Greg Shotts' Mentor Group - Full (Page 4)

February is here!

How did every do for their goals in January? Setbacks? Highlights?

What are your goals for February?

My January was good - I got back into workouts at least 4X per week.  Swimming is back up to over 2000 yards consistently.  I am still getting my "bike butt" back.  Did a 35 miler and was a bit sore at the end of the ride. 

Big setback on running.  I live in Northern California - you know where it never rains and the sun shines every day - at least in the movies.   Reality is that it has been raining most days and foggy cold the others.  So I have been running on treadmill - but have been lucky and been able to do at least my weekly "long" run outdoors - until last week.  I did it on a treadmill - 6 miles (boring).  I also hurt my Achilles tendon.  Wondering if others have experienced injuries on treadmills.  I think I should have occasionally changed the speed and angle or something to break up the repetitive stepping and consistent stride.  Hope to hit the real road on Sunday for a short run. 

Any special tri valentine plans? 

My January was pretty good, but I didn't bike or swim much. I got hit with some sickness - enough to keep me from wanting to swim. Hopefully I'll swim a little more as the weather warms up.  

Congrats on your trainer, Bill. I don't have one, but I know there are DVDs of many Ironman bike routes available. I think it would also be fun to watch the Kona DVDs while biking.

Have a great weekend. Any Superbowl picks? I say Colts 31, Saints 14.

Joann

Regarding bike trainer DVDs... I have the Spinervals Aero Base Builder 5-Pack and I love it! With 5 DVDs to pick from I don't get bored. The workouts increase in set duration from disc 1-4 with disc 5 being a compilation from the 4 DVDs. I pick the DVD depending on how I feel that day... or... I start at disc 1 and gradually work my way through the set in about 2 weeks. I highly recommend this product.

My January was good as it was my first full month of training since my comeback. I've lost about 25 lbs so far so I am well ahead of my planned weight loss schedule. My fitness is returning, I have more energy and I can feel the strength returning to my legs. January was good to me.

My goals in February are to continue with my training. I'll be switching from the Winter Maintenance plan to Olympic training on the 21st even though I haven't decided to register for the Honolulu Oly. I have no doubt that I could do the distance but I still don't feel that I'd be able to "race" it. I feel better just focusing on weight loss and base building. I'm hoping the Oly training plan will help me do both while gradually increasing my distances.

Sadly, I haven't been to the pool once in February. I work graveyards and it is very hard for me to have enough energy/motivation to drive to the pool/ocean when I finish work at 7am. And lately, it has been somehow impossible for me to wake up early enough to hit the pool prior to the lap swim closing at 1:30pm. I've got to do something, make some sacrifice, and get in some swim yardage especially since my swim currently sucks terribly. 

My body is taking a beating from carrying this extra weight around during training. The sooner I take it off the better. My knees are sore, my ankles give me little twinges once in a while and I have an unrelenting PF in my left foot. Strangely my PF doesn't really bother me much when running but I fear that may change as my milage increases.

January training went well for me aside from getting shin splints late in the month.  I should start the running again this week  slowly with less volume of course.  It is a nice feeling to check off a couple of goals.  I did my 12 hr MTB race this past weekend.  Fun stuff!  I've finished the race report and you all can look at my training log if you want.  My relay team placed 2nd in the masters division.  I have another short race this weekend.  It's a local short track series race and the format is a bit different than most of the lager race venues.  They don't have A.G.'s or Ability categories i.e. Cat 1, Cat 2, Cat 3 etc.  They split you up by a qualifying time trials and have you ride in 4 - 5 person heats.

Bill- you asked about spin classes and trainers.  Spin classes:  I've done several and I like them.  I try to work them into my schedule when I can.  The music selection is sometimes distracting to me.   I have pretty eclectic taste so I like almost everything.   Most of the time the music mix is livable.   Musical tastes vary and so one song that may be inspirational to some may  be comedic to others.  One  example is one particular instructor had both William Tell Oveture and Survivor's Eye of the Tiger in the music mix during one session.  Both are great pieces on their own and in different contexts would be good songs but during this particular spin class I ended up giggling when these songs came up.    You simply have to go in with an open mind.  Also, don't cheat.  Make sure you keep you heart rate, cadence and/or wheel resistance  where it should be.   Have fun.  They can be very intense and rewarding sessions.  Trainers: I use them too.  It is not my favorite thing to do but it gets the job done when the weather is not cooperating.  Time can go by surprisingly fast if you listen to or watch something you like.  I like the movie 24hrs solo (Documentary on Chris Etough supremacy on solo 24hr MTB racing).

hey gang,  any input from you all is greatly appreciated.  I've got a couple of ?'s regarding tri suits and corrective eye wear

Tri Suits- What is the advantage with going with a one piece tri suit versus a two piece?  For the typical A.G.er   I’m not seeing it.  Anyone have any input in this? 

Corrective lenses- For those of you who wear them do you race with your contacts or do you wear your glasses / RX sun glasses?  I’m more comfortable with my glasses.  My fear it that should my goggles get ripped on my face while swimming one or both of my contacts will get flushed out of my eyes.  I blinked a contact out of my eye last year during an MTB race and had to finish it with one lens.  That was pretty sucko.