Aaron Davidson's Group -- Closed. (Page 57)

billsorg - 2010-08-26 11:52 AM

Nice job, Aaron!  Very impressive time and that run was scorching!  Andy Potts is a freaking machine... I'm a big fan of his.  I hope he wins Kona this year... I think he was top 10 last year.

barelfly - 2010-08-04 10:54 PM hi everyone.

well, the summer is winding down for the family so that means I can get into a training schedule again and spend some more time on the group page as well. I've kept up somewhat to see how everyones training is going and to see what races you were all doing and how you did. it's neat to read how everyone did this summer. Very inspiring!

so I started training officially this week - but I've been running now for 4-5 weeks again and riding throughout the summer. This weekend while in Denver for vacation, i decided I'd run a 1/2 marathon in October to do something I've never done and never thought I could do (or want to for that matter!).  So, if the questions i ask at times are beginnerish since all of you have done a 1/2, I apologize - you have just inspired me to try new things and push harder on the things I already do.

enjoy the rest of your summer and vacations.

itsallrelative_Maine - 2010-09-01 7:19 AM So - it looks like Hurricane Earl may make it up here just in time for my race. While I am fine with running in the rain (actually kind of like it if it's not too cold), and okay with riding my bike in the rain (just slower because of the surface conditions and braking), but I really am not interested in swimming in rough conditions. Have any of you had a rough swim? Any suggestions for getting through it?

The other part that's not so great - we've had a string of very hot (for us with no air conditioning) days - 90s during the day, 70s at night...which means that the lake has really warmed up...which means the wet suit may be too warm. I swam with the wet suit last week when the water was cooler and actually felt pretty good (compared to my previous race when I wore the wet suit and felt like I was overheating)...I guess the hurricane could cool the water off a bit before the race, eh?

Just random musings while getting amped up for the race. I feel ready now. I know the course very well. Just worrying about the things I can't control (like weather). Thanks for all the encouragement...

itsallrelative_Maine - 2010-09-01 7:19 AM So - it looks like Hurricane Earl may make it up here just in time for my race. While I am fine with running in the rain (actually kind of like it if it's not too cold), and okay with riding my bike in the rain (just slower because of the surface conditions and braking), but I really am not interested in swimming in rough conditions. Have any of you had a rough swim? Any suggestions for getting through it?

The other part that's not so great - we've had a string of very hot (for us with no air conditioning) days - 90s during the day, 70s at night...which means that the lake has really warmed up...which means the wet suit may be too warm. I swam with the wet suit last week when the water was cooler and actually felt pretty good (compared to my previous race when I wore the wet suit and felt like I was overheating)...I guess the hurricane could cool the water off a bit before the race, eh?

Just random musings while getting amped up for the race. I feel ready now. I know the course very well. Just worrying about the things I can't control (like weather). Thanks for all the encouragement...

wbayek - 2010-09-01 9:57 AM
Jennifer, I think the weather will be fine by Sunday morning, and definitely cooler.  But if the water is rough, as Bill and Aaron said, wear the wetsuit.  And typically weather rough will come from one direction, so prepare to breath to the other side.  If you get a wave splash during a breath, relax and do whatever it takes to completely recover before going back to your full swim stroke.

Otherwise, if it's nasty forget the goals you made with perfect conditions in mind, and just race your race and know that you're prepared.  You'll do great.

wbayek - 2010-09-02 1:28 AM Hopefully some of you are online since I only have about an hour to decide.

I'm scheduled for a 60 minute long run tonight.  It's 95 and there's also an air quality alert per the weather reports.  I'm feeling a bit dragged down, not sure what's been causing that.

I skipped a swim yesterday, so I'm feeling not good about missing two days.  I know it's taper week, but this week looks more like a recovery week in that it's a cutdown in volume with some intensity and next week is more of an easy week with some short workouts with pickups.

Should I run tonight?

mdfahy - 2010-08-28 7:06 PM Question:  What would you all recommend for a taper for an IM AquaVelo?  I was thinking somewhere between 5 and 10 days.  The event is in 4 weeks and I have no idea how long to taper.  I'm approaching this event as a test and long training day rather than a competitive race. 

RunRene - 2010-09-02 8:10 PM
I was thinking 7-10 days too

wbayek - 2010-09-03 3:43 PM I had a little setback today.  Some of you know I've been fighting a cough and general draggedness, but I've attributed it to the heat and pollen and workouts and now the taper.  Well, this morning I had a fever too, so my wife convinced me to see the DR.  First funny thing is that the nurse did a double take and retook my pulse.  She then asked if was a runner, and when I said sort of, I'm a triathlete, she said good.  She said someone my age with a pulse so low (46) would be a problem if not an athlete.  Kinda cool I thought.

Anyway, after prodding and x-raying and such, my DR determined I have acute bronchitis.  Acute makes it sound serious but I guess that just differentiates it from chronic.  Anyway, the main symptoms are being tired (check) and coughing (check), and since it's viral there's not much you can do about it except sleep a lot, hydrate, use an albuterol inhaler to help the coughing, and wait for it to pass (typically 2-3 weeks apparently, so I'll still have it next weekend).

Oh, and try not to do anything too strenuous.  I laughed at that one and asked if a 6 hour swim/bike/run would qualify.  He laughed, but he's a runner so he gets it, and absolutely thinks I should be able to race next weekend.  He just cautioned me to not expect to break any land speed records and expect to be a little more fatigued than usual, and be smart - but he knows me so he knows that part is unlikely.

I'm just planning to continue my taper, sleep as much as possible this week and hope for the best since there's nothing else I can do about it.  It's funny that my bike today went fine though I do feel unusually beat now a few hours later.

Have any of you ever experienced having this while racing?  Any advice?

aarondavidson - 2010-09-03 5:39 PM  I would race. With two conditions, know that after the race your immune system will be suppressed, so take it easy. Secondly if you feel it in your chest do not race, otherwise go for it.

wbayek - 2010-09-03 8:00 AM
Thanks Aaron, that sounds perfect.  Right now it's totally in my airways and the chest feels fine.  It's not bad at all really, just the coughing and tiredness.  And truthfully my bike today was outstanding, so I really think this won't affect the race unless as you say it gets worse and into my chest.

I'm going to sleep like it's my job this week and do next to nothing.  I can't imagine I'll lose much if any fitness, maybe it'll even be great to give my legs the time off.

Believe me, with the work I've done and with the $$$ already spent, unless I'm in the hospital I'm racing even if I have to walk the whole way and add the DFL thread!

itsallrelative_Maine - 2010-09-05 2:47 PM Hello all,

Just a quick update - in all honesty I'm too tired to do the whole race report. My pie in the sky goal was at 3 hours with a much more realistic goal of 4 hours...made it across the finish line at 3:09 so I am very pleased with the results. I came out of the water at the BOP, did really well on the bike (negative split the two loop course) and kept it steady for the run (only 5 minutes slower than I typically run the route first thing in the morning).

Once I finished, I was surprised at how much I ache. Everything is tired. Even the bottom of my feet hurt. Wow! After a shower, I stretched out on our bed and nothing has ever felt so good to me. Maybe another year of Oly's is in the cards before attempting the HIM...that's gotta be another level of pain. So impressed with you all.

More later, after a nap, a beer, some lobster and fireworks.

Thanks all. I kept thinking during the race how far I have come from a year and a half ago (when I couldn't have completed even one of the events - much less all three). This group has been a great sounding board - and a wonderful source of inspiration.