.   There is something about getting together with a bunch of other Triathletes/cyclists  etc  that really gets me motivated.    Lots of talk about new bikes, courses, race thoughts, etc.    Cannot wait for my first race of the year!