kenj mentor group - back for another great season! CLOSED (Page 5)

Good, always nice to hear another positive review. I haven't actually purchased the frame. I'm going to find someone who can "fit" me before buying. I can't decide if I should go with a 52 or 54, so I'm going to bring sizes/specs of my last bike and the chinese ones to compare with him.

January Goals:

- WAKE UP! I want to workout before work, but that requires a 5:30 wake up and I'm not a morning person...at all. Taking volunteers for my AM wake up call. Seriously.

- Continue to work with coach and follow my plan. 

- Use VO2 Max and other testing to get more specific HR zones.

- Order all necessary bike parts. i.e. don't need Zipps for the trainer.

- Continue to lose weight.

- Work more on strength and core. 

Happy New Years to you and the rest of the group as well!  I hope you all have a safe night and a good time! 

You have a very good point!  I like to tie a short transition run onto the bike rides as it provides an opportunity to increase the frequency, plus it is more convenient than doing a second workout later in the day.  20 - 30 minutes is plenty when you are just going from 3 to 4 or 5 runs a week. 

The bike/run balance is a challenge for a lot of folks.  Many think that a bad run is due to run training, and it very well could be, but in many cases it is caused by over exerting on the bike. 

I have the opposite problem, morning workouts are not an issue, lunch time runs sometimes workout ok, but until summer time, I struggle with evening workouts. 

Good goals though!

Is "transition run" essentially the same as a brick?

I think a lot of it has to do with not being used to going from riding to running. Bricks are crucial for that. The first 10-15 minutes off the bike are going to suck in any race, even more so if you're overexerting. That's why bricks are so important. Also, I think a lot of people focus too much on going too hard and less on pacing.

If I didn't have hardwood floors and live in a 2nd floor apartment I'd be doing trainer rides til 1am. But, I'm courteous, so I can't. I really do need/want to get up. It would give me a lot more training time and free time if I could just get out of bed.

My definition of a transition run is just a run done after the bike without worrying about time.  I may take a few minutes to grab a snack or just let the legs settle a bit.  It is more of a matter of convenience then a training tool. 

I refer to a brick as setting up a transition area in the garage and actually practice that as well as getting out on the legs while they are still feeling the impact of the bike.

But, you would be correct as most people refer to the 2 terms interchangeably.

Oh, here's my bio:

Name-Johanne Roberts

Story-I come from a non-athletic background as far as playing sports growing up. I ran a little bit in college and then picked up running again about 4 years ago. I spent a year running to help lose some weight and then thought it would be fun to try a tri for variety. I first had to learn how to swim and breathe at the same time! I spent my first year doing sprints and finished with an olympic. The second year I did some Olympics and finished with 2 HIM. Last year I did my first Ironman. It was a huge challenge and I'm really glad I it.

Family-I'm 52 now but I'm going to still be 50andgettingfit. Married to Dave for the last 30 years. Mom to Stephen, 26, Kathleen, 24 and Laura, 22. We had an empty nest for a year and then they have started coming back. What is wrong with that picture? Haha! Stephen graduated from college and is working. Kathleen graduated and is working. Laura is a senior in college and just headed back to school for her last semester. Life is pretty good for our kids. I work very part time and spend the rest of my time working out and riding my horses. Life is pretty good for me too.

Current training-I'm in the middle of getting my schedule together after having a pretty light December (after IMAZ). 

2012 Races-Last year my A race was Ironman Arizona. Amazing day Along the way, I ran a marathon, a couple of HIM, some Oly's and some other runs. Everything was in prep for November.

2013 Races-This year I'm planning on a HIM, a marathon, Ragner Relay and some Oly's and runs.

2012 Goals-I'm still working on specific goals but generally I'd like to take the year to get a bigger base and then to get some speed. I've discovered I can train and get good endurance, now I need to train and get the speed to go with it.

Weight Loss-I've lost 70 lbs in the last 4 years and I'd like to lose about 10 more to make it easier on my body. Training for my IM led me to some really good diet changes and I found it was pretty easy to lose weight. Now I need to maintain it!

Today I went to the gym - did some strength training but I didn't realize they closed at 2pm for new years eve. I thought they'd be open till about 5pm! so I only did half of it but I guess that's better than nothing.

Goals for Jan.

1) Out on bike (or decent time on trainer ) at least 3 times a week

2) Learn some bike lingo so I know what the rest of you are talking about (I really am worse than a novice about bike things)

3) Get bike shoes and put on new cleat/ pedal things onto bike.

I know all these are mostly bike related but this is definitely my weakest area.  I think I can do the run in a reasonable time and I can swim the distance (although I will have to work at speed there also).

Here's a question - in the past it has been drummed into me that a body needs at least a day off from  exercise every week to recover. However, with most of the HIM plans I've looked at I don't see how you can fit this in.  Because we are doing different things every day is a day off a fortnight acceptable?

Jennifer

Impressive journey over the last 4 years!  Congratulations and welcome to the group!

I ALWAYS take a day off per week. It is very important for recovery. I do some stretching, but there would have to be a rare circumstance for me to not take a day off. This week (Monday-Sunday) I might not, but that is because I had a couple days off last week and the previous week. 

Also, built into plans will be a "recovery week." Typically its every 4th week. You'll do 3 weeks of building on time, then cut back the 4th and repeat. 

I was surprised myself at the pool/gym this morning they had posted a sign that they were closing at 1.   We are here for a full day.

I find that rest days vary from person to person.  Some people need a rest day every week, as much for a mental break as a physical break.  Others, like me, can get by without the weekly rest day.  Most plans have a recovery week built in every 3 or 4 weeks and for some, this is enough.  What I have done in the past is to use one day a week as a swim only day and that gives my legs enough of a break to hit the bike or run the next day hard again.  Looking at the plan my new coach has put together, he follows some of these principles as well.  But, and this is big, you MUST listen to your body and if you need to skip a workout due to feeling fatigued, you need to do it.  One missed workout in a 17 or 20 week plan is nothing.  Most of my rest days come from conflicts or travel days at work rather than being scheduled. 

Don't be shy Jennifer, or anyone else, about asking questions if a discussion uses terms you aren't familiar with.  Some of the bike terms can be confusing even if you have been doing this for a while. 

Omahabritt - 2012-12-31 10:49 AM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:48 AM

kenj - 2012-12-31 9:39 AM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:52 AM

January Goals:

- WAKE UP! I want to workout before work, but that requires a 5:30 wake up and I'm not a morning person...at all. Taking volunteers for my AM wake up call. Seriously.

- Continue to work with coach and follow my plan. 

- Use VO2 Max and other testing to get more specific HR zones.

- Order all necessary bike parts. i.e. don't need Zipps for the trainer.

- Continue to lose weight.

- Work more on strength and core. 

I have the opposite problem, morning workouts are not an issue, lunch time runs sometimes workout ok, but until summer time, I struggle with evening workouts. 

Good goals though!

If I didn't have hardwood floors and live in a 2nd floor apartment I'd be doing trainer rides til 1am. But, I'm courteous, so I can't. I really do need/want to get up. It would give me a lot more training time and free time if I could just get out of bed.

Nate, I'd give you a wake up call if we didn't live in different time zones! It's funny, my kids are in school all day, but I choose to get up at 5am every day during the week to go before the kids are up. Plus when training ramps up, it's easier to have one workout out of the way earlier. Evening workouts are SO HARD for me!! Ugh. I avoid them at all costs. So funny how everyone's different. Still working on Jan goals. Family's still here, so I'm hoping to get outside for a run this afternoon, before the evening festivities. Hope everyone has a fun night!!

Then I think for the benefit of the group, and so we're all on the same page, we should all adopt EST for the coming months.

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:09 AM

Omahabritt - 2012-12-31 10:49 AM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:48 AM

kenj - 2012-12-31 9:39 AM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:52 AM

January Goals:

- WAKE UP! I want to workout before work, but that requires a 5:30 wake up and I'm not a morning person...at all. Taking volunteers for my AM wake up call. Seriously.

- Continue to work with coach and follow my plan. 

- Use VO2 Max and other testing to get more specific HR zones.

- Order all necessary bike parts. i.e. don't need Zipps for the trainer.

- Continue to lose weight.

- Work more on strength and core. 

I have the opposite problem, morning workouts are not an issue, lunch time runs sometimes workout ok, but until summer time, I struggle with evening workouts. 

Good goals though!

If I didn't have hardwood floors and live in a 2nd floor apartment I'd be doing trainer rides til 1am. But, I'm courteous, so I can't. I really do need/want to get up. It would give me a lot more training time and free time if I could just get out of bed.

Nate, I'd give you a wake up call if we didn't live in different time zones! It's funny, my kids are in school all day, but I choose to get up at 5am every day during the week to go before the kids are up. Plus when training ramps up, it's easier to have one workout out of the way earlier. Evening workouts are SO HARD for me!! Ugh. I avoid them at all costs. So funny how everyone's different. Still working on Jan goals. Family's still here, so I'm hoping to get outside for a run this afternoon, before the evening festivities. Hope everyone has a fun night!!

Then I think for the benefit of the group, and so we're all on the same page, we should all adopt EST for the coming months.

Can I go to bed when you guys do?

50andgettingfit - 2012-12-31 11:37 AM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:09 AM

Omahabritt - 2012-12-31 10:49 AM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:48 AM

kenj - 2012-12-31 9:39 AM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:52 AM

January Goals:

- WAKE UP! I want to workout before work, but that requires a 5:30 wake up and I'm not a morning person...at all. Taking volunteers for my AM wake up call. Seriously.

- Continue to work with coach and follow my plan. 

- Use VO2 Max and other testing to get more specific HR zones.

- Order all necessary bike parts. i.e. don't need Zipps for the trainer.

- Continue to lose weight.

- Work more on strength and core. 

I have the opposite problem, morning workouts are not an issue, lunch time runs sometimes workout ok, but until summer time, I struggle with evening workouts. 

Good goals though!

If I didn't have hardwood floors and live in a 2nd floor apartment I'd be doing trainer rides til 1am. But, I'm courteous, so I can't. I really do need/want to get up. It would give me a lot more training time and free time if I could just get out of bed.

Nate, I'd give you a wake up call if we didn't live in different time zones! It's funny, my kids are in school all day, but I choose to get up at 5am every day during the week to go before the kids are up. Plus when training ramps up, it's easier to have one workout out of the way earlier. Evening workouts are SO HARD for me!! Ugh. I avoid them at all costs. So funny how everyone's different. Still working on Jan goals. Family's still here, so I'm hoping to get outside for a run this afternoon, before the evening festivities. Hope everyone has a fun night!!

Then I think for the benefit of the group, and so we're all on the same page, we should all adopt EST for the coming months.

Can I go to bed when you guys do?

Ughh... it is still dark here - EST would be hard but not as hard as England time would be!

Ali - how funny - I am a stay at home mom with a 9 yr old boy and 7 yr old girl too!!!! Great times, but I am starting to be ready for school to start back!

I think I will stay off the icy/slushy roads today!  Gym workout: bike and run. Too hard to get on the trainer with the kids at home.

quiet time at home tonight - maybe I will stay up til midnight, but probably not!

50andgettingfit - 2012-12-31 12:37 PM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:09 AM

Omahabritt - 2012-12-31 10:49 AM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:48 AM

kenj - 2012-12-31 9:39 AM

zee744 - 2012-12-31 8:52 AM

January Goals:

- WAKE UP! I want to workout before work, but that requires a 5:30 wake up and I'm not a morning person...at all. Taking volunteers for my AM wake up call. Seriously.

- Continue to work with coach and follow my plan. 

- Use VO2 Max and other testing to get more specific HR zones.

- Order all necessary bike parts. i.e. don't need Zipps for the trainer.

- Continue to lose weight.

- Work more on strength and core. 

I have the opposite problem, morning workouts are not an issue, lunch time runs sometimes workout ok, but until summer time, I struggle with evening workouts. 

Good goals though!

If I didn't have hardwood floors and live in a 2nd floor apartment I'd be doing trainer rides til 1am. But, I'm courteous, so I can't. I really do need/want to get up. It would give me a lot more training time and free time if I could just get out of bed.

Nate, I'd give you a wake up call if we didn't live in different time zones! It's funny, my kids are in school all day, but I choose to get up at 5am every day during the week to go before the kids are up. Plus when training ramps up, it's easier to have one workout out of the way earlier. Evening workouts are SO HARD for me!! Ugh. I avoid them at all costs. So funny how everyone's different. Still working on Jan goals. Family's still here, so I'm hoping to get outside for a run this afternoon, before the evening festivities. Hope everyone has a fun night!!

Then I think for the benefit of the group, and so we're all on the same page, we should all adopt EST for the coming months.

Can I go to bed when you guys do?

As long as I don't have to wake up until 5:30AM your time it's fine with me.