kaburns1214 Mentor Group 2013 (Year 3!) - CLOSED (Page 63)

Do you swim SCY or SCM?  

I agree that it's an exercise in mental toughness.  I put in 2:00 this morning and wanted to hop off around 1:35.  I spend a lot of time on the trainer all year round because of the kids' schedules, so I'm used to it.  I've done 3:30 on it before.  Short t run followed the bike this morning.

My glutes and back hurt so bad from the maximum strength session yesterday.  My back keeps seizing up, and it hurts to sit down! Yikes!!! 

ccmpsyd - 2013-02-03 6:38 AM

kaburns1214 - 2013-02-03 5:20 AM

karen26.2 - 2013-02-02 6:42 PM

kaburns1214 - 2013-02-02 3:00 PM

cobratodd - 2013-02-02 10:52 AM 3 hour spin on the trainer - wahoooo

I was supposed to have a long trainer ride today but my knee wasn't cooperating.  Looks like I will be doing another double swim today and tomorrow.

How's you knee doing Kelly? Still swollen?

Still swollen.  I have a double swim today.  Hooray for 8000-ish yards.

This, like the weight of a black hole, is a concept that I have a hard time wrapping my head around.

8000 yards - I would be a prune because it would take me so long. I can't wrap my mind around that either.

Do you wear ear plugs? Are you a unilateral breather to your left? When I started swimming 2 years ago, I had something similar, but now wear ear plugs and don't have that problem. There is an OTC for swimmers ear to dry it out, have you tried that?

What is SCY/SCM?

I did 2:00 on Friday and it went really quick for some reason. I think some trainer sessions are better than others and it does take some mind over matter.

I've done 3.5 hours before as well. So much easier to motivate when you're outside and 1:45 from home.

No doubt. Today flew minus that one spot. There's days where I'll sit there and say ok just 5 more minutes 25 separate times to get through.

SCY = short course yards

SCM = short course meters

LCM = long course meters

I usually swim short course yards.  In the summer I sometimes swim long course meters at the open air pool.

ETA - short course is when the pool is set up as 25 yards or meters, long course is when the pool is set up as 50 meters (like swimming at the Olympics).  Generally swimmers are faster in short course meets because they get twice as many flip turns.

Today was the longest ride on the trainer 1:30. I know its not 3+ hours but  I am actually surprised and pleased how it went. Yeah I got uncomfortable at times, but I would stand and pedal for a bit. Felt fine, not bored as I was watching heart rate, cadence, speed etc,., good tunes. Not sure if I will be saying the same thing when I hit 2+ hours but we will see. Then hit the gym for strength/core - including legs.

Matt - get it checked out sooner v later, it will save you time in the long run.

Actually sounds like swimmer's ear.  I would definitely get it checked out.  I've found that using some body oil and gently -- very gently -- rubbing it in your ears before swimming helps keep water out. 

Karen, that is awesome!  You should be proud that you lost that much.  It was slow and steady and along the way, you were learning how to eat better.  That's the biggest battle.  I have a friend and her husband who did Whole30 and he lost 10 lbs., but 7 inches off his waist and it wasn't enough.  He complained to his wife that had he done this diet or that diet he could have lost 30 lbs., but even if that's true, it generally goes back on because you didn't learn the right things to do to maintain the weight loss.  It lifestyle choices, not "going on a diet."  I only lost 5 lbs. but I have leaned out and I feel so much better running.

So need some help.  If you were going to joint a local tri club what would be the selling points other than vicinity?  This would be a club that isn't associated with coaching. 

Oh No!  Been there - out for a run, was walking to warm up and setting up MapMyRun.  Stepped into a hole in the asphalt that was just the size of my shoe.  Didn't know it was happening until my right knee hit the ground because I was still looking at my phone.  My knee still isn't right.  As long as I wear a brace, it's ok and doesn't give me any problems.  Hope yours heals better.

1) The friendliness of the other athletes. Are they welcoming to others for rides, swims, beer regardless if they are seeking to podium or finish? Are they supportive in the advice given?

2) How often do they get together - if its for a designated swim once a month or every couple of weeks it might not work with my schedule - but if there are more opportunities to get together then that would be appealing.

3) Dues - and what comes with it.

I'd look for a supportive atmosphere, people of different levels of experience/skill, including some like mine, and also people better than me (not hard at the moment) who aren't too busy to answer my newbie questions.  If they provided information/advance notice of upcoming events, that would be cool, and if they organized and encouraged participation in joint workouts that would also be a plus.  As you mentioned, though, vicinity would be a big one.  If I had to go to far to reach everything, that would be pretty hard to motivate for.  

Are you trying to decide between a number of choices?  

Thanks, all.  I remember getting earaches when I was swimming a lot as a kid, and the preventive treatment then was an eyedropper half full of rubbing alcohol into (and out of) each ear every night at bedtime.  I can't remember what the treatment was when I actually had swimmer's ear, though.  

I have been breathing bilaterally, but never used earplugs before.  Kelly, by "body oil", do you mean something like Johnson's Baby Oil (do they even sell that anymore)?  Do you just put a little bit on your finger and gently coat the inside of your ear with it?  

I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow and have it looked at.  As frustrating as it would be to be out of the pool now, it would be worse to have to do it later in the year (and for longer).  

Not really.  I'm looking to find ways to drive membership to my existing tri club.  Trying to find where we're lacking.

How are you promoting the club? Do you go to expos, races, whatever and promote it? When someone inquires about it how are they treated?

Our club struggled for a couple of years. Last year a new president was named and he worked very hard to revive the club. He's been pretty successful by communicating on a regular basis with existing members, sending out a weekly email of group workouts, recruiting members to start group workouts in their area - in North Georgia we are all so spread out it's hard to meet during the week so they have expanded to more group workouts in various areas. As existing members became more active, new members started joining. Some of the new members were friends of existing members, but some others just saw the club participating in workouts and at races, asked about it, and felt welcome and joined. Some members go to expos and such and promote the club as well, that usually gets a lot of folks.

Another thing, our club is really laid back, no one is snobby or thinks they are better than anyone else. Some of the clubs around here can be intimidating to new folks looking for a club to join. Ours is welcoming to everyone and does a really good job making the new folks feel comfortable.

There are a lot of social activities, families included for those with young kids, and beer is always flowing (in a safe responsible way of course).

Promotion I think is an issue.  We should have been at the Houston Marathon expo recently.  We also have a reputation from a while back of being elitist, so that's another aspect.  We offer good discounts and perks, but I think the perceived aura of the club needs to be rehabbed.

1.  Local discounts and affiliations with a bike and run shop.

2. Group training.

3. Seminars or group classes with guest coaches if you're not doing a full time coach.

4. Mentoring for junior members.

5. Team events with special team recognition for fastest overall, fastest bike, fastest transition, etc.