Jamie's HIM/IM Training Group-CLOSED (Page 40)

Thanks for all the bday wishes!

I'm on step 4!!! I took some pics to post of the new seatpost, etc. I'll upload when I can. After an hour spin, here are my thoughts:

The good: I'm definitely less stretched out - the "reach" to the aerobars feels natural finally. I also feel like my knees aren't hitting my chest so much, since the angle between torso and thigh is less acute (slightly greater).

The bad: This may have nothing to do with the seatpost, but I feel like I'm putting a lot more weight on my arms now. I think this is because the seat is a bit higher than my previous seatpost, and I also removed a spacer to get more aero.

I agree - I don't want the new position to cause any problems! I might put the spacer back in...It's tiny anyways and might shift some weight back onto my rear a bit.

Actually, my back is having some issues (started before the new bike set up). I showed up ready for a group run last night. Everyone starts off with an easy jog and my back is killing me every step I take. I think it started in the car ride home from Tahoe. No clue where it came from, but I had to turn around and head back to the car. Went home and got a spin in. Hopefully whatever this is heals VERY quickly. I used the TP roller on my back this morning hoping it would loosen things up.

Jamie,

I think I speak for all of us when I say THANK YOU for mentoring this group.  You have provided some great info.  Thanks again.

Definitely agree!  Thanks for the input...I did a 5 miler today...I feel like I am getting into the groove at the right time...

8 mile run this morning with some hard intervals.  Good workout but I am tired and ready to call it a night soon.

And thanks Jamie for being a great mentor.  You've been very responsive with great opinions and input on everything!

Wow that was fast. This was my third mentor group and I feel like I really got a lot of practical, insightful advice from everyone, especially Jamie though. It's obvious you know what you're doing! Thanks for taking the time to help us all out, hopefully we'll be staying in touch!

PS - got on the bike last night for a 90 minute spin. Put the spacer back in, and moved the aero bar pads back (out) to where they were before I got crazy about being "aero". The lady gave my back a good massage then used the heating pad for a bit. Hopefully I'll be ready for a run this weekend.

Got 42 miles in before the rain started.

Thanks for all the info Jamie and the rest of the crew! 

Lets see - i am at step 6.9!

MONSTER weekend for me. Saturday the group (4 of us) rode from Santa Cruz to Monterey and back - ended up being the first century for all of us! The way back we had the WORST head winds I've ever been in. I was hammering on the flats and only going 8-10 MPH. Talk about physical and mental drain! This went on for a good solid hour.

Sunday was a solo long run. About 2.5 hours, 17 miles. My legs are feeling it today big time. Popped a couple advil this morning. Now I'm eating my face off at work.

Im trying to come up with a description for my unMONSTER weekend, but havent figured it out yet.

Spent the weekend in Rochester with lots of family that came in for the engagement party.  The plan was to ride the old mountain bike on Saturday, only to get on and have it crumple beneath me.  So I went old man style on my dads hybrid, which was the worst biking experience ever.  Complete opposite of being aero, I felt like a huge sail sitting completely upward while debating whether "any ride is better than no ride at all".  Tried to salvage the weekend with a good swim last night and had to stop about half way through because of achilles pain.

First race of the year this weekend, Olympic distance, waters supposed to be in the low 60s.

And Jamie, thanks for all the support in hosting this group for us.  The biggest thing that Im going to take away is your consistency in your workouts.  Your power outputs and the straight lines that you have in the graphs are really impressive and something that Im going to work to achieving.  It really is robot like output.

jamiej - 2011-04-11 3:18 PM I'll will preach a bit more about power meters. If you decide to get one they are great in the wind. When wind hits you most people do one of 2 things: 1. hammer into a headwind 2. stop pedaling with a strong tailwind. Both of these instincts are b/c of one number that dhopmann hinted at..........speed!!! Either you think its not fast enough (headwind) or you think you are going fast enough (tail wind) I know this sounds crazy, but for HIM/IM do NOT look at speed. Tape that nasty number over and forget about it. Regardless of if you are using RPE, power or HR you need to watch THAT number in both situations and keep it fairly constant. Don't chase speed! You may catch it but it will kill you in the long run (no pun intended!!) Tailwinds are important too. Keep the HR/RPE/Power UP UP UP, don't relax. Mother nature is giving you a gift and if you didn't hammer into the headwind on the way out then you'll have enough in the tank to take advantage of this when the tailwind happens. Wally, if you are reading this, memorize it for Muncie. The first 1/2 of the course is usually into a decent head/cross wind. Just deal with that. Let everybody else go nuts and hammer into it and totally blow up while you stay at target effort regardless of speed. After the turn around you usually get a good tailwind. That will be the time to keep your power/HR/RPE up and consistent so you can sail by everybody that destroyed themselves into the headwind. Jamie

Great advice Jamie.  If nothing else, with or without a power meter, it's important to be conservative in the hills and instead take advantage of what the course gives you in the downhills and downwind stuff.  In addition, you continue to peak my interest in training with power.  I just wish the power meters and wheels weren't so damn expensive!  Surely you have an old one sitting in your basement you'd like to sell to me for $100?

Anyway, finished a morning run and have an hour long bike ride tonight.  Should be fun!