Experior and Slornow's Spring/Summer Mentor Group-CLOSED (Page 50)

Nate-glad to have you join us.  Great work on getting the weight down.  We have a really good group so don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have.

Randy

Randy, thanks! One question I do have after a conversation with someone I met randomly at one of my girlfriend's work functions. I told him I was entering my first Sprint and racing in the Clydesdale weight division. He looked at me and said I probably wouldn't want to do that because even though I technically qualify because I'm 210lbs, I was not a typical candidate because I was lean enough to not match the body composition of most other racers. Should I call up and change to race in my age group instead? I don't want to go in and look like some guy who is trying to "cheat" his way into a better placing in his division.

Thanks,

Nate

Nate-as I understand it, clydesdale/athena just require that you be over a certain weight.  If you have already signed up as a clydesdale then I would race that category.  I've seen guys racing as clydes that look like they were chiseled out of stone. Big but extremely fit.  At the rate you are going you may not have too many opportunities to race as a clyde!  

Randy

Randy, thanks for the information! That makes me feel better. You are right, I'm hoping to be sub 200 in about another 5 weeks, so if do another race before then, I'll stick with Clyde while I can 

I hope they don't count weight post race though. I lost 5 lbs of water weight on my long ride on Friday and if I start a race at 200lbs, they might make me change divisions mid-race sometime during the bike 

Jason -- great race!  I look forward to reading about it.

Randy had a great race today.  Missing his A-goal by just seconds is awesome in those conditions.  It was deadly hot out there.  Second in AG is even more impressive -- it really was about managing the race in those heat conditions and Randy showed that he has race-smarts.

Due to some screw-up, I started WAY back in the pack (time trial start).  I finished low 20s overall, so must have passed several hundred people during the day.  Fighting my way through packs of swimmers was a new experience for me!  Kinda made me feel like a fast swimmer, lol.

Jim -- nice run!

Nate -- welcome!  It sounds like you are doing an awesome job turning everything to the good.  You'll meet lots of triathletes who got into the sport in that way (read my bio for an example...).  And:  You shouldn't feel bad at all about racing clyde.  Top clyde guy at our race today was very very fit -- just tall and muscular.

I'm exhausted.  As Randy said, I spent the day yesterday being a tourist in 100 degree heat (well, 105, but who's counting?)  With the family.  Then race.  Then today same thing (but, mercifully, mostly indoors at the TN aquarium, which is great).  Now chillin' in the RV.  Night everyone.

Hey folks-race report for Chattanooga Waterfront below. I'm beat...been killing the afternoon on the couch watch a Walking Dead Season 2 marathon.  Now I won't have to watch it on the trainer!

www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=449726&posts=1#M4300382 

Randy

Me too -- despite exhaustion, I'm still a bit wired.  So race report done....

http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=449733

Glad you're feeling better, Blanda.

Stu, how's the family thing going?

Hey everyone-made the drive home from Chattanooga and have unpacked all of my junk.  Seems like I only use about half of the stuff I take.....but you never know what you might need (like spare tube with short stem this trip). Did an easy 40 minute spin on the bike this evening to flush out the legs and I feel pretty good.  Tomorrow is a rest day and the rest of the week is fairly easy.  Now I have to decide what to do the rest of the year.  Not much going on down here during the heat of the Summer.  Had been considering Augusta HIM for late Sept. but not sure I want to ramp up my training that much during the next 2 HOT months.  I'm leaning toward doing a couple more sprints and maybe an olympic.  Will give it a week or so and then make a plan.

Something interesting from the Chattanooga race yesterday.  The top overall time was a relay from a multisport store there in Chattanooga.  Their bike split for the 26.1 mile course was 56:37.  By my rough calculations that is an avg mph of around 27.30.  Relay or not that is some serious speed on a challenging course!!!

Back to work tomorrow.

Randy

Thanks for the welcoming posts, everyone! I'm slowly going through the thread and reading up on past posts. Great information!

Also, congrats to everyone on their races this past weekend. I'm impressed and looking forward to when I might be able to achieve numbers like those!

Nate

Jason-can't believe you didn't post pics before getting on the trainer.......so selfish!

Randy

Yeah, I noticed that too.  That is a cat-1 level split on that course, maybe even domestic pro.  Top pro split was 1:03 and change, IIRC.  So yeah, very impressive.  OTOH, top three bike splits were all from relay teams (the other two somewhat less intimidating, but still darned fast).  Not having swum before, and not facing the prospect of 10K in the hills and heat, definitely puts one in a different position and mindset.

One important lesson I think we learn from this observation is that the swim really does affect the bike and run.  It is all too easy to discount this effect because swimming is so different from biking and running.  But swimming too hard affects bike and run no less than biking too hard affects run.  That's really important to bear in mind, especially for Oly and longer races.

Great job, Randy, Michael and Jason.  One of these days I'll have to try to get down to Chattanooga and join you all... perhaps when I turn 55, so I won't get smoked by Randy :-) 

Welcome Nate.  Enjoy the Clydes while you can... doesn't sound like you'll be there long!

Had fun at the 2 family reunions this weekend.  Mom, Sis and niece and nephew are here until Wed am.  Just trying to get a little work in around visiting (plus gig last night).  Will try to get in 4 good workouts before heading off for a week in Swannanoa, NC on Sunday for Celtic Week - living, eating, and breathing Irish music for 24 hours / day (well, 20) for a week.  My kind of vacation!

Stu

That does sound like a great vacation.  What instrument do you play?

Scheduled rest day for me.  Just as well given all the thunderstorms in the area.  I've been eating like a pig since the race on Sunday.  Need to get back at it.  Tomorrow's schedule is swim at lunch and a 30 minute run in the evening.

Randy