Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: switch on 2013-10-09 9:12 AM

I think we all tend to work our strengths pretty well but put off those things that hurt or things we're not very good at.  By addressing our weaknesses, we can fix problems, learn new things and gain confidence by learning to be outside of our comfort zone--a very helpful thing in triathlon.

The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to spend some period of time addressing your weakness each day.  I'm kind of imagining this challenge as an ongoing thing that people use when they feel they need it.  You can join any time you have something you want to focus on.  We will start mini sessions every two weeks (if you want to start mid-session, totally g2g, just jump in, if you want to work that thing longer, you can always declare it as your weakness for the next two weeks).

I have picked two week intervals because during the last challenge I started, I noticed that people were really strong for about two weeks, and then many of us (myself included) started to miss days here and there.  "They" say it takes two weeks to develop a habit, so I feel like this is a good place to start.  Obviously you can keep working the same thing for more than two weeks/one mini session if you want.

For those of you who are new to BT or maybe have been on BT for a while but haven't done a challenge, I highly encourage you to try one.  They are a GREAT way to get to know your fellow BTers, and you can learn a ton from the group. A number of people who did the 100d x 10 min = 1 strong core challenge will be in this group, and it is an AWESOME group of very fun, kind, supportive folks.  Btw, the alternative name for our challenge was put forth by Salty to Mike, two core challenge participants;)

First session will start Saturday, October 12th. 

So who's in?  Tell us a bit about yourself and the weakness you'd like to address first :)

-----
--Elesa
"Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand."-- #37

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: jmhpsu93 on 2013-10-09 10:12 AM

Hi, I'm Mike.  My wife and daughter clearly have spoken to Switch to inspire the title of this challenge.  And in most some cases, it's good advice.

Anyways, my weaknesses that I will be addressing are:

• Leg and back flexibility
• Nagging injury-caused weaknesses
• Muscular balance (or imbalance)

My official "off-season" starts Sunday so I'm taking a few days completely off, then I'm taking about 6-7 weeks to address my limiters.  Most of the plan involves doing Bikram Yoga almost every day, plus stuff like actually doing my PT exercises.

I highly recommend Switch's challenges.  She definitely hounds you mercilessly keeps you on track.  I just finished the dumbest idea of my training life Core Challenge and I have to say, if I ever have to do a plank again I'll die it has made a big difference in my physique and training.

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Mike
https://www.strava.com/athletes/2066322

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: Asalzwed on 2013-10-09 1:33 PM

STFU we don't want to hear about your problems 

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-Adrienne
Instagram: http://instagram.com/asalzwed
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASalzwed

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: jmhpsu93 on 2013-10-09 1:40 PM

To those of you considering whether to join this challenge, I promise Adrienne isn't this mean to everyone. 

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Mike
https://www.strava.com/athletes/2066322

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: noelle1230 on 2013-10-09 1:41 PM

Swwwwwwwwwweeeet! (betcha thought I was gonna say Swwwwwitch )  Count me in for this!

Name: Amy

Previous Challenge Experience: 100 Days of Core.  Which rocked.

Weakness: Oh, where to begin?  How about flexibility?  Hip and shoulder flexibility, that is where I shall start.

My action plan starts with me attending yoga/pilates fusion on Friday.  I commit to some type of yoga class at least once per week.

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: Asalzwed on 2013-10-09 1:41 PM

Hello, my name is Adrienne and I am a runner.

I have many, many weaknesses but I will just be addressing some of them, specific to running  

 

Listed are the weaknesses and what I am going to do to work on them.

Core: A variety of complex exercises such as pull-ups, hanging leg lifts, inverted crunches with weight

Quads: Step-Ups, Step-Downs and hill work

Hip Flexors: Supine Single Leg Lifts

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-Adrienne
Instagram: http://instagram.com/asalzwed
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASalzwed

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: msteiner on 2013-10-09 1:42 PM

Edit:

I liked Amy's format, so I'm stealing it.

 

Name: Matt

Occupation: Senior Software Engineer/ BT Extrapolator

Previous Challenge Experience: September Swim vs. Bike. vs Run Challenge!!, September Running Challenge!

Weakness: Running

Since my current training lines up with this challenge, I'm working on my run (the leg I consistently place lower in overall than the other two legs).  This Saturday is a Half Marathon to see where my running is, so let's get this started!

Edited by msteiner 2013-10-09 1:45 PM

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: switch on 2013-10-09 1:43 PM

hahaha perfect. Mike, I hope you're fully prepared for the abuse you're about to take--there is no "off season" from your BT harassment
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--Elesa
"Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand."-- #37

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: switch on 2013-10-09 1:45 PM

Nice... Matt in da hizzous!
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--Elesa
"Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand."-- #37

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: switch on 2013-10-09 1:49 PM

Yes!!! Ok, so I'm gonna send you some studies about improving flexibility, but the short version is a little bit each day seems to be the way to go. Any chance you can sneak a little bit in every day? Ah, yes, let the nagging begin
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--Elesa
"Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand."-- #37

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: switch on 2013-10-09 1:51 PM

Hey, Salty, how does Snoop get his whites so white?
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--Elesa
"Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand."-- #37

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: Asalzwed on 2013-10-09 1:58 PM

Do tell...

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-Adrienne
Instagram: http://instagram.com/asalzwed
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASalzwed

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: switch on 2013-10-09 2:02 PM

Bleotch!
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--Elesa
"Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand."-- #37

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: noelle1230 on 2013-10-09 2:14 PM

If challenge master Switch says to do a little every day, I will do a little every day!

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: Asalzwed on 2013-10-09 2:14 PM

Shoulda seen that one comin'!

Speaking of bleeeeoootch... actually, I will take this to another forum so as to not taint this one. 

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-Adrienne
Instagram: http://instagram.com/asalzwed
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASalzwed

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: switch on 2013-10-09 2:18 PM

"Challenge Master" is a much kinder moniker than the one I gave myself.  I thank thee. 

You're so good about doing stuff every day.  I think you'll see nice returns on this

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--Elesa
"Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand."-- #37

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: popsracer on 2013-10-09 4:31 PM

I'm in for another round.

My name is Steve and my biggest weakness (and what I've focused on for the last six months) is my tri running times within my age group relative to swim/bike.  I come from a long, long running background but since I got back into tri's about 5 years ago I have been plagued by injury and while I've risen through FOMOP and am nipping at the heels of FOP in swim/bike my runs have been very disappointing. I've made huge progress in the past months and both the Running Challenge and studying JD's book have given me purpose and focus in my running training.  I'm currently involved in taking down the Ghoulies so have some volume goals I'm also working on.

Specifically for this challenge, I want to sharpen the tip of the sword.  I've had a pretty good phase of base and want to focus now on further introducing some quality into my workouts.  In about four weeks, I have the first of four 5k's and a 10k within a relatively short period of time.  My weakness has been fading in the last mile.  This challenge is going to address that and result in smashing my over 40 5k PR.

On a lighter note, my son who just turned 8 wants to run his first 5k this weekend and I told him I'd sign him up and run with him.  He's super excited after being around my dozens of races.  He wanted to know if he'd get a t-shirt and a number.  And very seriously asked me, "Daddy,...,how do you think I'll do in my age group?"  Brought a tear to this pops eye.

As an after thought, I wonder if this isn't too broad of a weakness as I see the challenge is kind of a daily new thing to work on.  Are there more specific aspects of my goal that might work into this better?  Daily strides or something of that nature? 

Edited by popsracer 2013-10-09 4:45 PM

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"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift"
- Prefontaine

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: dtoce on 2013-10-09 7:13 PM

I am in.

I'm back to base training and during this part of the year have a tendency to neglect multiple workouts because it's 'only base training'.
Since I'm not planning another IM next year (although I do have permission from my DW) , I fear I'll do even less. My weakness is giving
in to my time pressures and not 'getting it done'.

This challenge will hold me accountable to the group to get my training in.

I liked Amy's(and Matt's) format, so I'm stealing it also...

-----------------------------

Name: Dale

Occupation: Overworked citizen, patient advocate and troublemaker on the message boards

Previous Challenge Experience: None

Weakness: Too Many to List...

------------------------------

Ran tonight, finishing in the dark, but treated to a magnificient sunset! Had to go with the pager and phone since I'm on call, but I was not bothered
at all during the run. Gonna have to wear something a bit brighter or with flashing lights as the cars did not see me very well...Did the first 2 at recovery and then pushed the breathing up to my 2:2 (which is ~45 breaths/minute and 90 steps w each leg--probably not correctly called 2 to 2, since I just count 'one-two' and I take a step with each leg and breathe in, then count 'one-two' as I breathe out and take one more step w each leg)...Last 3 at 'easy' pace.

One in a row.

Edited by dtoce 2013-10-09 7:16 PM

RE: Work your Weakness aka "Hey, Mike, STFU!" Challenge
BY: ligersandtions on 2013-10-09 8:25 PM

I'm in!

I'm Nicole -- been at this tri stuff for a little over a year now.  I don't necessarily need a challenge to be motivated, but you guys always seem to have so much fun, so I thought I'd give it a try!

Running is my biggest weakness, so I'd like to work on that.  Unfortunately, I seem to be rather fragile, so my plan is to do Z2 runs five times a week and slowly build up my weekly volume.

Also, my VO2max power is somewhat weak in relation to my FTP, so this is another weakness I plan to work on with a minimum of two VO2max rides a week. 

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Nicole