cathyd's group - Closed (Page 7)

x2 what babs says about 'smaller groups'.   Sometimes I do intervals from light pole to light pole-just to get me back home.  But, admittedly,  I'm not too driven by clocks/distances.  If I want to go see what the end of a new street looks like-I go.  Lastly (and this may get me in trouble) - sometimes I DO stop to smell the roses along the way.    Somedays the karma just isn't there and If I can't enjoy it-why bother.      I do these runs/swims/bikes to IMPROVE my life, not to add another burden to it.   The motivation will come if you're serious.  How much motivation depends on HOW serious.   But remember-I'm a middle aged slacker!    

Also, if it was supposed to be easy-everybody would be out doing it. 

That's a good question monica.  In my case I design these elaborate detailed training plans that look good on paper but the reality is that most days I do what I feel like.  If the weathers nice I'll run outside even though it may be a swim day.  I'm not at all competitive and do this stuff just because I like it.  I know what it takes to get faster/better but I really just want to have fun and finish the race without hurting too much.  I guess that's my motivation on any particular training day. 

Back to your question - to keep myself from quitting a tough workout I use imagery.. I imagine myself crossing the finish line of a race with crowds of people cheering for me.. that works good on long runs.  I also think about all the people out there training a lot harder than I am and not quitting, or people who are less able than I am who are out there working hard.

I do have a thing about even numbers though.  I log my running in miles and like to have whole numbers  - and will rarely run less than 3 miles unless it's a short planned brick run.  A lot of my runs will be 4, 6 or 8 miles because they are loops on the roads around my house.  My biking I log in minutes and like them to end with 5 or 0 ie. 30, 35, 40.  I do have weird numbers in my swim logging because I log in yards but sometimes swim in a 25 metre pool and convert the total to yards which gives strange numbers.

I've had enough of this winter.  We've had more snow this year than we've had in years.  It's cold outside.  I'm sick of the trainer.  This is my first winter of biking and I want to get back outside.  My first outside ride last year was March 23 - I'd like to get out there before the end of this month if the snow would melt.  I may just buy some new cables for my old mountain bike so I can ride outside earlier.  I know most of you do ride outside most of the winter,  I'm sure Nats can sympathize with me though. 

We've got a couple of missing group members.  Steve has been off for a while (sczerny) and our super fast runnergirl Lori (wyldrunner) is buried under a pile of work with her new job.  I hope they will return to BT and our group, or at least are finding time to train.

 Everyone else looks to be doing great despite some injury and illness.  Keep up the good work.

Discussion question -  What is your weakness/limiter and what are you doing to improve it?

I'll go first.  I haven't really identified my limiter but I need to improve my bike speed and strength. My HIM in June has a hilly, challenging bike course.  I'm doing strength intervals on the trainer now, and plan lots of long hilly rides when I can get outside.  I may try to get down to ride the course once or twice before the race.

I TOTALLY sympathize with you Cathy! I wanted to go run outside for a quite a while but the snow removal crews are taking quite a long time to clean the white stuff accumulating in Toronto for the past couple of weeks.  I wanted to take my 8 km run outside today; it is sunny albeit a little chilly but the streets are not safe enough for me to venture out.  I will once again resign to the treadmill run.... sigh...

My limiter is running altogether. My swim and bike times are good but my runs kill whatever gains I have made in the previous segments. I made a contract with myself to run at least 3 times a week, doing one tempo run, one steady run and one LSD run a week. If I chose to add a 4th running session, it would be a second steady run.  I think this plan will improve my running skills and form.  Good think I joined a running clinic, I find this helps quite a bit.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who has sent me little inspires over the past couple of weeks.  I don't always reply to them (how rude!) but I do look at your logs and I have to second Cathy by saying kudos to you all and keep it up!

Discussion question -  What is your weakness/limiter and what are you doing to improve it?

Swimming-without question.  However, I'm making pretty good gains on that.  I'm with Cathy-I don't see myself as being 'competitive' and I have a funky, 12 hr work schedule as well.   I quess my limiter is my (sometimes) lack of focus during my workouts and training in general.  I like to stop and smell the roses (or drink a beer...or 2).   BT and this mentor group has been the best thing to happen for me in a long time.  I feel naked if I don't do SOMETHING for training.  Looking at all you gals pound out 2000 yrd swims, 60 minute treadmill and 2 hr trainer sessions makes me feel kinda sheepish if I run 3 miles and call it good.  Since I've joined you all I've dropped 8 pounds and am starting to look fairly respectable for a 45 yr old.

bump

To my new friends from BT: 

On March 1-4,  I will be in Moab, Utah for a Lance Armstrong cancer benefit (Livestrong.org).  Each of the four days will feature a 45-60 mile ride through some of Moab's beautiful landscape (last year average temps were 25-30 degress...burrrr).    I'm asking for your help with this most worthy of causes.

http://www.active.com/donate/livestrong08/jmiddlemas

I wouldn't impose on any of you if I didn't feel it was important.  thanks.   jeff

Discussion question -  What is your weakness/limiter and what are you doing to improve it?

Hi everybody - right now my limiter is my running (well, and the fact that I don't own a bike).  I'm working my way through a 12 week run focused program, and it's been hard, but so worthwhile.  I just had probably the best run of my life in a local 3 miler...  and I still have 8 weeks to go.

Hey, have I been dropped from the group or can I come back?

YAY!! Lori is back!

OK group, spring is in the air, lets regroup our mentor group and our training.

sczerny - hasn't logged or posted anything in months, I think we've lost him for good.

Lori - is back, running again.  How is the job going?  Have things settled down so you are able to get some training time in again?  What are your immediate training goals, and what kind of race season are you planning?  We are here for you and will be checking in on your log often.

Jeff - has been doing well in the pool and sticking to his plan of having fun.  I see lots of races coming up for you. You'll do great.

Jenny - you are  a training animal !!!  You will beat the Bear !!

Nats - training steady and doing great in the water.  We'll be watching for that mississauga half marathon race report !

Barbara - is just fabulous.   You are so in touch with your body and ramping the mileage up safely. We're all rooting for you, come April 1st, to register for that HIM.

Monica -  after that awesome vacation that made us all jealous you have been getting in some workouts.  We'll be watching your logs and inspiring you.  Spring is here, time to get ready for all those races you have planned !

As for myself, I got a spot in the Muskoka 70.3 in Sept (racing with Nats!) so I dropped the plan for a June HIM.  My new plan includes a half marathon in May (with 3 people from work), a sprint in June, my hometown tri in Aug, the Sept HIM, and depending on my recovery a half or full marathon later in the fall (probably Niagara Falls Oct. 22).  The other exciting news in my life is that our daughter is expecting our first grandchild at the end of Oct.  So 2008 is looking good.

Hope everyone is enjoying  your Easter weekend.

I hope we're back!   After a not-great week (husband sick, me almost-sick and trying to stay healthy) I'm right back to it with a lovely little brick today.

 Got a 5 miler coming up in two weeks, and a 10K the end of April.  I'm really trying to focus now so that I have a better summer. 

Jenny.. I feel bad for you.  My alternate June race was Tupper Lake but that would be pretty far from home for you and it's at the end of June. 

One big problem I'm finding with triathlon is that you have to plan your races so far in advance, and the rest of my life isnt' scheduled that far ahead.  I have to register and pay for races before I know if I can get the time off work, or if there are conflicting events in my life (weddings, family obligations) to work around.  I guess I'm not used to planning so far ahead.

Good luck finding another race Jenny.

A new month is here and we have sunshine.  I think it might really be spring this time.

It seems Lori has gone missing again. Everyone else looks to be doing great.  Monica is the owner of a very nice (and gorgeous blue) bike. 

My official HIM training starts at the end of this month.  I'm still tweaking the plan to fit around my work schedule and available pool times at the Y.  We looked at another gym where the pool would be available all the time for laps but the cost is higher than what we pay now and it is farther for both of us to drive.  The Y is much closer to my work and to home so I think I stick with it for now.

We should all be outside riding soon if not already.  I've been riding outside for a couple weeks although a few of those rides were pretty chilly.  I'll be out this week for sure.  How are you all doing?

Hi everybody. I am indeed back, but I have soooo much to catch up on.  I will try to go back and read through the posts and get to know what you all have been up to in my absence.   From a quick glance, it seems like you are all doing very well.

A new quarter starts today, and my workload is considerably lighter.  I am dropping from working about 53 hours per week to about 24.  The money is dropping too, but that is a whole 'nother story.  Right now I prefer poor to frazzled, tired, and out of shape.  I should be able to get back to regular training, but the run today revealed just how out of shape I have gotten in 10 weeks.  It is amazing and discouraging.

Hey, Hey! The gang's all here. 

Looks like everyone is doing great-I can't begin to tell you all how grateful I am to have such nice 'virtual' friends.  Although, I'm confident if I met any of you in person, I'd like you even more.  Spring has sprung in Boise and I'm looking forward to a great season.  jeff

It is so great to feel like I am coming back.  I missed you gals (and Jeff too ).  Everybody seems to be doing so well!! You are all really inspiring to me right now because I have SUCH a BAD ATTITUDE about starting over.  The new guy I am dating is super supportive.  He has been riding his bike with me while I run, which is no small feat considering I am going so slowly that he can barely stay upright.  There is nothing like a "C'mon let's go out for a run" from someone else to get me moving when I am lacking in motivation.  

I went to Michigan last week and really felt for all of you people in the cold weather climates. It snowed a little one of the days I was there and when I went out to run, I about froze.  You all must really be dedicated.  I will take the heat any time.

Monica, congratulations on the new bike. That is always fun.

Jenny, that is a tough break with the recital.  Yikes.

So, now I have updated my goals.  I found a race I want to do up in Michigan at a place called Hell.  It is a 50k and looks like lots of fun, so I do have a goal out there.  I also have found a neighbor who will let me use her pool for swim training for the price of chlorine, so I consider that a deal.  I am looking forward to getting back to the tri training so that I can enter the set of races I enjoyed so much last fall.  

Hopefully I am back on track for good.  I have learned my lesson.  As Cathy pointed out in my log, and which someone needed to tell me a few months ago, "some things are more important than money."