Slornow's and Wannabefaster's Summer Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 62)

Well Suzy, time to check in and let us know how you are feeling heading into IMWI? Taperitis? Bib number?

Anyone else racing?

I have an oly on Saturday at the Gulf. They also have a super sprint which I have done the last 2 years. It's only a 2 mile run and I know as I pass the turnaround on the run for the sprint I'll be kicking myself. The run is along the beach road, on black top with ZERO shade. But, I need one more team race to qualify for the tri team again next year and only the oly distance counts. On a more positive note, my team mate that usually wins my age group will be racing in Vegas this weekend so I have a better chance to make the podium in our AG. It will be hot at the Gulf but nothing like they are predicting for the Vegas 70.3 WC  

Nate-glad to hear you are on board for Chattanooga as well.

Jamie-Congrats for making it in.

No taper madness since I really only started that a few days ago.  Having had the surprise surgery week off, we decided to keep me going a little longer than I'm used to.  In some ways I like it.  We'll see what purpose it serves on Sunday.

Bib #931 and I have a tracking device that will be live after the swim.  

I did my last EARLY, EARLY morning swim on the course today.  It was still dark so we watched the sun come up.  Lake was beautiful and calm which was very good for me.  I have one more swim there tomorrow afternoon and then will consider myself good to go on all fronts.

I'm excited and a little nervous.  I'm not a weather checker until Friday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  If I have calm water, I can handle almost anything else (or so I think!).

Goals are still the same, secure an IM PR which would be anything less than 13:21 with the ultimate goal of sub 13. If the weather totally blows and times are off, I'll be hoping for Top 15 in my AG.  I don't look at my watch for elapsed time at all.  My coach may give me some indication on the run if I am close to that sub 13 for some extra movitation, but we'll see.  Running down the chute and seeing all the people and that clock is always a source of joy for me!

That's it!

Mike-can't help you. Never been in a draft legal race. Look forward to hearing about it.

Originally posted by jimmyb Here are my August Totals: Swim: 4h 33m - 13000 Yd Bike: 26h 09m 51s - 519.16 Mi Run: 14h 41m 38s - 97.35 M Having dropped IM WI I have slowed down a bit but am still maintaining a solid base. I had to make some tough choices this summer but feel I did the right thing to sacrifice this race. I worked extra this summer and am proud to say I paid for both my son's college tuition without having to borrow at all. I also spent last week moving my son into his dorm and all that goes into that. Now that I served my parenting duties I am free and clear to focus on IM AZ. I am working on increasing my run base this month. I have never been fast . My pool is closed until Sep 9th, so I will use the extra time to focus on run. Previously I mentioned moving to Arizona. Well I had a really nice job offer but that was when my youngest was planning on moving to Utah for college and Rugby. Now that Utah's Rugby Team is officially suspended, he is attending Davenport, a local college with an excellent Rugby Team. As a result, I am remaining in Michigan for the next few years to be near him and watch him play. Anyway, life has thrown some curves my way (fortunately, all good ones) and I've had to re-evaluate my priorities. Dropping an IM is always hard, but I have no regrets as I did it for the right reasons. I will be tracking Suzy and other friends at IM WI, (while being green with envy!).

I am sorry you had to drop IM WI from your race roster, but I think you made several really wise decisions. Your kids will be better people for it. The good news is you have IMAZ in front of you which is still pretty darn exciting!

Is the tracking device live already? Sure looks like it :-)

I would most definitely ride the road bike.  It sounds like you aren't looking to strike out on your own, or even necessarily to take pulls at the front, and in that case, there is very little reason to be on a tri bike, even if your fit is better there.  (I'm assuming it isn't *horrible* on the road bike -- and it would have to be pretty bad for fit to start to be a huge factor over 15 miles.)  Weight makes almost zero difference unless you are doing serious serious climbing.  Riding fast in a group, your best bet is to ride the roadie in the drops.  You'll have the benefit of reasonable aero-dynamics, maneuverability, and the brakes right at your fingertips (which is very important riding in a group, especially a group of triathletes who probably do not ride in big groups all that often).  Even riding the hoods on a road bike would be far superior to a tri bike, IMO, in this situation.

I am racing as well this weekend -- a sprint on Saturday.  This is the same event as my very first triathlon, so looking to see how much I've improved over the course of a year.  

Also my first step "back" to a sprint after completing my Olys earlier this year -- hoping that everything will seem much shorter 

Also have started the early stages of planning ahead for 2014 -- will likely try for a full marathon in the spring.  

Good luck to all the racers this weekend!

Scott.

That is a super way to get faster, BTW.  Good luck in your race.