Fred D Mentor Group Part III (Page 70)

My apologies if this has been addressed, but I think we had a discussion on trisuits and I mentioned an exchange I had with Emilio on ST asking for a front zip version of their ITU suit (Riviera pad, water lid pockets).  This was about a year ago and he said then it was in development.  It's been released and looks exactly like what I was hoping they would put out:

http://www.desotosport.com/product/RTT

bzgl40 - 2012-11-13 4:59 AM

axteraa - 2012-11-13 2:27 AM

ChrisM - 2012-11-13 12:41 AM Been dealing with tight calves since upping mileagel on barryp. Always been a problem for me. On tonights measly 3 mile run the left one got too tight and painful to continue. Didn't pop like they usually do. But here lying watching MNF it's really tight and difficult to walk. I dont do well with injury (I am sure I am not alone here). Hopefully it is a few day thing. I went injury free all Tri season so that was good but appears I am still going to have to work on this. Plus, today is 20 weeks to Oceanside , supposed to be the start of my official training program.

I get those tight calves from higher mileage running too Chris.  In the past I just dealt with it, I either sucked it up or backed off.  Lately I've been using the foam roller and it seems to be working well.  Might want to give that a shot if you have one.

Ditto on the foam roller.  Higher mileage always does it to me. Massage to get you started wouldn't hurt either

I don't have a foam roller but have this kind of "stick" with rollers on it. Is this equivalent ?

I really suffer from tight calves and achilles problems. I had to stop Sunday, I thought I was going to pop one calf.

Early 60' trainer ride this morning with Main Set of 2x12' @95-100% (4').  Legs actually came around pretty good considering they were shelled Sunday night and most of yesterday.

EZ 30' run schedule at lunch time.

I have been told that the "sticks" are not quite as effective as an actual foam roller, because you use your entire body weight on the roller.  The sticks are great to use as a travel alternative.

My masseuse also told me not to really "roll" my legs over the roller.  Rather,  I should roll very slowly and find the point that is painful - then stay there and move very slightly.  It's not fun, but she emphasized that the point is to keep pressure and work on the part that is tight/sore - similar to when she is breaking things down with her hands.  Makes sense in my head, but I'd love to hear if anyone has a different view on it.

Hit a trainer ride too.  Actually broke out Sufferfest: Angels for the first time.  I scaled it back a little because my legs aren't all there from the past few days and it was still hard.  If you did that all out you would be totally trashed in the hurt locker.  I think I'll live to fight again tomorrow though  

It's:
WU
10' of over/unders
4' recovery
3x8' climbs  w/ 4' recovery   (last climb is Alpe d'Huez...I found it pretty fun).
CD

The climbs get interesting because there are attacks within it.  So you aren't just sitting there at 300 watts (or whatever #) the entire time, you have to surge up to 340 and then back down, etc.  I'm glad I was turned on to this setup so thanks for that.

One thing and I can take this off discussion group because it may not be helpful for others, but I couldn't synch my Garmin 310 or Joule 2.0 or Powertap w/ Golden Cheetah.  It worked out because I had the target watts displayed and the video, but I just had to go off the joule because it wasn't detecting devices...not sure if anyone has any advice on that.

Re: roller vs stick.  The magic stick works great for some spots, but the trigger point roller is better in others IMO.  

Re: weight loss - up and down.  Few good days followed by parties and get togethers that destroy it.  I still down a couple pounds but not as much as I could be without the distractions.

This is how I do it for the most part as well.  I just find the spot and make small movements back and forth to focus on it.

It looks really nice.... except for the $192 price tag!

Was the Garmin Ant Agent running ? On Windows it will interfere with GC. Two apps cannot be accessing the Ant+ stick

I feel so inadequate as a triathlete not having a foam roller.

Warmup?  I strength train first.  lol  Actually, I find that nearly as effective as a true running warm up.  Before I strength train I use the foam roller and then of course I am actually warm since I head right from the gym to running.  But, I notice when I am just running if I do not do my running drills first before heading out I feel really off on my run.  I of course never noticed it until I started doing the drills but now I can really tell when I don't.  Not sure it is preventing any issues per say but I guess if it changes how I start my run it probably has a pretty good chance of doing that.

I had never used one until the days after IMMT when my calves were seized up solid.  My wife suggested I try it and it really seemed to help.

I have the stick and a roller.  I tend to react to things, then get lazy.  I.e. after an injury I get fanatical, and then slowly just stop doing the things that are good for me......     I need to do it more everyday, and agree that small movements over the affected spot with the roller is best.

Warmups?  um, well...  anyway.....I never said I was smart.

Thankfully, this wasn't a full blown pop of the calf that makes it hard to walk for a few days.  It's a 2-3 on  1-10 scale.  Rolled and self massage with Traumeel this a.m. and wearing a compression sleeve today.  Some residual pain, but praise be seems like it will be a 2-3 day thing.  I hope. 

As for weight, I am down about 9-10 pounds in the last 7 weeks, using myfitnesspal app.  Trying to get a solid sub 200 weight going.  Last night's calf issue sent me into a bit of a pity party and I ate a little more than usual.  Again, not so smart.

I end up starting/stopping GC but that's on Windows. If you can't get it to work, let me know I will try on my daugther's MAC.

You will slowly learn to love GC.

Did you guys get the following email from Athlinks today? Thought it was interesting that we are getting slower. Some FB comments said we are becoming a "Nation of participants" but I personally think that is a good thing, maybe more beginners taking up the sport? I don't get bothered that slower people are completing these events, it just makes my times seem faster LOL  

The past four years have seen an alarming decline in U.S. racing performances in distances across the board. 5K times are off by +1:17, that's a 4% decline! Average Ironman times have increased by +21:54, a nearly 3% decline. I ask you - How could we let this happen to this, the Swiftest of Nations?

Average Times for Leading
Race Distances from 2009-2012

I am deeply insulted and offended by all of these slow people cluttering up the races just to finish. The very receipt of a finishers medal by these people irrevocably harms the prestige and honor that has been traditionally associated with my own finisher's medals. I have been racing for 128 years and this sort of mentality would have NEVER been tolerated back in the day. It is this attitude of "participating" and "just finishing" that is ruining this sport that I use to love so much.

Oops, sorry. I thought I was logged into my slowtwitch account. Carry on as you were.

That is definitely not the angle I was coming from. I guess I was just wondering why Athlinks (a company that obviously relies on participation in running, tri, etc events) was kind of bagging on America for getting slower?

I do admit, as a parent and teacher, I have a slight problem with the "everyone is a winner" mentality. However, I do believe in the "everyone should be able to participate" idea. Someone's 17 hour Ironman might be just as difficult for them to achieve as someone's 10 hour IM. For most of us, it's about the personal challenge. 

*sigh* - Apparently my Powertap problem from yesterday is more than just dead batteries.  I replaced them tonight and still nothing.    Do PTs just die completely?

I tried a couple of computers to make sure it wasn't that.  Put my wife's PT on my bike and it works fine.  Looks like I may have to give them a call.

Gee, I'm sorry to hear that your wife's PT died....

The all black one looks pretty good.  The white and black one -- well, I can't get out of my head those old-fashioned pictures of Adam and Eve, with the strategically placed fig leaves.

LOL...Arend, how many miles did you have on your PT?  I've been wondering how long mine would last.  I've got close to 15k miles on it.