Spirit of Racine - HIM training talk

I continue to be in denial about how far behind I am in my training this year.  Either that, or I'm in denial about how little time I really have left :-)

Been pretty much wingin' it in training so far this year.  Too much other important stuff in life to drag my tri training up anywhere near the top of the my list of priorities.  I'll have to whip together some sort of logical training plan for IMWI eventually.  Will probably loosely follow Gale's 13 week IM plan...eventually.

Where to start.  I haven't been in the water since IMWI last year.  Heading to the pool for the first time this year after work today.  Not too worried about the swim.  I've conceded my swimming slowness and it won't be changing this year.  Just need to resurrect some level of swimming fitness.

I've been doing probably 3 to 4 Computrainer rides per week pretty consistently for quite awhile, typically 45 to 60 minutes each.  Recently been out for a couple 2 hour rides in the wind.

Running's been on and off with some various injuries popping up here and there.  Feeling pretty decent right now.  Did about a 7 mile trail run this weekend, which went well.

It's really been IMWI looming somewhere back there in my head.  Haven't been thinking about Racine much at all.  For me it's just about trying to stay injury free.  Assuming I can do that, then it'll just be a question of speed, or lack thereof.  Right now I don't see myself headed for any PRs this year.

I'll just keep telling myself there's plenty of time :-)

-Steve

I'm signed up for SOR and IM WI...but this was before an injury took me out for about 4 months. Im still aiming for both...but literally, starting from square one with running...Im not expecting to be beat my time from last year...but use it as a training day for IM WI..

To make everyone feel better about their training...

did my first mile of non-stop running in 4 months yesterday and longest ride to date this year is just over 40 miles.   Ill be making sure things are all ok at the back of the pack!

JT

I'm feeling pretty good about where I'm at.

I'm ahead of where I was this time last year in terms of bike threshold power, run threshold pace.  Swimming is about the same place as last year.  

And I've still got 3 months to go!  Ohh yeah!  :D

Unless conditions are bad or an injury crops up, I'm thinking I've got a chance to knock on the vicinity of 4:50'ish, which would be about 10 min faster than last year.

I feel fine.

Swimming is going great.

Biking is also going very well.

Was a little worried about my running...knee surgery in October, and the longest I've run to date is about 5 miles... but I've got plenty of time to build that up before the end of July.

Am hoping to improve upon my time from last year, which was 6:15. Am hoping to break 6:00.

5:59:59 would work for me.

Everything is going according to plan.  I have been pretty good about hitting all my key workouts and volumes.  I have had to mess with the plan a bit due to illness and some life stuff but have been able to stay pretty consistant.

I just finished my first bike event of the year about 2 weeks ago and that gave me a huge boost of confidence.  All the muscular endurance rides are paying off as I was able to rattle off 62 miles and feel like I could have run.

I still have this issue about being slow on the run but huge changes in speed don't come overnight.  I'm just staying consistant and working on being injury free.

I suppose the good part is I have no concerns about finishing the distance.  I feel like I could bust out the race today if I had to.  My concerns now are more related to pacing and trying to get the best time I can given my slow run speed.

Joshua

I'm looking forward to it.  I'll be in better shape than last year but not as rested as it's really a speed bump / benchmark for IMWI.  Can't wait to meet more of you in person!

Phil - If I was you, you might be better off driving up from Glenview the morning of the race.  I think most of the hotels anywhere near the race are already booked.

I am very excited for this race, since it is my "A" race and my first HIM.  I was thinking that I could go sub 5:15 prior to having knee surgery in December.  I have been training pretty well, though.  I am definitely behind on the run.  I plan on picking that up a bit more.  I am happy with the progress, but still need much work.

As far as the swim, I feel good with where I am at.  I think I am stronger there than last year.  And I still need to get some longer rides in, but my bike training is starting to pick up.  I would say, I am a bit stronger in this area, as well.  

My plan is to continue to train over the 10 weeks and barring any injuries or weather like they had up there two years ago, I should be able to do 5:30 or better.  And if the running improves, I will try and not lose sight of the 5:15....who knows??  Of course, finishing is my number one goal, but I always have a time in the back of my mind.

Now, how should we plan on showing the Steelhead BTer's how much better the SOR clan is?

I agree with Schmize about driving up.  All the local stuff is booked and when I looked at the stuff a bit further out the distances were far enough to make me reconsider a hotel.

I'll be driving up from the Mundeline area that morning.  If you need someone to go up with I can accomidate one more bike on my rack.

Joshua

I'm screwed...I haven't time to look into motels yet.  I need to find something with hi-speed internet so that I can register for IM USA the next day.  Arggggghh

(oh....and.....sub 4:30 :)  )

edit:  I looked up motels on the Racine Chamber of Commerce site and just got a room at the Microtel Inn, 2 nights for $75 with hi speed internet but 5 miles from the race site - not bad.   Anyone local (CindyK ? ) know if this motel is nice/clean ?  They said it is near the mall. 

Hard to believe that I'm just about halfway through my 20 week training program.  Things were going along pretty well until this week -- between a hamstring twinge and just feeling TIRED, I decided to take a couple of days of rest.  First real deviation from my training program.  Logically I know this won't make a difference, but it's been stressful blowing off training sessions for "no good reason" (yea, yea... a little Catholic guilt goes a long way...)

That said - this is my first HIM and I'm just looking to finish.  In one piece.  And still want to stay in this sport after I'm done. 

My swim will be slow (but I'm fairly confident I won't drown or panic -- which is a huge improvement for me), my bike needs some work and quality time devoted to it, and then I figure the run will kind of take care of itself.

Probably the part that I'm most anxious about is figuring out nutrition.  Up to this point, I always kind of winged it, and the races and training were always short enough to allow for this.  I don't know why, but nutrition seems so overwhelming to me.  Seems silly. 

You know, I want to do a HIM and I am excited about doing this race, but I am just as excited at the idea of getting away with the family, being around a race venue, meeting a bunch of BT'ers for the first time and seeing those of you whom I met last year again (even you Laura!).  It's going to be a lot of fun and I'm really looking forward to it. 

I'm with you on that!  Racine will be my first race of the year so I'm going to be itching for the start when I get there.  I'm really looking forward to the big BT crowd.

You know, John, your inability to get over the pounding into the ground your team received at losing the PP Challenge last year is a little pathetic sad. Of course, in theory I understand how it must be hard to shake that kind of thing off and move forward....

And I'm looking forward to the huge BT Love Fest that will ensue at SoR, too! 

Sorry, I don't recall what you are talking about.

And as it is looking like SOR will be my only TRI of the season, I plan on savoring every minute of it!

Ahhhh - memories

 http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=51708&posts=176&highlight=PP%20Weiners%20Wieners&highlightmode=1#M524001