Mango's Group - CLOSED (Page 3)

Freckles716 - 2009-04-29 11:05 AM I have just got some books about training. so I am at the VERY beginning. I have been trying to find a coach, no luck. Any idea how I can find one in this area.

I have no knowledge base on nutrition or physical training..thus the books. They have some good plans but I have encountered contradictory information, I guess some is opinion on best ways to start, how much base aerobic training I need to acquire. Thus I was left wondering if September is a realistic goal. Then I don't want to start making excuses before I even start!

I am also trying to find a place with a pool. I thought about training in the ocean, but man Nantasket beach in April can cause cardiac arrest even with a wet suit.

I need lots of help...where to begin???

ootman - 2009-04-29 12:55 PM

 

Mango,

I had a meniscus tear in my right knee in 1980, re-injured it again in 1992 and had it scoped at this time.  It was also determined that I have some arthritis in the same knee.  3 weeks ago I was just sitting, extended my leg out, and had some pretty bad pain, which caused it to be a little unstable feeling.  I rested a couple days, ran easy 4-miler with no problems during the run.  However, later on the day it started to hurt so I took a week off.

Now, I was very nervous about not being able to participate in the Sprint Tri, and called my Doctor, and got in right away (thank God he likes cops).  His prognosis was the same, I still had some arthritis and that I should be ok.   I asked him for a long term prognosis, stating that my ultimate goal is a bigger race maybe a HIM or Full IM, and he basically said “If I tell you to stop running, I know that you will just blow me off” which I replied “pretty much”.  He did recommend that I limit my activity to swim, bike and run.  That I should stay away from al; sports that has quick and rapid lateral movements (tennis, basketball, skiing etc).  This is not a problem and I completely agree with him.

I do not plan on doing speed workouts anytime soon.  I found that when I run fast the pounding causes some issues.  However, if I'm at a steady pace I have no problems with my knees.

Your thoughts on this concept / issue? 

Nutrition today

Breakfast

Coffee

Instant Oatmeal with splendid

Morning Snack

Banana

Lunch

Whole wheat bread with ham and regular mustard

Carrots

Afternoon snack

(2) Wasi crackers 

Dinner

Unknown, but mostly boneless chicken or steak with veggies.  I hate fish only lobster, and thats because I'm from Maine

 

Water Intake

I drink a minimum of a gallon of water while at work, and a couple of water bottles at home.  Maybe a Diet Coke 4 times a week.

 

This is very typical for me during the weekday.  The weekend depends on family events with 2 kids involved in every travel sport its hard.

 Thanks for any information I’m a nutrition idiot, and have tendency to use food when I’m stressed out (but to an extreme).  However, since I’ve been working out I use the exercise as a stress release.

Questions:

 

Am I having enough fuel for my workouts, especially with starting the Olympic Plan?

 

What should I eat the night before and the morning of my event?

 

I know you should take a couple of days off during the week to recover.  However, when I take a day off I feel like I'm missing something, because I truly enjoy the workouts.  How do I deal with this feeling?  A short very easy run.

 

Have a great day!!!!! 
 

Shawn

“What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger”

 

 

wsolt - 2009-05-02 5:52 AM I have a couple of questions about training.

First, I am doing a 16 week, 2x balanced plan.  I am a busy person and I don't want to miss any training.  This week I was supposed to ride on Friday and then run on Sunday. Due to scheduling conflicts (and the weather) I did my ride and run on Friday.  This will give me the whole weekend to rest before going at it again next week.  Does anyone see a problem with that?

My second question.  Sometimes when I ride hills or run longer distances my knees are sore after when I go up and down stairs.  No shooting pain, more like fatigue.  Is this normal?  And if it is, will it get better in time?

kslamp - 2009-04-29 7:09 PM Justin, I think I fell apart because I hadn't trained on hills at all. Though the event description did say "gently rolling hills", I thought, hey it's Illinois. To my surprise, there were a number of hills, some fair sized around the turn around for the bike and the run finished on a good sized one. I did the first two miles of the run faster than I expected--ten minute miles (yes, I'm slow) but I saw that last big hill and just lost it. It was likely as much mental as physical though I admit my legs were done by that point though I wasn't in pain. I think I likely wasn't conditioned enough period and then the hills just made it worse. I did a few bricks as proscribed by the training program in the last few weeks and they went fairly well. I think though the hills got me, I just needed more volume on the run because I'm slow. As for training this week. I took the week off after the Sprint--there was some pain, mostly lower back, afterwards. I've just started back on a combination of the run focused 22 week Olympic plan and Hal Higdon's 1/2 marathon program (I didin't think the run focused would give me the distance for the half marathon and wanted longer work outs for conditioning and fat-burning). Basically I've just plugged Higdon's runs in on run days. The run (3x a week around 3 miles now) and bike (1 or 2 a week 48 and 88 min) workouts feel about right but I did 1950 yrds in 48 minuted in the pool today and have been pretty much useless, making me wonder if it is too much workout for me. I do want to add weight training--at least lower body, but haven't figure out quite how to do it. Maybe just some squats and lunges are the way to go? My plan was to do the Chicago 1/2 marathon (which I think is the same day as the Chicago Marathon?) and then the big Sprint Tri here in Chicago three weeks later - though I question the wisdom of doing two races so close. Anyhow, this is a long post, I'll stop. Thanks for mentoring me. If you and your wife would like a place to stay for the Chicago Marathon, our doors are open. Kassie

wsolt - 2009-05-02 5:52 AM I have a couple of questions about training.

First, I am doing a 16 week, 2x balanced plan.  I am a busy person and I don't want to miss any training.  This week I was supposed to ride on Friday and then run on Sunday. Due to scheduling conflicts (and the weather) I did my ride and run on Friday.  This will give me the whole weekend to rest before going at it again next week.  Does anyone see a problem with that?

My second question.  Sometimes when I ride hills or run longer distances my knees are sore after when I go up and down stairs.  No shooting pain, more like fatigue.  Is this normal?  And if it is, will it get better in time?

ootman - 2009-05-03 8:13 AM Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to let everyone know, that I finished my very first Tri and had a friggin GREAT TIME .  Here are my times, not too impressive, but hey I did this race for me.

Swim:   13:32  Very surprised with this time, I thought it would be slower, so next race I'm pushing it a little more.

Bike:     46:46  Nice easy ride, did not want to push too much, because I wanted to keep some gas in the tank.  I did not drink enough water though.

Run:      36:35  I know, very slow, but I have always been slow nice easy pass though

Overall Time:   1:37:58

I have to tell everyone that I had a great time.  Everyone was pleasant, nice, helpful, understanding, and supportive.  All las night I was telling my family "Boy that was fun" so much that all three of them started to make fun of me, but thats ok.

Well I'm signed up for another Sprint at the end of the month.  Goal is to push the swim harder.

I would like to personally thank Mango for some good advice which helped out a ton for this newbie.

I'm going to take a couple of days off, and start the Olympic Plan this week.

Shawn

"What doesn't kill you, will make you stronger"

mangorunner123 - 2009-05-04 7:22 AM

ok, lets get some group participation on in this forum!! 

what is your favorite post-hard workout snack?

Also, What is your favorite food to eat after a big race?

I will start, my recovery snack is a HUGE protein shake:

skim milk
strawberries
banana
strawberry protein powder
Banilla (strawberry and banana) yogurt
vanilla extract
honey
stevia 

and then my post race meal is a large pizza with the works (hold the anchovies) with a whole bag of jelly beans after that. 

What does every one else do?
 

jgerbodegrant - 2009-05-04 10:42 AM

haha...I would have to agree with beer.

I like to do a bowl full of plain yogurt, kashi, dried bananas, honey, raisins, and wheat germ.

Add this to your responses:  Favorite post race beer:  Guiness!!

mangorunner123 - 2009-05-01 9:41 AM

whizzards23 - 2009-05-04 12:08 PM

Two favorite post workout snacks:

Glass of water with chocolate Endurox and a Chocolate Brownie Clif bar, or a protein shake with chocolate protein powder, milk, a banana and a tablespoon or two of peanut butter.  (I think chocolate is the recurring theme here...)

So I did my first official triathlon last weekend: 300 yard pool swim, 14 mi bike, 5k run.  I started 24th in the water...apparently I entered too slow a swim time.  It was a bit hectic, as I had to climb over a couple of people who were not nearly as fast as advertised, and got caught in a log jam the last 75 yards.  Came out of the water in 3:38, I think the 7th fastest overall.  The bike course is pretty hilly, and the weather that morning was overcast and windy.  Bottom line, it made for a rough ride, especially for someone who's only been riding for about 4 months.  I managed 20 mph on the nose for the 14 miles, which I was happy with, all things considered.  But the so-called "Nice Hill", which is a short, but very steep hill about halfway thru the course, really trashed my legs.  I just haven't had enough hill training as of yet.  Getting off the bike was miserable, definitely a mental battle.  My first mile or so of the run was pretty slow, but as I got my legs back under me I was able to pick it up a bit.  The run was a series of very gradual inclines/declines, and like 4 turnaround points, so getting into a steady groove never really happened.  22:16 for the 5k...I think I was most disappointed in that leg.  1:09 for the whole race, good enough for 25th overall, 9th in my 25-29 AG. 

For my first race, I was very pleased.  I think the transitions and running ability off the bike will come with more experience.  My slowest leg against the field is definitely the bike...hopefully that will just come around with time. 

I'm shooting for a couple more sprints over the next 2 months...but then I think I want to try an Oly in September.  I've looked at the training plans available on BT (I'm not a paid member), and they aren't very specific.  My goal is to be compeitive (relatively speaking) in all of the races, and the training is mostly as time based.  Is that what its about for a new triathlete?  Just time spent, as opposed to a big mix of pace, tempo, and effort?  One problem I'm having right now is being involved in too many other activities that kind of interfere in regular training.  I'm in 2 basketball leagues and a volleyball league...I guess that playing 35-40 min of full court rec basketball is better than nothing, and can kind of substitute for some run training...or do I need to supplement those with workouts before/after?  I'm lost!

Took 3 days off this weekend to enjoy the Kentucky Derby-Great Time!! Couple S-B-R sessions planned for this week, then race on Saurday. I'm beginning to feel pretty nervous-especially over the ocean swim. Just gotta relax. I'm hoping to break 6 hours with a 5:30 goal if everything goes right!

mangorunner123 - 2009-05-05 7:46 AM