left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 53)

I was wondering if that info would show on BT.  Either way, nice ride.  Since some of my bike workouts are going to be RPM based I think I need to get one of those sensors.

Quiet day for me with hopefully some weights tonight.  Everyone have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.  For those who don't do Christmas have a Happy Holidays!

Nice ride Diane. Really good speed.

I just got in from my run/walk. 2 hrs and 15 minutes. Working my way up to 3.5 hrs before my next half. I'd like to hit 4 hrs but I'm not sure I will. I don't do structured run/walk. Not lately anyway. I just go out and run as long as I want, do a walk break whenever I want and start running again when I feel like it. There's no pressure at all that way, so I don't dread the long run anymore. I just go with the flow. 

Probably not the best for training physically, but it sure does feel great mentally.  That's my attitude lately. Relax, have fun, play, smile and love life.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Leston - Eating too much chocolate? there is no such thing!

I'm up early and with the time change guess I am first to be able to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, on Christmas !!

Funny the stages of life - with no kids there is no reason to get up early on xmas, then with young kids its a struggle to get them to sleep beyond 6 a.m. and now with teenagers it's hard to get them to get up !! My 17-year old said he wouldn't get up until at least 9 a.m. so here I am at the computer before 7 enjoying a hot chocolate and somepiece and quiet. 

Interested in the discussion about runtraining. I am no expert but in training for the marathons taht I've done I followed 2 very different plans. The first was a very simple 20-week plan that simply had me doing a specific distance on a specific day. Several years later I used a coaching service and his plan for me was much more elaborate. Each run involved specific target paces for specific portions of the run. There were also days of sprint reps and days of hill reps. The LSD's were much longer earlier in the program too. 

I found the latter plan to be much more intense but there was no doubt that come race day I was ready and I had no doubt about my ability to finish "upright and smiling". I had a time goal too (4:30 marathon) which I missed but only because of the crowded conditions (NYC) and the fact that I stopped along the way to take pictures, ham it up with the spectators, listen to the bands, etc.

Sticka

PS. I agree that there is no such thing as too much chocolate!

Heading out the door for day 1 of the 8-day challenge. Riding with friends later.

Enjoy firends and family today but keep it safe everybody. 

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

Enjoy this day.  I think I have to add a new goal which is to keep the joy and laughter I have received from this day in my heart until next Christmas.

I must've been a good boy this year 'cause there was a Spinervals CD under the tree for Sebastian and me plus Saint Seb was all set up on a new bike trainer in the basement !! Yabba dabba doo !! Thanks Mrs FBP and kidlets !! Also received a new pair of running shoes so guess I better get my a$$ in gear

Merry Christmas to my fellow turtles!!!!

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday and Santa was good to you. Sticka you must have been VERY good. I Love my drainer( not really). I got some really cool spinnerval DVD's as well...wanna race????

I got a Garmin 305 sport package and a few tri suits ( I needed them as I wore out mine from last season) My daughter gave me a funny t shirt to run in and my son gave me new Look pedals( so sweet). My son and I went running today which was so nice as it was very warm (45 degrees).

I am going to my friends house for dinner tonite then I am coming home to play with all my new toys! I can hardly wait.

Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday!

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

Run today 3.02 miles after too much to eat...but it felt really good.  Nice weather here, just a little humid. But it was shorts and t-shirt run weather.

New toys - LiveStrong shirt, L/S LiveStrong shirt, LiveStrong Bike Kit (I guess Lance is appreciative...I think you all know I am raising money for LiveStrong with my IM), cycling gloves, some new running sox, gels and sportbeans, an UnderArmour shirt and a couple of other little toys.

FYI, I run time vs distance typically....I find that I am very mental about running and I don't seem to mind running 2 hours but the thought of a 11-13 mile run seems to drain me before I start....so maybe it is just how you are wired.  My current plan has timed runs during the week and the weekend long runs are distance.

You can only call yourself slow if you are slower than someone sitting on the couch.  Realize please that less than 1/4 of 1% of the population are crazy enough to do the stuff we are doing regularly so don't even think about "slow" - we are doing it.....period...end of story. 

Here's a tip for 2009....try to eliminate the word "but" from your vocabulary....if you think about it, virtually every word after "but" is negative...just don't use it.

Merry Christmas

Bryan

Aquagloves - anyone use them?  Got them for XMas.  Here's hoping the pool is open tomorrow!

AquaGloves - Gary be a little careful....quite often the friction can cause an increase in shoulder issues...ease into the use....don't overdo it.  I am a fan of fistgloves or just swimming with your fists clenched....it really improves your ability to feel the grab of the water.  Swim a few laps with your fists clenched and then open your fingers and you will be amazed at the difference it makes.

Fingers together vs fingers apart....Theoretically there is no difference....just relax your hands....the surface area does not change.

Happy laps,

Bryan

Hope everyone enjoyed the day and time with family and friends. I know I did. Ate all kind of goodies and sweets. But I wasn't worried about the calories. I knew I'd need them. This afternoon I went for a bike ride. It was my longest ride so far, 25 miles.

Avg pace still in the neighborhood of 10mph. Rode the same route as my last ride. Just did the inside loop only -- and rode it twice which I thought would give me 20 miles, instead it gave me 25. Not bad. Especially considering I'm only planning on the shortest ride for the MS 150 team. Today gave me hope. If I can do 25 miles now, I should be able to do two days, 25-30 miles each, by mid-September. (not sure what the options are right now).

Group training rides start in the Spring. The first one is 20 miles. It's good to know I will be able to handle it. Going at my own pace of course. I'm so glad I'll be part of a team.Otherwise I'd be stressing about getting left behind, all on my own. But the team has a no dropped rider policy. Someone will stay with me.  

Took everyone's advice and kept in an easier gear so I was able to ride longer. Hills and all. At times felt like I was spinning in place, but still it got the job done. Actually, the pace was just a bit faster than my last ride which was a little over 15 miles. So the lower gear seems to be improving both my endurance and the pace. To be honest, today I was really focused on going the distance. The pace couldn't have mattered less to me. So to see that I still maintained 10mph was a pleasant surprise.

In moments on this ride, I got totally hypnotized by the rhythm of my pedals and the road passing under my tires. Very relaxing feeling.Kind of like the freedom I felt as a kid on my bike. As long as I kept that feeling, I could just go and go and go. Nice. And it gave me a preview of a strategy for the MS ride. Finding and falling into, becoming entranced by a rhythm. Being consumed by it.  The rhythm blocking out every thought, taking over every sensation. Until all that's left is the rhythm.

(...now I get it...left, right, repeat.)

Exactly.

That seems to be the key to running, to swimming and now to biking. It's all in the rhythm. In becoming one with movement. I like that feeling. It feels like dance. It feels like joy. Can you tell I'm happy? Really loving my life right now.

After stretching and tennis balls on the calf, my legs feel fine. Ready for tomorrow's run.

8 day challenge - day 2. Going for 6. But running for time, not distance. I allow 15 min per mile. That's more than enough to ensure I get the desired miles for the day. Probably a little extra, but little extra won't hurt. Not the way I do it anyway. The pace I run, I could run like that for hours. And when I can't, I walk. Then go back to running. It's all very low key, no stress, no worries. If I feel a surge of energy, I go with it. Let it all come flying out my feet. If not, I don't worry about it. Each day and each run is a gift I give myself.

Pace and amount of walking will depend on mood. I'm taking everything with such a calm spirit these days. Just enjoying being out there, reconnecting with nature and the thrill of feeling alive and at peace. That's all I need. I don't want this to turn into "work." It needs to be fun. It needs to recharge me yet relax me. Mission accomplished.

Have a great night. Happy training all.

Waef - welcome to the world of endurance....we are ALL at the front door of that world but you already know the drill.  Left.right.repeat.  Just move forward.  I have a rule in my life to avoid at all costs backing up....always move forward....if it is in water, it's swimming, if it is on a saddle, it is cycling....and if it is by foot...then it must be running....or stumbling at least but it will always be moving forward.

What a great gift this is for all of us and those we inspire every day without even knowing it.

I will share with you there have been several people who have admitted to me that they are doing things differently in their life and that I had something to do with that....you have each provided that inspiration as well.

When you hit that "zone" on the run or the bike or swim - it is an amazing feeling...I wish it happened more regularly but the more you do - the more it happens.  By the way, on the bike it is called "no chain"....in the TdF and other major cycling competitions sometimes on the radio you will hear "no chain....no chain"....that is when it is really rolling nicely.

sTRIve....and to all a good night,

Bryan

Sounds like everyone had a good Christmas.  I got a new running outfit and also a road id.  I relaxed and enjoyed myself yesterday...thought about going for a walk it was the first day with sunshine in probably 2 weeks, but had family in that we only see once a year or so. 

Today it's suppose to warm up to around 50 (after 10 degrees earlier this week).  Hoping to make it outside, but there's a threat of rain too.  So we'll see come lunch time whether it's down to the gym or outside on the road. 

Everyone have a great day

Diane, 91 RMP! That's awesome!!!

Can't help with your question. For me, it's about covering the distance first, then working on speed. To increase the distance, I had to switch to an easier gear. I was wearing myself out. 

Hope the mentors can give you better guidance. I just wanted to say, I'm impressed at how quickly you turn over those pedals. This is great improvement from the first time you used your cadence monitor. Clipless is definitely working for you. 

No, no, no... this was on a trainer at the gym... don't think I can pedal that fast on MY bike... we'll see...

I recommend you get used to a cadence of 90 on a trainer or a spin bike...you will be more apt to ride at a higher cadence when you get outside.  The higher cadence coupled with an easier gear (I like using easier and harder rather than low or high as some people get confused) saves your legs and gets you ready for the run.

We can do intervals mashing a harder gear and there is nothing wrong with that to improve your strength.  There is nothing that is the "right" way all the time every time.  You have to change things up to keep the body guessing.

I highly recommend high cadence and easy gear as you get started...as your bike fitness improves (and this can take time) you will push a harder gear.  Also, if you are ever bouncing in the seat, you are in a too easy gear...push it up and spin at 90 cadence if you can.

sTRIve......Bryan