Yanti & Lynn: Manatee Madness Mentor Group CLOSED (Page 5)

I hope you have room for one more!  I'm a 45 year old mom from Wisconsin who wants to compete in my first triathlon in June.  I'm married to a non-athletic man, and I have one kid, an almost 8 year old daughter.  I love my furry kids, too, we have 1 dog and 4 cats. I work full time passing gas for a living.

More bio to follow!

I've been a casual runner for years, but last year I got an online coach and trained for a half marathon.  I was slow, but finished and continued to train for another in September. In September I caught a virus, ran the half anyways, became anemic, incredibly fatigued, and then totally burned out.  I've only run sporadically the last few months.  In hindsight, I can see that I was really overtraining over the summer and that is probably why I blew up.

I think competing in tri's would be a good fit, this way I can cross train and do a variety of sports that I already enjoy by themselves.  This time I plan to use heart rate monitoring to keep track things.

Did I mention I love pop tarts and cats?

Met with coach on Friday.  We are going to still keep Big Sur Marathon as the 2012 Spring goal.  He feels that I should start working this calf and see what it does.  I feel like a slug because my running has been so minimal for the past 6 weeks.  I have a 45 minute run on my schedule today and then right in to a 5 miler with some small hills tomorrow.  Lets do this!!!!  (or at least try to do this) I am incorporating nutrition into this marathon training.  I will be logging my intake and trying to balance a little.  Going with some cleaner eating, more lean proteins, fruits and veggies. 

Allen, you asked about Boxing day.  We do not do Boxing day in the U.S. but Canada does and living in Michigan, they are my neighbors (only 20 minutes from the bridge).  How is Boxing day celebrated?  I just know it exists but have no idea of the traditions that go with it.  What is it? 

Someone's been stalking me! Nyan nyan nyan nyan nyan ... I can hear the music in my head, and what's worse, I like it.

Welcome, Zelda, to BT, tri, the Manatees! And you, too, have a push-faced dog. Splendid.

I cannot relate to the bolded part in your post. Not. At. All. Ahem. Lynn?

You mentioned you've been running sporadically--have you been doing anything else? Heart rate training requires field (or better yet, lab, if you have the ducats) testing to be useful, but you also need to be in somewhat decent shape to do the field tests--about 8 weeks of consistent training in bike and run. (There are things you can do with a HRM in the meanwhile, though).

Calf problems. Working it to see what it does. Minimal running for 6 weeks, going right into a 45-minute today and 5-miler tomorrow.

This sets off so many alarm bells in my head ... however, if this coach is extremely well credentialed/experienced, you've run your calf problems and current return to running/plans with a medical sports professional, what you will be doing is mostly walking with some running mixed in, and you're pretty close to goal weight, I can see it working out.

I'm not coming down on you. Big Sur is a phenomenal race and I'd like to see you do it. Repeat: I'd like to see you do it. Both Lynn and I have gone through very painful and repeated (at least on my part--I'm stupid enough to make the same mistake over and over) experiences with ramping up running too quickly, overtraining it, and not dealing appropriately with injuries. It would not be an exaggeration to say I've seen it a thousand times in others as well.

Above all, I want to see you happy, healthy, whole, and continuing having running be a part of that for the rest of your life, if you wish.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who tends to overtrain.  

Well, I've been running once a week-ish.  I've been going to a boot camp/crossfit type class once a week, and a Pilates Orbit class once a week.  

I am trying a few weeks of a maintenance plan with an online tri coach who uses the heart rate training methodology.  I start today with a 30 min. bike with a heart rate of 130.

They also advised me to quit the boot camp class because it is too intense.

I'm open to all opinions and advice.   

My questions would be: where did the number 130bpm come from (and any other numbers you'll be training by), and boot camp is too intense for what?

Well, I am officially a pig   I have eaten so much junk that it is ridiculous.  Happily, i've been able to run and/or swim everyday to help offset the calorie overload, but i really need to run about 50 miles a day to break even!  I have a couple more days in Ft. Lauderdale, then back home where i do a much better job eating cleanly.

Hope everyone had a merry xmas (and boxing day).

Ann-Marie

Great! I have an obsession with piglets, too. Heh. How is it that one kilo of food can make you gain, say, three kilos?

Life is short, so enjoy ... and if it isn't, well, you have the rest of your life to live better and work it off.

Sometimes, I should not be taken too seriously. Just sayin' ... have a good rest of your holiday and safe drive back to O-land.

Hey all,

Hope everyone's holiday  has been good!  Holiday festivities are not quite over for me.  Off to the in-laws for more gorging of eats and sweets.  Swam this morning and it felt great!  My daughter went we me and tried to teach me flip turns.  I've never had so much water go up my nose before, LOL.  I think I'll stick with my stop at the wall and go method.  

Shawn, looks like we're midwest neighbors.  I see you signed up for Rev 3 Wisconsin Dells.  I'm very close to signing up for that one.  Looks like a good one.

Alarms here too... not coming down on you either - as I am on the side of WAY to conservative on training and don't push myself enough so who am i to talk.    ASK the coach why back to back...and fast ramp up after being off.  it's good to ask and build that rapport with the coach- if you are fine with the answer then go for it, but I'd ask about the philosophy.  I'd be curious what the coach says - so please share  

If you go for it - have great runs and let us know how it felt.

~Ann

Well, after not doing my 2 hour run yesterday...and eating two cup cakes - off to do my 2 hour run now!

hope everyone is having a great day - trying to keep up with all the comments here!!  Good stuff.

It's so inspring to be part of the group! 

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Hope you have a lovely long one, Ann. I forwent my long training this weekend--much too busy putting Christmas on and taking care of my mom (who has Alzheimer's) since we had to fire her nurse right before the holidays. Just as well--I think I needed the rest.

Howdy Claire! Hey, I'm a firm believe in prolonging holidays as long as possible we'll be doing holiday eating here all week, although light fare and not big portions. You know how low in fat gingerbread is, comparatively?

Well, great job on the swim and attempting flip turns. Don't give up yet ... part of the key is to just begin by learning how to do somersaults in the water. Nowhere near a wall. Blow out your nose the whole time.

A little explanation to put all you mother-hens at ease. I use that term mother hen very lovingly.  I'm glad you are looking out for me.  I'd do the same if any of you had written what I did.  I should've elaborated.  

My calf started seizing about 2 weeks after Marine Corp Marathon (#3 in 65 days).  It would totally seize, not like a cramp but more like tightness that would make the one leg actually shorter than the other.  Weird.  Never ever hurt once the seize let go so my brain still can't register it as an injury because I have no pain except when it does these funky seizes. 

I saw a running-specialist PT, who is a local running guru, olympic trials qualifier (his 4th time), and overall smart guy.  He and the PT's at his office called this a calf heart attack.  I started "therapy" with weekly professional massages (I hope I need those for a long, long time.  My massage therapist is amazing. It is the best thing to come out of all of this), and daily "massage" with The Stick and a foam roller, and ice, and heat, etc.....   I have tried the occasional run when I am allowed, depending on what the massage therapist feels in that calf.  Much of what I have been doing is walking with some running thrown in but so little that I don't even count it.  My coach has had me on NO running but I have let Mr. Running Guru PT be more the judge of it because NO running is frustrating the hell out of me, especially in times of stress (work, holidays, etc..)  They all let me run last week because it was either run or go on prozac.   It wasn't a happy decision with coach or PT but they let me do it.   I promised to be smart and listen to my body, stop at the first "different" sensation, don't wait for the 1st twinge. Meeting with the coach and yes, he is USAT level 1 certified, newly though, and he is being super conservative because he doesn't want me to get hurt.   My coach, after discussing with the PT,  thinks that with smart training, this MIGHT be doable.  The back to back runs surprised me but one of my 2012 goals is to trust.   I have a good endurance base.  If Mr. Conservative coach and Mr. Running guru PT think this is a good idea than I have to trust.  He started me with 4 runs this week but 1 of them is described as "embarrassingly slow", better to do on my own so that I don't get caught up in going someone else's pace. 

My plan today:  Lets get an easy run in today. WU and CD with about a 5 minute walk. Run comfortably for 30-35 minutes and stretch your calf as needed. Go easy today and tomorrow will be a longer run. This was great!  5 min walk warm up, 3 miles in 35:53 but straight through, not even an itch in my calf, so sensation free (YAY!!), then a 5 min walk cool down. 

Hoping tomorrow's run up hills and very easy on down hills for 5 miles will go as well.  I think this will be a week that will tell if we want to even move forward with this goal.  Everyone seems to have a lot more confidence than I do.  I think I was born to be a manatee.  I have the same reservations as you all.  

Mother hen? Buck-buck-buck-AW! Hens, dogs, cats, piglets, manatees ... I told you it was the Funny Farm around here!

I really, really hear you on the "run or Prozac." Above all ... as you said, really listen to your body. Not to your dreams or goals or WISHES (the way you want it to be) but to your body (the way it is). Adrienne (Asalzwed) trained for her first marathon without a watch, at which she BQ'ed. Aim for that level of hearing and responding. Remember that by the time it hurts, it's often too late. Pay attention to your whole being--energy levels, nutrition, etc. (Yes, yes, you already said you would).

Listen to Clint. Pick his brain. As for your coach, as with ANY coach, ask ask ask. Trust your body; trust your coach insofar as he's listening to your body and your reality. USAT certification is, to be honest, very superficial. It's more of an introduction to triathlon and coaching than anything else.

One final random note: there's two (several) main schools of thought on running downhill. One is to take it easy because it's murder on your quads. The other is to let your body go, and let it run as naturally quickly downhill as your momentum would have it do; make no effort to "stop" or "hold back." The reasoning is that trying to stop or slow causes the distal end of your femur to slam into the back of your kneecap.

I'd try both on easy hills. My personal preference now is to just let it rip downhill. Seems to train a higher turnover as well.

Hey Jogo, It sounds to me like you are on the right track (though like another, I am not an expert) I am of the type that if I CANT go do my workout due to pain/injury, I will find a way to get some form of activity in--sometimes following the correct routes, but usually following how I feel...Luckily I rarely get injured too badly! (knocking on wood!!!). In any case, it sounds like if you follow your coach and running guru' plans you'll be back in full action soon.

As for me, I DID plan on doing a bit of a run tonight after work, but...My husband's brother and his wife are coming to town today and will be crashing at our house tonight. Which means we get to entertain--Again...after entertaining my parents last night (I love them, but they exhaust me!). So I am thinking that I might just change my workout to a run/bike brick tomorrow instead.

I enjoy Christmas every year, but I enjoy the time AFTER Christmas even more...mmmm...laziness, and my house is actually clean!

My questions would be: where did the number 130bpm come from (and any other numbers you'll be training by), and boot camp is too intense for what?

Crazy Aunt Q: the name, the avatar, the Hooters-racing legend.

My real name is Lynne, Zelda is my English Bulldog.  I'm a nurse anesthetist.  The first tri on my schedule is a sprint on June 10th, the YMCA Got Energy Triathlon.  I'm also signed up for a Tough Mudder competition in May with a team from work.  I would like to cut some weight along with my training, probably 10-15lbs.  I'm currently 145 at 5'6", not fat, but fluffier than I want to be.

One thing I really struggle with is eating when I'm stressed or bored.  I have a good knowledge of nutrition and what I should be eating, but add in a little stress and suddenly I'm like  "f$@k it, I'm going to eat some chocolate."  It doesn't help when there is always some sort of treat in the lounge at work.  I will try posting when I'm having weak moments and hopefully my other manatee friends will keep me on track.

HA! I'm sorry for calling you your dog's name (my sister does that to me, ridiculous). But Zelda is a very cool name. And being a nurse anesthetist is a very cool profession!

Chocolate. Keep those mini Tootsie Rolls and a few pieces of Dove dark chocolate around. Mmmm ... chocolate ... or chocolate-flavored hard candies. Takes a long time to suck those dry.

A mental game I used to play with myself was, I will suck on this piece of candy and if I still *REALLY HAVE TO* have a piece of chocolate after, I will. But by then the craving had passed or had been satisfied.

And like you said about posting ... I've had tremendous success getting past various weak moments, whatever they may be, by calling someone sympathetic (or critical, even, whatever the case of need was) or posting online.

Tough Mudder races sound like such a blast ... I've toyed with the idea of putting a type of one on here.

Bawk, Bawk!!   I love it!   We here in Michigan have the BT Rawk Squad, which just means that you are a Michigan BT'er who RAWKs!   I think we need to be the Manatee Bawk Squad.  Mother Hens United!!!

I do listen to both Clint and my coach.  I know that the USAT cert just means you passed a test, just like any other certification.  My hot piglet coach really has my best interest at heart.  I've known him for years.  He is the captain of the "tri" team that I belong to, Team Motiv8 (less competitive, more of role models to get obese teenagers moving).  Piglet coach is a personal trainer, EMT, and firefighter.  Not that that makes him qualified but to me, he is only there for the accountability and to see if he likes using Training Peaks as a tool. I am calling the shots as much as he is.   My goals are not to BQ or anything unrealistic.  Big Sur Marathon has a 6 hour time limit.  My road marathons times were 5:41, 5:42, and 5:48.  Big Sur is hillier than I am used to.  All my road marathons have been fairly flat.  I don't want to spend the money to go out to Big Sur if I can't get my medal because I finished after the cut off.  I will not buy my plane tickets until 6 weeks out, before prices go up drastically.  The only financial investment I have is the registration, and that is tax deductible if I don't do the race.  If I can't do this, I won't be heartbroken.  I will be listening and judging the next few weeks.  I am going into this very low key, no pressure, and letting my body say yay or nay, not a coach or a PT. 

Clint is pretty awesome to work with for this calf thing.  He has had similar issues and had to DNF Chicago because of it.  He only qualified for the olympic trials in December by 4 seconds.  I saw him on Thursday night at an appt and he didn't even tell me that he would be running CIM on Saturday.  I am a little star struck.    The Hanson-Brooks Team trains on the same trails with me and I see them all the time.  Desi Davilla is amazing to watch, even in training. 

I,promise, that this manatee will be smart about all of this.  I don't promise to be good about eating clean though.  3 cookies were just calling my name.  Its not the New Year yet.  I may have to wait and start that with the rest of the world.  I will log the cookies, for fun, just to see how many calories I really do consume between Christmas and New Years Day.  

For the record, we don't really have hills or even speed bumps in SE Michigan.  I will probably run the parking structure at work tomorrow, so low incline, not much down hill to tear up the quads. 

OMG..I sleep, go for a bike ride and my inbox is filled with much wisdom about triathlon stuff in the manatee pod-room. I really don't have much to add, because Yanti knows so much, but just felt I should say hello to everyone..welcome to Lynne, too!

How many more are going to join us Yanti? I'll count up our numbers and see if we're close to closing the pod.

Lynn