StephSprint... mentor group FULL! (Page 9)

Sounds a lot like what my Endurance Nation workouts are like.  Good job!

One of the keys to success is to associate with people who are like-minded. We tend to become like those we associate with.  Isn't that why we don't let our children hang out with the "bad" kids?

Well, there sure has been some beautiful weather up here in Boston these days...very odd for this time of year but helpful on the exercise front and getting out for runs and bike rides! I finally managed to break that pesky 35-minute plateau on the 5K races and came in at 34:46 at a race this past Saturday...and a race with hills at that. Still slow, but my 11:11/ mile average pace is a lot better than the 15:00 pace I had a year ago! I'm determined to get down to a 30-minute 5K. Thanks for all the advice you guys gave on intervals, terrain, etc.

Today I started swim classes to improve technique - so much fun! I have a lot of work to do to be ready for my first tri in a few months, but I am very excited. I'm trying to be realistic with a hint of "pie in the sky" so that I don't let myself make excuses or let the changes come too slowly.

I just read a book called Slow Fat Traithlete - the title caught my eye, and the book was totally inspirational for me (me being a complete beginner who is definitely not fast and who is somewhat overweight but working to lose it through tri training). One suggestion from the book that I followed this week was to repeat in my head the following words when I run: "I am awesome. I kick a$$. I stay focused on my task."  I thought it wouldn't work, but tried it anyway. Trying to remember the words as I ran totally kept my mind off worrying about my pace, my breath, my legs and made the miles go by faster. This might not work for everyone, but it sure helped me!

Gonna go wash that chlorine out of my hair now!

Kim

Kim, congrats on whittling down that 5k time!  

And as far as repeating a mantra while running....do whatever it takes to keep you going.  Everyone has their little ways to motivate or sometimes just distract.  If it works for you, Fantastic!  

I also use short affirmations, especially when it's a tough part of a workout or race.    

Feeling better today.  That's 4 days off with no workouts.  I think I'm ready to get back into the groove tomorrow with a hard bike workout. I hope for good workouts for the rest of you!

What's his/her name? I wonder if I might recognize the name.

Great job on the 5K and hitting your goal.  I like the idea of having a Mantra to say while running, might work for the days I can't get my head in the game.

Kim, mantras are very very cool.  They call it positive self talk.  Helps overcome the negative voices that plague some folks and tell them they can't do it.  Yes I can, yes I can...  Positive self talk really works.

I ran last night to get the metabolism up before strength training with the kettle bells.  Love those things.  3 X 10 squats, swings and presses with each arm.  Then pushups, planks, side planks, medicine ball and some yoga.   The swimming at masters today was pretty quick actually.  Speed work.  Not too shabby.  I've got strength exercises on the bike tonight for 70 mins.  Then more running and a kettlebell work out with the instructor tomorrow. 

Now that's a view!  I have a nice view of the parking lot and Checkers on the corner.  I also get to see drug deals on occasions- which is really weird considering I work at the Sheriff's Office!

Ann-Marie

I too recently read Slow Fat Triathlete--she's great! Practical tips for the newbie and a good sense of humor.

Good luck with the swim instruction.

Here's another site that focuses on Paleo recipes for those interested.

http://everydaypaleo.com

I can't tell, but since you are excited about it, does that mean that 50 degrees is good?

Our main office shares a parking lot in a strip mall on the edge of a sketchy area.  Some idiot actually robbed a woman in front of our building!  He was caught right away

Sound like everyone is doing a great job with training.  It also sounds like I may be the only one not to use mantras.  I try to stay focused on what I'm doing and keeping the correct form.  However, I must admit that more times then not, my mind wanders and I start thinking about a million different things.  Probably not the best thing to do and a definite problem when swimming as I lose track of laps very easily!  During this morning's swim I did make an effort to really concentrate on my form the whole time and not let my mind wander too much - I still lost track of laps.  

Ann-Marie

I do fruit for breakfast, salad and fruit for lunch and lean meat and veggies for supper, including usually a sweet potato which is allowed on most paleo lists I've seen.  I am only getting 1800 to 2200 cals a day but damn I seem to have plenty of energy.

I eat some egg whites with my fruit in the morning.  Very quick to make. I buy the cage-free chicken kind of egg whites that come in a carton.  I quickly heat up a batch in the micro.  And usually snack on some mixed raw (non roasted/salted) nuts and various fruit in between meals.  Salad for lunch.  Either another salad or a meat (fish, turkey, lean steak) with veggies on the side for dinner.

Enjoy it!  Here in Nor Cal, it's been weird also.  ZERO rain.  Good for sports, bad for our drinking water levels!

Speaking of protein, I might be trying to find some egg protein that I will like.  Whey is dairy based and goes against the Paleo diet.  Anybody have anything they have tried and liked?