Slornow and Wannabefaster's mentor group...Closed (Page 44)

Well, I feel like I could go for an hour jog today no problem EXCEPT I somehow got a blister on the arch of my foot.  Super annoying.  I'll give it a few days...

Great job in Whistler Mark, it sounds like a really tough course!  The 70.3 there intrigues me somewhat.

Since Marc asked, I may join in here once in a while.  As a brief bio to those that don't know me, I'm Arend (pronounced like running an errand).  Basically, I'm a swimmer that also does ok on the bike leg and then that pesky run leg gets in the way.    My only tri so far this year has been a DNF at Challenge St Andrews due to a myriad of issues.  I've done a couple of TTs and a bike race as well.  Currently dealing with an annoying issue with my hip (the main issue for the DNF).

I think people really enjoyed the 70.3 this year.  And frankly, it may be saving that race because registration numbers were down on the full.

The village is great because of the recent winter olympics with lots of stuff to do.  There are a ton of mountain bikers up there even during race week and you can go ziplining or ride the gondola across to Blackcomb, etc.

Also some photos from Whistler...

https://goo.gl/photos/G89AX86gvhP9jMFDA

We were staying at the Pan Pacific Whistler Village which is a really convenient location for the race.

Sorry for my extended absence.  Been following along periodically.

Jason-awesome job on the race.  Sounds like there is some real planning that needs to go into your race management rather than the usual transition between swim, bike and run.

Been doing OK in recovering from the knee surgery.  No issues when cycling but too long standing or sitting and it gets very stiff.  Had a little set back last week and was hobbling around.  Not sure why other than possibly spending a couple of long days driving.  I really don't see getting back to running anytime soon.  Should be swimming but my deep seated hatred of swimming has kept me from the pool since early June.  On the brighter side I biked a lot in July logging 1010 miles. I think my biggest volume month previously had been a bit over 600. So, I am pleased with that milestone.  I miss the running and racing but have been able to connect with a couple of great groups to ride with.

Keep at it folks!  I will do better about participation. 

What surgery did you have?  I've had my ACL repaired on my left knee (twice), but I've bounced back pretty well.  It does take some time and rehab though.

I had ACL about 25 years ago.  This time it was scope for torn medial and lateral meniscus as well as removal of some "junk" per my doc.  I suspect what is slowing me down is that I have about an inch of bone on bone in the knee.   Hopefully it will continue to improve but I don't expect to be able to race the remainder of this year unless it is doing the bike leg of a relay. 

I hope it heals up quickly Randy!

The bike leg of a relay can be fun, I did just that this past weekend.  It was a very informal local duathlon, $20 for the team and no real rules other than be careful and don't be an idiot.  The transition area was just a section of grass where you could lay your bike on it's side.   The race was bike - run and draft legal (remember I said no real rules).  As a result most people use road bikes for the 17k bike.  It was basically a 28 minute hammerfest and a total blast.  There were 6 of us in a group (one of them my wife).  My team mate started the run about 30s out of the lead and managed to win it for us.  One of my favourite events of the year.  

It's funny my sprint speed hasn't dropped off a whole lot since my high school swimming days.  But endurance just ... ug.  Even last summer when I was unemployed and swimming a lot, I just can't seem to build speed on long swims.  I'll keep trying though.

Hey Jason, I wanted to say thank you!  In some thread on TT a week or two ago, you mentioned the Triathlon TV broadcast and talked it up pretty good....I paid for a subscription (think it was only like $11!) and have been enjoying WTS racing while riding on the trainer or running on the treadmill

Watched Brownlee absolutely bury himself in the Gold Coast race from earlier this year -- I do not have the ability to put myself anywhere near as deep in the pain cave as he did (hell, not even sure I really want that ability!).

Dang Marc...that is some bad luck.  Glad you escaped without injury.

Jason-awesome job.  Good thing about not racing early is that you are pumped to race heading into the latter part of the Summer.  Hope the good results continue at Steelhead.

For me, sixth straight week of 200+ miles biking. Ordered a mountain bike Friday and looking forward to riding it with my buddies this Fall.  Cannondale is running some good deals and that plus team discount at LBS made it tood goo to pass up.  Well, at least that is what I told my wife.  Mountain biking is not great down here but there are some decent trails within an hour. Looking forward to going up to Oak Mountain State Park near Birmingham for a few weekend trips this Fall.  Really good trails there and an excellent venue. 

Jason, congratulations on the AG win!  Marc, sucks on the wreck but I'm glad you escaped unscathed!

Our local cycling championships were yesterday.  It's a combined 17k TT in the morning and then a 66k road race in the afternoon.  My wife and I were both racing it, she had the fastest TT in her division and I was 2nd or 3rd (not sure who was in my division and I haven't seen the full results yet).  For the road race in the afternoon, it was a pretty intense ride for me.  You never know how those things will go, sometimes it's just a chill ride for a while and others are hard from the get go.  This one started out fairly easy for about 10 minutes and then things ramped up.  Lots of hard efforts on the hills took their toll on me.  I stayed with the lead group of 10-12 until about 10k from the finish when I finally cracked on a couple of back to back hills that I was going up at 500-600w and the guys were riding away from me.  NP up to that point in the race was about 260w.  Once I was dropped, I was done and just limped home as there was no one close to me from behind.  Not sure how I finished in the combined results as we had to leave because it turns out that my wife had been in a crash early in the race (and no one told me!).  A younger rider had made a sudden move in the middle of the pack and cut across her front wheel and took her down.  She has a broken clavicle that will need surgery and a ton of road rash.  This is the same shoulder that she separated 4 years ago from another bike wreck.    It really sucks, she was in fantastic bike shape and had a pretty good chance of winning the race.

She'll be back on the bike.  I would imagine she will avoid riding in a big group (especially people she doesn't know) for a while though.

Good morning all.  It has been awhile since I checked in. 

Sorry to hear about all the bike crashes.  There have been a few horrific bike accidents in my area recently and sadly it seems like it is becoming more common.   

Its been a busy summer and I've had a few races since my last post, with an Olympic this past weekend.  I mainly race Sprints and so this was only the 2nd Olympic of my tri career.  Really like the longer distances where you're not constantly redlining.

The swim was slow and uneventful but I felt really good on the bike and run.  I didn't quite manage the power that I was targeting but I think I paced it well as I felt really good on the run and managed to hold a fairly aggressive pace. 

I had no real goals of competing and was basically using the race to work on pacing and nutrition for my HIM in September.  Managed to win my age group and ended up 11th overall.  It was one of those "beer league" races in cottage country Ontario, but I'll take it. 

I have next weekend off but then back to back Sprints on the 21st and 28th.  When I planned my race schedule this summer I hadn't signed up for the HIM yet.  Finding it hard to work in the long runs and bike rides with races almost every other weekend. 

Question for those who race with power - looking at the average power for the Olympic I raced, would 90% of the AP be a fairly safe pace for the HIM?  

Hey Arend - I'm signed up for Barrelman this year and read your race report from 2014.  Great job!  I may bug you with a few questions if you don't mind.  I was wondering about the elevation of the run course.  Just how bad are those hills?  I've got an idea of what pace to target based on races this summer, but most have been fairly flat courses.