kaqphin (Super Cat's) Mentor group - CLOSED (Page 40)

Pam - you are going to rock your HIM!  As they say, race like you train, nothing new on race day.  I wish you sub 90 degree weather, but if it is that hot, just listen to your body.  Good luck and I can't wait to read the RR.

Jeni - very cool on the swimming, that would be so awesome.  Have fun this weekend.

well vancouver decided we don't really deserve summer.  Rain and gloom all day today.  so I put in my second hard core trainer workout.  Man did it kick my rear!! Bu I stayed on for almost 2 hours and got it done!  Props to brit and you guys who stuck it out on the trainer all winter!!!

My attempt to shed the pounds still sucks.  to many tempting treats and I think i ate a quarter of a jar of peanut butter today.. oops!  but I am at that stage where not loosing the weight makes me depressed so I get a who cares attitude for the moment and reach for another treat.   

The iron supplements have started to kick in. most notable difference is waking up in the morning and actually feeling rested instead of feeling hung over even though I've had nothing alcoholic to drink.  But I still tend to get headaches at the end of workouts so it is still low. It has also made my stomach more sensitive to eating after workouts and certain foods so I am still learning how to deal with it.

You can have some of our summer...my gosh it is baking here.  I have a pretty good relationship with the trainer and am glad I have it--I can't do treadmills, but I think since I control resistance and speed, etc. at my pace based on what gear I am in, then it is actually me doing it and not some machine.  Treadmills kill me.

I hear you on those few pounds that would be great to be gone....I have got to stop some of my snaking, be it healthy food or not, too much is too much.  That week for the wedding I totally let myself go in comparison to normal, but I'm coming back okay from that.  I don't know, it's a crazy roller coaster.

Hope everyone has a great weekend--but big cheers for Pam especially as she heads to Mooseman!!

Congrats on your great race this weekend Pam!

sorry Ive been offline for a couple of weeks but Im back now....

GREAT JOB PAM!!!!!
way to conquer the heat!!

We've started to say its Junuary here in Vancouver because it has been SOOO cold! Global climate craziness sucks!

BTW training with power is awesome!  I am already seeing improvements, mainly in my hill riding. and it's fun to look over the graph and see what you did every second of your ride. But it can also psych you out a bit and I notice I hold back based on the watts instead of just going for it when I feel good.

I'm still having running issues. We are trying to figure out the cause of the problem but we're mainly treating the symptoms.  There is some massive, hip/femoral misalignment that is causing the wrong muscles to engage and stabalize when I walk and especially run. Part of it is that i keep riding because I don't feel it on the bike, but my phsyio thinks the bike aggrivates it.  I will be out of town when I thought about doing my first olympic so that has been pushed off til september but right now I can't even run 10 minutes.

Jeni- Wow, congrats on getting accepted into the doctorate program.  That is incredible...though I can tell you have some big decisions looming.  Awesome training too---very glad that the power training is working for you--you are one heck of a biker! 

Pam- Congrats again on a great HIM race and for the race tips in my blog.  Holding back some for the bike is probably smart so I can survive the hot run.  I am starting my two weeks of hydration now--(j/k).

Okay crew, how is everyone doing these days?  It's the middle of summer (okay, technically summer starts on Saturday--but it's been summer here since beginning of May), the heat is on for most of us (Jeni is an exception I think), we've done some racing, but still have 1/2 the year ahead of us. 

Jeni- any more thoughts on the doctorate?
Cat- has a big presentation here soon (tomorrow) so BEST WISHES, like you said, you will rock it!

I have somewhat started a taper--following the plan--for my HIM on the 29th. I can't believe it's so close.  I am excited about it, know I will finish, but do feel under-prepared, and of all things, I feel under-prepared on the run.  I feel like I may have focused more on the bike since it was something I needed improvement on--and definitely improved, but neglected too much running.  The distance I can do, but off that bike and in the Lubbock heat...I won't lie, I'm a little nervous/apprehensive of how that will pan out.  I blogged the fact that a couple of girls that I train with some here are also racing, and so is a lady I'm considering using for my coach for the '09 season, that I know some competition will play in--good competition though. So, we'll see. I have a couple of decent runs and a decent bike this weekend left, and then it's like TWO off days in a row (holy cow!) and some short taper stuff. I will leave on Thursday, 27 June, to drive to Lubbock.  I wanted to have all of Saturday to get my packet, check out the course, get in a short s/b/r's to warm up, etc.  It is supposed to be upper 90's or so that day...so if you want to pray for a freak cool front to blow through Lubbock, I'd be perfectly happy with that!

You'll do great brit.  You've got all those running miles in your legs.  They will hold up on you.

 good luck on the presentation.

I'm going to do my PhD. I would rather go for it and decide later that it was a mistake then have the "what if" questions. And no, summer hasn't found Vancouver.  I think we have had 3 maybe 4 "warm" days since April.  

Lyssa-- did you get the new bike? how's it goin? 

Britt - Just one week to go! Hang in there and dont worry about your training now... your bike fitness will translate to your running to a certain extent and with your run backround I would not be worried at all....

Right now just think positively, get through the last few sessions and turn up to the race next weekend happy, healthy and ready to go! 

WOOWHOO!!! way to register.  Crazypop a BTer from british columbia that i have ridden with just completed it! I can't wait to hear all about his adventures. 

Brit's gonna rock it!  Another friend of mine did his first half ironman without EVER having ridden his bike 90km before.  He's a runner who worked on his swim all winter and neglected the bike.  I called him an idiot but he rocked a sub 5.5 hour half iron.  So brit is gonna kill it!

As for me, I went on craigslist last night looking for a 200 dollar bike to ride in winter or as a commuter since I can't ride my bike around town anymore... it's to much of a target with the new wheels and powertap.  So instead of finding a commuter.... I found a sweet deal on a TT bike. Our bike community in vancouver is pretty small so a friend of a friend is selling it, but it may be slightly to big. So we made a deal that I could give him the cash and take it to the LBS tomorrow to see if we can swap the stem and seatpost to get it to fit.  And if not I can return it to him before tomorrow night.  Cross your fingers....

Great deal - at least if it doesnt fit you know there are great options out there you just have to keep an eye out!

Happy happy excitment everywhere!  I do have to say--I have really enjoyed getting to know y'all this year--it may all be over the electrons--but if I had a chance to cheer y'all on at a race, I'd be there.  I had a blast watch CdA and cheering for folks I didn't know and others that I've followed their training through the year.  Pam- way to take the plunge!! Seriously- my best friend, her husband, and another friend signed up today as well and I do plan on going as their "iron sherpa" for the weekend...I'll be their alpaca--but what another great way to meet BT'ers and you can be sure I'll be cheering you on out there so this time next year I can say I SAW you become an Ironman.

The encouragement y'all have sent is awesome, I'm feeling more confident everyday right now and just trying to watch nutrition, hydration, and mentally prep myself.  Today was a full day off (if you don't count mowing my massive, yet not all that green, lawn), and tomorrow I'm just going to do a short, slow run.  I'm playing well with the taper thus far.

Jeni- oooohhhh, maybe new bike...sweet, I really hope it works out for you, and of course we expect pictures if it all works out! 

HAHA! I am definitely keeping the roadie as he gets me up and zooms me down the mountain I am amazed at the the different temperaments of the two machines. Now I see why people name their bikes And to justify the new purchase I am going to enter a 40km TT in August and see what the new bike and I can put down.

I missed the local crit last night to watch a documentary called The Long Road North about a guy who road a bike from the southern most point of South America to the northern most point you can reach by road in Canada. AMAZING! keep an eye out for it, the landscapes they rode through were stunning.

And I apparently picked the right night to skip the race. There was a really bad crash in the race I would have been riding in that sent someone to the hospital in an ambulance. So now I am nervous to race again as I heard a girl's face connected with the pavement at high speeds.

Glad you are loving both of your bikes! I cant wait to see what amazing time you throw down i nAugust!

That documentary sounds really great - must see if I can get a copy of it (maybe it will be available for download somewhere) I love that kind of thing!!!!

I hope the crash doesnt put you off racing.. its unfortunate but if you are going to ride a bike chances are sooner or later you might come off it but as long as you always wear your helmet, keep your bike in good condition and be aware when riding you are doing everything you can to avoid any serious incidents!

I think everyone here already knows but Im doing the TDF bike challenge in the challenge forum for a second year if you are up for something next month.

Link to the details and sign up are in my sig line...