shmeeg's Winter Madness Mentor group - OPEN TO HIPPIES (Page 5)

rachel5576 - 2011-01-04 7:57 AM Great tip Laura, and Jay. I actually plan on taking lessons at the Y when the class is offered in April.
Oh an Jay thanks for the tip on the tri suits.  so glad i found this site i've learned so much already!

Laurie you'll have to let us know which bike you end up with. I can't wait to start bike shopping!  Just give me a few more hours in my day and i'll get right on that.

saongiri thanks for that swimming link looks really interesting.


Have a great day All!

rachel5576 - 2011-01-03 10:04 PM Hey everybody wow lots to catch up on!

QOTD: Which discipline is your favorite and why?
i guess running probably because I've been doing it the longest i haven't biked or swam until today.

 Oh and speaking of swimming i got my butt up and out the door at 5:15 in the morning to hit the pool. Yay me...until i got there and everyone was doing laps faster than i could get in the pool lol it was pretty embarrassing and i forgot my goggles probably because i don't use goggles normally.  Trying not to worry about it and remember we all have to start somewhere. Funny i thought the initial program i picked out would be too easy boy was i wrong hehehe

Thanks everyone who posted swimming links!!!! I need it bad!

Brian thanks for all the pointers on the bike. i really have know idea what i need. I really don't want to spend much more than $300 (sorry Jay) because this is such a new hobby to me.  does it really matter what kind of bike? i guess i mean if i were to get a decent mountain bike instead of a road bike?   My first tri will be a tester so if i don't really like it it would be nice to have a bike i can take on trails.

Also i rode bike today, kind of forgot how unforgiving the seats can be.  Then i imagine myself in a wet bathing suit can anyone say chaffing? yikes!  Any tips?  Was also surprise how my legs felt when i got off. How in the world are you supposed to run like that? lol  practice, practice, practice i guess

i think thats it

Hey, the chaffing I've seen lots of stuff in the medical forms, and I also browse the Athena, where I know i have lots to deal with so to say. Very helpful advice in there. Try diaper oinment, Bag Balm is mentioned several times I've seen. I'm just going to lube up and hope for the best. Not very pleasent to talk about- but the forms are really helpful, and answer most of my questions before I ask them!

LAH - 2011-01-05 6:05 PM OMG!!! I have already dropped two lbs from just walking 20mins a day and switching from sweet tea, to water. I'm up to nearly 64 oz a day-which for me is lots I'm not cutting things out of my diet, just trying to eat balanced and portioned-and of course, no junk. Cool!! I can't wait till next week I"m i'm doing all 3!!! I look at bikes tomorrow!!!

LAH - 2011-01-06 10:14 AM ok, so need some of that great advice mentor group! went and test drove a

shmeeg - 2011-01-06 12:01 AM Since we haven't heard from many of the folks who originally signed up I'm going to open the group up again and see if anyone else wants to join.

rachel5576 - 2011-01-06 8:47 AM

sounds good! i need all the help i can get.

I went swimming again yesterday and it went much better than Monday.  I had some drills planned (not that i was really ready for that).  My biggest issue is sticking my face in the water. I choked more times than i care to admit but i stuck it out for a half hour. i did some research yesterday and watched a few videos on breathing techniques.  Did some breathing exercises outside of the water and feel confident that tomorrow will go much smoother.

So those of you that ride bike regularly do wear some time of padded bike short all the time or is the bike seat something you get used to after a few times? my bottom was so sore yesterday it was painful to do my biking.

on the training plan for today....a 3 mile run and strength training.

lsmapp - 2011-01-06 8:49 AM Training for today - hitting the pool for the first time in too long! Plus a bike later I think. If I quit slacking on my work, lol (I work from home for myself, and sometimes I procrastinate just a bit too much and have to make it up by working from 8-11 pm - ugh!)

Rach - on the training plan for today....a 3 mile run and strength training.

rachel5576 - 2011-01-06 9:37 AM Jay i've just been using an indoor bike at the highschool gym but its brand new and super nice! we've got about 3ft of snow here in Wisconsin so i probably wont be bike shopping for a few more months.  plus i want to buy running snow shoes, some Vibram flows for the colder weather me toes get too cold now and a heart rate monitor, oh and i guess a pair of bike shorts.

I am mixing up a few plans to create my own. I was originally going with the sprint 3x balanced on bt. i am still using the same 3 days of swim, bike, and running but it only gives you times and not much else. since i really need help with swimming i am now using the Five-Month Beginner Swimmer Series on bt and yet another plan for my running.  Since i my tri is not until July im not going to worry about bike part too much until i get a good pair of shorts!

shmeeg - 2011-01-06 12:16 PM

Ah ok, well if it's adjustable, you might want to play around w/ the seat height or even handlebars if they move at all.  I know when I used to go to a spin class regularly I had specific settings I put the bike on for the best results.  Yikes, snow! And here I am complaining because it's in the 40s when I have to leave for work in the mornings . 

When you start your shopping for the HRM, be sure to check the classifieds here and on slowtwitch.  Many good deals to be had.  I just picked up a brand new Garmin FR210 on slowtwitch for $200.  Saved me about a hundred bucks.  If you want to jump on the Garmin bandwagon when the time comes, be sure to check out www.dcrainmaker.com, Ray has a zillion Garmin reviews, tips, tricks, etc.  More info than you will ever need for sure.  It's a great reference.



That's what I generally do also.  I like to use the BT plans as a shell for some time based workouts, but like the nuts and bolts of a RW running plan or have the flexibility to mix up the bike/swim plans also.


ETA: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=223019&start=1  Just saw this thread in the Are You New forum, since you're doing the 5m swim plan.  Should be some good info there.  I may join in myself.

Are either of you using a BT training plan or some other structured workout schedule?  Having any problems combining multiple plans?

LAH - 2011-01-06 6:10 PMgood luck with the swimming rachel, I start next week, and a bit timid really to get in the pool, i love to swim but look like a giant kid doggie paddling! i too have been researching online training and breathing. if you never hear from me again, i'm at the bottomw of chin chin comminy center pool jk!!! I can't wait to see how much pool water I end up drinking!! lol i guess i won't complain either about the mid-40s we're having hwew either, but it's turning cold, and possible snow next week CALIFORNIA IS LOOKING GOOD RIGHT NOW! i will take another look at the hybred-thanks so much, thats what my gut was saying, but i wanted to make sure i wasn't crazy- if i do get the bug, i'll get another on down the road....on craigslist or something once i've figured this out i'm not worried thanks for the help!! now back to writing papers for me, walk again tomorrow!