KansasMom - 2013-03-03 11:52 PM

I love that bridge. Very nice, Chad. Thanks for sharing.

rrrunner - 2013-03-03 7:48 PM

Yanti, so glad you are (mostly) OK. We were all getting pretty worked up trying to figure out where you'd gone! (spoken in my best mother voice)

I've had quite a weekend. My run yesterday was beautiful (the weather, not my running prowess ) Then last evening we learned of the death of a sweet young lady, Jackie, to cancer. Jackie is actually first cousins with our niece Ashley, on her mother's side. We've known Jackie since she was born. I HATE CANCER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So when it was time to head out on my 3.75 hour ride today I dreaded riding in the wind but couldn't take that much drainer time and needed time to clear my head. So as I rode in to 25-29 mph winds I stayed surprisingly positive as I thought about/prayed for Ash, Jackie and the family. My mind also wandered to others I know who've been stricken with cancer. Still it was a fairly positive ride, in spite of the crazy winds. Then I got the text. (I don't normally check calls or texts when I'm riding but my cue from my DH that I need to stop and check is several texts in a row. Interestingly, this one did that on my phone but was only a single text. It's a God thing) The text was from my SIL. Her parents are splitting up. So I told her that I would pray for her and her family for the remainder of the ride. Hard to ride and cry. Anyway, because the winds were to my back I made it home in an hour 21 minutes, the trip out had been an hour 50. The wind at your back is a wonderful thing!

So overall, good training weekend. Now i'm off to look at swim vids from Skrat.

ArielLIlB - 2013-03-04 2:03 PM

Weather was awesome, resort was really nice, especially the 1 bedroom, private pool suite. Food - terrible! I had McDOnald's as soon as I got home, and it was such a relief to devour something that would not send me in a panicked run to the bathroom 1-1.5 hours after consuming it (and McDonald's is neither a treat to me nor something I purposefully seek out, ever). That's the digestive distress the food caused. No such thing as TMI here, right?

I was particualrly proud of myself for running 3 miles on MOn & Tues, and doing some serious weights after.  A scale back from my usual routines, but I'm not usually a vaca exerciser (I travel with couch-potato DH).

JJ- - 2013-03-04 6:02 AM

Awesome! Man I love running in the rain!

bcraht - 2013-03-03 4:54 PM

1. Run for those of us who can't right now

2. Think how good the food will be once you have burned off the calories...

rrrunner - 2013-03-04 7:59 AM

Me too! The dog, not so much

rrrunner - 2013-03-04 7:59 AM

Me too! The dog, not so much

Muskrat37 - 2013-03-03 9:20 PM

TJ. 

your edited video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu3mkbYxJAo&feature=youtu.be 

Your catch and pull are looking much, much better.  Your elbow is much higher, and your pull begins much earlier in the stroke.  You also are not using that wrist to pull, you are now using the forearm and the rest of your arm.  These are huge improvements and I can see the effort you have put in.  GOOD JOB!  

It appears that as you finished more laps, that elbow started to drop more, but that is very common because as we get more tired, the form breaks down a bit.  

I am hesitant to say this next part, for fear that you will over correct my next recommendation, and do more harm than good.  Also, not 100% sure because there is no above water angle to analyze…anyways, here goes: (Yanti, please chime in here)

 

I think you are over rotating.  The rotation should be mostly natural as a result of the reach with your hands / arms.  However, if you are reaching way to far, you may be over rotating your body.  Again, take this with a grain of salt, because I can’t see an above water view.  If you can get me a video from above the water, (someone walking beside you taking the video) I can analyze this are much better.  

The biggest area I see for improvement is balance.  The hips are still sinking a bit, which is causing you to have to work much harder. 

I recommend you work on your balance, and continue to work on the catch and pull, focusing on keeping that elbow nice and high and getting a good strong pull through the water. Make sure you are pulling "hard" and not letting the arm get lazy during the pull.  The harder you pull and the more water you push, the more propulsion you get... I will try to get a video of me doing that silly thing on the edge of the pool deck (pulling myself into the pool - remember that description?)  

In a couple frames of the video, I can see your triceps really working, and your muscles flexing - THAT IS AWESOME!!! 

Balance drill video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqeOdpBFATc&list=PLZbLxnwF_5IYYWwPPXD-7QL_8YAbXsQKr&index=1

Catch up drill video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2ZUMX0qQns

Work with a pull buoy on “Drill” day.  Do a 50 with a buoy, then do one without.  Really focus on how the hips feel, and how it affects your stroke when the hips rise to the surface of the water.  When you work with the pull buoy – think of a good hard pull…Your arms will probably get a bit sore (triceps) but that is a good sign. .

Let me know how it’s going and if you have any questions.  In about a month, let’s get another video… I am excited to see your progression!  Keep up the Great Work!

melbo55 - 2013-03-04 7:20 AM

We podmates must have a mental connection.  During my run I was fully appreciating the fact that I am able to run, appreciating my health, appreciating nature (even the strong, cold, wicked wind), appreciating so many little things I never want to take for granted while Kirsten and TX Jon were requesting such things!  Thanks, guys, and since I got out the door, Chad, I'm still in the pod!

I ran 7 miles without walking.  I've never run more than 5.2 straight without walking, so I'm beyond excited and stoked and still in a slight bit of disbelief.  My only stop was to take a pic of some spring flowers, snowdrops, which my great aunt always called the harbinger of spring, so my relatives who passed on before me were with me on  my run as well.

Muskrat37 - 2013-03-04 9:11 AM

A couple pics from my run a couple weeks ago.  

rrrunner - 2013-03-04 8:10 AM

As always, thanks for the knowledge and guidance. I read this post before swim this morning so I focused on keeping my shoulders down. I noticed this morning (maybe in part because of the shoulders down) that the "new" pull is getting easier and doesn't wear me out as quickly anymore. My speeds were about the same as last time I did this particular set so I think it's time to try to up the pace.

rrrunner - 2013-03-04 8:20 AM

Stunning! While I would love to live near the ocean or a bay I do enjoy our 310 days of sunshine each year.

Muskrat37 - 2013-03-04 9:50 AM

Notice the clouds in all my pictures did you?  LOL  

Yeah - it is cloudly / drizzle like rainy here a lot...but that is what gives us all the Trees, Green and Water... All of which I love.  I must admit though, I'm sure glad I took a likin' to runnin' in the rain.  I also took up Scuba Diving as an activity I can do in the winter, since it doesn't matter if it's raining or not when you are under the water.  Not to mention, Giant Pacific Octopus and Wolf Eels are 2 of the most awesome creatures to see - and they are all over the Puget Sound.  

Our summers are beautiful though (shhhh, don't tell anyone) and when the sun is shining, I don't think there is a more beautiful place on earth.

Where do you live?  edit - just looked at your avatar and saw where you live...

Asalzwed - 2013-03-01 4:15 PM

 92 of a running streak. Not that I have any intention of holding that streak as I will be  tapering in a month. 

Is anyone else streaking at this point? 

JJ- - 2013-03-04 7:19 AM

Run didn't go well Tightened up at 2 miles.

I've gained 12 pounds since my injury and I felt every one of them this morning. That's just plain stupid. I am making a change now and dropping that weight. There is no reason I should let me emotions get to me like that.

********************************

Manatee Group: From my heart: Honestly guys I've been so frustrated that I haven't posted much since my injury. I apologize for that. This group is awesome and I get so much encouragement from y'all that I should be here every day. I am making a vow to check in every day from here on and remain positive. There is no reason for me to get so emotionally involved over a stupid injury.

I've missed so much that I don't know if I can get all caught up so for those of you that have race a big congratulations to you. I WILL be going back and at least reading race reports.

 

***********************************

OK just talked to my coach. Since rest has obviously not worked and I still have a good base her suggestion is to do daily short runs of 1-2 miles. The thinking is that hopefully this will actually help loosen up my IT Band. She said hopefully this will help loosen up my IT Band and I can get my volume in this way. I know several of you do daily runs so what do you think?

Asalzwed - 2013-03-01 11:51 AM I am doing a race simulation tomorrow AM. Our coach wants me to do a warm-up then 11 miles at marathon pace + 1 minute then run to the track where I will be doing 2 x 2 miles @ marathon pace drinking exactly what is on course only every mile. It should be good. Then I have a HM next weekend so, some serious simulation before I leave for Texas. 

rrrunner - 2013-03-04 11:59 AM

Cool! not sure I'd want to swim with them tho...

ponderingfox - 2013-03-04 9:06 AM

You sure?  With all those extra arms, octopuses are fun to hug.

rrrunner - 2013-03-04 10:02 AM

I completely understand your emotional upheaval! I am at about the same time out from 70.3 that you are. I would be devastated if something threatened that race now. You continue to be in my prayers.