Asphalt Junkies Spring 2013 - Closed (Page 98)

Wow, the last couple pages have some really great thoughs and perspectives on racing, I really enjoyed reading it. Especially about taking in the race. I have a had a couple races like that, collegiate nationals and my IM, where I knew I wasn't winning anything, but I am going to enjoy those memories for the rest of my life.

Been putting in some solid training of late and really smashing the bike! I think I'm already stronger now than I was last year, just need to put in more time in the swim and I'll be ready to rock and roll for my first Tri in May! Its funny how a month ago I was lamenting my lack of training and how I wasn't going to be ready, but when I sat back and thought about it I had gotten 3.5 good months of winter work in, took 3-4 weeks a bit easier, and now I am back in action feeling stronger than before my "rest." Just gotta stay positive and put the work in, and the results will come.

Thanks Karl and Matt. Being around pollen is new for me, being a girl from the concrete jungle and all.

As for the Jack3d- too strong for me. I do take some pre-workout drinks and goodies depending on the training as part of my regular routine. Looks like I might change up my bike rides to the evening and see how that goes.

Keep trying the pull buoy for a few laps at each swim. Once you get used to it, you reallt can focus on pull and what your arms are doing, instead of working hard to keep from sinking.

Jonathan - Thanks for posting this, awesome words.

This is great news on the ITB.  If the chiro/ART stuff is the right path, it can be very quick.  When I first had ITB issues it was to the point of thinking I would never be able to run due to knee pain.  Three trips later it was totally pain free.  Once the pain was gone, rolling and proper balancing/strengthening have kept it at bay.  Hopefully that will be your experience as well.  Stay on top of it right though.

I had a similar experience with Rev3.  Super athlete friendly and a great race director.

Add me to the group that doesnt work out early... I'm not a morning person!  Although it might not hurt us to get a few morning WO's in since that's when our races start early...

Dirk - if you want my two cents, do what makes you happy.  This is not a life philosophy of mine, but it's my advice for this race.  If you ease up and enjoy the race, will you regret not going all out?  If you go all out, will you regret not enjoying the race more?  You worked hard to get here, it's a big accomplishment just to get in... I think it's okay to be selfish with this race.  What does your heart want?  Lastly, if there are any problems with your foot or any signs of potential injury, then you gotta be ready to let up... but I'm sure you've thought about this.  And I'm seriously looking forward to tracking you!  Have already been thinking about it this week.

To everyone training - train hard, nap hard

To everyone resting injuries - be alert, train unhurt

Jo, good luck on your race this weekend.  Waiting on a RR

How do your leg muscles feel after a bike ride?  Are your legs pumped?  To tired to walk?  Did I even ride? 

JoAnne good luck with your 5K this weekend. I hear you on the weather we got a taste of some nice weather early this week and now back to rain and 40's and 50's the next couple of days.

Yesterday I went to the pool twice but did not swim twice. I tried to get a quick swim in the morning since I had a busy schedule yesterday and I get there and start getting ready to change and what do I forget? My jammers! I figured they wouldn't let me swim in my sweatpants so I headed home and came back in the afternoon. It worked out well though the pool was empty and I got a decent workout in. I didn't have to rush like I normally do. I was supposed to go back today but the pool is closed they are repaving the parking lot so I'll have to go tomorrow afternoon. You'd think they would have done that when the pool was closed for two weeks.

I am sort of interested in different supplements and have tried a bunch of different things just because.  Call me a tree hugger if you want to, but lately I have been on a serious whole foods kick and have been psyched with the results.

I checked out that substance and would not recommend anyone ever intake that into their body.  Ever.

How about another quick installment of 'pedaling technique 101'?

Next time you ride your bike and you are seated while using your standard race cadence I would like you to consider where in the pedal stroke you are applying power to the pedals.

For convenience, let's just decide to say that whenever I mention 12 o'clock or Top Dead Center that I mean this imprecisely.  What I will really mean is the top of the pedal stroke relative to where your hips line up with the bottom bracket.  If  you are seated way back on the seat that may technically be at 11 o'clock on a clock face...but it's that point where if the crank was still and you pushed it would balance for a moment without turning before it either pedaled backwards, or pedaled forwards. 

In the little graphic here, I drew in RED the arc that I think people tend to apply power through.  I'm not saying it's universal, just that if you don't watch out, this may be what you do....especially as your CADENCE INCREASES.  When I'm tired and struggling (like in a race) I have caught myself continuing to push past the bottom which is putting the brakes on myself.  And when the cadence is really high I have noticed that since it takes a moment for the command to go from my brain to my legs and then for the muscles to begin their contraction cycle that the pedal will have traveled quite a long way by the time I'm pushing.  Often 2 or even 3 o'clock.

So think about your pedal force and concentrate on this question.  Try to apply power over the GREEN arc and not the RED one.

Even at 5 o'clock you should stop pushing.  There is very little return for your effort when the crank is that close to straight down.

(pedal_stroke.jpg)

You are the one!  That's right!  You are the one!....................

.....That finally hit me in the head enough times that I had to pay attention.  Warren was one of the first people to suggest that I make the race in Boston a memorable one, a very memorable one.  Last week I also had another person that ran Boston tell me the same thing .  A co-worker (so to speak) also gave me the same advice in an email on Tuesday.  Then, my mom called me yesterday and we discussed the Marine Corps marathon from 2010.  In short, I told her I couldn't remember anything of the last 2-3 miles of that race other than the pain I put myself through.  I could not remember any of my surroundings for the most part.

I came home and began to catch up on the days posts in the group.  I read your post and WHAM!!! your post hit me like a huge boulder.  It was the combination of my statement to my mom and your post that really seemed to drive the point home.  To be perfectly honest it almost hit me like a knife.  I knew immediately that you, and others, were right and I needed to soak everything up at this race.  As Warren stated:

^^^^And then this!!!  This is so remarkably humbling!  I am speaking sincerely!  Warren, the offers you have thrown out to me both here on BT and through FB are completely..........Well, I honestly don't have any words here.  I told Lis tonight that I would feel guilty if I don't try to allow you to go out of your way to accommodate me and this experience.  It is an unnatural thing for me to reap the benefits of such unselfish behavior.  I can say with all certainty that you haven't been creating a facade of a giving person to impress your online "friends."  You are, in reality, a true friend!

.................And so, tomorrow begins the journey toward Boston.  We leave at 5AM tomorrow morning and I am full of anticipation!  I honestly can say that spending time running and hanging out with Jonathan and Warren will rank right up there with running Boston.  And hopefully I can coerce Kathy and Kate to let you two head west to Tri-Indy in August if you are still up for it.

I agree with Jonathan.  It seems you needed the break away to get your mojo back. And it sounds like you made it back in spades!  Congrats on the break and the tenacity to dig back in and train again.

And I have come to know you much more too.  And I can say about you that I know your philosophy in life has little to do with making yourself happy and more to do with helping others find joy.

As you may have already read in my response to Jonathan, I am going to be real selfish on Monday morning.  I am going to let the race develop and live and breath off of the crowd.

Local bike ride for any of you that might be interested.  It's called the Mendocino Monster.  Their motto is "prepared to be pummeled."

Scary Monster = 100 miles and 9200 feet elevation gain

Hairy Monster = 62 miles and 6900 feet elevation gain

Merry Monster = 26 miles and 750 feet elevation gain

Hahahaha!!!!!  I wonder if Bigfoot makes an appearance? 

~edited to add the link~

Tracy I would love to try and to the century ride. That is exactly the type of riding I need to be doing. Not only that I'd show up just to see if Bigfoot decides to make a cameo. You never know........

I know that a few days ago someone listed Dirk's bib number for Boston, but I looked for awhile without being able to find it.

Can you remind me?

I'm going to have a window open on Monday watching Dirk and another friend as they make their progress.

In fact, my other friend is going to CHICK Dirk. 

Yes, she's a she and she's OUR AGE and she will still chick him!  (maybe)

but she's good, so there's no shame in it. 

I'm getting really excited for Dirk.  This is a big deal.  Now let's pray for weather that allows the experience to be it's best!

Jeff here's Dirk's bib number, thankfully Warren was kind enough to post it.

This is so exciting! Also I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet. You MUST find the camera people and cheese as hard as you can. I don't normally buy race photos but I would think a race like this you might consider it. Have fun!

I second the excitement! I have yet to buy a race photo and I think this one would be an event to commemmorate!