Slornow's and Wannabefaster's Summer Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 51)

I used to loathe recovery weeks, but now I really embrace them.  Mine drop the volume, but usually have a testing component to them (LT test on the bike or a 30' track test) to keep me motivated.  I also find the rest really helps me both mentally and physically.

I have raced by time for the bike and the run ever since I started doing triathlon. Swimming is still by distance.

Stuart/Melissa-great to have you checking in. Sounds like lots of hard work ahead for you both!

Nothing too exciting here. Starting to put together a mental list of what I will take with me to Milwaukee when I leave next week. Plan is to race olympic on Saturday and sprint on Sunday so that will mean extra race clothes...fortunately I have 2 team kits so all should be good. Should be a wetsuit swim (WooHoo!) and much nicer temps.

Swim and run on tap for today.

I always assume that there are better ways to do things than the way I do it so here is a question for the group.

How do you organize you race gear/stuff between races? Not really worried about the clothes but more of the gear....always seems there is so much stuff we "might" need as compared to what we really need. I'm trying to get better about not taking the whole garage with me but still overpack. Here is my "system."

I will use several gallon zip locks to break up the various race gear.

#1 Swim related-goggles and at least one spare, ear plugs, Foggle (anti fog wipe), extra neoprene ankle strap in case the one provided with the timing chip is falling apart.

#2 Body related-Aquaphor tube, Body Glide and sunscreen  

#3 Electronics-Garmin for bike and Garmin watch...will usually put my race belt in this bag since there is lots of extra room, smaller plastic bag to put keys,license and phone in.

#4 Food-gel for pre race and a spare and package of penut butter crackers in case stomach starts rumbling before the race.

#5 Tool/fix it bag-rarely use this but more for piece of mind. roll of electrical tape, couple of zip ties, small mulit-tool

Transition bag-bike shoes, towel for transition mat,  an extra small towel, sunglasses in their case, wetsuit and/or swimskin, bottle/bottles with mix in them (I'll add water when I get to the race site)  and a pair of socks (just in case).

Will usually wear my visor, running shoes and race kit. I try to pre-pack my bento box thing that goes on the top tube and have it on the bike to avoid having to do it at the race. Same with my race belt for longer races.

I always take a "bike repair kit" with me but don't take it to transition. I'll keep it in the car so its there in case of an emercency. In there I will have 2-3 spare tubes with valve sizes to fit race wheels, spare valve extender, tire levers, 3 pronged hex tool, duct tape....and some other small stuff I can't recall. I keep all of this in a small, plastic clear Rubbermaid container with a locking lid. I keep it stocked and just grab it when I go to races. I'll pump the tires to correct pressure before leaving the car.

So, like I said its alot of stuff. What I like about the big ziplock bags is after the race, once everything has been cleaned up I can just put most of the bags away with the stuff in them and they arre essentially ready for the next race. Of course, I'm pretty OCD so I may check everything 1,2......6 times before I leave but I feel more prepared. Really when I get to transition it is not that much stuff and the good thing is if I'm not using something it just stays in its bag.

Open to suggestions....

Over the years, I've streamlined what I take to races because I found I didn't use much of it and it was a pain to have to unpack when I got home. For example, I use to take a tub to fill with H20 to rinse my feet after the swim....silly!

I use plastic grocery bags and make one for SWIM, BIKE AND RUN.  Everything I use for swimming is in that one bag (two pair of goggles, ear plugs, bodyglide, second swim cap to go under the one the race gives you, throw away flip flops if there is a long walk to the swims tart).  Wetsuit is kept in a separate compartment of my transition bag. Bike is pretty limited-shoes, helmet and my Garmin 510 (still working on carrying that tubular tire). Run really limited- race belt, Powerbar blasts in a snack baggy and my Garmin 310XT.  This assumes I wear my race kit, sunglasses and running shoes to the event.  I also have a cooler that I keep in the car that has my H20 and Infinit pre-mixed.  Lastly a small towel.  I don't carry tools because I wouldn't have a clue what to do with them.  I do have a change of clothes in the car so I can switch out of my sweaty duds for the drive home.

The camel commercial is my husband and my favorite.  In fact, my husband played the camel this morning since it was Wednesday!

July is in the books:

Swim:  38,216 yards           12hours 2min

Bike:    402.46 miles           18hours 40min 

Run:     101.75 miles            13hours 55min

July is done!  IM build is a little different this year, intensity is up and volume is down.  No wonder I'm tired.

Swim: 15h 40m 21s 

Bike: 41h 20m 21s - 748.3 Mi

Run: 18h 44m 15s - 126.59 Mi

Good morning-up early to get my swim out of the way. Heading to the beach for the weekend this afternoon. Maybe the rain we have had all Summer will take a break

Who is racing this weekend? I know Jason is headed to Boulder for the 70.3 there on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing him have a fast race there. Anyone else? 

Good luck to our three racers!!!!  Stay tough to the finish!  

I'm at our lake house solo and so far the weather has been AWESOME!  Big double brick training day for me tomorrow.