Jenny (jsnowash)'s Spring Guinea Pig Group - CLOSED (Page 9)

It was a fantastic day here in NY's suburbs, but it's supposed to rain all weekend. So I borrowed some dvds from my local library and will 'enjoy' them this weekend whilst on my treadmill and indoor bike. Hopefully the rain will stop at some point so I can get outside for a run, but I'm prepared in any case.

Had a decent 2000 in the pool today (ok, forgot my watch and lost count a few times, so probably 2250 or so again). Felt ok. My legs were more tired than I thought, so my kick was poor. Arms/back felt ok, and they definitely got a good workout. No swimmer's zen, but hopefully one day...

Hope everyone has a good weekend. TGIF is right!

No go on my Sprint Tri this morning.  Rained out.  

I haven't heard yet if it was officially cancelled - we've had lightning all night and morning - but regardless I really didn't feel it would be smart to attempt a fast ride on a new Bike on wet streets in the rain.  A recipe for trouble.  If I had more experience riding it, maybe ...

And it supposed to be ugly all weekend.  That's soooo not fair!  Hopefully it'll be nice enough later today or tomorrow morning so I can get a run or a ride in.

Bill

Bill, Bummer on the race.  You'll be even faster next time.

Weather is Boise is PERFECT.  Got some kids soccer/lacrosse games, then long run in the sunshine and maybe even a ride if I get wheel fixed.  I've already called in 'sick' for Monday.  I'm gonna have Titleist flu. 

Enjoy your weekends, gerbils....errr.   guinea pigs.   Play Safe, Train Hard.  SUNSCREEN

Just checking in - not much to tell.  On Wednesday I took a spin on my bike on Alpaca alley (Alpaca avenue? I'm not sure which alliteration works best).  I even made sure I had my cellphone on me, planning to take a picture to post here.. sadly, the alpacas were not out in the field near the road.  It might have been too cold for them, but since their wool is used to make thermal clothing, that doesn't make much sense to me. I did see a couple of deer, though; the wind was blowing the right way (i.e. away from them and towards me) so I got to watch them for a few minutes before biking off and leaving them to graze on the farmer's seeds..

Thursday I played a full hour of soccer (no female subs meant that I had to play the whole game). Friday I had scheduling issues and didn't do anything. Today I'll either be running short and biking or just running long. The weather is being unpleasant (see my notes below on why I may switch today and tomorrow's workouts).

Bill - I love the new bike!

Also, re: your definition of "cold" -bah, humbug! I'm not much of a wimp when it comes to cold weather (I will run outside as long as it isn't colder than -25 celcius or -13 fahrenheit and will "play" outside (skiing, snowshoeing, or skating) when it is even colder than that). However, when it comes to biking, I am a total wuss.  I don't bike once the puddles start to freeze in the fall, and won't start in the spring until all the ice and snow are gone.  I also really hate biking when the temps are below 10 degrees (celcius).

Today I was supposed to bike again, but it is 5 degrees (or 41 for the Americans in the group) and raining. I may do my long run today (I have no issue with running in the rain) and switch the bike until tomorrow when it will be 11 (52 degrees) and NOT raining..

Jenny - those stairs are crazy. I'm sure running up them is a great workout!

Jaycee - I'm a bit late to the shoe discussion, but the other thing I would add is that I also find it really helps to get fitted for shoes at the Running Room (ask other runners in your area as to which store has the best shoe fitters, as some stores are better than others).  I had an issue with shin splints a number of years ago - when I went to replace the shoes that I think helped cause them, the staff at the RR took one look at my old pair and said "of course these didn't work for you, these are totally wrong for your feet".  I have been pain-free ever since and LOVE the shoes I have now.

Everyone else - have a great weekend and happy training!

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday!

I'm looking forward to my first two weeks!  Can't wait to get some structure back in my workouts!

Good morning Guineas!

Nice job Jenny with the 15 hours of training last week.  That's a bunch.

Well, the weekend was a complete washout.  Rainy and windy.  I was never able to get any workout in at all.  So this morning I was itching to do something, so I decided to do my first 25 mile Bike ride.  Jenny only wanted 45 minutes but I figured I could double that with no problems.  24.5 miles @ 17.7 miles per hour.  I know that 25 miles and that avg. speed is no big deal, but ya gotta start somewhere, right?

So far the bike fit feels really good.  I don't have a lot of flexibility due to the back and he set it up a bit more "relaxed" than "aggressive".  And I like it.  I can reach what I need to and I seem to be sitting on the proper spot on the seat.  Not too far forward, nor back.  And the stroke feels right.  The neck started aching a little when i was on the drops but that's to be expected till I get used to it.

At one point, I got to a red light and unclipped my right foot.  Then stupidly, I guess I leaned a little left and started going over.  Slowly.  Fortunately the left foot came unclipped and I caught myself before falling over.  Maybe I've always rested with my left foot down and my right foot on the pedal.  I'll have to change that tendency going forward.

Bill

Happy Monday GPs! Hope everyone had a good weekend.

@Bill: sorry to hear about the cancelled race and good stuff on the bike ride.

I went for my first outdoor ride yesterday morning! So nice to be out on the roads instead of being on a trainer. However, forgot that there was a 10k race going on downtown so there was quite a bit of traffic until we got outside of the city. Didn't do a very long ride approx 30km but it was freeeeeeeezing cold and SUPER windy. I could not feel my toes by the end but still nice to be outdoors.

Oh also, since you mentioned clipping in and out, I guess since it was my first ride out all season, I was a litttttleee rusty clipping in and out at the beginning! I almost took a topple myself. I was so uncordinated and couldn't remember which leg to put out, what position to clip in at and was trying to think so much that I almost hit the pavement. heehee.. but like jaykaykay said - it's bound to happen

Race Report from Big Sky Country - it was an absolutely awesome day (can you tell I still have racer's high!).  The weather could not have been more perfect - sun, 67 degrees, 5 mph winds from the side.  I did not have to deliberate unduly about the layers of clothing as I have in the past with wind and snow. 

The race venue was about 4 hours away from home, so my hubby and I went the night before and had a great evening out together - romance is good for racing, right?!  My relay team partners met and exchanged strategy because we had transitions with the old style leg timer chip.  We met at 6:30 am to deliver our runner to her start point and then down to drop off the kayak and my bike.  Everyone was giddy about the weather.  I got all geared up and was making one last bathroom visit when I heard our race number called!  "What the heck, Paula kicked the run?!!"  I hurried into the chute and there she was.  Good transition - translation:  bike did not tip over and I clipped in on the first skip! 

Once off - I hit the first steep grade in less than .2 miles.  I knew this from driving the course, but still that grade was a killer on ragged nerves from the start.  I wasn't alone because I passed one gal that said a choice word right out of the gate.  After the hill there was a fast flat to truly get warmed up, heart rate in line and think about the race.  The first half of the course was serious hills.  I lost count at 10.  Some serious descents, too.  I did have one wheel wobble that made me reconsider my intelligence.  I learned a lot from the hills.  I learned that I don't know good strategy for hill climbing and shifting/standing mid-hill.  I thought I would do okay on the hills, but I was getting passed frequently.  I learned later that my runner started early.  There were 4 start times and we were set in the 3rd time based on our division - she started with the elite so no wonder I was getting passed.

The hills were really hard, but they kept me focused and I am glad they were at the beginning of the race.  After the first half, the course flattened out and I was finally able to hit a stride that felt good for the long haul.  I was psyched at my HR zones.  I was able to maintain in my zone 3 and sometimes 4 for the whole race.  Kind of makes me think I need to reassess my zones.  I felt good that I pushed the whole race without any "OMG - what am I doing?" moments.  The last 6 miles I had to keep my head in the game and focus on a cadence and power because I was definitely out of air. 

Long story, but I finished 49.4 miles in 2:34:16 which was 11 minutes faster than my goal and 25 minutes faster by pace than my time last year.  Our runner was MOP, I was 3 of 12 in AG and our kayaker was 1st so as a relay team we won our division.  The "Middle Aged Mammas" were strutting like real peacocks, let me tell you!

My take-aways: I need to learn hills.  I need to train with more concentration at times.  I need to lower the my seat just a smidge.  My favorites about the race:  husband was major impressed and I have endurance.  My downers about the race:  I thought I knew what I was doing on hills.

Side note - I did pass 4 bikes down with flats/problems.  Whew - not me, this time.  I practiced the actual tube replace and refill, but I need to be more comfortable getting the wheel off and on correctly.

Thanks for letting me retell the race story.  I am off today and then back at spinning class and some light running this week to prepare for a 5K fun run with the hubby this weekend.  

Have a good week, Guinea Pigs!

Janette 

Nice race Janette!  You did very well and your Team won.  It doesn't get much better.

Bill

Janette, GREAT RACE!

Sounds like you did really well.  You didn't panic on the hills, keep your HR in check, and if you were gassed at the end-you did your job.  BTW:  A little 'stress relief' the night before is a good thing. 

Me-Had a really good swim on Friday.  100 meter splits were right at 2:02, but I felt really good.  Sat. was soccer/lacrosse day with kids, but I did sneak a 9 miler in at 1:16.  It was hot in Boise and I felt like crap, but I needed to clear my head.  Sunday-HAD big ride planned, but a chance encounter with my ex-SO (7 months removed), led us into some discussions we should have had a long time ago.  Anyway, we're talking again, and acknowledge that we both liked our lives better when the other was in it, so we'll see.  She's pretty fit herself, so I have to keep my game up.  I took today off to fix bike, ride bike, then play golf. 

Jenny, I sent you a PM.     Have a great day, Gpigs.   

Janette - Congratulations!  Sounds like it was a great race to kick-off the season!  But yeah, hills...we all feel your pain on those.  That said, it sounds like your training/racing plan was close to perfect.  Again, congrats!

Couple pictures of aero bars (for JayCee), race day, and the Middle Aged Mammas.  I am the tall one in the middle.

Janette

Well, hell, I can't seem to get pictures small enough to attach ....

Hi g-pigs,

Last night I went for a short-ish run (just under 2 miles) in the cold and rain and had a great feeling run.  It was a nice change from my long run on the weekend, which involved all kinds of mental and physical struggle. I also had to swim, so I broke the run into two parts (due to time constraints), with a trip to the pool in between. 

I got to the pool about 30 minutes before they closed, and got to swim for free (!) because the cashier had already closed the cash.  Then, to make it even better, I got a lane to myself, as the few people that were in my lane headed out after I was about 3 laps in. The only two downsides to the swim were that there was only one wall (the pool is a wave pool, so the non-wall end was just a rope - I almost swam into it a couple of times) and that I think the pool length might have been shorter than the 25 metres I was expecting.  I cut 3 minutes off my usual time for the distance (750 metres), which could be explained by the shorter distance (if it was), or by the fact that I was alone in my lane and could just SWIM without worrying about other people's pace, etc.  Of course, I also kept losing count of my laps, which doesn't help.  Easiest way to summarize the swim is that I swam somewhere between 700 and 1000 metres in the set time..

Janette - I'll join the chorus: great job on your race and congrats on the win!

~ Heather

@Heather, it must be difficult swimming against those big waves in your wave pool.

I decided to forego my swim last evening and move it to this evening instead.  I was just too tired from work (and probably the morning Bike ride) to even think about doing anything but veg out.

This morning I ran 6 miles with miles 4 and 5 at continuous Tempo pace.  8:04 and 7:45.  I'm happy with that given yesterday's Bike ride.  My mantra for that second Tempo mile was "Embrace the Suck".  It seemed to work.    It was absolutely perfect running weather this morning - 68° and low humidity with no wind.  We won't have too many more of these days - maybe none.  It'll warm back up over the next few days to more normal temps.

Everyone have a good day.

Bill

I started my formal training plan yesterday.  3x8' Intervals @ FTP on the trainer.  It was my first structured cycling workout in a couple weeks due to my Half Marathon.  Glad to get back in the saddle.  My legs were tired probably from coaching my daughters soccer practice on Sunday afternoon.  I make them run 2 laps at the track before practice (track is 1/5 mile).  I ran 1.4 miles as the girls straggled in.  Also did some shuttle run drills that I also participated in so that the teams would be equal #.  I was wearing my merrell minimalist shoes and definitely felt it in my calves afterward. 

This morning was an 3 mile run at easy pace.  It was windy and chilly but still felt good to be outside. 

Tomorrow I have a tempo run and swimming.

Sorry for the absence, but illness and work got in the way.  I will catch up on what everyone has done later this week. 

Yesterday - 45 minutes on the bike, Today - Running and Strength

I got Jenny's new work out plan for me.  I am looking forward to the 2 a days.  No matter what the discipline - running, biking, swimming, stretching, strength - I feel like I am cheating them all a little bit because I don't focus on any one activity.  I know, DUH!, this is a TRIathlon!  But still, there is a little mental dissonance switching up activities throughout the week. 

I spent the morning in spinning class for an hour and I have a 4 mile run planned for this evening.  I need to build some endurance into my runs.  I feel like I need to strengthen base muscle/aerobic fitness for longer distances before I start the interval or speed training.  Just my thoughts.

Janette

Last evening as planned I made it to the pool for a short workout.  I decided "to heck with this technique stuff (for now), let's just swim hard(er) and see what happens".   And this one went pretty well I think.

550 meters to start at a solid strong pace.  Then 3x100 meters with 30 seconds rest between.  2:13 to 2:17 on these.  2:24-ish for the initial 550.  Slow I know, but better than I have been seeing.

Then this morning up and out for a short bike/run Brick.  12.25 miles on the bike @ 17 mph, then a 3 mile GA run at 8:55 pace.  A bit tired this morning but okay.

My stupid satellite TV provider decided it made more sense last night to televise a meaningless April Marlins baseball game rather than the Panthers hockey playoffs game 6.  If there was never another baseball game that would be fine with me.

Bill

This morning was a tempo run - will be swimming at lunch.  This was my first harder run since my Half Marathon so I was interested in how the legs would turn over.  Definitely was work but felt good.  Tempo pace was a bout 10 sec per mile faster than targeted but happy with the avg HR on the tempo intervals.