Team KiterChick - CLOSED (Page 6)

I was feeling a bit tired all day yesterday, so I switched up my scheduled swim with a speed workout (running) to see if that would give me some pep- it did.  I nailed the first 10 minutes of my warm-up at sub 8 minute pace (which is quick for me), then coasted for a few minutes into a set of 13 x 30 sec sprints.  It felt great, easily the best run I have had in a while.  Unfortunately, I am paying for it today with a sore throat and scratchy nose from allergies again.

Mitch- its great to be able to train on the course you are racing.  My family has a cottage on the Andover side of Ragged Mountain in NH, so I am hoping to get some rides in along the Mooseman course this summer.  Those NH hills are tough.

Will

Hi everyone, thanks for the bruised nose sympathy! As a first in a month or so, I took both Monday and Tuesday this week off. I tend to have Monday off, but decided to take yesterday off from work to clean and reorganize my apartment, as it needed it badly. Not fun or relaxing, but I'm happy it's done. This morning, it was back in the saddle for an hour long trainer ride and a short run. Happy to be back at it!

Sebastian - I'm good at pacing my swims too, but that's because I only have one speed - super slow! Seriously though, if you feel that a 1:30 pace at your race will leave you winded, but only allow you to gain a couple of minutes, then I'd say your plan for a 1:45 pace sounds reasonable.

Heather - Sorry you've been dealing with a lot of seizures lately. Hope you're feeling better now. I wish I could be there for your 5K, but Denver is a bit far from Boston to travel for that. I would be happy to donate to your fundraising, however, so definitely post the info for that when you have it available. Given that everyone has different natural paces, I'm not sure whether your 25 minute goal is reasonable or not, but you should certainly give it all you have and see how it goes!

Beth - Regarding your question about the overlap of your half marathon taper with your Oly training (I'm dismissing the HIM training, as it's still 15 weeks out so you should be fine in that regard), it really depends on which race is more important to you. At four weeks out, you should likely be near peak in the Oly training, so I would hesitate about dropping too much training if that's your A race, but you certainly don't want to kill yourself going into the half if that's an important race as well. People (including me) do "train through" races, so you don't have to necessarily have a full taper to do well, but that's very dependent on your fitness level too. Sorry for the rambling answer, but I don't think there's one right answer here, so I just tried to lay out some points of consideration for you. I hope it was at least somewhat helpful!

Eddie - You should definitely be tapering at this point. For a rough picture of typical intensity/volume reductions, just Google some free HIM training plans. You don't have to follow them, but it will give you a framework to build off of at least.

Mitch - Congratulations on the new 5K PR, that's awesome! With most of the summer to train, I'm sure you'll do great once Timberman rolls around.

Hi everyone! Rough trainer workout this morning. I think having two back to back sapped my energy a bit. I got through it, but I definitely had to dig a bit deeper than usual to do so!

So, for the ladies in the group (or for the men's SOs perhaps), I have a couple of items that I was going to put up on the Classifieds pay it forward thread, but I thought I'd offer up here first if anyone is interested. First, I have a pair of Asics GEL-Noosa tri running shoes in a size 9. Here's what they look like, although I swapped in the stretchy elastic pull tie laces, and don't know where the original ones are anymore (http://www.onlineshoes.com/womens-asics-gel-noosa-tri-6-neon-yellow-wht-hot-pink-p_id223681). I bought these last year, wore them once, and didn't particularly like them, but in their defense, I didn't exactly put much effort into breaking them in. Meanwhile, I found a different shoe that I like better, so I'm not likely going to put in the effort at this point.

The other items I have are three size S Pearl Izumi bike jerseys. I can email pics if interested, but basically, one is a pink full zip with short sleeves, the second is a black half zip with short sleeves and the third is a pink/black/white sleeveless half zip. I've worn them all at least a few times, but they're still in good condition.

If you're interested, let me know and I'll send them out to you. If no one here shows any interest in the next couple of days, I'll just post them on the general forum, and I'm sure they'll find a home eventually. Have a great Thursday everyone!

I AM INJURED!! An def not happy about it!! I started my run as usual, started to get an ache in the muscle above my left inner ankle which proceeded to get worse. After 11 mins of running I had to stop and try and stretch out whatever the problem was. I didnt hear or feel it pop, twang, snap or anything else, it just hurt. I walked for a minute then started to run again for 5 mins but the pain stopped me again. I stretched out again, walked for a minute, then started to run. After 3 mins I stopped because of the pain, stretched out and walked for a minute. Started to run again for another couple of mins but it was no good. The pain got the better of me. I limped all the way back to the car and by the time I got home I could hardly weight bare on my left foot! I've iced it, took some painkillers and ibuprofen and have currently got my leg up in the air. I've got some advice from my chiropractor so hopefully this wont keep my out of action for too long - fingers (and everything else) crossed!! I is not a happy bunny!! 

Beth- so sorry your not feeling well. I hope it passes soon. I know how frustrating it is to WANT to do something and your body stop you.

Sarah- thank you for help with the fundraising! Once I sign up there will be a website for me. I'm just waiting for a few things to fall into place financially. Hopefully it will all happen this week! Thanks for offering the items to the group first. I can't use them, wrong size

Lucylou- I hope your ankle gets better soon!

I can't wait till I'm running and swimming like all of you! Hopefully everything will fall into place soon!

Goin to the gym tonight for Zumba and 5 mile walk/run.

Heather

Hi everyone! I amazingly got in both of my workouts today. I say amazingly, as my motivation has been in the toilet this week for some reason. I was supposed to run last night, and didn't, but ran this morning, and made it to the pool this afternoon. Have plans to go on a long ride tomorrow. At least that's something I'm looking forward to!

Amanda - How's your ankle feeling today? I had some shin pain earlier this week that was painful at the time, but turned out to be a one time thing, so hopefully your issue is similar. If it's still hurting, rest up, and hopefully it feels better soon!

Beth - Hopefully you can get a good night of sleep, and that will help clear things up for you. Either way, good luck tomorrow!

Sorry for being MIA, with my adductor issue I slowed things down a bit again this past week as after my first effort to do a light workout it bothered me a little so I decided to take it easy a bit more.  So, this week I did a short easy easy run Monday afternoon to see how it was feeling, took Tuesday off and felt much better.  So Wednesday I ran 2.5 miles at almost my usual pace and then today I swam a mile and all seems just fine.  So, I think  I will try to get a ride in this weekend and get back into the groove next week with .  5 training weeks left before my first Sprint of the season - woot!!!  

Heather "V"

I may be interested in a bike jersey if they are still available!  I need to check on pearl izumi's sizing as I may actually be an XS, but if they are still not taken, feel free to zip me a PM with the pics while I look int sizing.  If they are gone, no biggie, I've been gone a few days : )

Hi everyone, today I race St. Anthony's and had a great time. Race report is up. 

Beth, sorry about the race. Recover and feel better soon!

Sebastian- great race report. Sounds like you had fun.

I always say that I am going to work on transitions too, but never get around to it.  With my first race in about five weeks, I am going to make sure I try to fit some in.  I have no ability to put on socks in transitions- I try, but in the heat of the moment, putting on socks is beyond my cognitive ability.  I ended up ditching them and running sockless, which cut my feet to shreds (after Nautica NYC last year, it was weeks before my feet healed from the cuts and blisters).  This year, the goal is to go sockless full time.

Beth- sorry, about the race.  I've been there, it is a terrible feeling.  You will kill it next year.

Good weekend here- ended up with a swim on Friday, followed by a short run.  Saturday was an Olympic brick- a 1:20 bike session on the trainer followed by an hour run.  The best part of the run was that I finished at the park where my daughter was playing, so I got some extra family time.  Sunday was an off day for me this week that I actually observed- I used the extra time to set-up some new wheels I got over the winter (SRAM S60s- not fancy, but a little better than the set that came stock on the bike) and change the flat tubes out of my mountain bike.  Fun times.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Hello everyone.  Had a decent sprint this weekend.  Just like Sarah I have been fighting with my motivation.  I think it has a lot to do with the amount of pressure I put on myself.  I have to really work on relaxing and enjoying a couple of races and not worrying about the finishing times.  Much easier said that done for someone as competitive as I am.

My race report from the weekend is also posted.  

Sounds like a fun race.  I continue to be envious of your run times.

Hi everyone! I'm so jealous of everyone starting their racing seasons. A bit less than two weeks until my first local race. My boyfriend, Mike, will be doing it as well, which will definitely add to the competitive fun!

Since I'm not racing yet, it was training as usual this weekend. Mike and I went out for a ride on Saturday. Sunny, but a bit windy and chilly. My legs were still a bit sore from my fartlek workout the previous day, but it only really bothered me on the hills. Sunday I went for a run, then hit the pool for a bit. I should have known better and done it in the opposite order. The run felt great, but I was really dragging in the pool, and got a couple of foot cramps as well, which tends to happen if I run first. Last week wasn't my best week in general, but it's a new week now. I also brought my tri bike in to get it tuned up and have my race wheels put on, so it's ready to go.

Sebastian - Sounds like you had a great race, I'm glad all the training paid off! I've been getting ab cramps occasionally too in the last year or so, and you definitely have to wait those things out. I love that you keep making bets with your friends, and better yet, that you seem to keep winning them all. Now you'll have company for your upcoming HIM!

Will - Going sockless is the way to go, at least for anything Olympic distance and under. I'm assuming when you cut up your feet that you were just running in your regular running shoes. I just got a pair of these (http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-iZUMi-Transition-Triathlon-Train/dp/B004MDLH1C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1335797176&sr=8-3) this season, and love them, so something to consider if they're in your budget. I did get a bit of chaffing at the FL race, but they had gotten rained on during the swim and bike, so they were pretty wet when I put them on for the run. That's awesome you were able to finish your workout at the park where your daughter was playing yesterday. I'm sure she was psyched to see you!

Ken - Congrats on finishing yet another race! While I know you weren't entirely happy about the pace, you definitely sound a lot more comfortable and confident with the swim. Hopefully you'll do even better in open water when you don't have to worry about dodging people in the lanes. Sorry you're disappointed with the bike for now. It's still early in the season. Don't discount how well spending some more time in the saddle will improve things as the season progresses.

Eddie - I wouldn't stress too much over your taper. I joke with my friends that I even take tapering to the extreme, as I have spent a lot of them barely working out at all and eating horrible food. While I'm certainly not advocating that, the point is that I would feel terrible by race day, only to have all of my previous training pay off and run a great race. Enjoy the rest while you can!

Thanks Sarah- that is great that you and Mike are getting to do the same race.  Nothing like getting to enjoy an activity with your bf.  My wife will come out mountain biking with me sometimes, and I head out to the tennis court a couple of times a year with her.  Always lots of fun.  She is definitely the natural athlete in our family though.

You are right on the shoe idea- i just ordered a pair of Zoots that are supposed to be sockless.  I need to try them on and see how it goes.  Did you have to break in your shoes a lot before the first race?

Hi Will, I actually didn't end up breaking in my shoes beforehand. I took them on one short run before my first race to make sure they felt okay. That being said, my earlier post offering up the other pair of tri specific shoes was because I took them out for one sockless run and ended up with a couple of nasty blisters, so it's clearly shoe dependent. I'd definitely test out your new shoes, as you should never try something new on race day regardless, but if they feel okay initially, you shouldn't have to break them in any further. Good luck!

I have signed up for my first race! I am running in The Strides for Epilepsy 5K in Denver, CO on 6/10/12.

This 5K is a fundraiser for The Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado. Please help me reach my fund raising goal of $500.

http://stridesforepilepsy.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=1007147&u=1007147-358744293