Matchman's Group - FULL! (Page 6)

I can tell you for sure that anytime Bill chimes in with advice, you're in for some good stuff. He's a real student of this sport and training/human performance in general. He's also one bad-red bike mo-fo. Former Army Ranger and now a flight medic who helps scrape folks off the pavement after horrific accidents and airlifts them to trauma centers.

That said, I tend to agree with Dennis's advice. The TTB is a LOT to absorb. Take a peek at the HIM plans available here and see if they work for you. Perhaps you could pick up in the early weeks of one of the 20 week HIM Plans or use the "Olympic to HIM Bridge" plan which is 12 weeks? These probably require membership here on BT but they're great plans and, at the Gold level, the coaching you can get out of the $75 for six months is way more than worth it. That's why I've been a Gold member for a year and just re-upped for another 15 months.  

Thoughts? Questions?

Tom 

danielleaw - 2007-03-02 9:04 AM

I leave for Rome tomorrow, and as much as you guys did a great job of telling me not to worry about training while I'm there, I'm still nevous that I'm going to come back out of shape! Hopefully that isn't the case...

That definitely will not be the case. You might even find that the rest (and the Italian air, food, wine, chocolate, etc) will do you good. Most of all, HAVE FUN! Travel like that is a rare opportunity for most and I'm certain all of us here are 100% jealous.

Just to update you guys, I'm running a 5k on 4/22, a sprint tri on 5/20, and a half marathon on 5/27. I'm so excited, and I may very well plan some more in the late part of summer!

Sounds like some great plans. Any thought of doing something like an Olympic distance later in the year? You'd be primed for that distance with the training and racing you're doing. How's the bike buying process coming?

Also, Tom, I wanted to wish you a happy early birthday, as I won't have a chance to do so on the 7th! Take Care guys, and I'll be right back into the swing of things when I get back on 3/11!~! Happy training... Danielle

Awwww, shucks. Thanks, Danielle. Have a blast in Rome and tell us all about it when you return. Oh, and be careful. Those Italian guys are gonna go nuts for your blonde hair!

Ciao bella!

Tom

Rock on, Stephen! Congratulations, Triathlete. Indeed, you must've had some crazy hills in that race. I've been out to Bartlett (nearly had to treat a friend for a rattlesnake bite) and there are some sick hills out there. You could be grinding up a hill at 5 mph one minute and then coasting down at 40 the next. Fun times! Did you learn any good lessons that you'll take into your HIM?

Jon, I know I'm gonna sound like a broken record here, but have you considered a training plan? They're really useful not only because they take out some of the guesswork but they also accomplish the ramp-up that you're looking for. Peruse the plans here and see what you think.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Tom

I also realized as I was in T1 that I had forgotten to take my Gu out of my bag when I setup my transition area, so I only had 1 bottle of Gatorade for fuel. There was no aid station on the bike and 1 (water only) on the run. Lesson #2: Make sure I have more than enough fuel without relying on aid stations.

Finally, yesterday and today I have realized that I am not very sore. When I realized how hilly the course was, I spent the whole time going up (bike and run) thinking "I don't do enough hill training for this" and "this course is too hard to do well for me" and other negative self talk. I think that mentally made me push my body less than I was capable of. Compare that to my Feb marathon where I was expecting hills and pain, every time I started to slow down, I repeated lyrics from motivating songs that I had been jamming into my braid for the week before the event and that pushed me to push harder. Lesson #3: Prepare my mind for my next race to push myself, tunes, motivational quotes ("pain is temporary, quitting is forever") intensely the final week or two before the race.

The swim really threw me. Whether it was the cold or the tightness of the wetsuit or both along with open water nerves, I didn't seem to be able to get a deep breath until 100-150 meters in. Lesson #4: Get more open water swim practice. I guess I need to rent another wetsuit and then get myself up to a lake with a local tri club (open water swim Thur and Sat every week) until I find a wetsuit I can afford and think I will be happy with.

I guess I am happy with learning 4 lessons. Now I just need to apply them.