Asphalt Junkies CLOSED AND GETTING OUR FIX (Page 40)

Also remember there's more to it than just the hour/miles/yards number.  Progression can be intensity within those numbers.  We've been pushing mostly easy pace running, and I absolutely believe that is important for so many reasons.  But for swimming and biking (and for advanced runners, running) progression can also mean increased intensity during your workouts.  I know that after 12 weeks of high intensity biking this winter, I definitely had much better bike fitness than when I started.

Everyone has to find their own sweet spot, but biking and swimming intensity comes with a much lower injury risk than running.

All right! Here are my April totals.  Being sick for 10 days really made my cycling take a hit.  It, obviously, didn't affect running or swimming, though!  Go figure!

• Ran 90.21 miles (goal was 70 miles)
• Bike 157.49 miles (goal was 190 miles)
• Swim 14900 yards (goal was 12000 yards)

John, that's a good point.  The only race I had in April was on the 1st, so my numbers didn't take a hit from racing.  Later in the season I will be racing so much you will see my numbers drop.  The total volume on a race day will be lower and I also like a 'mini-taper' on the day before the races I do.

Those of you who will be getting into races later this season, make sure to cut yourself a little slack on the total numbers to account for that.

Good to hear.  We all have different learning styles, but for me it has been crucial to find a way to just 'feel' the sensation of doing something right, no matter what drill or tactic it takes and then to recreate that feel when doing a normal swim. 

I've used that technique to find the right streamline position, the right catch position, the right (or better) kick and the right body position (legs high).

It's a normal part of my learning process.  It looks like it worked for you today.

Also, I find swimming unusually difficult since we can't see ourselves swim.  We are usually very gifted at mimicry, so if we can see something we can then see ourselves and make adjustments until we see ourselves doing it right.  This is why karate school all have full length mirrors for instance (as well as dance studios).  But in swimming...not so much.  I've thought about how beneficial it would be for swimming pools to have a mirror on the bottom....

I figure if the wife is too slow to ride with me and/or I get too bored, I can always run while she rides.lol

 I use to dive back in the day and also gold dredge, so I have had my share of wetsuit problems. If the suit was dry, we use to use baby powder to help slip it on as well as the plastic bag technique. To wash the suit, I found the best thing is baby shampoo.

Thanks, I just love being on the bike.

X2, Stan that is insane. I just had to check this and found it pretty amusing. I got my bike in Feb. and it only had 452 miiles on it lol.

Here you go. I'm in now.

The swim took a big hit for the month due to car shopping but that wasn't a big deal.  I fee like my swim is the best one for me to drop and keep everything else on a decent level.  My run was slightly lower than I would like to see but nothing I'm particularly disappointed about.  I am fairly happy with my bike though.  I am looking to see some 500 mile months in the next 3-5 months before heading back into a run focus for Boston (I hope).

I didn't get up there with you Jeff and there are a lot of you that beat on the run for the overall monthly mileage.  This is fine with me since it is a bike focus for me up until my HIM's.

Speaking of bikes, I'm about to head out for another windy ride.  The wind is 25 MPH and gusting to 33 AGAIN tonight.  But that's not really why I am speaking of bikes right now......well kinda but not really..........I am feeling pretty certain after several rides that the new Felt TT bike is faster.  Or is it the machine?  I have been paying attention to what I would have normally done with the "Roadie Convert" on many of these same routes and I am able to sustain close to 2MPH faster.  I am hoping that is an actual number but I will have to wait until a race to make a decent check.

This is great progress.  That part about fighting the water instead of embracing it is a great way to say it.  The water actually supports you if you let.  Great job and keep it up.

Dirk, though I'm sure at least some it is the engine, that type of gain is about what I hear from a roadie convert -> Tri bike switch, given flat or rolling terrain.  They always say it's not about the bike, but I don't see a lot of Tour guys riding $600 starter bikes either!

I'll be upping my biking as well as I prepare for my half and my bike leg relay.  Hopefully I'll figure out how to work in enough running to keep making progress in that discipline as well.  I'll be honest that swimming is going to take a back seat again this year.  I'll swim enough to get and stay comfortable, but I just don't think I'll get in much swimming other than at the lake on the weekends.

And for those of you who were expressing disappointment in some of your numbers, it's still early and any races you're doing will have a big impact on those totals.  Just be realistic and remember those people you know who cannot do this at all, and be grateful every mile and yard you log.  It's all good.

HA!  I'm assuming that wink was because you know it wasn't me!!  I missed every long workout every weekend and forgot to log like 10 workouts....  Oh well...here's to upping the training in May!  Gotta get it back together.  Had a good Feb/March.  Here's a lesson how NOT to progress your training...Check out my bike mileage....creepy.

March:

S:  9750 yds
B:  294.75 Miles (not sure about indoor)
R:  62.74 Miles

April:

S:  21000 yds
B:  140.6 Miles (not sure about indoor)
R:  47.84 Miles 

I'm glad you posted this Warren...first off because it makes me feel better about my lousy April, but second because it's true.  Sometimes life gets in the way of progress.  You just have to be patient and move on.  Figuring out how to make the time during the crazy of life is definitely difficult.  Mad props to all of you.  Now I'm gonna go take an advil PM and hit the hay.

Agree - and I'm not even going to post any monthly totals because I don't pay attention anyway. I do what I can when time permits and my body is agreeable. That is all I can do.

Cheers to everyone for sticking with it and getting yourselves out the door for another month!

owl_girl - 2012-05-03 4:27 PM I'm going to buy one of my swim coaches wetsuits!  It's a Zoot Zenith.  It fits!  I've never had a women's specific wetsuit before!  I hope she left some of her speed in it for me. 

Oh cool - now I have wetsuit envy . Enjoy!

Matt, you're doing the race I wanted to do until I remembered that I have a nephew getting married then.  It would have been great to be able to race together anywhere.  I know we're going to race each other in Springfield in a few months so I'll catch up to you then.

Speaking of training taking a hit.  I may be taking a hit tomorrow and maybe the rest of the weekend.  Lis is having a medical procedure done tomorrow morning and I will have to keep an eye on her all day and possibly Saturday depending on how she does tomorrow.  If she is doing well tomorrow I may try to sneak a long run in once the girls are home from school but I won't be taking chances either.

I know she wouldn't ask for herself but I'll ask for your prayers on her behalf.  It is a minor procedure but she is worried and she has to have a general anesthetic.  It's supposed to be about 3 hours start to finish before she can come home.

Dirk, good luck w/ Lisa medical procedure.  I'm sure U will take good care of her.

Everyone, enjoy ur races this weekend if U have one and good luck, race smart and leave nothing in ur tank when U R finished.

Just finished praying. Best wishes for her procedure.

Dirk I hope and pray everything goes well today for your wife and for a quick recovery. We know you will take good care of her.