Joe is training for a triathlon log - Page 4

Charger · 03-28-2009, 08:43 PM

For the sprint tri I'm doing next month it is in a pool, so they separate each person by 5 seconds. Then you go down one direction in a pool, move to the next lane and swim back. It will be interesting to see how that works out. I'm imagining a huge pile of people.

LisaS · 03-28-2009, 09:20 PM

did you win? We know you beat one guy - what about the other one?

Charger · 03-29-2009, 10:33 AM

Yes, I beat everyone. 3 other guys ended up doing it. I'm pretty sure all of us were going close to 100%.

msmogreen · 03-29-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charger

For the sprint tri I'm doing next month it is in a pool, so they separate each person by 5 seconds. Then you go down one direction in a pool, move to the next lane and swim back. It will be interesting to see how that works out. I'm imagining a huge pile of people.

Wow, yeah that sounds crazy. I'd probably get disoriented and forget to move over lol. Can you use the walls to kick off each lap?

Charger · 03-29-2009, 08:45 PM

I would assume so, but I'll have to see.

JoshDunn · 03-30-2009, 02:46 AM

Yes you will use the walls to turn. Just thinking about not using the wall makes me laugh at the mess it would turn into.

Hadn't thought about using the pool like that. Gives you a fair distance really.

That's a good time overall. Including transitions that's about the speed I get that all done in.

Nice work. And winning doesn't hurt. Any of those guys doing the real one with you?

Charger · 03-30-2009, 07:50 AM

2 of the guys from Saturday are in the race in a few weeks. The third was a friend who figured he'd see how he could do, and he did really well considering he can't swim well and hasn't been running lately. I think I only beat him by about 5 or 10 minutes.

Today I'll be back in the pool trying to get more streamlined. I didn't get very winded during the swim portion, and I was going at full force. So I'm guessing my technique has to be what is slowing me down.

msmogreen · 03-30-2009, 10:31 AM

I just wondered about using the walls because obviously if you are in open water there are no walls, so using walls feels like cheating. I don't use the walls when I practice for that reason, figuring it won't help prepare me for the reality of open water. But since I'm doing the mini in a pool, good to know that it is okay!

Charger · 03-31-2009, 03:40 PM

March 30,

Swim:

Drill 20 minutes
5 X 100 yard sprints

Comments:
Mainly wanted to work on drills and then I wanted to see if they helped at all. I was averaging 100 yards in about 2:30, which will work if I can keep it up 450 yards.

Charger · 04-01-2009, 02:40 PM

April 1,

Goal:
450 yards under 10:30
Just missed it

Swim:

Warm-up
2 X 50

450 yards in 10:35

Comments:
I was able to go full out longer than normal today. I'm kicking more which I believe is keeping my legs up and more streamlines. I was trying the two beat kick, but obviously it wasn't working that well for me. I missed my goal by only 5 seconds, but I'm still pretty happy. If I can get it under 10:00 by April 19th (1st tri sprint) I think I should be on solid ground to do the whole thing in under 1 hour. I basically have 1.5 weeks of training left, then a week of keeping mild workouts to prepare for the race.

Charger · 04-02-2009, 12:22 PM

April 2,

Run:

5 minute warm-up
4 minute cool-down
Intervals 1:40/0:20
Distance - 4.0 miles
Time - 34:55
Pace - 8:44

Comments:
Nice day for a run. Upper 60's with a storm coming in, so there was a breeze and the sun wasn't beating down. I could have kicked it up a notch, but just wasn't that into it. This weekend I'll be doing another bike/run workout so I'll make sure and go strong then.

Charger · 04-03-2009, 03:54 PM

April 3,

Swim:

Warm-up
2 X 100

100 yard sprints time/rest
2:24/0:34
2:31/0:44
2:31/0:40
2:29/1:22
2:36/0:36
2:39/0:39
2:40/1:07
2:39/1:09
2:37/1:08
2:34

Comments:
Really thought I'd be able to swim faster today. These times put my 450 yard time at about 11:30. And since I took breaks every 100 yards this isn't good for my goal of swimming 400 m in 10:00 in a couple of weeks. I seem to pretty much have one speed no matter what the distance. Hopefully next week will be another breakthrough for me.

Ogedei · 04-03-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msmogreen

I just wondered about using the walls because obviously if you are in open water there are no walls, so using walls feels like cheating. I don't use the walls when I practice for that reason, figuring it won't help prepare me for the reality of open water. But since I'm doing the mini in a pool, good to know that it is okay!

Just to keep it in perspective. In an open water swim, no you don't have walls to kick off of. You also don't have to stop and turn around every 25 yards, or however long your pool is.

I have never done an open water, and my experience with a pool tris is VERY limited. That being said, the pool one I did was done in heats. You submitted your time. The fast guys went first. As they started to finish the next class went in etc. The optimum you could get was to have put yourself a little bit faster than you were, ie you were the slowest guy. No one was slowing you down then.

Joe: Have you swam the distance slower, but continuous without breaks? Or have you always done it as sprint with breaks? Just curious.

Og.

Charger · 04-03-2009, 11:59 PM

I've done a couple of swims for over a 1000 yards without, and I'm doing 450 yards at least once a week. I'm hoping the combination of sprints and full length will help me get faster.

Charger · 04-04-2009, 09:26 PM

April 4,

Goal:
3 miles in 24:00
Failed

Run:

Warm-up .5 miles

Distance - 3 miles
Total Time - 24:53
Pace - 8:17

Cool-down .5 miles

Comments:
So I bought a air pump for the tires on my bike and it was defective. It ended up deflating the tires, so I have to go swap the pump on Monday when the store is open again. Which means I can't bike this weekend. My goal was pretty aggressive, but I'm still disappointed I missed it. Maybe next time.

LisaS · 04-04-2009, 11:48 PM

you should be able to just take your tires down to the gas station for air -

Charger · 04-05-2009, 09:38 PM

The tires have presta valves and unluckily my gas station isn't nearly cool enough to have those.

LisaS · 04-05-2009, 09:58 PM

hmm, odd that a pump would deflate prestas - when you return it, pick up a converter as well perhaps (just in case)

Charger · 04-06-2009, 02:26 PM

April 6,

Goal:
450 yards in 11:00
Not even close

Warm-up
2 X 50

Distance - 450 yards
Time - 12:49

Drills - 15 minutes

Comments:
I thought I was faster, but I'm pretty sure I know the problem. I had to share a lane, which I suck at. I hit the lane divider a couple of times and I have to be very careful not to bump into anyone. Also, I was trying to stroke faster. The other person in my lane mentioned my stroke was short, so I'm guessing that slowed me down. Per her suggestion I tried a leg buoy and I was able to lengthen my stroke and it felt much better. Also tried without the buoy and felt better when I focused on it. It felt more like skimming in the water verse being dragged. Wednesday I'll work with it and see what happens.

Charger · 04-08-2009, 09:18 PM

April 8,

Swim:

Warm-up - 4 X 50

100 yard sprints (untimed rests)
2:09
2:15
2:17
2:15
2:15
2:18

Comments:
Worked on lengthening my stroke, and I think it was helpful. On Friday I'll do the 450 and see if it helps overall. I think I've got a good chance of getting under 11:00.

LisaS · 04-08-2009, 09:59 PM

are you warming up with drills, drill/swim or whole stroke? (can you tell I've just finished reading TI?)

Charger · 04-09-2009, 08:05 AM

Usually I warm-up with drills for a few minutes. Core balance (pretty sure that's the drill) to work on streamlining and skating position to get my lead arm tuned in. Other times I do a few warm-up laps with full stroke. I added in using a leg buoy the other day after someone mentioned it could help me lengthen my stroke.

Charger · 04-11-2009, 01:48 PM

April 9,

Bike:

50 minute ride at quick pace.

Comments:
I tried out the aero bar and was a bit wobbly at first. I may use it when I have a straight stretch where I don't need to change gears, but for the short races I'll be doing I'm not sure if I'll use it.

Charger · 04-11-2009, 01:53 PM

April 10,

Goal:
450 yards in under 11:00
Succeeded

Swim:
Warm-up 4 X 50

Distance - 450 yards
Time - 10:49

Cool-down - breast stroke

Comments:
I was glad to get it in under 11 minutes. Hopefully with a bit of adrenaline I can get it in at 10 minutes next week at the tri.

Charger · 04-11-2009, 02:16 PM

April 11,

Goal:
Finish in under 55 minutes.
Succeeded

Swim:
Distance - 450 yards
Time - 11:17

T1 - 2:00

Bike:
Distance - 5.2 miles
Time 19:14

T2 - forgot to hit lap

Run:
Distance - 2.6 miles
Time - 20:59

Total Time - 53:30

Comments:
I was pretty happy with the run portion, considering I had a bad cramp in my left calf about a minute into the run. I stopped a couple of times trying to stretch, but it didn't seem to help. Basically had to run slow for a couple of minutes until it went away. I'm going to work on a few things to make sure that doesn't happen next week. I didn't swim as fast as I wanted, but since I got a PR yesterday it probably slowed me down a bit. This week I'll be keeping the training low, so I should be at full strength for Sunday. Overall it went well.

Ogedei · 04-11-2009, 04:51 PM

Good luck. What date is your race again? I am assuming next Sunday, ie not Easter?

Og.

Charger · 04-13-2009, 09:08 PM

Yes, my first tri is the 19th. Should be fun.

msmogreen · 04-13-2009, 11:38 PM

You'll do great...you'll probably win! We're doing a mock tri on Saturday--1/2 mile pool swim, followed by 10 mile bike and 5K. It will be interesting.

LisaS · 04-19-2009, 12:43 AM

good luck tomorrow!

Charger · 04-19-2009, 07:21 PM

So I finished in 1:04. Completely choked on the swim, guess I just panicked and couldn't get my form. I just need more practice in the pool. I'll be taking most of this week off from training, but I'll get back in the pool soon.