Gary's Mentor Group - Re-OPENED for Training (Page 80)

Sprint Tri was OK.  Around 1:19 for 750/20k/5k. 

 I got totally off course on the swim and gave away 2+ minutes.  It was a clockwise trapezoid beach start and I made the last turn obtuse instead of acute and headed about 75 yds off course.  Once I picked up my head, I saw nobody around me and cursed then headed back to the finish.

Bike was pretty good.  Cramped in T2 and started out slow on the run but picked it up.  3rd in my AG, so not too bad, but 5 min behind my good friend who was 2nd.

RR to come tonight.

Left - 3rd in AG, very nice!  Congrats!  Looking forward to RR

Hey all!

Well HIM plan started last night with a hot and humid 4 miler.  Today, funny enough, is an SRD.  One of my goals for this HIM is to follow the plan closer and really work the speed stuff.  Plus, plan on riding the course a couple of times.  Funny, I swapped to my training wheels and definitely feel the difference.  Want to add some speed on the bike?  Latex tubes, some LRR tires, and a wheelbuilder cover do make a difference.  I really want to get an aero helmet now.  Aero, at any speed, does make a difference.

Walked outside yesterday afternoon to cut the grass and said ... it's too hot.  Looked over at the barn and thought I've not been Mtn Biking in a while - I think I'll do that.  So I loaded her up and rode for about an hour in 90* temps and hi-humidity.  Had plenty of water with the Camel Pack, but I was soooo hot that my sweat was sweatin'.  Geez ,,, what was I thinking - and wound up cutting the grass anyway when I got home.

Ran an easy paced 3.3 miles on the T-mill at the gym tonight ... run 4 - walk 1.  Trying really hard to go slower and longer. 

First light run since the calf issue last week. 1.3 miles at about 13 min/mile pace. Calf felt good. Try a longer run on Thursday and bike again tomorrow.

Bikes direct notified me today that they are all out of the bike I ordered, offered me $50. off another, so I picked out another bike for $100. more/ net $50. to me. Hopefully they will have this one in stock. The Mercier Galaxy and it is black, I like it better. Fingers crossed.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy_al_xi.htm#specs

Still waiting for Race Reports from last weekend. Take care.

excelent work, leftrunner, the result I can only dream of by now.

Got in a 30 mile ride last evening.  Was supposed to be a group ride, but I got there late and was scrambling to get my act together while the pre-ride briefing was going on.  The group left on time and had it not been for a red light, I'd have never seen the group.  Anyway, finally caught up to a couple of stragglers, but never caught the group ... what huge difference it makes to ride alone vs. riding with a group .... pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal vs pedal, pedal-coast, pedal pedal coast.

Averaged ~16m pace vs last weeks ride of 17m.

Hey all!

Started the next HIM program this week.  Light stuff so far but definitely going to push it.  Saw there was a TDF challenge going on in the forums which I am going to participate.  Also, Velo usually has a TDF challeng where you can win prizes.  Last year I did this and got free tires and tubes.  If there is enough interest I will pay the fee to create a team for us.  Only requirement is that you need to have a garmin, powertap, etc to upload rides (they may have changed that this year).  Let me know if you are interested. 

I didn't die!  But I came close a few times.  

If anyone else is a serious MTB'er, you'll understand why I fell in love with a Yeti 575 this past week.

I'll catch up tomorrow, hope everyone has been well!

Mini-brick this morning, 864 yrds in the neighbors pool then 10.6 miles on MTB, felt pretty good. Planning on my first long run since the calf issue tomorrow morning. Hot, Hot, Hot in mid michigan, 75 this morning at 6: am expecting mid 90's today with lots of humidity.

Heading to Lake Michigan Sunday morning for practice with the swim and bike course for my tri on the 8th. Expecting road bike to arrive Tuesday, the wife thinks I'm nuts not to use it for the race, so I may use it ... then again, I might be nuts .

Have a great weekend everyone.

Hey all!

Like DW, up early, 79 degrees 75% humidity at 6:30 for a short run.  Going to be a tough summer.  Swam and rode yesterday with a swim at lunch today and a 30 mile ride tomorrow.

Chris - glad you survived!

DW - Any chance you can get a fitting in next week after the bike arrives.  A couple of shakeout rides and a fitting and I say ride it in the race. 

Looking at replacing the wetsuit, I have a xterra vortex but would like a better one with a little more flexibility in the arms but will probably wait until Sept to buy it as my next possible wetsuit legal race won't be until Oct.

I'm in!!!

RR done. 

Who's racing this weekend?

Tried to go out for a quick run this AM before work and my left calf was really bugging me.  I turned around after about 100 yds and got ready for work.

This is the calf/achilles/foot that was bugging me after the modified HIM last summer and I cancelled a fall Mary for it.  Felt like it was pretty good and held up OK through the spring HIM training.  I fear that I did not recover long enough from the HIM and that pushing it in last weekends Sprint messed it up.  I am going on vaca on a houseboat on the Mississippi River in Iowa this week.  Planning on no running or riding.  Maybe get in some mininmal OWS time.  I have a Sprint for which I registered on 7/8, but if I am still hurting I will skip it.  I really want to start a 15 week Marathon training program on 7/9, so I am determined to heal up for that.  I still suck at admitting injury and backing off for a long enough time to really heal.

Hope everyone is doing well.  Most of the country is a scorcher so remember to hydrate more than you think.

Left - good luck on the injury, there are very few that are good at giving themselves enough time to heal (Sounds like Chris Lieto is in the same mix).

All - Time to go to our google calendar and update it with your races.  I just added one race for myself.  If you don't have access them PM me your email address.

Bring it on!!!

Go Omega Pharma Quickstep/RadioShack Nissan!  Dang long name but will win!

Plan called for a 4.7 mile run, saw Shellys post and added 10 miles on the bike before running.  Good brick.  Off today so just going to try to get some house projects finished.

Hey all!

One thing I wanted to bring up which is tires and tubes (okay technically two things).  Thru various purchases I ended up with two rear wheels (actually three) and two front wheels.  For training the rear is a mavic with a PT laced and an ALX330 with a Kenda Kaliente on the front and a cheap tire on the back (replacing with a Kenda soon).  For racing I have two ALX330's with Vittoria tires with the rear having a wheelbuilder wheelcover.  Both have Latex tubes.

The difference in performance is almost night and day between the two sets.  Riding wise I easily see 1-1.8mph difference between the two.  I know Mike was trying out some lightweight tubes and hope he can chime in.

What you all should consider is for racing at a minimum I would consider latex tubes and a wheelcover.  Wheelcover is about $100 and does make a difference.  Latex tubes are about $15 each.  The longer the race the more you need to check into these types of things.  One note, latex tubes don't hold air as well and you will be pumping them up each ride.  I eventually have relegated them to racing only because of this.

Great David ... you will really enjoy riding this on the road.  Nothing like feeling the wind in your face, smooth pedal turns, SPEED and the feel of a lighter bike.  Enjoy!!!

Hey all ... had my first crash on 'Ruby' this morning.  Cruising along at ~16mph, a lound baaaang, on the front tire and as I slowed the front tire came off the rim ,,, the rim skidded and down I went.  Wound up falling in some pretty thick grass, so no damage was done to 'Ruby' or me.  My biggest fear is doing this at ~40mph, so I'm headed to the bike shop for some Gator Skins and have these mount the tire, tubes, etc.  And the Karma was good too, as we'd just stopped at some kids doing a sidewalk lemonaide stand, bought some and gave them a nice tip and rode off with big grins on both our faces.

Hope all had an enjoyable holiday yesterday ... here's a shot of how ours ended up.  We just finished up eating some really good grilled flank steak, veggies, and such and the tide had just about rolled in so we loaded up the boat and headed back

dw - Sweet!!  let us know how she rides.

Dorm - wow, sorry to hear about the crash but glad the bike (and you ) are okay.  No rim damage?  That is a pretty spectacular way to go.

Went tubing down the river yesterday.  Four hours and have the sunburn to prove it.  Lots of fun but forgot to put a 2nd coat of suntan lotion on my legs.  Put a shirt on and resprayed my face, back, etc.  Been riding everyday but just not a  lot of miles.  Swam today and two laps were supposed to be all out 100's (separated by 60 seconds rest).  While definite improvement not quite the speed I was looking for.  Swimming this week has taken a back seat to time off but hopefully back at it next week.