Good things about my tri season ending early:

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kristine25

632 posts since
Aug 17, 2007

Sep 11, 2007 6:23 PM

Good things about my tri season ending early:

With the nagging knee issues (saw a PT and it's tendonitus) and my last tri of the season being very hilly on the bike (which tends to make my knee worse) I came to the conclusion about a week ago that my tri season is over, even though I have known it in the back of my mind for awhile. My last real race was back in mid July (having missed my August race due to the knee).

So, now I am focusing on my HM in November (since running tends to bother the knee much less). But with no 3 hour rides and 2 hour runs, and swimming, trainer session, etc etc I have found all this free time:

So, what is good about tri season being over:

My laundry room is clean:
My closet is organzied:
I am cooking much more and less eating out:
Spending more quality time with the kids:
Catching up on so much TV I missed (I am a Big Love and Entourage fan!)
Etc. Etc. Etc.

Gotta find some positive outlook on the end of a tri season that is one I will never forget having done my first HIM.

Now I will just live vicariously through Tithers and watch the end of her IM journey come to a close in November!!!

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

1. Sep 11, 2007 6:47 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

I wonder what caused the tendon problem in the first place? Do you tend to ride at kind of a low rpm? Maybe once the inflamation goes down you might want to do some higher cadence work during the winter by riding in your small chainring and working on spinning up your bike to 90-100 rpm's on your endurance rides.

kristine25

632 posts since
Aug 17, 2007

2. Sep 11, 2007 7:07 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

JR: I don't know what caused the knee problems. All the training leading up to my HIM was totally injury free. The issue started right in the middle of the bike segment of my HIM and continued until I stopped biking about 3 weeks ago. And for the majority of that time it was only the biking that caused the problem but the last few runs did prior to stopping biking, the issue started a little then too.

I think when I ride I tend to ride at a lower RPM than most, at least that is what I notice when I ride with people. It seems the most comfortable to me but never having any specific bike training, I am kinda blind as to what I should be doing.

mbannon

1,814 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

3. Sep 11, 2007 7:33 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

Why drop the swimming? Seems it would be excellent base/x-training for the HM.

just sayin' is all...

------------------
Running To My Future
Me[/URL" target="_blank"> and My Log[/URL" target="_blank">
The Newbie Wiki[/URL" target="_blank">

bcc594

156 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

4. Sep 11, 2007 7:40 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

Kristine,
I had a friend who rode a lot and then put his knees out of commission. He thinks that the repetitive nature of riding, plus not having enough 'float' in his pedals did the number on him. He hasn't been running or riding in ages. Could your problem be something similar? What kind of pedals do you use, and do they allow your knee to move a bit while riding? That's my .02 - I'd defer to the riding gurus like JRoden, however!

Bradley

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

5. Sep 11, 2007 7:45 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

I was kind of guessing that, it's common for new riders to slog the gears a little. You can unlearn that pretty quickly by plaing your bike in a very light gear and leaving itthere for the whole ride, just work on keeping a constant speed and spinning the cranks quickly. It takes some practice, but if you always incorporate the spinning into your warmup and cooldown and do some on your easy days it will become second nature.

If you don't want to mess with a cadence sensor on your bike, you can pick an easy gear you like, ride at a certain speed that feel right, then count pedal strokes for 30 seconds to figure out what speed you need to travel in that gear to get 90-100 rpm's. You will quickly learn how to judge your rpm's by just looking down at your feet.

So, once you get better, be a spinner with an elegant and supple pedal stroke, not a big gear mashing goon.

Yoshiko007

421 posts since
Nov 16, 2003

6. Sep 11, 2007 7:47 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

quote:<HR>Originally posted by mbannon:
Why drop the swimming? Seems it would be excellent base/x-training for the HM.
<HR>

1! It is a great recovery workout between the runs. This is the second time I am training for half/full marathon with only 3/wk running. For the Boston 07, I only swam between the runs. I do believe you don't have to run 5-6days/wk in order to make good improvements. Of course, I am sure there is a limit to what can do with only 3days of running.

Having said that, however, down time is sooooo important. Enjoy all those things you didn't have enough time to do!!!!

tithers

1,408 posts since
Nov 26, 2007

7. Sep 11, 2007 9:22 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

K-glad you have a focus...actually-I'm a little worried about post IM season...I'd like to work on my running...DH wants to work on sex.

Anyhoo-do you have the post-triathlon blues? Or did you pass that stage? I haven't signed up for any races...I usually do the ATL TG half...but you can register up to the day before...I'm rambling-again.

My home needs SERIOUS cleaning...I seriously doubt me having extra time will help THAT situation.

Anyways-I know you want a big PR....I'm rooting for you!

pcsronbo006

1,584 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

8. Sep 11, 2007 9:27 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

quote:<HR>Originally posted by tithers:
K-glad you have a focus...actually-I'm a little worried about post IM season...I'd like to work on my running...DH wants to work on sex.
<HR>

not mutually exclusive. It's just the century rides.

And K - stay in da pool

you need to loosen up from all those miles on the footsies

mbannon

1,814 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

9. Sep 11, 2007 10:02 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

quote:<HR>Enjoy all those things you didn't have enough time to do!!!!<HR>

Can't argue with that. Get all that cleaning, sex, and family stuff out of your system, then get back in the pool.

------------------
Running To My Future
Me[/URL" target="_blank"> and My Log[/URL" target="_blank">
The Newbie Wiki[/URL" target="_blank">

kristine25

632 posts since
Aug 17, 2007

10. Sep 11, 2007 11:11 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

OK, so I am still swimming, just not to the extent I was during HIM training. My HM schedule looks like this:

Swim, easy run, speed work, bike, off, short pace run, long run:

JR: what do you mean by "slog the gears"? I seriously need a bike coach for next season. Sheldon was great for my schedule but I need a person here to go riding with, telling me what to do, when to shift going up a hill, what my cadence should look like, etc etc. Is all this so foregin to me cause I just started biking less than a year ago? Is there something I could be reading in the off season???

Bradley: I am actually worried I may have too much float. I was really nervous when I got my clipless for the first time so I have them set pretty loose. Could that a problem in itself? I have SPD's by the way.

Tithers; I never got any post HIM blues. Which was great. I still feel on a high sometimes from it. It definilty helped that the race right after HIM got me some hardware!!! By the way, you can still run while trying for that baby, and even for several months into a pregnancy. My HUGE suggestion is to find something post IM right now and register, to give you something to look forward to. You have worked way too hard and way too long to stop after IM!!!! Remember I trained for my HIM with a 2 and 4 year old. Having kids doesn't mean you have to stop!!

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

11. Sep 12, 2007 5:46 AM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

quote:<HR>Originally posted by kristine25:

JR: what do you mean by "slog the gears"? I seriously need a bike coach for next season. Sheldon was great for my schedule but I need a person here to go riding with, telling me what to do, when to shift going up a hill, what my cadence should look like, etc etc. Is all this so foregin to me cause I just started biking less than a year ago? Is there something I could be reading in the off season???!!<HR>

You can read Friel's cyclist's bible is a good thing, or buy a few videos of bicycle races from world cycling productions to watch on the trainer, it helps a lot to get a sense for good mechanics and pedal stroke.

Mostly do the countingthing I mentioned or buy a computer wth cadence and shift your bike untile you are spinning over 90 rpm's and get in a habit of riding there. Additionally, while pedaling, get in a habit of looking at your legs and adjusting them so they are moving in a stright plane and not bowing out at the top of the pedal stroke.

Whne you ride, it makes you better if you really thinkabout how you sit on the bike, how you pedal and how your body is positioned. Look at picture and films of good riders and then look at yourself on the trainer in a mirror or in shop windows when you ride outside and try to make yourself a better positioned rider.

juliemboyle

1,028 posts since
Nov 17, 2007

12. Sep 12, 2007 8:24 AM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

Kristine: I can relate to what you are saying. By the time Timberman was over, I was done. I had signed up for a sprint (I really don't like sprints that much) that was post Timberman and I didn't do it......I just didn't feel like it. I took a 3 week break after Timberman....no schedule, just did what I felt like when I felt like it, here's what I enjoyed:

1) Riding my bike on my favorite route just for the fun of it and not having to do a run after

2) Starting yoga and pilates again. I love the way it makes me feel and I just didn't have time to do that during peak tri training.

3) Strength training on a regular basis and taking my pump class....it's fun!

4) Taking a day off just cuz I felt like it and not feeling guilty that it was going to de-rail all my training (I really need to work on this, I swear when I am training for something I act like the world is going to come to an end if I take a day off!

Monday I just started my marathon training and I am excited to have a new challenge.....

ps......WCT....I love Big love too and Army wives and 24 and prison break!

ksurp

91 posts since
Mar 10, 2006

13. Sep 12, 2007 8:44 AM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

I highly recommend finding an experienced cyclist to go riding with every so often who is willing to help you. This was my first year of cycling too and cadence, when to shift, how to climb hills etc were not things that I knew how to do. I would just go ride in too big a gear. Fortunately my boss is a very experienced cyclist and coaches other sports so one session of riding with him helped me improve signifcantly. He talked non stop for the hour ride we did, told we when to shift, stand up on hills, etc etc.
He also brought in his computrainer and set it up so we could analyze my pedal stroke. The cool thing is that he is really into explaining all of this to newbies like me. Finding a cycling group is also helpful. I joined a women's riding group and they have specific instructional rides for newbies so that was also very helpful. Ask around - LBS might be a good place to start.

Congrats on your organized home! I'm in the midst of similar projects trying to get caught up from my season. Enjoy!

mmoonhead

524 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

14. Sep 12, 2007 3:01 PM

in response to: kristine25

Re: Good things about my tri season ending early:

Kristine, I can relate too - I'm actually looking forward to changing up after my first tri this weekend (I may throw in a sprint next month if I feel up to it.)

I haven't done a lot on my strength training and flexibility (my yoga has fallend by the wayside lately), and now I've got a 6 week to focus in on those two things and rest up a bit from the swim/run/bike thing. And I'm sure my legs will appreciate the rest when I start up the marathon training in November.

And just plain having time to do other things in general every once in awhile is a good thing

- Joe

Sep 11, 2007 6:23 PM

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