Super Cats Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 6)

JoeBWan - 2009-04-18 10:48 AM

So who's the dog in your avatar? I'm thinking he/she is your pup? And what does your wife teach? If it's young kids.... Maybe she already runs a 5k each day in an effort to keep up with them!

Yep, as my wife says, Cinnamon's the "other girl" in my life.  Now you had to go and make me break out the pics:




My wife, Lori BTW, took that while on a walk in the fields behind our house last week.  Lori teaches highschool Spanish to 13-18 yr olds.  The big hurdle is that her school is a 45 minute drive away, so she has to leave the house at 6:15 in the morning.

However, summer is coming soon!  Does school go on break during the summer in Australia like they do here?

Cinnamon is gorgeous!!!

Yes the schools BIG vacation here is over our summer so Dec-Feb... coincides with Chrissie too!

D001 - 2009-04-18 11:51 AM I just noticed that Beth's and Yanti's mentor group is already up to page 20. Oh wait. It's Beth and Yanti. Of COURSE they're up to page 20. Here, have some glitter to brighten your Friday.

Dont worry too much Dee... they also got started awhile before we did too... plenty of time to catch up if you want to... as long as we do get some training related chatter too

Yes, I think that's probably the best answer.  I think getting through this race is step #1. Then, getting ready for my half-mary in May is #2. I think I need to come up with a weekly training plan and then stick to it.

I'll see about doing a run tomorrow. But I may opt for sleeping in and then taking it easy.  We have to drive to Sacramento, which may take an hour or so.  Sadly, I need to get there early to pick up a rental wetsuit to replace the one that's hanging in the bathroom... it's too small. *sigh*

I'm more worried about the climbing. I haven't seen the profile, but I know there will be some pretty hard climbs. I've done parts of the route before, and it's in the mountains, so there'll be altitude to deal with as well.  Yes, some weekday trainer rides are in order, in addition to a couple of longer weekend rides.

Both Eric and I pride ourselves on being "do-ers." We do our share of sitting around during the week, but when the weekend rolls around, we're usually outside.  I enjoy doing triathlons and running races, and probably will start to want to do more organized cycling events after June. I like being around the people. It's like a party, except outside and with some physical challenge thrown in.

Yeah, it's really taking a toll on me. I mean, I've always been bigger than I'd like to be. But I've been in denial about how much I've really let myself go over the last couple of years. But now I'm really feeling FAT, not just mushy.

I think I need to really work on just cleaning up what I'm eating and when and WHY. I'm aware of my emotional eating, but I still do it. I know I'm doing it for the wrong reasons, and honestly, I don't ever enjoy it as much as I think I will.  I need to remind myself of that before I take that first bite.

I'll do some thinking this weekend, by Sunday night, I'll come up with a list of goals for the coming week.

Again, I think what will work best for me will be to sit down on Sunday night and map out a plan for the week. I usually start with the training plan I have already set up, and then move things around to fit my schedule.

D001 - 2009-04-18 10:52 AM

kaqphin - 2009-04-17 8:09 PM

peach5757 - 2009-04-18 12:57 AM ... It also has a strength training plan that it suggests you follow 2 days a week.  I haven't started any strength training yet...do you think that is a good idea?... ... I was a competitive swimmer through my childhood and swam for my college swim team so I'd have to say swimming is my strength. 

... 2) Strength TRaining: Around BT its a bit of a can of worms as some people are a fan and some are not as such. I would suggest if you are unsure you start out with core work and stretching. For general body conditioning, weight loss and longterm health, especially for women who start loosing muscle mass rapidly every year from around the age of 30 then its a good idea. Might not directly make you faster in a triathlon but it will make you a more well rounded human being health wise. I also call some of it vanity in my case!

 

Also a pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat so as you shape up you may find your weight doesnt always change that much but your size may!

I don't want to enter the ever-ongoing BT weight training debate either, but... Another thought is doing a higher number of reps with less weight for your strength training. This helps conditioning, rather than emphasizing building muscle mass. (Although women will build less muscle than men, due to lower testosterone levels.) For example, rather than doing 6-8 repetitions with a heavier weight.... Do 12-15 repetitions with a lighter weight. Also, Cat has a really good point about losing muscle mass after age 30. In addition, weight bearing exercises can (supposedly) help maintain strong bones and prevent osteoporosis. (Although there are a lot of other factors involved, as well.)

Ok WARNING: Im a former gym bunny and I used to do some serious weight training including split routine 5-6 day a week schedules so I have some *opinions*

Some of them include:

1) As Dee said, if you are a woman you are very unlikely to bulk up because you dont have testosterone. The benefits you WILL get are great for your all round health. Especially as we all get older.

2) If you are going to do it you might as well do it properly.. this includes GOOD form and do NOT rush your repetitions or use momentum. Lower weight with good form is BETTER than a heavier weight all over the place

3) Its really important to make sure your routine is balanced - that means if you are going to do your abs and core make sure you work your lower back etc too... if you are going to work on your biceps, do your tripceps too

4) If you are just stting out you should be aiming for around 12 repetitions per set. You should pick your weight as one that is challenging but that you feel you could do about 1-2 more repetitions after finishing if you had to.If in doubt go a little lighter rather than a little heavier

5) With endurance training you do not need to hit the weights room more that twice a week

6) There are other ways to build muscles related to triathlon such as running uphills, riding up hills, high resistance rides on the bike trainer and swimming with paddles .

7) DO NOT SWIM WITH PADDLES - unless you have perfect form and NO shoulder issues... if you do you will hurt your shoulder. This means Dee.... NEVER EVER SWIM WITH PADDLES!

8) Compound exercises work really well for athletes. Compound exercises are those that work BIG groups of muscles all together and generally in a more functional way (so closer to how we would use these muscles in real life). Some good examples include the squat and the push up.

9) Plyometrics are also good - but be careful with these if you have any troubles with your legs. Some of the motions such as jumping and twisting can be hard on your joints so if you already have issues be selective with what exercises you pick

I could go on this topic FOREVER - but I have a shelf full of weight training books from my gym bunny days, a lot of my old routines and I still write my own strength routines when Im not working with my personal trainer. So if anyone wants some help in this area let me know.

Do you know what they call the last finisher at a triathlon?

A triathlete.

Yay for more chatty people!

I think my overthinking thing is a BIG part my emotional eating... yup I do it too. I have some killer stories too of stuff Ive dont thats just sooooo irrational! Ive melted down over my weight and then eaten a packet (yes an ENTIRE packet) of chocolate biscuits to make me feel better. And thats really just the tip of the iceberg...

I love you already have time put aside to work out your plan and what you want to do each week Sounds like you are an organised sort of person. I guess thats part of being a 'do-er'. My resolution for this year was to stop talking about all the stuff Im 'gonna' do and start doing it... saving for and buying my new bike is the first major goal under that. Others include the training and eating and loosing weight as well as trying to force myself into something ressembling a social life Oh and after the bike Im going to save for an eventually take a holiday for the first time in years... if I get my act together I actually want to do a trip to the US!

Wow sounds like you are also really good a persevering! The swimming can be tough but tohave to relearn twice is a BIG ask! Any idea whats not been working out?

And you get a pretty MASSIVE cheer

Just call me injury girl! I put myself on crutches for 6 weeks with a sprained ankle once, a couple more weeks with one crutch to support me walking around... and there was a LONG period of rehab...

Ankles are my thing (and knees, feet and shins)

Your training plan looks really good - how are you going with cycling just twice a week? Comes down to your time avail and priorities of course! But generally in tris cycling can be up to 50% of your race time, especially in the longer distances... so it helps to have a good engine

D001 - 2009-04-18 10:28 AM

kaqphin - 2009-04-17 8:22 PM Great!! I look forward to meeting her

 

Im now off for my ride - I will then spend sometme this afternoon talking about training in a group, training solo and the questions around your first triathlon...

In the interim Id love to hear any updates on peoples traing and what you all have planned for the weekend (not just training!)

Me? Im going for my long ride now... a bit late... then I have dinner with my brother tonight before he flies back to  Melbourne tomorrow. Tomorrow I am meeting a friend for a run, then will do a ride and hopefully later in the day a swim...

My what an exciting social life I have!!It has to fit around my bike rides Well that and I have NO MONEY because of the whole paying for a new bike thing...

Have fun!

Wasnt a great ride I was too tired and froze... the wind wanted to take me off my ike... so I called it and will have another go at getting a long one tomorrow.

Oh well.. I generally have one short and one long on the weekends.

D001 - 2009-04-18 10:19 AM Cat - thanks for the swimming, running and biking advice! I think I'm going to print it out, actually. (I think my swim stroke is too wide, so I'm working on that.... And yes, I DO count when I run! So I know exactly what you mean. LOL) But... I just realized that while I gave an intro, I didn't answer some of the other questions you asked.... Training Plan: I don't have one. I tried a few of the BT ones, but didn't stick with them. In general, I just try to increase things slowly. For example, if I swam ___ yards in one session, the next time I get in the pool, I'll try to increase it slightly. Or, if I'm really struggling, I'll at least try to match it. I've gotten better at not pushing myself, because I kept getting injured. (But in some cases, I probably need to push more. I think I've slacked off too much lately, due to work, etc.) Anything else you need help with in relation to the sport: Um, for now, I'll just ask questions as they come to me. And I'll read about what everyone else is doing. This group has people at all levels, so I'm sure I'll pick up a lot of good info and pointers. (Yay, us! ) Goals: Increase endurance and consistency. (Speed would be nice too, especially with swimming and running.) Try to keep from injuring shoulders, knees and any other body parts. Lose the weight that's crept on. (Which will also help the knees.) Upcoming races: Um.... I admit it - I'm not here for the races, really. There's enough competition in my life as there is. I train more to relieve stress, and in an attempt to get in shape. (Or regain the shape I've lost!) That said, I *heart* the challenge forum! It's competitive, without being competitive. (If that makes any sense.) Also, I do need to push myself more. So maybe I need to set some more definite training goals. (Although the challenges generally keep me in line.) Hurdles to be overcome: I need to learn to balance work and "everything else" better. :P

Hi Dee,

I guess the word 'training plan' can be a bit misleading... but given the chaos in your life right now I think a bit of reoutine might help! Dont worry about increasing th distance of your sessions every time either... its ok to have some shorter and some longer!

The idea is that over time you might swim a bit longer or a bit faster. So if you swam 500m today and 500m tomorrow. Then next week you might try to swim 550m one day and 500m a bit faster.

I think I need to write out my 'anyone can write their own swim plan' instructions for the group so Im mentally flagging it as something to do. Makes life really easy as when you go to the pool you know what you are doing and also how to through a plan together on the fly

I know you want to work on consistency as one of your goals so for starters work out how much time you realistically have available to train in a week... it could be 2 hours.. thats ok. Then work out how you would like to spend them (swim bike run) and WHEN you would like to use them. THen you know when you are going to train.. once we know the answers to those questions we can start working on what you are going to do!This will also help with balance... you can schedule your workouts each week or each day as suits and then you are committed.

Sometimes life willcome up - and family/friends etc are important. So you have to make your own call on what you can miss and what you cant. The one piece of advice Ive seen often and that seems to make sense (and Im not married or anything so please take this as me passing something on rather) is that making a bit of time to do something for yourself will allow you to feel better. And... if you feel better you can then offer more to your loved ones as you are more likely to be present mentally and emotionally if you are feeling good.

I know for me - Im a much better employee in the office when Im getting my workouts. Im a muchbetter friend because I have a more positive attitude when Im getting my workouts and looking after myself etc

Good Luck!

Im there with you!!!

And how about this one: I lost weight! Time to have some junk because I'Ve been so good... huh? How is THAT rational?

madkat - 2009-04-18 3:19 PM

Wow sounds like you are also really good a persevering! The swimming can be tough but to have to relearn twice is a BIG ask! Any idea whats not been working out?

Just like with pretty much the rest of my life, when I do something, I tend to over-do it. So, when I read that I should be rotating in the water... I really rotated in the water. Lots. Like all the way to my side on each pull. Only, not just the parts of me that should be going, like my hips and shoulder, but my legs and head and feet.

When the teacher told me I should be making an "S" in the water on my pull, I made an "S."

I worked so hard to learn all the things that I was told I needed to do... the things that most people have a problem with. Except that I over-learned them. Example: I have a great reach. In fact, I have a too-great reach. According to the coach I've been working with, my shoulders are "double jointed," and I hyper-extend them on my reach. By a lot. Which probably contributed to the soreness I've been experiencing, and which has been my excuse (probably valid) for not swimming for over a month.  But I haven't actually made an appt to see my chiropractor about it, which I really should.

I can swim forever. I'm slow-enough that I can get in the water and swim and swim and swim and swim without getting winded or tired.  I've asked my coach to help me improve my form and see how that improves my speed, and THEN I can start to work on training to specifically get faster, if I need to.

In the 3 sessions I've had with her, I've already learned a lot. And I feel like, for the first time, I'm actually learning the correct thing.

So, I already have one goal for next week: go see my chiro and get a plan to get my shoulder back in shape so I can continue swimming.

Ok I totally understnad now!!!

Funnily enough the over rotating thing is REALLY common.. its one of the few issues I have with TI actually is that because most people tend to read selectively and take in 'bits' one of the things they remember is the body rotation and totally over do it....

The extending the arm actually gets your body to pretty much rotate as much as you need... although it sounds like you are incredibly conscientious with that! Whoops!

How is your shoulder after a month off? If its an overuse thing you might be back in the water faster than you think since youve already had time off

Super Cats 'To Do' List

So I dont forget here are the areas I still havent covered yet from all or your posts:

- Traning solo vs training with a group - what, when etc

- How to plan your swim training

- Triathlon race day: What to wear, transition, what to expect

Let me know if Ive mised anything else!