Julia's Group - Full (Page 5)

 Sure you can, you just need to change the view to monthly, or yearly.  I'm not a member either, some of the articles are of interest, but the ones I can read doesn't seem to give much meat to them.  How does everyone else feel about being a member vs. not?

Click on the date on the calendar in your training log view and it will bring you back to that date and you can see what ever you want  

But I will tell you it is worth the $30 for the articles as well as downloading a training plan into your calendar.  Unless you are hiring a coach or are ready to fully write your own training plan, these plans are GREAT!!  I would highly suggest it

Being able to import the training plan into my calendar is what really appeals to me about the membership, I'm currently using outlook for planning training but it would be really cool to do it all from BT. I'm still kind of waffling on joining myself, the addition of the route mapping stuff which is AWESOME got me thinking that I ought to give these guys some money to support the development of cool new features like that!

I didn't do so great on my goal of not eating sweets after dinner last week, but I did well at getting to bed earlier. My goals this week are to get 8 hours of sleep and to eat at least 3 servings of vegetables a day.

Diane&Mike - 2007-02-07 10:09 PM So whats up this week? This board has been a little quite. I don't want to ask dumb questions but it's all I got. When would be the best time to buy new shoes before an event? my situation: I just bought new shoes, running shoe, and I usually need new ones about every 6 mths or so. I try not to wear my gym shoes for everyday wear, only workouts. But I do tend to use the same shoe for any workout: aerobics, treadmill or outdoor walks/runs. SO 6 months will be just about the day for my first sprint. What would you do get new shoes weeks before or hold out on the not so new/new ones? I know sorry, sometimes I talk to hear myself talk.

 I would say get another pair of new shoes a month before.  If you aren't doing anything over a 5K, it really doesn't make that much difference as these days you don't need to necessary break in your shoes anymore.  I tend to buy the same make and model because I know they work, but I change up my shoes much more often every 4 months or so.  A month gives you some time to feel how they are and do some shorter runs before you do your big run, whatever that may be.  You can still fall back on your older shoes if you want come race time.   

Diane&Mike - 2007-02-07 9:09 PM So whats up this week? This board has been a little quite. I don't want to ask dumb questions but it's all I got. When would be the best time to buy new shoes before an event? my situation: I just bought new shoes, running shoe, and I usually need new ones about every 6 mths or so. I try not to wear my gym shoes for everyday wear, only workouts. But I do tend to use the same shoe for any workout: aerobics, treadmill or outdoor walks/runs. SO 6 months will be just about the day for my first sprint. What would you do get new shoes weeks before or hold out on the not so new/new ones? I know sorry, sometimes I talk to hear myself talk.

I can definately tell you two mistakes that I have made

1- I bought new shoes a week before a triathlon, wore them for one training run and got BAD blisters so I had to use my old ones for the race -and I STILL had those blisters during the race to contend with - bloddy feet = BAD.

2- So I broke those shoes in so they no longer gave me blisters, BUT I still was weary of racing in them so I continued to use the oler tried and true (and worn out) ones for races.  I wore them for a race in September and guess what!?  I got NASTY shin splints on the run. 

SO I would say it is NOT a stupid question, but good for you for thinking in advance.  I would buy a new pair a month or two before the event and start gradually working them into your main shoes.  You just NEVER know   GOOD PLANNING makes easier racing (and training )  Have you figured out yet that I'm an engineer...

Sorry if I've been a little less responsive this week, I am CRAZY swamped at work with work and some personnel issues here...  I can't WAIT for my vacation to Mexico!!!   10 days!!

Hmm, I always thought I went through shoes too quickly, glad to hear that a 4-6 month schedule is not unusual. Although that seems like too often given my running mileage. They just seem to get stretched out and I have to lace them tighter and tighter. Maybe I'm starting off with too big a size.

On the topic of gear, if anyone is using crappy cheap swim goggles like I was, I highly recommend upgrading! I forgot mine at home the other day so I ended up buying a pair of Speedo Vanquishers at my gym's store, and it's a HUGE improvement. I don't have to tighten the strap so much just to get them to stay on, I don't have to pull them off to wipe off the fog every few laps, they don't leak when I push off too hard, and I can see in clear vivid detail just how disgusting the bottom of my gym's pool looks. Totally worth it! The lesson I've learned is that I should spend more money on gear.

 Ok, back to shoes...how old are your shoes?  Have you had your run analyzed and fitted into a good pair of shoes made for you?  I'm not talking some high school kid from Foot Locker.  It is worth the time.  Second, ice, ice, ice.  You can try doing some more preventive stretching through walking on your heels like the length of a basketball court, then on your toes.  Stretch your calves against the wall....and ice, ice, ice.  Rest isn't a bad idea either...choose softer surfaces to run like asphalt over cement sidewalks, treadmill that has give, grass if you live in a warm place.  Make sure you aren't running on the part of the road that slopes.....take time to take care of yourself or you will be sitting like a duck like me....I hate it!  I'm so frustrated.  Hope that helps. 

Bike training.  There is nothing wrong with using your mountain bike for riding, although a road bike is nicer.  I did my first tri on a mountain bike...it served its purpose.  Unless you are really serious about tri's I wouldn't buy the tri bike, get the road bike that is more functional and you can always add the tribars on if you want.  You'll drop some pretty pennies on a tri bike.  Spinning definately helps on the motivation, strength and at times even form.  You can practice transitions and really just get time in the seat. My thoughts.   

Plan is to do High Cliff in Sherwood WI.  The first mile is uphill for the bike and run....straight up hill, seriously....you don't even have time to get your legs back from biking before you run up the hill.  Then the run is mostly trail running.  I'm really excited, but thinking if I don't get this thing under control by March, I'll have to postpone....the thought depresses me. 

 You might want to think about getting new shoes if you have had them for 6 months.  They say 4-6 months depending on how much you use them.  It could also be the treadmill. 

I would say get outside on the MT bike, but if you are considering buying a bike, I would look at road bikes that you can put aerobars on.  I wouldn't go right for the tri bike.  They are great for racing, but not training, where a road bike you can train with and put aero's on for some training and for racing.  I used my road bike in all of my races last year until the last race, when I bought the tri bike.  The most important thing with a bike is the fit.  You might be able to get a good deal on one of last years bikes if you can find a good fit out there.  There are LOTS of articles on bikes, lots of magazines, but if you have questions, Ill try to answer the best I can.  Also, look at components on the bike!

Diane&Mike - 2007-02-08 2:17 PM Meagan Who makes the swim cap you use? Everyone has helped me out today, as I don't have goggles and just this morning I was looking at them at the gym pondering the thought of getting some. I know now to get some, and not to skimp. I had to chuckle at the thought of using the 4 yrs olds, cause the thought crossed my mind before I bought a pair I would scavage through the kids' stuff.

I also have the Vanquishers and LOVE them.  TYR also makes some great goggles, with 3 different nose bridges so you make sure you get a good fit.  A note about swim caps.  There are 3 basic types.  The stretchy, sticky, latex caps, which are VERY cheap (you can get them for $1.50, but they will not last all that long and most likely, you will get one at any race you for free ) then there is the cloth type, which is OK for the pool, most people think they are more comfortable, but they cause a LOT of drag, especially if you have long hair.  Then there is the neporene cap - it looks and functions a lot like a latex cap, but it doesn't get sticky and thin and they don't rip easily.  They cost between $10-$15.  Mine has lasted about a YEAR before I ripped it - then I still kept wearing it for another month!  I would go that route!

All GREAT advice.  Also, htere are some strength things you can do.  This sounds silly but I've heard it really works.  Sit in a chair with your leg mostly extended - or on your back on the floor.  Draw the alphabet with each foot using your ANKLE.  In other words, try to keep you knee and shin still and use your ankle to draw the letters of the alphabet.  It stretches and strengthens your shins

I feel that way about the treadmill too, it seems like it's harder on my knees. What's helped me is to always set the incline to at least 1.0 or so, then it feels a little more natural and not so jarring.