enginerd's geek heaven - FULL (Page 4)

Okay, so we know we burn fat when we are within a good LSD pace, but there is no way I can just do 13+ mile runs on what I have in my body.   If gels mess with us so bad, which makes me think gatorade would do the same, what are we suppose to be feeding ourself during long training and racing situations?  Or do I just have a foggy brain from the 12 mile run today and did not get the message from before?

I'd just add that for me, "Sport Beans" work the best. GU/other gel packs are my second choice. The disadvantage of Sport Beans is the time it takes to consume a pack - much longer than GU.

As for the bike, I met a pro triathlete once and he had energy bars broken into small chunks and "glued" them (not sure how) to the frame of his bike - such that he could eat them while riding... Personally, I have never ridden too long on the bike so, I have no experience here at all to share.

Okay so I need help everyone.  I am a fairly good swimmer.  Even with minimum time in the water and weeks off I can get in the pool and swim 1:45/ 100 yd.  I was really dedicated to my swim workouts at the beginning of my IM training program but in the past month, even more like 6 weeks, I have been slacking off and avoiding the pool.  Even with dedicated swim time, like 3-4 times in the pool, 2:30 plus time in the water a week, I never get faster and swimming thousands of yards has just gotten down right boring for me.  I use to get up at 4:30 to be at the pool by 5:00 so I could get in 45 minutes an hour in the water before I had to be at work for 7.

So I need help, inspiration, a logal reason why I need to be bored at the pool, a kick in the butt, something to get me back into the pool.  Tomorrow is 5 months till Ironman WI.  I know that I will get in the pool sometime in the summer, but I don't know what I am getting myself into and I really need to think the swim is the warm-up of the Ironman day not the thing that will ruin my energy level.  Please please help me.

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for the replies.  Let's see if I can answer some of those questions and better work out what is going on with this.  My swim plan only calls for three days a week.  I try to always do them before work which is either at 5 am or like 1 pm because I work at 7 or 3.  I use to be able to get up in the morning... now I don't want to.  I also don't like having to leave early  to go to the pool after lunch.  That is just a weak excuse.  My workouts are pre-planned according to the training plan.  They are lots of long sets (200's, 400's, 500's).  They also have the speed work, (25's, 50's, 100's at speed).  I have never felt fast swimming the speed days and that feels discouraging.  Except for some kick work and the occassional other swim set, it is mostly free swim.  I am normally okay once I get in the water and get going, but I haven't been able to get myself there.  Last year I did a master's state swim meet in Minnesota and that was great.  But we don't have anything like that in Green Bay.  I just dread the sets and yards in the water with what feels like no progress.  You would think with sticking with the workout for 2 months straight, something would get better, easier.  No such luck.  So now, instead of going to the pool I will go for a run or bike ride, where I am seeing progress as my distances are increasing and my speed to a point.  I just don't know.  I was suppose to go this morning, couldn't get myself up.  I keep hoping it is a funk and I will just get out of it soon which is why I am not pushing myself to go.

Pam, I think I know what you're talking about. My only advice to you is to find some company for the swim sessions. That's how I started. I got an email from a local (Tri) club member who said that she and a couple of friends are meeting twice a week for an early morning swim in a local pool. Ever since, I am swimming on regular basis. This is not to say that it is an easy thing to do, but rather helps get into the water. Prior to that, I was going to the pool once a week at most and never got much out of it. If you can join/form a large enough group of people with interest in swimming, I would imagine that a masters group could be established based on it.

Will finding some swimming company be an issue?

It varies from 5:30 to 8:00 hours a night. I usually go to bed at 11:00pm and wake up early 3 times a week for a masters swimming which starts at 5:30am. On other days I have early morning spin class and a run which start at 6:30am.

On weekends I can afford going later to bed as well as waking up a bit late. Also, on weekends I would usually have my longer runs and noticed that the more I sleep the night before, the better I feel during the run.