QUEEN ZIP & KathyG - CLOSED (Page 53)

Ummm....I prefer NO races...yuck......

 I could happily train my face off and NEVER actually race at all. Guess that does not answer your question. I am an anomaly.......... a top page anomaly!!

I think I prefer smaller races.  I have never done anything more than 400 people.  That being said, I am signed up for Calgary 70.3 which has over a thousand people in it, so ask me again in August.

The main reason I have not done a larger race is that  until recently there has been none in Calgary.  Oh, I did do the Mothers Day 10k, had a bazzillion people in it, and that was fun, but I didn't have to deal with transition so that was cool.

Me, too!  I've always done the occasional commuting on a bike, but I used to have an indoor porch and avoid riding in the winter.  Now that I've been doing my best to avoid having to own a car or rely on public transportation, plus get the added benefit of getting a few extra bike training miles in, I get myself into messes like this:

I don't know how clear it is from that pic, but that is HARD PACKED snow against my bike as it was plowed in by a city machine.  I had to ask a stranger on the street (I picked a smiling guy with very big gloves) to help me yank it out of the snow since I couldn't get it out myself!  I should have taken an after picture, as it broke off the wall of snow in virtually one piece, but I was a little covered at that point and was ready to flee the scene.

Left it in the sunniest spot I could find to hopefully melt off the rest of the snow and ice stuck in the gears and wheels.  That's gonna need some serious TLC tonight!  Off to find me a wire brush and some lube...

Well, since I've never done a race, I have no idea...I'll have to do like I do with most things in this group - just read and learn! I would venture a guess that I would prefer small races; seems like that would suit my personality better.

I'm picking up my road bike from the shop after work and will be getting the same supplies to keep both bikes cleaded up right.

As to the question of large vs small races...both have advantages and disadvantages. 

My 10K this month is huge (always 30,000 participants)  hard to make a clear lane for the MOP crew but it has a ton of support staff and is a blast (wait till you see Max and I in costume)

Most of the tri's I've done have been fairly small, I don't have any comparison to a larger field in a tri.  i can't imagine the IM starts with 1700 foolks simultaneously going off when a wave for most of my races is around 50 people.

I like both for different reasons:

Super large race like IM, I know I have no chance of placing so I do it for the challenge and fun and somehow I feel less pressure. It may sound weird. I know in a big race if I'm slow for me or fast for me there will be others around me which is nice in a long race hint HIM or IM. Often there are lots more fans and support, rocking aid stations and the vibe is nice. It can feel a little like cattle being herded here and there and logistics can be challenging.

Smaller races silly me honestly I tend to I pick ones I think maybe I can do well in; so it adds a bit more competitiveness in me. They can be wonderful or totally disorganized. After doing a smaller race and liking it I often go back as knowing the course, layout of parking, where the bathrooms are, ect is nice for both me and my fans (ie Kevin and any kids we talk into coming). I also look at races that play to my strengths...ie long bikes, short swims and/or runs. Flat bike courses I do best in a relative to my peers way at but that is true in larger races.  Smaller races tend to be less of a hassle with easier parking, not as long of wait for restrooms (or just go in the water with your wetsuit on...seriously), and you don't have to rack your bike the day before.

My first HIM I did a small race with under 120 folks...got hardware, but it was really lonely out there. Aid station kids were lying on the ground and not helpful at all..really. Doing a HIM is a long day and not having many fans or a nice vibe sort of sucked.

Oh goodie I already know hwo to do that so I should be ok! Thanks for the tips...

Im not going to get a chance to try anything before the weekend so Im hoping for the best! I never thought about it until yesterday! oops!

Mina,

I keep looking at that picture and thinking "your poor bike"

all of you warm weather peeps better thank mother nature EVERY DAY!! my car resembled Mina's bike! ahh the joys of winter/city living!!

ok - Rocco is on the Biggest Loser and i can't concentrate on what he's saying because he's SO CUTE!!

i'm trying to focus on healthy YUMMY meals because i really need to lose some LBs;

Can we share a favorite complete meal?? (i'm not at home otherwise i'd be first to post)

I've only done 2 - the 1/2 mary was 11,000 people, napa 1900.  So, both large, I guess.   I agree witht he competitive logic - it would be fun to place, and it would need to be small for that to happen.  I also like the idea of convenience.  Looking forward to trying a small one!  On the flip side, the run bag from Napa was GREAT! Heavy canvas duffel with embroidery and all - I don't think the small ones can afford that.  Good question!

Linda

Most of the local tris are pretty small (<300 total) and the organization that sponsors them (umm, one of the site supporters, new this year as such) isn't a well organized group.  They're also kinda enmeshed with the local tri club.  I am a member  of that club but have found you have to be on the "inner circle" with tha group most of the time.

Other races sposored by a different organization are always on time, have a great post race party , more porta potties, more security in the transition area....I could go on about how much better that groups races are.  You can tell which events I prefer to sign up for. All that to say it isn't just the size of the race/cool stuff you get.  It's a package deal with the support, volunteers and food.

I didnt even think about the tide.... the Olymipc distance is going a few hours before my race so youd think they would be timing it for them to have the best water conditions...

I agree M Dot is a money making machine and they have their hand out everywhere. My reasoning for my first IM to be a M Dot is I wanted all the stuff. Who knew if I'd ever do another and it was a way to celebrate what I'd done. 

We even picked a crappy cheap place out of town to stay with the understanding I could get finisher and IM stuff and I did

Now I don't think it is so important to me. 

As much as I know I shouldn't, I'm sure that I will spend WAY TOO MUCH if I finish IMMoo.  I was good at Napa, although I did just order a cd of the pictures, and I'll be good at the HIM, but I think I'll need m-dot stuff.  Time to start saving pennies......

Linda

It depends on the distance. That may seem strange but for a 5K or a sprint, I like smaller races b/c there's not as much crowding on the course and (esp. on the bike), I feel more confident w/out lots of people around me. For longer races, bigger is better just so I may have the opportunity to chat w/ folks. Usually Im in the BOP in the longer races, people are friendly and some are walking during the run which makes it kinda social. For my HIM last year, I was leapfrogging on the run w/ a bunch of people. Nobody was in a real rush and we just talked, walked and jogged our way back to the finish. Same with my marathon, everyone was going slow enough around me to have a bit of conversation which helped the last miles go by..

Good advice - my last tri the bouys weren't out far enough and all of a sudden, waves were crashing on top of me. Tide had gone out so I got up in the middle of the swim and ran for a bit across the sandbar till it got deep again.

kristinc0916 - 2009-03-05 1:24 PM Hmmm. Where's everyone? Logging hours and hours of workouts I guess I was just excited b/c I had a bit of a swimming breakthrough. I figured out how to kick at a specific time and I got my 100 times down a few more seconds. When I kick down with the right foot as my right hand is entering the water, it gives me more propulsion. Same with left side.. This may be how everyone else swims but I just figured it out and got my fastest 100 time 1:38 Im not kicking any harder or any more, just a timing thing. Yippee!

Wow Ive never really thought about when Im kicking... Im just kicking...

Its never been an issue but I am thinking about trying toget a private swim lesson or two in the off season to get my stroke checked out since i havent had anyone look at it for YEARS!

Congrats!  1:38 is a great pace!  You might want to try a 6 beat drill.....your arms are going a bit slower than normal, and you kick 6 times per arm stroke.  This also helps work on rotation.  My old coach was big on drills!

BTW, I'm logging hours of not-so-much!  I may get in the pool tomorrow.  I'm feeling much better, but knees and ankles are still sore.

I did look up the date for Boston next year.  April 19, 2010.  I suppose I should concentrate on the HIM and IM that I've already entered and paid for......

Linda

kristinc0916 - 2009-03-04 8:24 PM Hmmm. Where's everyone? Logging hours and hours of workouts I guess I was just excited b/c I had a bit of a swimming breakthrough. I figured out how to kick at a specific time and I got my 100 times down a few more seconds. When I kick down with the right foot as my right hand is entering the water, it gives me more propulsion. Same with left side.. This may be how everyone else swims but I just figured it out and got my fastest 100 time 1:38 Im not kicking any harder or any more, just a timing thing. Yippee!

I may have to think about timing the kick with the stroke on the same side tomorrow morning

kristinc0916 - 2009-03-04 9:24 PM Hmmm. Where's everyone? Logging hours and hours of workouts I guess I was just excited b/c I had a bit of a swimming breakthrough. I figured out how to kick at a specific time and I got my 100 times down a few more seconds. When I kick down with the right foot as my right hand is entering the water, it gives me more propulsion. Same with left side.. This may be how everyone else swims but I just figured it out and got my fastest 100 time 1:38 Im not kicking any harder or any more, just a timing thing. Yippee!

Sweet!

I am hoping to get sub 1:50/100 in next couple months...my goal is 1:30 IM swim.