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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 01/10/2008 9:55 AM |
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Ok, it's a new year and time to get to work!
So who's signed up for this year?
Thought for the day: If you're gona, you gotta wanta, the more you wanta, the more you're gonna! |
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KAR
Posts:31
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| 01/11/2008 11:14 AM |
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E-dad,
Glad to hear you're well!
I'm not signed up yet, but I will be there. It's hard to make a Decmber deadline around the holidays. I paid and didn't race in '05 due to Hurricane Wilma. Paid last year and didn't race due to training going badly.
Everything else is going well. Did a 30 min./10 min. brick yesterday. Today was a 30 min. swim and 30 min. weights.
Train safe
Kerry Riggs(M 45-49) |
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 01/13/2008 8:12 PM |
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Yea! We're back online! Kerry: you make me feel good. I thought I was way behind schedule because I had to take a 6-week hiatus for an IT-band injury, but it sounds like I might be on schedule if I'm doing workouts similar to yours. My knee doesn't hurt anymore, but I'm still "aware" of it.
I haven't siged up for GFT '08 yet. Not sure I'll be able to muster the mental discipline to do all those long rides and runs alone again. But if I do get through the training, I'll look forward to seeing The Tribe in Oct.
Good luck with training, everyone! Stay healthy and train safe!
Pixie |
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SVS
Posts:7
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| 01/14/2008 9:33 AM |
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In response to "'PIXIE's" concern about the timing chip coming off during the swim, this might be helpful. The band holding the timing chip is usually a material similar to velcro. Over time, this 'hook & loop' material can deterioate and fail. Also, the application of sunscreens and body lubricants that gets into the 'hook & loop' material will lessen its' ability to function properly.
Consider using a 'safety pin' and pin the strap back to itself. Or purchase some 1/2" wide double sided 'hook & loop' strips, and make an additional loop (think belt loop) around the existing strap. Either method will take you a couple minutes to complete, and you may need help doing it. But this should all but eliminate the loss of the timing chip during the swim (bike/run). 
This should be tried at shorter training events, before going to the "BIG DANCE". I'm sure any feedback on these suggestions would be appreciated by all.
SVS |
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 01/14/2008 7:19 PM |
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Pixie, the former "Iron Virgin" thanks you for your excellent suggestion! Happy trails! |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 01/17/2008 8:34 AM |
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Well so far I'm trying to get focused and in the groove. It was so much easier when the twins could be used as lifting weights. How's everyone else doing so far?
Thought for the day: Now is when you start to "become" an Ironman. Train hard, and I'll see you at the finish line! |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 01/28/2008 5:11 PM |
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Ok, so where is eveyone? What races are you doing this year to get ready?
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 01/28/2008 9:37 PM |
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Hey there, Enduradad! I'm still working my way back into shape after my IT-band injury. I lost all my conditioning so I had to start over on the bike and the run. But I'm going to keep plugging away and keep my eyes on the prize.
How is everyone else doing???
Pixie |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 01/31/2008 2:25 PM |
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I don't really believe you lost all your conditioning. I've been out of racing for the last 5 years, now that's out of shape!
We are expecting 1/2" of ice tonight. |
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 01/31/2008 10:13 PM |
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You're right! I didn't lose all of my conditioning because I didn't have that much to begin with! You may have been away from the scene for 5 years, but I bet you'll come back fast. Did I read somewhere that you're in Indiana? It's obviously colder than where I am. And that's all I'm going to say about that - I don't want to rub it in! Stay warm!
Pixie |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 02/01/2008 9:59 AM |
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Yes, I'm from Indiana and tonight I'll be in the garage spinning and freezing. So will you be jogging on the beach in a TRi suit at sunset? (not to rub it in, yeah right!)
I saw that there are 110 signed up so far. I didn't see any of the names I know, so I hope to get to know a new group to hang with.
My Brother and I have a room reserved at the Tiki Bar there on the run course. It seemed like a good idea. I remember how increadible the smell was when I ran by there. Where will everyone else be staying? |
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KAR
Posts:31
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| 02/01/2008 10:57 AM |
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E-Dad, Pixie,
Today was a 30 min. swim, followed by 30 min. weights. Outdoor pool, of course. Originally I'm from Illinois, so I'm familiar with the cold. Glad that's over.
I'm not registered yet, the price doesn't go up betwen now and then, the race won't fill up, so what's my hurry? If my training goes as bad as last year, then I'll save $350. I must be a race directors nightmare!
I always stay at the Howard Johnson on US27. It is about $50 per night. It's seven miles from Waterfront Park. From the hotel, I go down 27 to Washington street, takes me right past South Lake Bicycles, and then right onto the GFT run couse on Lakeshore Drive.
Kerry Riggs (M 45-49)
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 02/01/2008 9:04 PM |
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Hello, E-dad and Kerry!
One of the best ways for me to get biking miles is to bike with our local bike club. I ride with a club whose claim to fame is that they ride slow enough for even fairly new bikers to stay with the group. There are some fast bikers on the ride also, but since it's early in the season and I'm slow, I'm content to ride w/ the slow folks. The rides start in different locations around the county and we always ride to breakfast. I like to make an adventure out of it by biking to the ride start if it's not too far away. It saves gas and gives me 15-20 extra miles going to and coming back from the ride. I've ridden to the rides the last 2 Saturdays and have finished the total ride w/ 60-65 miles. The club rides are usually 40 miles. Getting the extra miles makes for good base-building miles for me. I always try to run when I get home. Running after a bike ride is easier and less painful on my shins, so I always do bricks. I've been feeling better on the runs lately. I did my first 5-miler Tuesday.
I was going to do bike to the ride start tomorrow, but I decided to try to change the tube on my rear wheel tonight because every time I try to put air in the tire, the nozzle pops off of the valve. Bad valve, I guess. Bad idea to try to change the tube! My tires are still new enough that it's impossible for me to get the tire back on the rim. I can only do that after I have about 10,000 miles on the tires, which is when I start having lots of flats because the tires are worn out! Now I have to drive to the ride and hope someone there will be able to put my tire back on the rim for me. I'm so annoyed.
Maybe it was fate: biking to the ride start in the dark can be risky, even though I have a front light, a flashing rear light, and reflective gear. I was concerned about one road in particular because I haven't biked on it in years. I don't know the condition of the road or the traffic level. At least driving over tomorrow will give me a chance to monitor both.
I'm a little stressed.  My 70-year-old mother broke her femur bone Wednesday. She had surgery yesterday to have a rod and pins put in. I saw her last night and was surprised at how good she looked. She's doing well, but she faces a long road of recovery for the next 4 months or so. Maybe this was fate also. I had been estranged from my parents the last month or so, but this has brought me "back into the fold."
Kerry, I was surprised to read that you swim in an outdoor pool. You said you are originally from Illinois. Remind me again of where you are now. It's probably in some other communication on the web site, but I can't remember. I also swim outside. When the heater is working, the pool is heated to 80, sometimes 83. It's been fairly pleasant this week, so I had some good practices.
Like you, I have not signed up for GFT '08, and have no intention of doing so until I'm sure I'm ready to "tri" it again. I'd rather pay $350 and be sure about doing it than pay less and not do it for one reason or another. Howard Johnson's is worth checking out. I was close to the the park last year (2 miles?) but paid for it. My dad came to Clermont to support me. My bike and run took so long that he was driving back and forth to hang out in my hotel room rather than spending all day at the park. He told me there were advertisements on the web site for hotels which cost a lot less than mine. When I finally finished and found out that he had been driving back and forth, I asked him if he still thought it would have been better to get a less expensive room 20 miles away rather than a room 2 miles away. He liked being 2 miles away! But I had a negative experience where I stayed last year, so I don't think I'll stay there again.
I'm very discouraged about my bike. I hope someone at the ride will be able to fix it for me. I really hate to miss a ride. E-dad: maybe this will make you feel better about having a trainer to use. I don't have one.
Have a good weekend!
Pixie |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 02/06/2008 8:30 AM |
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Not me, I put the money up front so I can't back out! I paid for that finishers tee shirt and I'm gona go get it. It's part of my motivation for doing this. My other focus is to have a good memory of turing 50. (5th IM @ 50)
So what's everyone's motivation for IM for this year?
IronPenguin will tell you that if you don't have MOE you'll give up when it gets real hard.
Thought for the day: Ironman is like wrestling a gorilla, you don't quit when you get tired, you quit when he gets tired!
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 02/06/2008 7:58 PM |
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Hey, Enduradad!
Let me tell you about my experience w/ that finisher's t-shirt last year. It took me so long to finish that by the time I did, they only had XL sizes left. I gave it to my dad. I still miss not having a finisher's shirt in my size. I must have been the only finisher walking around the awards area (where I had no business being - I was there to see my sorry results) Sunday morning.
My goal/motivation is to finish better than I did last year. And that means better training, of course. I'm pleased with how my biking is going so far. I'm having a blast with my Saturday rides.  The bricks on Saturday are ok right now, but it's going to be a lot tougher when it's 85-90 degrees and 80% humidity! 
I feel that the Ironman is for those who have natural endurance (and natural biking/running ability). And since you call yourself Enduradad, I have to believe you're one of those with natural endurance. Yet you talk about the Ironman as if it's as difficult for you as it is for me (w/ my complete inability to bike/run and my very limited endurance). I guess it is hard for everyone, but everyone else is finishing a lot faster than me and that's the difference.
How does it feel to be turning 50? I hit 40 this past Oct. just in time to compete as a real 40-year-old in the Ironman in that age group instead of being 39 and competing in that age group as I did in my other tri's last year. For me, 40 feels the same as the other years. When I did entered the IM last year, my dad said, "Good, you're at the bottom of your age group." I had to explain to him that I'd be competing against women who were natural bikers and runners with better endurance.  Age doesn't matter. And it didn't.
Here are some sayings I repeat to myself: "If you can dream it, you can do it." "Pain is weakness leaving the body." "There's no such thing as not finishing." "If it were easy, everyone would do it." "The hard is what makes it great." "Ironman: a worthy goal." The first one is the most important. It took me years before I could get past the idea of getting off the bike after 112 miles and running a marathon. I'd done some long rides on the bike before, but never did any running after any of them. It was when I started doing longer rides and feeling like I could run after them that I started thinking an Ironman might be possible.
Pixie |
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jeffreyb1214
Posts:5
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| 02/07/2008 12:04 AM |
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| Dear Pixie, I am turning 50 this year and can tell you the biggest change is the recovery time and the assorted aches and pains in the morning.I still manage 10-12 hours a week training and work more than full time.I've completed the GFT 6 times but have opted for Ironman Louisville this year.I want to do at least one M-Dot race in my lifetime.Anyone else out there doing Louisville? Good luck to all in the GFT,it's a great race.....JB |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 02/07/2008 4:46 PM |
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Have fun at Louisville. I'd tri it but I worry to much about the stuff in the river and the severe heat and humidity. The race is really close to home for me but GFT is jsut to much fun.
They say Ironman beats everyone, those who are the least beaten win. So yes, it's hard for me too. The hardest thing is that I can't just go train. I have 5 kids and they all need me to do stuff with them. So weekends are a mess for a regular schedule. I steal my time when I can.
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 02/07/2008 7:20 PM |
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Sorry I won't get to meet you at GFT, JB. Have a great time at your IM. I recognize your name from the bike for sale on the forum. Congrats on your GFT finishes. If I do what I want at the next one, it will be my last. I usually don't repeat events once I'm satisfied with my finish.
E-dad: I remember why you call yourself "Endura-dad"! Five kids! You may not get to train as much as you would like but that can be a good thing. You appreciate your days out more. It's only Feb. and I'm already tired of being out until 7 every evening.
Ya'll must have great families. Of course, you can make a vacation out of your GFT since you're so close to the theme parks down here.
Pixie |
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mattinthemountains
Posts:5
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| 02/10/2008 7:09 PM |
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Hello All,
My name is Matt Hill. I remember E-Dad from 99, and didn't we meet sometime? Glad to hear you are alive and well. At this point, I will be at GFT in the fall. It will be good to get back to Clermont for some R and R with my lovely wife. We went to IMFL last year and had a great time. Train smart, and have fun everyone.
Matt |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 02/11/2008 11:03 AM |
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Matt,
I'm glad you're in. Where you from? If you're from Louisville then I think we are cousins . How many IM's?
I won't bring the family this year, it's way to much work to keep them entertained. I have the picture of us running through the finish on "00" and that's the best ever. My little brother Cliff (not Choo Choo) will be there this year. We've both won one so this is our best of three for bragging rights.
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