Heather's Women Only Group - FULL (Page 4)

This week seemed particular harsh to me... I am so totally sick of winter I could scream. I bought running tights, so I could go outside and do my workouts, but then the temps dropped below zero and the paths all iced up. sigh.

I guess it's normal to have those weeks where you just wonder why you started the whole process... I know I'll come back around, but for right now I just feel low.

Does anyone else get that wave? If so, do you have strategies for overcoming it - or do you just have to ride it out?

Mary

Jacyln - i'm so sorry. What a bummer. I hope it is starting to feel better...

Mary

Thanks Nickih. I decided this morning that I was just going to go back to the gym and run on the track, and I have to say - that it felt great. I've not been running lately - I have been trying to incorporate all three elements into my weekly workout, and since I'm not in town on the weekends where there is a track, i've been snowshoeing instead of running and it just doesn't carry the same response.

So now, I think for the time being, I will try to stay more focused on the running and let the biking and swimming come along as it can. My tri isn't until August, so I should have time to get ready for those parts when the weather is better and I can run outside on the weekends.

Mary

Heather - thanks for the idea - I just emailed a friend of mine that is also doing the couch to 5K running program and she's game to try and hook up.

Plus I went skiing yesterday - which while not bike, swim or run, - was exercise and it was FUN! So I'm feeling a bit more motivated. I am coming to the end of the c25K program I started. What would you do then? I think I might like to hear about some of your training ideas Heather. Thanks.

Mary

well the last two weeks have been a roller coaster. I have a tri on sunday, (that I have not trained much for, I also got shin splints and a knoted up calf and arch, though getting better) and in three weeks I start the travel thing with the military. so it looks like I will be doing alot, and I mean alot of 5k races this summer and fall.

so how is everyone else doing?

nickih- try the stair climber. I'm not a big runner but I have found that it helps me allot more than running dose.

as for my tri today. it was another indoor 15min per event. so unofficial distances. (will have final results tomorrow)

swim-800 yds

bike-7.15 mil

run-1.5 mil

Megan - you are a rock star! How many triathlons are you doing?

M

Hey Nickih - You know I did follow that C25k program - you can get these mp3 thingys that tell you when to run and when to walk, until it takes you to running continuously for about 30 minutes. Not being any kind of runner in the past - I was sort of amazed that I did it. I ran on a treadmill for the most part - which turned out to be sort of good for me because it's too icey to run outside, and anyway I would get freaked out by dogs or cars, or lights or trip on the sidewalk. It just allowed me to focus on the run - and the mp3 stuff just made the time go pretty fast. Although, the one thing they say in the forums I lurked at was that you need to run really slooooowwww. And that the goal was to do the distance not to do it quickly. Since i had no other option than to run slow (it's embarrassing really to watch me run), that worked out OK for me.

It may not work for you - especially if you are already running now. I thought it was a pretty great way to get from never running to jogging continuously. 

Good luck!

m

Say Heather - I have a question for you. I started a c25K program in December and am now running about 28-30 minutes a session, 3 X a week. I was trying to come up with a new training plan for my tris (first one is 6/25 with a 2 mile run). Working with the custom training planner - 2X bike 2X swim, 3X run (since running is my most unknown).

All the programs I came up with have a total of 30 min per week at the beginning and I'm wondering if I'm better off just scaling back to that or ramping up the training to start with a higher number of minutes.

What do you think?

Mary

Heather - as a total newbie, I'm still trying to get up to distance. Most of the things I've read at BT seem to indicate that at this stage, I should be focusing more on just doing the distance?

Do you think that's not so much the case? I was just thinking that I might be able to start a training program with a bit higher run count, but I did my first run/swim day and really feel it. Most of the times I've been tracking have included the warm up and cool down - but I'm going to change that to just the actual running/ swimming/ bike excluding that. My times should improve but my distances will drop.

I signed up for another tri- it's a beginning tri and they have a mentor go with you thru the whole course. I'm pretty excited about it - a bit shorter distance than a standard sprint, but I think I will be ready - it's in June! And all the snow is melting in Minnesota! YAHOO!

mary

Hey NickiH - how's the running going this week?

Mary

Heather - I ran the recommended start mileage on the treadmill today and realized that all this time i've been "training" on the C25k run program, I was doing about 20 miles an hour. YIKES. When I tried to make the 10 min mile pace that the program suggested, i was like WOW. Yes, that was about all I could do at that rate... but I could do it. And I was checking my wind - to make sure I wasn't losing it and after it was all said and done - i feel GREAT.

So I think I get your point now... by focusing on both the pace and the distance I will be getting a more interesting workout AND not be losing anything by doing a shorter distance. I guess the rest of the world would know this- just goes to show you how much you can NOT know.

thanks for the insight!

Mary

Yeah! Good for you! It sure seems like training with kids must be super challenging. Spring is definitely on the way.