Had another thought (while I wasn't sleeping last night) - since many of us on forum, FB and twitter in addition to some of us having blogs too- wondering if maybe we could flag posts (kind like the workworks# hashtag on twitter) to make things easier. Entries could then be copied over to the blog. It would be cool to be able to look over the 20 week saga the week before race week when we are suffering from the taper crazies!!
Kit- Can we set up a blog that multiple people can post to?
V5F - I bought a pair a while back. I started out just wearing them around the house for short periods of time to build up and then went to wearing them on the treadmill for the last 1 mile of my workouts (toward CD stage) then took it to a bit longer from there. I have yet to do a run outside (mostly due to inclement weather) but have worn them out to the store. They really, really focused me on my form (which was much better running in them). That being said.... I have been graduating down to lighter shoes for the past 3-4 years before I got to this stage. I am also signed up for a webinar today through USAT by Bobby McGee on barefoot running. Will report back anything interesting to the chickas and En groups.
VFFs - I ran in them for 5 minutes Tuesday, and 10 minutes Wednesday. Wanted to run 15 in them today but didn't have time. They are super-light, and I think that makes a big difference. Both times I ran in them without my Garmin but felt like I was running faster with little effort - you might even say eager. I'm planning for 15 minutes in them tomorrow. I do feel as if they change my stride a little to run more on my forefoot than heel striking. My calves have not gotten tight, but 10 minutes is not a great test. I'll keep y'all posted!
Ok, this blog sounds good and all, but, as a non-IMOO girl, I'm feeling a little left out. Will you ladies still post here, or will I have to read the blog every day to keep up with your exploits? I'm sure Becky and others will chime in, but I don't want to miss anything!
Kris- I like the idea of doing some sort of hashtag or something to the post. While I love the concept of a group blog ('cause really, this whole journey has simply been amazing), I fear the amount of extra work it might create to have yet one more place on the internet to check for updates and/or post my own thoughts. It's already a little overwhelming and we're only in week 1!! :-)
So something where we could just post our thoughts/comments here (or in the IMWI threads) with a little #ChicaBlog note to indicate the same post has bee copy/pasted to the blog would seem like a nice simple solution.
Kristen, Becky, Oliva, Carrie and many other precious chickas.... YES, absolutely will continue to post here. That's why was thinking more along the line of a hashtag, then if there was a way to pull those posts out for us WI chickas to reminisce over race week and after
Yes, a blog on blogspot can have multiple authors. So is it a go, chicas?
Kris and Kristen: Thanks for the input on the V5F's. I've been a bit of chicken to try them out cuz of my hopelessly flat feet. Maybe I'll try a 2 minute run trial...
thanks for remembering the non-Moos in the Chica-dom! I've never done a blog or tweeted... I suppose I should learn (actually I've had several people tell me I should blog -- and should publish my race reports. LoL... you've probably all already gotten the sense I tend to be a tad longwinded... )
Glad to read you'll still post here... since this is my first IM tango (and I'm still fairly new to the sport) I love reading your posts and do absorb so much information from you all... not to mention how much I appreciate having girls who get me and can help even if it's just by letting me rant!
On a totally unrelated topic, I watched the how to flip turn series on youtube (per another forum thread)... but was still too chicken to try it this morning. If I'm ever in the pool when it's quiet (I'm thinking Friday night won't be a hot time, at least I hope), I might start at step 1 and try the noodle thing (since part of my problem is I can't do a somersault without twisting),
I got the infinit mixes the other day. I drank it on my 60 min. drainer session yesterday. It was tolerable. Sort of, well, thick... is the only way I could describe it. I'm not sure what I was expecting... but it was strange. But this is coming from someone who drinks 90% water and shies away from the endurance drinks. I was very happy it didn't start flopping in my stomach when I went to run (30 minute brick). I didn't get through the whole bottle in an hour... I don't think I ever will, but I did consciously try to do better and drink in regular intervals. I have a 2 hour run tonight, will make a bottle of the run infinit, I don't see me getting through 2... baby steps...
Becky- On training rides, I mix my Infinit half strength. As long as I get total cals, I'm good. On race day, I mix it concentrated and chase with water. I still like to have a variety of textures/foods on rides so I supplement with other foods (also helps keep from getting bored or burned out on Infinit). If not, you may try mixing it concentrated in a small gel bottle and chase with water if that's what you are used to drinking.
@Becky- Like Kris, I don't mix full strength Infinit for training M-F. On Weekends, long rides away from home, I mix full strength so I get all my calories, but usually end up a bit dehydrated. Small people with small bike frames can't carry as much. I am thinking I will be resorting to a Camelbak again. Not very aero but I don't get dehydrated.
I don't FB or Twitter. Just too much other stuff in life going on. That said, I would love to be part of an IMMoo Chicka blog thing.
Really looking forward to riding with Carly this weekend. @ Aimee - are you around? can you join us?
Blog....while I think it's a fantastic idea, the thought just makes me want to keel over from overload. OTOH, I think it would be totally cool, and a very unique record of a very unique experience. I was thinking of resurrecting my blog again, and maybe I just link back and forth and kill two birds? OTOOH, adding one more thing to my plate makes me just want to shut down completely, which is why I haven't fired up my blog again. So, I'd likely play, but I'll have to wrap my head around it.
Infinit -- For rides inside under an hour/runs shorter than an hour, I never use it. I also dialed the flavor way down. I do like the orange. It reminds me of upscale Tang.
Was anyone else comatose during the third week of the get fast month of the OS? I'm nailing workouts, but the rest of life? Sleepiness. Perhaps it is the time in the training cycle where my social life becomes restricted to daylight hours.
I finally got my EN visor! Headsweats? Super comfortable. RnP were out of jerseys in my size, so I got a medium singlet to replace last year's small. I'm thinking of either hacking the small jersey and an old red jersey I have into a new jersey. Or, I can just go clubbing in the very small, small.
Suzanne - I think you have your Adamo halloween costume!
Blog - I'm in the same boat as Linda. Sounds awesome. But would I write? And I love writing here!
I'm glad you IMWI chicas will still be posting here - please don't change that!
@Michele - just emailed you. Planning to ride up north (Reading) with some friends and hopefully Carly. Please join. You too Linda! Let me know
I have to get my act together and get some Infinit. I am rather camel-like and have to really work on drinking and nutrition. I think it might be one of the (unexpected) larger issues that I will have to focus on training for my 1st IM
I am okay with the non group blog and staying here in the forum blathering away!! it is gonna get more tedious warning!!!! warning!!! ha. no really girls, we need your support and don't want to exclude you at all. I am also hearing that the group blog would be another To Do thing.... and I also hear that the connection wants to be deepened.
I do have some ideas that might enhance the EN experience though..
1. Get Patrick or Rich to podcast the "Introducing the Chicas going to WI" and attempt to interview all of us for about 5'!! (we talk way longer than that!)
2. Remember this next Monday in the chat room and attempt to show up... IMWI chicks and all other ones. for group chat.
3. www.1year2ironman5.blogspot.com is my blog.
4. Some of the others might also have a blog address?
5. I am posting particulars of workouts and etc down in IMWI forum. Co ed.
6. group blog still sounds interesting or hashtag thing. Needs to be easy though!
Great ideas Marianne! I'm in the "Oh no, not another thing to do" camp, so making it really simple where we could just post in the IMWI threads, add a hashtag or something like that to indicate it's part of the BLOG, and then just doing a copy/paste into the group blog would work.
I bet R&P would LOVE the podcast idea! We should spring it on them on next weeks call.
I'm gonna be running errands with hubby on Saturday afternoon, so I gotta set my phone up to receive the txt message updates from the EN Tracking Tweets. I simply can not wait to watch our team at IMSG this weekend!! I will be cracking the whip on Joe to get all the errands done so we can be home in plenty of time to watch the live feed. I absolutely MUST MUST MUST see Olivia cross that finish line!
@Kris, Michele, Beth - thanks for the infinit tips... I may dilute it more for weekday rides...and will be using it full sthrength for the RR this Saturday (oh, that's tomorrow... yikes)!
@Michele same issue - I have my aquacel dual chamber (big chamber water, little chamber infinit) and the 2 bottle holder behind my seat (which I still can't use when riding... that's my season goal, well that sitting up without holding on)- which will be both bottles of infinit... so no room for extra H2O, I use the cage for a bottle with an extra tube, tire irons, and CO2. I think that'll do me for a race setting since I can stop for more water... but for training rides the camelbak is a great idea if I'm not riding any loops where I can stop at my car or routes with gas stations.
@Beth - hmm... now that you mention it, maybe that was my problem... the last few weeks I was just exhausted all the darn time...and didn't think it was training since it was just an hour or so a day... hmm...
I ran with the Infinit orange last night (I think I need to dial down the flavor a tad - a little too McDonald's orange drink for me). It was okay. I have to admit it was weird not going out with a gel or something and I did get a tad hungry - but knowing that was my nutrition I got through the entire bottle (granted, it was a 2 hour run and I only went through one infinit bottle and 1 water bottle)...not too bad.
I skipped my run this morning... on purpose, didn't even set the alarm. After the run yesterday my calf and hammie were still acting up (okay during the run, off but not terrible) and my IT bands were tight tight tight.... so after dinner I did a lot of quality rolling and TP balling ... and decided hill repeats would not be so good for me... and you know what, I'm okay with that. After spending the whole week playing catch up on my workouts I was A-OK skipping this one. I will swim tonight, though! And tommorow is my first RR. An hour run after a 3 hour bike ride... I don't feel at all bad sleeping til 6:30 today! (Kitima - next week I hope we'll continue the viritual training dates! I thought of you yesterday morning, too... so I got up and although I didn't hit the pool right away, I did start working so I could hit the pool post rush hour)
Wow... this was longer than I thought... no time for the other forums until later. Hugs!
I am really excited about riding with a bunch of EN chickas this weekend!
So we have had a lot of discussion about fatigue, weight gain, thyroid, etc. around here. Saw my PCP this week and my test results are out of whack. We are doubling my dose of thyroid medication. I am so glad to have an answer. Interesting, my cortisol is also high. PCP thinks this is due to training stress, but short of stopping training, there is nothing to be done right now. DH, a brialliant doc in his own right, does not totally agree. If my fatigue doesn't improve with thyroid med change, then he wants her to run more tests for the adrenals. I believe it was Vince Hoffart that had "adrenal exhaustion". I will review the stuff in 3.0 and possibly PM him.
Just want to put in another plug to all of you to take care of yourself and be a better patient than me. It had been 15 moinths since my last thyroid test. DH and I fill each others scripts because "life is busy". But time really got away from me on this.
Did my core work and push ups this morning. Going to the pool tonight. Now that's an exciting Friday evening! (NOT!)
hey...have a question (I posted this elsewhere, but thought it might get "play" here):
as I was running last night I had a question... about the non-retesting of bike for HR athletes...I was wondering if we should retest knowing our zones might be lower... I ask because as we get fitter it's harder to hit the old numbers... so, we're working more to get to those zones... which might fry our legs when it's time to run.
I'm doing my RR tomorrow, and I plan to program my garmin to beep if I drop below Z2 and above Z3 for the bike... then do an hour run (will program the garmin for that too). I worry that I'm gonna use too much juice staying in z3, per the directive, assuming I'm in better shape than January when I took my first and only bike test...
your thoughts? well, other than more reason to get a PM! I guess I'm glad we do 2 of these RRs (and I have a long way til Nov... so I'll have it all figured out by IMFL for sure)
I think your confusing HR with Power. They aren't the same. Your HR Zones are a symptom of the work you are doing- not a measure of that work. When you train by HR, your HR zones just aren't going to change. Let me give you an example and see if that helps.
A Power athlete does a Functional THreshold test and finds the FTP=160 and her AVG HR during that test was 180. After 12 weeks of OS training she re-tests and finds her FTP got a nice bump, it's now 170! But her AVG HR during that test is still 180. The HR number isn't going to change because your heart just isn't going to suddenly grow or shrink in size. It kinda is what it is. You might see a lower resting HR when you gain fitness, but your max doesn't change much (except with age - like everything else).
it does make sense, but I've had a different experience training in HR... as I get fitter my resting HR gets lower... and as I train in a more fit state I have to work harder to hit a zone.
I did a vo2 max test running a few years ago and my "recovery zone" was 146-154 or something like that...when I first started that would typically (i.e. not on super hot humid days) be about a 11:00 pace... after doing the HR zone training for a year or so, staying in that low zone I ran faster (at a 10:30 min mile pace). That translated to the hard stuff to - trying to hit 180 for an interval once was an 8:30 pace, after training with it, I had to run an 8mm pace or faster... so I got fitter and faster... had to work harder to get into the zone to get the benefit of the training
I would think biking is the same way, to hit my z3 (160-166) I'm gonna have to ride faster/harder, whatever the word is... than I did when I tested in January... and I worry that the harder effort to get into the zone will wear me out.
or maybe I'm just over thinking it and I'm fitter, so "working" harder to hit the HR number isn't wearing me out... does my question make sense? am I confusing myself unneccessarily?
yep Michele also read about cortisol and this stress hormone. and oh no on thryoid but glad you got meds changed. I spelled it wrong, oh well. 2.5 weeks later and I am feeling somewhat better although not 100%. I can tell. okay from here on out, esp during IM years, I am going in twice per year for bloodwork and you know i hate needles.. cuz I do go in every year and had been in Sept (earlier than a year) and got it changed then Dec okay and then by April not okay. I am also taking more careful notes T = tired, I also got an infection (also a symptom) and I don't normally get sick.. and etc etc. I am writing down stuff like B = blue, T - tired, BL - bloated!, H - hungry S - sleep, A = anxious.. or whatever.....and trying to study myself a bit more.... and then surely I will notice a pattern and then be able to tell when it goes awry. just print out the tng schedule and write it in... cycles and all. not just y'all but so many other women that I know recently are either tired or depressed and I think we just gotta learn a bit more and get proactive and help each other as GFs we can say to each other, nope that doesn't sound like you or this isn't you.... and some of you told me this very thing...
I think others of you out here might not have thyroid but feel overwhelmed, stressed, tired, overweight and just not at 100%... if you have any time, just google "weight" or "stress" and you will learn one more piece to your puzzle and then figure out if it useful info or bunk!
got PT today and sure enough I don' thave full mobility of arm but he says fixable. sure enough hurt in there.. ouch.. "does this hurt?" what about here, what about when I do this.... ???? m
It's not that different from running. But I do think your over-thinking a bit. I'm probalby not explaining very well either!!! Let me try again (and then maybe some other chica's who train with HR can chime in). Your example is actually perfect. You were running faster at the same HR (that's the fitness you gained) in your Z3 or Z4 HR zones. So your vDot would have also gone up, right? Training by pace your Z3 and Z4 zones would be faster, but your HR is going to pretty much be the same.
If you think of it in terms of RPE that might help too. Let's say on a scale of 1-10 your RPE for Z3 HR zone is about a 7. That doesn't really change, right? So then a pre/post training plan test would look something like this:
Before training:
RPE= 7
HR= 160
Pace= 9:00/mile
After Training
RPE= 7
HR= 160
Pace = 8:30/mile
The same thing would be true on the bike, with that last metric being power. Ultimately though, there's nothing saying you can't test again if you want to. It's just not recommended for HR athletes on the bike because generally the results simply don't change much (other than speed/distance covered if all other things were equal) and so it kinda turns into a test to be a test. The guys aren't quite that cruel!
argh... I wrote a response, hit send... and got a "service unavailable" message
anyway, yes, that does make sense. thanks! I guess I convinced myself my RPE was higher becuase I was going faster - the tricks the mind will play!
I've decided to bag the swim... Nemo you put it well in the EN thread - there's a low ROI for me to go swim 2500m tonight... only because tomorrow is the RR and I have to get up early to practice eating at 2:30, then get up again at 5... then roll by 7... I just don't want to be having dinner at 7:30 (which would be an all the stars aligned time if I did the workout and took a shower etc)...I bagged the run this morning but that was the product of sore legs... to make up for it all I'm going to walk to trader joes when I get home, then walk to my favorite spot for dinner. the mileage will be about the same as my z1 jog, and it might be good to get the legs loose so i can roll them out again.
@M, thanks for the reminder... I have to call my doc for a physical!
Adrenal fatigue--yep, I bet that's a real possibility for all of us. I mean, how can it not be? Although I'm feeling much better, I'm not quite 100% either, so I'm following up with the doc about seeing this through a bit more thoroughly. You do know what the cure is for adrenal fatigue, right? No strenuous exercise, and no major endurance work for a really extended period--can be up to a year.
GREAT ride with Carly today! SO nice to meet another chica. And it's so nice to ride with someone who is on the same page and who gets it in the same way. We chatted and enjoyed each other's company, but we also got down to it. 3x10, and the rest was ABP. We didn't do the ABP part formally, but it was push, regroup and chat a bit, then like Rich says, jump back on it. .86 IF for me--awesome!
PS about Carly--when that girl gets a PM , she is going to put down some serious w/kg. Trust me on that.
I hope it's not adrenal failure... your note makes me remember what got dropped in my initial attempt at a response to Nemo... another reason to get in touch with my doc. I've been borderline hyperthyroid (or maybe hypo... my TSH levels are close to or just below the bottom of the average range)... I've never been medicated. Linda, I think it was you who posted that TSH isn't the whole picture... I know that the last few weeks I've been getting 7-8 hours sleep but just so darn slugging (not getting up for am workouts)... and needing/wanting to put my head down on my desk for 20 minutes in the midafternoon... both are unlike me (even when tired I'll get up and get moving, not feed the cats and go back to bed). anyway... more reason to get to the doc!
nice job on the ride! I listened to the bike execution podcast - although I tuned out a lot, bc it was a lot of PM stuff, I remember the IF chart...
hmmmm I have a serious case of PM-envy... maybe I'll get one after EM, so I have it to train for IM... heck, my credit is good... and I've bumped it up on the list ahead of race wheels...
um Friday night here and I just watched Shallow Hal with my senior son while "forcing" him to stuff envelopes for senior graduation.. he said "everybody else got their Moms to do the whole thing!".. uh huh I said as I handed him the pics and told him to start! now they are laying on the table awaiting addressing but his social life is calling him as peeps are texting and calling him as they make their Friday night movie plans. tomorrow...when the storm hits we will be addressing. Popcorn and a Fresca here and that might be my excitement!!! actually Andrew and I had a good conversation so it was worth it.
Our night consisted of a nice home cooked dinner and then a walk on the beach to the local ice cream stand where we shared a carmel sunday. Perfect evening!
There are four boys and two girls at my house, a hamster that escaped the other night and running free downstairs, who was replaced by a gerbil... one hamster and then the dog upstairs with me.... Three of the kids are mine and the other three are neighbor kids!! I now hear tornado sirens, nice one.
"This one is for the Girls" Martina Mcbride
*later... all is well and not sure how I got on this, but check out this Chica power! last year we had active duty women tng in EN, not sure about this year....? but I was definitely inspired by their courage.
Military women in Iraq...
"not every situation is the same"... "it was game on" "we were all excited that we all made it home" "this is my other family"
Comments
Kit- Can we set up a blog that multiple people can post to?
V5F - I bought a pair a while back. I started out just wearing them around the house for short periods of time to build up and then went to wearing them on the treadmill for the last 1 mile of my workouts (toward CD stage) then took it to a bit longer from there. I have yet to do a run outside (mostly due to inclement weather) but have worn them out to the store. They really, really focused me on my form (which was much better running in them). That being said.... I have been graduating down to lighter shoes for the past 3-4 years before I got to this stage. I am also signed up for a webinar today through USAT by Bobby McGee on barefoot running. Will report back anything interesting to the chickas and En groups.
VFFs - I ran in them for 5 minutes Tuesday, and 10 minutes Wednesday. Wanted to run 15 in them today but didn't have time. They are super-light, and I think that makes a big difference. Both times I ran in them without my Garmin but felt like I was running faster with little effort - you might even say eager.
I'm planning for 15 minutes in them tomorrow. I do feel as if they change my stride a little to run more on my forefoot than heel striking. My calves have not gotten tight, but 10 minutes is not a great test. I'll keep y'all posted!
Ok, this blog sounds good and all, but, as a non-IMOO girl, I'm feeling a little left out. Will you ladies still post here, or will I have to read the blog every day to keep up with your exploits? I'm sure Becky and others will chime in, but I don't want to miss anything!
So something where we could just post our thoughts/comments here (or in the IMWI threads) with a little #ChicaBlog note to indicate the same post has bee copy/pasted to the blog would seem like a nice simple solution.
Kris and Kristen: Thanks for the input on the V5F's. I've been a bit of chicken to try them out cuz of my hopelessly flat feet. Maybe I'll try a 2 minute run trial...
Glad to read you'll still post here... since this is my first IM tango (and I'm still fairly new to the sport) I love reading your posts and do absorb so much information from you all... not to mention how much I appreciate having girls who get me and can help even if it's just by letting me rant!
On a totally unrelated topic, I watched the how to flip turn series on youtube (per another forum thread)... but was still too chicken to try it this morning. If I'm ever in the pool when it's quiet (I'm thinking Friday night won't be a hot time, at least I hope), I might start at step 1 and try the noodle thing (since part of my problem is I can't do a somersault without twisting),
I got the infinit mixes the other day. I drank it on my 60 min. drainer session yesterday. It was tolerable. Sort of, well, thick... is the only way I could describe it. I'm not sure what I was expecting... but it was strange. But this is coming from someone who drinks 90% water and shies away from the endurance drinks. I was very happy it didn't start flopping in my stomach when I went to run (30 minute brick). I didn't get through the whole bottle in an hour... I don't think I ever will, but I did consciously try to do better and drink in regular intervals. I have a 2 hour run tonight, will make a bottle of the run infinit, I don't see me getting through 2... baby steps...
On training rides, I mix my Infinit half strength. As long as I get total cals, I'm good. On race day, I mix it concentrated and chase with water. I still like to have a variety of textures/foods on rides so I supplement with other foods (also helps keep from getting bored or burned out on Infinit). If not, you may try mixing it concentrated in a small gel bottle and chase with water if that's what you are used to drinking.
I don't FB or Twitter. Just too much other stuff in life going on. That said, I would love to be part of an IMMoo Chicka blog thing.
Really looking forward to riding with Carly this weekend.
@ Aimee - are you around? can you join us?
Hi Chicas!
Blog....while I think it's a fantastic idea, the thought just makes me want to keel over from overload. OTOH, I think it would be totally cool, and a very unique record of a very unique experience. I was thinking of resurrecting my blog again, and maybe I just link back and forth and kill two birds? OTOOH, adding one more thing to my plate makes me just want to shut down completely, which is why I haven't fired up my blog again.
So, I'd likely play, but I'll have to wrap my head around it. 
Infinit -- For rides inside under an hour/runs shorter than an hour, I never use it. I also dialed the flavor way down. I do like the orange. It reminds me of upscale Tang.
Was anyone else comatose during the third week of the get fast month of the OS? I'm nailing workouts, but the rest of life? Sleepiness. Perhaps it is the time in the training cycle where my social life becomes restricted to daylight hours.
I finally got my EN visor! Headsweats? Super comfortable. RnP were out of jerseys in my size, so I got a medium singlet to replace last year's small. I'm thinking of either hacking the small jersey and an old red jersey I have into a new jersey. Or, I can just go clubbing in the very small, small.
Suzanne - I think you have your Adamo halloween costume!
Blog - I'm in the same boat as Linda. Sounds awesome. But would I write? And I love writing here!
@Michele - just emailed you. Planning to ride up north (Reading) with some friends and hopefully Carly. Please join. You too Linda! Let me know
I have to get my act together and get some Infinit. I am rather camel-like and have to really work on drinking and nutrition. I think it might be one of the (unexpected) larger issues that I will have to focus on training for my 1st IM
I am okay with the non group blog and staying here in the forum blathering away!! it is gonna get more tedious warning!!!! warning!!! ha. no really girls, we need your support and don't want to exclude you at all. I am also hearing that the group blog would be another To Do thing.... and I also hear that the connection wants to be deepened.
I do have some ideas that might enhance the EN experience though..
1. Get Patrick or Rich to podcast the "Introducing the Chicas going to WI" and attempt to interview all of us for about 5'!! (we talk way longer than that!)
2. Remember this next Monday in the chat room and attempt to show up... IMWI chicks and all other ones. for group chat.
3. www.1year2ironman5.blogspot.com is my blog.
4. Some of the others might also have a blog address?
5. I am posting particulars of workouts and etc down in IMWI forum. Co ed.
6. group blog still sounds interesting or hashtag thing. Needs to be easy though!
m
I bet R&P would LOVE the podcast idea! We should spring it on them on next weeks call.
I'm gonna be running errands with hubby on Saturday afternoon, so I gotta set my phone up to receive the txt message updates from the EN Tracking Tweets. I simply can not wait to watch our team at IMSG this weekend!! I will be cracking the whip on Joe to get all the errands done so we can be home in plenty of time to watch the live feed. I absolutely MUST MUST MUST see Olivia cross that finish line!
@Kris, Michele, Beth - thanks for the infinit tips... I may dilute it more for weekday rides...and will be using it full sthrength for the RR this Saturday (oh, that's tomorrow... yikes)!
@Michele same issue - I have my aquacel dual chamber (big chamber water, little chamber infinit) and the 2 bottle holder behind my seat (which I still can't use when riding... that's my season goal, well that sitting up without holding on)- which will be both bottles of infinit... so no room for extra H2O, I use the cage for a bottle with an extra tube, tire irons, and CO2. I think that'll do me for a race setting since I can stop for more water... but for training rides the camelbak is a great idea if I'm not riding any loops where I can stop at my car or routes with gas stations.
@Beth - hmm... now that you mention it, maybe that was my problem... the last few weeks I was just exhausted all the darn time...and didn't think it was training since it was just an hour or so a day... hmm...
I ran with the Infinit orange last night (I think I need to dial down the flavor a tad - a little too McDonald's orange drink for me). It was okay. I have to admit it was weird not going out with a gel or something and I did get a tad hungry - but knowing that was my nutrition I got through the entire bottle (granted, it was a 2 hour run and I only went through one infinit bottle and 1 water bottle)...not too bad.
I skipped my run this morning... on purpose, didn't even set the alarm. After the run yesterday my calf and hammie were still acting up (okay during the run, off but not terrible) and my IT bands were tight tight tight.... so after dinner I did a lot of quality rolling and TP balling ... and decided hill repeats would not be so good for me... and you know what, I'm okay with that. After spending the whole week playing catch up on my workouts I was A-OK skipping this one. I will swim tonight, though! And tommorow is my first RR. An hour run after a 3 hour bike ride... I don't feel at all bad sleeping til 6:30 today! (Kitima - next week I hope we'll continue the viritual training dates! I thought of you yesterday morning, too... so I got up and although I didn't hit the pool right away, I did start working so I could hit the pool post rush hour)
Wow... this was longer than I thought... no time for the other forums until later. Hugs!
So we have had a lot of discussion about fatigue, weight gain, thyroid, etc. around here. Saw my PCP this week and my test results are out of whack. We are doubling my dose of thyroid medication. I am so glad to have an answer. Interesting, my cortisol is also high. PCP thinks this is due to training stress, but short of stopping training, there is nothing to be done right now. DH, a brialliant doc in his own right, does not totally agree. If my fatigue doesn't improve with thyroid med change, then he wants her to run more tests for the adrenals. I believe it was Vince Hoffart that had "adrenal exhaustion". I will review the stuff in 3.0 and possibly PM him.
Just want to put in another plug to all of you to take care of yourself and be a better patient than me. It had been 15 moinths since my last thyroid test. DH and I fill each others scripts because "life is busy". But time really got away from me on this.
Did my core work and push ups this morning. Going to the pool tonight. Now that's an exciting Friday evening! (NOT!)
hey...have a question (I posted this elsewhere, but thought it might get "play" here):
as I was running last night I had a question... about the non-retesting of bike for HR athletes...I was wondering if we should retest knowing our zones might be lower... I ask because as we get fitter it's harder to hit the old numbers... so, we're working more to get to those zones... which might fry our legs when it's time to run.
I'm doing my RR tomorrow, and I plan to program my garmin to beep if I drop below Z2 and above Z3 for the bike... then do an hour run (will program the garmin for that too). I worry that I'm gonna use too much juice staying in z3, per the directive, assuming I'm in better shape than January when I took my first and only bike test...
your thoughts? well, other than more reason to get a PM!
I guess I'm glad we do 2 of these RRs (and I have a long way til Nov... so I'll have it all figured out by IMFL for sure)
A Power athlete does a Functional THreshold test and finds the FTP=160 and her AVG HR during that test was 180. After 12 weeks of OS training she re-tests and finds her FTP got a nice bump, it's now 170! But her AVG HR during that test is still 180. The HR number isn't going to change because your heart just isn't going to suddenly grow or shrink in size. It kinda is what it is. You might see a lower resting HR when you gain fitness, but your max doesn't change much (except with age - like everything else).
Does that make sense?
it does make sense, but I've had a different experience training in HR... as I get fitter my resting HR gets lower... and as I train in a more fit state I have to work harder to hit a zone.
I did a vo2 max test running a few years ago and my "recovery zone" was 146-154 or something like that...when I first started that would typically (i.e. not on super hot humid days) be about a 11:00 pace... after doing the HR zone training for a year or so, staying in that low zone I ran faster (at a 10:30 min mile pace). That translated to the hard stuff to - trying to hit 180 for an interval once was an 8:30 pace, after training with it, I had to run an 8mm pace or faster... so I got fitter and faster... had to work harder to get into the zone to get the benefit of the training
I would think biking is the same way, to hit my z3 (160-166) I'm gonna have to ride faster/harder, whatever the word is... than I did when I tested in January... and I worry that the harder effort to get into the zone will wear me out.
or maybe I'm just over thinking it and I'm fitter, so "working" harder to hit the HR number isn't wearing me out... does my question make sense? am I confusing myself unneccessarily?
yep Michele also read about cortisol and this stress hormone. and oh no on thryoid but glad you got meds changed. I spelled it wrong, oh well. 2.5 weeks later and I am feeling somewhat better although not 100%. I can tell. okay from here on out, esp during IM years, I am going in twice per year for bloodwork and you know i hate needles.. cuz I do go in every year and had been in Sept (earlier than a year) and got it changed then Dec okay and then by April not okay. I am also taking more careful notes T = tired, I also got an infection (also a symptom) and I don't normally get sick.. and etc etc. I am writing down stuff like B = blue, T - tired, BL - bloated!, H - hungry S - sleep, A = anxious.. or whatever.....and trying to study myself a bit more.... and then surely I will notice a pattern and then be able to tell when it goes awry. just print out the tng schedule and write it in... cycles and all. not just y'all but so many other women that I know recently are either tired or depressed and I think we just gotta learn a bit more and get proactive and help each other as GFs we can say to each other, nope that doesn't sound like you or this isn't you.... and some of you told me this very thing...
I think others of you out here might not have thyroid but feel overwhelmed, stressed, tired, overweight and just not at 100%... if you have any time, just google "weight" or "stress" and you will learn one more piece to your puzzle and then figure out if it useful info or bunk!
got PT today and sure enough I don' thave full mobility of arm but he says fixable. sure enough hurt in there.. ouch.. "does this hurt?" what about here, what about when I do this.... ???? m
It's not that different from running. But I do think your over-thinking a bit. I'm probalby not explaining very well either!!! Let me try again (and then maybe some other chica's who train with HR can chime in). Your example is actually perfect. You were running faster at the same HR (that's the fitness you gained) in your Z3 or Z4 HR zones. So your vDot would have also gone up, right? Training by pace your Z3 and Z4 zones would be faster, but your HR is going to pretty much be the same.
If you think of it in terms of RPE that might help too. Let's say on a scale of 1-10 your RPE for Z3 HR zone is about a 7. That doesn't really change, right? So then a pre/post training plan test would look something like this:
Before training:
RPE= 7
HR= 160
Pace= 9:00/mile
After Training
RPE= 7
HR= 160
Pace = 8:30/mile
The same thing would be true on the bike, with that last metric being power. Ultimately though, there's nothing saying you can't test again if you want to. It's just not recommended for HR athletes on the bike because generally the results simply don't change much (other than speed/distance covered if all other things were equal) and so it kinda turns into a test to be a test. The guys aren't quite that cruel!
argh... I wrote a response, hit send... and got a "service unavailable" message
anyway, yes, that does make sense. thanks! I guess I convinced myself my RPE was higher becuase I was going faster - the tricks the mind will play!
I've decided to bag the swim... Nemo you put it well in the EN thread - there's a low ROI for me to go swim 2500m tonight... only because tomorrow is the RR and I have to get up early to practice eating at 2:30, then get up again at 5... then roll by 7... I just don't want to be having dinner at 7:30 (which would be an all the stars aligned time if I did the workout and took a shower etc)...I bagged the run this morning but that was the product of sore legs... to make up for it all I'm going to walk to trader joes when I get home, then walk to my favorite spot for dinner. the mileage will be about the same as my z1 jog, and it might be good to get the legs loose so i can roll them out again.
@M, thanks for the reminder... I have to call my doc for a physical!
Adrenal fatigue--yep, I bet that's a real possibility for all of us. I mean, how can it not be?
Although I'm feeling much better, I'm not quite 100% either, so I'm following up with the doc about seeing this through a bit more thoroughly. You do know what the cure is for adrenal fatigue, right? No strenuous exercise, and no major endurance work for a really extended period--can be up to a year. 
GREAT ride with Carly today! SO nice to meet another chica. And it's so nice to ride with someone who is on the same page and who gets it in the same way. We chatted and enjoyed each other's company, but we also got down to it. 3x10, and the rest was ABP. We didn't do the ABP part formally, but it was push, regroup and chat a bit, then like Rich says, jump back on it. .86 IF for me--awesome!
PS about Carly--when that girl gets a PM , she is going to put down some serious w/kg. Trust me on that.
nice job on the ride! I listened to the bike execution podcast - although I tuned out a lot, bc it was a lot of PM stuff, I remember the IF chart...
hmmmm I have a serious case of PM-envy... maybe I'll get one after EM, so I have it to train for IM... heck, my credit is good... and I've bumped it up on the list ahead of race wheels...
Michelle - I'm also off to the pool tonight. Way to rock Friday night!
There are four boys and two girls at my house, a hamster that escaped the other night and running free downstairs, who was replaced by a gerbil... one hamster and then the dog upstairs with me.... Three of the kids are mine and the other three are neighbor kids!! I now hear tornado sirens, nice one.
"This one is for the Girls" Martina Mcbride
*later... all is well and not sure how I got on this, but check out this Chica power! last year we had active duty women tng in EN, not sure about this year....? but I was definitely inspired by their courage.
Military women in Iraq...
"not every situation is the same"... "it was game on" "we were all excited that we all made it home" "this is my other family"
Blackhawk military female pilot....