Southwestmba/Andy's excellent adventure group-Full (Page 14)

I was thinking about doing IM Wisconsin, but there's a conference that's usually scheduled the day after the same week I have to go to.  So, I decided not to sign up, and at the conference this week, they announced they might be moving the date.  Grrr.  I really wanted to do IMWI because of the great crowds.

I'm thinking besides the 2 DC olympic tris, of doing either the Kinectic, Bassman, or Eagleman halfs in the Spring, and IM Florida in November.    Beach to Battleship in Wilmington has a good rep, but I think I'd like to experience a WTC event for my first IM.  Andy, you did IM FL - what do you think of it as a first IM?  Anything you'd recommend?  As for yourself Andy, since you seem to love the hills, you might consider St George.  It's still open.

Good luck Phaeton on your first Oly.  You've already done a great job just getting yourself to the starting line.

They started us in the swim corrals per our swim wave/age group.  As you progressed to the start line about 20 meters from transition, they grouped you into bunches of 15, and started you about every 15 seconds.  You ran to your bike, and your T1 started as you crossed the first mat, and then ended on the second mat at the bike out at the other end of transition.  It was kind of crowded, with everyone in your age group going to their bikes on the same section of racks.  It was also very muddy.  At times, the course was kind of narrow and crowded as well.  Most sections were typically 2 wide, but sometimes 3 and 4 riders wide if space permitted.  In some sections, 2 wide was as much as could fit.  Fortunately, the bike course is completely closed to traffic.  I think overall the race managment went OK, but maybe the race has become too large.  I believe 6000 signed up, but only about 4000 started.  Having people strung out by the swim makes a big difference for this event.  Getting into and out of transition before the race started was a zoo with the atheletes going in and out of a narrow passage, and lots of spectators standing around the entrance, and even in the staging area.

Thanks again.  I'm really looking forward to working on building a strong base with some focused workouts and drills over the winter.  In the next week or 2, I'll be finally giving myself a real bikefit.

Back from my Oly and I can't be more than pleased with the results; PB's in all three legs! Belle Isle, Detroit, is a fast track; there were currents to help you in the water, the bike course was closed off to traffic and the run was on flat ground. The temp was pretty ideal too, around 66ish at the start, 68 towards the end.

The oddest thing though; I am sick as a dog today! I have a fever, I have chills. I feel like crap. I can distinguish pains from the tri, my shoulders (not enough lats, Joe!), my hamstrings, my thighs, and I am fatigued from the effort as well, but I also feel sickness, does this happen sometimes when you give good effort? It was my first event at this distance and I did give good effort, my heart rate during the run at one time hit 189. Should I put that under personal bests, hehe?

So that's all my events for the year and I'm happy at the improvement my body has made during the year; already looking forward to next year! So when do we get to sign up for next year's events, is there a specific time or do you just need to keep your eyes and ears open?

Congrats on your first Oly Phaethon!  Here's to many more!

I'm not sure of what made you sick, but I know I could never get my HR up to 189.  For me, anything above 172 puts me into an anaerobic phase and I can't go very much longer without getting my HR back down.

I've found most races don't fill up too quickly, with the exception of many Ironman events.  However, if you've got a "must do" race, I'd sign up sooner rather than later.  The races I do open up anywhere from 10-12 months in advance, to as little less than 3 months in advance.  You just have to keep checking the site, or get on their mailing list.

Well Done!  Looking forward to your race report.

Around my household I am known as the 'Thunderstealer'. My wife has had a bad year when it comes to injuries; back, knee, PF. We'll be having a conversation and she'll mention an ailment and I'll have to add -just conversing, mind you- that, yeah my leg is still sore from the run of the other day or yeah my shoulder is still bothering me and she'll give me that look and I'll realize I did it again.

Not to suggest I'm stealing Hip82's thunder but I looked to see what races were available and Steelhead was up. I am signed up for it! I'm doing my first HIM too, woot! 225 dollars! Holy Cow! If I have any energy left I'm going to head back into the water and start my second one, just to get my money's worth! As a matter of fact, that's my goal; get my money's worth. I get the feeling I will.

Hey guys, just checking in!

I'm currently sick, been so for a week. Prior to that I had just got off a vacation and prior to that a self imposed R&R period to get away from training and let my body heal up a bit, which it needed. Consequently, I've gone several weeks without training/maintenance, the longest stretch by far that I have done so. It doesn't sit well with me; at night lately I'll have dreams of desperately trying to compete in a tri but I keep falling farther and farther behind.

So I'm done with events for the season, but I plan on 'maintaining my fitness' throughout the winter. I will NOT gain my weight back! My best weight was 208.5 but since my training halted I'm up to 214; I'm not anyone's 'triathlete' but I know what I've accomplished and I will not revert to the old me. The present me still has places to go and the past isn't one of them!

My condolences, Andy; I see the Phils weren't able to do anything against Carpenter. Halladay gave up that one run in the first, I'm sure you weren't worried at that time that the Phils wouldn't be able to get one run. I'm a Tiger fan; we were able to get past the Yanks in a similarly low scoring game, what a stressy game that was! It's a good time to be a sport fan in Michigan as the Lions and Wolverines are both fairing well too; I think all these teams will enable me to maintain a good frame of mind as I aim to maintain my fitness throughout the fall and winter.

Grats on your race Andy! I know what you mean about not feeling mentally/physically ready for an event/training session, then end up having a real good one. I read your race report, it sounds like you finished quite strong, grats! I too was paying attention to Ironman Kona; now that I have my first year of events under my belt, my experiences place a different spin on what I was seeing. I felt more attuned to it, able to empathize with the athletes knowing something of the things they were going through.

Currently, I am about 80% over a cold I caught like almost two weeks ago, what is up with that!? I haven't worked out in that period of time, and combined with the carousing I have done due to watching college/pro football (Go Lions!) and baseball, I've put on some weight. I need to reel myself in! Today I think I'm ready to get back into the gym and get my focus back, back to health and fitness. There is a 'last of the year' indoor tri coming up in November at the gym so I have something to focus on; it was around this time last year that I caught the 'Tri Bug' and I'm looking forward to seeing how I have progressed since then.