Guyo's Mentor Group - Closed and starting the year with a Bang !!! (Page 3)

Hello Guy.

I guess I didn't realize you were working on healing a few injuries.  Hope all goes well with the healing process.  I'll have to be a bit careful myself, when summer approaches, given the number of tri's I've entered.  I may have bit off more than I can chew.  Not much rest time between each one.  Anyway....hope you start feeling better soon.

Hey Joe,

I picked up my first tri bike last year in March time frame.  The original price was $1100 and it later dropped to $499 in December.  By the time March arrived they dropped it another $100 smacks, so if you visit a bike shop in your area in the next couple of months, you may be able to get one heck of a deal.  The brand I picked up is a KHS 320 Flite tri, fully equipped with Aero bars and Shimano rims.  It's been a great bike.  The bike shop I purchased from also had a great deal on minor adjustments throughtout the first year.  All adjustments were free.  Just before every race I'd take it in and have them go through it just to be certain issues didn't arise during the race.  You'll have to check that out when you purchase your first bike.  Happy shopping.

It's those big old legs that are giving you the problem.....I would venture a guess that you are a runner. Usually if you are a good swimmer, you aren't a good runner and vice versa(runners have big legs that sink).

IMO, in swimming we don't use legs a whole lot. They are mainly for balance, and light kicking, it takes alot of energy to keep those big muscles moving(Swimmers have big shoulders because we use those muscles the most). Instead of thinking of pushing your chest in the water, try thinking of arching your back (careful though don't hurt your back). Have you done any work with pull buoy? That will help you get a feel for where your legs should be, and it is always good to work with fins to try and get the correct kick.

Good Luck! and let us know how you progress.

mysfit - 2008-01-06 6:53 PM I am trying not to ask too many questions at once, but I have so many! Please forgive me if any of the questions are silly, but I have never done a triathlon and the more information I have the better I'll feel when the race comes... - When you get to the race I've heard there is a "transition" area. What do you keep there? Your bike and what else? What other gear do you need? - Do you arrive to the race in your wetsuit? Do you wear your biking/running clothes underneath or do you change after the swim? - Is there usually a problem with other swimmers bumping into you during the swim? What is the etiquette for passing/being passed? - What are average times I should aim for for each segment? I am not looking to win, but I would like to finish the race strong. - Do triathlons usually fill up pretty quickly? My race isn't until June and I haven't signed up in case I find something else local, but I would hate to have it fill up and miss out on the only local one available! I have more questions, but I'll hold off for now. Thanks! April

Wow those are fun questions, and since every tri is different it will be interesting to see some of the responses. I have only done one tri so I can give you my experience based on that.

1. The transition area is where you keep all your stuff that you need for the race. After the swim you will go there and leave caps, goggles, wet suit, and pick up your bike, helmet, any necessary nutrition, and change into your shoes (sneakers or bike). After the bike you will go there and rerack your bike, get your running shoes, and race number (if you don't already have them), and any necessary nutrition. Read an article on transitions cuz there is a whole lot to them, and practice if you can. Always remember never ride your bike in transition and make sure your helmet is on before removing your bike from the rack. You can also see videos of transitions on you tube.

2. Don't wear your wet suit to the race, put it on there. You need to arrive early and it is a long time to be in a wet suit, and you need to get body marked. I wear ny bike shorts and a sports bra for the swim and then I bike and run in it, I don't change.

3. With the open swim yes you can get bumped by other swimmers. I will say three words, focus, focus, focus (hocus pocus...it's tough in an OWS), don't pay attention to the other swimmers. If someone is on your feet one strong kick is usually enough to get them to back off. There is usually enough room that passing is not an issue...although the buoys get jammed up sometimes.

4. Check the results from last year's tri to get an idea of times, you can set reasonable goals based on your ability and what type of times are being posted for the course (of course weather conditions play a role in times and that varies year to year). Search the race on BT and see what other BTers maybe saying about last years race. I found that helpful as past comments on my race was that there was not enough water on the run, so I was prepared for it.

Most of all have fun!, I set a goal of completing for my first tri which kept me focussed and not racing to hard and crashing. I set a reach goal of a certain time for each segment. I came close on all three. I damaged my IT band during the tri and I had to stop and stretch my leg and hip half way through the run(actually lay down on the ground and stretch). I think if I didn't have that first goal set I may not have stopped to stretch and probably wouldn't have finished.

Good Luck

I am here and have been concentrating on my run for the month.  I am rehabbing hip tendonitis and a damage IT band as a result.  I think I am finally on the uphill swing of feeling better.  I have increased my run slowly and I am currently at 1.5 mile.  I am please that I am now logging some miles that are sub 9 minutes. 

Does anyone have any information on increasing the run, my current plan (designed by my PT) takes me to 3 miles, but from there I have no plan, I don't want to overdo it, as I did in the beginning and had a setback.

I assume this is your first one?  Does it test on speed or power output?  Where are you having it done, your fitness club?  I don't know how I would test myself in the run (my weakest discipline),  I currently look to see an improvement in my pace,  I am trying to figure out heart rate stuff.

Greatrunnr I am not, but maybe a greatrunnr2b;  I am making peace with it.  I have no clue what I am doing, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I know my way around a pool and can critique a stroke, and give out drills and workouts, but running I have no idea I just go out and run.  My runs aren't hard to say the least I actually think I am fairly lazy, I usually don't hurt afterwards unless it is the hip or ITB, but that is improving.

I am currently on a 1.5 mile run, and increasing to 2.0 next Wednesday; I can't increase to longer mileage right now.  I know this sounds silly, but how do you run at a slower pace, do you monitor your heart rate?