Experior and Slornow's Spring/Summer Mentor Group-CLOSED (Page 47)

That's great advice.  If you can endear yourself to the guys at the LBS, service suddenly becomes much better, IME.  I don't think it is at all unethical.  You are making their lives a little better.  They are doing the same for you in exchange.  That's the essence of economic transaction.

I'm now semi-sponsored by my LBS (nothing major -- I wear their gear at local races and they give me discounts and good service).  Getting to know them a bit has totally opened my eyes to the 'levels' of service one can get from LBS.  It isn't that they don't treat all of their customers well.  It has more to do with differing customer expectations.  Make your expectations clear, and give them a reason (beer works) to satisfy them.

Lol.  I like being helpful, and hope that I am.  After getting 'watch out' from mods, I've definitely stayed away from threads where I thought that straight honesty was the best help.

The thread you mentioned was interesting because it seemed early on that the OP was totally OK with being asked not to come back, and just wanted to improve.  Then folks jumped in saying it was awful that they asked her not to return, and yeah, at that point, I bit my tongue.  When did no-drop group ride become a basic human right?

I only skimmed through the posts, but it seemed like the OP navigated the wide variety of opinions pretty well.  Seemed like he/she was trying to figure out expectations / generally acceptable approaches and there was lots of good advice.  On the no-drop issue, I have similar challenges teaching music classes / leading sessions.  Trying to balance encouraging people to join and get a big enough group to make it "fun" in a social way with having people at similar levels.  In my case, either you know the tune or you don't... but I expect sitting through 5 tunes in a row that you don't know or can't keep up with is similar to being dropped from a group ride.  Just gotta find the right group to be part of where there's enough in common to make it enjoyable or understand that it might be awhile before it is enjoyable - that's the joiners' responsibility.  The leader can only do so much.  Anyway, I thought the OP had a great ultimate solution.  

Looks like I'm going to get 3 workout days in a row for the 1st time in 3 weeks.  Speaking of personal responsibility.  I've been a slacker!  

Have a great day, everyone!

Stu 

Fantastic suggestion! I'm going to try that today!

Stu-glad to hear you are back in the swing of things!

I read through some of the original posts but not much. Not something I would reply to so I moved on. I don't spend much time in the main forum. I'll check it regularly but rarely post.

Work until early afternoon then headed to my in laws place at the beach.....think Bay not Gulf. Think old fish camp not modern condo/beach house. But, its a neat old place right on the water....hope to get an OWS or two in.  No internet down there so I will be limited to checking in by phone until Thursday evening.  Did an easy treadmill run early and hope to get a swim in before heading out. Taking the bike so plan to get a ride in early tomorrow.  Back home Thursday evening and then driving to Chattanooga Friday.  My daughter is working as a counselor at a girls camp in North Alabama for a month so I will swing through and take her to lunch on the way to Chattanooga  Will be good to see her.

Randy

At some point I started skimming too, but yes, the OP seemed to have a reasonable attitude -- put in the work (though I could have done without OP's last post, which I just read).  The claims (not by OP) that OP has a right to the group ride were a bit over the top.  As usual, KathyG made the point I would make, in a much more diplomatic way.

It does seem to me that BT is fracturing a bit.  Posts like the 'competitive type A's keep out' are just the most obvious example.  I actually discussed this with Ron several days ago and they are also concerned and are trying to find a solution.  I suggested that maybe tri-talk is too big and there should be a separate forum devoted specifically to discussion about improving in the sport and leave talk of tatoos and the evil machinations of WTC to another area.  Come to think of it, maybe I'll just see what folks think...  http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=448995&posts=1#M4292272

Big training day for me today, I hope.  s/b/r (not in that order).  I will head over to the Fort to retake my (lol, 'my') kom!

With that specific thread, my first thought was that's why I ride alone. I ride an MTB and I'm slow on it. Even when our number 1 cyclist on island, manager of our LBS, asks me when I'm going to ride with them, I say when I'm not riding the 4x and am fast enough to. I don't want to hold anyone back! Same applies to running. You can hang if you know the route and can handle running alone. Rule is, if you feel good, go. See you at the end for coffee.

Honestly, I love silly stuff and will get into it. I don't like coddling though and will not expect it or do it. I did not come here for it. I still remember Jason (one from our previous mentor group) telling me to respect the race that I was training for as a newbie when I came to BT with newbie questions. I took that to heart and I threw myself into getting to know it. In the end I was not as prepared as I should have been, but that was not because I didn't respect it. I respected and loved it. I just did not know how much training was enough or not, and I wish that I had arrived in time to joined a mentor group to find out.

Sometimes though the snark, or humor I perceive to be snark, can be off-putting as a new person to the sport that thinks a particular questions is legit.

Dunno. My 2 cents.

Anyway, getting back into working on my fitness. So far I've done some P90X because that's all I've had time for with the kids around. The only thing in the near future I have to work on is a 1/2 mary, which I hope to get a new PB in. It'll be my 3rd time running it. Sadly, distance running is a lonely sport for me. I train alone, and run the race alone.  Looks like I'll be doing the training part alone again, but I know of a few people who'll be running it this year. Yay! After party will be much more fun.

Hope you're all have a great start to your week!

RENE: Yay for the stars aligning for that race!!

Michael-looks like you have generated alot of discussion.  Should be interesting.

Randy

Blanda -- enjoy the lead-up to the HM.  I think that's probably my favorite distance.

Yeah, running is a loner activity for me too.  I actually like it that way.  I do wish I could bike in a group more often.  For some reason, cycling feels more like a social activity, and one where it feels good to push and be pushed.

Very nice!  You just made it onto their 'A' list.

The LBS I use is owned by a young couple...really nice folks.  I always take by some wine at the holidays and a bottle if they fix me up quickly or do a little something extra for me.  They have a keg fridge in the store so they are in pretty good shape on the beer front.

Nice job Jamie...

Pretty good swim today.  200 for time was 2:49...wish I could maintain somewhere close to that pace over a longer distance.....maybe some day......doubtful though.

Randy 

Pretty good ride for me today.  Retook KOM by 14 seconds that was unrightfully stolen from me by a mere second a few days ago.  Suck on that Mr. Chris Mathis!  (No, I don't know who he is and yes I'm joking.)

I had hoped to swim and run today, and still might, but having stomach issues right now.  Ugh.  I might have to do dryland stuff for the swimming.

Michael, I could see myself getting pretty addicted to Strava. *Luckily* for me, I have a Timex Run Trainer that doesn't sync with Strava, so I can't use it. When I first started running, I used the Nike+ app for my iPhone, and it was really hard not to go for a PR every time I ran. I always wanted Paula Radcliffe or Lance Armstrong to come on and tell me how well I'd run!

Got a GREAT run in this evening. My training plan called for 17 minutes of running today, but, to be honest, I can't really do that and feel like I accomplished much. The weather was ideal, there was a thunderstorm about a mile away to the east, and it felt like running in the fall. So, I did 6 miles, with the first five at a slow pace (didn't even look at the average) and the last at more of a race pace. It felt really good, and even better that I didn't feel like I'd run through the desert.

Pulled a hamstring during tonight's run.  Thankfully I scheduled a rest day for tomorrow.  Hopefully it'll heal fast.

It sucks to have a minor injury right when I get back in full training mode. Of course, I realize who I'm complaining to Michael :-)

Complain away.   Misery loves company, and all.  I've had hamstring issues before (which I got from running too hard).  I found that I could keep running if I kept the pace very very easy.  In general, the easier you run, the less the hamstrings are engaged.  Rest a day or two or three, then try a very easy run.  Make sure the pace feels ridiculously easy.  If that works, build from there as it feels appropriate.

Hamstring Injuries are the worst! I pulled a hamstring so many times when I used to play soccer in Germany. If you don't warm up right it goes really fast especially if you do speed work. 

I actually switched it up this morning and instead of running I decided to walk for 30 minutes through the neighborhood almost like an active rest kind of deal. Had a good workout in the dojahng tonight. 

20-30 mile easy bike ride followed by a short 2 mile run tomorrow morning. OWS swim at the lake followed by a nice barbecue and some fireworks. 

Hope you all have a great 4th of July!