BHannahs's Group - FULL! (Page 6)

jason.baross - 2010-04-30 3:38 AM First sprint tri is saturday. Smith Mountain Lake, VA...Just looking not to finish last!

Good luck to eveyone else and have fun, that's what it's all about, right!

Good luck, Jason - have fun!!!!!

Good luck to everyone! I'll be thinking about you when I'm out training this weekend

Also please give a race report, it's great to find out what other peoples experiences have been with different races. 

I pushed my last 2 work outs pretty hard my legs feel good today but my knee is a still a little sore. I was thinking if I have time to get a bike ride in tonight. I noticed Brian posting a comment in his log that he did an "easy recovery run".

The question is how much do you push it? You need to be careful not to get hurt but your never really going to 100% all of the time during a training period. Do you sit it out or push through it?

You're right, Adam.  It can be a delicate balance.  I probably don't push as hard as I could, and may be missing the opportunity to improve more than I have.  I find that when I try to go harder more often, my speed increases but I also develop more aches and pains.  I start to get a little concerned that I am injuring myself and back off.  I try to err on the side of caution, and prefer to improve less and keep training rather than take the chance of hurting myself and being sidelined.  I think I have gotten a decent grasp over time of listening to my body - I consider some muscular pain to be a positive sign that I am getting stronger, whereas (for me) joint pain is a bad sign that I may be pushing it too much.  I don't mean to say that I completely avoid getting aches and pains in the joints - however, if they last from run to run, don't subside after a day or two, and don't improve after slowing down, I raise a red flag and really back off.  Through some experimentation, I am finding that it may be more effective for me to build through strength rather than speed.  What I mean by that is I am doing more trail and hill running - I can see myself getting stronger and it has made my regular runs on flat pavement easier.  Trail and hill runs have been gentler on my joints and I feel that I am getting a great workout.  I am hoping that the trend continues. 

The bottom line is:  d?efinitely listen to your body - if you need to back off, you will feel signs.

Another note:  Quoting Scout7 (one of the running experts on BT) - his approach to running improvement is:  Run often, mostly easy, sometimes hard.  I think there is some good wisdom there.

By the way - you guys are all asking really good questions and bringing up great discussion topics - keep them coming!  Don't be bashful about jumping in with any input ?y?o?u? ?h?a?v?e? ?as well - we can all help each other!!

We got in also.  Team Viola will be on RAGBRAI.

Thanks for the information on the running.  I will take what people have said about running and work on time and the speed will come when the time happens.

Any update from Jason and Jenn about the events over the weekend?

No - not stoppoing for the week.    A rest/recovery week just means a decrease in volume and/or intensity.  I will probably reduce the total volume about 30-50% from the last couple of weeks and try not to go too hard during my workouts this week.  It allows my body to adapt and 'absorb' the training load from the last three weeks and hopefully, come back refreshed...

You'll probably find that better, more natural swimmers kick more.  Triathletes have a reputation for kicking less, which (allegedly) preserves more leg energy for the bike and run.  Personally, I kick just enough to keep my balance in the water and be smooth.  Some people also say that they kick a little more toward the end of the swim to get blood flowing back into the legs prior to the bike...

acv - 2010-05-03 12:27 PM

BHannahs - 2010-05-03 12:51 PM

acv - 2010-05-03 8:52 AM

BHannahs - 2010-05-03 9:49 AM

Any update from Jason and Jenn about the events over the weekend?

It would be great to hear about the races!

Brian,
You mention in your log that you are going into a rest week. Do you totally stop for the week?

No - not stoppoing for the week.    A rest/recovery week just means a decrease in volume and/or intensity.  I will probably reduce the total volume about 30-50% from the last couple of weeks and try not to go too hard during my workouts this week.  It allows my body to adapt and 'absorb' the training load from the last three weeks and hopefully, come back refreshed...

I figured you wouldn't stop totaly.

So where do you begin (intensity/volume) when you start your new 3 week cycle? Do you step back a little or do you start off right where left off and start building from there.

Generally, I just jump back in where I left off.  Ideally, though, it should be at a level where I would end the next three week cycle a little higher than I was at the end of the last one, kind of like building steps.  In a perfect scenario, you would have your highest build phase (peak) just before your biggest event.  I depend too heavily on opportunity when I am able to train more or less, so it doesn't always work out to the 'perfect world' scenario.

Thanks, Carly!  Any other swim tips you can give the group would be great.    I know that a couple of others (flip, poolgirl) also have swimming backgrounds, so please jump in and let us benefit from your experience!!

dmwill37 - 2010-05-04 8:12 AM So, in my spare time , I play a little recreational softball, of course I always have to try to keep it toned down and not let my super uber competitive side come out. However, last night while running out a double, I pulled up and pulled my hamstring, in the first inning! What really sucks about it, is that i have a race on May 23rd, I am going to lose at least a week of training! 

I iced it down last night and again this morning for an hour or so, and currently have it wrapped with some heat on it. I plan on taking today and tomorrow off, but resuming some walking or very light jogging, and riding the stationary bike Thursday as well. Any suggestions or magical remedies? 

Ouch!  Hamstrings can be very tricky and can linger.  Definitely be very careful with it as it will be easy to aggravate.  I had a hamstring issue a while back and did well by being very gentle with it (easy runs, no 'bursts' of speed), giving it time to heal, and trying to keep it loose (stretches helped).  Good luck and be careful.  You might also try to do a forum search for hamstring injuries.  I am sure some of the doctors have weighed in on the subject and might have some great advice, as it is a very common injury.

Anybody incorporate interval training into their schedules? If so what do you do?

I'm in the process of revising my training schedule right now.

Whats hard is learning to point your toes during your kick.  That drag you get from not pointing take a lot of energy & time.  I did alot of kick sets.  If you can get a kick board & fins. Do couple laps with them during your workout.  Get comfortable with them.  Pactice your form.

What I like about swimming.  It all about the form/technique.  You dont need a expensive google or be very lean to be very fast.  During the St. George Ironman I saw a large swimmer (he was at least 230 & very overweight) coming out of the swim and he was one of the FOP swimmers.