left.right.repeat group -closed - Full of a bunch of winners...YEAH! (Page 65)

Gary that's AWESOME!!!! You are graduating into "honorary Penguin status"

WAEF! That is so awesome!  Are you going to do a RR? Absolutely fantastic!

BTW thanks, don't tell the other penguins they still think I am slow

Gary, I decided to use my log for the race report. You can find it on Saturday's log.

Speaking a race reports, thanks for the link. I hadn't been on the new RW site. It's different. I like the old look better but I like the variety of emoticons.  Although I went back to an old favorite when I posted on your thread.

Waef - that is exactly my point.....EXACTLY....you are ALL in much better shape than you think.  You have all done the training and the fitness stays with you for quite some time.  An injury or forced rest period just DOESN'T hurt you that much.  There is a lot more fitness there.  I would say that anything 2 weeks or less of rest doesn't hurt more than 1%.  After 2 weeks you do start to lose some fitness but not as much as you might think.

I also want to cover something else here....

You must oscillate (sp?).  You CANNOT keep at peak fitness all the time.  NO ONE can.  You must drop the training back...dial it back....rein it in and then begin to ramp back up.  I have been off for all practical purposes for a few weeks, with only workouts that I wanted to do for me, for the last 3-4 weeks.  I am really getting into getting back into it.  Went hard for almost 2 hours on the bike yesterday and felt GREAT...it was work but it was fun and I felt great.  DO NOT OVERTRAIN....you must let the fitness dial back and the re-build.  For those of you who talked to Annie last year, she made me promise to take a month off after my marathon before I started to ramp things back up.  Actually, the plan begins again in about 2 weeks and culminates at IMAZ....November 22....hopefully some of you will be there....at least in spirit....if you want to try to come, let me know and I will tell you where we're staying....we scoped it out last year and I think we have a very reasonable place in close proximity to the course.....come one come all....it should be a hell of a day...

I will say this more than once this year, but I am doing the Janus Charity Challenge raising money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fight cancer.  My dad died of cancer, my mom is a survivor, Deb's mom and dad both died of cancer, many more friends have or have had cancer, and finally, late last year, one of my employees was diagnosed....my whole office wears LiveStrong bands every day in support so I decided to do the race with Janus Charity Challenge to raise funds and make it bigger than me (by the way, I am not asking for any of you to donate cash...that is not what this is about).....that said, what I am going to do it offer to EVERYONE I know the following: if you will send me the names of anyone you know who has or has had cancer, living or deceased, they will race with me on Nov 22....I will carry every name submitted with me that day.  I am going to create something to carry them through the swim bike and run.  So there it is ---- you all are the first to know....send me the names.  They will top the list.

You all are great....I hope you have a great weekend....

sTRIve.....ThRIve....TRIumph

WAEF - Thanks, my brain kicked in an immediately went to your log.  Very nice RR!

LRR - How do you want me to send names?  My Dad fought cancer and won, only to lose his battle with heart disease.  My wife lost her mother to cancer last year but I will ask her before sending her name (she is a bit private on some things).  The race for the cure is coming up and I believe I will run that for her.

Jennifer & Gary, congrats on your races! 

I did a practice "mini tri" on Saturday... a cut-down version of the report is on my log on here, but for the full version with pictures, visit my blog http://cardholic.blogspot.com

Brian - My mom has had & survived Breast Cancer twice (10 years apart), but, my sister-in-law wasn't as lucky, and passed away at 36 years old. My "Aunt" who passed away from non-hodgkins lymphoma is who I'm dedicating my first triathlon to. Then there's Jenny, who Gary & Jennifer know from RWOL BF... who is battling Hodgkins disease.  I don't think there is anyone who doesn't know someone who has been affected by cancer, what you're doing is wonderful...It gives the whole thing purpose doesn't it? Thanks for the offer, I will PM those names to you.

Gary, just PM me the names.  I am starting the list.

There will be no disclosure of this list.  The names are between you and me.  I don't plan to let really anyone even see them in total.  I guess there is a chance that some folks may see a bunch of names but that is not the point.  I just want them to cover 140.6 miles with me.  They will do a lot more for me than I will do for them.

Thanks for all your kind words,

Bryan

Hey all, just did something kinda crazy.  I bought a bike frame/fork (came with wheels and rear derailer).  A Quintana Roo.  Something about it I liked and won.  I have a buddy in WI who has built several bikes and ended up with a custom frame who is going to help me (I hope, he hasn't read my email yet).  Any bike experts in the group who can help guide me?  Less than $200 including shipping so worst case I will resell on ebay take a small loss and learn a lesson.

Great job Gary and WAEF.  I enjoyed reading both of your race reports. 

LRR thanks for the encouragement on not losing too much fitness if you take a couple of weeks off.  I had started training for my half in May and then went on vacation and spent last week mostly being sick.  I'm hoping to slowly get back into it this week and hoping for the best.  I still have about 12 weeks to get ready, but I really wanted a good base of several long runs close to 10 miles or more before I try it.  Hopefully I can pick up about where I left off (8 miles) in the next week or so and go from there.

Sounds like everyone is pretty busy getting ready for nicer weather. 

I feel honored to know you Bryan. You have an amazing heart.

OK, I'm in a FREAK OUT mode right now... I just sent in the paper work to do an Olympic Triathlon! OMG OMG OMG... yes, my training is going well... but am I completely out of my mind???  I have 8 weeks from tomorrow...

Questions:

1. How far do you build your swims/bikes/runs for the Olympic distance?
2. How many weeks of taper do you do before the race?
3. Should I do the sprint 3 weeks before the olympic - even though my TnT coach said it's not a good idea? (I don't HAVE to listen to them 100% of the time do I?)
4. Am I CRAZY??? (ok, you don't have to answer this one... I know the answer already )

Shark - I have confidence that you can be ready for the Oly. I would probably vote against the Sprint 3 weeks earlier but defer to others with more experience.

This has been a MISERABLE week health wise. After 5 days of near death experiences (my, my, don't I sound like a drama queen!) I think I am finally busting through to recovery though. My son too has been extremely ill - off school all week and nothing substantive to eat in 3 or 4 days.

FBP

Diane - I think you will be fine.  Go Diane!!! Your swimming is going very well.  You have done the running distance.  Don't know how your biking is going but I suspect you are moving along well with that.  I would bail the Sprint only because you would have to do some taper for it, recovery, get a little more training in than start the taper for the Oly.  Effectively losing 2 weeks of training.  Just my opinion.

Freddy - ouch man, sounds awful.  Please take care of yourself and your son

Well bike should be here on Monday, can't wait!  Hard not to start ordering parts but I need to wait to get the bike first.  Everyone have a great weekend!

Mav - good luck in your half.....go girl go.......I hope the weather cooperates....stay dry and warm.......left.right.repeat......over and over till they tell you to stop.

Gary....bike looks great....I also ride a QRoo......good luck with the build

Shark here are my thoughts....

1. How far do you build your swims/bikes/runs for the Olympic distance? I look at trying to get to a 1500 meter swim, a 2.5 hour ride but at least 2 hours, and just an hour run max....the ride is longer than you need but that is the discipline that you can train at most without injury
2. How many weeks of taper do you do before the race?  No more than a few days to one week....and that week you will still be training...the intensity and duration will just drop 
3. Should I do the sprint 3 weeks before the olympic - even though my TnT coach said it's not a good idea? (I don't HAVE to listen to them 100% of the time do I?)  I do not understand Coach TnT...that should be NO problem....I am actually considering a HIM 4 weeks before my IM so you should have NO problems.....however, what I should say here is that I don't want you killing yourself in the sprint requiring days of recovery....after the sprint you can take one or two days off but then it will be back to WORK
4. Am I CRAZY??? (ok, you don't have to answer this one... I know the answer already )  I will answer....SURE YOU ARE.....we all are....that's why we're fun.....

Keep up the good work everyone....

Bryan

Hey Fellow Turtles

I have been lousy about posting, but have been reading to catch up....

First off CONGRATS to Jennifer and Gary on their races.You both ROCK!!!!

Gary, I have a blueseventy fullIM wetsuit and love it!!! My personal sausage casing, cant wait until the ice melts so I can use it again. Nice bike, hope it all works out well when you get it built.

Dianne, I agree with Bryan...you will be fine doing the oly. I was a wreck when I did my first one. I just wasnt sure I could finish. I followed my plan and on race day I could have gone further. I actually went in the water and swam about a half mile after the race. Just follow the plan.

Pete...you sound like you have had a miserable week.Feel better soon. Everyone around here is sick. I think we have been inside with the windows closed long enough!!!

Tommorow is my half Mary...weather is supposed to be in the thirties with snow and rain....will feel like its in the 20's. Wind gusts of 15-35 mph. Doesnt get much better I will smile the whole way...many people cant do what we do...we need to be thankful that we can in any weather!!!!Now I may not be walking the following day...but I will RUN tommorow. I'll do a race report as soon a physically possible!

Many BTers doing this race so it will be fun. My son is running his first 1/2 as well. He runs 7-8 min miles so I will see him when I am done. It has been fun to do some of my long runs with him.

Left right repeat...I'll be thinking of you all...and Pete Terry will be with me

Mav, I was thinking as I read the last of your post....we should get a time reduction for all the people we have to think about and all the stuff we carry with us....LOL.....

I read a quote just a couple of minutes ago that went something like this...

I run till my lungs are on fire, my legs are screaming, my throat hurts and I feel like I am going to puke....then I turn around and run home

sounds pretty good

sTRIve............go MAV go

Enquiring minds are wondering about the weather??????   And 13.1 miles of fun......

Go Mav Go.....I know you are finished....I thought of you early this morning....brrrrrr!

sTRIve....ThRIve....TRIumph

Tell me about that finish line....

I DID IT!!!!!!

Marianne Valle 2:19:00......my goal was 2:20...and I did it!!!!!

I race report will happen after a nap. I had a FANTASTIC time. It didnt rain until the last 2 miles and it was a light drizzle which I really appreciated at that time. I didnt walk except to drink water at a few aid stations. It was cool but only about 35 degrees. I have trained in much colder weather this winter. I actually was a little overheated by the end of the half.

I feel pretty good except for a little PF in my right foot.

Had lunch and beer with about 20 BT ers. All round GREAT DAY!!!

Bryan ...thanks for the good karma...

LRR

Woohoo Mav!!! 

Nice Job!

Mav, that's an AWESOME finish time.

Hey all!  Need some advice.  My first Duathlon is this weekend.  A couple of clothing questions, I don't have a Tri shirt and was just planning on wearing my favorite running race shirt.  Do you think that will work or should I go get one?  What about a number belt, should I get one?

Thanks!

Gary you should be fine in your favorite shirt! No need for a race belt...just pin the number to your shirt. NOTHING NEW ON RACE DAY...Bryans rule.

 I did a race report and posted it under "Race Reports" on BT. I am being lazy.

 I feel a whole lot better today. My feet are still a little stiff. I went for a swim today and sat on the trainer and spun for 1 hour EASY. I felt alot better after . Everthing was pretty tight this morning.

I honestly cant wait to do it again