kenj's group closed, training hard and having fun!! (Page 9)

Kath2163 - 2011-04-19 7:53 AM

julta - 2011-04-18 8:42 PM Robin I'm actually doing the Denver Century (Kathleen is as well) I've never done Elephant rock and would love to do it some time....Maybe next year...so many events.... Will you be coming down with him?

I have done the Elephant Rock a couple of times. It it a fun event. Robin, your husband will enjoy it. Just tell him that it gets really crowded at times. Which distance is he doing?

Kathleen/Julie - my DH (Steve) is doing the century at Elephant Rock. I think we are planning on staying near the event in Castle Rock the night before and then 2 nights in Denver, before we leave for HAWAII!!! My family vacation will be another topic at a later point as I am really bad at exercising while on vacation.

 Vivian - I wouldn't start worrying about your bike volume quite yet. Just start small, be consistent and everything else will fall into place.

Welcome Tim!

Workouts today - I plan on a trainer ride while attempting a sufferfest video and a swim later on.

I swam last night and couldn't get to sleep either. I was up past 2am! NOT a good time

Hello cofee.... I love you.

Plan today is to do some lifting. I love weights but with all the s/b/r and life in general I have not done any in a very long time. However, my upper body is feeling weak and I feel it affects my bike so I plan to lift at least one day a week. Then I have a bike ride later this afternoon/evening which will likely be a trainer ride - got some Real Housewives of Orange County on the DVR - Partay! I love my bike I just don't love riding it and haven't been on it since the disastrous Oly. It is time.

Oh yeah!  My boss gave me the OK to take an extended lunch break - so I am off to the pool soon for a swim.  I haven't done any swimming in a while.    I planned on a bike ride today - but it is supposed to rain and it is cold out... yuck!

Stupid question: How do you all keep count of how many laps?  I keep losing count.  

Yay for a long lunch!

Having a swim plan with me helps me keep track of the laps because then I do a set amount, rest, another set etc. So if I have 200 W/U that is 4 laps - I count to myself on the way down one, one, one and the same on the way back so I don't count my lenghts as laps. Once I get to 200 for the U/W I start all over again for the main set like 500 or whatever. When I have to do a bunch of 100s like 20 of them it gets a little tricky but I try to find some association for each lap like my kids age or something like that.

They also have these handy little lap counter finger watches  Maybe the Easter Bunny will bring you one.

My wife found a small stop watch that slips onto my first finger.  It times and counts laps, overall time, average/lap, slowest, fastest.  About $30.  Advertised in Masters Swimmers, she said.  Great device.  Long swims, I no longer have to count at all.

Stretching rocks. I got into it because of an IT band injury last fall.  Seriously into it.  Yoga etc.  Roadbikerider.com has a ebook on Yoga for Cyclists.   Training Peaks has a DVD by the same name.  Also a physical therapist added to the list when I had that during IT band recovery.

Also foam rollers are terrific.  I graduated to Triggerpoint and then to the Rumble Roller.  Looks like a torture device from the middle ages but boy does it work.  Also have massage therapy every 2- to 3 weeks. 

Anyone care to chime in with their swim speed secret?

Wondering what the one item is that has helped you get faster.

I'm   s.... l....o....w..., to the tune of 20 min for 750m.

I've had a few lessons which have helped (was over 23 min when I started), but still a long way to go.

Anyone on Face Book?  Feel free to "friend" me if so.  Scott Richardson, Normal Il. 

As for being fast in the water, I would not know.  I am a middle of the pack kind of guy on the swim and hold on for dear life on the run.   Love both though.

Sorry I haven't kept up with the group.  Over 200 posts in a week is quite a bit for me to keep up.  I thought my last group was active with 5-6 posts a day!

Keep up the good work everyone and I'll chime in when I can.

Here is a table with quick links! 

X2

As for swimming, I am a good swimmer (swam competetively in HS, All-State for 3yrs), propably not a good coach though, so take what I say for what it is worth!   I do think form/technique is the single most important factor here.  As your form improves so does your efficiency, hence you can go harder/faster for longer. So how do you improve your form? A couple of thoughts - 1) hire a coach 2) join a masters class 3) drills, drills, drills 4) look at websites - search on youtube or I know a lot of people like Mr. Smooth at swimsmooth.com   people also seem to do well with total immersion (TI) - but I don't know much about it.

Unfortunately swimming is not like running, where you can make steady progress just by running more - until you can master the freestyle stroke you will find it difficult and possibly frustrating. It is well worth it though, b/c the feeling of just gliding through the water is amazing!

I may be better at specific questions - so keep em coming

You might want to check this post out:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=249043&posts=1&start=1

How do I add everyone as friends?

I do it in the triaining log. If you scroll down on the left you will see "friends" click the plus sign next to friends and then you can cut and paste the names.

I used to do a lot of free weights before my s/b/r days but I don't have the time now and don't think a lot of those exercises will help me with my current goals. Today I did some work on the exercise ball, some plyo with weighted balls (that just sounds wrong) and some free weights for biceps and shoulders. It has been a while so I felt a bit awkward at first but it all came back to me and felt great.

In the left knee I had a meniscus tear. with some cartledge damage on the top inner portion of the knee.. The surgeon removed and shaved the torn tissue and shaved the tear in the meniscus out..When starting PT I told the therapist that I was training for a triathlon, so she really incorporated exercises to help me progress and push the knee to its limits. They released me to run in May and I did my first event in June. The June event I had a little over a 10 min/mile average..my other events my run average was 8 to 9 min/mile averages..

Wow! I have been very busy the last few days and finally got a chance to catch up. Great group with a lot of activity and very interesting discussion!

This is from back on page 3, but you really caught my attention, Vivian. For me, the best thing about BT in general and especially the Mentor Groups is all the support we both get and give. Your  family may not fully understand, but we all get it, and we all really want you to succeed in reaching your goals, and we want you to have fun along the way!

Anthony

Terrific FTP test with 1 X 20 @ 110% @ 95 rpm.  Second test (which doesn't count toward FTP) was 1 X 20 @ 97% @# 83 rpm.  Strong test. Highest I've been.  Interested in seeing what the coach determines my FTP to be. 

Robin you are my go-to swim mentor   I agreed with every thing you suggested.  I have been with Masters two years and really paying off.  Stroke efficiency is what we are focusing on now after months and months of form work.  But don't let that discourage anyone.  Short courses are only 600 to 1200 yards.  You can do that...You won't win in the water.  The goal is to get out with as much breath left as possible and without using the legs overly so you have them for the bike and the run. 

Iceman - I will be your swim go-to if you will be my bike go-to mentor!!!! Awesome job on your test! You have to be stoked.

 I really, really need to do a time trial but I am scared. ooohhh the pain!

I'm procrastinating. Somebody tell me I should go get on the trainer instead of having a Mike's Hard Lemonade.

Great FTP on the bike Iceman..

I was able to get a 50 min run in with some strides.. Looks to be a great group we have...great topics. Keep up the good work everyone.

As someone on the site quipped previously  "You have to be willing to explore the pain cave"