sdanaher's Mentor Group - Closed (Page 7)

Jason,
My humble recommendation: Get some endurance and a few thousand yards under the belt however it is that you feel more comfortable. Then try improving technique etc.
A couple drills to work on:
-Catch: Grab a 10" PVC stick between your thumb and index fingers, both hands in front of you.
Keep the stick in front of you with your left hand until you finish the stroke with your right arm and catch. Alternate left, right, left, etc. This will help you find balance and stretch your stroke in front of you to improve efficiency.
-4x100 25 left arm only (breathing left) 30" rest 25 right arm only (breathing right) 30" rest. 1' brake between 100s.  That way you teach your self to breath both ways.
-4x100 25 kick on on side one arm in front. Alternating each 25 30"int.

That would give you something to start.

Ugh, found out today my pool is going to be  closed for at LEAST another week. Found another pool nearby that does lane swim Monday and Wednesday evenings so I will try it out next week. Most of the time this one seems to be family swim rather than lane swimming. Anyhoo, hopefully after the 22nd my regular pool will be reopened. I'm not sure what the problem was, but it must have been something pretty serious, it's been closed well over a month.

Argh! That sucks!!!

Not a big deal though in the grand scheme. Maybe do some lifting in the meantime that engages the same muscles. It won't really "get you used to swimming" but you'll be better for it regardless.

Rowing machine? Climber? Any lifting that engages your lats?

How often should you have your bike fitted? I feel like I'm too forward on the aerobars, my wrists sometimes end up on the shifters.

A different question, on the trainer I've noticed that my toes are poining inboard (both, but more so the right one) is this normal? if not how could I correct this?

On the bike, how do you split your training sessions? I've been just.... riding, but don't have any particular tecchnique. I just try to spin for the first 10' and then to trying to sostain a good average speed. Right now I have a very basic speed computer. I would like to upgrade to one that would give cadence, any suggestions? recommendations?? THANKS!

Until you get the cadence computer (I don't have one either), here are some sites that have lists of songs that run about 90 beats per minute, or an optimum cadence for a lot of people... listen along and match the beat.
http://www.edenathletics.com/90bpm
http://www.rhapsody.com/playlistcentral/playlistdetail?playlistId=22961920
http://blog.runfasta.com/2009/04/90-bpm-songs-i-listen-to-when-running.html
http://www.thebpmbook.com/bpm/j/j01.php
http://www.nutsie.com/playlist/80-90%20BPM/1383077

Edited by HNewman 2010-01-17 10:24 AM

Thanks for the advice on bilateral breathing.  Just "doing" it for several sessions has really helped.  It's still not comfortable and I need to have someone look at my stroke to see if I'm over-rotating.

Did 1000m swim nonstop for the first time!  It took me 30 minutes which I guess is pretty slow but I think it's a good start!

J

well done!

Hello all. Sorry I have been away from the forum and group for about a week. Had some stuff I needed to attend to but am now back! I started training for my Half mary in May today and started a sprint training program to get back in the groove. Going to watch Kona tonight after homework to cap off a great first day of training with a program!

Well done!!! Forget about slow, that's a great acomplishment! Now you know you can do it.
Try throwing some speed drills to improve your speed. Might sound oxymoron, but do it slowly, no rush  

- 200 easy warm up
- 4x100 in 3'
- 4x50 in 1':30"
- 8x25 in 1'
- 200 kick
- 100 easy cool down

Good luck

That's AWESOME!! For me it is all about the music! Running, treadmill and trainer.
It wouldn't cross my mind to iPod while biking or swimming.

Thanks a lot for the tip, priceless!

Haha.. I start next week. Which is of course when I resume business travel for 2010 also. Should be fun!!!

I never take off.. per say.. i just slow down a little.. more recovery days. lol taking off, requires so much to get back to status quo..

Yeah man, but you are kicking arse lately!

i had a great run today 5k in 26.02  only walked for 3x1 min rest so i recon i could get it to 25 or less

That's flying!

Second swim practice session today. Coach took it down a notch. Felt better.

Signed up for my first race of the year. Parris Island Sprint Triathlon. The swimming takes place in a huge combat pool at this US Marines instalation, and there's waves every 10 seconds based on registered time for average 100 mts. I registered 1':35" a bit optimistic but rather be overtaken than stuck in traffic.
This is all new, I just hope it is well organized.

great job.. awesome

Absolutely!!! 

I may have the opportunity to get ahold of a single or pair of zipp wheels, possibly of my choice of all types they make.  Does anyone have any suggestions on what to get or what I should look for when deciding?

All I can say is: I am so jealous, I'm turning GREEN! 
Whatever you end up getting, enjoy those wheels!

I am after a pair of 808's. I've read that the full disc might be a bit limiting when it's windy.

Yeah that is what I was thinking about a full disc. I ride where some days it is very windy and others not as much. I feel like I may get knocked over with a full disc if I had one!

If you are very light, a deep dish may yield similar results.  Not a deal breaker, you will just get used to it.

I weigh 145-155 depending on time of the year and my 66mm deep wheels make me wobble witha  cross wind.  If it were very windy I'd consider not riding on them at times. 

Question regarding half marathon and Triathlon training. I am trying to combine a half marathon training plan into a tri training plan. the half mary plan has me running 5 times a week and one of those runs happens to fall on my long bike day. Would it be best to only run 4 times a week and cancel the run on the long bike day? The run is 30 minutes generally on this day but I don't wanna over work my muscles and promote injury.