Momo's Group - (CLOSED) (Page 8)

Really not that big of a deal - no reason for an apology!

 Best of luck Eric!

Hey mildew33 - my experience/perspective:

Before I put a toe into the pool I asked the reception crew what were the most crowded/best times for lap swim.  They had great suggestions.  I also met briefly with the head of the pool and asked him about various protocol.  He had great advice on how things are done and offered tips on being a courteous swimmer .  He showed me a few examples of pool etiquette (ex. putting a kickboard in at the edge to alert a lap swimmer you want to talk to them - request you join the lane, etc.).  The lifeguards also offered helpful ideas.

Maybe you could share your question/experience with the staff there.  At a minimum they should appreciate your feedback and may have suggestions as it's probably not a unique situation at your pool.

Hope this helps.

Hey Ya'll

Thanks for the motivation. I have to admit I got a little overwhelmed that past two weeks.

My excuses:

1) The weather has been awful across the Southeast the past two weeks or so. We had about 5 straight days of rain then it turned off really cold (which the entire country dealt with that).

2) Got a new roof put on so, that took a couple of hours of possible training time.

3) Got some info at work, that if I wanted to start my Master's in the Fall and if I wanted work to pay for it....I need to be accepted by the school ASAP, to get some funding locked in for me. This means taking the GMAT ASAP. So, I start cracking the study books and I soon realize I don't remember hardly anyting from 9th grade Algebra/Trig and that is like 85% of the quanitative section of the test. I'm not shooting for a extremely high score and I'm almost assured of getting accepted to a distance program at a local college, but I have set a goal of scoring 650. 600 should be adequate for any state college program. My GPA was average in my major (3.2).  So, anyway, I working on a plan and trying to get a tutor to help me with the math section. I haven't set a date for the test yet, I'm waiting to hear back from a possible tutor. I hope to get two all day cram sessions in and then just go take it.

4) The gym/health club I was looking at joining, use to have a Stroke Work for Triathletes class. Well, I found out they didn't offer that anymore, so now I'm looking for the best value in a gym close to home.

I haven't been a great teammate lately, but that is going to change.

Eric

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Kristin

Mo this may be covered in your tri prep article, but do you (or any Team Mo members) have advice/articles on how you know if/when you're ready to attempt a tri? 

Thanks.

 Thank you so much, wisewilma! I will definitely let you all know how I make out on Sunday.

It all depends on your definition of warm...It is supposed to be 15 degrees out.

Diane,

I second what Mo said. During my first race(sprint) I had the same concerns. You will finish! - the real question is how long will it take you. I really had to concentrate on running my own race and remember that the goal was to finish. There were over 500 people in the race and it seemed like everyone is moving faster than me! I also did not realize how much my adrenaline would kick in, especially during the swim. Here are my lessons:

1) Keep telling yourself that you can and WILL finish at every stroke/peddle/step.

2) Run your own race - meaning your own pace.

3) Use a HR monitor and REALLY pay attention to keeping your HR below your threshold. I didn't know the meaning  of this until the run - I felt like crap and had to walk until my HR came down. This is where I underestimated the adrenaline rush - which probably added 10bpm and caused me to push too hard too early. I now know that I can't sustain things in a TRI if I let my HR get above 180 for very long - pacing is the key to success in Tri's. I use my HR monitor every chance I get.

4) Don't get intimidated by the swim, but do understand it feels like chaos. I learned to wait and avoid the crowd at the start and how to position myself. Its better to loose a few seconds at the start than to have my confidence dashed because you feel like you are loosing the arms/legs battle. As for training, try and do an OWS with your local tri club or group - it's a slightly different feeling when you are used to seeing the bottom of the pool. I have also incorporated sprint drills to my swim workouts. 5-6X25 yds/m(fast!). These can help simulate the increased HR you will have at the start - the next step is to remember #2 and slow down.

5) Find a good race. Some races have lots of first-timers, some have LOTS of people, etc. etc. If you have some choices find out which ones have lots of first-time triathletes. Indoor triathlons in the spring are a great start and highly recommended since they will boost your confidence.

6) Have Fun and don't forget to celebrate after you finish. It's the feeling after the race that keeps you coming back for another race!

Best of luck!

Thank you for the thoughtful reply.  I (we) really appreciate your willingness to share your experiences and advice.  You've given us a lot to consider:  keep a positive mental focus, know your own pace/limits and stick to it, get familiar with the situations of a race, research the race, and most of all - enjoy!