Gnu's Group - CLOSED (Page 6)

Hope you get the tire issues resolved Mike. 

 Things are going fine here.  Getting to the point where I think I need to start doing more double-duty workouts, and start bricks.  Which is kinda hard because of this stupid shin issue.  I'm getting better, just apprehensive about throwing myself into bricks.  Any suggestions as to how to go about increasing endurance and doing some brick work w/o killing my shin right now???

Thanks guys!  I think I am going to try a brick this weekend but like you said only do like a mile run afterwards.  I just don't want to fall into the false sense of security that just because I can swim 400, bike 12, and run 3 *individually*, that I can do them *all together!* 

As for the shin I have been seeing my orthopaedic and a PT.  They haven't mentioned taping but I have a removable aircast that is VERY helpful.  I wear it all day and during biking and running. It definitely keeps everything in-line and seems to reduce the load on my shins.  I have 2 pairs of NB shoes (same model) that are good for my pronation problems, and I rotate them as mentioned.  Also have started w/ athletic gel inserts which help too.

Doc thinks I caught it soon enough before it got real bad; I've seen enough of my running friends suffer from it to know you don't want to mess around with it.   

Yeah i think that's pretty much going to be my approach: lay off running long-term after the race,  unless I'm healthy again (I was debating another sprint in beginning of Sept).  And I DO love the ability to switch disciplines, it's been great for me.  If I was just running and this happened, I would have been completely depressed and feeling like I couldn't do anything. 

Anyways, there's no backing out now.  I clicked SUBMIT and pre-registered for my race online!   

The tri class sounds neat! I would do more group training if I had the time.  Let us know how you like it!  Sorry about all that flooding, I hope this race goes off without a hitch for you!!

 So something isn't right with my stupid rear tire.  Changed the flat, reinflated it.  Won't hold air.  Any suggestions?

Since I desperately needed to get out for a ride, I reverted back to my mountain bike, The Beast.    I liked the new route I tried, but it's about 50% level and 50% hills.  Oh and it rained most of the time.  It was really challenging for me.  I was able to keep spinning most of the time, but it was tough.  My time wasn't great (8.7 mi/48 min), but I've got 5 weeks still to keep at it.  Got off and walked for about ten minutes aftewards just to get used to that transition.  May attempt a short brick tomorrow if I feel ok.

So my brain is misbehaving.  It's trying to psych me out.  I think I've left the ignorance-is-bliss, "Hee Hee I'm gonna do a triathlon!" phase, and moved into the "OH SH-T I'M DOING A TRIATHLON" phase.  I dreamed twice this week about something going wrong at my race.  Like I realize I forgot my bike helmet.  Or something equally dumb.  I just like being prepared and there's still this element of unfamiliarity about tri'ing for me.  Might see if I can find a race to just go watch in the next few weeks, see if that helps. 

I did my first real brick today, and happy to say it went really well!  Felt great; probably could have gone faster/longer on the run but with the shin thing I kept it easy (aren't you proud of my self-restraint Gary?). Ha!

I kinda had a moment about the whole thing.  A year ago I was coming out of 4 months of rehab for a messed up back; I couldn't do 10 minutes on an elliptical w/o dying.  Today I biked over 6 miles and ran 1.5 without so much as flinching.  Pretty darn awesome.  I haven't even raced and I already feel like I won! 

Great job everyone on your races. I had my first race of the season this past weekend and you're welcome to read the report

 http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=119526&posts=1&start=1

The race went pretty well and the weather was perfect. I definitely need to train harder on the bike to get my speed up a bit. Had a great time out there and it was nice to have my family in town to watch. They enjoyed seeing all the people out there competing.

Thanks!

I agree that I need to get out and do longer rides. My training up to this point is 1 to 2 hr rides and that's great and all, but I need to start logging in more miles. Thanks for the input. I went back and reread some of the bike training tips that you had given earlier to work those into my training as well.

My wetsuit comes down right above the ankle bone. It wasn't so much that the suit was too tight around my ankles it was that I was tired and failed to pull my leg out on the first attempt so I struggle with pulling it by hand over my foot. Usually I just step on part of the suit and lift my leg out and go. I think with a few practice tries this problem will be a thing of the past.  

Matt

Nice race Matt!  I'm sort of glad to see that others have mentioned needing to work more on the bike, as I am in that camp too.  Seems like everyone on BT is like "ooooh I just LOOOOVE biking, I spend so much time on it!"...and I'm like eh.  It's a necessary evil for me at this point.  I don't get the whole loving to go fast, bike porn thing.  But maybe in time...

Gary I always view my runs that way: make SOMETHING of it every time.  I rarely have a workout where I just run at constant pace.  Speed work/intervals/climbs/etc all make it more challenging and make it go MUCH faster, IMO.  

 Interesting about the wetsuits.  I'd be scared to cut it!!  Talked to a BTer who is doing my race and think I'm going to pass on the wetsuit this time.