2014 Rookies - CLOSED (Page 4)

Welcome, Dan!  First, I'd like to say that 30 is not old....I just turned 30 this year as well and I like to think I'm not old

Your training plan (BarryP 6x a week, swimming 2-3x a week, and biking 3-4x a week) is very similar to what I do and have had some good success with it.  I hope it will work out nicely for you as well.  How's your running going?  Sounds like that's the one you have the least experience in....build slowly, keep it easy, and stay healthy!

Donna, getting used to clipless pedals can be a little intimidating and scary at first, but with time, it becomes second nature.  Keep at it!  If you can find an area with minimal / no traffic that is fairly flat (an empty parking lot, a cul-de-sac, a bike path, etc), practice there for a while until it doesn't phase you anymore.  You might well start and stop more than you're actually riding just so you can get used to it.

This is great advice, practice, practice, practice!  

Things that I have found can help are to unclip early and often - by often I mean if you are coming up to somewhere that there is a decent chance you will have to stop then unclip a few seconds early, don't wait until you *have* to.  If you don't have to actually stop then you just clip back in (more practice).  When you are coming up to a stop, make sure you put yourself in an easy gear to get started again before coming to a stop.  There is nothing worse than being on an incline and being in a big gear that is difficult to get going again in and worrying about getting clipped in at the same time.

Welcome Dan.

I don't have any kids, and I'm not sure how those who do find the time to train consistently.  It can be done, but it does take a lot of flexibility and support from your family which it seems you have.  Your trainer will likely be your best friend and worst enemy , and using the BarryP running plan is always a wise move IMO.  The BarryP running plan, or at least the theory behind it is something I also want to discuss within this group.  Running 6x a week is not for everyone, but I think it's important to understand how it could be beneficial and how you can adapt your current running schedule to leverage some of it's principles.

About clipping in...it's just practice.  Think of it like buckling your seat belt.  When you did it for the first time as a kid, you have to look for the belt, reach back, then watch yourself clip it in...sometimes it took a few tries.  Now you can do it without even looking.  Reach back with one hand, pull over, and click it in usually on the first try.  You do it multiple times a day, everyday, and it becomes second nature.

1.  Practice on the trainer if you have one.  Get to the point where you can do it without looking. 
2.  As Arend mentioned, unclip in advance.
3.  When you are at a stop, make sure you are in an appropriate gear.  That first half pedal stroke you take to get moving is key.  You don't want it to be too difficult where you can't push, or too easy where that half stroke doesn't build up enough speed to coast so you can clip in.
4.  EVERYONE FALLS.  I fell over at least 6 times in my first month of clipless pedals.

For anyone interested in the BarryP running plan, attached (or below, however docs are posted here) is a calculator I found somewhere that is helpful.  Enter your current weekly run mileage and it will calculate your short, medium, and long run distances and add 10% each week.  The first chart is what I found, but the second chart I modified so the total weekly mileage number is the sum of the run distances (the first chart wasn't completely accurate because of rounding issues).  

There are three main questions you have to ask yourself when buying a bike.

1.  What type of bike do I want?  Standard road bike, relaxed road bike, tri bike, etc.  I would suggest most people start off with a standard road bike.  It's extremely versitile and even if you buy a tri bike later, you likely can still use your road bike for general training, commuting, etc.  Some people do just fine with only a tri bike, but it is designed for a very specific purpose...going fast in a straight line. 

2.  What is your budget?  Keep in mind that it's not just the bike you need to purchase.  You need a helmet, bike clothing (jersey and shorts), a pump, a few tools, a kit to repair flats, bottle cages, pedals, shoes, etc.  Generally, if you don't have anything right now, I would set aside at least $200 for the accessory stuff.

3.  Do you want to buy new or used.  Buying used can save you a lot of money if you know exactly what you are looking for, including how to fit the bike to your specs.  Shopping new makes it easier to try a wide variety of bikes and different sizes.  Bike shops also usually throw in a basic fitting to adjust your seat height and position, and maybe adjust the height of the bars.  Buying new may also come with the benefit of a discount on any accessories you buy, maybe a free tune up, and a valid warranty. 

Typically, if you're looking for a brand new entry level road bike, I'd look to spend around $1000 on just the bike as a rough ball park.  You can go lower and do just fine, or spend closer to $1500 if you want.  But for $1000, you're typically going to get something of quality that will last a long time.  It's also the type of bike that has good market for resale. 

Feel free to ask questions...I know the process can be a bit indimidating.

Welcome, Lcarslake and Trevor!

Lcarslake (first name?) — registering for your first race is a huge motivator to keep at it. 2014 will be your year! A demanding job can make things more difficult, but there are ways to fit the training in. Are your hours fairly consistent, or do they vary significantly? You mentioned that swimming is not your strength — do you have access to a Master’s program? I find that squeezing a couple sessions early in the morning during the week a great way to make the time for it and improve your swimming.

Trevor — sounds like your background is well-suited for triathlons! I’m excited that you’ve already figured out your race schedule, have been a consistent runner, are swimming with a Master’s program, and used to mountain bike. I think you’re going to have a blast!

A Master's swim program is basically group swimming for adults.  It varies by program -- some coaches will post a workout and then it's up to everyone to do it.  Some programs will have a coach on deck who provides the workout and will give feedback.  I've found swimming with others to be a great way to improve....you're always pushing yourself to catch that person who's just a little bit faster than you!  Plus, if you find one with a coach on deck, they can give you pointers for things you struggle with.

A Master's program, however, is unlikely to give you individual attention.  For someone truly just starting to swim, a few private lessons is probably the way to go.

Compared to competitive swimmers, you would be slow.  Compared to triathletes, you'd be well above average, but pretty far from the first guys and gals out of the water.  Compared to me, at the peak of my swim fitness, we would be about the same.    I suspect with a few months in the water though, you'd pick up some of that "feel" and speed that you likely had before and be closer to "fast." for triathletes.

Lynn, those times are actually quite good -- and given that you're feeling awkward and slow means they're only going to get better with more time in the water!  Middle of pack (MOP) times are probably in the 2:00/100 range.  Swim speeds vary widely (especially in open water) with slower swimmers in the 3:XX/100 range to the fishes (like Arend!) in the 1:1X/100 range.

That's a pretty good general description.  Think of it like a spin class at the gym.  Generally there is an instructor that guides the workout, but you may or may not receive any individual attention.  In general, everyone is just there for a workout.  That doesn't mean you can't learn though.  If there is a coach on deck, sometimes you can just ask them for a few pointers before or after the workout, or ask the people you're swimming with if they notice anything you can work on.

I learned to swim (proper front crawl/freestyle) at masters.  We did have 2 coaches on deck, and one coach was dedicated to the slow guys still learning.  So I was lucky in that sense.

It looks like your logs are public, but you can double check your settings by clicking in the upper right corner that has your username.  Then click under settings, and click on Trainin Log Settings.  Under "Privacy," it shows the options for who can see your training log.

When entering Health data, the comments section is always private.  I don't think you can change that.  If you wanted to enter in general health comments for others to see, you can type it in in the "blog" section of your daily log, or in the notes section of a specific workout..

Hope that helps.