Slornow and Wannabefaster's Winter Group version 3-CLOSED (Page 44)

GOOD LUCK!

Blanda- how did the race go? Did they cancel the swim?

Nancy- I've always used red look cleats. They work well and I've never seen a need to switch to anything else

Suzy- how are you feeling? Back to normal?

Today was another "triathlon" workout day. Started with a 3100 yard swim, drove home, got on the trainer for 3:05 hours and then had a short brick run for 15 minutes. Now its time to relax for a while and get ready for tomorrow's workouts. 
Hope everyone is having a great weekend! 

Blanda-that swim sounds brutal. But, it seems you managed it well and much better than last year? Great job on getting another olympic under your belt.

Mary-Great to have you checking in. Sounds like the marathon training is going well. Nancy's advice was spot on. It takes the body a long time to build up fatigue resistance to those long distance efforts so recovery is important. I find that some active recovery such as a very light spin on the bike or an easy swim always helps. The other thing I have heard...but not really tried is to elevate your legs. Laying on the floor with your legs straight up against a wall. Suppose to help keep fluids from accumulating in the legs.....also is discussed on one of my yoga DVDs as a good relaxation pose. Many swear by ice baths. I've done them in the past after really hard training days but frankly they are too much trouble for me to do regularly.

Rainy day here. I have an easy bike scheduled and a short run. Looks like I'll be in the garage for the bike.

Stuart- I was beginning to get worried about you. Glad that you're back and posting to the group. You've really had a difficult year and have done really well with everything that life has thrown at you.Your wife sounds like a very smart lady! BTW- Get a trainer. That way you can ride and not freak out your wife.

I don't know if you remember but I didn't handle my injury very well. I dropped out of the mentor group and only talked to a few people on BT. It is frustrating when your body won't cooperate with what your mind wants it to do. It is also very easy to get depressed and give up.   What helped me was to make achievable daily goals related to rehab, recovery and diet.   A few years ago when I broke my toe and had surgery my husband took me to the gun range as a way to relieve stress. I joined a competitive women's shooting club and made a lot of new friends. I would highly recommend competitive shooting as a great sport that one can do while recovering from a lower body injury.

Welcome Back!!

Mary, I have a pair of Zoot recovery compression tights that I wear to deal with the soreness after long runs and rides. They work well for me. A foam roller also works really well. The other thing I've been doing is short recovery runs on grass on the day following a hard run. I thought I was too old for active recovery, but it's helped.

Blanda, glad you survived the swim in your triathlon. That swim sounds brutal. Way to hang with it!

Stuart, sorry to hear about your setback, but glad you are working your way back and can see the path back again. I hear that the Silicon Valley Triathlon is moving from Uvas to Half Moon Bay this year. I'm not sure about the other triathlons scheduled for Uvas.... I also saw a lot of bicyclists and runners out on the roads this weekend (I was one of them!). Hopefully, I'll see you out there too.

Jamie, your mountain biking / camping trip sounds like a blast! Good luck in your 5K this weekend!

Stuart!  Welcome back. I've missed your swim advice.  I've had a couple of injuries that have had me feeling similarly and like Renee I gave up BT.  Eventually I made it back to the real world.  I am glad you are on your way.  Please stick with the PT.  It'll serve you well in the long run (pun intended).

Mary,  for me ice baths and a recovery beverage are critical links to a speedier recovery.  I drink chocolate milk for the protein and CHOs within 15' of finishing a long run, usually while sitting in a painful ice bath.  Both are really worth it.  If you have recovery tights (like SKINS), I would put them on afterwards.  Later in the day I'll do some foam rolling.  Of course for really hard efforts, there is no way around some soreness post run.

Blanda and Jamie, it sounds like you both had a great weekend.  Blanda's may have been a little more "exciting" than I would have liked (e.g. swim!).

My indoor/outdoor tri was fun, although an outdoor run after a 20K TT indoors was cold (-4F).    I beat some of the college girls and a few of the boys too.  Swim still needs the most work which wasn't a shocker.  I know I have room to improve on the bike and the run as well.  Either way, I made it into Nationals so I can cross that to-do off my list.  And to be completely up front about it, no other 50-54 year old women signed up.  I thought I had at least one to beat, but she never showed.

Stuart-I've wondered where you were several times over the past few weeks. Glad things appear to be headed down a better road. Always nice to hear from you!

Susie-nice job on the race. Seems like the logistics of that type of race could be tough. Congrats on earning your spot for AG Nats. Are you going to do it?

With stress comes inflammation!  Plus you pounded the skiing pretty hard over the last several weeks.  Make sure you take in plenty of greens (alkaline foods) to combat it.  I'd recommend extra sleep too, but I am guessing the looming deadline of April 15th is preventing that from happening.  Hang in there!

PS.  Yes, I am doing Nationals in August.  It's basically in my backyard, only a 75' drive from Madison to Milwaukee. Plus I'll get a chance to meet Randy!