Madcow's mentor group -CLOSED! (Page 4)

Great job everybody. You are all knocking out these workouts despite illnesses and snow. Life will get in the way every once in a while, but triathlon training is the sum of all of your workouts, not just one or two. Don't get too down after a missed or bad workout and don't get too high after a great workout. There will be lots of ups and downs along the way to your races this season.

Keep at it guys!

I was able to sneak in a bike workout while the family was at soccer tonight. I finished just as they were walking in the door.

Also, I want to have a weekly challenge for you guys. It keeps you motivated and holds you accountable. It can be anything you like (food/ diet, swim, bike run, total hours, etc). The purpose isn't to get you to do more than you want or pressure you into do a workout, but it's a good friendly way to set some goals and try to achieve them.

I have a few challenges we can do, but I would like your suggestions as to some we can try over the next few months.

Just got home from my 45 minute swim.  Also did a interval run.  I glad I did it and I ate well today.  Today was a good day.  I feel beat  and should sleep well.  

I know living in California you take things for granted.  I know the snow and cold weather sucks.  My folks and family is from North Dakota.  I have spent some winters there and know exactly how it feels.  Hang in there.

 

Good morning.

I lifted this morning nad have a run at lunch today.

I hope the weather cooperates for all of you today.

For those of you who are doing Half Ironmans and Ironmans this season, have you thought about your nutrition plans?

No matter what you decide to use for training and racing, I woould still find out what they are handing out on the course and train with that as well. You never know what will happen on race day and you can use their stuff as a back up.

My first IM, I trained with GU because that is what they were handing out. I practiced with all of the flavors I liked. During the race, I was so slow that the only flavors left were orange and coffee (the two flavors I hated). I skipped a few aide stations because of the GU, but ended up having to take them because I needed the calories. I had to choke them down and wished I had practiced with those flavors.

Anyway something to think about on a Thursday

Coffee flavored GU? That sounds horrible.  Who thought that was a good idea?

I ran 3.5 miles this AM and swam 600M at lunch.  All you fast swimmers make me sick.    I couldn't go any farther than that because my gassy belly would not permit it.  I'm amazed how bloated I get swimming.  I have to find a way to fix it.  I took some GAS-X before swimming today, but it didn't help. 

Coach said I may want to get a freestyle snorkle so I can at least get laps in and not worry about breathing.  That may help me feel at ease in the water.   I'll give it some thought. 

This was my first swim in 3 weeks.  I had lost all the progress I was making.  My breathing and technique were attrocious.  I swam 50M and felt like I was riding a bike for the first time; nothing felt good.  I told my coach it was like starting over.  He watched me swim my next 50M and said, yep, that sucked.  LOL!!!  Of course, it got better as I went, but talk about a fish out of water... 

Madcow, I'm OK with any sort of challenge you can muster up for us.  Swimming will be the hardest because of availability, I would think.  I can only swim twice a week and am having a problem with that!! 

Regarding your nutrition question, I'm not doing any IMs this season and I rarely consider nutrition for training.  I pretty much try to eat 'clean' during the week and let things take care of themselves.   I do drink chocolate milk after a long run.  I might make an arguement to my wife that I'm 'carbing up' on Friday nights when I ritually down a 6-pack of good suds!!  

I had a 4 mile run at lunch today. I have lost lots of fitness over the last few months and was a bit scared to run more than 3 miles. My coworker ran 4 yesterday, so I decided to match her run, so I did. On one hand it was frustrating being out of shape and tired after 3 miles, but on the other hand I was happy I finally broke the 4 mile mark. My legs are tired and I think I may be in need of a break.

My daughter has a soccer tournament in Irvine this weekend, so I am sure I won't get much done then, so that will be good, I think.

Hey Guys,

Yesterday I had the day off but went in and worked some overtime then went and saw Avatar. Good movie, but it was 3 hours, so that left no time to get in a workout before it was time to get the kids and go to soccer.

I think I did need the day off from working out. I feel better today. I am going to try to get in 30 minutes on the bike before the family wakes up and leaves for a soccer tourney.

OK next week (Monday through Sunday) will be the water challenge (Thanks Kip):
You need to drink at least 2 liters of water everyday (Including the weekend). You need to post each day whether or not you made your goal. I think this challenge will be a friendly one, but the next one will have possibly a reward if you succeed or a punishment if you fail.

Good luck and have a great weekend everybody!

I have been trying to think about what I think about when I run and I have come to the conclusion that I don't think about anything. Like swimming, I use that time to daydream. I know I should be thinking about pace or HR or footstrikes or whatever, but usually I think about food or work or tv. Sometimes I think about what I am going to post in my workout log. Most of the time I forget by the time I actually get around to logging my workout

I bring my Ipod but really I don't listen to the music, it is just background noise to me. When I know I should be pushing the pace, instead of stressing over Hr, I will listen to my breathing and try to coordinate it with my foot strikes and make some rythms out if. It keeps my tempo up and consistant and keeps me from thinking about how much it sucks to be pushing my run.

Try that, see if you make a song from the sounds you make while rnning, who knows it might work

Scott, I am not an off road person. I wish you luck in all of those races. They look low key (except Devilman) and fun