30 runs in 30 days - who's with us? (Page 182)

Just incredible..Allez! Allez!

Gulf Coast..ah, yes..Sufferfest. Good luck!

Thanks. Training for a spring Florida race while living in Michigan is interesting. I've been doing 95% or more of my training in our basement gym. I used to open the window next to my treadmill while running so I wouldn't overheat, but this entire year I have been running in there with just the wimpy little fan on the treadmill while keeping the window closed and the room light on. It's the closest way I could think of to easily simulate the heat and humidity I'll run into in Florida. I can tell you that 13.1 miles on that treadmill isn't a lot of fun, but I have caught up on a LOT of TV between that and long bike trainer sessions.

The Gulf Coast course is pretty flat, so at least the treadmill and trainer are decent for simulating that.



Edited by MSU_Brad 2024-04-12 9:01 AM

I did Gulf Coast 6x - it was my first Half and second ever tri all the way back in '04 - and what was 100% consistent was the weather. You'll be fine

Awesome! So how was the weather? Mid 70s and humid?

It was always a little warmer than that by the time I was running. Humidity I don't remember as much. Always wind but a couple of races it really helped. The earlier you get started, the better; there's plenty of room at the swim start(just sayin')..

It is rolling start now, so my plan will be to get somewhere in the front third.

Thanks for the background!

Today was an easy 2 miles in high humidity for #4022.

I crossed over the 11 year mark a few days ago.

Struggled through that Gulf Coast 70.3 back in May. The swim was nearly canceled, as it was double red flags (no swimming) due to rip currents the few days before the race, so I didn't even get in the ocean until race morning when it was only a single red. I also went to get a short ride to dial my bike in before dropoff on the day before the event, and blew a tube. Ended up figuring out my brand new tire had a slice in it, so had to panic run over to the expo to buy a new tire and install before dropping the bike off. Just felt like things weren't going my way at that point.

There was only a single red flag the next morning, so the swim was on. I had a so-so swim, as I was all over the place due to the current (they actually flipped the direction of the swim to go with vs against the current for a short time). Felt pretty good on the bike, but I knew it was getting warm. The run was murder for me. It was close to 80F when I started, and there is no shade on that course. It is a 3 lap course, and I had an okay pace for the first lap, but early in the second I was just hanging on and taking as much water as I could. It turned in to a long walk for me before it was over. I was quite a bit off my goal time. That's the danger of a spring Florida event when you can only really train in Michigan.

In June, we ran the Lake Tahoe Half Marathon. That was challenging. Again, not something I could train for well in Michigan; the race started at 7000+ feet and finished at ~6300, and there is almost no flat ground in the whole race. It was a beautiful course, but way more uphill and downhill than I am used to, which took its toll on me.

I was a little worried about my knee recently, as I have been experiencing some patellar tracking issues, but after a couple visits with my chiropractor, I think it is just relarted to a really tight adductor (which probably started to be aggravated during the LakeTahoe half).

Hope everyone else is doing well out there!

Thanks!

I'm a bit obsessive compulsive (if that wasn't obvious haha), so stopping is pretty tough for me. I don't have any plan on when I would stop at this point. I was really considering it with the tracking issues; or maybe it is better stated that I was growing concerned that it would become necessary. I'm not getting any younger, so I realize the end will come some day, but for now I'm keeping at it. Unless an injury gets me, I'm sure the end will come some day similar to how you mentioned it with Forrest Gump where I just realize I'm really tired!

86 degree water? Wow! I'm almost surprised they let you swim, but since it was only a sprint distance, I guess it isn't too bad. Seems potentially dangerous for anything longer though! Nice work getting through it!