2010 Tri Thread

[crewmatt]

Just signed up for the DC Triathlon, anyone else doing it? Its June 20th.

 

[mgsmom]

I love DC - but I won't be there...

I'm losing count here - who all is training for what? Oly? Sprint? HIM?

I'm training for a sprint-tri. Just found out today the swim is only 300 yards. Really? Sweeeet. I can do that in my sleep! Maybe not quickly, but confidently.

 

[ghoulishgirl]

the swim is only 300 yards.

I'm insanely jealous. I'm always worried about the swim. My swim this weekend is 750 meters

 

[Duanerice]

I'm insanely jealous. I'm always worried about the swim. My swim this weekend is 750 meters

My first sprint in March was an OWS of 750m too. Between the cold, my first OWS and the wetsuit I couldn't swim. Pretty much sidestroke the entire way.

The only reason I tell you is that even with that, I finished. Regardless of what happens, you can finish. You'll do GREAT!

enjoy,
Duane

 

[ghoulishgirl]

Duane: Sounds like our first OWS experience was very similar. My first was last June. I specifically chose SheROX Tempe hoping for warmer water. I'm still going to wear my wetsuit (aka: the security blanket) though!

 

[crewmatt]

I'm doing the DC Sprint and the NYC Olympic. I too am dreading the swim, guess I should start training for it. Whoops

 

[mgsmom]

You guys - I need some pepping up here.
My shoulder has been really sore and hurting since my swim last weekend. But, I've been taking good care of it and I'm sure it will be fine soon.
So then, yesterday, I go for my run. It is a 4 mile run - and the route is really great. Lots of interesting things to see and several turns which keeps me on my toes. It was AWFUL!! It started off a little rocky - my legs were like cement - still sore from bike on Mon I guess. But, usually after about 3/4 mile or so that goes away. It didn't. So then about 2 miles in, I was really getting sick of the sun - so I switched to the shady side of the street (duh). Which helped for like 2 blocks. It was very sunny - which made the 85 degrees feel a lot hotter. So I was thirsty. I kept telling myself "Just relax, get back into your rhythm, listen to the music, breathe..." Trying to calm myself down because at this point I was really concerned about getting back. Ugh. Well, now it was mind over matter. I did have to stop and walk several times - but I could see my hands were puffy and red and I was getting those chills so I didn't want to wreck myself. I'm a wimp.
Anyway, I turned onto the main highway to get back where I started and I know it's about a mile. So I was like "I'm going to run this whole mile without stopping and wimping out" I just thought I would take it a slow jog and catch my breath and get to it. Yeah, I couldn't even do that.
And this was all on a stupid 4 mile run! Which I've done several times before with no problem!
How in the world am I gonna survive a 5K after swim and bike if I can't even run 4 miles on any given day. Really.
So between my shoulder and my run I'm really freaked out.
Help!!!

 

[jmasgat]

mgsmom HAving just come from yoga, I give you one piece of advice......BREATHE. And then try to forget your run. Hard, I know, but it was just a bad run--nothing more/nothing less. You may have been tired, or a little dehydrated with the warm weather. How did you feel after your run? Did you feel "back to normal" physically?

Just try not to freak (I know, stupid thing to say) and see what the next one is like. And listen to your body.

Let us know how it goes.

Maura

 

[crewmatt]

Also focus on your running form (short stride, relax shoulders, control your breathing - ever 2-3 left footfalls, smile) and set shorter term goals, go for 20 steps hard and 20 steps easy, back off the pace before you have to back off the pace. The heat and other factors can cuase you to tire more quickly, just like in the actual tri. You just need to know when to back off early so that you dont have to stop.

Also some days are just off days, they happen, dont stress too much about it, or you could cause more of them.

 

[mgsmom]

Thanks guys - I know, I just need to chill out. I just got so upset. I think getting older has made me less "athletically inclined" than I used to be.
I'm not old by any means - but for the first time in my life I'm realizing that things aren't as easy to work up to as they used to be. I was a full-time gymnast until I was 18 - sometimes I guess I think I should still be able to get in that kind of form.

Maura - Maybe a yoga class should be in order today - might help my shoulder!

Crewmatt - Thanks for the running tips. I've never really had anyone tell me how to do it - I just run. I did notice yesterday when I was having trouble settling down, that my shoulders were hunching up and I had to keep pulling them back. I'm going to try the 20 steps thing next time.

Thanks for the encouragement - you are right - some days are just bad days! I think because I'm approaching the one month mark to my tri, I feel like I should be further along.
But I think I'll be fine.

You guys are the best!

 

[BigEeyore]

mgsmom Don't get discouraged! Everyone has a bad training day once in awhile, it's good to feel "beat up" sometimes b/c you will prove to yourself that you can come back stronger the next time. A bad run is always better than no run at all! Are you using a heart rate monitor? I only started training with one this year and it has made all the difference in the world.
I am only signed up for one sprint tri this summer, I would like to do more but those entry fees aren't cheap!
My DH was in San Francisco last weekend, he did the running leg of the Escape from Alcatraz tri for his corporate team. Now THAT is one tough race! The swim is in chilly SF bay, they take you out on a ferry and everybody jumps in and swims for shore. Then biking in SF (hello hills!), followed by an 8 mile run that includes something awful called the sand ladder. Ugh.
Going on vacation in a week, I know that I probably won't train much at all. Just trying to tell myself that a week of rest will do me good, and I'll come back and train hard til race time!

 

[Duanerice]

mgsmom. It happens. Don't fret. Now if it happens every time you ran then it might be an issue


Participated in the FGCU (college) Sprint tri this morning. Had a great time even if it was a pool swim. They started 3 at a time and you swam the 50m lane then went under the line markers and came back the other way. It was only 400m.

Bike was cool and they even threw a bridge in for fun. Run was hot but I had negative splits for the run.

This was kind of a fund raiser for their swim team and they did a good job for the second year. There were almost 300 people today. I have no idea what my time was. Not even sure where to find it.

Sure beat just going for a training ride

Next Saturday another sprint but this time an OWS. Yahoo!

enjoy,
Duane

 

[ghoulishgirl]

Hey everyone! I don't know how to cross-post, but my SheROX Tempe race report is over on page 2 of the May Rebel Alliance thread if anyone is interested.

 

[Duanerice]

Tiffany,
great report. It is always nice to see the pictures too. And yea, 750m looks a lot further than it really is

thanks for writing the report.
Duane

 

[mgsmom]

Hey guys -
Taking out my 4 mi run again today - wish me luck!

ghoulishgirl - I can't wait to check out your trip report. I'll wait until I get home tonight - my work internet blocks out all the pictures.

 

[hoosmi]

Hey kids!

So, my sprint tri is next Saturday. I had a decent run today, but missed several days last week. First we had to replace our breaker box- ever caused an electrician to let out a scream? Yeah, the old box was a wee bit old. For two days we had crews of guys in and out of the house and no power during the day (the breaker box didn't take as long as all the other little things I remembered...) So, I skipped those days. I felt really bad about it, but today's run helped.

Guess where I went Friday?... Emma had a school trip to SeaWorld. We took a charter bus (4+ hours each way in one day!) and headed to Orlando. Emma and a couple of her friends rode all the big rides and were talking trash to the kids who went to the shows instead. At one point I found myself in the shark tunnel thing- I was on that moving sidewalk looking around and thinking that I've done a lot of moronic things in my life, but going to look at sharks and stingrays one week before my ocean swim-- way up there.

Then on Sunday, I finally made it to an open water swim at our coaches' house. It's a nice pond, with a little beach area. They had markers for 1/4 mile. Luckily one of my friends who'd been before warned me that the water would have weird cold/hot pockets- that freaked me out. I went out too fast and sighted poorly. My second lap was slightly better, but my sighting was still off. I left feeling very conflicted- I did swim most of it, so that was good, but I was more freaked out than I expected. (and then they mentioned the water snake. Really.) I'm getting the feeling that I am just a runner posing as a triathlete, but maybe that's just pre-race nerves hitting me...

mgsmom- I had a horrible run a couple of weeks ago. Great for about 2 miles and then a stitch in my side. I ended up walking home. I had a rough moment the next day, but slowed down and got through it. I've been fine ever since. I blame heat, dehydration (I'm working on drinking water all day, not just around my running), and just a bad day. You'll be ok!

Duane- I kept thinking about how a pool sprint would be more my speed!

Tiffany- I'm off to read your race report!

Jen in GA

 

[Duanerice]

and then they mentioned the water snake. Really.)

That's just not right Good luck this weekend.

I have another Sprint this weekend and we get to swim 400m in the river. First OWS since my first tri. I will do good! Keep telling myself

enjoy all,
Duane

 

[mgsmom]

Hey guys - thanks for all the peptalks! My run yesterday went MUCH better!
I was all pumped up and ready to go and my DH was all "easy there, tiger, remember last time you took off too fast" So, I took off nice and relaxed and just let it build up naturally. When I got to that last turn onto the highway that is 1.5 miles from my finish, I started trying to turn it up a notch. I'm going to start working my speed that way - from the back end. That way I don't shoot my whole run pulling out too fast.
Anyway, had a great run - finished with a smile!
Next up - bike and run brick on Wednesday...


Tiffany - Great race report! I love how your mom had a bunch of strangers cheering for you! And what awesome running times! I'm still stuck at 12 or 13 min miles even when that's all I'm doing!

Jen - Sounds like you guys had a fun trip! Just block the underwater critters out of your mind when you're swimming. I bet all those swimmers and all the noise keeps them away anyway!

 

[jmasgat]

mgsmom Yeah! Glad you're run went fine (we've ALL been there).

Duane You'll do great. Good luck this weekend.

JenLook at it this way.....you freaked out, and got it out of your system. Now you can relax and just swim your own pace and get 'er done. Don't worry about being fast, or water snakes (seriously?) or whatever. But I think more than one of us here would admit to having the same thought as you--runner posing as triathlete. Oh well, Strike a Pose!

As for me.... 7 workouts over 7 days leaves no rest days! That's what my hybrid plan would call for (tri + 1/2 marathon). So what did I do last Friday....took the day off! Then spent Monday playing catchup--1500m swim, then 1hour on bike. Who says I don't have a job---apparently it's as an amateur athlete! Anyway, I'll stick with it. At least it makes me feel less guilty about eating dessert!

Maura

 

[hoosmi]

OK, kids. We did a mini-tri at our coaches' house on Tuesday night. (They have the big pond with a paved concrete road that goes all around the pond and house for about a 1/3 mile- sweet setup!) No mention of the water snake this time, thankfully.

Any tips for not going out too fast in the water?? If they let us warm up a bit in the water, I'll suppress my fear and do it. If not, what to do (besides try to force myself to go out slowly)?

The bike was fun. I was really light headed getting out of the water and putting on my helmet/shoes, but was fine on the bike. The transition to running was much easier. The run itself was slow, loud, and kind of awkward. I'll miss my iPod but at least there will be people around!

I did a sort of brick workout yesterday- all I had time for was 6 miles on the bike and 1/2 mile run. I went out fast on the run just to see if I could. And I could, but probably not for long...

What are your thoughts on Garmins for the race? I have a bike mount and my velcro wristband. Advantages: knowing where I am on the bike course, being able to correct my speed on the run (mainly slowing down at the beginning). Disadvantages: one other thing to deal with, might get discouraged about pace and push too hard. I'm undecided. I have a regular watch with a lap function so I can have a basic idea of times. I know I'm being silly- it's just a sprint!

I'll try to report in on Saturday after the race. I volunteered to pick up a friend who doesn't have a bike rack- forgot she lives a good 20 minutes away! It will be fun to have company for the hour+ drive, but I think we're going to have to leave around 4:00 a.m. to get our packets and get set up. Good thing Disney races train you to get up that early!!

Jen in GA