BigSkiesMentorGroup - COMPLETE! (Page 45)

STEVE, the coach (Liz) I will be training with is the same woman that headed up my USA Fit group two years ago which I really enjoyed.  I did USA Fit again last year but she wasn't coaching and it was not what I'd hoped for.  Liz just became RRCA certified (at the age of 50) and will be "taking on" 25 runners to train for fall and winter half/full marathons.  My running partner will be signing up with her as well but we may get put into different groups at this point since my first race is in December and hers is in January.  And that might actually work out better for us although we'll still continue to meet on Thursday evenings with our "Trail Collectors" group who my coach is in charge of, as well.  We'll all meet with Liz on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, run in our pace groups, then meet back for 1/2 of yoga (she's also a yoga instructor).  Tuesday will be more speed workouts which she hopes to keep fun (doing indian runs, etc) and Saturday will be our long run.  She'll give us the rest of of our workout during the week based on our individual needs/plans. 

A couple of weeks ago (on a Trail Collector run) she had us predict how long it would take to run/walk 3.5 miles ... no problem, right.  Then we all had to take off our watches, Garmins, etc and proceed with nothing.  I couldn't believe how that made me feel (panicked!), not knowing how long I'd been running, how far I'd gone, how far I had to go, etc.  It was crazy but it actually made me think about how YOU would probably have loved that little exercise.  She'll do more of those ... oh, and I much faster than I predicted.  She'll be doing more of that as well. 

LISA

So excited, looks like we are finally reaching the end of our 100+ degree days for the year and may actually have some rain over the weekend.  The heat and drought are really taking their toll on the infrastructure around here with the roads buckling, over 1000 broken water leaks waiting to be fixed, houses shifting on their foundations due to the lack of rain, the ranchers having to sell their stock because of the lack of water and hay.  I think that we'll all be out playing in the rain if it comes!

STEVE, great race report! Looks like you should have been very pleased!

DENISE, almost a year ago since I was up in Minnesota and I remember how pleasant the temps were.  Just renewed my Where to Retire magazine for another 3 years last night.  Cameron won't be graduated from high school for another 5 years but my goal is to be ready to get out of here when he does (if not sooner).  Alison continues to scout out the country for our new relocation spot.  Looks like you are enjoying your new bike!

TRINA, welcome back! Hopefully the end is in sight for your weather as well.  Tropical brewings may be sending us some needed rain and relief!  And to think I could have been up there suffering in OKC with you if my husband had taken a transfer last year.

JOE, glad to see you are safe and sound!  We are in such desperate need of rain but you have to "be careful what you wish for" along the Gulf Coast!

LISA

Steve,

Looks like the HITs Triathlon series folks were listening to ya concerning the distances of their races.  Change all to the classic distances.

http://www.icontact-archive.com/YM3XJIMgvMUqU1Q-T4uW2T0pxw7CQmcR?w=4

Steve - It's actually blue green algae. My post jet lag brain is still lagging. And you are correct, it is Redman. I posted to their FB page my concerns about water quality, and this was their response:

"Since the BG Algae first appeared, it has dropped in temps a couple of times, rained a couple of times and the quality has gone from a staggering 225,000 (100,000 is the threshold for canceling an event) "cells" to only 8,000 by the 15th of August. In addition we are moving water in to re-fill the lake, which should clear the issue even further. As part of our city permit, we will soon begin posting the measurements on the front page of the website."

Why do I not believe them? I'll tell you why: It has NOT dropped in temps a few times since July, it's gotten hotter. Rain? If you can call a couple of showers that weren't even measurable as being enough to clean a lake...whatev. I don't know where they're going to get the water to fill the lake, since that lake is connected to my lake, which is fed by the Canadian River - which is all but dry. My lake continues to dry-up every day. I can now see 1/3 of the lake bed when I go on my bike rides. If they drain it any more to fill another lake, it's not going to be a lake anymore. I guess we could ride dune buggies on it...

Oh, I shouldn't have such a bad attitude, but this heat is really making everyone cranky.

Oh a lighter note - I'm very excited about my first Aquabike. The thought of racing and not having to run at the end is awesome. After the race I think I will cut back on my swim training and focus on my run. I'd like to do a half mary early next year, and I've got a lot of work to do if I'm going to do that.

Denise - The swims around Capri were breathtaking. It is something I will never forget. Awesome 25th Anniversary gift from my hubby!

Lisa - So you have a running coach? I need to get one. I think I'm going to cut my tri coach loose after my aquabike. Just have never clicked with him. Yes, hopefully this weekend will bring some relief from the heat wave for both of us. 89F sounds like heaven to me! It's going to be 103F in OKC today - coming-up on 60 consecutive days of 100+ heat. 

My 15 minutes of fame

http://pineandlakes.com/stories/082511/localnews_20110825101.shtml

That is so cool, Denise! Wow! You rock! 

stevebradley - 2011-08-30 9:08 PM TRINA - Is that photo from Capri.....or at the edge of your soon-to-be-dry lake? Whichever -- evocative photo, brimming with leisurely bliss. La-di-da!! It's funny, my response to your story about Redman. As I started it I thought back to the initial great press that Redman received when it first started (5-6 years ago?), and that their concise monitoring of the b-g algae was in keeping with their being on top of everything. but then as I read on I could see your point, and I gotta admit -- your first-hand observations suggest that something is perhaps rotten in the state of Denmark. Hmmmm. The good news is that there's still time for Mother Nature to smile upon all you Redmanites. Yes? Maybe? Possibly? A woman from my other active group just did her first aqbk, at the oly distance, and I told her that it is a great chance to learn what it feels like to ride hard in a race setting. So, whereas many people doing the full oly were dialing it back some over the final couple miles or so, Alex was pushingpushingpushing the pace, knowing she had no reason (i.e., the run) to hold anything back. The truning point for me as a cyclist was '06, when a torn mensicus rendered me unrunworthy, and all I could do were aqbks. I treated each of them as if there was no tomorrow, and it amazed me how much harder I could ride when the bike was the end of the day for me. Quite literally, I never previously knew what it was like to push so hard, and that was a colossally big lesson that I have employed ever soince. Of course, the adjusytment that has to be made is turning the intensity down a fair bit in order to still be able to run well off the bike, and that didn't happen overnight -- not even close. BUt it DID happen, and it made me a much better triathlete*. It's oh-so-true what is said about needing to know how to be and feel fast in order to be fast in races. So, it's Full Tilt for you at Redman!! * My tibal stress fracture in early '00, which turned me from a purerunner to a triathlete, was my "best bad injury". The mensicus, which turned me from a decent cyclist into a good one, was my "next best bad injury".

Steve - I'm typically not a suspicious person, but the water quality issue is so obvious it really does stink. Literally...the city lakes stink they are so stagnant. Also, one of our state's largest lakes, Lake Texoma, is overrun with BG algae and no swimming allowed in it this weekend. Texoma is a giant of a lake - makes the lake in front of my house look like a small pond. And for them to close it is unheard-of. Been going there since I was 13 y/o and this is a first. So...yeah...I'm in the not-so-enviable position of being happy about my first aquabike (and Redman), and scared/grossed-out by the swim portion. Oh and I did pay a hefty $225 to register. Hopefully you are right - maybe mother nature will bless us with some rain in the meantime, but she only has 3 weeks to really let it roll, and if history is a good indicator then September will be dry as is usual.

Yes, that is a pic of me on the back of the boat by Capri. Drank an Italian beer and was contemplating how I could afford to build a house along the Amalfi Coast. Thought long and hard, then decided there was no way on earth I'd ever be able to afford to do so. Oh well. The Amalfi Coast, and especially Capri, is probably the most expensive place I've ever visited...in high season it's ridiculous. Never go there in the summer!! I saw a strand of pearls that was over 6 feet tall in one of the shop windows in Capri. And they were real, perfectly round, huge and super expensive. I'm going to dig-up some pics of some of the yachts we saw and post them here. The ostentatious display of wealth was just obscene. 

On a totally different topic: My husband just insisted that I call him "Steve-tador." After the cyclist Contador. He just left on his bike to do 25 miles in 104F heat. He's such a goofball.

Glad there were some silver linings to your injuries, and I love your perspective. Hopefully I will get better on the bike and run so that I'm not always BOP at my races.

Superstar.  Very cool Denise.

Denise- Great highlight and story. I find it hard to envision you as a couch potatoe.....

Lisa, hopefully whatever is in the gulf right now will push some rain your direction.  Looks like the forecast models have it going every direction.

Steve- Thanks for your post and yes it makes sense except I need a little clarification on practice duration vs race duration.  It makes sense when I read your post on the frequency of bricks should be limited.  However, how do you train for race duration? I think I am missing a fundemental.  Currently I am following a HIM plan I downloaded from BT which has 2 remaining bricks this month and that is it.  The durations are a 4 hr 30 min ride and a 15 min run (this week-end) and then at the end of the month a 3 hr 30 min ride with a 20 min. run.  This seems in line with your philosphy. My confusion is when do I train for the race's duration or do I?  If I have a great race I think I would probably come in at 6:15 but my longest workouts are mostly 3:30 rides once per week in Sept.  So the one brick is essentially the longest work out  at 4:45 which will be about 90-120 minutes short of my actual race time.  My one remaining active brain cell is having a hard time with this thinking that I should have a couple training sessions in the 5:30 range and these sessions would be bricks.  Any insights would be appreciated, I think my poor brain cell is starting to sputter on this one........

JK

Steve,

Wow and thanks, thanks, thanks.  I was getting a bit nervous on losing training time from my wife's surgery, Irene, and my confidence was absolutely shaken from my last race.  I also had a nagging voice in my head whispering I should do a couple of 6 hour training sessions but your logic makes perfect sense and no one can argue with your experience.  You have restored calm. So I will follow your advice and rest a lot easier knowing it is the same strategy that you use.  I will also follow your advice and take advantage of the race's proximity and the fact that my daughter is going to school in Wilmington by running/riding the routes on a couple of week-ends while the girls are out shopping.  Definitely a win-win scenario.  I have an opportunity in a couple of weeks for a metric century which will give my a good sense of my bike time which I am guessing will be in the 17-18 mph range depending on the wind.   The OLY next week is at high risk with Katia coming in.  I haven't completely written it off but is definitely on the chopping block.  Of course this is the only race in my life that I actually placed (no kidding).  I will also have to remember not to fall into the trap of trying to keep up with "pace bunnies" which I always fall into that trap. 

Thanks again for sharing your experience and I will keep you posted.

JK

Hi!!    Still here. Just been busy.  College football just started.  Go VT and FSU!!

Wisconsin looking good with their new QB.  I'm a Minnesota graduate but their football has been so bad that I switched my allegiance to my daughter's school (Wis).  My husband remains ever faithful to Iowa.

Denise