Baowolf mentor group is [ Closed ] (Page 46)

Wow!  You guys are amazing.  What a great gift to come home to.  I'll give a race report tomorrow, but I'll summarize for now.  The swim was great.  The water was calm, and clear.  I was relaxed and comfortable with no issues.  It was my best swim ever.  The bike was pretty good, but I had to stop twice because my crappy 12 year old bike shoes were hurting my feet, and I had to get out of them and rub them down.  That was 2 4 minute stops.  My transitions were super slow, but I really didn't try to hurry.  I used a towel to cover up and put on my bike shorts after the swim, and did the same thing to change before the run.  No issues.  Everyone commented on my row of power bars on my frame for the bike.  One guy said "Old School", and a woman said she'd never seen that before.  Me and my friend had a bet that the first person to see another Schwinn bike got a free drink from the other.  We never saw one.  The run was tough.  I think the temperature got into the 90's.  I can say that I ran the whole thing, except for the aid stations (which I planned to do).  It was a slow run, but I never gave in and walked.  There were several times on the course where I thought of you guys and all of your support.  I am truly touched that you were all so excited that you tracked me online.  Awesome day.  It's off to bed for me.  After the race, we made the 375 mile trip home.  It's a day I'll never forget. 

Larry - Very nicely done! Congrats!

Elena - That bug you got is not unique.

Aside from one longer run, my training has been going no where fast. I was hoping to make this past week a big one with now 12 days out to race day. Some personal things getting in the way. Not looking to be overly dramatic but I am kind of bummed, there were things I needed to get done and my daughter had a big three day swim meet this weekend. She did great with some PR's. It will not affect the race too much, I was just hoping to build a bit more fitness to push a bit harder race day.

The run I got in Saturday was on a nice flat area in Princeton, where Bianca's swim meet was, and did great in some warm humid conditions. The splits were 9:38, 9:34, 9:31, 10:49, and 10:48 for a total of 5.01miles in 50:48minutes. Small victories were 3.1 in under 30 with negative splits for the first 3miles. Being away from home I did not have the equipment and chose to run without water. At the end of the 3.1M water probably would have been a help to make this an even better run.

Larry - I read your story in the general forum. I can't read your stories any more because they always make me cry Your story is incredible, incredible, incredible!!! So proud to know you! So about that race report???

I did a 27 mile bike today and I was going fast to beat the storm. I have to double check the numbers on my computer because what I typed into my log from memory tells me I pulled a 20mph pace. If it is true, whoa! Cool!

First night shift starts tonight.

Oh, one more thing. I realized today that part of the reason I have been holding off on signing up for the HIM in September is fear. I am really afraid I will not be ready to take on the course. I booked the hotel (didn't pay yet), but I have been putting off signing up. Not sure what to think, but I just gotta sign on the dotted line. Right? AAAHHHHH!

Elena - how's it going?

Great job on the 53 mile ride.  wow!!

Sign up for the HIM.  Then you'll be committed!!

Elena - Nice ride!

Carol - How is the heat? Jersey has been kind of warm low mid 90's.

Samantha - Looks to me like your training volume is good. So, what are you waiting for?

My story started a year and a half ago when I decided to get in the pool with my swimming pro daughter. I spent most of the time on my back, red in the face, and my heart beating like crazy. If I was not on my back, then it was side stroke where I could move and still relax my breath. Wow have things changed! I left the pool for six months and returned right after Christmas this year (12/2011). Again, Wow! I found that breast stroke was easier and even started some freestyle. Some other parents at the pool encouraged me after a friend suggested I enter this local sprint tri. Well it took a while for me to convince myself that swimming 1/2 mile was doable for me. It was probably February or early March when I signed up before the pain of adding run and bike workouts.

I probably underestimated the challenge but signing on the line is not anything I regret. No small part is the inspiration you all have provided and the tremendously helpful advice of Steve. Running was always what I figured would be my challenge and even that is starting to come around. Running for a couple minutes seems big 3-4 months ago. Now running 3 mile continuous is becoming more normal.

Sorry to ramble but putting it on paper makes it easier to picture how much things have changed. Time to get your feet wet because the water is fine and after all that training there is no obstacle to stop you. Sign up and realize the dream you are working so hard to accomplish!

Yes, love this!!  Yes, the heat is still not my friend.  Had a little respite this last couple of days.  Slightly cooler/lower humidity with a breeze.  Made all the difference.  We are actually much cooler than last yr, but I seem to be feeling it more.  Maybe just getting a bit older.

Samantha, based on your logs, I'd say you are committed.  Yes, time to sign up!

Elena, I've been meaning to comment on the whole nerves/self-sabotage thing.  For me there is a fine line between feeling pulled along by a goal or being put off by it.  I truly find joy in working out.  Though I enjoy racing, it's really not the #1 thing to me in all this.  When the goal starts to feel too "pushy" and steals some of that joy, I feel myself rebeling against it.  Maybe kind of similar to what you're experiencing? 

Samantha --- go sign up today!

Carol -- glad to hear its 'cooled off' a bit. We have your weather today. Forcast is for 100+ and humid.

Larry -- What are folks around you saing about your transformation? Do people recognize you anymore? Doing double & triple takes?

Steve -- what is your schedule the next week or so?

I finally signed up for another tri yesterday. Its a sprint on 8/12. 880/13/4.4. A bit longer than the usual on the swim & run. I needed something to focus on, and someone at work asked me to sign up and do the race with her, so I did.  Race goals other than finish -- have a good run for once, and be positive about it, and a sub 15 min swim split (would be top 30 OA based on last years event). Enjoy the bike, too!

Joe, I don't know about you, but the hardest thing for me was to say the hell with it, and commit, and get started.  At first, I felt awkward telling people I was doing a Half Ironman because I got some looks like "you can't be serious."  Great story, and I agree it does help writing it down.

Mike, people I haven't seen in a while are pretty shocked.  99% positive, but every once in a while someone will ask if I am all right, thinking I'm sick or something.  The coolest thing is a couple of people have asked me to help them come up with an exercise and eating plan.  

Aw, Jim that is terrible! So sorry about this. Get well soon!!

Loved the race report Larry. And you literally worked your bum off! Hahaha.

JIm - Sad news! Very glad you found out before you continued pushing yourself and ended up much worse. Please stick around and keep us posted on life/training! This group is what the members make it and you are part of that.

Today was the first day after working night shift. I got off work and was so tired I went straight to bed and slept 7.5 hours, which was pretty good. I usually like to get between 8-9; no complaints though. I got up and ate, then rested for another hour before my long run for the week. Not sure who/what to blame, but my run was terrible. I felt tired and under my game. It could be the new schedule, or that I'm in a recovery week. Not sure. Feel discouraged and wonder about my decision to go to nights during such an important training time.

Jim – That really stinks but you should come out of it much stronger in the end. What you do when not training can be as important as what you do during training. You have always trained hard, so do some good recovery and you will be more than ready in December whatever you decide.

Larry – There was a point where I had to say something like that. Life can throw you many curveballs and there is a substantial time commitment in training. With the mild winter I got an early start to where I knew I could finish (ok time to sign up) and then got psyched about possibly doing very well (at least in AG) with the months that were ahead. I have a history of high blood pressure and was frustrated with a not being able to lose weight. The blood pressure is still not the best but overall the health is significantly better. I was developing cholesterol and triglyceride issue which is now gone. I will probably need a new (smaller) belt soon, so no regrets. My goal time right now is 1.5 hrs which is about .5 slower than what I was thinking 4 months ago but you cannot ignore what the training tells you.

Mike – Great news about entering another Tri!

Samantha – Adjusting to shift change is not easy so hang in there. It will work out. The training will get better. It is a long run and they are not always pretty. I would bet that 3 months ago this run would have been something to be excited about.

Larry, this was my favorite part of your race report: "Although the race got tough at the end, it's a day I'll never regret.  It was the culmination of 6 months of working my off to lose 95 pounds, and it was concrete evidence that I had regained my life and health!!"  Awesome!

Jim, sorry to hear about your illness continuing, and that Vineman full is out for you this year .  Glad your doc was honest with you about it and that you are listening.  We do this stuff for many reasons, sending ourselves to the hospital (or worse) with pneumonia is not one of them!  Just because you are not doing a race with the word "iron" in it in the near future does not mean you are not a valuable, contributing memeber in this group.  Your perspectives are great, so please keep posting.

Samantha, ugh on the shift change!  Got to be tough for your body to adapt, but I know you will.  You might even wind up liking it .

Joe, you have made quite a transformation as well!  Glad to hear some of your health indicators are back in range, and that you are embracing the journey!

Mike, congrats on signing up for the race on 8/12, and encouraging your co-worker.  Time to show off some of that swim speed with the longer swim leg!

Steve, guess you're in CO about now.  Hope you are enjoying the scenery as well as the training!

Got back in the pool yesterday after missing quite a few swims, and it showed.  Pool closures and meetings/FIL dr appts, etc. during the 2 hour daily "lap swim" window have kept me from being able to make it much lately.  Overall, I'm still training with reasonable frequency, but have not signed up for the next race.  I have my eye on and OLY in mid September that would include a little weekend getaway.  But between seeing my run speed and stamina drop in the heat, stepping back my bike speed (what there was of it) to ride more with my hubby who is just starting out, and having a hard time matching up lap swim times with my schedule, I'm not sure if racing more than a sprint fits with my priorities right now.  Going to OWS on Friday, which is at a better time for me, so maybe that in will help me figure it out.