Experior and Slornow's Spring/Summer Mentor Group-CLOSED (Page 91)

Hi all, this month has been my highest volume swimming month ever.  I can definitely appreciate a difference in both speed and endurance.  Interestingly, I'm also enjoying swimming lots more.  I really hope to keep up higher volumes post IM.  I did a 2150 yd time trial this am and have taken 3.5 minutes off my previous time.  I also had lots left over but went back to drills.  I believe my biggest reason for immediate improvement is volume alone. 

Still struggling with the usual battle of family, work vs training time.  Getting up at 5 AM is making a big difference.  The first couple times of waking up I felt like a zombie and all it would take is any petty excuse (eg. can't find my shoes right away) to go back to bed.  For the last 2 weeks I have been waking up wanting to get out and train.  Reminds me of my military days.

I don't like to see the Tri season coming to a close for most.  I have not planned out my training for the winter.  I keep thinking "focus on my weakest of the three disciplines" but then I realize I really do need to improve on all three, and in my mind they are all weak

Anyway, I ramble.  Everyone have a good day!  Jim

Happy Halloween everyone-nothing too exciting down this way. Looking forward to following our IMFL racers this weekend. Last time I checked weather looked good for Sunday.

I've been running a bit more and October will be my largest volume swim month this year. Part of that is I swam Monday and Tuesday of this week and will swim today as well. Traveling the last part of the week for work so trying to get my swims in early in the week.

Still planning on doing a HM in early December. I rarely do any "running races" as most of my races where I run are at the end of a tri.  Curious to see where I am on my run. Frankly, its a bit intimidating since I'm not usually thinking about anything except getting off the bike and getting into the run. Will definitely have to focus on pacing....not sure what these fresh legs are that people speak of

Randy

I'm going to use Michael's date of November 1 to get back on track with training. I'm coming off my biggest run week ever last week (31, including the race on Saturday) and I'm feeling back to normal. I have a bit of a head cold, but I read somewhere that above the neck is fine to train through, so I'm going to get back to training by swimming tomorrow morning. 

A separate question, especially for Randy, what is everyone's favorite hydration method on a tri bike? I just got my first, and I'm looking to set up how I'll hydrate on it; I went ahead and cage for my frame, but what does everyone prefer? I guess the choices are: mounted on aerobars, behind the seat, and on the frame, or some combination of the above. Any recommendations?

Happy Halloween everyone!  I've just been lurking lately. Since I've been completely lazy for the month of October I didn't have much to share. In all honesty, I needed the time off.

Like you Michael, I'm starting my winter training tomorrow. Since Thursday is a rest day for me I'm pretty confident I'll get it done :-) Nice to start off with a success!

Thanks to Sandy I've had the last three days off. My area barely got hit. It's one of the rare times when living in the boonies is a benefit.

Regarding running shoes, I've been using New Balance MT101's this season. They worked great for me both on the road and on trails. I like the minimal heel because I tend to turn my ankle a lot. 

Hope you get more treats than tricks today!

-Mark

Mark-glad you made it through the storm OK. I had checked with my sister that lives up that way and she said they had wind and rain but never lost power.

Jamie-on the P1 I have used a bottle between the aerobars, on the downtube and also behind the seat. Typically not all at the same time. I have used a Profile Design bottle between the aerobars but now use a Torhans set up on the aerobars. Its a little sleeker but serves the same purpose. I used a 2 bottle holder behind the seat when I did a HIM. I was concerned about my fluid/nutrition since it was my first HIM and elected to carry everything I thought I would need on the bike rather than pick it up during the race. Probably overkill but it worked fine.  For day to day riding, depending on the distance, I would probably just go with a bottle on the downtube and an aero bottle if it were a longer ride.  Hope this helps.

Finished my swims for October and ended up just over 35000 yards for the month. Not alot for the real swimmers but plenty for me!

OK, then, Jamie, I guess we have a virtual date for tomorrow!

My favorite hydration setup for racing is a water bottle on the aero bars (set up 'torpedo' style) and an aero bottle (with concentrated sports drink) on the frame.

For training, I've got bottles all over the place, as needed (two behind seat, two on frame, one on the aero bars).

Just finished a tough intervals session, which closes out October for me.  Monthly totals:

 Guess what I've been focused on?  (Oh, and I just noticed:  the 20:20:20 is kinda cool.)

Pretty good month for me despite the first 2 weeks being a little light. Next month should see continued increase in run, bump up on the bike and a drop on the swim.

Swim            11hr56min              35186yards

Bike              14hr23min              288.67miles

Run               13hr35min              100.56miles

Randy

My numbers are pretty low compared to the previous few months. Training volume will increase here again in November. 

Not a great month for me. Some of it due to bad knee and one week due to a week of extreme Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness after a probably too intense Crossfit Session Still deciding if I am going to sign up for a membership or not. What do you all think of a program like that in combination with S/B/R?

Funny Halloween story I thought you all might enjoy.

For the past 2 years we have bought candy and never had any trick-or-treaters come to our house. This year we were planning on being out of the house at a costume contest with some friends and didn't think anyone would come anyway, so we didn't really remember to buy candy.

As we sat down to dinner, I could hear some cheerful laughing and squealing coming from outside the house. "Oh crap... We don't have candy, do we have candy?", I look at my girlfriend hoping she might have something hidden in a cupboard somewhere.

"No, I don't think we do!", she says.

The doorbell rings and I say "Okay, we'll just sit here, they'll go away".

"But we left the porch light on! They are going to expect someone to be home!"

I put my head down and repeat "It's okay let's just wait them out"

"TRICK OR TREAT!" we hear from the door and again the doorbell rings.

"CRAP! What the heck are we.."

An idea pops into my head and I jump up and run to the pantry. I reach in the back and pull out a brown paper sack and then run to the front door. 5 or 6 kids about 10 years old and younger. Stealthily, I sneak the contents of the brown bag into each of their candy receptacles as I distract them by complimenting their costumes. I tell them to have a good night and I close the door.

As they run from my driveway to the next house, I turn the porch light off and yell up to my girlfriend, "Babe, hurry up and finish dinner! We need to get out of this house soon because if they start asking Mommy and Daddy what a Gu is, I think we might have some explaining to do!"

THE END

Nate, that is the best story ever...

Here are my totals:

This month I'm getting back to swimming more; I had my highest total in September leading up to the Oly. I did well with running this month, capped off by my HM last week. Overall, with the fact that it includes 2 big races and some taper time, not too bad. 

That's pretty funny, Nate.  They'll probably just think it's some weird candy.  And it is, sort of.

I had a really cool experience yesterday, though only completely pieced it together today.  Look at my blog if you want the details.  The short version is that I had a conversation (at the track) with a guy who turned out to be a retired running coach who worked a good bit with Jack Daniels (who is my running coach hero).

Jason, Michael, Randy-Thanks for the hydration tips! I think I'll go ahead and get a bottle for the aero bars and see how I like that.

Just finished my first trainer workout..and I really liked it. I hooked up my iPad with The Office and pedaled away. Pro's-I didn't have to worry about it getting dark, or about cars. I was also able to stay consistent with my pedaling. Con's-I was sweating like a fiend...I really need to get a fan hooked up. 

Jamie-that's great. A good fan or two will help alot. Netflix is my friend on the trainer! Be sure to drape a towel across the aerobars and wipe down the bike good after a workout. Sweat builds up much more on the trainer than on the road.

Nate-great story.  Hope the gels were not caffeinated...that on top of the chocolate/sugar rush would be ugly.

Randy

Hey all.  I'm headed to the mountains for the weekend.  I need to get away from work....

I'll be on line for a big chunk of Saturday, though.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Just got back from my first bike fitting for the new bike, and it went well. He really didn't change very much: turned the seat post around and messed with the angle a little. I definitely felt a difference before and after, I got a few centimeters closer to the handlebars, which was a noticeable difference. All in all, definitely worth it. So, now I'm all set with the new bike and the trainer, now to download some Sufferfest videos!

Don't we have some IMFL racers this weekend? If so, good luck to them!

Our IMFL racers should be on the beach. Looks like a great day weather wise....maybe a lttle too warm later in the day.  I'll be following lots of local racers. PCB is only about 3 hours from me so this is a popular race for the local folks. Below are race numbers:

Rene  #908

Nick   #1263

I'm headed out for a ride and a run will check in later. Have a good day everyone.

Randy   

Rene-was out of the water in 1:39 and looks to be moving well averaging around 19mph through the halfway point on the bike.

Nick's swim was 1:23 and he passed through the halfway point of the bike with a total race time of 4:08. Averaging over 20mph on the bike.

Good work! Keep it up. Go! Go! Go!

Randy  

Nick is off the bike. Very nice bike split 5:29.32.. In looking at the bike times it appears there is a headwind on the way back in.

Randy