Gearwhore/himself Group - FULL (Page 4)

Adam/Ryan,

 I know this is a bit early to ask a question like this but I was just thinking about it before I jumped on my bike yesterday. With the way transitions work will we need to run a certain amount of distance in our cycling shoes or is there something you put over the pedal cleat to make it easier to run? Only wondering because it is kind of akward to walk let alone run in those shoes.

 Thanks,

Hope everyone had a good weekend so far! Back to the grind tomorrow

I  might just let Brian run the group from now on, he knows what he's talking about. 

That's exactly right.  You have two choices: (1) learn how to get your feet out of your shoes while riding and then run barefoot to the transition, or (2) unclip with your shoes on and duck walk to transition.  I have Shimano cleats, and I think they're easier to run in than speedplays, but I still get my feet out of my shoes and run barefoot.  Then again, I have tri shoes (basically the same as normal, but with one huge velcro strap across the arch to secure the foot - easy-in, easy-out).  Depending on what type of shoes you have and whether you are willing to pop for tri shoes, getting your feet out may or may not be a big deal.  If you have ratcheting buckles on your shoes, you're going to have to duck walk, those would just be too hard to get out of while riding. 

I haven't used them, but I know there are a couple that would specifically be useful for triathletes.  One specifically is time trialing.  It's too early to start working on time trialing skills right now, but later in the spring would be a good time to try that one.

I did splurge for tri shoes (I spent so much on the bike I may as well get the proper shoes). I have two velcro straps, one over the bridge and one towards the bottom where the toes are.  I was more worried about going from the swim to the bike. I see people who already have their shoes on the bike and somehow slip them on while riding. Is it something that a first timer should try (pending enough time practicing it)? I am thinking along the lines of getting dirt, grass, or mud in the cleats  before hoping on the bike and not being able to clip in properly.

 Brian,

I don't know anywhere warm in January except for the carribean and stuff like that! I am planning a nice little trip for early April to cabo. Figured I can get my wife liquored up for a week and take full advantage of her

You can learn to get your feet in and out on the bike, but practice (a LOT) before the race.  For starting, you can learn to run and hop on while rolling and then get the shoes on, or just clip the shoes in, stop, climb on, pedal until you're going fast enough to coast, then strap the shoes on.  The former (run, hop on, strap in) is faster but harder.  In fact, I haven't even tried it yet, but this is my year to learn the flying start, I need to get faster through transition.

I'm no help on vaca spots in that part of the country, sorry.  Florida is always a safe bet, and a manageable drive, but you have to go down to the Keys to guarantee good weather in January.

Movies: sorry to call foul on this one, but I'm a total movie freak and I just can't do Top 3 with no refinement.  Top 3 comedies?  Top 3 inspirational sports movies?  Top 3 dramas?  Top 3 roles for male/female leads?  Top 3 soundtracks in a movie?  I could deal with any of those, but Top 3 lifetime is like asking what are the best 3 songs of all time, the category is just too broad.

For this site, I'll go Top 3 inspirational sports movies: (3) Without Limits - the Prefontaine movie starring Billy Crudup, much better than the Jared Leto version called Prefontaine (Leto will always look like a druggy to me after Requiem for a Dream); (2) Breaking Away - great story about life in Indiana (where I grew up), the Little 500 (a staple of college life in the Midwest) and just a great and inspiring cycling story in general that also manages to be really funny at times; (1) Miracle - probably the greatest sports moment in the history of the United States, and in historical context an absolutely amazing story.  This one could also easily make the lifetime Top 10 list.  If you didn't have a tear in your eye at the end of this movie, you have a heart of stone.  Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks was fantastic, and the fact that this movie didn't win any awards is further testament to the fact that the Academy doesn't actually know **** about movies.

I am kind of a movie buff too but honestly haven't had much time lately to watch much...

#3- I would have to say "miracle". I am a total hockey freak and also agree with Adam that if that sh*t doesn't bring a tear to your eye in the end then you are truly not a man who enjoys sports!

#2- Gladiator. By far one of the best movies ever made and directed. I would have rather seen a different actor but Russell Crow actually did really well for the role.

#1- BY FAR!!!! My most favorite movie is Braveheart. I think I have seen it over 1,000 times and can still sit there and watch it without falling asleep. I saw it in the movies as a teen and got hooked and actually studied all that crap on the side after I saw the movie. 

Orlando is a good choice... I went there last year the week after xmas with my wife and had a blast. We stayed in the resort area (carribean beach resort). It was well worth the money and yeah your kid will have so much stuff to do you wont  have enough time to do it all!

Just a quick note for everyone on this (f*cking frigid in Colorado) Tuesday morning.  I don't want to be too cheesy, but I do want to send out these basic thoughts and reminders every now and then, especially for you guys that are new to this, or have been off the plan for a long time.  And the basic thought this week is to be vigilant and watch the consistency of your workouts at this time of year.

I can tell from the waning crowd at my gym that the New Years resolutions are wearing off, the excitement to lose weight and "get back in shape" has tapered off, and people are settling back into not giving a sh!t.  And the fact is, that's pretty easy to do this time of year.  It's cold.  Days are short.  Work is hectic again after the holidays.  That 5 lbs you picked up over Christmas is probably gone, or mostly gone.  Summer feels like a long g*d d*mn way away, and race season feels like it will never get here.  So it's easy this time of year to kind of lay back, take it easy, and get in some of your workouts, but not all of them, and start making excuses and justifications to yourself and others why that's no big deal. 

But if you want to do well in races next summer, if you want to change your lifestyle and get healthy again, and if you want to stick with this, now is the time to push through and make sure the habit is solidly formed.  For most of us, we're not even a full month into the training.  It'll take another month or so until the training habit is fully formed and getting the workouts done is like hitting auto-pilot.  We'll get there, but we're not there yet. 

Don't fall into that trap of making excuses to take an extra day off.  Don't slack off on the consistency.  Pay attention to your sleep and diet right now.  Keep your intensity low to moderate, but get the volume in with 90-95% consistency.  Get in the base training now, and when spring roles around and you can get back outside, the workouts will be more natural and enjoyable, and you'll have the base fitness to really challenge yourself physically to go faster and longer.  You'll be surprised next summer to see the difference between the athletes that worked consistently through the winter, and those that farted around doing 3 or 4 days/week of mediocre workouts.  The difference is night and day. 

Okay, done preaching.  Everyone is looking good right now, I just know that the excitement is going to wear off, or has worn off, and when it does you have to buckle down and be vigilant.

Happy training.

Good advice Adam, at times I wake up in the morning thinking "I don't want to go do this sh*t, I want to sleep in an extra hour" but I still force myself out of bed and that will not become a habit until about another 4-6 weeks so I just have to buckle down and keep getting my fat @ss up! My wife is helping me out too forcing me out when I don't want to. She is good motivation for me. Everyone don't slack off. We have a strong group here and we can all help eachother thru this base building period. Never give up and keep going hard!

... Then  have a beer????