Holt's Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 12)

The run, well, I definitely need more training.  I did a fair amount of walking in the first half.  One goal I had was not to walk, but it's ok.  I didn't walk the second half and finished with a sprint.  Kind of a sprint.  Time 34:29.

Transitions were slow.  I wasn't rushing any.  Overall time 1:50:23, rank 87/149 in my division, 828/1468 overall.  They did say it was about 2000 athletes, so I'm not sure where the other 600 went.  Anyway, I'm happy.

Thank you to everyone in this group!  You have been a huge support through my initial training!  My next race is 7/30 and it will be a true OWS in Lake Michigan.  I'm bitten by the bug!!!

I have not run either regularly enough or far enough.  I had lost some motivation recently and just let myself slide.  I also didn't do enough bricks.  Yes, I was pretty gassed after the bike.  Maybe I could have eased up on the bike, but I really think it's a running fitness issue.  I need to make much better friends with running and will renew my resolve to run at least a little every day.  I didn't even run up to T1.  I need better running legs.

Tips.  Hard to say.  The waves for the swim were divided by age group, not times.  I started pretty far back of the pack and should have started farther up - there were a lot of people who were very slow and I had to pass them.  Since it was a serpentine swim, that was hard.  Bike - I would practice hills and intervals more. I forgot to bring the GU I'd planned to take in T2, and that may have been a factor in the fatigue.

I really made it a point to look around and enjoy the beautiful day and pretty neighborhoods.  Be conscious that this was my goal and I had made it here.  Also that I was "just" doing the same things I'd been doing in training since January.  The women were friendly and I chatted with a couple during the run.  I'd say "I hate hills" and they'd say "I hate running."  In other words, I tried not to pressure myself.

Two nights before the race I went to bed early, and the night before the race I was in bed by 9.  I took melatonin, which works well for me, and didn't have too much trouble getting up at 4:30 am, ugh.  I didn't feel the effects of getting up so early until long after the race.  Slept well in the afternoon, though. 

So my "tips" are mostly training related - bricks, hills and intervals.  Race day, relax and try to soak it all in.  Your training worked, you're where you belong, and you're just out to do your thing.

Congrats SDEJAN!!! That sounds like an awesome race and is a great accomplishment!

Glad to hear you are looking forward to your July 30th race.

holt1997 - 2011-06-14 10:52 AM For the group: Are there any other areas you would like to discuss or have questions about? Does everyone feel comfortable with where they are at in their training and progress (If we all say yes then I'll bet someone isn't being truthful ) Is there anything inparticular that you feel is a weak area. Some questions about intervals early on. Have people tried them? What did you think? Lots of questions but if there is anything I can help with let me know. Scott

Running is still my big sticking point.  My hip (well, butt actually) is a problem since my glute muscles have shortened due to the running.  I'm stretching and seeing a sports doc about that, but in the meantime it's a PIA .  I wanted to re-start my "run every day" regimen today but don't think I'll be able to.  I jogged across the street today to get out of the way of traffic and it really hurt.  I'll be getting home late today so it might not be possible to do a bike workout either - life, sigh.

Otherwise I think my main obstacle to progress is simply not enough training.  I switched to an oly training plan although I only plan to do sprints this year.  Hopefully that will force me to extend myself.  And I will definitely include interval training this time in all three disciplines - especially running as I'm able.  Question: if you bike in a city/suburb, how do you do intervals on a ride?  Do I need to drive out to more rural roads where there is less traffic?  Multi-use paths and suburban streets seem too dangerous.

Be sure to post a report!  I'm sure since you will be fresher this time you'll improve, although your first times were pretty impressive to start with.

You're nuts.    But then, you're the one who did two tris in two days.  If you want to compare times on Sun with your last tri, doing that long a swim Sat could impact your performance.  If you could treat Sat as just for fun, not go for time and not push it too hard (and not drown), then what the heck - go for it.  How long is the swim distance for the tri?

Written by someone who has NO inclination to swim 3 miles, with or against a current.    Let me know how it went; I'll be lounging on the couch admiring your courage.

holt1997 - 2011-06-14 10:52 AM For the group: Are there any other areas you would like to discuss or have questions about? Does everyone feel comfortable with where they are at in their training and progress (If we all say yes then I'll bet someone isn't being truthful ) Is there anything inparticular that you feel is a weak area. Some questions about intervals early on. Have people tried them? What did you think? Lots of questions but if there is anything I can help with let me know. Scott

I am really growing a distaste for biking.  I don't have the option of a road/tri bike but ride a hybrid (trying not to let that be a big issue).  I know the bike isn't 100% fitted and I can't possibly get a professional fit done so I am trying to figure out the in's and out's on my own by reading and surfing the net.  I am still tweaking with the hopes of figuring it out.  I have found a great route/road to ride that is low traffic, etc so I am truly encouraged by that.  It is just my weakest link right now and feel very discouraged by the lack of training I have based on so many factors.

On the upside, I attended a running clinic on Saturday and the instructor implied that I am definitely on the right track!!  That felt really awesome!!  I was on a recovery week last week so back to hard stuff (running) tomorrow and can't wait to do intervals more!!  I have tried them a little without much specification of time just feeling the increase in perceived heart rate.  I like the idea of adding more challenges.

I feel 100% committed to my event but I still don't feel like I have done what I should most days.  Figure worst case scenario is I have to walk

A great link for bike-fits is on slowtwitch. It goes pretty in depth - if you can use this resource together with finding some of the "how's my fit" forum threads with pictures & video you should be able to get pretty close - but just remember that it's never going to be a 1 style fits all. It will depend on your bike, your shape/size/flexibility, the stem length, the crank length etc. There are so many variables to consider but the main thing to find is where you are able to ride and be comfy. Note however that this position WILL change especially in the first few years of training as you yourself change and adapt - most noticably this can happen with improved flexibilty.

Hope that helps, give it a go and let us know how it goes, and keep with it.

Lewis.

congratulations on this milestone!!  looks like you had fun

G

sdejan - 2011-06-09 12:24 PM

bmeere - 2011-06-08 10:20 PM Hey Everyone, just thought I would share a happy milestone with all of you.  Today I swam (as I was supposed to) but swam 2k straight...Up to this point I had not been more than 1200M and that was in intervals....swam it in 41:18.84 with an avg pace of 1:58.04/100M...my splits were pretty consistent and all were right around the 2:00 mark, have to say I came out of the pool feeling pretty good...

That's great!!!

What's the story to your Oly tri in your signature?

Well the town that it is run in is pretty hilly for this area (Southwestern Ontario). It was a 1k Swim, 42.2K bike and 10K run.  I was approx 5K into the bike and was approaching a pretty significant hill so I changed from my large chain ring, to my small on the front and up the hill I went.  As I got to the top, I went to change back to the large chain ring and it wouldn't go, tried a couple of times, actuall got off the bike and set it in manually, only to have it drop back to the small as soon as I started to pedal again, so I finished the balance of the bike leg with only the bottom gears  :-( Needless to say, this didn't have a positive affect on my overall time and when I got out on the run my legs were just a little mushy...

Wesley12, you've got a big weekend ahead!  Have fun on your swim tomorrow and rock Sunday!

Anyone else racing or have plans for the weekend?  I signed up on the spur of the moment for a 5K race tomorrow.

It sounds like it was a fun event!  I can't wait for your report tomorrow!

The 5K was good.  My first two miles were each around 9:30/9:40, which I was very pleased with.  I slowed down some in the 3rd mile.  I don't have a final time.  It was supposed to be chip-timed, but they changed that to a system where the bib number had a perforated bottom piece with your name and number, and you tore that off at the finish line and handed it in.  Someone said the results would be posted online, but I can't find a site for it.  Oh well.  I was pleased with the run.  I even ran into someone I knew, but she pulled away pretty quickly because she's a better runner.  But we got to chat for a minute anyway.