Mad Manatee Mentors CLOSED (Poptart/pet pic bribes?) (Page 54)

What's the fastest color?

It's interesting that so many of you are enjoying the Surfaces.  (Chris, do you have one as well?).  I switched to Apple products (for computers, Android for phones) years ago.  The main things that I would have a hard time giving up is the pretty much seamless upgrade process and the ease of removing old programs that you no longer need.  I don't miss the Windows registry.  Does Windows 8/10 still have that?

Set your FTP where you think it should be based off the info you have. Then do the workout(s) at an appropriate percent for what you want out of them. There is some nice data that can come from having FTP set properly, so don't get in the habit of fooling around with that.

We have in our computing arsenal, in no order what so ever:

• A HP laptop running Win 8
• An Asus Netbook running Win7
• A Surface
• 3 old PC's in various states of disrepair
• 2 iPhone 6's (from work)
• A HTC M8 smartphone
• A Samsung Galaxy S5
• 2 other HP laptops provided by the company

Make no mistake, the phones are computing devices, just small and hard to read. That may not be solely because of the screen size, it may have something to do with my eyes.  I hate the Surface. It does not work the way I think these things should function and I an no fan of MS telling me that everything I save will be on Sky Drive. I have changed it, but was a bit surprised early on. The same with Win8 on my HP. Also, there are apps, specifically my Timex Device Agent, that is not available on the Surface, although I think I know how to get around it but haven't worked on it yet.  I hate forced upgrade, all I want is function. That being said, I like the Netbook. It has a keyboard, is small and portable, runs everything I need to use and does so with little configuration on my part. I also understand that Win8 and now Win10 are coming, so I better get used to them. Home computing in general is moving away from keyboards and mice and towards a seamless input process.  It won't be long until we have moved off of touch screens and are using motion/voice detection. Siri is only a step in a long line of computing changes.  Also, look for home computing to be done soley through the phone in the next 10 years or so. Phones with docking stations will be the norm.

Sooooo do I catch up going forwards or backwards in posts?

Got in a 5.5mi run yesterday morning (pause at 4.8 for a promised, and delayed, park stop for Mak). Then had a decent swim last night, especially after the only other person swimming took off his fins. I'm slow, but sheesh! 

What I'll probably do is keep it at 100% with my FTP at first and see how I feel.  If I feel like the fatigue is too much then I can always drop it down.  I expect this to be an intense week either way.

RE: computers

For gaming I have a Windows 7 desktop with an awesome graphics card.  I pretty much only use that for gaming.  

For home development (Android) I use a cheap Acer Laptop, which is also for Trainerroad.  It's a Windows 8 i3 machine.

For anything else (including at home web surfing) I have a Samsung Chromebook, which is actually the device I use the most.  It's a really great device for anyone who doesn't need a specific Windows program. 

I made the switch to Apple laptops about 12 years ago.  We have Dell computers at work and I HATE them.  There is always a problem with the software, the hardware and any other type of ware there is   My agency also gives me a phone.  Unfortunately, it is a blackberry!  Needless to say I'm not a fan - except for the price   It is the only phone I have, so I make do.  I have an I-Pad that I use more than my macbook air, but if i ever got a real smart phone -like the 6+ I would probably give up the i-pad.  But since the new smart phones won't fit in my running shorts' pocket and I need to have my phone with me when on call, even if i decided I wanted to pay for a phone, I probably wouldn't b/c of that.    

A number of people in my office have Surfaces.  We've had a LOT of problems with them, which, although covered by warranty, have been extremely frustrating.  About a 1/3 of them have had to be returned for new ones.

Thanks!  You too! Do you watch the movie Zulu all day long to celebrate? 

To say the least.

Ha! yes, I did think about that as I was reading about the saguaros in the visitor center. Plus I think they might be just as prickly for almost a decade.  I do have a few years til then though.

I'd love some additional feedback on the comment above. 

My TR virtual power FTP is 295 based on a 20 minute test done a little over two years ago.  I repeated the test going into my build period last year and had a lousy result (more like 275), but I felt that wasn't very indicative of my real number, so I've kept it there ever since. 

I've been doing base training (mostly Z2, some Z3, a tad of Z4 and some force efforts) over the past three months, averaging around 200 TSS per week.  As I've progressed I've noticed the Z2/Z3 stuff feels pretty easy, but once I hit 95% or so of FTP I fall apart.  Maybe it's where I am in the periodization of my plan.

I've done a couple of "practice" tests on Sufferfest videos the last week:  The Rookie (nailed the intervals +/- errors in accelerating, etc.) and Hell Hath No Fury (had a good first 20' set, then the wheels fell off). 

So, based on the comment above plus what I've described, i'm thinking of leaving FTP where it is and dropping the TR workout effort by x% depending on the type of workout. 

Another tragic hit and run reported today in Velonews.  One cyclist killed, another seriously injured in hit and run in southern FL.  At least the guy turned himself in a short time later.

I've adopted the Jack Daniels thought process when it comes to this.  If you can't prove it in a test or race, then it doesn't count.  As for the rest you can play by feel, since you aren't sure at the moment what your FTP is.  I will say that completing The Rookie correctly probably means you're in good shape.

Totally agreed.  If it weren't a work computer, I'd still be using my mac airbook (what the heck is the official name of that thing?) exclusively, rather than just as a home computer.

That said, I can justify it for work, as the surface characteristics are what I need there (but less so at home, where other solutions could work - even though I'm using the surface there, too!).

Matt

Ha!  Happened to me last night, too, whilst sharing a lane.  All of a sudden some mer-swimmer zooms past doing fly with fins on (and she was actually quite fast without them, as it turned out, too).  But the fins just buried me!

Matt

Wow - that sux!  Had the same experience a couple years ago at a different company when we tried the surface 2's.  This time my whole team has the 3's and we haven't had issues.  I wonder if, like so many (GARMIN!) products, the first couple builds can be spotty wrt quality?

Matt

Apologies for the lack of consolidation among my posts - who knew I'd have so much to say on a rainy morning. 

Buuuut.....  I LOVE THAT MOVIE and think about it fairly frequently, even having not seen it in a few years.  Badazzes all around in that one...  Much to learn from it, good and bad.

Makes me glad that my battles are around how to help patients, be an ever better dad/"Other Half", with myself to push harder during training and racing, etc.  Very lucky, indeed!

Matt