Artemis's Mentor Group - FULL! (Page 4)

I'm having a really stupid idea right now.  I lost a lot of training time for my upcoming marathon due to an injury so I decided I need to back it down to a half.  My mind is trying to convince me that I can still do the full marathon even though the most I've ever ran at one time, in my life, has been 13.1 miles.  I do not run fast at all, normally averaging around 11:00 to 12:00 minutes per mile.  I need voices of reason to tell me this is a really bad idea, and it needs to be really bad because I already think it's bad but I think I should try it anyway.

As someone who got very hurt during her marathon last fall from undertraining, I can tell you that you don't want to do it if you are feeling undertrained!

I didn't train enough and decided to do it anyway.  Somewhere during the marathon, I tore my lateral meniscus and ended up with severe ITB problems.  I had to do a ton of physical therapy and healing and was out of running for about four months.

So, I would encourage you to drop down to the half and try to find a marathon in the fall.  There are lots of really nice ones throughout the south in the fall and winter.  I'd hate to see you get injured during yours.

Thanks for the link!

I think your head is in the right place. Just do the half and get that under your belt while working your mileage up to what is required to do a full. I have not run a marathon but I can tell you that I have plenty of friends who have and there is NO WAY they would ever attempt running a marathon if they knew they had not put the miles in ahead of time. What is that saying?? "Better safe than sorry". Besides, nothing wrong with completing a half and you still get to participate!

I attended a clinic with Sara McLarty (Olympic triathlete) and she said 'The less you take to transition, the less you have to worry about'. I fold a towel in half and place my shoes and socks, my number belt (not required) and my running hat on it. I place my bike helmet (straps down) and shades facing up on my handlebars so they are ready to go. My water bottles are already in my bike cages and I don't have to worry about clipless pedals (b/c I am a chicken and use toe cages). Make sure your bike is in the easiest gear!! Some people have tubs of water, extra bottles or even ipods but I am so rushed to get out of transition that I don't have time for that.

Look at this video from BT: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=...

Also, practice transitioning at home in your front yard or garage. It helps you get used to the flow of what you will do on race day so you don't forget the simple stuff like grabbing your bike helmet or your race number belt!

So a question about biking outside...how long until it gets easier.   Right now I know I don't have enough miles in yet, but I would think riding the same route several times that it would start to get a bit easier.  Today's ride seemed just as brutal as my previous rides.  So I guess my real question is how long does it take to get comfortable on rides.  Also any suggestions on how to determine which gears to be using.  I feel like I am always wanting to mash the biggest gear I can, which might be a big part of my problem.

Plus, remember that iPods are illegal in triathlons according to the USAT rules! 

I've used extra bottles of plain water in transition - it's nice to have in the transition area to wash off your feet if the run from the swim is dirty or long.

In general, I've heard that a cadence of 90 - 100 rpm is the best for triathlons.  Personally, I tend to be around 80.  I like having a slightly bigger gear and mashing it more than spinning.  If you are feeling really tired, definitely try it out in an easier gear and see how that goes.  It can take quite awhile for your legs to get used to it.  I think it was several months before I was really ok with running.

Are you resting enough and eating enough?  That can also make it tough if you're not recovering well before the next one.

I can relate to not feeling like it's getting any better. The short stretches of running, which are getting progressively longer (up to a whopping six minutes now...) make me feel like I'm about 70 years old, I tried one bike ride and it was brutal, and I can't even imagine adding in swimming at this point. I think my first attempt at a tri, if I ever make it, might wind up waiting until 2010. Right now I just can't envision being ready, even for a sprint, before October sets in.

Edited by KrisSeer 2009-04-15 11:33 PM

You'll be ready!  Stick with it.   I know it seems hard now, but if you keep at it, you'll get there.  One day, you'll go out and it will all feel easier and like it's working.

I can't say how long it takes, but it definitely happened to me.  I thought like I was never going to "get" running and it was always going to be hard.  One day, it just clicked.  I still have hard days, but if I get through them anyways, the days where it feels easy are so worthwhile.

I've read and heard the same thing...about 90-100 rpm but I tend to hover around 88-90 just b/c it feels better. As far as riding outside, it really all depends on conditions. If it is a cool, windless day and you slept well and have energy you will probably have a great ride. On the other hand, the slightest wind or not sleeping well can wreak havoc on your ride. Just keep at it and really concentrate on making full rotations with your feet and not just mashing down. If you are using toe cages or clipless pedals you can work on pulling up with the same force that you push down. It took me several months to get used to my rides and even now some days I opt for the trainer if I don't like the outdoor conditions or if there is too much traffic. Just stick with it and get on that bike...the more you ride, the better it will feel!

You may feel like a 70 yr old b/c your heart is not fit...YET. Keep running and you will strengthen your heart and your other muscles and in no time you will be fitter than ever. I despise running and started the same way you did although I'm not fast, I can run 7-8 miles without stopping - something I never dreamed possible. Don't write off racing this year...take it slow and you will be surprised at how it all comes together as long as you stay consistent and get the training in.

I want to be you!!  I am happy to be up to 5 minutes straight of running, 6 minutes sounds great!  I just figure I have come so far from only being able to do 30 seconds in the begining!!  Keep up the great work!!

Yeah!  It's Friday!!

Any plans/goals/exciting things coming up this weekend?

Tomorrow, I am going for a 25 mile bike ride with a friend

Sunday, I'm going to run for 30 minutes.

Also have to do some work to get ready for my qualifying exam on Wednesday, but that's not very fun.

Micah raced in a 5k today!  Hope it went well!!  Tell us all about it. 

Heather has a half-marathon tomorrow.  Good luck, Heather!!!

Would anyone be interested in doing a mentor group "challenge" for May?  Each of us can post goals for swimming, biking, and/or running.  Maybe also a personal goal like "work on flip turns" or "do a brick".  Or even something not tri related at all.  We can check in and hold each other accountable.  Having a winner or loser is less important than just meeting our goals.  I like to have numbers.

Hmmm...maybe we should each reward ourself if we make the goal.  Like, I'd go get an ice cream sundae and not feel guilty about it. 

Anyway, let me know if you're interested and want to do it, or if you think it's a horrible idea.

Last note from me for a little while: I really am sorry I've been a little out of it so far.  I have a qualifying exam for graduate school coming up on Wednesday.  It's a pretty big deal, so I've been really pre-occupied with that. 

Hopefully, it all goes well on Wednesday, I pass, and have more time to do some of the things I should have done (like make a table with links to all of our blogs and stuff).

I really do apologize to all of you.

Sure, I think a challenge will be fun!

Good luck...we are all pulling for you! I am sure you will do great and be sooooo relieved when it is over!

The race went pretty well.  I have a race report I am finishing, just waiting on my official time.  Unofficially I finished at 30min 38 seconds, base on my watch.  I started it on the word go and not when I crossed the start line, so I think I will be a bit faster.  The course I ran was a good course for a first timer, nice and flat with only 1 small hill.   I was hoping for a sub 30 minute run, but I am still happy considering starting in feb, I could run a mile, actually i couldn't run a 1/4 mile.

My wife took a day off work to come and watch with my daughter and it was nice to hang out with them until I need to warm, up and then to have them waiting for me at the end of the race was cool.

 I did learn a few things.  The first was that pacing by heart rate when you can't control you adrenaline release doesn't work.  On the start my heart jumped from 70 bpm to 140 bpm right when the race started, I wasn't moving.  I did a good job controlling my pace, but need a better way of judging distance and pace on events were my heart rate is useless.  I also learned I need to start further up in the pack.  I started 3/4 of the way back because I know I am a slow runner, but then I spent all race dodging people.  actually I liked running people down, but dodging the people who ran .1 of a mile and walked was annoying.  I did have a lot of fun running people down through out the race, especially the people who didn't want to be passed by someone who had a 100 pounds on them.  They tried to stay with me but I ran them into the ground.  I am a slightly competitive so that keep me moving the whole race.

I had a good experience and loved the feeling of crossing that finish line.  I will update if my official time is different from what I have.
 

Congratulations on a great race, Micah.  Having fun should be a big part of it, but beating someone makes it even better.

I have a table in my log (not with a pretty background or anything) that anyone can copy if they want.

Congratulations, Micah!  Well done!!

I usually start my watch when I cross the starting line because I don't care about the amount of time it takes me to get there.  In big races, it can be quite awhile!!  My guess is that your official time is going to be pretty close to 30 minutes, if not under.