Mad Manatees 2015.4 CLOSED (or Poptart/pet pic ticket) (Page 7)

Good day everyone, I hope things are going well as we approach the weekend.  I have a quick question for those that have ridden long distance before.  I have a century coming up in early November.  I feel that my legs and butt will be ready, the only concern I have is calorie intake.  I have been using Hammer Gels, which agree with me quite well.  So, my plan is probably one of those every 30-40 minutes or so and a bottle(ish) of water per hour.  Is there anything else I should be aware of? I figure by the time it is over, I'll be none too fond of gels, so any alternatives to try will be considered.  The ride is self supported, but I will pass my van every 10 miles or so.

As we move towards fall here in the states, I am inclined to figure out my winter/prep schedule.  I am probably looking at a HM in February, but outside of that I'm kind of open.  So after the century, I'll switch to a run focus with a mileage climb happening over the three months or so and the addition of some speed work. It worked last winter and I may set an aggressive goal, just to push myself a bit more than in past years.  So that's the framework of a plan for the next 4 months or so and should get me through my day of winter.  What is everyone else looking at for their winter?

Ok, all caught up (again)

Chris, I'm no help on the bike. Longest i've done is a metric century and we all remember how that went

Speaking of long distance nutrition... I am leading (kinda) an aid station at mile 9 of a 52 mile ultra on saturday. The ultra will also hit this aid station 9 miles from the end, as will the marathon that begins at the turnaround point. It will be the halfway point for the 18 milers. That being said. The RD gave me $50 to get "fresh" food. She already gave me chips, drinks, pb & J. So I'm wondering what I should get. I thought about maybe some cucumbers with salt. Maybe some melon? It's supposed to be cool and rainy so I also wondered about warm chicken broth but I'm not sure about keeping it warm.  Thoughts?

Winter plan... I'm really undecided on this. I am loving the trail running but miss riding my bike too!

Monument Valley... Utah is a beautiful but moody mistress. In March you could get cold winter, hot summer or absolutely beautiful. That being said, I say do it! I love racing out there. I'm racing in Moab in a couple weeks!!! So excited!!!

Sports... my Rockies were never anywhere near post season play. My Avs are not off to a great start. And the Broncos, well the defense will only get us so far...

Good day everyone, I hope things are going well as we approach the weekend.  I have a quick question for those that have ridden long distance before.  I have a century coming up in early November.  I feel that my legs and butt will be ready, the only concern I have is calorie intake.  I have been using Hammer Gels, which agree with me quite well.  So, my plan is probably one of those every 30-40 minutes or so and a bottle(ish) of water per hour.  Is there anything else I should be aware of? I figure by the time it is over, I'll be none too fond of gels, so any alternatives to try will be considered.  The ride is self supported, but I will pass my van every 10 miles or so.

As we move towards fall here in the states, I am inclined to figure out my winter/prep schedule.  I am probably looking at a HM in February, but outside of that I'm kind of open.  So after the century, I'll switch to a run focus with a mileage climb happening over the three months or so and the addition of some speed work. It worked last winter and I may set an aggressive goal, just to push myself a bit more than in past years.  So that's the framework of a plan for the next 4 months or so and should get me through my day of winter.  What is everyone else looking at for their winter?

On any of the centuries that I've done I've always enjoyed some of the real food at the support stops including cookies and oranges. So, if you can have real food in your van you may appreciate the ability to eat something other than gels.  When I ride long unsupported I sometimes use uncrustables or fig newtons.

Food suggestions: PB&J, fig newtons, a Payday bar for your final lap.  1 gel every 45 minutes will equal how many calories what, 125 calories per hour?  That sounds quite low.  You may want to up that some.

I'm on run focus from now until about May.  I have the Tuna Run coming up next week, then some recovery time before I start building back up again in mid December.  Oh, there will be a turkey trot in there too.  And a puppy.

And bananas! 

Are you going up for Harvest Moon 2.0 on the 31st?

No, I can't make it back up that soon.  They are letting those that can't defer til next year, so I'm doing that.

I'm excited to hear what the coach has in mind for you!  Have you selected your A races for next season?  I think that you mentioned Vietnam 70.3.  Is anything else on the horizon?

I know that several of the Manatees are coached.  Randee, Melanie, me.  I think that Adrienne consults with a run club coach (is that right, Salty?) and I know that Ann-Marie has a run club mentor (is that what I can call Susan?).  I hope that you have a great coaching experience this time around!

No, I can't make it back up that soon.  They are letting those that can't defer til next year, so I'm doing that.

Excellent!  It's very good of them to allow the deferral.  I made note of Lake Logan weekend in the newsletter and saw the redux date and that made me wonder.

ETA : Ann-Marie lives in the Orlando area and I live in the Raleigh area.  Ann-Marie likes to visit the NC mountains near Bryson City.  I like to go to Asheville and Brevard (nearby).  Asheville is about four hours from Raleigh.  Bryson City is a wee bit longer from Orlando!  Oh, and the Harvest Moon Half Marathon is put on by the same management team that does the Lake Logan triathlons (Glory Hound Events).

So, it's very exciting in Toronto right now - the Blue Jays!!! It's been a very long time since the city was this excited! 

Anyway, i went to swim last night and there were not that many of us - mostly two to a lane due to the aforementioned jays. It was a good swim - lots of kick. A good swim but not a hard swim. My old coach was pretty tough and would really push on pacing and such and making sure you only took the appropriate rest - so far this new group is a little lackadaisical about it. So, it seems it will be up to me a bit to push myself which isn't a bad thing. Maybe I should even move up a lane to swim with people slightly faster than me ...

As for race plans: i don't have any. I am in a bit of a holding pattern. We have a couple of big things on the plan: a huge home reno - so big that we'll have to move out for likely at least 7-8 months and then we are planning on trying for baby #2 in the near future (I have some dental work where I want to take the drugs worry-free) - so my racing is on hold. At least any big plans. I really just don't want to sit on my bum and lose all this hard-fought fitness. and i really do find this stuff stress-relieving!  

Susan is the training director for all the programs put on by Track Shack (LRS) and coach for the marathon/HM training program,  but since she's my friend I don't think of her as my coach.  Until she yells at me for doing one of the many stupid things that result in my various injuries 

I'll soon be hanging out in Asheville too as HGTV will be notifying me in a few days that I won their Asheville house (and car and $$)

Winter plan:  

Short term: attempt to get my butt running a bit more to do OK at the 10 Across the Bay coming up in a few weeks.  Motivation is still sporadic but mostly low.

Long term: ice hockey, stepping back a little from regemented tri training (ya know, kind of like I've been inadvertently doing the past month+).  After a little regrouping, hopefully restarting a more structured plan with my coach, possibly with my goal race being a 70.3 do-over at Timberman.  Naturally, doing some running races here and there over the winter/spring before prepping for tri season.  Re-lose the 7 lbs. (and hopefully a few more) that have crept back on since July.  

In general, get my life back in order.  The past year has been a crazy one.