left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 50)

Thought it was about time for a repeat of this one from last year - this is where the turtle name came from originally....

In my never ending quest for motivation - how about this....

Scientists have tracked a Leatherback Turtle who has made an amazing 12,774 mile swim from Indonesia to Oregon. It took "The Little Turtle That Could" 647 days....wow! So I did a little math...according to my calculations I think that works out to 1450 yards per hour or about 4 minute hundreds....not all that remarkable until you realize that would require the pace be kept up for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 647 days...miraculous! Assuming our friend the turtle swam 12 hours a day, it would have to swim about a 2:00 hundred pace....not much different than my pace. The turtle just had a lot more stamina that I do .... (ok...no comments about that unless you can outswim the turtle).

I'm in for the running challenge...8 days not too hard!

As for the drainer challenge. ..I have been riding anywhere from 1-3.5 hours/day on the trainer.  It is part of a BT challenge, I currently am in second place. The challenege is based on time spent on the trainer not miles.I am guesstimating my mileage based on my time and cadence. I generally spin between 80-100. I sweat like crazy and have taken a fan out and blow it on me while I ride. Bryan I only ride without my helmet on the trainer...NEVER EVER ON THE ROAD . I ALWAYS WEAR  MY HELMET.

 I know I break the rule about swimming...but as I said I swim parallel to the shore...I KNOW ITS A BAD...VERY BAD ...VERY VERY BAD IDEA. STOOPID I KNOW. OK ya wanna hear real STOOPID????... I have been invited (challenged ) to do a polar bear swim in Boston Harbor on New Years Day. Thats right folks. Speedo in the middle of winter in the Harbor.At least I know its cold enough that there will be NO bacteria. I am a little afraid of dying...but I am considering it. AT least I wont be doing it alone...There are lots of others who participate in this INSANE event NAyone  want to join me...Come on you know you want to!!!!!!!!

The challenge sounds great but I am going to give the knee a little more time to heal and when I start I will start slowly.  Wish I had a drainer as I would do that but alas don't have one.  I may try to do ride or a swim everyday to stay somewhat in the challenge.

I'd LOVE to do the 8 day challenge, but my TnT coach won't be happy with me... He wants me to follow HIS schedule right now... first so I don't burn out, 2nd so I don't get injured... gotta love coaches... I won't even be meeting my mileage goal this year... but it's okay. I WILL trust my coach...

I tried 3 stroke breathing today on my swim... I felt like I got winded faster, but it was probably because I was concentrating so much, and my breathing didn't always go smooth like it does with 2 or 4 stroke breathing... but I managed to stay pretty straight on the lane, and didn't drown... so it's a start.

Shark - follow your coaches advice...the 3 stroke breathing will work...keep practicing.

GRRRRR - take care of that injury - you are approved to swim or bike for the 8 days.

Mav - why worry about dying of bacteria...you certainly take a larger risk swimming alone...I know I know...I am harping....but I like you and I want you around....the polar bear swim...go for it....after my run yesterday I stood in my pool as an ice bath....today...a little stiff in the knees and hips....other than that....I am feeling really good...I took today off....tomorrow is an off day and Tuesday is a run.

Note to everyone...whenever we have a challenge of any kind it will be only if it fits in your plan...you will all be working out enough to cover the fitness side....sometimes suggestions are just fun to throw in there....and I want to manage the caloric intake through the next week and a half.

One other tip, when you log on, be sure and go back to previous pages to be sure you read everything since you have been on....also, if you are online check up above your last post, someone else online may have posted while you were typing...it has happened to me twice in the last few days.

Everyone should be working on their race plan for 2009.  We will be posting very soon on page one, our new roster and our races for 2009.

Finally, I would not mind having 2-3 more new folks as there will always be some fallout - if you know anyone else we should have here let's reach out to them, that way we don't have to post publicly and we get people we sorta know.

For you new folks, I will be on line almost every day.  There are some days with work that the world gets in the way but I will sTRIve to be on at least once a day.  As you all already know, you don't really need me (that's why you were hand picked) - we are really a forum of wickedly smart people who can all help one another....don't think my opinion is worth more than another member of our team....remember, my opinion is worth what you have paid for it ($0.00 give or take).....

sTRIve,  Bryan

Updated team list (so far) Leston, I can't seem to get to your Log, and I like "Biker Dude" it fits you as much as "Shark" fits me

Cool, you are on!

Question: I was reading my Road Racing book and they had a small section on converting Mtn Bikes to use for racing (as an interim).  One thing they talked about is handle bar extension (Bar ends).  These sound perfect as my position on the bike is to upright and don't feel I can get the same power to the pedals.  Has anyone used these?  Also, is this what I am looking for:
http://cgi.ebay.com/BBB-Multi-Position-Clamp-On-Handlebar-Extensions_W0QQitemZ120339560808QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item120339560808&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Thanks folks

My race calendar (so far) for 2009 looks like this - but I may do a few more smaller races along the way:

2/7 lvtc 5k
2/21 Mardi Gras Masquerade 10k
3/28 Showdown at Sundown - Sprint Tri
4/18 Rage in the Sage - TnT (In Memory of Marilyn Britt) - Olympic Tri
5/9 Iron Girl - Sprint Tri
6/27 RnR Seattle - Half Marathon
9/27 LV - Olympic Tri
12/? RnR LV - Half Marathon

Yep - it's Greg.

Slow, first run after injury day for me. No pain, which was awesome. Looks like our nice weather is gone for a while though...

Bryan thanks for the tips on swimming. I just got in from a 1000 yard swim. All bilateral breathing. The whole 1000 yards. That's a first!!! The roll definitely helps. To me, the key is getting the roll right. If that happens, then breathing isn't a problem.

I still have a lot of work to do to get the left side to be easy. The right side is natural for me. I breathe freely, easily. But on the left I find myself anticipating it. Planning the breath. And I feel rushed.

Maybe it's just because it's new to me. The stroke/breath timing feels a little off. So that's why I feel rushed to grab air before my head goes back in. I need to extend/wait longer before starting the next stroke. Haven't really figured out how to do that yet. Also tend to raise my head on the left side. I don't have that problem on the right. I lay down on the water on my right side, but on the left I rush . I think it's because I'm a little nervous.  I think with practice I will become more comfortable and experiment with it a little more until I find my natural rhythm.

I'll keep working on it.

Cramping continues. So much so I finally brought myself to drink Gatorade. It's not as horrible as I remember. I bought G2, the lower-calorie version. 

I didn't realize the 8 day challenge doesn't have a distance requirement. So if it's like that I can definitely do it. Slow and easy, even if it's only a mile some days. Count me in.

Off to do some stretching. If anybody has any lower body stretches that could help my calf and quads let me know. Here's the stretches I normally do. Given the cramping issues, I don't think it's enough...

GRRRRR - never seen those...hmmm....for a $30 investment it seems like a pretty good investment if now is not the time for a road bike.

Shark - looks like a good plan

Greg - congrats on the on the run...keep up the good work

Waef - welcome to the challenge.  Bi-lateral breathing.  I think almost everyone breathes better on one side than the other so I wouldn't stress about it.  You tense up on the left and you struggle.  On the right, you relax and float well.  That said, don't worry about it - I almost always breathe to the right in a triathlon.  While it is nice to breathe to the left too, I rarely do it.  It is just less stressful and easier so I go easy, everytime.  If someone or something makes me breathe left, I will, but I go back to the right when I can.  Mav - what is your usual plan?

Bryan (The Grand Poobah????)

WAEF I can scan in and send you the sheet that has the stretches my PT gave me.  One thing, the picture of the guy doing a Quad stretch (Standing up, up foot up, B/W photo) is doing it wrong (my PT would be throwing a fit if she saw that).  You should be upright, Leg up should still be in the position as if you were standing.  He is leaning. Hips up. 

Same with the women doing the stretch.  Back should be straight ,etc. (oh my PT would be soo proud)

LRR - A road bike is not in my future for awhile.  I will probably wait until my first couple of Tri's are done before I get one.  Unfortunately the used bike market here seems to be non-existent.  My wifes aunt lives in Oregon (Bend I believe) very active bike scene with an active used bike market.  Too far to travel.

Everyone - you need to read my blog...I am going to try to keep it up to date this year....

http://tri-leftrightrepeat.blogspot.com/

Please read it....I only have a few readers and only one guy comments....I would welcome the readers.

Biker - nope can't see your log either.  Follow Sharks advice and we should see it.  I added you as a friend and no go.

Had my swim practice today.  Used the fins to help work the stroke/breathing but spent a good amount of time without them.  Breathing to left just didn't work today but practiced it anyhow.  Breathing to right getting better.  Tried to limit rest times, swim length, quick break, swim length, etc.  Longer break on complete laps.

I need new goggles, I would just like to swim one lap without emptying my #@#$@#$ goggles!  No more goggles with spaghetti straps!

I am off today so we are going to go check out the TRi shop, Sports academy, the bike shop,  etc.

Have a great day folks!

Thanks Gary, I'd appreciate that a lot. 

No road bike for me for a while either. Too many other bills. Too much uncertainty in the economy and job market. But on the positive side, I'm getting a fantastic workout on the mtn bike. Mega, mega calorie burn. Gotta love that!

Lower body session with my personal trainer today.  Also picked up a multivitamin. Hopefully that plus hydrating better will help with cramping.

Last night I slept through the night without cramps and got through this morning's run and the weight session without cramping. All of which are good signs. Hopefully I've turned a corner here.

Gary, does your asthma bother you more running in cold?

Before leaving, I checked peak flow and was fine. I started my run this morning at 28 degrees. Felt fine for a while but after the big hill, I started wheezing. Tried to cover my mouth with the neck gator but then I felt like I was suffocating. So I just kept going, occasionally covering my mouth with my mitten for a few strides and then back to fresh air. It wasn't exactly pleasant.

Do you deal with this too?

Hey y'all. I am snowed in at the moment. We've just had our first MAJOR storm of the winter. So far about 35 cm of snow (I think that's about a foot?) and crazy strong winds so we have some huge drifts. Streets are impassable at the moment and lord knows when we might see a plow through our neighborhood. Of particular concern is that my snowblower isn't running well after I THOUGHT that I had fixed it on Saturday - arrrggghhhhh.

I can't believe the life that has been breathed back into our little Tri group since you sent out the invites B-man. I am having trouble keeping up with all the posts each time I sign back in.

I feel so out of it insofar as training is concerned having not been to the pool in weeks, no way to cycle and my running limited to what my Learn To Run group was doing. I did get out twice last week though and I am determined to get out this week several times but it'll have to wait untl the streets are cleared!

 Big win for the Pats yesterday Mav!!

 I laughed when I read he post that commented "the blind leading the blind" since this coming summer I will be guiding a blind person in a tri and I have the vast experience of 1 tri under my belt! Now that'll be something to behold for sure!   

FBP 

Do any of the rest of you maintain a "blog" like Bryan? I have one at:

 www.petermcdrunning.blogspot.com

 I have been a bit slack of late in keeping it current but I am going to step it up now that I'm back into thinking about upcoming events for 2009.

 Speaking of that, here are some race plans:

 Resolution Run 5k - January, Cancer Society Frozen 5k - February, UNB Indoor Mini Tri (if held) - Feb/Mar, Fredericton Half Marathon - May, Blind Guy Tri Team (Sprint) - July, Sprint Tri (To be determined) - August, Oly Tri (to be determined) - Sept/Oct.

Bryan here are some aquatic names that might give you an idea for a nickname. I'm in a Disney kind of mood today...

 "Neptune" - king of the sea

or if you prefer Charlie - the "chicken" of the sea (guess it depends on how confident you feel in OWS)

Triton? as in King Triton

Crush - the oh so very cool dude sea turtle from Finding Nemo

Bruce - the great white in Finding Nemo with the self-help group

Or maybe Mr. Ray