Gary's Mentor Group - Re-OPENED for Training (Page 81)

First road race yesterday (27mi) averaged 18mph. Got a bit intimidated during the first few miles  by the large groups if cyclists...managed to draft the faster groups for a few miles before falling off

Gary -  wish I could participate in the Challenge but no Garmin here

Hey all ... got in a nice easy paced 2hr ride this morning ... Gary while I was out riding, I'll bet you were dreaming about riding with the peloton

I did have 5 or 6 grasshopper - Japanese beetles fly into me this morning and thought to remind all as a safety tip to always wear glasses (helmet too of course) while riding.  If one of those had hit me in the eye while at speed, I was going down!

Hope all have a good weekend ... I'm off to the honey dooo list ...

Oufly - congrats on the road race.  I really would like to do one but only have a tri bike.

Dorm - nope I was up early getting some miles in but ride was cut short.  Looks like DW got food poisoning and was pretty sick overnight.  Did a quick ride but wanted to be home in case I had to take her to the ER.  She is feeling better now and will go for a longer ride this afternoon.

BTW, with the bugs in south Louisiana I never ride without glasses.  Also, my new helmet has netting in it to keep the bugs out.  I will never buy another helmet that does not have netting.  Something about the thought of having a bug fly into your helmet and crawl around in your hair just throws me off.

During the summer months I sometimes also ride with gloves.  A couple of years ago I had a wasp hit my hand and sting me.  Don't want a repeat.

Boy, I am full of happy thoughts aren't I?

Hey all!

DW - congrats!!! Looking forward to the RR!

31 miles on the bike yesterday  and 7 mile run this morning.  Planning on some more bike miles today.   DS was off to see his grandmother but his flight was delayed several times.  DW spent half the day at the airport with him yesterday.  DD is off with a friend to the movies so for a few hours we are without kids!  We are getting daily thunderstorms  in the afternoon and we have had plenty of rain.  Anyone wants some?

Great job David ... 10 minutes is a huge improvement.  Keep it going !!

It is still smokin hot here in NC ... 103* this afternoon so I decided to swim.  Got in an easy 1600m - not fast, but steady.  TDF challenge aside there's still racing to do so I'm trying to keep up with the other 2 sports ;]. 

My next event is in 3-weeks and involves my first OW swim, so I'm a bit nervous about this one.  It's a 750m triangle and I'm not so concerned about the distance as much as just the unknown with competing in an OW event.  It will be warm enough such that wetsuits are not required.  Any tips for planning and/or training are much appreciated.

DW was it Grand Haven?  How were the waves?   Two of my friends placed 3rd overall (male and female).  THey really annoy me. 

I did InterRockin up in Interlochen, mostly for fear of Lake Michigan. 

Great Job!! 10 minutes in 1 year is huge.  Congrats!

Did a Sprint yesterday.  500/20k/5k

THis was the 4th anniversary of my first run since college in 2008 and was the site of my first Tri in 2009.  I got 1:26 then, 1:14 now.

Swim was slow, but I tracked well.  Water was 80, so not wetsuit legal.  Biked at 20.7 mph and 5k in 21:30.  Overall very happy with my effort.  Must learn to swim faster and really hammer on the bike.  No cramped up calves after T2!!!

Yes, GH. There was no waves, but was a little current tugging at us. Water was cold! Congrats on your race too, come join us in GH next year, other than having more water in it, potential for waves and stong current and a 15 degree temp change overnight, Lake Michigan is just like an inland lake .

Try this:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=449790

Rob ... first off ... congrats on the race and really good times.  And to comment that unless you're riding on dead flat ground a 21mph avg is hammering it.

First run in 2.5 weeks and it felt good to get back out there!

Been crazy.  Had two vacations back to back (second one was just hanging around town with my kids doing fun stuff while they were home from school) and then the mess of trying to get caught up at work.

To top it off, the city is packed.  MLB All-Star game is here this week and most of the activities are going on right outside my office.  Took the family to the FanFest on Friday night and it was a blast.

Haven't had time to run lately, but probably rode close to 200 miles in that span!  All MTB though, but cranking is cranking.

Good to be back in a groove!

Found this article on Active.com regarding nutrition for Sprint and Oly distance tri's. Makes sense to me, any one have a different opinion?

http://www.active.com/triathlon/Articles/Race-Day-Nutrition-for-Sprint-and-Olympic-Distance-Triathlons.htm

dwp

As for calories during the race I agree.  Sports drink on the bike but on a sprint I would take the gel on the bike so it hit me during the run.  For a 5k a gel won't give you a big boost if you take it on the run (Oly is different).  I have taken a gel before the race to give me a boost about the time the race actually starts.

Now the whole, get up at 2am, eat, go back to bed is (at least for me) a poor idea to me.  Nothing new on race day and unless you do that everyday its not a good idea (IMHO).  Get up early enough to have some breakfast (something you have had for breakfast at least 50 times) and by the time you get to the race you are fueled.

Hasn't been high volume, but it's been a good week back.  Three run days of 3, 4, & 5.

For the first time yesterday I bike commuted to work.  11.5 miles each way.  Very few bike lanes, and one or two sketchy sections.  Pretty mentally draining riding on the defensive the entire time but it was fun.  Something about driving down Main St. on a bike downtown Kansas City in the middle of rush hour traffic that is pretty cool.  Going to try and shoot for 2 times a week.

Nice job on the commute. I have been thinking about it, 17 miles each way, but also many narrow 2-lane roads with 45-55 speed limit make me nervous. I am going to try one day next week and see how it goes.

CC - nice job, unfortunately really not an option for me.  Would love to but just not an option at this time.

Been doing lots of short rides and doing some runs.  Legs are pretty tired but doing okay.  Tomorrow is a 30 mile ride and Sunday an easy 4 miler.  Rain everyday this week but usually not for a long period of time.  Temps are dropping and will only be in the 80's for the next few days.  With the rain the painters haven't been able to paint the house.

Been spending a bit more time  in the saddle than swimming/running, but plan to get in all 3 this weekend ... 35'ish mile ride planned for today and will get in a swim-run brick tomorrow.  Temps are lo 80's and humidity is at 100% ... gonna be sticky.

Hope all have a good weekend.

Went out for a ride this afternoon ... planned to get in 35'ish or so at a nice easy pace and wound up crashing - AGAIN!!  The thing that ticks me off about this one is there was no reason for it whatsoever, other than in-attention.  I made a RH turn; looked down at the Garmin; looked back up and was headed off the road into a huge rut.  The next thing I knew was: PAIN, I was down in the middle of the road and WTH just happened.  Big scrape on the knee and left shoulder, swollen spot on the left calf and slight scrape on the forehead.  Thank goodness for helmets.  Mine is trashed as it has a big crack in the back.

While what we do is fun ... it is also very dangerous.  Making sure our equipment is in good working order; that we always wear a helmet; insure our tires aren't worn thru, cracked or improperly inflated, that the brakes do work, etc ... this imperative for us to minimize the risk of our sport.  Other than this - hope all had a good weekend.

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