2010 Tri Thread

[Duanerice]

Alright Richard! Remind us a few days before so we can keep track of you. We have a lot of our group going to New Orleans next weekend for the HIM.

Remember, the race is the reward for all that hard work - have FUN!

enjoy,
Duane

 

[tiberius]

You can count on it Duane. I understand what you mean about the race being the reward. I was nervous and uptight before my first HIM last October, but I'm already a lot looser and more relaxed this time--knowing what to expect goes a long way in feeling better about it.

 

[Duanerice]

Did my longest bike ride ever yesterday. A little over 38 mile with a few bridges thrown in for fun

I know for some of you that isn't much but my legs were tired. I find it amazing that just a little breeze or even the slightest uphill and YOU FEEL IT on a bike. Especially when it is on the way back!

Tried to keep at least and 18 mph pace but overall I was right at 17. Darn stop lights

enjoy,
Duane

 

[hoosmi]

Hey kids!

Nothing much to report. I'm totally impressed with Duane's schedule. I've decided I will definitely sign up for the sprint tri in May and not the olympic. I think I could finish the olympic, but I want to make sure I enjoy it. (It helped that I went to the ocean this weekend- most people were admiring the view, I was just trying to talk myself through the panic. )

My schedule is mostly about running right now. I've been running roughly 5-6 days per week for about 30 weekly miles; I'll swim 1-2/week, and bike 1-2/week. I know that's not enough to set any speed records, but I'm okay with it for now. It will get me through the sprint.

For the record, 38 miles on a bike seems pretty long to me.

So that's it. I can't wait to get to live vicariously through Richard's race report!

Jen in GA

 

[wtpclc]

Jen - I thought 24 on a bike was long last year. Did 20 on my second outside ride of the year this year. :-O You could pull it off no problem!

Duane - :-O You would not find me anywhere near that prgram. Holy cow! I tried silicone ear plugs and hated them. The plane rubber ones work well for me. I have a terrible time with water int eh ears without them. Mine are kind of liek this.

Richard - Can't wait to hear about your half iron!

Ghoulishgirl - Congrats onteh wetsuit!

stego - Glad your trinign is going so well!

mgsmom - You will get there. Beign impatient can cause injury, so easing itnto it is good. By teh way, any time on a bike and then any run is tough. It will get better, though!

BigEeyore - I have been advised just not ot use my legs, they screw me up. lol. It will eb good to save your legs for the run teh way you are trianing! Cool!

Swim class tonight adn then a tri symposium tomorrow. The symp is where we do our core class. Hope tehy don't know me well enough to tell me I don't beling. Plus, it will give us 10% off our first tri of the season when we attend.

 

[mgsmom]

omg - Carrie - those earplugs look scary!
I say that - I've never had ear troubles but I do put alcohol in my ears when I get out of the water. And I shake my head a lot - maybe that explains the blurred vision - ha ha ha

Do any of you guys have any experience with Diamondback bikes?

I'm thinking of going with a "street hybrid" - it would definitely be an improvement over my $50 cheap-o mountain bike - and for one or two sprint tri's a year, I really don't want to go overboard on price. Most of my events are running.

Comments? Suggestions?

 

[chimera]

<gulp> I have a whole new way to injure myself...clipless pedals...with shoes and everything. I figured after flipping my bike last year with regular shoes and pedals, what's the worst I can do while clipped? Wait...don't answer that

Any last minute tips on surviving clipless?

Good on' ya, Richard! Looking forward to hearing about your half Iron!

Duane...are there a lot of triathlons down in your neck of the woods? Season's starting up here...I could do one a month if I wanted.

 

[ghoulishgirl]

<gulp> I have a whole new way to injure myself...clipless pedals...with shoes and everything. I figured after flipping my bike last year with regular shoes and pedals, what's the worst I can do while clipped? Wait...don't answer that

Any last minute tips on surviving clipless?

Mel- I want to go clipless too but I'm nervous about it! I can't wait to hear how it goes for you! My other issue is I have a bunion on my right foot and cycling shoes are so narrow! One guy told me I may have to go custom on the shoes and I don't even want to know what that will cost me!

 

[jmasgat]

Mel Practice, practice, practice. I think I went to a parking lot and just spent time clipping in and out of pedals. I also find that I favor unclipping my left foot first, so I just do that consisstently. And sometimes when approaching a point on a road where I figure we will likely stop, I just unclip a little in advance. I figure it's easier to clip back in than spend time picking myself off the road!

Duane Congrats on the ride. That is a LR for sure. And OMG on the training regimen. I feel like a slug just reading it.

Richard COngrats on putting iin all the hard work, and we'll all be following your effort next weekend. Hope you enjoy it (is that weird to say "enjoy" about a triathlon?)

Nothing for me to report. Still putting off jumping in to a full-on tri plan til I finish my winter run plan. So come May 1, I'll have no more excuses. Actually, I have no excuse now--I already met a big running goal for the year, and there is no reason not to move on. It;s just that swimming is so darn frustrating now--even more so than last year.

Happy training, all.

Maura

 

[wtpclc]

Mel- Scott has found that he puts whatever foot he wants to unclip down before he tries. After he crashed into me when I had to stop quick at an intersection (truck coming much faster than anticipated or speed limit), I woudl recommend unclipping whenever ther's the slightest possiblity of stopping. Good luck!

Maura - At the symposium I went to last night, they reinforced that you need to spend teh most time on what you dislike the most. Good advice, not that I like it.

DId I mention tha tI finally got the knack of freestyle Monday? Woo hoo! Once i figured out that what I was trying ot do was completely wrong, things got so much easier.

 

[mgsmom]

Mel - good luck with your clipping and unclipping! I'm not there yet - maybe I'm chicken... yeah, I'm chicken!

Duane - if you could please do some training for me too while you're at it - holy cow! Very inspirational!

Richard - do let us know all about it! I can't wait to hear~

 

[Duanerice]

Clip less pedals.... When I started I practiced on a trainer at the store where I bought them. Practiced unclipping my right foot over and over because I THOUGHT that was the foot I put down first. Got home rode to the end of the driveway and unclipped my right foot. Instantly fell on my left side. Seems I put my left foot down first.

Pretty easy now as I do what most of you mentioned. I unclip way in advance and sometimes unclip both feet if I know it is going to be a stop light.

My schedule is busy right now because I need to learn all the sports (but running). There just aren't enough days in the week to practice everything without doubling up.

Last night I tired the bike trainer for the first time. Not like real riding but it keeps the legs going. What I miss is the breeze! What is neat is it makes a humming type noise so you can hear how you are pedaling. Like if you are just mashing down on the pedal each time it sounds choppy. But, if you use a continuous pedal motion it sounds smooth. Didn't know how choppy I was.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[tiberius]

<gulp> I figured after flipping my bike last year with regular shoes and pedals, what's the worst I can do while clipped?

Mel - I've flipped a few bikes in my time, too...3 times that I can remember, anyway. I've been riding with clipless pedals since last September and have fallen only once, and that was last weekend while doing something foolish--I tried to put only one foot down and "hop" over to the crossing pole to hit the crosswalk switch to change the traffic light. Unfortunately, when I "hopped" back around, I ended up leaning to the side that I was still clipped in with and then gravity took over and I fell into the grass, bruising only my pride. As a matter of safety, I also take one foot out when I start to slow for a potential intersection stop, just in case.

I'm still 11 days from my half iron, but thanks for all the love and support, I will make sure to tell you guys all about it. I am still trying to get in at least one open water swim in my wetsuit before then.

 

[wtpclc]

Duane - I HATE the trainer! However, it has done wondders fro increasing my cadence and keeping it steadier.

Richard - Hope the open water swim goes well. Just can't wait to ehar.

Oh, forgot to mention that I took major step #1 towards my half iron last night. I signed up for an olympic end of June. That will eb good training if that half iron does come to fuition. Of course, when a guy last night looked at me as I told him my dream of doing a half iron July 31 adn Said, "This year????" with great bnig eyes, I felt a little less hopeful.

 

[hoosmi]

As usual my WISHers have perfect timing.

I was kind of grumpy about the whole tri thing yesterday. Swimming was hard (no way I'll ever be able to "dolphin dive"). My partner is a really good natural swimmer with limited endurance. So, I'd plod along to the end of the lane and then she'd blaze past me but have to rest a lot. I was happy I wasn't resting, but sooooo jealous of how natural she is. Because I'm totally stubborn, I'd already run 7 miles for the day, so I was pretty tired, which contributed to my grumpiness.

I also realized I can't find my pedal wrench- I was considering throwing in the towel on trying to deal with my clipless pedals and putting my old ones on again.... then everyone's talking doubts and encouragement and I feel better now! I think I'm going to live on the edge and try to take my bike out tomorrow instead of letting my pedal fear get completely out of control...

Do have some good news to report. I put my 10 year old and 4 year old in swim lessons. Short term goal is just to have them be better swimmers and have fun; long term goal is to teach them proper form in case they eventually do tris! Anyway, they both love it. Harry, the 4 year old, yelled "you've got to be kidding me! this is awesome!" every time he finished his turn. Cracked me up.

Mel and Duane- I've only used my fancy pedals on my trainer so far, but one of my favorite slightly embarassing workouts is to ride the bike while flipping between Biggest Loser and American Idol on Tuesdays... I downloaded a video for my iPhone that is pretty fun- it's Sufferfest- it's a really hard workout.

Carrie- yay for the freestyle knack!

Maura- I'm with you with the run focus. I'm toying with running a full either in October or December. I'm working on a fast 5k plan now for a race in July- I think it would be easy to integrate a plan for the October full, but am worried about the heat. But, if I wait until December, I'm afraid the never-ending fall holidays will hurt my long runs... and it will probably still be hot. I haven't done a full since Goofy 08 and would like to try again...

mgsmom- ok, very little experience here, but I did my sprint tri on a rented hybrid Trek 7100. I liked it. I've since bought a relatively inexpensive road bike, but I have fond memories of that hybrid. Plenty of people on faster bikes passed me, but I did my share of passing too. It really depends on your goals- I bought my road bike during a time when I was dealing with PF and had cut back on running. Now that my PF is better, I'm running more and sort of neglecting my bike (or using my 23 year old mountain bike to ride with the kids).

Jen in GA

 

[wtpclc]

Jen - "You have got to eb kidding me" lol. Coach Harry is 4 already?? Where does the time go?? OK, teh woman who ran Goofy with a stowaway is worried? You will be fine!

 

[ghoulishgirl]

I made my reservation for a rental bike for my sprint in May in Arizona. The guy was super-nice on the phone. I went with a hybrid because there are alot of turns on the course and I haven't been on my road bike in ages! I just want to have fun so who cares if I'm slow? Chances are, I'll be last out of the water anyway, a road bike isn't going to help me that much!

 

[chimera]

I'm thinking of going with a "street hybrid" - it would definitely be an improvement over my $50 cheap-o mountain bike - and for one or two sprint tri's a year, I really don't want to go overboard on price. Most of my events are running.

Comments? Suggestions?

I have a Jamis hybrid with flat handlebars and road bike components. It's definitely lighter than the old mountain bike that has road tires, but probably not as light as it could be. I LOVE it and have no current desire to upgrade to a 'real' road bike. I bought it a year ago when it was on sale for $500 because it was the previous year's model. I also tried an entry level road bike by the same company but liked the hybrid better. Instantly 2 mph faster with the new bike, so the bike can make a world of difference for you.

definitely go to the bike shop and try some different versions. I ended up driving 30 miles because the closer shop guy wanted to sell me a $1200 girly pink road bike for my first duathlon.

This is it (with the old pedals):

 

[Duanerice]

I am sad today. Most of the team is leaving to New Orleans for the HIM this weekend. I am happy for them but sad I am not going. I might be able to do the swim now but the 58 mi on a bike.... I am a few months out on that one.

Can't complain, I just started.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[hoosmi]

I did it! After much procrastination and forgetting of things, I took my bike outside with my clipless pedals.

It's definitely scary, but not as bad as I'd expected. I noticed a couple of things. First, it's strange to try to clip in your second foot while still moving your first and balancing. I know, basic stuff, but I lack coordination! Second, you really have to commit to where you are going. Hmmm.... maybe I'll pull a u-turn in this street and go the other way... do it fast or unclip or you may fall (I didn't but came close). My neighborhood is really slow paced, so I didn't have any encounters with cars. That was great, but I don't know if I could unclip very well in a hurry.

I did have an encounter with the demonic pack of chihuahuas a few streets down. There are four or five of them- hard to tell when they're chasing you and yapping. I'm developing a pathological hatred for both the dogs and their owners. I can deal with dogs who bark behind fences or even at the edge of their yards, but these people leave their horrible little creatures out all day. The pack literally chases you an entire block. You wouldn't think something so close to the ground could have so much stamina! And that ends my rant.

Duane- I feel for you. I pouted all marathon weekend even knowing that I was probably happier in my house than all the runners freezing! On the bright side, after my one successful 9 mile ride, I was entertaining visions of doing the Macon half ironman duathlon- 5k run, 50+ bike, 1/2 marathon in June. I was just toying with the idea, but you saved me from my madness with your post. If you don't feel ready for New Orleans with the kind of training you're doing, I know I'm not!! Back to my finish the sprint and work on my base plan!

Carrie- yes, Coach Harry is 4. Crazy. He's in a group of 4 or 5 kids in his swim lessons. They have the three float belts and noodles. Last night they swam some laps. I saw him totally playing it cool and looking at the kids over his shoulders as he tried to stay in the lead. I'm pretty sure he intentionally squeezed one girl into the lane marker to stay ahead... he's going to be trouble!

Mel- cool bike!

Ghoulishgirl- I rented a hybrid and loved it. I was worried I'd fall over on an unfamilar road bike. If it works like the tri at Disney, you just pick it up at the Expo and then drop it off- that was great!

Jen in GA