ASPHALT JUNKIES Summer Bronzing Crew - CLOSED (Page 83)

There are going to be a lot of us driving ourselves into the ground next year it seems.  Congrats on getting in!!

However, after seeing the weather conditions this past Sunday at IM Tahoe, are you concerned about swimming and exiting the water with temps at 32 degrees for next year?  I had seen a tweet that posted the current temp and hourly predictions for 5 hours beginning at the swim start.  It was 32 degrees and it dropped from there a few degrees before coming up to a balmy 35 or so.  NO THANKS!!!!!

Shoot me the links as well.  It may do me some good............I was thinking of putting the 53/39 crank on my bike for IMWI.

Dirk - That is exactly why I signed up.... Nothing like swimming in frigid temps.... Ok, in all reality I am hoping and praying that the freak cold weather front that happened last weekend does not repeat itself next year. I obsessively watched weather patterns there for 15 years and while an early cold front blowing in during September is not usual, it can happen two years in a row. I love the Sierra Nevada mountains and practically grew up in them. Something about attempting an Ironman at Tahoe tugs at my heart very differently than doing one anywhere else.

I'm sure you will get better and more sound advice elsewhere, but I say go for both! I would definitely attempt to PR one of them.... For me, I would probably use Saturday as the warm up run and then go all out, way too fast on Sunday.

Thanks Tony. I was too lazy and sleepy to read it last night ha ha ha . I will definitely check it out though. I can't say I disagree but I like swimming !

I accidentally swam my longest swim ever this morning. I copied the workout from the internet and did not look at total yards, just wrote it down the headed out. I kept looking at the clock thinking - shouldn't this be over already? I don't get tired from swimming but I was WORE OUT after this one.

My main point is - you IM people are NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JENN -  I love how you describe that IM Tahoe "tugs at your heart".   Congratulations on signing up and getting in - you're absolutely doing it at the right location.  Although, you DO have a lot of moxie for still wanting to do it there after knowing what this year brought.  I saw some photos of the swim and it made me cold just to look at but it sure was beautiful.   What a year it'll be!

DINA - way to pull out a PR on swim length...accidentally! 

TONY - I agree with Jenn - do both events if they both work in your schedule and you'd look forward to doing them.   Knowing you, you'll PR both.    Do you mind sending me the EN links that you mentioned?   [email protected]    Also, what was the video of the IMWI bike course that you've mentioned watching several times?

WARREN - based on your comment you recommend a compact crank, right?   Can you give me an idea of how much a new set-up would be? (I don't know all the components I'd need to change).   Last week I had the bike shop check out my cassette and they said I can't go to a 11/28 with how my bike is currently set up.  I have a 12/27 and a 53/39 something or other.  I need to weight the cost/benefit ratio before I spend more $ on this wonderful sport.    Oh, and to answer your question - no tattoo for me.   I'm a wimp and couldn't stand the needles.

So a couple general questions came about and I'll throw them on here:

1)  What's the technique for drafting someone on the swim?

2)  What is the best way to bike up a hill? (i.e. harder gear and standing or easier gear and spinning)

DEREK....JEFF....TRACY....(I think JONATHAN is lost altogether)....where are you guys?    Hope all is well.

I think doing both is a definite go.  The first one, as you said, could be done to take in the sights and the second could be one to attempt another PR.  Coming off IM training and the fitness and endurance you still posses that shouldn't really be an issue.

I say go for it!!

I have been told my swims are far more than I need to complete for the racing distances I have done so far.  But if the added distance I normally complete is one of the reasons I have knocked out some of the decent race swims I've had, well, I'll keep doing them.  I have been able to significantly work my times down over the years by having some really long and really intense swim workouts, like the fast 50's. 

I have been wondering the same thing about these junkies ^^^^!

And also about biking up a hill. I don't have any really big hills to speak of around here but it's interesting when Tiff and I ride she always gets up out of her seat to climb. I sit on my rear end and maintain my cadence as best I can. Maybe it is a case of doing what suits you?

Yes I'm sure this was far more than I need and I found myself wondering why I was working so hard to finish this workout in September for heavens sake. What is the point? But I'm at that place where I am not making any noticeable progress so is this it or what will it take?

I was kind of thinking the opposite of what Tony read from EN for this season. My schedule is more flexible than it has been with no little ones at home during the day and my back is better than it has been in the last couple of years. I think I could add another day of swimming this winter but will that actually help? What does it take for a MOP swimmer to actually make noticeable gains that translate to improved race times? More time, harder sets, both? And is it "worth" it? You know I have put in the consistent time on the bike and have improved a lot. I am at the same point with that as I am with swimming. Over the last couple of seasons I have PR'd in spite of the fact that my swim and run is slower, the only thing better is my bike so this leads me to think I should try working on something else. No comments on running as you all know how that goes for me.

Just things I am pondering for the off season.