bigDH's accountability training a.k.a Beer Drinker's Appreciation Society (Page 58)

YES!!!!  There is no greater pain then the final sprint to the finish in a race.  CONGRATULATIONS on meeting and beating your goals.  Have fun with "All the beer you want" at the brewery!  I'm so glad it all came together for you.  sub 3 hours for an OLY is an awesome accomplishment.

Hit my 30 mile ride in 17.6 mph pace.  Stuff's starting to come together.  ?, how much benefit will clip in shoes on the bike make.  I've been making slow steady progress with running shoes, but have heard that cycle shoes can benefit.  I only have 3+ weeks till tri, but would be willing to go that route if it is such a benefit gained. 

I finished my ride at a local pub down the street.  I've ridden past this place many times and enjoyed brews at dinner there before, but this was awesome.  I do not have any races ending at brewery's, or I've never even had a beverage after any of my marathons yet, so I planned to end my ride at this pub today.  I enjoyed a Hefewiesen by Grand Teton.  It is very mild with an authentic hefe taste.  I then ordered Elysian's apocolypse wasteland Saison.  This is now on my top 10.  It was fantastic.  I finished the ride off and pr'd my previous time.

Way to go David on the OLY.  Thor, your up next. 

By cages, do you mean the strappy things that surround your running shoe with an adjustment on the side?  Then yes, I have cages on my pedals that surround my foot.  My question is about the clip in kind of pedal where you wear a riding shoe to "clip on" to the pedal.  Is it worth it to go from "cages" to the "clip on" style, or too much trouble in the next 4 weeks to be worth it?

Thanks DH, Yeah, that'd be funnier than he77 riding around in only bycicle pedals for 56 miles!

Thanx DH, upon your recomendation, I will get clip on pedals and cycling shoes.  I'm taking my bike to the bike shop, I have a front wheel that seems bent to me, it wobbles to the point of sometimes touching the front brake when I lift it up and spin it.  I could probably use a new chain, and whatever else they can sell me to make me faster!

Great job David, it must have been the warm coors that did it...not! It is the consistent training that did it. Hope you enjoyed an ice cold beer after the race!

x2 on the clipless pedals! Just don't ride your bike into the garage the first time you use them like I did...couldn't quite get them out quick enough!

Well our camping is over for now. Got in some nice rides but no runs. Been slacking on the runs, er, I mean tapering...

Me and my son did a few ows this past weekend at miquelon lake. I was ploughing through weeds in the middle of the damn lake. When I stopped about a kilometer from the shore I could touch some kind of soft mucky bottom. It wouldn't hold me up but it was there...

Probably drank more beer than necessary but what can ya do when you are camping??

We leave Friday at lunch for Invermere. Race day for my son is Saturday while i go Sunday.

After that we are off to Penticton BC(home of ironman Canada) 

Is it called reading if you are listening to a book? 

Where are you camping at?

Gentlemen... a huge thank you to you all for your support and help since December.  There is no question that my journey wouldn't be possible without the help of my wife and kids.  But to be honest - it's you guys who fuel my competitive fire.  Your advice was invaluable and the motivation you provided was essential to reaching my goal.  If it were left up to me, I would have stopped and walked but as I said to myself as I sprinted towards the finish line, "There is no f*cking way I'm drinking warm coors lite".

Here's the report: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=449564

X3 - I finally bit the bullet on the clipless pedals and they are worth the money... I agree whole heartedly with Thor on practicing.  While I didn't ride into my garage, I did fall over 2x on my first ride.  

To repay you for the suggestion about pacing for the 10K - here are two suggestions I;ve learned from others about clipping in and clipping out

When you clip in for the first time: Clip your strongest leg in first so you can get the maximum push as you go to clip in the other foot.

When you unclip to stop: ALWAYS unclip the right foot first so that you will fall away from traffic if you lose your balance.  Also, I went for a ride with my cousin yesterday and watched him clip out for most of the morning before realizing that he always unclipped his right foot at the top of the stroke and while his left foot was on the bottom.  When I asked him why he did it that way - he didn't have an answer.  But after trying it a couple of times, I realized it was a good thing to do because it not only makes it easier to twist out, but being able to rest your weight on the left foot as it rests on the pedal provides for more stability.

Good luck - you're gonna love them!

Good luck to you and Jr. this weekend!  

I dare you to complete the entire IM course while in Penticton.  If you do, I will personally pack a case of my favorite beer and drive it to your house when you get back home...

Yesterday I began my prep for the Century in August by going for a ride with my cousins.  It was incredible.  We did a 40 mile an hour bike ride on a bike path along the coast of Little Traverse Bay.  If you haven't seen Lake Michigan with your own eyes - there is no prettier shade of blue in the world than along the coast of michigan.  

At the turn around, we stopped and grabbed some coffee and a scone at a tiny coffee shop.  I've never stopped on a ride to eat before and it was awesome!  The food was incredible.  It turns out that the guy who made the scones was also on a ride and had stopped there to eat and as we were raving about how good the blue berry scones were - he leaned in and said, "well, thanks son.  Not only did I bake them but I grew the corn and the blueberries on my farm"  So cool.

A final question - I'm sore after my race and long ride yesterday.  I'm tempted to sit in my chair on the patio and rest up for tomorrow's hill workout - but we are having a home made cherry pie we bought yesterday at the National Cherry Festival.  So, I've got to burn some calories and don't want to go for a swim since I have a lesson tomorrow.  

Question - is aqua jogging for 45-60 minutes a good way to get the blood circulating without putting any more stress on my joints and muscles?

Update.  I bit the bullet.  I have new clip on pedals and shoes for cycling.  I have a new rear wheel, cassette and chain, brake adjustments, re doing the shift cables, adjusting the shift tensions, genetal tune up to happen on Thursday the 19th.  I got them to install the pedals, (they were extremely busy) so that I could let them know how they ride on the 19th.  The whole family is going on a ride here in about 30 minutes so I can try everything out.  My wife says it's "no fair that I have a nice road bike, and she's stuck on an old mountain bike."  I tend to agree with her on this point except the one about me having a "nice" road bike.  More to come about this one, I'm sure.  I would love to throw down and get her and I our dream cycles, when we win the lottery.  I guess I have to start playing in order to win. 

Thank You all for the advice/wisdom.  I only hope this is the last $ put into said bike, It sounds like I may have to save a few $'s for some new ones.

Thor- Is your goal to better your time from last year?

David, sometimes the body just needs a break.  Nothing wrong with that.  That way we get back in the game much sooner. 

Darren- sorry about the bike, Is that the new one you got on craigslist?  Hope it's an easy fix an up and running in no time.

Have never aqua jogged so i can`t comment. ¸

I say tie a rope around your waist and attach 6pack. Drag it behind while swimming. Swim until beer is cold then head for shore for refreshments! Warm lake=more comfortable swim but longer to cool off beer vs cold lake=freeze your nuts off swimming but shorter swim to cool off beer! 

Geez, that sucks! What the hell time does your bike shop close at??

When are you off to Kananaskis? Do you have a bike trailer for you son? They have some great paved trails in K-country! Make sure you bring a good supply of medicinal beers in case of mosquito bites or any other ailments that may occur...

Update.  I bit the bullet.  I have new clip on pedals and shoes for cycling.  I have a new rear wheel, cassette and chain, brake adjustments, re doing the shift cables, adjusting the shift tensions, genetal tune up to happen on Thursday the 19th.  I got them to install the pedals, (they were extremely busy) so that I could let them know how they ride on the 19th.  The whole family is going on a ride here in about 30 minutes so I can try everything out.  My wife says it's "no fair that I have a nice road bike, and she's stuck on an old mountain bike."  I tend to agree with her on this point except the one about me having a "nice" road bike.  More to come about this one, I'm sure.  I would love to throw down and get her and I our dream cycles, when we win the lottery.  I guess I have to start playing in order to win. I say just give her your bike and grab yourself a new one! She can have your "nice" road bike and you can have a "Nicer" New" road bike!!

Thank You all for the advice/wisdom.  I only hope this is the last $ put into said bike, It sounds like I may have to save a few $'s for some new ones.