kenj mentor group - back for another great season! CLOSED (Page 56)

jennifer65 - 2013-04-03 6:21 AM Just a thought about the base fitness thing. I think it does take years, and probably longer the later you start. My training fitness improvement hasn't as far or fast as many on here ( and I really am a i step forward 3 steps back kind of person), but I really do think it helps to remember where you came from. 4 years ago i needed lessons to show me hoe to do front crawl, then could do about 1 and a half lengths without getting exhausted, I could run for about 3 mins without stopping and i remember getting on my mountain bike for about 10 mins and not being able to walk fro the rest of the day (quads). And I'm sure we all know where we've come from. Its good to strive to advance, but I think its also good to congratulate yourself for what you've accomplished from time to time - even without getting a medal. Regarding knowing how fast you're pushing on a bike - personally I don't like wearing even a watch when I'm racing - I just concentrate on doing my best and enjoying it and then looking at my times when the results come in. That's probably not the question you asked, and probably why I've never won anything. Jennifer

Good observations Jennifer!  I do agree that improvement and condition comes harder with age yo some degree.  I am still new enough at this that between continued weight loss/improvement and conditioning I am defying the odds and setting PR's.  I fear the day that my age catches up with me and it becomes harder (impossible) to do that!  But I won't let it happen without a fight!

I think when it comes to ITBS, or achilles tendonitis, or a few other maladies that I am forgetting in most cases they are brought on with doing too much too fast.  When I first started the weight loss I would run 6 days a week, not far, but pretty soon the achilles started acting up.  Then, 2 years ago when I started with the ITBS issues, I was marathon training using a high mileage plan and had just completed a 300 + mile month (duh!)  That said, I do think your comments about the strength training helping are spot on Becky!  Having muscle balance, especially core strength, helps us maintain our form when we start to fatigue.  The challenge of course is fitting it all in when training for the longer distance races.

The article is interesting, I had not heard the theory of lowering your daily sodium consumption to lower the demands on race day before.  I believe, although have never checked, that I am probably below average in sodium consumption but add in the sports drink and that may or may not be the case. 

Good blog this week too Becky!  Tough weather for your race for sure!  Don't get too uptight about the training plan.  Remember we do this for fun and a missed workout here or there won't derail your race.  I always tell people to hit 90% of your training and you will be successful, since we aren't pro triathletes, life is going to get in the way from time to time.  Don't look back, just keep moving forward!

The Hammer Nutrition book I put a link up to yesterday said the same thing about lowering daily sodium consumption.  Also said never to use salt sticks as they don't have all the different salts you need. This is something I am super nervous about.  FL 70.3 is going to be WAY hotter than I am used to and I won't have time to acclimate. Water intake is another.

I love to read your blogs Becky - stinks that you were sick right before your race - I am sure you would of had a very different experience otherwise, but way to tough it out!

As for my maladies, my PF is giving me slight twinges - (I wore a bad pair of shoes running the other day) just enough to make me scared.  more stretching for me!

I need to read that, I started to and got distracted!

My coach, who did FL70.3 last year, has me doing my training in long sleeves and with reduced use of the fans some to try and assimilate to the heat of Florida.  That is easier to do in the basement obviously, but it doesn't help with the hills.  Hopefully we will get a glimpse of spring here soon! 

Hey Ali,

Any chance your friend has some Venge's or Tarmac's left over in his shop by you?

Things are changing in my schedule lately.  Trying to find ways to get things in.  My wifes business continues to do well and she went down to part time at her regular job to focus on the business.  That's all good!   But she has different hours now and I've always tried to work my training around her schedule to spend the most time I could with her.  So, getting out of the house to swim has been difficult.  Even after I had a little bought with sinuses and a then pulled something in my chest.  I'm beginning to think I'm not meant to swim!

Basement is coming along pretty well.  Got half the framing done.  Still making the goal for finishing in July.

Training might get a little more scarce now.  My grandfather is taking a turn for the worse and is requesting to spend some time with him.  He's convinced it's about his time and wants to see us.  

3 more weeks till California training camp!  OMG do I need a vacation!

Sorry about your Grandfather Brian! 

Good deal on the wife's business, maybe if it continues to do well you can retire and train full time!

In the middle of my biggest week training wise of the season.  So far so good, but the next few days may hold challenges.  I have to leave tonight for a meeting up near the Canadian border about 4 hours away.  Then Saturday, if things go according to plan I am going to fly to Jacksonville early to pick up an RV the wife and I bought from her uncle. 

Next week I am in DC for 3 days then fly to California for a week on Saturday.  Hopefully, after that our trip to Florida for the HIM in May is the only remaining travel of any significance for a while.

Ken, you are pretty darn inspiring.

Or in other words, every time I think "I'm just going to skip that workout, this week is just too crazy" you post something like this and I have to get off the computer and get it done.

Jaime

Good observations Jennifer!  I do agree that improvement and condition comes harder with age yo some degree.  I am still new enough at this that between continued weight loss/improvement and conditioning I am defying the odds and setting PR's.  I fear the day that my age catches up with me and it becomes harder (impossible) to do that!  But I won't let it happen without a fight!

I scratched myself from a 10k I registered for tomorrow. Too much stuff kept popping up to be driving all the way to NYC to run a loop that I've done so many times lately. Instead I'll just run a hard 6.2 miles in the middle of a morning training run...

Have a great weekend everyone!

No race this weekend for me, but I did cave last night and signed up for an additional sprint tri in 2 weekends.  First tri of the season and I am so excited!!!

I've been riding a lot in aero over the past 2 weeks and am noticing a lot of fatigue, mild soreness in my shoulders.  I just had a bike fit, so I don't think that's a problem, but I only got my tri bike last summer so this is all pretty new to me. I think I just need to do it more and get a bit stronger. Does this sound typical of your first few weeks back on the bike outside?

Jaime

That sounds normal to me.  If you don't notice improvements especially on the shorter rides after a few weeks then maybe you need some adjustments, but otherwise you probably just have to condition the areas that aren't used to aero.   I still get sore shoulders and neck when doing longer rides and runs.

Way to go for signing up for additional tri's! 

For the last week we have had beautiful weather.  Temps in the 40's and sunny. The snow was melting at a good pace and I was hopeful to get my bike out this next week. WELL Mother Nature has unleashed a nasty snow storm on us and we are supposed to get over a foot of snow today and tomorrow and temps won't get above freezing for at least another week.  Looks like another 3+ hour trainer ride this week. sigh.

jennifer65 - 2013-04-06 1:45 AM No racing for me this weekend - I'm off to see a friend. But, in order to get some motivation back I have entered a 10k running race for 6th May (it's a bank holiday over here) and identified an olympic distance race to train for in august. I have just been sorting out some training plan, and I'm excited. . In my tri club I hang out with my friend Erika - who is now 71. She had done ironman in her time and raced for GB at shorter distances , She now mainly does running races and a few sprint triathlons (mainly ones that include free food afterwards), She has very much been a mentor for me, pointing me towards races she says i can do - is always very encouraging, but when she does a race and i ask her how she's done it's she always says she's a few seconds slower than last year. That said, she wins lots of age group prizes cause she's the fastest of the 2 0r 3 women who race in her age group around here. Jennifer

Wow - I hope I can still do tri's at 71! Usually signing up for a race gets me motivated (or frightened enough to get off the couch) - I hope it works for you too!!!!

I CAN'T WAIT to start racing.  I had a dream last week that I showed up for an open water tri at the lake without my wetsuit, sunscreen or running shoes.  Kind of like those dreams where you show up unprepared for a test in middle school, you know?  Or else you show up naked.  Anyway, what was different was that I wasn't upset at all.  I was just looking at the run course saying, "I think I can do that barefoot."  I was just so happy to be at a race again!

Also, it's that magical part of the season after a few months of consistent training but before any races when anything is possible...  I might beat all those women who were ahead of me last year...I might podium...who knows? 

Have a great weekend. 

I was going to ask if you were planning on wearing a wet suit!  I will have to buy one just for this race as I don't think a full sleeved would be a good idea.  I am ok w/out - so think I will save the $ and spend it elsewhere!