Writebrained/JHouse4's 2009 - Newbies Unite Group FULL (Page 5)

Holy cow...that sounds like a madhouse.  Sooooo, how is it that a fast runner ends up back in the pack?  Is it just because there are so many that they disperse you where ever they can?  Sorry to play 100 questions here but I'm just trying to understand why you wouldn't be with people of the same pace.

I hope your tooth is at least fixed well enough that you're not in pain or so it's not too much of a pain in the...uuuuuuh....let's just say I hope your not in pain!  

Thanks!  That is a great article!!

    Merry Christmas

                   Wishing you and yours the very best this Holiday Season! 

I am not sure how/why some runners end up towards the back…  I would guess that it is an administrative error of some sorts.  I called them the other day and they are going to fix it. That is a load off…

Merry Christmas everyone!

Joe Casa!  Good news on your end.  Merry Christmas!!!!  Glad you won't have to wade thru the masses.....that'd be Goofy! 

You are killing me Smalls

Timed my run just perfect today.  Beat the BIG storm by 1 second, literally.......The front door blew open (wind) - 3 seconds after I walked in the house. 

Did the bloody sock thing today....keep those toe nails cliped and rounded....nail cut into side of my toe.  

I'm glad some of you are getting in good runs.  I thought about going swimming last night but by the time we got back from skiing my coughing was worse and my voice was completely gone.  My husband had this last week and it lasted a few days.

 I hate chest colds.  They seem to take so much longer to get over.   I dread to see what my heart rate is gonna be like when I start up again.  Maybe it'll be to my advantage that I have travel days for about the next 5 days (long story) and won't have much chance to train.

 Hope you're having a great weekend!

That was a terrifying storm. My mom and siblings were in town at a kid's basketball game and had a hard time getting home due to flooded streets and limbs everywhere. When the initial front moved through, I saw the front windows in my living room kind of "shimmer" for want of a better word.  Headed straight for the windowless room!

Great run!

Take care of yourself, chest colds are the worst.

Sorry I haven't been around the last few days.  I could go on forever with the small dilemmas we've been dealing with here but since you have the option to go read a "condensed" version in my blog, I'll spare you! 

I have to catch up on ya'lls logs but in the meantime...

Joe:  That's great that you won't have to worry about fighting your way thru the start of your race!

Scott:  I take it your back is feeling better?!

Anne and John:  What the heck is going on with your weather?  My sister was telling me that same thing is happening in Ohio ~ blizzard one day and 60 degrees the next!  That's just crazy weather ~ no wonder everyone is sick!

Lara:  I hope you feel better real soon.  You're right, it does seem like chest colds take forever to get over ~ uuggg!

Now, I have a question but first let me tell you my life story...I used to LOVE swimming but my idea of swimming was all in fun.  I never did laps but I would swim around using some make shift strokes that managed to suit me well over the years.  When I started thinking about seriously doing a triathlon (but before actually committing to it) I took lessons given by lifeguards on how to actually do some of the strokes; mainly freestyle and breast.  Anyway, now that I'm trying to get better at actually swimming and not just playing in the water I don't enjoy it and haven't been in the pool at all in December.  Now, part of the reason has to do with the fact that the pool here on post is an outdoor pool and is "cold."  But mostly its because I'm just not good at swimming frestyle and I don't know how to get better although I have been reading Total Immersion to see if I can teach myself.  I've tried to find a local Masters but the one that I would actually be able to drive to doesn't have an on deck coach.  My question is, can you really teach yourself?  I am having a hard time imagining that I can do it.  I did find a personal trainer who is willing to help me train for my first triathlon with an emphasis on swimming but I'm leary of his qualifications and it just doesn't make sense to me to pay someone when I'm not sure I trust he is actually teaching me correctly (in all aspects).  Is my thinking way off?  Am I trying to be too much of a perfectionist when I should just get in the pool (go ahead and tell me to just shut up and suck up the "cold"; is it best to just swim lap after lap when I don't feel confident that I'm doing it correctly ~ not to mention I'm slow as molasses and can't seem to catch my breath?

I am the world's worst swimmer. Rocks get to the shore faster than me.

What really helped me was having a really good swimmer watch me slog around in the water and make suggestions.  Just a few simple adjustments can really make a difference in stroke efficiency.  I wonder if there is a triathlon club on the island and if so, if they could recommend a coach for you?

I agree with Abake that if you can't seem to find a coach who can give you pointers, the next best thing may be a good swimmer along side of you to help point out some of your good and bad points.  The only trouble with this is that some really good swimmers have really bad stroke technique (ie Janet Evans) and they may not be able to help correct your mistakes.  Be careful with who you ask for help and make sure they look like they know what they are doing.  Then just get out there and do it.  Know matter how much you understand the theory, you won't get better if you don't get wet.

Any chance you could have someone video tape you swimming so you can play it back and watch yourself?  This will help you focus on what you are doing incorrectly so you can concentrate on getting it right.

I agree.  Get someone to watch and provide tips. 

Also, there are some great swim/instructional videos on YouTube.com.  I think "Evan's Coaching" impressed me the most....check'em out.

example LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25_Fd_mEqVs

Thank you!!!  I'm thinking one of my January challenges must include getting wet, huh?!

Anne ~ You're too funny!!  I'm thinking the rocks just might be beating me to shore also.  Anyway, they have a few triathlon clubs in Honolulu but I never thought of contacting them to see if they would/could recommend a closer coach; I guess I'll just have to try! 

Scott ~ I like the idea of someone videotaping me although I'm afraid to actually see what I look like! The phrase "flailing like a fish out of water" comes to mind!

John ~ thanks for the link.  Watching a video in addition to reading about it really helps.  His techniques seem like they are pretty much the same as that of Terry Laughlin/Total Immersion which is nice since I'm already reading that book.

As painful as it might be the video taping really does help...You can see the mistakes you are making and correlate it to how it feels and try to adjust...My swim team coach used to do it at least once a quarter. 

I started out using Total Immersion.  Great way for adults to learn the basics. 

My only concern with Total Immersion is front quadrant swimming (or a lack of training/teaching in this area).  I followed TI to a "T" but was not getting ANY speed.  Several BT'ers critiqued a video I put up on BT and commented on my dropped elbow and and failure to use the front quadrant.

 JHouse4 is a great resourse on swimming (swam in the Oly Trials) - FYI.   He has worked with me since the videos below were produced.

TI + BT'ers tips + Evan's Videos (on Youtube) have all combined to turn me in to an emerging almost/kinda/sorta "intermediate" swimmer.  Keep plugging away and asking questions....it'll happen! 

Below is not the best video but it did serve a purpose.   I'm still FAR FROM PEFECT but improving:

BEFORE VIDEO:  Body position is horrible.  Lots of twisting caused by dropped elbow, lousy "catch", etc. 

BEFORE VIDEO:  http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=10498&photoid=85450

AFTER VIDEO still room for improvement but emerging skills.  Still need to keep head up a little more, body is straighter but not perfect, swim splits are a little faster in now..... 

AFTER VIDEO:  http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=6897&photoid=87419

I'd like to think my swim is even better now....I've been working since Nov. on drills and skills.  Time will tell.  Hope'n my mistakes will help others a little.....

Thanks John ~ I will have to get my hubby to videotape me.  Like you said, Katie, as ugly as it may be I think it'll really help.  Sooo, now there is only one thing to do...get my butt in the pool!