Where you train... (Page 2)

movie line:  "Hey kids, Big Ben, Parliament!"

Like a lot of people, I think you just need to learn more about where you live.  Get out there and enjoy it.  When I started this I never thought I'd run or bike outside in bad weather.  I found out that running in rain/snow/blizzards is my favorite part of this sport.  Get out of the gym, get the proper gear and train in the elements!  Is the problem really where you live, or that you train inside so much?  I'm guessing there is plenty of interesting scenery where you live, go out there and find it.

One thing I do while riding through a particularly boring stretch of cornfield is imagine when (not if) the camera crew comes to do my backstory for my Kona profile if they would want to use this stretch of road for filming where I train. 

\III/

I'm being slightly tongue in cheek about it (although I have googled "Crystal Lake" - looks nice!!) - I'm very appreciative and enthusiastic about being healthy, finding a new sport, interacting with new people and getting out there and doing it.

I am approaching the winter months with a bit of intrepidation and I do love the thought of training or even competing where some of you guys live but I know it's all good really.

I will run in bad weather (not least because I can't fricking avoid it of course) - it makes it harder and i think I must therefore be making bigger gains - I have a personal duel with the elements!

I'm a lucky chap I know that but I like a little grizzle every now and then (I hope that doesn't translate badly)

Birkie:

where are you in WI, and when can I come move in visit?  

Man, why did you have to bring this up? I am forced to train in the hell otherwise known as Hawaii.

This beach park is protected from waves by the large reef you see is 1000m in length providing a 2000m down and back. Its almost like swiming in a really large pool. The wind can whip up some chop from time to time and there is also the occassional threat of jellyfish. Other than that... the smell of tanning lotion can sometimes be nauseating to some.

This monster dominates my view during the return leg of my long runs. The road here gets kind of narrow from time to time and I am forced to keep a constant eye out so that I don't step on a mongoose darting across the road. Yes, we have mongoose (mongoose? mongooses? mongoosi?).

This is where furndog and I have been doing our swims lately. The horror is that once in a while a sea turtle will get in your way! And don't mention the waves and chop that can totally make concentration on form and technique nearly impossible. The AGONY! There is also a decent 3 and 8 mile running loop that we can start from here which travel past many homes with 7 figure price tags.

Here's an arial view of Diamond Head Crater. There is a park just to the left called Kapiolani Park. This is where they start the Honolulu Triathlon and the Honolulu Tinman. There is some really nice running routes here as well as some nice bike routes. That is... if you don't mind travelling through neighborhoods with homes that sell for 10's of millions of dollars! Just what I need! Another reminder that I am POOR! Thanks Hawaii for ruining my self esteem!

In all seriousness, Hawaii is a fantastic place to train. The only drawback is that I live on the island of Oahu (where Honolulu is) and we are getting more and more crowded. Biking can be dangerous at times and maybe even a bit monotonous since we are limited by the size of our island.

And sorry, I don't have any spare bedrooms.

Let's see, here in Sarasota:

Pros:

• Gulf of Mexico five miles from my house for OWS & beach runs
• Two (2) 50 meter pools within 10 minute drive
• Biking routes along the barrier islands (Longboat, Siesta & Casey Keys)
• Active local tri club sponsored by YMCA.
• Several excellent local USAT coaches
• Three excellent LBS's
• Year 'round training weather.
• Ironman Pro Heather Gollnick (who had the good sense to relocate from WI, unlike Possum)

Cons:

• Hurricanes
• Red Tide
• Alligators
• Heat/Humidity 
• Elderly drivers who mix up their gas & brake pedals on occasion. 
• High bills for sunscreen.

Mark

my slightly more serious reply is...

1. cando wow as to your possible run route! i visited london with uni mates a few years and we stayed near to parliament and it was amazing!

2. my running route is all urban but if i chose i have two lovely parks nearby; one even has a pond with boats and geese.

3. i live all of 5 minutes ride (if that) from a 12 mile off road disused railway track - perfect for rides and will be perfect for runs when i can run longer.

4. swimming facilities kick - moss side swimming pool has decent hours, costs max £1.70 to swim in and because i've been going there for ages i can get a lane put in if i ask nicely and its do-able. and i live about 10/15 minutes bike from the commonwealth games swimming pool - up to two 50m pools and i live about 5 mins walk from a pretty decent gym (at the manc city youth training ground).

kinda sums manchester up really - not much to look at but god its good!

pics one and two no longer have a footie ground in! and pic 4 is the bike route i use.

(mr020_16.jpg)

(mr027_16.jpg)

(main-road-m8632.jpg)

(disused-railway-8642.jpg)

I've just been showing my wife this thread and she's virtually ready to pack her bags!!  The Shaved Wookie has, I suspect, thrown down the trump card.  Surely no ones going to a 1,000 yard outdoor pool!!!  Jazz50210 (or something) has also turned me a darker shade of green (in a good way).

I'm about to go and drag my exercise bike out the garage, into the front room, put some towels down and see what I can find on the telly to watch for 90 minutes whilst my legs go to work. 

Then I'm going to cool down by chilling out on a beach by the pacific ocean with my mates watching the world go by soaking my bones in a luke warm bath because all the hot water would have been used up by my girls in pre bedtime baths.....

and this is my local park and it also shows my gym...cannot get the picture small enough - grrr!

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/v/suburban-manchester/platt-fields-mg8643.jpg.html?g2_GALLERYSID=95091bbd0d93857106f71fc8aeefacfc

if you really want to see!

That's right, he doesn't have any spare room cuz he already promised me a room. 

<<rummaging around old inspires and pm's>>

It's here somewhere!  I know it!

<<rummage, rummage>>

jazz82482 - 2006-08-30 1:26 PM You will totally hate me, because I live in the most ideal of all locations: San Diego I moved here from miserable Rochester, NY where I was 15lbs. heavier and totally lazy. Once I moved here I started training for marathons and now have added triathlons to the mix. I think now that I'm addicted, I could probably train anywhere, but I believe the location was the key to getting me started. If I bike ride for 15minutes from my condo, I am at the pacific ocean. I can swim in either calm bay water or rough ocean water, and all of my long bikes and runs are along the coast. I coordinate my long weekend workouts with my boyfriend and friends to meet them at the beach to go surfing or play beach volleyball afterwards, or just lay out in the sand all day as post training recovery. There is a huge community of runners/cyclists and triathletes and everyone is very friendly and supportive. There are tons of races all year round and some of the best triathletes train here. The best part about it all is, my summer season goes till November, and I can train everyday outside the whole year round. To deal with the cons of traffic and costs, I bike to work everyday and my boyfriend and I only have 1 car. I have to live it up while I can because there is no way I'll be able to buy a house here, so everyday that I'm out there training I have to enjoy it to the max. No bad days! Please don't hate me!

Rochester, NY.....I can see why you don't want everyone to hate you.  I live 20 miles east of Buffalo, NY so I can see why you love San Francisco.  I've never been there but it can't be that bad since Triathlete magazine rated it very high in this month's issue as best tri towns.  I am not in SF but I make due with what I have.  Besides running on new fresh snow first thing in the a.m. is pretty cool.  Like you said, live it up and enjoy...and no we don't hate you. 

jazz82482 - 2006-08-30 6:26 PM You will totally hate me, because I live in the most ideal of all locations: San Diego I moved here from miserable Rochester, NY where I was 15lbs. heavier and totally lazy. Once I moved here I started training for marathons and now have added triathlons to the mix. I think now that I'm addicted, I could probably train anywhere, but I believe the location was the key to getting me started. If I bike ride for 15minutes from my condo, I am at the pacific ocean. I can swim in either calm bay water or rough ocean water, and all of my long bikes and runs are along the coast. I coordinate my long weekend workouts with my boyfriend and friends to meet them at the beach to go surfing or play beach volleyball afterwards, or just lay out in the sand all day as post training recovery. There is a huge community of runners/cyclists and triathletes and everyone is very friendly and supportive. There are tons of races all year round and some of the best triathletes train here. The best part about it all is, my summer season goes till November, and I can train everyday outside the whole year round. To deal with the cons of traffic and costs, I bike to work everyday and my boyfriend and I only have 1 car. I have to live it up while I can because there is no way I'll be able to buy a house here, so everyday that I'm out there training I have to enjoy it to the max. No bad days! Please don't hate me!

 I won't hate you on the basis that Anchorman had me in absolute stictches and that line from the film pops into my head everytime someone says the words "San Diego"  hahaha

 In fact, i'm going to watch it whilst I cycle [cycled currently scheduled in for 20 minutes time]

jazz82482 - 2006-08-30 1:26 PM You will totally hate me, because I live in the most ideal of all locations: San Diego I moved here from miserable Rochester, NY where I was 15lbs. heavier and totally lazy. Once I moved here I started training for marathons and now have added triathlons to the mix. I think now that I'm addicted, I could probably train anywhere, but I believe the location was the key to getting me started. If I bike ride for 15minutes from my condo, I am at the pacific ocean. I can swim in either calm bay water or rough ocean water, and all of my long bikes and runs are along the coast. I coordinate my long weekend workouts with my boyfriend and friends to meet them at the beach to go surfing or play beach volleyball afterwards, or just lay out in the sand all day as post training recovery. There is a huge community of runners/cyclists and triathletes and everyone is very friendly and supportive. There are tons of races all year round and some of the best triathletes train here. The best part about it all is, my summer season goes till November, and I can train everyday outside the whole year round. To deal with the cons of traffic and costs, I bike to work everyday and my boyfriend and I only have 1 car. I have to live it up while I can because there is no way I'll be able to buy a house here, so everyday that I'm out there training I have to enjoy it to the max. No bad days! Please don't hate me!

Oy! So incredibly jealous. I love San Diego.  Definitely live it up while you can.  

Sometimes I wish I would see some mountains or a lake instead of the tall buildings and all the cement.

I live in Brooklyn, which is a pretty urban area, about 20 minute run to Manhattan, usually over the Brooklyn Bridge.  Running, I usually Run in Prospect Park, Central Park or in the neighborhood.  Biking is usually loops in Prospect Park since I'm worried about getting hit by those cabbies or busting a flat on the potholes.   Also, I prefer the park to get away from all the exhaust fumes from the cars.  Swimming?!?  When I can I try to go to the NYC Pools.  Other pools charge $10 each time and they're not even that big.  Maybe 25 yards if that.  One gym has a pool thats 14 yards.  I guess the price of living in the city. 

Damn, Wookie, you've done well there!

Cando, you've got to appreciate what you've got on your doorstep.  In London there are hundreds of pools (though only 2 50m pools, and no OWS lakes but never mind) and lots of cool places to ride & run.  I don't know too much about the east side, but on the west we've got Surrey, Sussex & Berkshire.  There's also the rapidly expanding national cycle routes.

my ex swims at hamstead heath i think. she lives up nw10 i think. mmm not sure but she deffo mentioned ows in london.

btw why is no-one jealous of my views?