Fred Doucette's Half-Iron and Ironman Focused Group! -CLOSED! (Page 69)

You've certainly got the mental toughness/discipline thing worked out.

I often get my training done during the week between 9am-4pm, just because my work schedule often allows it - it is nice to get to the pool or out on the road during those hours simply to avoid everyone else rushing around. That said, I actually really enjoy getting it in the books early. My biggest trick to getting going early is to A) not check BT before I go out the door  and B) have EVERYTHING prepped and laid out the night before. If I have to so much as search for a pair of socks or fill a water bottle, I will find myself getting going 45 minutes later than I meant too. Probably because while I am looking for a pair of socks I take "just a sec" to check BT.

I get foot cramps every once in a while but if I eat bananas before I work out I haven't really had any issues.

Here is a photo of me from Tri camp...one of the many beautiful places we saw riding last week....Pacific Ocean.

Same here. I get foot cramps occasionally, along with calf cramps. Only in the pool though, never on OWS. Usually later in a workout and when flip turning off the wall. It is really easy to get dehydrated in the pool before you know it; Like Kathy I have found taking in fluids with electrolytes between sets is key. Also, for the past 6 months I have incorporated a lot of kicking drills into my workouts, and that has seemed to help as well. I seem to have cramping issues in warmer pools; The pool I swim in mostly (NCAA competition pool) is held at the FINA bottom end (25C - about 77-78F) While the other pool I swim in (YMCA recreational pool) is sometimes pushing 88F or more. The Y pool is where I have the most cramping issues, which leaves me to think it really is mostly an issue of hydration, in my case anyway.

Randy - welcome back! You are going to be pleasantly surprised by the weather when you get home to south Alabama. Unless of course you have allergies. Spring is in full bloom, and surface has turned yellow with pollen...

Absolutely gorgeous, Kathy - I trust there was a right turn shortly after the left in the photo?

Scheduled off day today, which is a little bit of a bummer as the weather looks like it is going to be the pick day of the weekend.

Or perhaps a bike/swim workout.  Nice pic.

Great pic Kathy - I got my first outdoor ride in 3 months last weekend (not dressed like that of course), and was gearing up for another ride this weekend.  Then we had to shovel 4 times in 8 hours.  We're covered in white again!  Trainer for me again this weekend.

At camp of the 6 days of riding only 2 was I able to wear short and short sleeve jersey. Most days I wore arm and leg warmers and a vest or jacket as it only got up into the 60s and one day 50s. But compared to home other than last day it was a lot warmer. Riding with support vehicle on new and beautiful places without worrying about fluids or food was great. Roads were mixed some much worse than here in MA.

Camp was refreshing for me and so fun to be away from real life and just doing what I love. Traveling anywhere by bike rocks.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and maybe gets some nice weather to train outside.

I've been doing two a days this week (naps that is) and not much training.

Hope that the little intensity my coach has for me this weekend, shows fatigue is lifting.

Good luck bumping it back up this weekend, Kathy. Naps are entirely underrated, especially after a big training block like you just finished up.

I am prowling around the house waiting for it to get light enough to roll - going to play a little "rain roulette" this morning - we have some good storms headed our way in a few hours.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Just heading out to a OWS clinic hosted by a local triathlon promoter and tri club at a local lake. I'm hoping that the water temps are nice, maybe somewhere in the mid-high 60's. This will be my first OWS of the season and I would like to get about 3-4 in before my HIM in a couple weeks. My swim is coming along pretty good in the pool but we'll see how it's coming along in the open water today. Before the swim is a OWS talk and then 45 min - 1 hour swim followed by a 30 min bike maintenance course and 30 min transition course. Then we do a 1 hour bike ride, have catered lunch and then swim again. It should be a lot of fun.

I had to change the tube in my back tire from last weeks blowout and patch job. That went ok but when I was pumping it up, I noticed that my front tire was shredded. I don't know how long I was riding on it but I raced out to get a new tire at 6:57 and the bike store closed at 7pm. I called and they stayed open for me. That was nice. Got that changed and everything is good.

I'll let you know how everything goes. 1 more peak week of training and then taper. I'm going to be ready for my taper week.

Have a great weekend everyone.