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I feel your pain. My wife is also "decidedly not athletic," and she doesn't "have time" to work out, either. In her opinion, I'm being selfish when I spend time training, traveling to races, etc., because it's time that I could otherwise be spending with her. We did just buy her a bike, so hopefully this summer she can bike alongside me when I go for some of my longer training runs. But like EF points out, it usually takes me staying out later than I'd like the night beforehand, running around more than I'd like during the days, etc., but I guess I should've considered all that before I got married, huh?!wraith5 said:El Floppo said:It get's tougher to fit everything in, especially on the weekends, when you up the race length.
1/2s are doable- some long workouts, but you can generally kill those early in the morning, or while the your SOs are doing something else. Plus, they're not long enough yet to really kick your ###- which leaves the rest of the day free to spend doing whatever you want.
Fulls- bleh. My experience, at least, was tough- especially the weekend workouts. I'd need to get to sleep early Friday so I could wake up early Sat morning- so going out with the then GF had to be on the very early side (by NYC standards). I'd get home from the workout and be exhausted after we'd eat breakfast/brunch together. Would take a major force of will to just walk around together and not just crawl back into bed for a few hours. Saturday night/Sunday morning was a whole rinse repeat action. Took some compromise on both our parts- I'd stay out later than I would've liked, and cruise around more too during the days, and she... wait a sec- seemed like a compromise at the time!
I will also say that getting my runs in during the winter was much easier - on the weekends I could go out at any time of the day to run whatever distance was on the schedule. As temps move into the 70s and 80s in the afternoons, going out and running 13 miles during nap time is definitely not something I want to be doing.
:finger:LOL Thanks for the late words of encouragement! Actually, I'm planning to take mental advantage of the course: It takes a far north turn at mile 5, and a far south turn at mile 19. So it's a "triathlon" for me - an opening leg to get started (can't win the race here, but can lose it if not careful); transitioning through a park/hill at the north end to a long middle leg of steady effort and nutrition; transitioning through some hills approaching the south end to a final 10K+ where it's a real gut-check run.
:rightbackatcha:
Well, I meant "ugly" in the sense that I'm not liking the "spoke" style of courses. It was just weird to see runners running at me and having to make sure I wasn't too close to the cones when someone was coming (and them also being too close to the cones). There were times that I got boxed in and had to hop over a couple of cones to get around someone, all the while making sure no one was about to crash into me. 
Would it have been that unthinkable to route the thing around the big lake?I mean come on, that's horrible.
gruecd- That was exactly my situation: workout time meant "selfish" time away from her, who's idea of a triathlon was Shopping, Spa, Cocktails (think of the Sex in the City girls- that's her and her friends).Took some talking, but she understood pretty quickly how important this stuff was to me and that it made me much, much happier during "our" time (aloha, Mr Hand)- happier me meant happier us.I feel your pain. My wife is also "decidedly not athletic," and she doesn't "have time" to work out, either. In her opinion, I'm being selfish when I spend time training, traveling to races, etc., because it's time that I could otherwise be spending with her. We did just buy her a bike, so hopefully this summer she can bike alongside me when I go for some of my longer training runs. But like EF points out, it usually takes me staying out later than I'd like the night beforehand, running around more than I'd like during the days, etc., but I guess I should've considered all that before I got married, huh?!wraith5 said:El Floppo said:It get's tougher to fit everything in, especially on the weekends, when you up the race length.
1/2s are doable- some long workouts, but you can generally kill those early in the morning, or while the your SOs are doing something else. Plus, they're not long enough yet to really kick your ###- which leaves the rest of the day free to spend doing whatever you want.
Fulls- bleh. My experience, at least, was tough- especially the weekend workouts. I'd need to get to sleep early Friday so I could wake up early Sat morning- so going out with the then GF had to be on the very early side (by NYC standards). I'd get home from the workout and be exhausted after we'd eat breakfast/brunch together. Would take a major force of will to just walk around together and not just crawl back into bed for a few hours. Saturday night/Sunday morning was a whole rinse repeat action. Took some compromise on both our parts- I'd stay out later than I would've liked, and cruise around more too during the days, and she... wait a sec- seemed like a compromise at the time!
Add a couple of little kids into the mix (and a wife who is decidedly not athletic and doesn't "have time" to work out herself) and it gets even tougher. It used to be I could go out for a long run on Sunday, come home and zonk out for a good chunk of the day... that seems like a long time ago now.
I will also say that getting my runs in during the winter was much easier - on the weekends I could go out at any time of the day to run whatever distance was on the schedule. As temps move into the 70s and 80s in the afternoons, going out and running 13 miles during nap time is definitely not something I want to be doing.
Mrs. Liquors didn't start working out seriously until after her first pregnancy (we had been married 7 years then). = There is hope for both of you yet! In fact, she has a renewed respect (= she's even more encouraging) now that she has also completed a triathlon (1st was last month!). Both of my daughters have fond memories of going on jogs w/ Daddy, and both still go with me (they are 5 and 2). For swimming, we spend many of our Saturdays at the pool as a family. Either my wife or I will swim first while the other one swims, than tag team and switch once the first one completes their workouts. I bike w/ my 5 year old, but these are definitely not workouts (she's up to 4 miles though!). The 5 year old is just now getting too big for the jogger, but she is starting to ride her bike with me during short runs. Last week I did an extra run pushing the 2 year old, while the 5 year old rode her bike. Mrs. Liquors was ecstatic, as she wanted everyone out of the house to clean it.gruecd- That was exactly my situation: workout time meant "selfish" time away from her, who's idea of a triathlon was Shopping, Spa, Cocktails (think of the Sex in the City girls- that's her and her friends).Took some talking, but she understood pretty quickly how important this stuff was to me and that it made me much, much happier during "our" time (aloha, Mr Hand)- happier me meant happier us.I feel your pain. My wife is also "decidedly not athletic," and she doesn't "have time" to work out, either. In her opinion, I'm being selfish when I spend time training, traveling to races, etc., because it's time that I could otherwise be spending with her. We did just buy her a bike, so hopefully this summer she can bike alongside me when I go for some of my longer training runs. But like EF points out, it usually takes me staying out later than I'd like the night beforehand, running around more than I'd like during the days, etc., but I guess I should've considered all that before I got married, huh?!wraith5 said:El Floppo said:It get's tougher to fit everything in, especially on the weekends, when you up the race length.
1/2s are doable- some long workouts, but you can generally kill those early in the morning, or while the your SOs are doing something else. Plus, they're not long enough yet to really kick your ###- which leaves the rest of the day free to spend doing whatever you want.
Fulls- bleh. My experience, at least, was tough- especially the weekend workouts. I'd need to get to sleep early Friday so I could wake up early Sat morning- so going out with the then GF had to be on the very early side (by NYC standards). I'd get home from the workout and be exhausted after we'd eat breakfast/brunch together. Would take a major force of will to just walk around together and not just crawl back into bed for a few hours. Saturday night/Sunday morning was a whole rinse repeat action. Took some compromise on both our parts- I'd stay out later than I would've liked, and cruise around more too during the days, and she... wait a sec- seemed like a compromise at the time!
Add a couple of little kids into the mix (and a wife who is decidedly not athletic and doesn't "have time" to work out herself) and it gets even tougher. It used to be I could go out for a long run on Sunday, come home and zonk out for a good chunk of the day... that seems like a long time ago now.
I will also say that getting my runs in during the winter was much easier - on the weekends I could go out at any time of the day to run whatever distance was on the schedule. As temps move into the 70s and 80s in the afternoons, going out and running 13 miles during nap time is definitely not something I want to be doing.
wraith- with kid #1 about a month away, I'm trying to get back to some kind of schedule now because I'm sure "starting" a workout schedule with the baby here is going to be next to impossible. I think the stroller we picked out can handle jogging too... jeebus, this is going to be hard.
Should be a fun one. Maybe something to put on my calendar for next year.What is the route? Is the finish at the 50 yard line?
Yes and thank you.On behalf of thread-originator GStrot (June 2, right?)We need a calendar to keep up with all these events. lol"Program! Get yer programs!! Can't tell the players without a program!! Wraith, Schmegma, and Tri-man are up this weekend, with Chaka and RoarinSonoran in San Diego on 6/3! Programs!!"
Good insight. This is what I thought and why I probably won't do a marathon ... ever. That and my current pace is slowwwww.El Floppo said:It get's tougher to fit everything in, especially on the weekends, when you up the race length. 1/2s are doable- some long workouts, but you can generally kill those early in the morning, or while the your SOs are doing something else. Plus, they're not long enough yet to really kick your ###- which leaves the rest of the day free to spend doing whatever you want.Fulls- bleh. My experience, at least, was tough- especially the weekend workouts. I'd need to get to sleep early Friday so I could wake up early Sat morning- so going out with the then GF had to be on the very early side (by NYC standards). I'd get home from the workout and be exhausted after we'd eat breakfast/brunch together. Would take a major force of will to just walk around together and not just crawl back into bed for a few hours. Saturday night/Sunday morning was a whole rinse repeat action. Took some compromise on both our parts- I'd stay out later than I would've liked, and cruise around more too during the days, and she... wait a sec- seemed like a compromise at the time!I agree which is why I am trying to figure out how to fit it all in. Looks like I need to get my kids to sleep more because they don't take naps on Sundays and they don't go to bed until 9:30 although that might change once they start getting up earlier for school in a couple of years. I probably also need to do more on weekends. Thanks for sharing.The Mrs. is extremely understanding as she also has a pretty rigid training schedule. I take Saturdays off (family day); have my long run on Sunday's during our kid's naps, and do the rest of my cardio workouts between 5:10 and 7:00 am. All lifting/stretching is done at night after the kiddos go to bed (8 pm). My wife and I also do Yoga twice a week together, which I started to be able to spend time w/ her, but have come to enjoy it more than any other workouts during the week. As w/ most in this thread, you have to treat it like brushing your teeth = something you fit into your schedule bc it's important.
You and I are living in the same world. My wife wants to run the 10k but it doesn't look that way now. She was really angry at me on Monday after my run mostly because she is frustrated she isn't training it turns out. But, it makes it tough when she starts with guilt trips of sorts and is not as supportive as I need her to be.wraith5 said:
I guess there are a lot of people living in my world. I have three kids twins are 5, youngest is 3. Nothing like running on the treadmill (tri-man: during the winter!) and having them come down and ask to watch the Wiggles instead of SportsCenter. Think your wife is going to not like you spending an hour or two on a Sunday running now? Just wait.gruecd- That was exactly my situation: workout time meant "selfish" time away from her, who's idea of a triathlon was Shopping, Spa, Cocktails (think of the Sex in the City girls- that's her and her friends).Took some talking, but she understood pretty quickly how important this stuff was to me and that it made me much, much happier during "our" time (aloha, Mr Hand)- happier me meant happier us.I feel your pain. My wife is also "decidedly not athletic," and she doesn't "have time" to work out, either. In her opinion, I'm being selfish when I spend time training, traveling to races, etc., because it's time that I could otherwise be spending with her. We did just buy her a bike, so hopefully this summer she can bike alongside me when I go for some of my longer training runs. But like EF points out, it usually takes me staying out later than I'd like the night beforehand, running around more than I'd like during the days, etc., but I guess I should've considered all that before I got married, huh?!wraith5 said:El Floppo said:It get's tougher to fit everything in, especially on the weekends, when you up the race length.
1/2s are doable- some long workouts, but you can generally kill those early in the morning, or while the your SOs are doing something else. Plus, they're not long enough yet to really kick your ###- which leaves the rest of the day free to spend doing whatever you want.
Fulls- bleh. My experience, at least, was tough- especially the weekend workouts. I'd need to get to sleep early Friday so I could wake up early Sat morning- so going out with the then GF had to be on the very early side (by NYC standards). I'd get home from the workout and be exhausted after we'd eat breakfast/brunch together. Would take a major force of will to just walk around together and not just crawl back into bed for a few hours. Saturday night/Sunday morning was a whole rinse repeat action. Took some compromise on both our parts- I'd stay out later than I would've liked, and cruise around more too during the days, and she... wait a sec- seemed like a compromise at the time!Add a couple of little kids into the mix (and a wife who is decidedly not athletic and doesn't "have time" to work out herself) and it gets even tougher. It used to be I could go out for a long run on Sunday, come home and zonk out for a good chunk of the day... that seems like a long time ago now.
I will also say that getting my runs in during the winter was much easier - on the weekends I could go out at any time of the day to run whatever distance was on the schedule. As temps move into the 70s and 80s in the afternoons, going out and running 13 miles during nap time is definitely not something I want to be doing.
wraith- with kid #1 about a month away, I'm trying to get back to some kind of schedule now because I'm sure "starting" a workout schedule with the baby here is going to be next to impossible. I think the stroller we picked out can handle jogging too... jeebus, this is going to be hard.
Mrs. Liquors didn't start working out seriously until after her first pregnancy (we had been married 7 years then). = There is hope for both of you yet! In fact, she has a renewed respect (= she's even more encouraging) now that she has also completed a triathlon (1st was last month!). Both of my daughters have fond memories of going on jogs w/ Daddy, and both still go with me (they are 5 and 2). For swimming, we spend many of our Saturdays at the pool as a family. Either my wife or I will swim first while the other one swims, than tag team and switch once the first one completes their workouts. I bike w/ my 5 year old, but these are definitely not workouts (she's up to 4 miles though!). The 5 year old is just now getting too big for the jogger, but she is starting to ride her bike with me during short runs. Last week I did an extra run pushing the 2 year old, while the 5 year old rode her bike. Mrs. Liquors was ecstatic, as she wanted everyone out of the house to clean it.gruecd- That was exactly my situation: workout time meant "selfish" time away from her, who's idea of a triathlon was Shopping, Spa, Cocktails (think of the Sex in the City girls- that's her and her friends).Took some talking, but she understood pretty quickly how important this stuff was to me and that it made me much, much happier during "our" time (aloha, Mr Hand)- happier me meant happier us.I feel your pain. My wife is also "decidedly not athletic," and she doesn't "have time" to work out, either. In her opinion, I'm being selfish when I spend time training, traveling to races, etc., because it's time that I could otherwise be spending with her. We did just buy her a bike, so hopefully this summer she can bike alongside me when I go for some of my longer training runs. But like EF points out, it usually takes me staying out later than I'd like the night beforehand, running around more than I'd like during the days, etc., but I guess I should've considered all that before I got married, huh?!wraith5 said:El Floppo said:It get's tougher to fit everything in, especially on the weekends, when you up the race length.
1/2s are doable- some long workouts, but you can generally kill those early in the morning, or while the your SOs are doing something else. Plus, they're not long enough yet to really kick your ###- which leaves the rest of the day free to spend doing whatever you want.
Fulls- bleh. My experience, at least, was tough- especially the weekend workouts. I'd need to get to sleep early Friday so I could wake up early Sat morning- so going out with the then GF had to be on the very early side (by NYC standards). I'd get home from the workout and be exhausted after we'd eat breakfast/brunch together. Would take a major force of will to just walk around together and not just crawl back into bed for a few hours. Saturday night/Sunday morning was a whole rinse repeat action. Took some compromise on both our parts- I'd stay out later than I would've liked, and cruise around more too during the days, and she... wait a sec- seemed like a compromise at the time!
I will also say that getting my runs in during the winter was much easier - on the weekends I could go out at any time of the day to run whatever distance was on the schedule. As temps move into the 70s and 80s in the afternoons, going out and running 13 miles during nap time is definitely not something I want to be doing.
wraith- with kid #1 about a month away, I'm trying to get back to some kind of schedule now because I'm sure "starting" a workout schedule with the baby here is going to be next to impossible. I think the stroller we picked out can handle jogging too... jeebus, this is going to be hard.
I feel incredibly fortunate that my family understands how important training is to me, but also still feel guilty. Figuring out training schedules is always a challenge. This thread is actually therapeutic as it lets me see that others also go through the same trials/tribulations. Here's to the workouts we do get in!
I need the twins to get better at riding their bikes.
This is exactly why I wanted (needed) to qualify for Boston prior to us having kids. So as long as I can avoid any "accidents" prior to next year, I should be all set for Boston next April, and then I can "retire" from marathoning and focus on less time-intensive distances like half marathons and 15Ks.
My job is the same way.
If this wasn't the case, I'm not sure that I could swing it, either.So, I need a new job and a new wife?This running thing is a bigger commitment than I previously thought.My job is the same way.If this wasn't the case, I'm not sure that I could swing it, either.
...but a good crazy, to be sure!Hey guys, I hear ya about the scheduling issues. After a couple triathlons, I actually gave them up for ten years while the two kids were growing into more self-sufficient ages. I instead focused on 5Ks to 10 mile races. While I'm fortunate to have the university's adequate facilities year-round, it was still hard through those years to fit it in. But as I touched on quite a while back, my goal was to still be competing when the kids were old enough to appreciate it - and that's now the case. They're 18 and 21, and my daughter (18) loves coming along on my race weekends (tho' she can't make this one). So many of you are facing some challenging time constraints in the near term, but long term, it'll be great that you found a way to keep at it!And RoarinS, the Madison course actually doesn't have any true out and back spots except for maybe a mile around mile 14. They have those spokes, but they're on different streets. FWIW.
Yeah, that's what I meant by it wasn't as bad as Nashville. As I said, I guess I'm spoiled by the big looping courses. Gimme the tire, not the spokes. lolAnd RoarinS, the Madison course actually doesn't have any true out and back spots except for maybe a mile around mile 14. They have those spokes, but they're on different streets. FWIW.
Ah, c'mon- marathon training can't be more than a couple of hours at a time- you can do it! The IM stuff, I'd leave at 5:30am and get back anywhere from 2 to 9 hours later. Weekend=shot. Girlfriend=Good insight. This is what I thought and why I probably won't do a marathon ... ever. That and my current pace is slowwwww.El Floppo said:It get's tougher to fit everything in, especially on the weekends, when you up the race length. 1/2s are doable- some long workouts, but you can generally kill those early in the morning, or while the your SOs are doing something else. Plus, they're not long enough yet to really kick your ###- which leaves the rest of the day free to spend doing whatever you want.Fulls- bleh. My experience, at least, was tough- especially the weekend workouts. I'd need to get to sleep early Friday so I could wake up early Sat morning- so going out with the then GF had to be on the very early side (by NYC standards). I'd get home from the workout and be exhausted after we'd eat breakfast/brunch together. Would take a major force of will to just walk around together and not just crawl back into bed for a few hours. Saturday night/Sunday morning was a whole rinse repeat action. Took some compromise on both our parts- I'd stay out later than I would've liked, and cruise around more too during the days, and she... wait a sec- seemed like a compromise at the time!I agree which is why I am trying to figure out how to fit it all in. Looks like I need to get my kids to sleep more because they don't take naps on Sundays and they don't go to bed until 9:30 although that might change once they start getting up earlier for school in a couple of years. I probably also need to do more on weekends. Thanks for sharing.The Mrs. is extremely understanding as she also has a pretty rigid training schedule. I take Saturdays off (family day); have my long run on Sunday's during our kid's naps, and do the rest of my cardio workouts between 5:10 and 7:00 am. All lifting/stretching is done at night after the kiddos go to bed (8 pm). My wife and I also do Yoga twice a week together, which I started to be able to spend time w/ her, but have come to enjoy it more than any other workouts during the week. As w/ most in this thread, you have to treat it like brushing your teeth = something you fit into your schedule bc it's important.
Tomorrow AM.... FO SHO! (pulling the bike out now to put by the door)As for training:
Did 10 mins out, 10mins back. Evened out the pace, at least, although I went shorter to take it easier on the knee (which felt ok). I guess I'll stick to the 20 min runs for a bit and slowly up it back up.
Didn't get on the bike
...but a good crazy, to be sure!Hey guys, I hear ya about the scheduling issues. After a couple triathlons, I actually gave them up for ten years while the two kids were growing into more self-sufficient ages. I instead focused on 5Ks to 10 mile races. While I'm fortunate to have the university's adequate facilities year-round, it was still hard through those years to fit it in. But as I touched on quite a while back, my goal was to still be competing when the kids were old enough to appreciate it - and that's now the case. They're 18 and 21, and my daughter (18) loves coming along on my race weekends (tho' she can't make this one). So many of you are facing some challenging time constraints in the near term, but long term, it'll be great that you found a way to keep at it!And RoarinS, the Madison course actually doesn't have any true out and back spots except for maybe a mile around mile 14. They have those spokes, but they're on different streets. FWIW.
I ran through the arboretum during my 10K a couple weeks ago, and you are going to LOVE that decent starting at mile 19. It is a truly beautiful area. I think you'll be running on the road, but the tree cover there is perfect, helping cool things off while you breeze down the hill. Better yet, after my sister and I finish the half we're heading for the halfway point on the ascent that starts at about mile 18, right after the water station, to cheer on my BIL. If you take it nice and slow, maybe we'll be able to cheer for you too.tri-man 47 said:
A buddy out in CA mapped my Madison marathon run for me and sent it to me last night. So now I know the elevations! I don't have any serious issues to address. A couple early hills, a stretch that climbs to mile 19 (the south edge of the course) and then a general decline in elevation over the last seven miles (yeah!). Mile 19 is about where we start 2-3 miles through an arboretum, so if I can be strong to that point, I then start a downhill stretch on paths, which will be fantastic.
Hopefully the anticipated storms pass through Friday/Saturday and leave Sunday dry and cooler (as gruecd points out). I did three miles yesterday and four this morning at easy paces on a track with a few accelerations.
Schmegma, your 1/2-marathon avoids the hills at miles 5 and 7. You'll have that incline heading south, but then the latter half of your 'half' will be on that declining stretch. If your knee gets bad, you might be able to just lay down and roll to the finish.
I thought I replied to this earlier but didn't see it... It's a great race - starts east of the field, goes south on LSD then back north on the bike path along the lake. It finishes in Soldier Field, on the sideline grass, but not on the actual field. If you remember to look up when you finish you can see yourself on the jumbotron. Pretty cool. Plus, they honor our military beforehand (Memorial Day weekend at Soldier Field, after all). How can you beat that?!? I highly recommend the race.
Suddenly this support group isn't just about the running anymore...GStrot said:
My wife doesn't get mad because she's jealous of my training, and she certainly doesn't get mad because she wants to spend that time with me ( )... she gets mad because she's left to take care of both boys on her own while I get to do "me" time. Life's funny sometimes. Maybe we can all meet up at Brookfield sometime, leave the wives with the kiddies and run laps around the swamp exibit.
El Floppo said:Tomorrow AM.... FO SHO! (pulling the bike out now to put by the door)As for training:
Did 10 mins out, 10mins back. Evened out the pace, at least, although I went shorter to take it easier on the knee (which felt ok). I guess I'll stick to the 20 min runs for a bit and slowly up it back up.
Didn't get on the bike
It wasn't pretty, but I poured my fat ### over the saddle and put in 25, half of which was the god-awful commute to and from Central Park. The cycling/tri shirt didn't fit (hello belly, well HELLO belly, it's so nice to see you squeezing out where you don't belong) and I barely remembered what to wear or bring on the ride (remembered the AD cream at the last minute). But I got it done.
Nice!Nice work El Floppo. The hardest part is just getting out there!***OFFICIALLY*** just registered for the Atlantic City half marathon in October :(
- you're all over it.This reminds me, I should probably sign up for the Manhattan 1/2 as prep for the Marathon... (or I can just run with them and not sign up, ie: pay)
Come down to AC and run the 1/2 with meNice!Nice work El Floppo. The hardest part is just getting out there!***OFFICIALLY*** just registered for the Atlantic City half marathon in October :(
You running NY marathon? When is the lottery?
Maybe... a bit far for a guy without a car- but maybe. When in Oct is it?I know you need to get your info in to NYC now- not sure when the lottery is. I've been deferring the last two years, so I'm already in.Come down to AC and run the 1/2 with meNice!Nice work El Floppo. The hardest part is just getting out there!***OFFICIALLY*** just registered for the Atlantic City half marathon in October
The AC 1/2 is Sunday Oct 14th, about 3 weeks before NY. May be a little too close to the NY marathon....although I am sure you will need to do a long run that Sunday as part of your trainingMaybe... a bit far for a guy without a car- but maybe. When in Oct is it?I know you need to get your info in to NYC now- not sure when the lottery is. I've been deferring the last two years, so I'm already in.Come down to AC and run the 1/2 with meNice!Nice work El Floppo. The hardest part is just getting out there!***OFFICIALLY*** just registered for the Atlantic City half marathon in October
Take the train to NJ and catch a ride in the DolphinsPhan mobile!
Nice, C! All the club teams were out in the park this morning- flying by me as if I was a fat, out of shape, slob on an ill-fitting tri-bike... oh yeah...
Alright, culdeus, listen. I don't have the high-tech machine, but I have a decent Fuji road bike that rides well. I can rather comfortably ride it long stretches in the big wheel. But I'll be darned if I can get my average pace up above 20 mph, and I know I can't tap into the mid-20s for anything more than a 1/2 mile to mile burst. I read the articles that give training techniques to improve performance. But give it to me clean and simple. What's a guy to do? Just log many more miles? Specific drills? Pre-season, leg-specific weight training? Cut to the chase and give me some keys. TIA. Will answer yours.
Riding in a pack will up your MPH a few ticks. And riding faster gets you used to riding faster- sounds stupid, but I've had all my tri friends tell me to ride more with roadies and less on my own.
El Floppo said:Tomorrow AM.... FO SHO! (pulling the bike out now to put by the door)As for training:
Did 10 mins out, 10mins back. Evened out the pace, at least, although I went shorter to take it easier on the knee (which felt ok). I guess I'll stick to the 20 min runs for a bit and slowly up it back up.
Didn't get on the bike
I had absolutely no power/strength for pace or hill climbing- hill descending, on the other hand. Was all I could do to pass the middle-aged, fat women's club. But I negative split the 2nd loop in the park- I think because I started to get some form back- 21:30 and 21:00. Got in the bars a handful of times. The bike is MUCH more aggressively set up and sized than my dear old Litespeed (RIP), from the frame to the narrower handle/aero-bars... I felt a little squeezed in there- although that could've just been the rolls and rolls of fat talking.
All in all- VERY happy to have gotten out there at 5:30... I'm gunning for a repeat ride this weekend.
(and again- :thankyou: to this thread for inspiring this for me).
Nice work El Floppo. The hardest part is just getting out there!***OFFICIALLY*** just registered for the Atlantic City half marathon in October
Riding in a pack is the key to hitting those high speeds. Other things to do is when you come up on a fast group (or they come upon you) latch on for a bit and then lag back about 100ft and then sprint up to catch your breath and then lag back again. Of course to do this you need to live in a cycling dense area like I do, or else have some sense of discipline for doing intervals. I think ITTs in grand tours average in the 27mph range for reference and they'll knock down a stage 4x as long in 35mph or more frequently.
Forgot to give my update yesterday. Three miles yesterday on the treadmill while my 3 year old watched the Wiggles.
Added random inclines and increased the speed just for fun. Big run planned for Saturday. Actually looking forward to it. Never would have guessed that.Rub some dirt on it.Oh, and one of my stitches is infected and I've been told to knock it off to 1hour every two days till tuesday
Nice work! Your 10k will be a breeze with all of the training you put in. Just make sure to take it easy next week. Want to wish you good luck. I will be on vacaiton next week, so I won't be around to see the updates. Finishing a race is a great feeling. Make sure someone is there to take pcitures when you cross the finish lineForgot to give my update yesterday. Three miles yesterday on the treadmill while my 3 year old watched the Wiggles.
Im just glad you're not still talking about your colon.
No doubt- I'm guessing you'll finish and immediately think- "oh, I could've gone faster on the first half/middle third/whatever" and not "ugh. that was impossible"... and that's when the hook is officially in!Nice work! Your 10k will be a breeze with all of the training you put in. Just make sure to take it easy next week. Want to wish you good luck. I will be on vacaiton next week, so I won't be around to see the updates. Finishing a race is a great feeling. Make sure someone is there to take pcitures when you cross the finish lineForgot to give my update yesterday. Three miles yesterday on the treadmill while my 3 year old watched the Wiggles.
