Beer Drinkers Appreciation Society (BDAS) 2023 Mentor Group - ALWAYS OPEN (Page 71)

I absolutely vote tri bike over mistress!! Seriously...I can't even imagine the logistics of trying to juggle a mistress, a wife, a job, AND tri (plus some kids, in your case).

I have no idea where I am in the stream of things, but...

@Mike--yay for your daughter!! I qualified too, although I'm not sure I'm going to do it and I have no idea what race I did that qualified me, since I don't remember doing any Olys or Sprints in the states this season. Dropping a pretty penny on travel to Worlds and already ultra distance nationals (again!), so I think I'll have to sacrifice AC nationals, although it would be cool to finally meet you! I'm aging up too--F45-49!

@Andrew--good luck this weekend! I know it is a bit early, but I'm so very seldom able to get on right now that I want to make sure to get it in before the race!

@Nicole--Dry December sounds rough, but then again, it will be all the more rewarding when you accomplish it. I, personally, am doing swampy December...everything I drink is kinda trash right now (Stella (not the good stuff) beer, and Auld Stag Egyptian Whisky style alcohol (and no, I didn't spell it wrong, that is what the bottle says)).

@Nat--beat down lazy Nat!! 2018 Nat called me and said she is gonna get you in 2024 if you don't! :P.

As for me...running, running, running...then working 12-13 hour days. This has been a really busy season, but at least I'm making progress.

Well tri bike over mistress seems to be the consensus. Here's to growing old disgracefully.

@Mike, Nice morning workout, and some good speed coming back there. I vote for doing the 5k fitness test on the weekend. Racing is fun.

@Gretchen, 13 hour work days, plus finding time to eat/sleep/do washing etc. and then marathon training? You do like a challenge. But nailing it as always I'm sure.

@Nat, Fat Nat (your words, not mine) can have a week or 2. There's nothing wrong with a bit of total rest during the off season. In fact, there's a lot to say it's something we should all do. Run interval workout later in the week tells me that she won't be around for long though. That's definitely a Fit Nat sort of activity.

@Me, Race prep is in full swing. 60 min cruise in zwift last night. And got a bag of goodies delivered, nice shiny new elastic laces for running, new straw/bite valve for my between the arms bottle, new bag of tailwind to fuel me. Spending money is fun.

45 minute treadmill run planned for tonight, and final bike prep/clean. Will probably head out for a short ride tomorrow before work for a final bike gear check.

Hey, I never said Nicole shouldn't go for Dry December. I just said it was a damn hard month to try it, and I don't think I could.

For the avoidance of doubt, if it's what you want to do Nicole then go for it. We support you 100%. AndI have no doubt that if you want to do it bad enough you will succeed.

Hey everyone! I skipped a workout this morning! I've been standing on concrete for 12-13 hours a day (in flip flops--yes, not the brightest idea) and then couple that with the fact that I woke up at 10:30pm last night and could not go to sleep again, I was having a rough morning. Legs were blasted...brain was shot...so, I just said no...not gonna put myself through that.

Edited by jmhpsu93 2023-12-06 1:34 PM

@Gretchen.... So, you are human after all. Good choice taking a rest. Sounds like the only sensible decision.

@Mike, Leg day after 5k run? Hope that's not your 5k fitness test Unless the goal is to induce some fatuige before lifting that is.

@Me, 45 minutes on the treadmill last night, consisted of 2 x 15 minute builds from just below my 'planned' race pace to around 5k pace. This morning was a half hour easy ride, mainly to practice with my upgraded BTA drink system. I have replaced the straw with a longer one, that clips out of the wind with a magnet rather than the fixed, vertical original one. Took a few goes to get used to, but I think it's going to work well.

Easy 20-30 minute jog tonight, then travel day tomorrow.

Ok, tomorrow is travel/registration day for my 70.3 so I will likely be offline until then. So, without further ado here is my race plan/goals/predictions. More for myself, sticking things in writing helps me get them sorted in my head, but happy to share.

The good, The weather looks perfect, mild temps, low wind no rain.
The bad, The bike course has changed to a much hillier course. In the pre race planning I've seen it suggested a good cyclist is 10 min slower than the old course, which was not easy to start with. I'm scared. And the cold. The lake is cold this time of year, and a clear low wind day in Taupo is also cold so the start of the ride could suck a bit.

Swim,
As above it's going to be cold. Apparently the lake is around 15C (<60 Freedom Units) I want to wear my sleeveless wetsuit, I find it much more comfortable than the full sleeves, but I'll go for a swim Friday after registration and see what it's like. If it's totally hypothermic I think the added insulation is worth more than tight shoulders. It'll probably be a race morning decision.

As usual I haven't swum enough. But based on the OWS I have done this summer I think 2:00-2:10/100m is achievable. That is 38-41 minute swim. It's also my first time doing a rolling start so I'm not quite sure what to expect. Less drafting opportunity but less of a full contact sport. The plan is to stay in my box, nice long easy strokes gaining 1-2 minutes here is not worth it, try and finish the swim as fresh as I can. Target/prediction is out of the water in 40 minutes.

Bike,
It's going to be slow. The new course has double the climbing than the old one, and little to no flat. I'm honestly not sure, on a flat course I would be thinking around 3 hours for 90km, with this course I'm thinking a 3:30-4 hour ride.

Plan is stay in aero as much as possible, including climbs where possible. Spin up the climbs, low gear high cadence climbing. On the descents, get up to speed quickly and use the time to recover as much as possible. Especially the final descent into T2 to try and start the run on fresh legs. Aiming to consume 75g/carbs per hour, I'll have a concentrate mix of 300g in an aero bottle on my downtube, plan is 1 sip every 20 minutes, which should last 4 hours. I'll take a small flask with an hours worth in my bento bag in case something goes bad and I need more, along with some chews or something to mix it up.

Prediction is 3hr 45 minutes. But that's an absolute stab in the dark considering the climbing and the fact I haven't done this course before.

Run,
My big goal for this tri is to run well. Run well by my standards that is. I'm hoping to be able to target 7:30/km pace. That's 2:38:15 half Marathon which is less than a minute off my run PB. That's my stretch goal. Realistically I have not been under 3 hours for a 70.3 run since 2013. Sub 3 hour is the goal. Run PB is the 'having a perfect day might be possible' goal.

The nutrition plan is 50g/carbs per hour, I'm going to carry a tailwind concentrate mix in 2 soft flasks, each good for 90 minutes. Plan is to walk the aid stations and have a sip of my mix and cup of water at each one (about 2.5km apart), otherwise run a steady pace. First lap @ 7:30/km and then reevaluate for laps 2 and 3.

Transitions,
T1 includes a run of around 400m, uphill. So it's not going to be fast. Goal is T1, less than 10 minutes (includes 5 minute jog/walk from the swim to bike. T2, 2-4 minutes.

Overall
Despite feeling fitter and better prepared than recent 70.3's this is not a PB course. Unfortunately I struggle to see myself getting under 7 hours. Even if everything goes well. My pick is 7:15-7:30 total. And If I do that, with a run I'm happy with I'll be happy.

If you made it this far through my rambling, well done, this is far longer than I planned when I started writing. For anyone wanting to follow along, I'm No. 570. Race starts (first swimmer) at 6:24 NZ time (12:24pm EST Friday) Have a good weekend guys, and talk to you all after.

Great plan, good luck!