Elaine's Awesome Start to 2012 Group! - Closed! (Page 6)

With a big increase, either hold steady around that mileage, or cut a few miles the next week (recovery week) and add them back again, slowly.

If you want to follow a plan, go for it! If not, you can pick targets for the week and go for them. For example: Run 20, Ride 100, Swim 6000 yd. Your long run should never be more than 1/3 of your total weekly mileage. Don't do anything too hard on back-to-back days. Try to give each workout a purpose - even though sometimes it'll be "I'm going to run three miles because I have a free half hour!". It's not the best strategy, but it works pretty well, especially in the base months.

A training plan will give you a little more direction, some periodization, and will take the guess work out of things. BUT they are written for a generic audience and might not give you the advantage you want either.

Just some food for thought

Thanks for the marathon tips! I'm thinking I'll stick with the 4:30 pace group and see what happens. Though, I'll think about it harder when the time comes.

I'm jealous of your totally affordable master's team! The one in Ft Lauderdale (which, I should add, is one of the most competitive in the country) is anywhere from $75-$100 per month!

Those are great drills! My coach used to bring in golf balls for the closed fist ones. Ugh.

Another good drill is the zipper drill. You run your thumb up the side of your body all the way to the armpit while on the recovery part of your pull. It helps get your elbows in the right position.

Hahaha Just get that chair in your line of sight, and the rest will fall into place!

You'll probably end up addicted - but it's a good addiction to have

Yes - fun! I'll try my best

5 single workout per week, or 5 days a week with maybe 2 workouts? How much weekly time do you think you'd want to dedicate to tri?

The gold plan here will give you a solid plan that fits your need, but we can definitely help you come up with an outline of what to do

My swim lessons start on Sunday!! Im looking forward to it. I think my challenge will be the breathing. Are there any drills you can do to help with the breathing?

You can kick with the kickboard all the way extended in front of you. Like this, but with your face in the water:

When you need to breathe, take a stroke and turn your head to the side. This will get you used to the motion of breathing, but with a little bit of a safety net.

We'll set something up Weekends are generally best. The pool is usually open 8am-8pm.

I think you're taking the right approach

I'd wait for that Master's group until AFTER the marathon. No need to have that much going on at once!

I've used that closed fist drill and it's horrible!!!    It really does make you understand the importance of your forearm in the pull part of the stroke.

Zipper drill...hmmm, sound interesting.  I've done the "fingertip drill" where you allow your fingers to scrape the surface of the water on the recovery part, probably same idea with getting your elbows high.

I think once my chiro clears me to get back in the water I'll be doing a lot of drills to work on my (lack of) form.

Given my back and knee injuries right now, obviously I'm going to be very swim heavy the next couple of months.  Any thoughts on a swim program to 1) get me back in shape, and 2) develop form?  Before injury my T-pace (1000y hard, but not all out) is about 1:54 and my all-out 100 is 1:34ish, and my "all day" pace is about 2:05.  I don't flip turn and don't push off very hard on my standing turns.

Biggest challenge... staying motivated to workout after a long day at work. Also, while I talked to my husband before setting the goal of competing in a HIM, I'm worried he won't be as supportive as he says he will be about the time involved to train.

to crazylife99: 

I had a year that my wife was pregnant and we decided to get her involved she would set water stops for me and track times for training to keep me on pace.   It gave her a job to help me and kept her envolved so she did not just see me disappear for hours on end.    A year and a half later she ran her first tri and is not kicking but at them.   I hope that may help you tackle your goal.  

To crazylife99:

I too work out after work and yes it is difficult. I find getting involved in group training keeps me motivated and helps me stay accountable, especially in bad weather. When the weather is nicer I am much more motivated on my own.

I read something yesterday that said if you find difficulty in finding motivating in doing things you want, then try to find motivation to be the person you would like to become. You want to be a triathlete. Keep that goal posted at work, keep pictures of that at work. You dont want to be someone who is tired from work. You want to be someone that trains hard and suceeds at your goals. Its hard trust me, I understand. But if you put your mind to it, you can do anthing.

What plans do you guys have for the weekend??? Races? Training?

Let's get this thread rocking!

I am swimming this evening with some veteran triathletes, for their help and support

Then a long bike ride and a long run this weekend!

to crazylife99 for motivation,

Break down your HIM goal into monthly goals, then weekly goals, then daily goals.  Now you know what you need to do each day to stay on track for your HIM.

For Instance my next race is 4/1 (a sprint).  For my run training I know I want to build to a long run of 5 miles a week before.  So I want to get in runs of 3, 3, and 4 miles this week to keep on schedule.  Do the same for bike and swim.

-Steve

oh another thought,  you need to make working out a habit, plan for it.  And also know yourself and know what your excuses are.  Do you need to work out before going home after work.  I know that if I go home sometime I don't want to go out again.

Weekend plans...  Looks like nice weather in Charlotte (60's).  Plan to do some kind of cross training this evening, a long bike ride (~30 miles) Saturday, 4 mile run Sunday morning,  then take the boy (he'll be 13 next week) mountain biking for an hour on Sunday.  What are others planning?

I'm happy with my training 1 week into 2012, have some kind a exercise each day.  How are you doing?

Now i just need to watch the food intake a bit better

-Steve

I have a 6 mile run tomorrow and swimming lessons on Sunday. I need to get on my bike some where in there.

I was still getting over the holidays this week so I need a swift kick in the butt!!

Got to love 67 degrees, sunny, and light breeze in January.  30 mile bike ride complete

-Steve

Had my swimming lessons today and it went pretty well. 40 minute lesson then spent another 40 practicing on my own. I have no endurance in the water. So I need to focus on that and my breathing. I realized when my head is in the water I feel a little panic attack coming on. So endurance and breathing will definitely be my areas of focus. 

How was everyone's weekend?