Wurkit_Gurl's Group - CLOSED (sssh...we're training) (Page 9)

Congrats, triathlete!! Looking forward to your race report! It's always fun to fill one out and post it so everyone can see it (after you fill it out and save it, it will ask you to make it public - that will publish it in the Race Report section of the forums).

All right, race report is posted. My overall run pace was better than I had thought, but my position in the run was weak. And I really screwed up what would have been a decent bike time. Arg. Made the top 50 in the swim, though.

Sounds like you guys had some productive weekends. 92 is HOT for cycling. Though if it's not humid, it's not as bad. Here in DC, it's always humid in the summer, so I will ride/run early, early in the morning, or at least go after work as the sun is going down.

kmbhoya2000 - 2009-04-20 4:51 PM Hey all!  Congratulations Steph & Chrissy!  Steph, I'm glad your race went so well!!  Chrissy, sorry you were disappointed, but as everyone has already said so well, the rest will rock!

I am dragging, got in a short bike ride Sat, but still wasn't feeling well; our older son got sick yesterday, has a double ear infection; then I tried to get to dr. yest since my lungs are bad, but couldn't get in til today...I have bronchitis, and spent afternoon sleeping, without much hope for any workouts tomorrow either   I'm a little nervous because my race is June 7, and that seems awfully close with how crappy i"m feeling...

wplummer, you are amazing that you can even consider doing a race like you are after your surgery!!  That's great!!

Eek, sorry to hear that you're feeling yucky. Get some rest and clear up the bronchitis asap, so you can get back to training Just take it easy at first if you're still feeling a bit off. No reason to push it and prolong the illness.

Sounds like a plan! I had bronchitis back in high school - it sucked. I never get sick and I was out of school for a couple of days.

Regarding your bike (I saw your inspire) - yeah, sounds like you have a commuter/hybrid bike. One thing you might consider doing is putting slicks on your wheels - instead of knobbly tires, put on smooth ones. That will help get you a little bit of speed, even with the heavier frame and more upright geometry of a bike like that. Just take your front wheel to the bike shop and they will be able to help you out

A general tip, esp. if there are those of you who don't know a ton about bike maintenance - keeping your tires pumped up will give you a smoother, faster ride. If you are feeling like you're dragging a bit and you haven't pumped your tires in awhile - do so Most road tires are rated up to 120 psi (check your tire - it will be written on the rubber). In severe heat, if the bike is going to be sitting (like in transition), don't pump them up so high - 105 or 110. Hot air expands, and if they are pumped up to capacity, they may pop. Not fun to come up to T1 to find out you have a flat tire.

Morning, folks - what's on tap today? 40' bike for me, and swim practice. What's the next race for everyone? I've got a half-marathon on the 10th of May, and then another sprint on the 31st - one I did last year.

Spend your money on the clipless pedals first. Best investment you can make, imho.

I don't know much about Chi Running specifically, but I know a lot of folks on BT have used it and have had success. I will look through the old threads to see what it's all about (and you can too, if you have time), but first, let me ask - what makes you think you are running wrong? What do you think you are doing wrong?

Are there any running stores around you that have weeknight fun runs? Perhaps you could attend one and get some pointers from other folks in the group - it'd be cheaper than a $50/hr running coach. Esp. since Chi Running is only one kind of technique. As I mentioned before - there are definite things that are wrong across the board, but aside from that, "correct" running form is sort of an individual thing.

All right - did a little bit of research on the Chi Running thing. Looks like it's just one of many books out there that advocate mid/forefoot strike and argue AGAINST heel striking. Remember the earlier posts that I wrote - heel striking is not inherently bad. What is bad is your foot strike landing outside your center of gravity, ie, too far forward - this is one of those universal "bad" things, not where the foot strikes in and of itself. Everyone's footstrike is different - adapting to better running technique (ie, not overstriding, bringing your knee up, getting a good push-off behind you) MAY change your footstrike, but it might not. Make sense?

There are varying schools of thought regarding spin class. It's a good cardio workout, no questions asked. But it's impact on cycling on the road may not be very beneficial. At least, that's what most triathletes say. I know a few roadies who like it for conditioning during the winter on weekday evenings when it's too dark to ride outside. But they are super-strong and usually get out on the weekends, as well, and once it's light out, they're always outside.

Also, many spin class instructors ask you to do a lot of stuff that you wouldn't do out on the bike - like all the up-and-down sitting and standing stuff, or super-fast spinning, so much so that their butts bounce off the seat - the latter is particularly BAD form. You never want to be spinning so fast that your butt bounces around. Similarly, the spin bike helps you cheat a bit, by giving you momentum - if you want to know what I'm talking about, try doing single leg drills on a spin bike, then go do them sitting on your bike hooked up to a trainer (if you have one). It's much easier on the spin bike.

In order from least effective to most effective, it goes spin class, bike trainer, bike out on the road. By a bike trainer, I do not mean a stationary bike. A bike trainer is a little metal triangular thing that holds your back wheel's skewer, while the tire rests on a flywheel. It's meant to try to simulate riding on the road - though I am finding that even after a winter spent on the trainer, I'm not much better for it. BUt in the winter, when it's dark, or in poor weather conditions, I don't have much of a choice, os it's certainly better than nothing.

For now, though - enjoy your spin class. One thing I would suggest, after looking at your logs, is to try to get your bike out and really RIDE it more often - not just leisurely cruise around town. I think it's great that you use your bike as your mode of transpotation, and for a newbie, time in the saddle, any time at all, is key. However, if you only ever cruise around for 2-5 miles at a time, you won't be able to improve for real bike racing.

Hello! Nice job getting thebike out so early this morning! How is the knee feeling?

Hello! Nice job getting thebike out so early this morning! How is the knee feeling?