hblackmon's Group - CLOSED!! (Page 5)

Hey guys! Sorry I have been MIA, but I was on vacation this past week (which I should have posted, but forgot! ).

For calculating your MHR, I would actually suggest the 10K test (or 5K) test and see what your actual maximum heart rate is. That's what I have done for the last few years and it seems to be most accurate. Then, most of your runs should be done at 60-75% (per the article). I also know there are several training plans offered on this site that use HR zones for the training runs. I would think that would be the best place to start, so that someone has built the workout for you based on those ranges.

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As far a goals go - please post your results for your January goals and your new February goals to start off this week. I know we're a few days late now, but it's close enough!

January Goals

- Consistent Training (1 miss/week): other than swims, done!
- Weight Loss: 3 pounds: 4 pounds (before vacation - need to recheck)
- No missed long rides: done!
- No missed long runs: 1 run missed (due to working late + being sick, before vacation)

I'll get my February goals up soon, I need to figure out what they are.

I have a feeling you'll have no problem with your goal to get comfortable on your new bike - something about a new bike makes you WANT to ride.

I'm glad you are getting comfortable with the training logs - they are the most helpful part of the site to me too. What's really great is getting to compare months and years as you start to accumulate good data as the year goes on.

I agree on this thread slowing down - where is everyone?! I know I was out last week, so maybe that's why it's slower. What questions do you guys have? Topics you want to discuss?

A lot of people (including me, sometimes) make the mistake of lifting too much, which causes the horrible feeling while running the next day. Remember your main goal is triathlon, with strength training as a component to improve your swim, bike, and run. There is a great article in triathlete magazine this month on strength training - I'm actually thinking of giving the suggested exercises a try for the next 6 weeks or so. 

Good luck convincing hubby on the bike - that can be tricky if he doesn't understand cycling. It does seem like a lot of money for something without a motor - but it's worth it! Keep at the swimming, you will get it with patience and practice (lots of practice!).

Time to post my February goals:

- Consistent Training (1 miss/week)
- Weight Loss: 4 pounds
- No missed long rides
- No missed long runs
- Try Masters swimming

I'm hoping to get to masters on Wednesday and Friday this week - first time trying this out. The one I'm trying offers two weeks for free, so I can "try before I buy" - which is good. It's actually a 12-1PM class, so I'm a little concerned about timing it with work and lunch, but I'm hopeful.

Great to hear from you again, but so sorry to hear about the hospital visit! Hope that everyone is feeling better at your house and that it warms up a bit for you (below zero - brrrrr!).

Necessary equipment - that's a great question. For my first tri, here's what I had:

• 1 tri top
• 1 tri shorts
• goggles
• swim cap (got for free from a local tri clinic)
• bike (I used an old mountain bike)
• bottle cage on bike with 1 bottle
• helmet
• running shoes
• hand towel (to lay out my stuff in transition)

That's it! I didn't want to buy a bunch stuff, until I decided I really wanted to stick with triathlons. I used my mountain bike for both races my first year, until I decided to spend the money on a good road bike.

Nice to have:

• bodyglide 
• race belt (clips on around your waist to hold your race number)
• hat or visor for the run
• road/tri bike
• aerobars for road bike (if no tri bike)
• fuelbelt
• HR monitor
• wetsuit
• transition bag
• etc, etc

The nice to have list could honestly go on forever! This is definately an expensive sport, although I know people who have done it with a more minimalist approach. I find that the last few years I spend a lot more money on tri goodies than other goodies with my extra money - it's just fun and I spend a lot of time training, so I want stuff to make it more fun!

I tried Masters for the first time today - for anyone struggling with motivation to swim, I would recommend giving this a try. This is the first class that was available within a reasonable driving distance to me, or I would have probably tried this earlier. It wasn't intimidating at all, although I wonder if this was a "normal" masters class, as I still had my own lane (they are just starting this new location since January).

Just thought I'd share, as I know swimming is a weakness for a lot of triathletes.

That is a good question - I think we all forget that these terms are common knowledge outside the little tri world. Masters is swimming for participants 25 years or older - so most triathletes fit in this category. They actually have masters swim meets like swim team in school, but the classes are for all levels. In my class today, the instructor wrote the workout on a white board as we started swimming and you just followed it as best you can!

Happy Monday everyone! How did everyone's week go last week, were you able to meet your goals? For me, I missed two workouts (1 swim, 1 bike), but I also was able to run a new PR in my 10K this weekend! I took off over 1:20 from my best time I ran last year in March - it hurt, but felt great at the end. My goal for 2008 still has me shaving off another 2 minutes from my time, an aggressive goal, but I think it will be achievable a little later in the year.

Anyone else have any races coming up?  

Oh - I also just saw a new article was posted on the site about what you need as a beginner in triathlon. I though you might be interested: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1384

Those sound like great goals! I think the HR training will be a huge help for you, for exactly the reason you mentioned (preventing overtraining). Just remember to be REALLY patient when you start - you will be forced to run A LOT slower than you are used to, which is okay. It really does work and you won't get slower (that's what I also find myself thinking). I've only been doing base training with super low HR for months and was still able to PR a 10K this weekend. I think we all have the natural urge to run faster than we should for a specific workout, that's my guess anyway.

Wow - this week actually went by really fast! For me, I hit my goals for the week - only one missed workout and a good race yesterday. How is everyone else doing?

This week's schedule for me:
Mon - Swim
Tue - Strength/Core and Run (Cruise Intervals)
Wed - Swim and Bike (Hill Intervals)
Thu - Strength/Core and Bike (Zn 3)
Fri - Long Run (1:30)
Sat - Snowboarding in NC

I'm not so sure there will be snow to board on in NC based on the forecast, but we'll see how that works out.

How is everyone else's week shaping up? Any questions I can help you with?

When you first wake up. I remember sleeping in my HR strap when I tested mine and starting my watch as soon as I woke up.

The run I think would be similar, make sure you put at least .5 incline on the treadmill. Honestly, I don't think the 30s is bad for running outside - you just need to layer appropriately. Check out the dress the runner tool on Runner's World and take this test outside - the treadmill gets boring. Outside is always going to be best, unless you're in a controlled environment, I think. On the spin bike, I'm not sure. I've done my test on the trainer, so it might be worth a shot. 

Honestly - for either test, you can always use what you have for now and then retest outside when you are comfortable going out there.

Spin bike would be my choice.

That depends - one is the purpose of that workout - endurance or speed? I would find a training plan that fits within your training time constraints to help answer that one.