Wyld Hair On A Tangent Group -FULL (Page 8)

sesh - 2010-01-19 10:22 AM

Awesome about the new coach, Rochelle.  I like that you're in the "get to know" phase.  A pro that spoke to us said the relationship with your coach and them 1)understanding what your goals are and 2)Knowing how to get you there are the most important.  I think it really opened some peoples eyes in that Joe Triathlete shooting to COMPLETE their first IM might not need a seasoned pro as a coach.  A coach who has been there and done that in terms of dealing with families, work, etc. might be the way to go.  Simple time management and steering them in the right direction with training volumes might be what they need.  When Joe Triathlete is starting to get good and want's to get really fast, a new coach who knows more training specifics would be helpful.  Then, probably in your case, when wanting to find their peak, a true professional coach is the way to go.

vickaiser - 2010-01-19 6:19 PM I had my first DNF this weekend.  It was my goal marathon for this year, Houston. I'm still evaluating what happened and I'm anxious to post some thoughts here.  Funny how non-endurance athletes just don't understand.  I know my friends at work are just trying to be nice but whey they say, "Oh, 18 miles is just great.  GREAT job!!! At least you got 18 miles."  Well, that just burns me up.  Like that was my goal, to just start the race and see how far I could get.  Grrrr!!! But I know you guys will understand.

Let me start by telling you a few things about myself.  I'm a former morbidly obese couch potato. I maxed out at 375 before deciding to get my life back.  Long story short, starting in 2005, I started losing weight and exercising, namely running.  I had ankle surgery (not related to running), came back from that and dropped down to 295 before running my first marathon (Houston) in 2007.  The following year, I let a ginormous project at work eat me alive. I stopped running, started stress eating and put on almost ALL the weight I had gained.  I got up to 355 pounds.  So, back in Nov 2009, I began what HAS to be the last journey down the road to health and fitness.  I really believe this is my last chance.  Anyway, I got back to the starting line of the Houston marathon this last Sunday in the best shape of my life, weighing 275 pounds.

Now, the DNF.  Well, again, short story is I was running GREAT, right on my goal pace, and about mile 17 I started cramping a little bit. The lil' bit of cramping turned into a LOT of cramping in my calves, my thighs, my hammys, and my back.  Had I been closer to the finish, I would have gutted it out and been a hero but I decided there that being 8 miles from the finish was too much and I wasn't going to risk injury just for a race.  Live to race another day, right?

As near as I can figure (along with some of my most trusted and knowledgeable coaches and friends) is that my mind was incredibly well-prepared for the time goal that I had and I went out with the intention of DOING it.  But we question whether my training was such that I was just not ready for that.  I really believed I could get that time but I just wasn't ready physically.  If you look at my training log, it's pretty plain to see that my goal was not in line with my training.  Funny thing is I REALLY felt good running at that pace. I really thought with the taper and carb loading that I could do it.  So, I think that's why my legs seized up.  The body just said, THAT'S ENOUGH.

Don't fret for me because I learned so much from this race.  You see, if one term characterizes all my training and all my efforts up to just a week before the race, it's "FEAR". See, I'm BIG. And I'm slow. And the marathon I picked has a 6 hour time limit.  I think I trained this whole season in FEAR that I would not make it, that I would not get a medal, that I would not see all my friends after the race, that I would fail.  Just a week before the race, I started working with a couple folks that my dietitian referred me to who helped me understand the POWERFUL affect the mind can have on the body, even when you're injured. I started seeing these couple of guys because I had a nagging ache in my heel after my longest long run of 23 miles on the weekend of Christmas.  Anyway, they helped me to get POSITIVE.  I hung my head on words like "Fun" and "Challenge" and "Goal" and "Love" instead of "Can I?" and "Cutoff time" and "What if I don't...". I had a complete revelation when it comes to positive thinking.  Several times a day leading up to the race, I would visualize in my head a picture of the finish line and the absolute perfect ending to my race.  I saw it over and over in my head, right down to what the clock said.  I know this sounds like crazy talk but this really works.

Anyway, I never felt better starting a race and was running a perfect race.  I believed the whole way.  When I started to get a little tired, I would not allow a single negative thought to enter my mind. Goal, Challenge, Love, Fun, Finish.  Those were my words.  So, when the cramping came, and it was severe leg cramping, like I couldn't even walk, I was very surprised because at that point, everything I visualized in my head was coming true right under my feet.  I realized real quick after I almost did a face plant trying to stretch the cramp out that I was too far from the finish to gut it out and that I would live to fight another day.  I walked a half mile or so with cramps to the next aid station and called wifey poo to come get me.

So, I hope you can see that even though I DNF'd, it was an incredibly successful race for me.  It was the first long race where my mind was not the limiting factor.  My body was, for whatever reason. Now, the next steps are to get my body to where my mind thinks it should be instead of the other way around.

vickaiser - 2010-01-19 3:19 PM I had my first DNF this weekend.  It was my goal marathon for this year, Houston. I'm still evaluating what happened and I'm anxious to post some thoughts here.  Funny how non-endurance athletes just don't understand.  I know my friends at work are just trying to be nice but whey they say, "Oh, 18 miles is just great.  GREAT job!!! At least you got 18 miles."  Well, that just burns me up.  Like that was my goal, to just start the race and see how far I could get.  Grrrr!!! But I know you guys will understand.

Let me start by telling you a few things about myself.  I'm a former morbidly obese couch potato. I maxed out at 375 before deciding to get my life back.  Long story short, starting in 2005, I started losing weight and exercising, namely running.  I had ankle surgery (not related to running), came back from that and dropped down to 295 before running my first marathon (Houston) in 2007.  The following year, I let a ginormous project at work eat me alive. I stopped running, started stress eating and put on almost ALL the weight I had gained.  I got up to 355 pounds.  So, back in Nov 2009, I began what HAS to be the last journey down the road to health and fitness.  I really believe this is my last chance.  Anyway, I got back to the starting line of the Houston marathon this last Sunday in the best shape of my life, weighing 275 pounds.

Now, the DNF.  Well, again, short story is I was running GREAT, right on my goal pace, and about mile 17 I started cramping a little bit. The lil' bit of cramping turned into a LOT of cramping in my calves, my thighs, my hammys, and my back.  Had I been closer to the finish, I would have gutted it out and been a hero but I decided there that being 8 miles from the finish was too much and I wasn't going to risk injury just for a race.  Live to race another day, right?

As near as I can figure (along with some of my most trusted and knowledgeable coaches and friends) is that my mind was incredibly well-prepared for the time goal that I had and I went out with the intention of DOING it.  But we question whether my training was such that I was just not ready for that.  I really believed I could get that time but I just wasn't ready physically.  If you look at my training log, it's pretty plain to see that my goal was not in line with my training.  Funny thing is I REALLY felt good running at that pace. I really thought with the taper and carb loading that I could do it.  So, I think that's why my legs seized up.  The body just said, THAT'S ENOUGH.

Don't fret for me because I learned so much from this race.  You see, if one term characterizes all my training and all my efforts up to just a week before the race, it's "FEAR". See, I'm BIG. And I'm slow. And the marathon I picked has a 6 hour time limit.  I think I trained this whole season in FEAR that I would not make it, that I would not get a medal, that I would not see all my friends after the race, that I would fail.  Just a week before the race, I started working with a couple folks that my dietitian referred me to who helped me understand the POWERFUL affect the mind can have on the body, even when you're injured. I started seeing these couple of guys because I had a nagging ache in my heel after my longest long run of 23 miles on the weekend of Christmas.  Anyway, they helped me to get POSITIVE.  I hung my head on words like "Fun" and "Challenge" and "Goal" and "Love" instead of "Can I?" and "Cutoff time" and "What if I don't...". I had a complete revelation when it comes to positive thinking.  Several times a day leading up to the race, I would visualize in my head a picture of the finish line and the absolute perfect ending to my race.  I saw it over and over in my head, right down to what the clock said.  I know this sounds like crazy talk but this really works.

Anyway, I never felt better starting a race and was running a perfect race.  I believed the whole way.  When I started to get a little tired, I would not allow a single negative thought to enter my mind. Goal, Challenge, Love, Fun, Finish.  Those were my words.  So, when the cramping came, and it was severe leg cramping, like I couldn't even walk, I was very surprised because at that point, everything I visualized in my head was coming true right under my feet.  I realized real quick after I almost did a face plant trying to stretch the cramp out that I was too far from the finish to gut it out and that I would live to fight another day.  I walked a half mile or so with cramps to the next aid station and called wifey poo to come get me.

So, I hope you can see that even though I DNF'd, it was an incredibly successful race for me.  It was the first long race where my mind was not the limiting factor.  My body was, for whatever reason. Now, the next steps are to get my body to where my mind thinks it should be instead of the other way around.

wyldhair - 2010-01-19 7:20 PM

Vick,
All I want to know is have you chosen your next race? 
You had a great goal and it didn't happen...this time.  Goals are not all about achieving them the first time around, it about working cowards them and trying again if you don't make it the first time.  I will remember your story long after I forget about the person that set a goal low enough that they got the first time with out any strife and heart ache.  And if it makes you feel any better, Deena Kastor was in the best shape of her life when she DNF'd at mile 3 in the Beijing Games. 

This is a fantastic write up.  Have you considered posting it as an article on BeginnerTriathlete.com?

YouYou - 2010-01-18 6:27 PM

 

Hi Andrew,

Great bike - and great deal. It has what you want: steep seat angle, Ultregra rear derailleur, the 105er front derailleur works absolutely fine, too.

I have as well the Shimano 550 on my bike - they are relativley heavy, but sturdy. And one needs sturdy wheels in Montreal, where the streets are 3rd world standard.

Before buying new wheels, try to find some good testa - something which I feel is lacking in US magazines. There is a lot of "I rode them and they feel pretty stiff and fast" talk, but not a lot of numbers.

I am sure that a good cyclist can feel the differences between wheelsets but as nowdays you can easily spend as much money on you wheels as on your biek, it would be great to have some real tests.

I am still reading a German bike magazine where they try to put things into perspective, e.g. by saying if you bike at 40km/h on a 40 k time trail, the wheelset XYZ will save you 23 seconds.

Then, it is up to you to decide if you want to spend 1500 bucks to save 23 seconds.

 

Havindg said all of that, I have to admit that wheels are just SOOOO sexy :-)))))

 

Take care

YouYou

wyldhair - 2010-01-19 6:52 PM

I think you got a great deal.  Have you taken it out for a ride yet? 

vickaiser - 2010-01-19 5:19 PM I had my first DNF this weekend.  It was my goal marathon for this year, Houston. I'm still evaluating what happened and I'm anxious to post some thoughts here.  Funny how non-endurance athletes just don't understand.  I know my friends at work are just trying to be nice but whey they say, "Oh, 18 miles is just great.  GREAT job!!! At least you got 18 miles."  Well, that just burns me up.  Like that was my goal, to just start the race and see how far I could get.  Grrrr!!! But I know you guys will understand.

Let me start by telling you a few things about myself.  I'm a former morbidly obese couch potato. I maxed out at 375 before deciding to get my life back.  Long story short, starting in 2005, I started losing weight and exercising, namely running.  I had ankle surgery (not related to running), came back from that and dropped down to 295 before running my first marathon (Houston) in 2007.  The following year, I let a ginormous project at work eat me alive. I stopped running, started stress eating and put on almost ALL the weight I had gained.  I got up to 355 pounds.  So, back in Nov 2009, I began what HAS to be the last journey down the road to health and fitness.  I really believe this is my last chance.  Anyway, I got back to the starting line of the Houston marathon this last Sunday in the best shape of my life, weighing 275 pounds.

Now, the DNF.  Well, again, short story is I was running GREAT, right on my goal pace, and about mile 17 I started cramping a little bit. The lil' bit of cramping turned into a LOT of cramping in my calves, my thighs, my hammys, and my back.  Had I been closer to the finish, I would have gutted it out and been a hero but I decided there that being 8 miles from the finish was too much and I wasn't going to risk injury just for a race.  Live to race another day, right?

As near as I can figure (along with some of my most trusted and knowledgeable coaches and friends) is that my mind was incredibly well-prepared for the time goal that I had and I went out with the intention of DOING it.  But we question whether my training was such that I was just not ready for that.  I really believed I could get that time but I just wasn't ready physically.  If you look at my training log, it's pretty plain to see that my goal was not in line with my training.  Funny thing is I REALLY felt good running at that pace. I really thought with the taper and carb loading that I could do it.  So, I think that's why my legs seized up.  The body just said, THAT'S ENOUGH.

Don't fret for me because I learned so much from this race.  You see, if one term characterizes all my training and all my efforts up to just a week before the race, it's "FEAR". See, I'm BIG. And I'm slow. And the marathon I picked has a 6 hour time limit.  I think I trained this whole season in FEAR that I would not make it, that I would not get a medal, that I would not see all my friends after the race, that I would fail.  Just a week before the race, I started working with a couple folks that my dietitian referred me to who helped me understand the POWERFUL affect the mind can have on the body, even when you're injured. I started seeing these couple of guys because I had a nagging ache in my heel after my longest long run of 23 miles on the weekend of Christmas.  Anyway, they helped me to get POSITIVE.  I hung my head on words like "Fun" and "Challenge" and "Goal" and "Love" instead of "Can I?" and "Cutoff time" and "What if I don't...". I had a complete revelation when it comes to positive thinking.  Several times a day leading up to the race, I would visualize in my head a picture of the finish line and the absolute perfect ending to my race.  I saw it over and over in my head, right down to what the clock said.  I know this sounds like crazy talk but this really works.

Anyway, I never felt better starting a race and was running a perfect race.  I believed the whole way.  When I started to get a little tired, I would not allow a single negative thought to enter my mind. Goal, Challenge, Love, Fun, Finish.  Those were my words.  So, when the cramping came, and it was severe leg cramping, like I couldn't even walk, I was very surprised because at that point, everything I visualized in my head was coming true right under my feet.  I realized real quick after I almost did a face plant trying to stretch the cramp out that I was too far from the finish to gut it out and that I would live to fight another day.  I walked a half mile or so with cramps to the next aid station and called wifey poo to come get me.

So, I hope you can see that even though I DNF'd, it was an incredibly successful race for me.  It was the first long race where my mind was not the limiting factor.  My body was, for whatever reason. Now, the next steps are to get my body to where my mind thinks it should be instead of the other way around.

wyldhair - 2010-01-19 7:20 PM

Vick,
All I want to know is have you chosen your next race? 
You had a great goal and it didn't happen...this time.  Goals are not all about achieving them the first time around, it about working cowards them and trying again if you don't make it the first time.  I will remember your story long after I forget about the person that set a goal low enough that they got the first time with out any strife and heart ache.  And if it makes you feel any better, Deena Kastor was in the best shape of her life when she DNF'd at mile 3 in the Beijing Games. 

This is a fantastic write up.  Have you considered posting it as an article on BeginnerTriathlete.com?

spyguy7540 - 2010-01-19 7:43 PM


YouYou is right,

        Very inspirational man.

               I definately see whyyour dissapointed. Sometimes our minds get ahead of ourselves. I know where you are coming from. 14 months ago I was 319 lbs and had never even considered running. Even though the DNF stings a bit,The truth is that the starting line is just as important as the finish sometimes. You stared 26 miles in the face and didn't waiver. You didnt put limits on yourself. And that my friend is how you reach your goals

vickaiser - 2010-01-19 5:25 PM

Thanks, Rochelle. How would I go about posting an article.  I'd have to clean it up a bit.  It was really just flow of consciousness stuff.

YouYou - 2010-01-19 8:10 PM

Hi all,

Do you know BONKTOWN?

http://www.bonktown.com

They often have very good deals. You can install an Add-On, which will display the current deal, in your browser.

Living in Canada, it's a bit less interesting as the shipping charges are rather high. Just bought nevertheless a nice Craft Base layer for half the price:

http://tinyurl.com/yh6edxb

 

Take care

YouYou

sesh - 2010-01-19 9:24 PM

I've known it since it was called chainlove   Then chainlove become pretty much an exclusively mountain biking site.  Got my crankset from there, actually.  A few jackets, too.

 

Lots of good stuff that just finished reading.  I guess I'm on a different schedule than everybody else because it seems like there is a post explosion between the time when I get off work and when I go to bed.

vickaiser - 2010-01-19 5:19 PM I had my first DNF this weekend.  It was my goal marathon for this year, Houston. I'm still evaluating what happened and I'm anxious to post some thoughts here.  Funny how non-endurance athletes just don't understand.  I know my friends at work are just trying to be nice but whey they say, "Oh, 18 miles is just great.  GREAT job!!! At least you got 18 miles."  Well, that just burns me up.  Like that was my goal, to just start the race and see how far I could get.  Grrrr!!! But I know you guys will understand.

Let me start by telling you a few things about myself.  I'm a former morbidly obese couch potato. I maxed out at 375 before deciding to get my life back.  Long story short, starting in 2005, I started losing weight and exercising, namely running.  I had ankle surgery (not related to running), came back from that and dropped down to 295 before running my first marathon (Houston) in 2007.  The following year, I let a ginormous project at work eat me alive. I stopped running, started stress eating and put on almost ALL the weight I had gained.  I got up to 355 pounds.  So, back in Nov 2009, I began what HAS to be the last journey down the road to health and fitness.  I really believe this is my last chance.  Anyway, I got back to the starting line of the Houston marathon this last Sunday in the best shape of my life, weighing 275 pounds.

Now, the DNF.  Well, again, short story is I was running GREAT, right on my goal pace, and about mile 17 I started cramping a little bit. The lil' bit of cramping turned into a LOT of cramping in my calves, my thighs, my hammys, and my back.  Had I been closer to the finish, I would have gutted it out and been a hero but I decided there that being 8 miles from the finish was too much and I wasn't going to risk injury just for a race.  Live to race another day, right?

As near as I can figure (along with some of my most trusted and knowledgeable coaches and friends) is that my mind was incredibly well-prepared for the time goal that I had and I went out with the intention of DOING it.  But we question whether my training was such that I was just not ready for that.  I really believed I could get that time but I just wasn't ready physically.  If you look at my training log, it's pretty plain to see that my goal was not in line with my training.  Funny thing is I REALLY felt good running at that pace. I really thought with the taper and carb loading that I could do it.  So, I think that's why my legs seized up.  The body just said, THAT'S ENOUGH.

Don't fret for me because I learned so much from this race.  You see, if one term characterizes all my training and all my efforts up to just a week before the race, it's "FEAR". See, I'm BIG. And I'm slow. And the marathon I picked has a 6 hour time limit.  I think I trained this whole season in FEAR that I would not make it, that I would not get a medal, that I would not see all my friends after the race, that I would fail.  Just a week before the race, I started working with a couple folks that my dietitian referred me to who helped me understand the POWERFUL affect the mind can have on the body, even when you're injured. I started seeing these couple of guys because I had a nagging ache in my heel after my longest long run of 23 miles on the weekend of Christmas.  Anyway, they helped me to get POSITIVE.  I hung my head on words like "Fun" and "Challenge" and "Goal" and "Love" instead of "Can I?" and "Cutoff time" and "What if I don't...". I had a complete revelation when it comes to positive thinking.  Several times a day leading up to the race, I would visualize in my head a picture of the finish line and the absolute perfect ending to my race.  I saw it over and over in my head, right down to what the clock said.  I know this sounds like crazy talk but this really works.

Anyway, I never felt better starting a race and was running a perfect race.  I believed the whole way.  When I started to get a little tired, I would not allow a single negative thought to enter my mind. Goal, Challenge, Love, Fun, Finish.  Those were my words.  So, when the cramping came, and it was severe leg cramping, like I couldn't even walk, I was very surprised because at that point, everything I visualized in my head was coming true right under my feet.  I realized real quick after I almost did a face plant trying to stretch the cramp out that I was too far from the finish to gut it out and that I would live to fight another day.  I walked a half mile or so with cramps to the next aid station and called wifey poo to come get me.

So, I hope you can see that even though I DNF'd, it was an incredibly successful race for me.  It was the first long race where my mind was not the limiting factor.  My body was, for whatever reason. Now, the next steps are to get my body to where my mind thinks it should be instead of the other way around.

vickaiser - 2010-01-19 7:47 PM

Oh, and I'm seriously thinking about resetting and doing Mardi Gras Feb 28. I'm trying to switch gears and get into my tri training but my coach has modified my training plan to include a marathon reset for Mardi Gras.  It's not as much running as I'd do running only but hey, I'm in "marathon" shape now.  IMHO, I should be able to maintain my running, add some GREAT cross training with the pool and the bike and be in even better shape than now.

wyldhair - 2010-01-19 7:02 PM

You are a wise man.  I could not say that any better.  If you don't mind.  I may want to quote you in an article on how to choose a coach later this year.

R

sesh - 2010-01-20 9:00 AM

Ok... so plantar fasciitis.

I deal with it in my left foot.  When it was bad a few years back, the arch of my foot was unbearable to the point of not being able to run at all.  Now, the pain is in my heel.  Doesn't hurt when I run, or maybe I just don't pay attention to it.  However, walking around in every day life, the pain is there.  I'm doing a few things that are starting to keep the pain at a dull annoyance instead of a sharp hindrance.  These things here actually:  LINK

Anybody deal with this?  Got any thing that works?  Maybe I can take this from annoying to not noticeable. 

sesh - 2010-01-21 6:26 AM

Not even two weeks ago, the windchill here was 11F, and I was doing my best not to freeze to death after a half marathon.  This morning, it's 65F with 95% humidity and I can't stop sweating after a 3 mile run.

Gotta love it.

karen26.2 - 2010-01-21 8:32 PM

Same thing here except tonight when I left work all of a sudden it was back down to 39!  Not the teens or single digits we were seeing recently, but from 60 to 39 in one day was a shock.

You must have miserable summers like we do in Atlanta.  I'm dreading those days for training.  I'd take the cold cold weather over heat and humidity any day.

sesh - 2010-01-22 8:20 AM

Yeah, I keep reminding myself that I'll be longing for days like this when it's mid August.  High 90s and 100% humidity are absolute hell to train in.  A three mile run becomes just as draining as a 10 miler was in December.

It was back in the mid 40s and very dry this morning.  The weather must have heard all my whining and felt sorry for me