MarkQuiet's group - FULL (Page 6)

Scout - time to change the avatar.

Everyone else: where are you all. There has not been many peope posting here. I would love to hear from you. Like, how things are going, how is the trainig going, what are your obstacles, what are the short term plans? Who is staying and who is thinking of giving up.

Was hoping someone else would answer, since I'm no expert.  But.....My understanding is that they are basically checking the mechanics of the bike.  Do the brakes work?  Are they serviceable?  Are the tires at least basically serviceable?  Is there anything that would be considered dangerous or illegal on the bike?

It's not a set-up issue, so much as a safety thing.  So long as your brakes are fine, and the bike is otherwise mechanically sound, I should think it's not a big issue.  Also, for some races, I think they mark the bikes in some fashion, but again, could be wrong. 

The bike check is just really a safety check. One of the most common thing I heard people fail for is end caps on the handlebars. The will check the brakes, cables, derailer, and wheels. They are making sure the bike won't fall apart during the event and hurt yourself or others.

As for marking the bike, typically you get a number placard that you must put on the frame or handle bars. Nothing major.

Sore knee update: Doc says it's bursitis in front and a strained connection in the back combining for the knee problem.  I remember that I (stupidly) repeatedly kicked at something on the ground to clear it out of the way at around mile 3 of my Vail 10 miler, after which this thing started to hurt.  I probably messed it up with the kicks and haven't given the time to really heal.  Doc gave me a shot of some anti-inflammatory in the arse and a presciption for neproxin as well as a recommendation not to run for about 10 days.  I'll even stop using the stairs at work for a bit in hopes for a complete and speedy recovery.  Good news is I shouldn't miss too much running time and I can still swim and cycle.

Kirk - I'll also evaluate the shoes when things feel better.

Great news Doug. I hope you are back running the trails soon

Tom - nice plan. Keep us informed as to how it goes.

Col - your swim has improved and it shows. Keep up the time in the pool and it will continue to get better.

All - seems like the newness of the tri thing may be starting to wane. Life catches up with us and we find ourselves with less and less time to do the training. We think to ourselves that our first tri is so far away that we can easily make up the time. As the time approaches, we think that we are too far behind to be able to do that first race. Before you know it the tri season is nearly over and you decide to "start again next year".

The one thing I have learned with training is that it is a lifestyle - a way of living. It becomes apart of your life. Everyone has challenges with work, family, and other commitments, but what makes this work is when you can get the time - you sieze the oppertunity! You have a half hour here or an hour there use that time to get out and do something.

If you lack motivation find that first triatlon, and register. Once you put money down to do something most of use are damn sure going to do it. Once you are registered start your count down. When you got that day as a goal your motivation and excitement will start to increase. Once you do that first tri!! Well hopefully, like must of us, you will be hooked. You will analyze every aspect of your tri to see where you can improve. Once that happens - your hooked.

I would be very interested to know the date and name of each of your first tris. Yes Scout that means you too. Post here those dates and location. Maybe even a link to the site. Lets put it in our short term calendars "X weeks until $$$$$ triathlon".

Good luck to everyone and I hope you stick it out - atleast until AFTER you do your first triathlon.

I presume you mean first tri this season (for those of us who are already hooked).  In that case - Olympic Distance, April 22, Irving, TX (link is on my blog).  As for the training, I'm already nervous about the swim.  It is OW (y'all know how much I don't like that) and we're looking for wetsuits.  I've been pool swimming off and on, about a 1000 m per session, but I need to be able to swim 1600 straight.  I'm counting on the wetsuit providing bouyancy (read: mental support).  I know I'll need to get into OW at least once before this thing, but when and where are big questions.  Maybe I'll make a special trip to Austin to swim in Barton Springs in the wetsuit I haven't yet acquired.  Not that I'm a wimp (for any of you who don't know Barton Springs, it's a constant 68 F year round), but wetsuit practice is essential according other BT threads.

To echo Kirk's sentiments - tri training is much more than that.  It really is a lifestyle and you have 3 or 4 ways to work out - swim some, run some, bike some and do whatever else you do (weights, soccer, softball, hoops, etc.).  It's as you approach the big event in your life, you ramp up the tri specific activities and start linking them together.  Don't do what I did once, all events separate without pairing them up.  Go out and get the feel for it.

Ramble on.

-dogger

Good for you, Tony.  These things are always chaotic with all the participants, and I have no idea whether they segregate the sprinters from the Olys from the HIMs, but as the event gets closer, we should try to arrange a meeting point.

db

Actually, I was thinking about after the event.  Also, take the time to go out and look at the courses when you're next home.  It really helps to drive them if you can, to get the lay of the land.

Congrats on your time/distance improvements today.