brick94513-GoGoGo Mentor Group - Closed For Now! (Page 80)

brick94513 - 2010-07-25 4:08 PM

That's too bad.  While its hard not to do, don't beat yourself up over it.  Instead, use it as motivation to come back stronger for your next race.  On a positive note, you now have your first triathlon under your belt.

Remember, we all have those days.  God knows I have had my share this year.  

croixfan - 2010-07-25 7:39 PM



Thanks for the encouragement.  Plan to do exactly as you suggest -- use it as a base to build.  It was really rough after the swim -- was absolutely exhausted, cramping, and sick to my stomach from swallowing 1/2 the lake.  Took the bike ride really easy and then just ran my plan on the run -- which actually went quite well.  I'll need to really, really work on the swim.  Probably a good idea to stay in events in the pool for the rest of this year and get my "fins and gills" over the winter.

Finished around 10:00AM and it was 3PM before I felt "normal" / till 5PM until my kidneys worked again.  Like you said, first one under the belt!

brick94513 - 2010-07-25 6:45 AM

What made you pick Texas?

If I'm correct, this is a new venue added to the 2011 Ironman series.  I'm curious why they chose the Houston suburbs for the event though.  I would think something near Austin would be much more appealing to competitors.

Congrats on stepping up!  I'm delaying my Ironman commitment until 2012.  It will be my 40th birthday present to myself.  I'm planning on preparing with four HIMs in 2011 (Oceanside, Wildflower, Vineman, ????).

brick94513 - 2010-07-24 5:21 PM

How about Kansas 70.3?  I have no idea about the scenery, but how many hills can there be in Kansas?

croixfan - 2010-07-24 2:01 PM

Quick update on the race -- full report to follow.  Crash and burn.  Almost 1/2 hour on the swim as I had to stop repeatedly.  Was totally gassed on the rest of the race and turned in a time about 1:50.  By the run was feeling better / only took be 30 minutes.  Very frustrating, but I did gut it out!

Son turned in 1:14 which was solid.

Driving back home now....

kickitinok - 2010-07-25 6:01 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, but it's in the middle of June. It can be well into the 90's by that time of year.

I'm looking for a venue that has mild weather - where it never or rarely reaches 90 degrees during the summer. Do you guys think Vineman would be good? Or is it full of hills? 

croixfan - 2010-07-24 2:01 PM Quick update on the race -- full report to follow.  Crash and burn.  Almost 1/2 hour on the swim as I had to stop repeatedly.  Was totally gassed on the rest of the race and turned in a time about 1:50.  By the run was feeling better / only took be 30 minutes.  Very frustrating, but I did gut it out!

Son turned in 1:14 which was solid.  Driving back home now....

kickitinok - 2010-07-25 6:05 PMIf it makes you feel any better, that's around my time for a sprint. I am the world's *slowest* runner. Now that you've got this one under your belt, you won't be as nervous and you'll enjoy yourself a lot more during the next one.  

croixfan - 2010-07-25 6:18 PM

Trina / Brian -- Appreciate the encouragement.  I'll be looking tonight / tomorrow for another race in a few weeks.  Will keep this one "in the pool" to compensate for my swim limitations, but I'm pissed and want to turn in a positive result.

Race report is now finished:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/races-edit.asp?raceid=146804

While the result was abysmal, there was some real positive in the effort.  Would have been very easy to pack it in.  Felt like I kept my head, stayed within my limits, and actually finished pretty darn strong on the run.

norcal_SAHD - 2010-07-25 9:26 PM I got today's race report up, http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=219102&posts=1&start=1

In short, super cool race, shorter than advertised swim (or I suddenly became a really good swimmer!   ), and I actually broke 8 minutes/mile in a race!!  Didn't think so at the time, but was stoked to see the results.  Unless the run was short too...

norcal_SAHD - 2010-07-25 9:26 PM

I got today's race report up, http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=219102&posts=1&start=1

In short, super cool race, shorter than advertised swim (or I suddenly became a really good swimmer!   ), and I actually broke 8 minutes/mile in a race!!  Didn't think so at the time, but was stoked to see the results.  Unless the run was short too...

kickitinok - 2010-07-25 6:01 PM

I'm looking for a venue that has mild weather - where it never or rarely reaches 90 degrees during the summer. Do you guys think Vineman would be good? Or is it full of hills? 

Meulen - 2010-07-25 5:52 PM

Curt I'm sorry the race didn't go how you wanted it too. I know it's disappointing when you know the best didn't come out of you on any given day. Don't get down about it. Don't think for a minute you don't deserve to be out there. It's easy to crawl back into the gym hole and not compete after less than satisfactory results. Don't do it. All the gym time in the world can't prepare you for arace like another race can. Trying out into to OW and getting some experience sighting and getting the OW feel is crucial in the swim. I'm convinced of this in my short time experience. Don't be afraid to fail and learn. You'll find you really didn't fail at all. And the next time you go out it will be that much better.

norcal_SAHD - 2010-07-25 7:26 PM I got today's race report up, http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=219102&posts=1&start=1

In short, super cool race, shorter than advertised swim (or I suddenly became a really good swimmer!   ), and I actually broke 8 minutes/mile in a race!!  Didn't think so at the time, but was stoked to see the results.  Unless the run was short too...

brick94513 - 2010-07-26 12:07 PM Curt:

I read just finished ready your race report.  I would like to focus on the swim since this is where you feel you had the most trouble. 

You made the comment that you aren't physically strong enough to make the swim.  I would disagree with this statement.  Swimming is about technique, not physical prowess.  You just need more time working on drills, sighting, and more exposure to open water swimming.  Triathlon swimming is about comfort, finding your tempo, and playing your own game despite the chaos around you.

Couple questions for you:

Do you think you went out harder (faster tempo) than you had been practicing in the pool?  I find this to be a hard tendency to overcome due to the excitement of the race.

Did you feel like you couldn't catch your breath?  This can result from the over exertion of the faster tempo or anxiety.  I can vividly remember my first OWS.  I had been exposed to the open water pretty much my whole life and still panicked pretty bad.  It was a feeling of claustraphobia from not being able to see in the water, being hit by others, not being able to get clean breaths, and going out to quick.  It takes time to overcome.  I still get anxious before the swim and still don't feel comfortable sprinting into the water from the shore.

Do you think you could of recovered better if you chose to breast stoke instead of using the backstroke?  Just curious here.  My thinking is with the breast stroke you could of got your head out of the water higher and been able to breath easier.  Not to mention, being able to see where you were going.

Now, get back out there!

brick94513 - 2010-07-26 10:13 AM
Off topic... Are you going to do the Marin Triathlon on 10/31?  This looks like a pretty fun Olympic distance race.

norcal_SAHD - 2010-07-26 6:59 PM

I wanted to, but it's too pricey for me at $250!  I've pretty much decided to do the TBF 50 miler the week before instead ($1/mile is much more reasonable!).  Assuming I can get my bike training up, that is...  I've got a basic plan, I'll evaluate in 5-6 weeks and see if I'm on track.

croixfan - 2010-07-26 2:22 PM

Likely approach will be 6 days a week with 3 days focusing on the 1000m workouts and/or stamina drills.  Other 3 days will be purely on form.

brick94513 - 2010-07-26 9:47 PM

Let me throw my two cents in here.  I would like to see you ditch the 1000 LDS for right now.  I think your time can be utilized in better ways.  The problem with mainly focusing on the LDS is fatigue.  As you fatigure, form will suffer, and then you are reinforcing bad habits to just suffer through the set.  Instead, I would suggest:

WU: something like 100 pull, backstroke, breast, whatever to loosen up a bit.
DR: roughly 30 percent of your main set.  If you feel like your sinking, I think you need to focus on balance drills: one arm, catch, shark fin, pull sets, side kick, etc.
MS: intervals or ladder.  If the 1000 is your target, I would rather see you do a 10 x 100 than the 1000.  Set your interval to give you about 15-20 seconds rest at the wall.  For example, if you can do a hundred in 2:40, then set the interval at 10 x 100 @ 3'.  A ladder is where you work up and down with a fixed rest period.  50-100-150-200-150-100-50.
CD: same as warm up.  Something you can do light to let your HR come down.

Hope that helps.

croixfan - 2010-07-27 6:00 AM



Thanks!  I'll follow your suggestion this evening.

Quick question -- what's "catch"?  Familiar with the remainder of the drills.