jsiegs and slornow's Train Hard and Have Fun group - CLOSED for Training (Page 43)

No kidding re: cycling! I am JUST starting to realize now exactly how important biking is to the triathlon. Nice insight there. I think most of us in this group are seeing that we have a lot of biking to learn. 

Fun topic Karla.

"except back then i thought roadies were huge dorks (I'm not sure that perception has changed much though )."

@Joe: Classic. I still kind of have that mindset, but I am starting to see that some of the roadies aren't too bad. My fiance and friends give me quite a bit of flack as I used to constantly talk trash about the roadies in our town.

Ahh, not yet!! I picked it up yesterday and wanted to ride it last night, but I was beyond tired and thought that wasn't a good idea! I was in bed by 7:30 :/

I've tried a couple times to upload a picture here... any tips? lol

I'm headed to spin, I'll try when I get back

Thanks Nick! Of course it's raining for the first time since December. Looks like I'll be setting up the trainer tonight!

The guy that sold it to me told me I would go about 2-3 mph faster on this bike... he better be right, or I'm taking it back! OK, maybe not, but I will give him a hard time about it if not

YEAH!!!!! It is pretty!  Hope you get a chance to ride it soon.

Christy

haha, I was similar.  My first ride on a road bike a REFUSED to wear spandex.  Uh-uh, not gonna happen, I am a MAN!!  7 years later and I wish everything I own was made of spandex.  Even some of my favorite dress shirts are the "stretch" kind with spandex (or something similar) in them.  I still think roadies are dorks, but now I'm one too.  haha, even when I ride my new mountain bike, I'm wearing my spandex road gear...I've got nothing else!  Other MTBers have been looking at me like I'm an alien.

All I see are red X's

NICE bike Karla! I am totally jealous! Tell us how the ride feels once you get out there!

Joe - you can also check out the pictures on my blog:

http://www.harms-weigh.net/

Checking in on this end, too. It's my post-triathlon "do whatever the hell I want and eat whatever the hell I want" week. Unfortunately, it's been the week from hell at work, so on top of my muscles needing recovery, all the added stress has taken a toll. I did run on Tuesday (felt fine) and swam on Wednesday (arms still pretty sore from the OWS). Planning a little bike in the AC at the gym tonight. 

I'm finding that as much as I was planning on ignoring workouts this week, I really really need them in order to stay sane. Go figure.

But I'm also feeling really, really tired and slightly worn down. Do you guys find that to be typical after a race, or do you think it's just the heatwave (it's about 100 right now) and stress? 

Awesome!  Where are you gonna hang it?  Living room, dining room, bedroom?

heat could be it.  It is just draining to be out in the ridiculous heat/humidity we're having.  I thoroughly suffered on my bike yesterday in it.

I'm generally back pretty quickly from races (fatigue wise, not always motivation wise) because I'm so rested going into the race, it doesn't knock me out all that much.

I'd say, take it easy in the extreme heat (or find AC) and try hitting it harder when it's over.  Ether way, you'll be good to go when the heat is gone.

Christy, love the plaque! You earned it, be proud.

Karla, love your new bike! You'll be styling now!

Since we're apparently into sharing photos these days, here are a few from race day. I forgot my real camera (bummer) but managed to snap a few with my cell phone (thanks Blackberry).

The first is something that I have had written on my wrist throughout my last few weeks of training "Finish Strong." I always try to write little inspirational messages to myself inside my wrist based on the race that's coming up. For instance, when I was focused on the 10-miler, having a 10 on my wrist definitely motivated me to get out and get my miles in even when I didn't feel like it. Finish strong was my mantra not to slack off as the race got closer, and on race day it kept me focused - and sprinting down the last 100 meters.

The next is just a pic of my bike set-up before the race. And the final is me, after the race, after I got my results, and after I visited the food tent. Where they gave us free sandwiches and other good food. I swear this was the best sammie I've had in my life.

So that's it. No glorious crossing the finish line photos because my cell phone was in transition at the time, and no age group medals or cool new gear, but I thought it would be fun to share anyway.