How's Your Training Going?

[stan4d_steph]

I like the Honey Stinger gels. They taste just like honey without any weird chemical taste or thick texture. They also have a strawberry flavor. I don't have problems with other gels though. I tend to prefer the chocolate or coffee ones. I may have to do Sport Beans too for the full marathon to mix it up.

[timl33]

I tried the Honey Stinger gels, but just couldn't quite get used to them. I'm sticking to my Crank Sports eGels for that. I do love the honey stinger waffles and their shot blocks though.

Last Saturday, I set out to do the entirety of the Ironman loop, but had a poor ride. I think I went out too fast and my quads were killing me around mile 65. I wound up turning back but still had 20 miles to go before I got back to the car Hamstring has been getting better. I need to run more than 20 minutes, which I might do this week. I've got to bike more though.

[fairestoneofall]

timi33- Does that mean you did 85 miles before you could stop? That's great, congratulations. I hope your hammy heals quickly.


I think I'm finally getting my groove back. My groove, not my speed, that seems to have left me for the time being. Not that I was ever "fast" but I could see my speed steadily increasing before my PF shut me down. Anyhow, I'm getting back into my 3 a week runs but I'm likely going to have to shift weeks for my long runs. I'm supposed to do 12.5 this weekend but I'll be at my parents house in Salem, OR and I'm not familiar enough with the are to map a route that would be safe and not too hilly. So, I'll bring my gear and head out for five on Sunday. The following weekend I'll have to go for 12.5 though.

[RunninDisney]

I like the coffee ones, too. Expresso love, mmmmm. Have you tried the mint chocolate gu that they have in the winter time?

[stan4d_steph]

I like the coffee ones, too. Expresso love, mmmmm. Have you tried the mint chocolate gu that they have in the winter time?

Yes! I like that one. Tastes like a melted Thin Mint cookie.

[Jodi]

I've had a pretty good training week. I did two short runs, and then did an 8.75 today. Other than tired feet and lots of sweat, I'm still feeling pretty good!

I learned two important things this week:

If I slow down my walk speed and speed up during my runs, I can maintain the same overall pace while keeping my heart rate a bit lower and not feeling quite as worn out.

It was VERY hard to control my gag reflex after trying GU gel for the first time. NEVER again! Next up to try are the shot Bloks.

[fairestoneofall]

Jodi, I'm the same as you with run/walk intervals. Also, my hips can't tolerate the speed walk speed.

I'm also with you on the Gu/gag subject! Lol

[kimmybear]

The hubby and I have been doing 2 runs per week, both between 9-10 miles. Surprisingly we've been able to maintain about the same pace as when we used to run shorter distances. Maybe it was laziness before?

As for fuel, we prefer the Honey Stinger orange chews or Shot Bloks in fruit flavors. My brain just can't handle the coffee or chocolate flavors.

[MidwayManiac]

My friend is a push-up-aholic. We've worked out together a few times but none as extreme as yesterday. We did 24 sets of pushups consecutively without a break. Sets are 45 seconds apiece. The first 20 sets we did 16 reps per. For the last 4 sets we bumped it up to 20 reps per. That totals 400 pushups in 18 minutes. Ouch. It hurts.

On a sidenote the running is same as usual (about 12 miles per week) but I just got a pair of new Brooks shoes (The Switch 4) that I'm eager to try out. And finally nailed down my Fall race schedule.

[tappenfeat]

^^^Wow! That's a lot of push ups!^^^

[dznycrazy]

Here's to hoping the temperature is nowhere near 80 degrees. I went for a 9 mile run today and thought I was going to die with temperatures about 82 degrees. Albeit I am from Seattle and these are not normal temps, but sheesh. I had to walk multiple times.

[Andrew]

Today's long run - 8 miles - was awful. So bad I would've been swept if this was race day. I accept that there are good runs and bad runs, but I'm still waiting for the good ones.

[Drince88]

Woo hoo I did TWO whole miles today. I got up early (yesterday too) and the thunderstorms were early. Then I was going to go early afternoon, and it was pouring, and when I was just about ready to try again, it starts up! I made it out about 5:00, and although it wasn't super hot (because of the rain), it was still in the mid 80s. I did one loop and I just didn't have it in me to go 2 more. So I didn't push myself.

But, Tuesday is Day 1 of my W&D training plan, so no more backing off or skipping after-work miles.

I had contemplated counting watching the Women's marathon this morning, but I'm glad I went out. Oh, and I had enough in my engine to get the lawn mowed (yes, it was dry enough) when I got home, so I'm glad I just did 2. (though I almost ran out of gas in the mower!!!)

[tappenfeat]

That's great Cathy!!!

[fairestoneofall]

Zero runs since leaving for Portland Sarurday. It's been so blessed hot in the PNW and my parents don't have AC. The heat is exhausting.
Looking forward to getting back in the groove Wed, we go home tomorrow.

[RunninDisney]

My training calander had me doing 8 miles Saturday. I did 3. The heat index was again about 105. It was horrible. I'm wishing it was 82. lol

[tappenfeat]

The summer for us this year has been almost too hot to do anything! I've skipped the track many times this summer even in the evenings because of the humidity being so high plus the heat index. I'll just jog in the pool.

[Drince88]

I'll just jog in the pool.

Definitely easier on the joints! Make sure when you work out in the pool that you don't stay on your toes: make sure your heels touch ground. It natural to stay on your toes in the water, but it's tough on the calves! It may not be an issue for you, being a dancer, though. Common problem for people who do water aerobics for the first time.

[tappenfeat]

The water exercises really help my PF. Plus, it's refreshing!

[timl33]

timi33- Does that mean you did 85 miles before you could stop? That's great, congratulations. I hope your hammy heals quickly.

Yeah, wound up doing 85ish miles that day. This past weekend I was able to get in a long swim (2 miles or so) and a decently long bike ride (close to 60 miles). I've got one more long bike in me before starting to taper for Ironman day. I still haven't run in a while because of the bum hamstring. On race day, I'll most likely be walking the marathon anyways. I do have a half marathon on the 18th as well as DL half. I might join a few of you in corral G and just chill out that day.

[Andrew]

My 10K "tune-up" race was today. You know how some races advertise that they're "flat, fast and perfect for setting a new PR"? Try to imagine the exact opposite...

This course was all hills, except where it was single file through the woods. It was neither fast nor flat, and I came in almost ten minutes slower (1:27:43) than I'd planned. There were also missing course markers and general confusion at check-in (wrong names printed on bibs, wrong contents of bag). I was generally not impressed.

BUT I finished, and given the crazy hills and pauses to figure out the course, I'm fairly pleased. 22 days 'til DLR.

[Drince88]

BUT I finished, and given the crazy hills and pauses to figure out the course, I'm fairly pleased. 22 days 'til DLR.

Woo Hoo!

I figured out why I need to keep my rest day on Friday. During the week, I generally walk after work, but on the weekends, it's the morning. There is NO WAY I could have done my long walk this morning after going last night, too. Just not enough hours in between! So I'll 'cross train' in a bit (aka yard work, as long as it doesn't rain again) and then go out Sunday morning.

[AVP]

Today was my 10-miler, and the SoCal heat wave had me really concerned that it would get too hot before we finished. The Team in Training coach hasn't wanted to move up our start time, and it was already 78 degrees when we started. I know that doesn't seem hot to those of you who routinely run in temps pushing 100, but that's well above my comfort zone.

I'd planned to try out a new run/walk interval today, but with the heat I decided just to play it safe with the pace I've trained at up to now. I drained one of my two 22oz water bottles by the time I hit the water station at mile 2.5, so refilled it with Gatorade and kept going. I was solid for the first six miles - ran every interval, didn't skip, didn't slow up. I was hitting my 15-minute miles (again, you have your goals, I have mine) consistently, and was feeling relatively OK despite sweating more than I think I've even sweat before.

THEN the giant light bulb in the sky burned through the scant marine layer we started out with, plus we were running along a riverbank with no shade to be had. When I got to the water station at mile 6 it was 85 degrees, and several of the TnT mentors and veterans recommended that we walk the rest of the way. I refilled both of my now-empty bottles, and we kept going.

There was another water stop at mile 7.5, and I refilled both bottles again. I am SO glad I grabbed two bottles today. We debated quitting when we got back to the start at mile 9, but decided to do the one-mile out-and-back to finish our mileage.

It was 89 degrees by the time we finished. I drained two more bottles of water when we got back. By my count, including what I drank on the way to training, that was 180 ounces of water - and I am still feeling dehydrated.

I'm of two minds about today. I know DL starts 90 minutes earlier than we did today, so it shouldn't be this hot this early. And I know the coaches told us before we even started, and the mentors and veterans reiterated while we were out there, that today's focus was mileage, not time. BUT it was still frustrating to come in over time because we did the last four miles so slowly.

Oh well. I KNOW I *can* do it, so now I just need to hope the weather cooperates so I can do it without melting.

AVP

[Drince88]

And I know you can do it too, AVP!!!
That was a lot of water, but I'm sure you needed it! (I hope a decent amount was gatorade. I have to do about 50/50) I love walking along the levees (next to the river or the lake), but the lack of shade and water fountains stops me most of the year. But they're so nice and flat and un-cambered!!!

How many in your group are doing Disneyland?

[fairestoneofall]

AVP you have me freaked out for tomorrow. We're starting at 5am though. I usually only bring 20 oz with me and no opportunity to refill until mile 6 then again at 8.