Well That's the plan either a half or full (which would be insane I know) but we'll see how things go. My run fitness isn't coming back as quick as I'd like. I can run it's just sllllllloooowwwwww.

Not sure about TOM. Mine looks like it will hit during my race too. If your doc thinks its okay to skip it with BC it might be your best option as racing otherwise w/o a tamp it's like racing with a wet diaper.

I agree with switching to the gummies. Might be slightly stick but won't melt... or a Gu packet. I like to use the shot blocks that cliff makes or the luna moons. Your race is short though you might be able to get away with just liquid nutrition.

Thanks for the advice, guys! Muse, if I could just find a tampon that was comfortable I wouldn't have a problem with it. The other thing I'm thinking about doing is taking out my Nuvaring a day or two early so that my period might be over by next Sunday. Not sure how that affects its contraceptive powers though, I guess I should check the labeling.

Good Luck this weekend PaperC! Let us know how it went.

Thanks Muse! I'm a little freaked out at the moment because I popped a bike tire and need to fix it. :p I have all the equipment, the guy at the store showed me how to do it, but I'm still afraid I'll do it wrong and go flat in the middle of the race! My plan is to fix it tonight and go for a ride, and if it's flat again tomorrow afternoon take it to the shop and let the pros do it.

good luck !!!!!!
 

It's always good to have a back up plan. Be strong and we'll need an updaye after.

C

Race Report!
 

Phew, that race was a killer! So after my last post, I did replace my tire. Then I rode it to the bike shop to buy more tubes, and on the way there my spoke protector broke. :dizzy: In any case they fixed it for me and I got it back just in time on Saturday.

Saturday night I had to go to a wedding. Not the best activity the night before a race since the food was not very controlled at all. I did not eat very well. However, we did manage to escape the wedding at 8:30 so I was in bed by 10:00. Woke up at 5:00, had a bit of a mess trying to figure out what to eat for breakfast (yeah, I failed at planning -- I ended up with oatmeal, milk, and some fruit), and had to deal with my stomach being kind of upset about the previous night's food. :p

Anyway we made it downtown just in time to catch the tail end of the pre-race meeting (nothing new, just the usual rules). I forgot to bring my camera, sadly, but we took some pics with my cell phone. After getting set up in the transition area I waited in an extremely long line for the bathroom, then headed out to find the starting line. It was a point-to-point swim so the starting line was a couple blocks away. We got there around 7:25 so we had plenty of time to spare. The Olympic distance started at 7:30 and the sprint couldn't start until all the Olympic swimmers had passed our starting line, plus then I was in one of the last waves so I had even longer to wait. DH and I killed time by looking for another bathroom (which we found, eventually, in a hotel, though the receptionist probably thought I was nuts coming in there in a swimsuit). It was 88 degrees out and sunny so I slathered on the sunblock, and the 78-degree water was pleasantly cool.

In any case my time finally came up for the swim. The canal wasn't really any dirtier than a lake or river (there are fish in it) so it wasn't bad, plus it was only 4 feet deep. I felt like I did pretty well on the swim. I didn't have to stop to rest at all, I swam the whole way. DH walked along the sidewalk next to me so every time I turned my head to breathe I could see him there, which was nice. I got kicked in the face at one point and got some water into my goggles, but nothing bad. According to my watch I did about 20 minutes for the swim (500m) which is about what I had expected, maybe a little longer. DH said that I was one of the few people in my wave who actually swam the whole way -- others kind of pretended to swim while walking along the bottom. :p Against the rules!

In any case I got out of the swim and over to my bike relatively quickly, considering my bike was all the way on the other side of the transition area. No problems with T1, and I got out on the bike course. The course was nice enough, although there were a couple railroad tracks. I got passed by a few people and passed a few people (mostly people on their second lap for the Olympic distance). I have to say, the previous sprint I did had a 10-mile bike and this one was 12.5, and those last 2.5 miles were really tough! I trained for it, but still. There was a hill right at the end that was exhausting. I estimate my time for the bike ride at about an hour but I didn't check my watch when I was leaving from T1 so I'm not totally sure. I'll know when they post the official times online.

During the bike I intended to do the same for nutrition that I did last time -- half a clif bar and some gatorade, but I was hungry and ended up eating the whole bar. Probably a mistake. When I started the run my stomach started cramping up, and after about a mile I had to start walking. I was running so slowly at that point that I was walking faster than I was running anyway, but I was still annoyed about it. I ended up walking a bit more than the middle mile of the run, then running the last 3/4 mile or so. Crossed the finish line at 2:20 on my watch.

Things I learned from this time around:
1) It's harder to do a triathlon when it's 88 degrees and sunny than it is when it's 60 degrees and cloudy.
2) Don't eat so much.
3) Don't go to a wedding the night before.
4) I need to work on swimming faster (my endurance is fine, I'm just super-slow).
5) I need to work on my running endurance.

It was a good experience overall, and I'm glad I did it. Swimming in the canal was fun, and the bike ride was scenic (the halfway point was at the velodrome and there were people doing all sorts of bike tricks in there). I got a good workout. Now I'm just waiting for the official results (I was too tired to stick around at the event until they posted mine).

Of course now my workout schedule is thrown off -- I was going to do weight lifting tomorrow but I'm pretty darn sore today!

Congrats Jessica!!!! :bravo: :carrot:

Way to go Jessica!!

Thanks guys! They just posted the results, but they make no sense. This is what it says for me:

Overall Rank 456/463
Swim 23:21.2
Swim rank 463 (however, someone else has a swim rank of 468, but there were only 463 total people?)
T1: 0:00.0 (???)
Bike: 3:00:44.1 (??????)
Bike rank 462
T2: 1:41.4
Run: 0:47:30.7
Run rank 436
Final time 2:19:56.3

Something is screwy with their timing. The final time is correct since it matches my wristwatch within 30 seconds. The run time and T2 time are probably correct. I'm not sure where the T1 time went, and I have no idea where that number for bike time comes from. Working backwards I'd guess my bike time was actually 1:07:24 but that might include part of T1 as well.

Congratulations Clippy !!!!!!!
 

I'll bet 88 degrees is different. I hate running when I'm hot. I'm a total baby about it...... It's great that you did it, good for you.

The race guys finally got the "final" results put together and these make much more sense. Here's the run down:
total rank 460/467
swim 23:21.2 (rank 464)
T1 2:05.0 (rank 111)
bike 1:05:17.9 (rank 453)
T2 1:41.4 (rank 235)
run 47:30.7 (rank 459)
total 2:19:56.3

I'm surprised T1 was so short -- that's twice as fast as I did it last time. Maybe because my bike was closer to the bike out?

In any case I have a question for you guys. How do I learn to swim faster? I can swim for a long time, but I am SUPER slow. What techniques can I use to improve my speed? Should I do a session with a swim instructor? Does interval training work for swimming too?

Paper -

From the advice I've gotten from others (I swim slowish too) they say lessons are the best way to go. A lot of people like the Ti swimming books/DVD too but personal instruction will get you swimming better faster.

It's mostly about swim form. (Although I've discovered a bit of upper body strength training certainly doesn't hurt!) Also swimming more once you get better form... but if you don't have good form lots of swimming won't get you anywhere.

I'm probably going to be taking a class this fall and if I can find a few private lessons that aren't too pricey I'll do that too.

Congrats on the Tri! Mine is Sunday and I'm still a little worried about my durability for the run. I'm 15+ lbs more then I was when I did this race last summer. Sigh.

Thanks Muse, I'll check into swim coaching. I'm not sure what sort of private lessons my local pool does for adults so I guess I'll see how much it costs.

Good luck on your race!!! I can't wait to hear your race report! I'm sure you'll do great!

form is really the most important.
 

but speed drills help too. I have the "Total Immersion" dvd and I have been trying out some stuff. It's hard to do on your own. How you feel in the water isn't necessarily where you are in the water KWIM. Look at your pool for a masters swim class. They are usually pretty cheep, and will work on form and speed drills a bit. Think swim team for grownups, but the one I go to has MANY swimming levels.

Good luck Idealmuse, Be strong and have fun.

Looks like my local pool/parks dept. offers adult swim lessons for "beginning and intermediate" swimmers. It's $65 for 8 classes (once a week). I think that sounds like a good price, what do you think? The only problem is that it's not exactly at a great time (Saturdays at noon) and I will be out of town during the first class.

I would totally do it
 

that's a great price. plus it will open up the swimming world more for you.

I need to take a class in how to keep the water out of my ears and sinuses so I can hear and breath thru my nose again. I have apparently become allergic to pool chemicals...

Hi girls - The race went well! It was a beautiful cool day almost like it was fall already. Despite being slightly heavier and it being more windy I only lost 8 minutes from last year. I did have to switch to walk/run after mile 2 though, but that strategy seemed to work well. I had a great time.

What's everyone have going on for the rest of the year now that things are winding down?

I'm so glad you posted !!!!
 

I was just thinking about you and how your race went. Congratulations. Job well done. I bet it feels great to have that checked off. Mine is in a week and a half. September 20th. I'm a little nervous about the first time details, but not the actual work part.

As for the off season. I already signed up for a November 10k trail run. The distance will be fine, but I currently only run FLAT. I have to drive to get it too(I'm Lame) . I need to get over my fear of running uphill. I live on top of a big one. I will search out more race options. I like having a goal date to keep me focused. Next season I want to step up to oly, and do the Seattle to Portland ride. This is only going to work if I maintain/ expand my current endurance level. Seattle is very rarely snowy and never as cold and windy as Chicago. I'm from Central WI and Milwaukee originally. I couldn't manage outdoors in the cold of it. I think my lungs would explode. Lovely to look at, hard to breath.

What are your plans? Are you still thinking of trying a HIM?

Please let us know how it goes. First time is always the most exciting if not nerve wracking.

Hills while not my friend aren't that bad and they are good for improving your fitness level. My group had us doing hill repeats which was basically running up a little hill and back down... waiting till our HR lowered and then repeat. You don't have to run up a big long hill. I hate hills though. I'm still too heavy so I can't do too many hill repeats before wanting to stop.

Maintain if you can. Having to back track are re-gain fitness is a bit discouraging. I spent all summer trying to get back where I was last summer. No breaks for me this year.

Winter can be tedious but I have a treadmill and a bike trainer and I'll have the university pool so it should be easy enough to keep up.

I'm definately doing at least a half Ironman. I really really really am tempted to sign up for the full Ironman Wisconsin. It's not really a smart idea and I would risk not making the cut-off times even with a year of training, but I'm having a hard time talking myself out of it. Ideally I should be aiming for the half next summer and not take on too much too soon, but... sigh. We'll see. Maybe I'll shake out this insane idea before sign ups on Monday. (It sells out quickly if it makes it online at all)

Good Luck this weekend SGeranium!!! Tell us how it went.

Since fall is coming I guess there won't be much activity in our quiet little thread, but my mind is still pretty focused on training at the moment as I went a little nutty and signed up for Ironman Wisconsin. It's going to be a long interesting year.

Weight loss is going to be focused on extra hard this fall as I want to start off training in February as near to goal weight as I can manage. Training for these kind of things is hard enough without hauling around an extra 50lbs.

Working out what my base training schedule will be for this winter.

Muse, great job on your race! Sorry I'm a little late posting. Good luck with IM training!

Geranium, did you do your race yet? How did it go?

At the moment I'm focusing on weight loss rather than training, but I am trying to get my running better. I'm looking for a Turkey Trot 5k to sign up for but haven't found one yet. I haven't gotten around to signing up for the swimming lessons yet -- I'll go do it right now. Hopefully the class isn't already full!

today was the day !!!
 

All and all I felt pretty strong. Sally Edwards was the spokesperson, and she was as delightful and motivating as I had heard she was. I had a total panic attack during the swim, really only 10 minutes into it. I couldn't even breast stroke, I had to flip over and just float on my back for what seemed like forever, but really couldn't have been all that long. I was eventually able to pull myself together and continue. The rest went well. I underestimated the bike, it was not as flat as I was led to believe..... I had a great time after the panic attack. My first goal was to finish, check. My second goal was to run the run, check. My time estimate was 2.15 and I finished 2.05ish. I'm pleased and proud. I spent the entire race behind two women who were together. passing this way and that, but always very close. I told my Dh and he said I should have given them my number, he's cute to think to make dates for me. It seemed to go so fast. The day was lovely, Seattle is lovely, all the women were really great. It was an awesome introduction to the sport.

huh !!
 

Muse : A little nutty????? Ironman!!!! I need to hear all about that. Good luck . It's in Madison right. I love Madison. If we ever move back to WI it will be to Madison or the Madison area . I would love to hear about IM training plans and progression. WOW WOW WOW

Clippy : I hear you on the weight loss concentration. After my celebratory quiche and wine tonight I'm also am in weight lose mode as I haven't lost an ounce months.

Great job Geranium!!!! :cheer: :woohoo: :swim: :bike: :running:

I was wrong...
 

My official time was 1:57:33. I 'm feeling pretty proud of my overweight, middle aged, ex smoker body today. My T1 was nearly five minutes!!! What the heck was I doing?? My swim was 28 minutes flat for 800m. I couldn't have been floating out there for the half an hour it felt like gripped in panic/ emotionally melting down. Wierd

SGeranium yeah Madison... I'll keep you guys updated. I'll probably post a race report in a thread of it's own no matter if I make it or not. I feel like it's important to pass on to let people know that anything is possible. Hopefully I don't embarrass myself. I'll likely do a Half before it sometime mid-summer as a "training" race.

GREAT job on your Tri. 1:57 is fantastic! I love when your time is better then expected. Sweet of your husband to want to fix you up. Hah! I have another friend who did the race there too and she had a great time.

I had a nice 6.3 mile run today. :) I'm trying to run every-other day in prep for my Nov race.

Great time Geranium! And great job on the swim!

I finally got around to going to sign up for the swim class and found out that it is already full. :( They have an 8am section that still has space, but honestly I don't want to get out of bed that early on Saturdays (it's a 30 min drive to the pool). I might contact them about private lessons, or I might just wait and see if they're going to offer another session of adult lessons in the spring. That would probably be ideal in any case since I'm focusing on weight loss and running at the moment.

How's fall going ladies? Anyone still training?

I signed up for a swim class that is run by a masters program that is for local-tri club members starting next weekend, so I'll be doing that for the next 8 weeks. Still running. I'm up to 7.5 miles now so I feel OK about the 15k in a few weeks.

I wish I could get more comfortable on my bike trainer I can't seem to get my backside to not hurt! I can ride for hours outside but an hour on the trainer? Yuck.

ummmm training sure...... right training
 

I have been very inconsistent with my training for the last few weeks. I need a club or a challenge or something to help get me on task again. I refuse to start over. A spin and running there, I haven't been in the water for weeks. ughhh. I have a 10k I'm thinking about doing OCT 31 to help prepare for the 10 k trail run I signed up for Nov 15 that was supposed to help me get over my fear of hills. I am making some progress there so that's good. Now instead of driving my car to run where it's totally flat, I drive my car to run where it's mild to moderately hilly LOL. I live on top of a BIG hill surrounded buy other BIG BIG hills.... My DH started running a little over a month ago and he is rockin it. He's very athletic and had a strong hiking big elevations background so of course it took him two minutes to pass me by. He wants to run an under 4 hour marathon next year and I think he'll do it first time out. For him it's in the genes, his dad was an ultra runner for years. It's great to run with him though, it's a nice thing to share. I had my first 6 mile run yesterday, I was happy with the mileage, but the whole thing felt awful. I can't find my pace for running solo. I need to spend some treadmill time so I can monitor my speed,but the weather is so breathtakingly perfect for outdoor sports that I can't bring myself to exercise indoors. My kingdom for a garmin. To fast or to slow something always hurting, never zen.

So miss Muse I have no advice on the bike trainer, I use the spin bikes at the gym if I have to be indoors. I'm also not putting up your kind of mileage either. It's curious that it would hurt more....

It was Chicago Marathon weekend this weekend right. I meant to watch some coverage.

Hopefully everyone else training is more organized and zen like than mine

Christine

I've been working out, but not "training" per se. Trying to get off 2008's holiday weight before I put on 2009's. I've been running intervals 3x/week, but only about 1.75 miles each time. Last week was kind of a wash (literally) since it was raining most days. Doing strength training 2x/week. I checked out a book on triathlons from the library to try to get some ideas for how to swim faster, then went and did a swim workout yesterday. I think it was my first time in the pool in a month. I'd planned on doing a bike ride too but didn't have time.

Tonight, a run (at least, it looks like it's not going to rain...). Maybe I'll kick it up a notch and aim for 2 miles of intervals.

LOL Geranium, my DH started running with c25k a few months ago and very quickly was doing a 7 minute mile, and running 4-6 miles in a go. Then of course he hurt himself by overdoing it again and is currently in the "I'm injured, so I will never run again" mentality. :rolleyes: More I think it's that he hasn't bought winter running gear and it's now too cold to go with shorts and a t-shirt, so he's making excuses. I tried to get him to go shopping yesterday but he opted for gardening instead.

Woohoo! 2 miles in 23:07. Go me! I think that's the fastest I've ever done 2 miles. I ran the first mile straight in 11:16, then did intervals for the second mile.

nice work Jessica....
 

It's exciting to watch your speed decrease.

I decided to add yoga to my schedule twice a week and boy howdy I'm still sore three days later. I may be the least flexible person on the planet with a very week core .... So yoga it is.

SGeranium - Yeah it was the marathon that weekend - I was considering going down to volunteer. I probably should have.

paperclippy - Woo 23 is awesome! That's about where I am too. I can do 5+mph for an hour, but if I want to run any longer then that I have to slow down to more like 4.7 - I can go about 8/9 miles that speed.

I joined a swim class run by one of the masters group here in town. (edit to add I already posted that didn't I? Oops!) So far the first class was good. Nothing new leaned but it was great to get things explained in a slightly different way and get a fresh pair of eyes.

Funny how several days after my previous post, I blasted my 2 mile PR again! 21:52 this time, 10:30 for the first mile. :woohoo: :running: Of course I can only keep up that pace for 2 miles. I think I'll work on that distance for a couple weeks then bump it up again.

DH has suddenly gotten super into running since we spent $$$$ on winter gear for him. He checked out several books on running from the library and now has all sorts of plans. Of course while I was super excited about my 21:52 2-miler, he ran a 5k in 23 minutes and complained that he was "slow." :rolleyes:

Muse, how's the swim class going?

nice work clippy
 

You keep running strong and put your DH blinders on when you need to. It's great that he is running too and it's fun/ motivating to share as a couple, but plezzzzzzzzzzz with your slow 23 m 5K Mr I've been a running for all of seven minutes. LOL My, I've been running two whole months, Dh did his 9 mile long run on Sat and told me hasn't really felt like he's been challenged yet. OK!!!???!!!. I told him he will always get supportive loving wife comments, encouragement, etc first, then he gets semi competitive roommate extreme eye roll, sarcastic comments. We are good with that.

Muse you have your 15k coming up soon, no? How are you feeling? Is this your longest running only event?

I am settling into a new routine finally. I found a great spin teacher at my gym. She rides outside and has for a while on a team. She teaches spin as a supplement to outdoor riding , not just as a fat burner. I heard she will invite the class out on group rides for free and fun a couple of times a month. I don't have much in the way of riding skill or gear smarts. I have a seemingly endless list of needs so whatever I can get on the cheap gets me stoked.

Do either of you have a specific plan for weight loss? This is where I need to focus my attention now. I need to change it up, but I'm not sure of how to do it. Eat less and more more has taken me as far as it can with out further refinements.

My husband isn't and hasn't ever been a runner, but he did start walking on my treadmill about 2 months ago and he's lost about 10-15 pounds so far. I don't know if he will ever run, but you never know.

SGeranium - Yeah the race is next weekend and it will be my first running only event and therefore longest. Hehe. I plan on doing a half mary in the spring, but I haven't picked out which race yet. I'm feeling pretty good about it I did a 9mi run tonight so I know I can do the distance just not very fast!

Weight loss: I just use my bodybugg which is basically just calorie counting and working on your deficit. (I try and aim for 1000 or so a day) so yeah it's basically the same old same old, but I do find having it graphed out helps a whole lot. It's really interesting to see how little you burn doing some things and how your overall daily activity can really boost your overall burn.

paperclippy - You're really getting speedy!! Woo Hoo! Swimming class is going well thanks for asking. Were mostly just doing drills and such. I did swim on my own today (2000yds) and I figured out a few things to improve my form, so their comments have helped. Makes me think individual lessons would be good maybe if I can afford them in the spring.

Hey did you guys see on "Diet Tribe" the TV show they are doing a triathlon? It's on Fridays... on Lifetime I think?

Muse, good luck on the race!

Geranium, my weight loss plan is just calorie counting. I aim for under 1400 cals/day M-F, usually hit around 2000 on Saturday when I have my "cheat" meal (meal where I can eat whatever I want in whatever quantity I want), and somewhere between 1200-1600 on Sunday. In terms of what I actually eat, I take sort of a whole foods approach. Lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean protein. I am not afraid of carbs and I eat bread, rice, and pasta pretty much every day. My primary rules are (1) only one restaurant meal per week, (2) no dessert on weekdays, and (3) no second helpings.

The other part of my plan is exercise. Right now I'm doing HIIT runs MWF and strength training (new rules of lifting for women book) TTh, with the weekend as "active rest" days.

Hello afternoon, meet diet Tribe
 

Diet tribe meet and consume afternoon...... So I had never heard of diet tribe and quick search-a-roo told me I could watch me the whole thing on line for free....... Please don't judge to harshly I've been home with sick children for a week; or has it been forever (read sick myself now and STIRCRAZY)???...... Any who thanks for the show heads up it's kind of everything I've ever hoped TBL would be. Good TV, plus I talked to two girlfriends last night.

So do you have girlfriends to race, train , diet etc in reallife?

I knew it would have to come to calorie counting.....
 

I have fallin' into the "I work out a lot what could it hurt" trap. It is hard to find the balance of enough calories to fuel what I'm doing and not make me a CHORE to live with, but enough of a deficit to lose.

Yeah calories are always a struggle. I try and listen to my body if it needs a day of more calories once in awhile I don't sweat it. Lots of people warned me though training for an IM and losing weight are sometimes hard to do at the same time. This is why I'm trying hard to get most if it off before spring.

I haven't watched the first season of Diet Tribe, but I plan to get around to watching it too. I try and watch most of my stuff on the treadmill while running/walking so I don't feel too guilty!