How's the training going?
Hey Louisvillers! How's the training going? Thought I'd get our mojo going as a group, and see how everyone is doing!
I did a bike workout yesterday, and have a 3 hour ride tomorrow, w/ 4x10's (2x) at cadence levels! Swam Master's this morning and was slow as a barge! 
Worried about picking up some speed before Muncie on July 10th and for L'Ville! It is definately not my forte'!
I recently ordered a Speedfill for my Specialized Transition Comp. Can't wait to get it! I hope it's here before my trip to Louisville next Saturday! Planning on riding approx. 60 miles of the course, which a friend told me is the first loop. He told me not to do the out and back section if I don't want to get discouraged! 
That worries me a little bit!
Where are you all staying? I got a sweet deal through Priceline, at the Brown Hotel...$75 a night! 
Comments
Hi Barbara,
I am still waiting for my 12 week plan to start, it should be the week after next I think. I am not looking forward to it at all.
I have a few sprints I am doing in between now and then just to break things up a bit. This should be interesting since my usual plan consists of a pretty fast 20 mile ride at lunch on Tues and Thurs, and 60-70 mile rides on Saturdays and Sundays. I also do a brick after each of the weekend rides and they are limited to a 5 or 10k. Tuesday nights I do a track workout with a local coach. My sprint times have really improved since I started that but I am not counting on it for a race like IM Louisville. A pool swim on Monday and a open water swim on Wednesday nights. I do a core aerobics class at he YMCA on Thursday night. This about all I can put into a week unless I get bored and feel the need to throw in a long run somwhere. Does anyone else have a crazy schedule like that? I guess I will have to drop it all when my training plan starts.
Too much fun!
Rick
Are you our fearless leader Barbara?!
I'm on a HIM plan for Mooseman in 3 weeks - wow, May is flying by. From then I transition to IMK training. I am very excited to be getting power next week! Not sure if I'll have it all dialed in for Mooseman, but looking forward to a new way of training.
3hr ride tomorrow with fellow EN chica, Michele, west of Boston!
@Rick - With your workout schedule, you sound like you are pretty ready to start crushing the plan! The HIM intermediate plan I'm on has a similar rhythm, maybe more running?
Barbara, let me know what you think of Louisville, doubt Ill get a chance to ride it before I head down there but I hope to.
Barbara, I am going to the June 12 ride in Louisville sponsered by iamtri and I am going to try and do the last one on July 31. I hope to see some of you guys at one of them.
Rick, that is some kind of schedule! Sounds like you are ready NOW.
As for fearless leader? Hmm..maybe...Just gettin' the mojo flowing! I know I get all into reading other forums, and I got to thinking about our L'Ville group. Thought it was about time we all got to know each other better, what we're doing right now, etc. so we can enjoy our time together when we get to the Ville!
Jason, I will live vicariously through your Race Report on IMFrance!!!! So jealous!! Good for you! You better bring pics to Louisville!
I'll let you know how the bike goes. I'm a bit scared of the hills in Kentucky, to be honest. Not scared of them..,rather, scared of my ability to ride them properly!
I hope to go back down for June 12th ride and July 31st ride.
@Mark, good for you shedding the pounds!! Awesome! I have the same ride schedule as you this weekend! Best of luck! We'll both have to check back in here to share how we did. Accountability for me, makes me work harder when I'd rather take it easier!!
Anyways, I didn't consume enough nutrition on the bike, nor did I take enough fluids! I tapped out halfway through! Thank goodness for the LBS, because I filled up my water bottles there, and bought some Cliff Shot Blocks and gels for today's ride. Only a few miles from home and my chain dropped! I was in a high traffic area, felt compelled to hurry and get the chain on, but I couldn't! I had an appt. which I was going to be late for, so I called my S.O. for a ride. All in all, the ride went well, but too dang slow for how well I had been riding. My road bike is about 12 years old. Do you think that the lack of compact cassette and the fact it isn't carbon fiber, made for the slower time?
Mark, Is there a schedule of possible training rides for IM Louisville? You mention one on June 12th... are there others? How would I arrange to tag along? cb
Someone posted this link awhile back. Check it out and lets see if we can work it out. Organized Louisville Rides Link
3 more weeks until IMKS70.3....
My FTP hasn't changed much....BUT.....each ride has almost alway been over 80% IF
Doing about TSS 450 or so on about 6hr/wk.....so ALOT of quality
Really ready to have the confidence to go over 80% on the bike and see what time I get (I did 2:54 on 73%IF 2 yrs ago)
I really want to put a good time on this race so I have confidence that I will be alot faster this year.
What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger....
Barb- One of the many cool things abt EN is the style of riding. Hills are friends not enemies. If you already have apprehension, I'd definitely make that part of your ride. If you follow EN protocol on riding steady (not jacking hills) you will be fine. For this course, a compact crank is a nice thing to have and I'd also suggest looking at a 11/28 or 12/27 cassette. I ran compact w/ 12/25 last year and was happy with the ride- compact + 12/27 year before. It's a rolling course and if you use your head & execute, you will be golden! Nemo, Marianne & I have all ridden those 1694 hills (& lived to tell with a smile!). Watch the bridge at the bottom coming back, there are a few rough patches which are a bit hard to see as they are patched white. Nothing bad, just a few bottles.sponges have been sacrificed to the bridge god. Have a great time and enjoy the day!
Barbara... still learning the language... what does "jacking hills" mean? Couldn't find it in the list of terms and abbreviations. Thanks, cb
I'm only going down to L'Ville for the day on Sat. Leaving NW IN at 3 a.m. (due to time diff.) and going down to ride approx. 60, then back to Valparaiso! I have a dear friend who is going with me, to help drive. Bless her heart!! I plan to go back down in June and July, and will definately include the out and back, and probably do the entire course.
Carl, I think that Kris's use of "jackiing hills" means riding them the way we are NOT supposed to ride them...meaning mashing the pedals, standing, and jacking (raising) our heart rates to such an insane level, that we have no energy to hit the gas at the top of the hill and fly down them. As you know from reading the forums, we are to ride the hills smartly, as easy as we can, keeping level pressure on the pedals, spin if we must, to get to the top. When everyone else is 'mashing' past us on the hill, and they let off the gas at the top because they are spent, that is when we hit the gas and leave them gaspiing for air. Hope this helps! Good luck with your training! Keep us posted.
Does anyone have a clear answer on wearing wetsuits on race day? I know that the temp will be such that if you wear a wetsuit then you will not be eligible for an award or a Kona slot. But does that mean you absolutely, positively, under no circumstances whatsoever NOT wear a wetsuit? Or, if you are in no danger of a podium or Kona slot, go ahead and wear one. It really will depend on if I get my feel for the water back by then but would love to know if anyone can answer that definitively. Thanks!
I'll let you know how the ride went, and my impressions of the course.
Barbara, I don't own a powermeter, and am planning to race with my HR. Have you found any good advice on pacing using HR in any EN forum/site? How was your trip to Louisville?
Got to L'Ville late, due to a LOT of fog in NW IN that morning, when I drove down. Also got lost for my exit. However, after meeting Bob Baney, from iamtri, who organizes these rides, I got started on my own, as I was late for the group ride. Did the out and back on 1694 I believe is the highway #. It is hilly, and fun to ride down. Just keep in mind that you will be going back 'up' on the way back! The bridge is the biggest concern on this stretch of road. It has some potholes, and you must use caution as you ride over it, esp. coming back, when you are going fast. I found the out and back to be challenging, but not near as tough as the main loop which we do 2 x's. There is nothing too difficult when you are on 42 and heading out after the out and back. However, Old Ballard School Road and Sligo Road were my nemeses!!! OMG! Remember, I'm a flatlander here, but we have some hills which I ride often. Old Ballard should be called Old Bastard if you ask me! LOL! The scenery is beautiful!!! However, the hills were getting to me. More steep than rolling. I don't remember if it was on O.Ballard or Sligo, that at one point I was flying downhill doing 37 mph and screaming YAHOO!!! then....the next minute doing 4 mph going up a hill to a stop sign! Honestly, I thought I was either going to tip over or start rolling backwards! It was at that point that I decided to spring for a new 11/28 cassette! Was to get it this weekend, but it isn't in yet. Getting it next week. I think that shall make a huge difference.
42 back to transition was fairly decent. By that time, I was tired, hot, and shelled, so I thought I'd never get back to my car, which was parked at a church on the route. All in all, it is doable, just prepare for it by a) riding the actual course, or b) getting the DVD and riding the course virtually. There are videos by Heather Gollnick, on You Tube. Watch those. She tells you where she is, where the sharp turn is (onto Old B. road) etc. Of course, she makes it look easy!
IMKS 70.3 on Saturday...then recover a few days, then onto week 1 of 12 for IMLOU! Line in the sand time!
I was supposed to do a bike test yesterday, but didn't. My HR monitor died, so need to get a battery so I can do it tonight, after a 60 min. swim. Aside from those of you doing KS this weekend, is anyone else doing the long day on Saturday? 1 hr. swim, 4 hr. bike, 1 hr. run? I REALLY have to get my head screwed on straight for this! So not ready!!! YIKES!!!
@Barbara - I have the same long day on Saturday. Week 8 of the 20 week Ironman plan, right? Ooofh. Good luck!