pixie
Posts:43
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| 05/10/2008 12:38 PM |
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Ok, maybe I was a little premature in giving up so early. I haven't cancelled my hotel reservations yet and since I still want to do another IM, I'll revise my training to see if I have more energy for better quality workouts.
As usual, we went right from winter to summer. Not really. We did have 2 fabulous weeks of spring weather. But it's really hot now. Today's projected high: 91 with a "feels like temp of 93. Humidity is only in the low 40s but it feels higher. Nice wind out of the soutwest.
Sorry to be so negative around such a positive group of people. I'll try to learn from the rest of you.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend and getting some quality training.
Pixie |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 05/12/2008 3:43 PM |
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I'm begining to think I'm the only one actually committed to GFT? Which is funny since I'm also the one who's not really started training yet. My wife and kids get out of school next week and that means soon I can sneek off to train in the mornings.
Penguin are you out there? and are you going to GFT? |
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IronScott
Posts:10
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| 06/04/2008 6:36 PM |
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 OK... Sorry Tribe but Ocelot is running NYC this fall which will negate the GFT this year. I'll miss you all wish everyone a successful ramp up, great race and healthy finish. Good Luck!
Ocelot Scott |
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Iron Scott |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 06/09/2008 10:47 AM |
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Scott,
Have fun just runing a Marathon .
I'm still hoping that several people want to team up to do the prerace/ post race events?
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IronScott
Posts:10
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| 06/09/2008 11:50 AM |
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| Thanks ED. That reminds me of a funny T-shirt I saw once. On the front, "You ran a Marathon? That's so cute...". On the back, "I usually only do that AFTER I've swan 2.4 and biked 112". Couldn't pass up the opportunity though. Getting into NY is tough and there's a 20+ contingent from here going up to run so while the effort will be nominal, the party will e enormous :) |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 06/09/2008 4:32 PM |
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I have a poster by my desk that says "It's only exercise for the first 100 miles, after that it's some kinda sick compulsion fuled by God knows what? "
Have fun at your party.
More stones!!!! |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 06/10/2008 8:28 AM |
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I wonder?
If I should train a little every night just so my body will be prepared to finish IM in the evening?
I wonder if time on a trainer is really worth more than on the road since you can't coast?
I wonder if I push the bike harder if I can beat the headwinds that come in off the gulf coast?
Hmmmm?
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 06/11/2008 1:23 PM |
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Enduradad:
Yes, yes and yes! What's going on? Sorry to say I have officially given up on GFT this year (and maybe forever). I "tri"ed. I was doing ok until the heat and humidity started. Even though I'm a native of Florida, I think it affects me more now that I'm an old lady.
How is your training going? Are you lacking in time or motivation or both?
Good luck in your future endeavors!
Pixie |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 06/12/2008 9:06 AM |
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Thanks Pix. I don't buy the "old" part.
My training has started! The twins are at camp this week and so I get some extra time for my stuff. I'm in at that weird spot.. almost 50, working out for 1 1/2 hrs. and knowing I'm out of shape? Only IM can say that .
Has anyone tried the Snickers "Charged" candy bar? I'm going to try it once or twice as my special needs treat. I use "Payday" now. I thnk this year I'm also going to try coffee for race morning?
I a friend of mine use to have a McDonald's cheese burger (yes, - day old?) He swore it was the best thing ever to keep from bonking on the bike.
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 06/12/2008 8:23 PM |
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You know what, Enduradad? I don't buy the "old" thing either. I do think I have more of a problem w/ the heat and humidity than I used to, though. I felt much better doing my long bike rides and long runs in March and April than toward the end of May when the heat started.
As far as eating, everyone is different. I've heard old timers say that all the new-fangled energy gels and drinks make them sick while a hotdog works fine for them. Our bike club rides are only 40 miles, but I bike to the start and sometimes get as much as 60 extra miles. We always stop for breakfast and I look forward to my BLT. Sometimes I have home fries w/ grilled onions. I never have any trouble on the bike (except for being too full to use my aerobars!).
Happy Training, ED. I'm sorry I won't get to meet up w/ you and other Tribe members this year. I still want to do another GFT. I'll think on it for next year. If I change my expectations, maybe I can survive the training to reach the goal again.
Pixie |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 06/13/2008 8:36 AM |
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Sounds to me like what you need most is to move to Wisconnson and become a cheese head. They even have a local IM race there. ( I wonder if they still start it in the parking garage?) How well do you handle subzero temps?
Good luck out there to every one on Friday the 13th. But then again (knock on wood) we all know that IM are not super stuperstitious. That's why I've thought about changing my faviorite candy bar (throw a pinch of salt over my shoulder). I mean besides my racing socks needing to be washed some day I'm open to new ideas. Now I have to admit that when Suzie first told me that painting my toenails before a race would prevent blisters I was sceptical, but since it worked who can argue with facts.
Everyone knows that seeing a rabbit on your favorite run course means to sprint the finish, and that seeing a turtle means go one more lap, but I'm sure not going to believe in silly stuff like double knotting my shoe strings.
So have fun today...
Hey Fred, now that I think about it maybe we should have the winner chug a bottle of milk! Then we'll throw a cooler of G-ade over you when the last racer finishes. |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 06/14/2008 10:19 AM |
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Last minute tips for your IM Dad (from Enduradad):
We all know IM dad's won't be in bed for you to do the standard breakfast in bed, but a low carb post ride brunch sure would be great!
All IM Dad's would love to have their bikes cleaned and oiled!
Nothing says "I can't do without you!" like putting new batteries the bike tail light for those early/late rides.
Forget the tie.. how about new bike helmet pads to get ride of the sweaty ones. Or at least a shot of Fabreze.
Little future IM's ... put your favorite sticker on his bike helmet!
Training runs and rides get pretty boring. Make tomorrow special by going out tonight and putting signs along the course. Or better yet.. go out tomorrow and drive by him then stop ahead and set up a aide station and cheer for him!
Just a thought!
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 06/14/2008 3:40 PM |
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I hope all these things happen for you! What great ideas! Happy Fathers Day to all you IM Dads!
Pixie
PS: About Wisconsin: As a native Floridian, I'm sure I wouldn't do well at all at sub-zero! I don't know how Brett Favre (from Mississippi?) managed! |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 06/16/2008 8:10 AM |
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Well I managed to get my bike out of the garage and on the road for the first time Sunday morning. The trainer might be great for legs, but it sure doesn't do much for skills. It was fun to see the sun come up, enjoy coasting, and smell the smells. The cow pasture still stinks! The honey suckle was awsome! The patches of fog were pretty and yet scarry because I don't trust the cars behind me.
There were no new dogs on my route, but I did get chased by a duck?
I forgot to stretch and really felt sore afterward.
Most of all I miss my brother, I realy need a training partner!
Summer starts this next weekend, how's everyone else doing?
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KAR
Posts:31
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| 06/16/2008 11:33 AM |
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E-Da,
Glad to hear you're outside. You must be happy that the trainer is done for a while, unless you're doing turbo workouts(?) Hope you had a great Fathers Day!
Pix,
None of my business, 'cause no one knows their body better than you, but how can you make that decision to cancel so soon? We haven't even gone through strength, endurance, and/or build phases. Didn't you finish last year? Is it the legs that have you worn down? Have you checked your saddle height? Quads leaving you too trashed to run? Hmm..have you considered doing the half this year? |
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KAR
Posts:31
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| 06/16/2008 11:36 AM |
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Sorry, I meant "E-Dad"
Anyone heard from Ironpenguin?
Kerry Riggs (M 45-49) not Joe Boness age group, thankfully!
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 06/16/2008 11:49 AM |
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Kerry,
Yeah, but Joe's in mine. I can only hope he just wins it all again. And only Joe could do that just two weeks after running Kona.
I have not heard from Penguin either. |
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 06/16/2008 11:59 AM |
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You're right: no one knows my body better than me, and I'm still learning. And what I've learned and need to accept (and everyone else needs to accept) is that I am a middle distance swimmer. I am not an endurance or ultra-endurance athlete. And I'm definitely not a runner. No matter how badly I want to do another GFT, I will never be able to finish the way I want to finish: faster than last year and without knee pain. I've been killing myself biking to and from work on Tues. and Thurs. for my training (and to save money on gas), 45 miles roundtrip, doing 30 minute runs after that, long rides on Saturday followed by 30 minute+ runs, and I'm tired of being tired all the time. And yes, I know about doing the long bike Saturday and the long run Sunday. I did that last year. I was still tired all the time.
This is something that those gifted with natural athletic ability will never be able to understand. How could anyone be so weak? I don't know but that's how I was born, unfortunately.
When I train for the half or full GFT, there is no such thing as strength, endurance or build phases. There's only: "Try to do the 30-minute bricks after the Tues./ Thurs. bike and try to do the miles planned for the long run on Sunday."
Yes, I briefly considered the half. I figure if I'm going to be tired all the time from training for the half, I might as well make it a full.
Yes, I finished GFT last year . . . despite my lack of ability. It was all mental. Anything longer than a sprint is really beyond my capabilities. Everyone tells me I have a poor mental attitude and that's why I can't achieve my goals. But believe me, there is nothing wrong w/ my mental attitude. It's my mental toughness that kept me training last year despite constant exhaustion because I wanted to achieve the goal so badly. And I have achieved my goals, not necessarily the way I wanted to, but I have finished all the events I set out to do.
Running is the main problem for me. I can do it, but it wears me out.
And most of all, I'm tired of having to explain why I'm unable to do what comes more easily to everyone else. I simply was not born with the same ability. If we were all the same, we'd all qualify for the Olympics. Or we would all be like Lance Armstrong. Well, guess what? Everyone is different. I tackled something that is beyond me and only my stubborness and refusal to give up last year made it possible for me to finish GFT.
I'm going to take a minimalist approach and focus on short stuff this year. Maybe next year, I'll think about GFT again. As for this year, it's too late. My official training was supposed to begin June 1 and I should have been up to 10 mile runs like I had been back in March and April. As soon as the Florida heat and humidity set in, my training went downhill.
I wish I had the same ability the rest of you have.
Best of luck w/ your training. Stay safe and injury-free.
Pixie |
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Enduradad
Posts:128
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| 06/16/2008 4:47 PM |
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But Pixie, you've done it before! That makes you better than more than 99% of the world!
I say that just because we'd love to have you there.
Be good, and have fun what ever you decide.
Question for everyone? Why's do they call a bike/run training session a "brick"? I'm going to try and modify my "brick" and do my long bike early morning and then do a run later that night. First reason for that is to miss the afternoon heat. At 50 I don't need to be out in the afternoon heat. Second thought is that I need to get my body use to running in the evening like I will on race day. So I wonder what name to give a morning bike/ evening run training session?
A.) a Block
B.) a Rock
C.) a Stone (more stones!)
D.) a Lego
E.) A.A.R.P. (Advanced Age Run Prep )
F.) other??
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pixie
Posts:43
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| 06/16/2008 8:17 PM |
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Yep, been there, done that . . . . never again! Oh, wait: that's what I say about marriage, not GFT! Believe me, I'd love to be there, but like I said, I think I'll take this next year "off" and just focus on short stuff. I was leaning toward tri-ing it again, esp. after your last post, but then I went to swim practice . . . and sort of felt good! That doesn't happen when I'm doing mega miles on the bike and the run. And remember, swimming is my best discipline!
Remember your Shakespeare: "This above all else: to thine own self be true."
I considered doing bricks the way you are planning. But I knew I'd never be able to get out there in the evening to do the run. But for your brick, aren't you only doing 10-30 minutes running? Wouldn't you be ok if you carried a water bottle? That's what I've been doing (remember: Florida. Summer began at the end of May here).
Have you ever done RAIN (Ride Across Indiana)?
Concerning GFT: if there are any single and unattached men in their 40s who are doing GFT, then maybe I'll come watch . . . . Otherwise, I'll think about tackling it again next year.
Pixie |
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