Susie's Tri Girls - Closed (Page 6)

I am going to try that swim golf next time I go for a swim, what is the average strokes across a pool? What is considered efficient?  

How do you all keep count of your laps? I always lose count around 300 yards. Thanks Terri

In Hawaii, we had a high wind warning that never materialized. They shut down all the schools and state offices...guess state workers wanted a 4 day weekend.  It is just funny to me because this is nothing to compare what all you in the midwest and east coast go through with the snow and all.  I can see if it was a hurricane warning but no.

My next biathlon is a relay so I hope just having to only swim and not run before the swim will help . It was totally different than pool swimming, I thought it would be easier...the back stroke helped a lot for rest.

Yes sea creatures scare me, my friend got stung by a jelly fish last week, usually there is warnings but this influx was unusual.  No sharks usually in the area that I swam but lots of sea turtles, they don't bite but look scary and slimy...ugh something I need to get over.

Hi, As far as what is the "optimal" stroke count, well, that will vary from person to person.  A 5' 2" woman will have a higher stroke count than a 6' man.  Also, fitness level will obviously play a part too. It is variable and individual which makes it a great way to monitor your own progress compared to only yourself.  When you first try to lower your stroke rate don't be surprised when your time initially goes down.  Working on form will  cause you to slow down some.  After time, when you can increase your speed a little with a couple fewer strokes you know you've made progress. 

Keeping track of distance....yes, I'm sure there have been many a swim workout where I've been short or gone long.  It helps to break down the longer swims into smaller increments.  Such as thinking of a 1000 meter swim as 2, 500's.  Also, I count laps as opposed to lengths or actual distance. So, a 500 meter would be 10 laps. ( a lap in a 25 meter pool is 2 lengths - a 50) I find it easier to keep track that way.  Also if I'm following a specific workout plan, I print it out and put it in one of those plastic page covers and bring it to the pool with me.

So, in Hawaii you close down for high winds. Must have been predicting some kinda wind. I know when you read stuff about doing Kona, everyone always mentions the wind.

Happy MLK day!  School is closed today. (and we don't have to make up this one  )

 Susie

Hi Susie,

     Thanks for the info on the LG shoes. I tried them out on the trainer last night and they felt very nice. I have a wider foot and they fit great. They are a little stiffer coming out of the clip but I have plenty of time to get used to the new clips. I have a Shimano pedal and clips. 

     I officially started a training plan on Sun for Forest City 10K in May. The plan is from Runners World and looks to be very doable. I am off to the pool for a swim then out to one of the metro parks for a 3-4 mile run. What does everyone have lined up for today?

Hi Everyone,

Karen, glad the LG shoes are working out for you.  One of the reasons I like them is that they have a wider toe box than many of the other brands.  My toes needs that extra wiggle room.  Also, you should be able to adjust the tension on your pedals to make the shoes unclip easier.  And Congrats on the official start of the training plan!

Jennifer, I hope your son is feeling better. It's so hard when the kids are sick.   And how did you survive the 14 year old's birthday party?

Terry, glad you had an easier time keeping track during swimming. Let me know how the swim golf goes.  I'll be doing that at swimming tomorrow.  I've not been in the pool much in the last couple of months so I'm curious to see how I'll do. 

Well, it's just too quiet around my house tonight. My older son went back to school today   my younger son is not back from DC yet, and my husband is at a meeting, so it's just me and the dog.

Keep on training!

Susie

Birthday party was okay- really crazy, but pretty much what I expected.

I did manage to get in a bike ride for 7+ miles today while little guy slept, and then hubby got home surprisingly early, so I went for a jog/walk for 2+ miles. I'm sure he wasn't exactly pleased that I bailed on him the second he walked in the door, but if he was upset he didn't say anything.

He's not working tomorrow, so we're going to the gym to swim together in the morning. I'm gonna' swim golf!

Wow Jennifer, your first race. Excellent!

I'm sooooooooo tired right now.  Our roof starting leaking last night due to all the snow and ice accumulation and so we have a large bucket in our bedroom where the water is drip, drip, dripping through the ceiling.  I didn't sleep most of the night due to the water torture and the worry about the repair cost etc.  Ahh winter, gotta love it.

Susie

Did make it to swimming this morning despite the lack of zzzzz'z

Hi Patricia, I'm sorry your dog is having a tough go at things. I have had a couple of those difficult vet trips myself, so I feel for you.  I think it's amazing you're able to get in a workout at all- who cares it wasn't the one you had planned? It's not like you just threw up your hands completely. Give yourself credit for what you ARE doing. I think as women we are especially good at beating ourselves up for failing to meet our own expectations- and I think it's time we all dump our guilt! Plus, when you are as stressed and emotional as I imagine you must be, your workout wasn't bound to be as productive as usual anyways. You'll be back on top soon.

As for me, I didn't swim golf yesterday. Forgot my watch. Had a great workout though. I wanted to see if I could even swim 800 yards at all- and I did 1000 yards after my 50 yard warm-up. It was slow, and I don't care. I was just happy to not be exhausted at the end.

Have a great week.

 Hi all,

Jennifer, Congrats on the Swim!  You go Girl! Keep up the great work.

Patricia, I'm so sorry to hear your dog is not doing well.  I'm a huge dog (all animals) lover and it's only been 3 short years since we lost our Molly.  We still have Toby, but I can certainly feel what you are going through. I hope the vet appt. goes well and no hard decisions need to be made yet, especially if you are there alone.

As far as the missed training, you're right, just let it go.  I have struggled with that issue also and it's taking me several years just to realize that it's OK to miss a workout, or two or even, GASP! a week. You will be fine and quite possibly even better than fine because your body has had a well earned rest.  But don't get me wrong, I understand the feeling. I like to joke about my OCD when it comes to training.  I'm the kind of person that if I have a 60 minute run scheduled and my usual 60 min route takes only 58 min, I will run around the block to make sure I get to 60 min.  I totally stressed when I got a sick last spring and had to take some time off of my IM training.  But some very wise BTer's gave me the same advice I've given you. So don't be hard on yourself.  Of course it is ironic that during the times we most need a good workout to help elevate stress is when we are stressed by life and can't workout.

Let us know how everything turns out.

Susie

Hi Patricia, I hope everything went well at the vet. I am also a dog lover. We had to put down our Elsa dog two years ago. She was a 12 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. She was a little like the dog in Marley and Me, very stubborn and mischievous but, very lovable and protective over the kids. Let us know how the little guy is doing

Karen.

Patricia,

Glad to hear the pooch is doing a bit better. And that you were still able to get your workout in.  

Happy Friday everyone!  I don't know about anyone else, but this week seemed to last forever...and it was a 4 day week for me too.

Happy training this weekend.

 Susie

Hi Ladies -

Glad to see you all have been doing such a great job keeping up with your training.  It motivates me to have a good long work out tomorrow.  I have been on business travel for the last week and a half which really puts a tail spin on my training.  I did get in a few runs in while I was gone (one in Vegas for an hour and a half cause I got lost!) but not nearly enough! 

Thanks for helping me get motivated for my workout tomorrow!

Ruth

Patricia, Well done on the swimming! You've really made great progress in a short amount of time.  By June I don't think you will need to be worrying about having to hang on the kayak.

Terry, travelling does mess up the training schedule, but I'm glad to hear you are motivated to get back into the swing. 

For me....time to take my own advice about missing training.  I did something to my knee last Tuesday during my SES class.  Pop, pain, buckle.  Not good.  I have continued to have intermitant pain and buckling.  (of course I have continued to workout) Today is the worst so far.  Time to rest the knee and see what happens.  My first inclination is to rush to the DR, (because I am impatient) but I probably should give it a few days rest then see what happens.  ARGGG! I hate injuries!!!!

 Happy training everyone.

Susie

I'm putting a positive spin on the fact that I'm taking today off.

Slept in (heavenly), hazelnut coffee with the Sunday paper, 11:30 and I'm still in my jammies.  The last time that (still in jammies part) happened I was probably sick.

Susie

Happy Monday,

     I hope everyone is doing good. Does anyone have big training plans for the week? I am doing a long swim tomorrow. My longest so far is 1700 meters. Tomorrow I want to do 2000. I have been working on breathing and pulling. I am still very slow but, getting a bit faster. After my swim I am going XC skiing with my husband. It's been a few years so this should be interesting. On Sat we are going to a trainerfest. One of the local BTers has invited the SE Michigan people to his house.  Everyone is showing up with a bike, a trainer and a mat to put it on. He has a few of he IM races recorded to watch while we spin. Sounds like a lot of fun.

     Susie, your rest day yesterday must have been  awesome.

     Patricia, I hope your pup is doing good.

     Jennifer, your running is coming along real nice.

     Ruth, I'm glad your back.

Karen

Karen, let us know how the 2000 m swim goes and the Trainerfest sounds awesome.  What a great idea.  I have yet to use my trainer this winter.  I find it very boring, but I'm starting to feel guilty that my bike is just sitting there looking at me every time I go downstairs.

Yes, the rest day was nice, however I'm still worried about the knee.  Still giving me trouble although not horriblbe.  Right now I'm trying to decide what to do tomorrow morning.  Of course, I'm leaning toward going to class, especially since the pants I wore today were a wee bit snug and didn't used to be.

Let's hear about everyone's weekend or as Karen asked, any big training plans for the week.

Susie