Tri/tbay group - CLOSED (Page 5)

Thank you Roy, I kind of am thinking like you are re: long run.  I can do only what my body can do, and at this point, 10 miles seems more realistic...

There are hills in Florida? Can you describe in more detail, ie approx highest grade, number of....thanks!  My training has consisted of mostly rolling hills of no more than 2% primarily in the aerobars.  

Ah so it is a hybrid, with a straight bar handle bar. Thats OK, the great thing about the sport especially starting out is you can use any bike. You don't have to have the latest and greatest to get started in the sport. Ride it and enjoy, does it have toe clips? Might consider this if not going to clipless pedals. You have more power this way. But you also fall over a few times still attached to the bike. It all part of the process. Keep us posted on how the bike journey is going.

Mona, this part of Florida is called "The Ridge" and it contains the only real elevation changes that  occur in peninsular Florida. These are rollers nothing in that area that is to steep, a little farther north towards the Clermont area they have some pretty serious hills. I'll keep you posted when I hear some info from some of the locals.

Squirt, you asked me about spinervals DVDs, look up there website and look through the dvd lists. They are all different, then check on Amazon. You can get some good deals there on the dvds.

Hi team!  Sounds like lots of good workouts and equipment acquisitions going on for everyone. 

Roy, thanks for the direction on the Spinervals!  How are your workouts going these days?

Bill (Hall), congrats on getting a bike to use.  I did my first tri on a mountain bike/hybrid thing.  Only change I made was to switch out the knobby tires for slicks.  I was definitely not the only one on that type of bike, and it gave me a built in excuse for the people on fancy bikes who passed me .  How is your back doing?

Mona, I'm with Roy on that long run.  Definitely have to listen to our bodies since we are all an experiment of one.  I went counter conventional advice and followed a HM plan that had some different types of "speed" workouts this fall for the first time.  I think most would have advised me to add even more slow miles first, but I just felt that I was teaching my body to do nothing but run slow (which I've done off and on for a few years) and needed some structure to help me break out of that.  I have never run or felt better than I am now, and am getting a feel for different "gears" in my running, so something worked.

Bill (flalamb), did I understand correctly that you have a HM on 1/22? Which one?  If so, we will be simulracing this weekend .

Melissa, LOL on the triathletes and the elderly at the pool!  Sounds like we are on a very similar path on the swim.  I don't know about you, but I think I will come out of these lessons with so much more confidence.  Maybe even show up for my next tri not having to talk myself down from the ledge about the swim.

Started a new job this week, and also getting ready to head out to CA this weekend.  My mom is coming down later this week, and we are planning a short run together.  She is amazing - turned 70 this year and may very well be able to take me in a 5K . 

Anyone have experience with bonking?  I think that's what may have happened to me this weekend? I headed into my 3 hr brick fairly depleted to begin with (crazy schedule).  I could only find one gel in my whole house so that's all I took with me.  After 3 hours, I was crabby and far more tired than I should have been for a zone 2 workout. 

Anyways, I slept for 11 hours but I am still REALLY tired.  esp my legs.  What's up?  How long will it take to feel better?  Any help is appreciated. 

Melissa,

When I first started training, especially on the bike, I bonked quite a few times. Now I know that it's imperative to drink and be well fueled before your workout to the point that you MUST even go to the store if you don't have anything around. It doesn't necessarily have to be a gel, just be sure you are not going on empty.  I think they say anything over 1:30 you need to pay attention to your calorie and liquid intake.  Take it easy for a few days, drink lots and wait until you feel like yourself. My coach used to say "you can't train a tired body" so a couple days of rest will do you a world of good and won't impact your training that much.  I am impressed you are doing 3 hour bricks!!    

Squirt - I am doing the Ocala HM on Sunday.  I fly back to Florida from San Francisco on a red-eye Friday.  I have been getting in some sporadic exercising this week to stay ready for the race.  I learned to run my own race last fall and it helped me improve my time at the Daytona HM.  I plan to use the same approach on Sunday (around 11 to 11:30 minute miles).  My goal is to be under 2:30 for the race.

Work should be better next week and my training back to normal. 

Bill

Hi everyone

The C-practor cracked my back 3 different ways, he calls it adjusting, and i go back wed. i ran 8mi. the next day and it still hurt but i ran through it and it did feel better i think it just needed to loosen up.  Last night i had my first swim lesson, it was overwhelming and i was embarrassed because there was a youth group in the pool and a pile of parents around, the youth coach was nice but i think he over loaded the lesson. I go back Thursday and will ask him to scale back the amount of info.   

Hi all, some good info there in those last posts.

Squirt, training is going well a little out of sink with the schedule. Had something going last weekend, did the a run and a trainer bike in but no swim. We had our puppy neutered yesterday, so had to pick him up no swim. So pretty typical of a time crunched athlete. Do what you can when you can as I say. Did get a trainer ride in last night. The remainder of the week and weekend should be on schedule with a little adjustment today skipping the run get in the yesterdays planned swim and then forward from there.

Bonking not a pleasant thing and there are different levels of bonking. Some can be short term during training or an event, a little nutrition/hydration or some flat coke and you begin to come around. And then there is the full blown come and pick me up I can't move bonk. I've experienced both and neither is fun but the later was really a bad experience and one I hope to not repeat. What both have in common are nutrition/hydration mistakes like Mona said. My wife had to drive an hour to come and pick me up near Clermont on a bike ride, I was basically delirious, dehydrated couldn't even talk. I new something wasn't right early in the Bike ride and when I passed up the logical choice and chance of heading back in I didn't and proceeded on until it was all over. Not fun, but you learn from mistakes and take the necessary precautions and hopefully avoid any more situations like this. Aside from being Ill and getting out an over doing it, it is usually nutrtion/hydration related and can be avoided.

Bill don't worry about your swimming, it sounds like you hav the right idea with your instructor. You can only process so much. And try not to pay any attention to the swim kids some of those kids have already been swimming for several years.

Melissa,

When I first started training, especially on the bike, I bonked quite a few times. Now I know that it's imperative to drink and be well fueled before your workout to the point that you MUST even go to the store if you don't have anything around. It doesn't necessarily have to be a gel, just be sure you are not going on empty.  I think they say anything over 1:30 you need to pay attention to your calorie and liquid intake.  Take it easy for a few days, drink lots and wait until you feel like yourself. My coach used to say "you can't train a tired body" so a couple days of rest will do you a world of good and won't impact your training that much.  I am impressed you are doing 3 hour bricks!!    

Thank you Mona!  I don't have too much experience beyond 1:30 so this advice is very helpful.  I still fear calories since I am trying to take some weight off.   The long ride is not the time to do it, I guess.  How are you getting to your racing weight without under-doing it in training?  I am also 5'4 and my goal weight is near your current weight

Bill (flalamb) - Sounds like a rough travel schedule.  Although there are worse places to be than San Fran.  Love the Embarcadero....it's flat there .  Hope you have a great race this weekend.  Be sure and let us know how it goes. 

Bill (wrhall2) - Hope your back is on the mend!  And yes, don't lose heart re: the swimming.  I take it you are in a private lesson?  I think that would be a little too intense for me.  I kind of like the small group thing.  The coach for our group seems to make a conscious effort not to throw too much at us at once.  Drills of any kind are pretty much new to me....makes me so glad for the laps that we get to actually swim with a full stroke.

Roy - sounds like you are a good juggler of life and triathloning.  What kind of puppy?

Melissa - I don't know that I've ever truly bonked, though definitely have nutrition issues.  Since I have type 1 diabetes, I monitor my blood glucose carefully.  If it drops dramatically, I can get dizzy, see flashing lights that aren't there, cold clammy sweat, shaky, weak, etc.  Let's just say I never leave home without my glucose tabs, shot blocks or other quick carbs.  Some of those lows are pretty easy to recover from, and others leave me feeling like I've been hit by a truck.  And yes, it sucks to feel like you're eating your weight in shot blocks when you are trying to lose weight.  Tracking it as Mona suggested is good because I think it puts it all in perspective.  Still, I'd really rather have something yummier than shot blocks and gatorade for as many of my daily calories as possible.  But gotta give your body what it needs when it needs it.

Mona - how is your running going?  Aren't you near Seattle?  Appears to be some crazy weather up there.

Been having fun focusing on running and learning better swim technique, but still neglecting my bike. Gotta get some spinnervals before my chain rusts!

Hi everyone, 

I just finished a 40 min. bodylastics band workout which i scheduled because i figured to be tired from yesterdays run and swim, but i went in to the chiropractor today at 10am and i immediately felt better and as the day went on felt even better, i don't think i realized just how much your back can affect your workouts, i will continue these sessions and cross my fingers. I've had a day to think about my swim lesson, pride can be an obstacle but one i can use to motivate myself. Thanks for the support and i really need to stop feeling sorry for myself and man up.  

Hey Bill sorry i forgot to wish you the best for this weekend. You are going to do great, one foot in front of the other and keep em moving. Let us know how it goes.

Bill (flalamb) -- have fun at your race this weekend, and wave to me and Kerry as you fly over Texas.

Bill (wrhall2) -- glad your back is feeing better. I became a fan of chiropractors last year when one helped me fix my recurring IT band issues.  On the swimming, it is very humbling since it does NOT come naturally to those of us learning as adults.

On the plus side, I'm very encouraged with the swim lessons I'm taking.  I did my drills this morning, and then swam a short set of 50's and averaged 1:45/100 yards without really "trying" to go fast...just focusing on what we have been learning.  Considering I was more like 2:05 on a good day before, I'm really amazed.  Still not sure about maintaining it over any kind of distance, but trusting the process.  Heading out to CA tomorrow, and about to do a short run with my mom who is house/dog sitting while we are away. 

Have a great weekend, and happy training!

Carol,

Have a great weekend and an even better race. We'll look forward to your report. You get the same advice I gave to Bill, one foot in front of the other and keep em moving!!!!

Have fun

Good luck on your run Bill and Squirt!  Who else is racing? i am losing track. Good luck EVERYONE then. We'll be waiting to hear about your races in detail.

We are more or less stuck indoors the last two days due to the snow, and today the ice here in the Puget Sound area.  I live about 25 north of the city.  So this week's scheduled training is "out the window"  and I'm doing my best to do something each day. It should all clear up by the weekend, but then flooding is a concern. 

Squirt: wow, unheard of improvement on your swimming!  Keep up the good work!  I'm thrilled if I can do 1:45/100.  I'm around 1:53/100; not even sure I can get under 1:50/100 these days but with this new swim team I hope to get it back down. 

This week I was encouraged to run 6 miles without walking with my husband, who keeps me moving however slowly. I plan to run 7 next week, then just add 1/2 mile each week until I reach 10 miles then hold it there for a couple of weeks.  This weekend hope to get in a long ride of 2:45 on the computrainer and crossing my fingers that my new friend Sonja will want company.  It's tough doing it alone.

Hi Everyone!

I have been reading all of your posts but havent had a chance to respond.  I am glad to read everyones training is going well! 

I was in the pool yesterday and today trying to do what I can to get better.  I still feel like I am fighting the water and exhausting myself.  I decided I would work on my kick with board work and after a full minute of kicking and going LITERALLY NO WHERE I decided to give it up.  I actually flashed back to private swim lessons when I was a kid and remember having the same issues.

Squirt, if any of those drills are easily explained please share the basics.  I have been looking online.  I figure if I can just keep my butt and feet towards the surface I can get away with a strong arm stroke with a weak kick.   

Andy - I know what you mean about going backwards when using a kickboard.  It wasn't until last May that I actually was able to move forward.  A lifegaurd at the pool just told me to kick with my feet breaking the surface of the water.  It was a lot of work and wore me out just doing one lap, but it did work.  I am still very slow with the kickboard.  In my current swim workout, I now do 300 yards of kicking.  I dread it the most.

Squirt - I'll be changing planes DFW around 6AM.  Waiting for the plane so I can get some sleep tonight.  It'll be a long day tomorrow.

The weather is supposed to be good on Sunday with temperatures in the 50's.  It should be a good run.  I appreciate all the encouragement.

 Bill

Hi, 

I got my 2nd swim lesson, this time there were no little fish around and no parent fish, pretty much just me and my instructor and a couple people doing laps. Did 15x50 so 750yds but not continuous and to me the hard part is i have to tell myself to exhale underwater and then have my feet doing the right thing and at the same time positioning my arms and elbows, geez this has got to get easier, if i don't have to think so much about everything. Anyway its great to get started, "the longest journey starts with the first step". 

Question for the past St. Anthony participants.....

It was suggested to me that maybe I should register in the novice/beginner category rather than age group.  Any thoughts?  Did anyone start in that grouping?

Question for the past St. Anthony participants.....

It was suggested to me that maybe I should register in the novice/beginner category rather than age group.  Any thoughts?  Did anyone start in that grouping?

Great wisdom there. It is a long journey you and all of us here have embarked on. And anyway it turns out its a great lifestyle change for sure. Don't stress over the kick thing, your not alone. I've used the phrase previously as "adult swimmers", the kick is either going to be quite natural or basically doesn't exist. For triathletes you mostly need a little kick to maintain balance and timing, not so much for propulsion. Kicking eats up a lot of oxygen, now for folks who are swimming in competition i.e. 100 free, 200 free then a kick for propulsion is a must and it is learned from an early age. But even then there are kids who can kick like maniacs, and some that can't its just the way it is. The freestyle stroke is a 80% of so upper body activity so you really don't need a lot of kick to get you where your going. Its good to work on the kick during your practice sessions but don't get to concerned about it. I'm not a good kicker at all, I'll do some 25s which is hard work and with continued practice a kick will develop that is more correct.

Andy- the novice group has there own wave and I think it is one of the last to go off. You would be fine there versus with your agegroup. Just seed yourself towards the back of the group. Good to hear from you.

Thanks Roy

It has been a crazy week so far.  My good friend is getting married so all week has been about getting my tux, rehearsal dinners, and wedding tonight at the beach.  My parents also came into town for the wedding from NY.  OK no more excuses, I'm going out for a run before the wedding!

Have a nice weekend everyone!

The Ocala HM is in the books.  I ran my best and finished at 2:26, 20 minutes better than last year.  I continually asked myself, why am I punishing myself like this?  This is not the typical flat course you see in Florida.  Too many hills and it was painful going down the hills.  I didn't use ice so I will suffer.  I have more pain that any other race.  At the 10 mile mark, I started slowing down but did run the whole course.  I stayed with one lady that was doing 3 minute run - 1 minute walk for most of the course.  The weather a little cool to start but 100% better than last year when it was below freezing.

Bill