Ernesto's group - CLOSED (Page 55)

Racing is a combination of experience, brains, fitness but some intuition too...

I looked at your workout today, surprised to see 175 BPM for the first four minutes. This is very usual in the winter, the HR strap doesn't work well when it is dry, and with the cooler temps the body doesn't sweat much at all for the first minutes of the run.

Solution: wet the strap with some water (and your chest) a little before you start. The other solution is to use the gel that they actually use in the hospitals, you can get that one in a medical supply store, very inexpensive.

Another issue I have in the winter is what shirt I wear with my HR strap.  I use a polar so don't know if this experience is seen by Garmins...but I have heard that synthetic fabrics can build up a static charge that confuses the HR strap and leads to false or no signals.  Cotton seems to work best.

Ernesto and Chris - thanks for the comments.  Really trying to approach this race differently and welcome the feedback!

I had my first on the road fall, it hurts ALLOT!!  Road burn is the worst; my ankle hurts a little bit as well. Short version, coming down on a hill about 35 mph there was a sand deposit  that washed in to the road from some rain the previous day, I could't avoid it, I try to brake but at the same time the front wheel got stuck in the sand deposit and the next thing I remember was flat on my back hoping that no traffic was coming my way not so they didn’t run me over but out of embracement,

A small token from the road

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Chris, do you see what I was saying about shaving?

Road rash sucks - especially when it ends up below your pants or clothes that you have to wear in your real life...nothing like oozing road rash.  Sorry to hear about your spill and hope you heal fast!

Alfredo, sorry to hear you're in pain and the rash looks pretty nasty... It seems this group is getting more than their statistical share of bike injuries recently. Hope you get over it quickly!

Thanks Mark, it does look nasty now that I take a second look at it, specially the shaving part, I get the feeling from posted comments (type of riders thing) that I should be shaving my legs!!  I refuse to look like one of those fighting cooks, respect to those that do but I'm really hesitant to do so!!  

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Hey everyone.  I was able to start catching up on posts.  I'm still here and miss the frequent interactions with you all.  Since I'm not planning any race right now, I did the 2 week test in the "BIG BOOK".  I have 6 days to go.  I need to update my log on here but I have been steadily training.  Yesterday, I realized I had a ton of energy.  Seemed weird since I did a short run in the am(bat died on the garmin) and a bike ride on the indoor trainer that night.  This morning I did have a headache so I didn't run (had to be out by 5:15 to be back to get the kids ready), so I just went for my swim.  I took it easy.  Alternated laps with freestyle and breathstroke so I could really focus on my form.  Now at 1pm, I am full of energy...With no carbs!!!!  I will admit I do miss them and I am looking forward to having a few back!  I have had no major weight loose which is probably a good thing.  

I did notice last night on my trainer....  Same video, same intensity.  I went over a mile farther(increased speed) and my heart rate was a few beats lower.  I wore my garmin just to track my heartrate during the workout so you can see it there.  During the "soft pedals" or rest I tried to keep my heart rate in the zone.  My husband and I did a threshold test.  My "threshold" was 166bpm.  The video says to keep between 5-10 beats below that but the zone he says to stay in for me was 146-153.  

Ernesto- I'm still running and trying to just keep a comfortable pace.  My HR last Long Run was around 157 so no I am going to try to use that as the point I want to stay under.  What is your opinion?

Hammie is a little tight, that's it. I kept the stress to a minimum this week, even though I'm racing on the 2nd. Thanks for asking.

Welcome to taper madness. We'll talk about it in about two or three days, when you're hanging off the chandelier from the nervous energy.

The most important thing is to contain all that energy, relax as much as you can (it will be hard) and by no means do anything different than the plan. If you have an easy run, keep it like that, don't increase mileage neither. You have been extremely dedicated and disciplined, no doubt that it will translate to a great race. Let's not forget though that long endurance events are not only about fitness.

For the most, a marathon is fitness applied to a distance. For the smart the equation is (fitness + execution) applied to a distance. You are smart and have proved so many times, so it will be fun and interesting.

Here's some funny signs for each mile marker (for your family to post):

• 1. • Lookin’ good! (So far. &hellip

• 2. • Adrenaline got you this far. All guts from here!

• 3. • Seriously, who fartleked?

• 4. • It’s all uphill from here.

• 5. • Runner X-ing

• 6. • You’re not slow, you’re enjoying the course.

• 7. • Relax. You’re not going to win.

• 8. • I love the smell of 22,000 runners in the morning.

• 9. • 26.2, because 26.3 would be CRAZY!

• 10. • When Chuck Norris hits walls, they fall down.

• 11. • Johnny Knoxville wouldn’t even do this to himself.

• 12. • Only 5.3 miles to finish! (if you take the most direct route)

• 13. • You’re already a winner. You won the lottery to get here.

• 14. • Nobody to blame but yourself.

• 15. • Toenails were made to fall off.

• 16. • If you were a Kenyan, you’d be done by now.

• 17. • Shirt, how do thou chafe me? Let me count the ways. …

• 18. • You paid $115 for this?

• 19. • Sweating = fat cells crying.

• 20. • Your training runs ended here.

• 21. • At this point, it will hurt just as much to walk.

• 22. • Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall you just hit.

• 23. • Graveyard ahead. Look alive.

• 24. • Give me a high five!

• 25. • If pain is temporary, why does this feel like an eternity?

• 26. • Congratulations!!!! Almost. …

I'm glad to know you're putting it to the test. I'm the worst at following my own advice, lately I've been pigging out on bad carbs and with the added lack of training I'm packing a lot of pounds (17 accumulated in the last three years). Keep the intensity low while your body adapts to the fat glycolisis, if you increase the load you'll head for depletion of glucagon and bonk really bad.

Clearly, if your HR is lower than usual, this is an obvious sign of carbohydrate intolerance. Keep the test going and I'll analyze your workouts as you update the log.

It is hilarious! Thanks for the laugh. I am with you in the non-shaving camp, but reserve the right to change my mind (like, when hell freezes over...).

Ernesto, thanks for those signs! "Relax, you're not gonna win" should become my signature line...