ChrisM's Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 7)

I am guessing what you need to do is slow down.  If you have to stop so soon cause your out of breath it is one of two things, 1) you don't know how to breath 2) your swimming harder then your fitness and skill allows for.  If your technique is completely off then you'll be working a lot harder to but since you are working with a swim instructor I am going to guess that your technique is at least passable.  I exhale slowly under water.  I bilateral breath, so every 3rd stroke I am taking a breath.  So that is a fair amount of time to exhale really.  As I turn to breath all I have to do is inhale, then when my face is back in the water I slowly start to exhale again.  Now, if I am doing sprints then that changes (could be breathing every breath or every second one, or some varation) but for nearly all my swimming that method works for me.

Nice. You must be one of those rare people who actually trained for your event.

Good job Brent!

Added a mile to my Thursday run today to 5 miles.  Quite happy with the pace for me.  Nice run along the ocean, dolphins and surfers out.

Good question.  First, if I am totally smoked I'd actually take the day off or do an easy workout (perfect time for a swim workout).  But, I find a key for me is getting my workouts in early.  If I let it linger into late afternoon or evening I am even more tired then I am at the start of the day and it becomes so easy to just not do it.  I have that problem with my strength training.  It's typically at the end of the day cause I eventually have to start my work day and more often then not I blow it off.  If my schedule allows for it in the morning I have no problems with it. 

Another thing is hydration.  Here in Tucson it's really hard to stay on top of hydration with our awesome 4% humdity (sometimes it hits double digits).  You put physical activity on top of that and it's a constant battle.  If I am losing the battle I always feel more worn out then normal.  I make it a focus of my day.  I'm rarely without my water bottle.  Even to go to the store.

And for me one other key factor.  Chocolate.  It always gets me going.

Agree with Kim, Get it done early and take care of nutrition/hydration.  Those are two things I am constantly working on.  If I get up an hour early and do whatever, it's done for the day, and I can rest at night.  If I wait I either don't do it, or do it late, and it affects the next day.  Sort of like pacing the days out.  I also try to break up hard and easy efforts with at least 24 hours

Off topic - Kim, I saw in another thread you're going to the Galapagos?  I've been twice, it's fantastic.  What kind of trip are you doing?

So, what are the plans for the weekend?  Any races going on?

I don't have anything solid, but the general plan is something like a 60/3 brick Sat and a 9 mile run Sunday

There's tons to see.  I enjoyed our land excursions as much or more than the dives, frankly.  It's pretty fascinating.

Dude, I'm on pins and needles already waiting for this trip and you throw that at me?   This trip has been 2 years in the planning.  Leave June 3rd.  Can't wait.  What's funny is we close on our new house June 2nd and as soon as we come back we have to get moved.  No rest for the weary.

Half marathon on Sunday.  This will be the longest I have run all at once.  I need to do make sure and pace myself in the beginning.

Awesome!  What's your previous long run?

It's a good distance, and you will be worked at the end     You didn't ask me, but I'll give my pacing advice I got from Mike Ricci before my first.  I broke it into four (or so) 5Ks.  The first 5K was a nice steady warmup.  Second 5K start working a bit but not too hard.  Third 5K it gets interesting.  Keep the same pace to mile 8, then pick it up for 2 miles.  Last 5K run it like a 5K.

That's just one pacing option, there are other opinions out there certainly

Thanks, but looking at photos before I go on a big trip always gets me fired up.  You're gonna love it

There was a half I was going to do tomorrow with some friends, but my training hasn't been what I thought it would after Calif.  I have a good 8 mile run last weekend in the same hills that this race is going to be held in, and was going to run 9-10 this weekend....   Your post got me thinking maybe I should run the half.   Darn you 

I have been able to swim a lot more yards than I anticipated this week and felt very good. Of course this was not non stop swimming. I plan to swim 1400 yards tomorrow followed by a 4 mile run later in the day. I plan to ride 25 miles on Sunday. THis will be the longest I have rode for a long time.

They key will be if the weather holds out. We have experienced a lot of rain lately.

Sounds like a great weekend...  Hope the weather holds for you!

Gang..

I am so sorry that I have been MIA.   I have been out of the country, injured, etc.

After running the NY marathon last fall and trying to start training this spring, old overuse injuries kicked my butt.  Major mid calf strains that would not let up.  6 weeks of painful PT and I am finally beginning to run again.  Did a small sprint last week and trying to pick up the training.

I will try to check the post more often.  Training for several OLY, sprint and want to do a HIM before the injuries set in.

Chicago marathon in fall and looking forward to my wife running her first with me.  We are raising money for a brain cancer research for a friend.

Swimming is my weak link like most but working on getting better.