The Ghoulie Mentor Group - Full (Page 4)

kali0824 - 2010-04-08 9:05 AM Thanks you guys!  I had no idea it was much easier on the treadmill.  That would have been a rude awakening on race day.  Will have my mom watch the kids while I run in her neighborhood.  No hills, but there is a bridge run every Thursday night I am thinking about joining.  Maybe that will be my hill workout. 
I think the mentor thing will really help.  Thanks for all the answers!

MarlaS - 2010-04-08 10:12 AM Can anyone offer some advice RE wetsuits??

I have my first open water swim - group training - in Annapolis, MD in mid-May, and figure I might need or want a wetsuit by then. I also planned an open water swim clinic/race Memorial Day weekend in Virginia, and have some trainings/tri's through summer, with a swim leg in a half-full in early October.

So, I figure I oughta get a wetsuit....and was looking to rent first, but saw that Xterra allows a try-out in the water to try out a new suit, too, so figure I'd go with that (have a good deal on Xterras). $$ are an issue, so didn't know if I should go for sleeveless or sleeves - idea of the sleeves sounds HOT, and a little claustrophobic, but I'm afraid I'll be too cold in May & in October without them, so don't want to go too cheap.

Would welcome some opinions.....

thanks!

bigr82 - 2010-04-08 10:19 AM Name: Ryan

Story: I've always been into something sporty, stick&ball in school, Racing dirtbikes & wakeboarding from then on.  At 6'8 I always had an excuse for being bigger, didn't try to hide that I was fat, but being taller made my mind think it was ok. First of 09 a work weight loss contest slapped me in the face. Not being able to weigh on the doctors scale(350) made me pretty upset with myself.  Tippin the scales at 370, I knew I needed to do something that could last longer than the contest.  Eating turned better, couch to walk to run was going good.  Some friends thought I should do a 5K since I had been running/loosing weight.  Works out that my step-mother puts one on, so we all did it.  After knocking 3 mins off my best 5k, I was excited and ready to go after that.  A team triathlon was brought up, everyone backed out except me, leaving me to start training by myself.  Now weighing right around 275, I have my first TRI in two weeks. BT has been a huge help, as well as the mentor groups. I also joined one of the first groups of the year,  I was in the same group as MIKE(ransick). 


Family Status: Married, little dog that thinks she's a lion.

Current training:  I have been on the BT 20 week 3X sprint plan since Dec.  For the most part it has went as scheduled but lately seems to be what I can get in, when I can get it in.

This year's races (so far):
Sullivan Il Sprint 4/25
Carlyle IL Sprint 5/23
Decatur IL Sprint(long sprint to me) 7/11
Great Illini Half(oly distance for me)  

MarlaS - 2010-04-08 10:12 AM Can anyone offer some advice RE wetsuits??

I have my first open water swim - group training - in Annapolis, MD in mid-May, and figure I might need or want a wetsuit by then. I also planned an open water swim clinic/race Memorial Day weekend in Virginia, and have some trainings/tri's through summer, with a swim leg in a half-full in early October.

So, I figure I oughta get a wetsuit....and was looking to rent first, but saw that Xterra allows a try-out in the water to try out a new suit, too, so figure I'd go with that (have a good deal on Xterras). $$ are an issue, so didn't know if I should go for sleeveless or sleeves - idea of the sleeves sounds HOT, and a little claustrophobic, but I'm afraid I'll be too cold in May & in October without them, so don't want to go too cheap.

Would welcome some opinions.....

thanks!

ironannekidd - 2010-04-08 10:26 AM

You may want to look at renting before you buy so you can save money and also see how you feel about a full vs a sleeveless. I got one of the Xterra sleeveless over the winter, and will be trying it out for the first time later this month. For me the full seemed like it would be hot, and restrictive. I can deal with my arms being cold as long as my core is warm. It really is a personal preference thing though.

Good luck.

onevette80 - 2010-04-08 10:31 AM Last night I was doing some interval training on my bike.  I just went from a roadie to a P2 and am still not comfortable for long periods of time in the aero position, so I end up not in the aero position for most of my ride....... 
Soooooo, heres my prob.  When Im doing intervals on my trainer and I drop down into aero, without changing cadence or gear, my HR drops by like 20bpm almost instantly!  I'm thinking theres an issue with my HR monitor(nike triax  c10)??? Or that body position in the aero position is significanlty more effecient.  I know that it is but.........?  20 bpm???  thats just crazy!!! 
Any other reasons anyone can think of?

wgraves7582 - 2010-04-08 10:46 AM

Marla - nope it is not logical.  Because once you get something dialed in - a variable changes.  That is what makes it so much fun - keeps you on your toes!!!!

Swimming gets easier so you go further or harder and it becomes hard again!
Running gets easier so you pick you pace up or do trails and it becomes hard again!
Biking gets easier so you pick a lower gear or ramp your cadence up and it becomes harder again!

Fun stuff!

ironannekidd - 2010-04-08 9:44 AM

20 bpm is a huge difference. I'm not sure I'd blame it on the HRM though. You are definitely more efficient in aero. So if nothing else changed other than position I would say it is the position. I know I can crank it out harder in aero than I can when I'm not. I don't fatigued as easily either.

How is it that you aren't comfortable in the aero position? My neck was stiff the first few times, and I have neck problems by the way, but the more you go with it the easier it will become.

abake - 2010-04-08 10:55 AM Morning Ghoulies!
Thanks for the warm welcomes, what a fun and active group. Bill, you can still refer to Ann as Ann(e) and I can just be Anne if that helps.
Not all caught up on the posts yet, and I need to post about my background sometime today. Is there a list somewhere of everyone in this group? 
Anne

All of what Bill said + if you can get outside to run AT ALL it would help you. Running on the road is a lot harder on the body than running on a treadmill. The treadmill is much more forgiving.