Scott's Mentor Group-Closed for training. (Page 7)

Andy,  Thanks for sharing those thoughts.  I think that this is one of the things that makes BT so unique.  There are some amazing athletes here that share their wealth of knowledge freely.  The mentor groups are just brilliant to get us all talking and motivating each other.  I am amazed daily at the drive that some folks have.  I am glad that you are here in this group to share your journey, and if we as a group can help you with your goals then it is a win for all of us.  

I feel like ending that with a hooyah or something, but it's late at the end of a long week.  Happy trails gang.    

Again, Andy, thanks.  

That's some cajones right there.  Take it easy my man.  Good luck and have fun.  

Congratulations!  So glad that you're back too.  Good luck with the finishing touches on your place.  

Good luck Craig, I hope the leg holds out, and that you don't damage it further!! and welcome back Kate.

I am chomping at the bit to do my race, have done another practice run today, did 650 mtre swim, 25k bike ride and 3.22 mile run, just short of race distances! Total time excluding transition was 1 hr 26 m 57 sec!!

Have tried this week to hire myself a road bike to race with, but nobody seems to hire race bikes only mountain bikes, so looks like I will have to change tyres on mountain bie to slick and just get on with it (hopefully would slow me down too much)

Any of you guys racing with a mountain bike? or have you raced with a mountain bike?

Enjoy the training

Right there with you Andy, I've only been biking/running for a year and have no swim experience other than playing in a pool so I am a true newbie.

I've browsed through quite a few of the programs offered on the site for Sprint Triathlon but can't find one really suited for me. I currently bike 30+ miles when I ride and most of the programs are starting with 2-3 mile rides. I know these are build on data leading up to the sprint distance of 14 miles but I certainly don't want to go backwards in my training.

That said, I'm off to do my Saturday morning ride. Goal today is to ride about 20 miles followed up by a run just to get used to running after biking. No idea ho long my run will be but I'm aiming for about 2 miles.

Well a big eye opener this morning.

Bike ride 22 miles, avg speed 14.9. Cadence 82. Felt great.

Transition 11 minutes: mainly to change clothes since I don't have tri shorts yet

Run 1.2 miles. Avg pace 11:46 because I walked last half mile. Legs cramped up bad at the 1/2 mile mark and had to walk home. Not used to running after bike. Lots of work to do in the next 5 months for sure!!

Troy- I'm definitely down for the 5k and the mile.  I am going to see how I feel, and how the achilles is holding up at that point.  80-20 right now on doing the 200.  

Jonathan,  Your transition legs will come.  I would focus on doing some transition runs.  These are easy 10 min runs after your bike rides.  Do most of your running miles on fresh legs, and just build up slowly with the transition runs.  Hope this helps.  

I'm with you brother!  Swam every day this week and despite the hip injury I have felt stronger and logged slightly longer distance each time.  Struggled with 400 meters on Wednesday, did 1200 on Thursday, 1600 yesterday.  Since my sprint only has 400 meters I am sure I can power through.  I will just have to start in a much slower corral (time trial swim - pool) I had planned to do 7:50 now my brother an I are thinking 8:50 or 9:00.  My plan is to have him draft me the first 200 meters, then pass me on a turn and I will draft him to the finish (drafting is legal in swims) ... transition to bike ... my plan is to crush the bike (I am leaning towards using my road bike right now because this is such a short course and is a 2 mile loop repeated three times, tight cornering.  I think I can be faster on the road bike and not have to worry so much about slowing big time on the turns, I will just get as aero as I can or just grind - the final factor will be if it is raining (weather is calling for showers) ... if it is raining I am definitely going road bike.  The run may be a walk but I plan to finish ... I really don't want a DNS or DNF ... good luck Craig!

  Swam my drills yesterday. Still a bit embarassed to be gasping and choking back and forth through the 20 yard lap lane while elderly people are gracefully swimming for 40 min straight and moving faster than me. Endurance sports can be humbling . I rode on the stationary at the gym since it was cool out yesterday. I am thinking of getting a spin bike, currently looking at the golds gym version at WM. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this and how effective of a training tool it may or may not be versus always riding on the road. I am getting ready to go out for a long ride today, hope the dogs stay away, oh well I upped my disability insurance this week too.

Andy and Jonathan-Don't worry, I felt way behind in here at first-in fact I ranted about it in the other thread. I still have yet to complete a tri also.

Craig-You rock!! So glad you found a way to complete what you could. congrats on the race and the great attitude!

Paul-Have a great race!

I have done nothing but yoga the last couple of days. I feel loose and ready to run tomorrow. The weather here is supposed to be horrible but nothing I haven't run through before. The local arts center where the race is run is currently hosting a group of Tibeten monks so I got up here early this morning and got to watch the end of their morning prayers and chanting and do a meditation session with them. Very cool. So I'm also feeling quite calm.

Happy training and racing everyone!

I second this.  I have yet to swim or bike (have not really done either in over 3 years) and am only running 3-4 miles, at a whopping 5-6 mph.  We all start somewhere!

It can feel intimidating to see what others are doing, but it's also an amazing blessing a resource to have their advice and guidance for free!!  How lucky are we to get free coaching?!

That is what I call gutsy.  You rock my brother.  Considering your firs tri turned into just a run, this is aprapo.  Congrats.

Humbling indeed.  As far as the spin bike goes, I think it would be money better spent if you bought a trainer that you could hook your bike into.  This way you can train with what you will be racing with.  If it is in the budget buy a fluid trainer by either cyclops or kurt kinetic.  These are the best two on the market and is one of the most valuable tools I've purchased for tri.  Good luck.  

Good luck Nicole!!!  I want to hear wonderful stories that end with the letters "PR" regarding your race.  Rock it girl!

Good luck Nicole, have a great race.

I spent this weekend in the pool and on the trainer. Yesterday an hour of balance drills in the pool, and another 50 minutes today. And yesterday I did 40 minutes on the trainer, today 1 hour.

My average speed on the trainer is just under 16mph. I am varying the resistance throughout the ride but spending most of the time in mid gears. I assume that when I go through the proper 20 week training program starting in July I'll build up the stamina to spend more time in higher gears. I know that I'll want to get my avg speed up for the race but for now I'm just happy getting my legs moving.

I have a CycleOps fluid and will probably stick with them as a company just due to the amazing customer service I received after inheriting an older model that leaked fluid. And that is the one complaint I've heard ... is that it has been known to leak. I've read that they've fixed the problem with current models, though and it is a great trainer. 

The other model to consider, as Scott has mentioned, is Kurt Kinetic. Both are solid performers. Fluid will give you a quieter ride and a more consistent resistance. Well worth the cost, in my opinion. I've ridden all winter long (not as consistently as I would have liked) ... paired with the Sufferfest videos or with the TrainerRoad online program, it's an amazing tool for your biking.

************************

Today: I'm about to head out for 22 miles. I'll be starting it nice and slow ... hopefully holding myself back enough to finish strong with a negative split. I've got fatigued legs, which is what I'm supposed to have at this point in the cycle, so I just want to get through it feeling as strong as I have on my other long runs.

Then I've got to clean the car. It's an absolute mess. 

@ JJ- I suffered from calf cramps quite a bit, mostly in the pool.  Before my Chiro relocated to Dubai (or someplace there abouts) he suggested Citracal.  Might be worth thiking about your calcium intake.

I have been struggling to get consistent - but got 2 days in a row this weekend!! Decent bike yesterday - and a decent swim today.  Not really sure about the race I have in 2 weeks - but I am training for real now. Really tired now, but in a good way!

Ben