QUEEN ZIP & KathyG - CLOSED (Page 60)

I know what you are saying.  I remember when I got into running and tris and martial arts, I perviously had a history of hitting the weights, to no avail.  Then I took a look at runners, swimmers, (not so much bikers, all legs those guys, hehe), women and men who did a lot of yoga and I thought, THAT IS THE BODY I WANT.  So I started doing what those people do.  Of course those people also don't drink or eat red meat......(I am working on that part).

Taper is harder than training. Wow ... total mind game. I actually have to convince myself my to train (never thought I would say that).

Does anyone have any advice for dealing with this insanity?

You raise an interesting question Pam. I think it comes down to moderation. When I was in college I changed my diet to more organic and vegetarian items and it resulted in weight gain. It's too much of a good thing. Too much of anything can lead to weight gain or slowed weight loss. It still frustrates me that I eat better but still have to watch how much I eat. Are you kidding me?!?

I had and RD break down what I should be eating and I incorporate the good food into that plan. My problem was I would make a great veggie and brown rice salad (healthy) and then would eat 3 or 4 cups of it. Or I would bake whole wheat muffins (healthy) and eat half the batch. Ugg ... I understand where you're coming from.

I love that you grind your own grains. I'm so jealous.

Let me tell you about my morning...  

Because it started well... up just after 5, over to the park... get bike out of car... tyres pumped, clip in (first go!) and ride...

Until a couple of minutes later when...pffft..shhhhh.... yup - front tyre puncture, again!

So... its pitch black but Im thinking I can do this... pull over sit on the grass, whip the wheel off the bike... (I think I can, I think I can)... spend FOREVER trying to get the tyre off the wheel... but its ok EVENTUALLY I get it done...

Check tyre, blow air into tube... spend AGES trying to get the stupid thing back in the tyre... but done, then realise Ive just put the puntured one back on the bike (yeah yeah it wasnt even sunrise yet and I was sitting on the grass in the dark trying to do something I cant do!)

Anyway... got it right the second time... have a bit of trouble getting the tyre back on the wheel but eventually with a bit of patience its there... remembered to inflate a bit, let the air out, check it, put some air back into it... Im thinking this has taken a LONG time but I am awesome!!!

Ok... time to put the tyre back on the bike (suns coming up, should be able to at least kill myself for 30, maybe 45 minutes before I really have to leave)...ummm... where is the skewer for my tyre??? hmmm... there is the main part... where is that little screwy bit...

Another 10 minutes looking around for it with no luck...so I get to walk my bike and carry the wheel i just fixed back to the car wearing clip clop shoes... oh and its just a bit too late to head home but WAY to early to be a work... but here I am - bleh! (so I actually have NO IDEA if I changed the tube correctly either!)

And my question is this... who is the god of cycling? And... what have I dont to anger him?

Time for the first of what I suspect will be MANY caffeine hits today...

I have no advice but just hang in there and trust the plan!

LMAO -I think Im in.. although that would be my eyes so I guess I need to come up with a body part rather than a facial feature...

I started running cause I thought "never knew a runner with fat legs"  (really did think that!)

Love  the shoulders from swimming and the legs from running....though biking keeps them heavier looking than I want ...My avatar has the legs...I'll hunt a shoulder shot....

Heh - I'll have to find a shot of mine - no fair using Kathy's legs as my fav. part - I do think they're so strong and powerful that I had to post 'em  I think mine are my eyes, but that won't count. I've been doing push ups and my shoulders are getting better but certainly not good yet.

Cat - What a crummy way to start your day!! You get points for getting out there in the dark to ride for sure!!

There arent many places I would ride in the dark... thats for sure!!! It was weird sitting in the grass and its pitch black.. you could see the little flashy lightso n the bikes and hear them coming before you could really see them...

As the sky just start to lighten it was quite strange....but Im not sure i want to go out when its THAT DARK again...

Ive been scared of doing it for ages... when I finally do it... it wasnt much fun!

You made my day..I do love this picture of me I find my calves my best part....Thanks!

It is weird how different part of us we like and others not so so much.

Oh Im seeing the humour in it now...

I called in help so BB is meeting me for a ride Saturday morning and we are going to replace the tyres and skewer... guess i will buy him brekkie post ride to say thanks...

He can get what I need at cost so I shouldnt be out of pocket much...

Plus... Im hoping that the new tyres will mean less chance of a puncture for at least a month or so!

Maybe a last minute march challenge should be :"practice changing a tire"

Cat - you and I will be taking a virtual training class together - i'll get my boy to teach me on Saturday.  I'm sure I could figure it out because i've watched him once or twice but i'd NEVER go for a ride alone (light or dark) because i'd be too afraid of a flat.

Happy Hump day everyone - i'm off for a swim and bike!

Oh, forgot it was Hump Day today! Got a drainer ride in this morning and will go for a short run later - probly pushing 70 lbs. of girls around.  Funny, I just practiced changing a tire for the first time last night.  Is there any difference in which side of the tire you decide to pull off? My tire only came off on the side where the skewer lever thingie is.  Depending on how brave I am, I may take the girls to the LBS so they can teach me how to use a CO2 cartridge. 

Have a great day everyone -

Glittery texts by bigoo.ws

 I am off to ride sexy girl!

Hey.....check out my new sig line....courtesy of a dear friend!!! LOL

Doesn't matter which side of your tire you take off. It may be it is just stiff as it hasn't come on and off the rim a lot. I've been changing my rear tire from trainer to road tire a few times a week. My trainer tire is different material that is harder to get on/off. Road tire is like butter and slide on and off easily.

I wish you all lived close as I'd give you tire changing lessons..really hands on doing it with someone else is the way. Don't have someone help you by just showing you. Do it yourself with their helpful eye then once you go home try it 3-4 times in one day...back to back. It really is the key to getting it so it is easier when you need it like Cat did the other morning in the dark.

Lucky you!

Marianne and I are going out for 50-60 miles on the Cape Cod bike paths tomorrow

Lucky me...

Awesome way to spend the afternoon!!!

Are you and the sexy bike buddies yet?

Kathy is right - hands on is the ONLY way... I cant tell you how many times originally people showed me but its so different when you do it yourself!!!

Ive done it in practice but the guys trying to teach me always end up taking over because watching me do it must be frustrating..

Except for CG...

All I will say is make sure you can do it before you have to otherwise if you get caught out like i did it really will be terrifying!

I had an incredible training day....swim improvement finally. I looked back in my blog from 2 months ago and my pull/band swimming I do I've dropped between 15-22 seconds per hundred. My feel for the water has improved.

I did three workouts today and ran 5 miles with intervals last which was my 5th day in a row running and I felt great. 

It as if everything is going well and even with a higher training load I seem to be handling it well. I find it very encouraging after the last two years with no real improvement in my tri times/paces.

Thats all fantastic news Kathy!

Id be really interested on hearing your thoughts on why you can handle the higher training volume and what you think got you to this point...

I know how much you have struggled with your swim so major props for not giving up and sticking with it even when its been tough!

I think my base is better this year than last as I did an Ironman last year.

Also my training is different than last year in many respects.

I do the same volume almost every week...like I ran 19 miles/week for 5-6 weeks now it is 21 miles/week. How the runs are laid out changes but the volume is pretty consistent. Going to Panama mucked up the weeks/graphs a bit for a couple weeks.

By training consistent my body is adapting to 21 miles a week so it get easier and easier if that makes sense. Same is true with run/swim....volume stays same for awhile than creeps up.

Most coaches do periodization where one week you run a total of say 14 miles, then 16, then 18 then rest week of maybe 12, then you might go 15, 17, 19, and rest at 13 or something like that.

I'm not 100% sure why but I'm very happy.

Swim progress does have me dancing on my pike tail. I think of the past 3 winters I have taken expensive swim lesson with zero improvement...finally with a better swim coach and doing different type swim training I am getting better. I was at the point last year of thinking of quitting doing tris as I was so annoyed and frustrated that no matter what I did I wasn't improving swimming.  I don't think I have it in me to be super fish like, but MOP for old women like me would be sweet even back of MOP for my AG would rock. IMLP I was 30th from last on the swim out of 2400 people..I did it though...it was a mental battle to train being frustrated so much.