CubeFarmGopher's Group - Closed (Page 5)

10 days til my first tri....

I feel good!  I am more comfortable with my swimming abilities.  I have been doing a lot of trainer rides which I was hoping for a few more road rides.  Not too concerned as I am pretty confident in my bike handling skills.  My run I am not sure if I am going to use the newts or run in my asics.  Will decide closer to time.

So on tap for this week and next:

Brick tomorrow - I am off tomorrow so I am going to get in a good ride out on the islands and run. 

Practice my nutrition to see if the gels are messing up my stomach.  did two runs past couple of weeks that I used gels before the run and had to find a portapotty about 20 minutes in (fortunately I've been running near construction sites).  I've been taking them with plenty of water (at least I think so). 

Practice my transitions- I am going to set up in my driveway.  Should be a good show for the golfers as the parking lot for the golf course directly across the street from me.  They'll be wondering my some freak is hosing himself down, running across the yard in spandex and rushing to get on a bike.  Gotta love this sport!

Stretch - I've been slacking on my stretching and need to make sure I am loosened up for the race.

Take it easy next week.

Am I missing anything?  Oh yeah, have fun with it!

LOL, I wish I could see that transition practice. That will be a hoot!

Have you tried Cliff Shot Bloks? The gels mess with me too, but the shot bloks seem to work ok and are not as messy...

Yeah... thought you'd find that one amusing!

Thanks I will look for some and give them a try.  I am currently using Hammer gels.   

Instead of getting all wet, why not do a run-bike-run.  Go for a run, come back and practice getting into your bike shoes and heading out, then come back and work on getting from your bike shoes into your running shoes.

On the run, try taking a Tums.  It may help settle your stomach enough to absorb the gels.  I know that is what I'm working on doing.

good point.  Running around here you might as well be soaked down from a hose b/c that is how you look after only a couple of miles.

I will try the tums.  I have a very sensitive stomach to start with.  Even gatorade messes up my stomach.

Or you can do what my coach has me do a week out from a race. A double brick! Ride, run, Ride, run and try to beat your time on the 2nd one. 17 miles/2mi/17/2 is what I do.

OK... now ya'll are making me do more exercise than I anticipated...

And you know how much we all hate being told to exercise. 

Well I can check the brick and the nutrition off my list. 

Did my brick yesterday and felt good.  Couple notes to self:

Next time bring enough fluids for the distance I am doing.  I had enough water to get me through the ride but not the run.  Should have brought extra.

Eating a gel on a bike going 24 mph takes a little coordination.  need to put a small cut in the top of the gel packet so that it is easier to open

Oh... and WEAR SUNBLOCK!!

I would say that you want to focus on maintaining your fitness over those 2 weeks.  You're not going to see any fitness gains over 2 weeks, but you don't want to lose anything.

Also, after your race on Sunday, sit down and pick 2 or 3 things that you can specifically alter for the next race.  With 2 races that close together, you basically get a chance to do a test run and then get a do-over.  Focus on transition elements or pacing for your follow up race.

You're going to do great this weekend.  Relax and have fun.

Just remember to keep your feet on the ground and your knees above them!  Have a great race!  I'll be interested to see how you make out between races and I am planing on 3 sprints in the month of Sept.

Everyone have a great 4th of July and don't over do it on the FCAL's ...(frothy cold adult libations) 

I'm looking forward to 5 days on the Cape (Cod, to you non-new englanders) lots of OWS's and a phenominal rail trail to get in some great rides.

Last training day before my first Tri!

Got an easy swim, short bike and short run today.  I am getting a little more stressed over the logistics of my wife and son coming to watch than I am about the actual race.  I guess anything to keep me from over thinking.  Looks like its going to be cool out Sunday morning... low 70's which will be very nice! 

Any last words of wisdom from the experienced crowd?

Thanks everyone for the well wishes!  First Tri is Done!! 

My swim was definitely weak and I now know what I need to work on for the next one.  The course is very good for a beginner.  The bike is fast and flat and the run is very shaded.  I will be doing this same one again on July 29.  I came in 11th in my AG so my goal is to break into top 10 on the next one. 

Great job on your race. 

Its great that you get a do-over in a couple of weeks.

Focus on keeping up your fitness and finding one or two little things to improve on. 

My golf instructor taught me that if I try to fix too many things at once, I end up not really changing anything. 

Thanks!  My focus is definitely the swimming!  I am not going to make any changes to the biking and running except for adding a couple more bricks/du's into my training to keep that 'feeling' fresh in my mind and help my pacing.

But the swim is my main target area.  first off is volume.  I've upped it to 1750 this week and felt really good on Monday... tired but good.  I am going to keep on it and make a better swim at it next race.

Ding, Ding, Ding!!

Who's answering the bell?  Who's answering that harsh training bell?

As you guys have seen in my blogs, I have been hitting the road and pool HARD preparing for my big race coming up in 7 weeks.

How have you all been doing?  Are you feeling strong going into your 'A' races?

Class is in Session!!

I am hitting the pool hard.  Had my biggest swim to date at 2000 yds.  Felt really good and I was definitely tired at the end but not dead.  Keeping my running and cycling up and throwing in a little speedwork of each.

I am really looking forward to my sprint re-do next weekend.  I want to attack the swim and overcome my 'fear'.  Other than that... it is HMFSB (as you and Trixie say) HOT here right now as are many other places.  Running in 95+ degrees heat with lots of humidity is NOT fun!  But like they say, 'Train how you Race'. 

BIG Build period for me. No days off last week or this week and next week i don't get one until Friday.

Got a 35 mile ride tonight. This time last year that was more than my long ride! By a lot!

My rides are jumping up hard.  Setting new PRs every weekend.  And setting a new meaning on the phrase "My Taint HURTS!!!" 

you just keep powering though it!!!!

Ughhhh.  I blew out my back over the weekend.  Not really sure how I did it.  I've had back problems in the past.  But I'm in a lot of pain right now.  I may be able to ride for a short period of time, but swimming and running are out (Not that I was doing too much of that anyway).  But it sucks knowing that I'm going to be sidelined for a while. 

It feels muscular rather than skeletal, which I guess is a blessing.  Still painful.  Right side of my back, the muscle running down the side of the spine and attaching to the pelvis area/top of the butt!

So if you check my logs and don't see anything, that's why.

Very quiet these days.  I hope all are doign well and still going strong.  I have officially relocated to Jersey City (yes, you read that right).  Although I am still basically living out of a bag for 1 more week, the last 3 weeks have been non stop.  2 conferences in 3 weeks, 12 hours days, 1 1/2 hour drives to and from work...I can hardly wait until I get into my apartment, get my bikes down here, and "get back on the beam"  I will say that after a summer of training and anticipation of doing 2 sprints in Sept. and having all that fall apart because of this new job was very difficult to swallow.  However, I keep focusing on the fact that there will always be more races but there may not always be other job opportunities like this. 

So I just wanted to give everyone an update and wish everyone well!