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The Runner's Thread

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That's awesome man, great story!!!

I am about to sign up for the New Orleans half Ironman, but it isn't tiill April of 2015. I'd love to do one this fall, but I'm already signed up for a marathon in October and there aren't any in January or so that make sense travel wise for me. Probably for the best, because I need to get more familiar with my bike anyway... but I'm a pretty competent swimmer, and a decent runner.

Question for you, what kind of bike did you use? What did your training plan look like?

Congrats dude, awesome awesome job!
 
For Tri, I ride a Cervelo P2, which is a dedicated Triathlon bike. I've stuck a pair of Zipp 404 wheels on it, it looks killer.

My training plan hasn't been all that structured, but this is the rough outline. Consider that until September last year, all I had ever done to any extent was biking. I was a noob at swimming and running.

Over the winter, I would swim Monday, Wednesday, Friday, where the Monday session was with a trainer, for technique.

I had bikefit sessions Monday (2x60 min) and Wednesday (2x60 min) evenings and Saturday morning (75 min).

And I did a bit of lifting and toning work when I was at the gym anyways. A fair focus on core strength, to ensure proper positioning in the water and on the bike.

For running, it was Tuesday, Thursday, and either Saturday or Sunday. At least 5 km, usually around 7.

In the spring and summer, I've been commuting on my roadbike (2x20 km), running Tuesday, Thursday, and either Saturday or Sunday, and I've been doing Open Water swims Wednesday (around 2 km) and Sunday (around 3 km).

I live right next to the bike course used in Sunday's race, so I was very familiar with it.

But yeah, I'm single, with no kids.
 
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Thanks for the response. Love that bike, and almost bought it. I opted for a a different bike instead, a road bike. Did you notice if there were many road bikes at your race?

Complete opposite of you. I've been running for a few years now, but just bought a bike last weekend and have gone for one ride to date. :laugh: I just got into swimming about 4-5 months ago and try to swim anywhere from at least one time a week to as many as 5 times. Right now in the pool I can swim the half Ironman distance in a regular bathing suit, in a crowded pool, in about 45-50 minutes if I were pushing to say 75-85% of my max exertion. Not sure how that would translate to an open water swim with a tri suit on, though.

I'm really, really excited to shift away from just running to more into triathlons after this race.
 
The wetsuit makes it much, much easier. I swim without using my legs. At all.

Seems to me you're well on your way with the swimming, though.

I'd say it was about a 50/50 split between road bikes and tri bikes. About half the road bikes had aero-bars mounted though.
 
The Imp said:
The wetsuit makes it much, much easier. I swim without using my legs. At all.

Seems to me you're well on your way with the swimming, though.

I'd say it was about a 50/50 split between road bikes and tri bikes. About half the road bikes had aero-bars mounted though.
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Yeah, I'm pretty comfortable with my swimming. I normally don't swim for pace, and just to give the muscles and joints a rest from the rest of what I do. Glad you mentioned you only breath to one side, because so do I, so I'm going to start breathing to the left at least some of the time now. :thumbu:

Ok, that's not so bad. Was wondering if I'd stick out like a sore thumb. My plan is to eventually get the aero-bars, too... but I go too good of a deal on my bike, and none of the tri bikes within my price range had very good reviews.
 
I have no idea about what it would look like in the States, tbh. There are a few race reports on youtube you could check out. They're also great inspiration.

Triathlon is definitely an expensive sport. So far, I've acquired:

Swimming:
Wet suit (2XU X3)
Swim goggles x2 (one for the pool, one for open water)
Almost suspicious amounts of Bodyglide
Ear plugs (prevents water getting into the ear, which in turn prevents sea sickness)
Swim cap
SaferSwimmer (floatation/storage/visibility thing for open water swimming. Highly recommended, but only for training).

Biking:
P2 bike
Zipp 404 wheelset (I can use those on my road bike, too)
Tear drop helmet
Hydration system
Bottle mount for the behind the saddle

Running:
Running shoes
Sundry running clothes
Sun visor

Various:
Transition bag
Gym membership
Garmin 310 XT GPS watch
Sunscreen (P20, love that stufff)
Various energy products (mainly High5)

I may be out a bit of money, but I'm also down 20 kilos and I look and feel the best I've ever looked/felt. I think it's worth it.

10506957_311928418968943_7245260850822743682_o.jpg
 
The Imp said:
I have no idea about what it would look like in the States, tbh. There are a few race reports on youtube you could check out. They're also great inspiration.

Triathlon is definitely an expensive sport. So far, I've acquired:

Swimming:
Wet suit (2XU X3)
Swim goggles x2 (one for the pool, one for open water)
Almost suspicious amounts of Bodyglide
Ear plugs (prevents water getting into the ear, which in turn prevents sea sickness)
Swim cap
SaferSwimmer (floatation/storage/visibility thing for open water swimming. Highly recommended, but only for training).

Biking:
P2 bike
Zipp 404 wheelset (I can use those on my road bike, too)
Tear drop helmet
Hydration system
Bottle mount for the behind the saddle

Running:
Running shoes
Sundry running clothes
Sun visor

Various:
Transition bag
Gym membership
Garmin 310 XT GPS watch
Sunscreen (P20, love that stufff)
Various energy products (mainly High5)

I may be out a bit of money, but I'm also down 20 kilos and I look and feel the best I've ever looked/felt. I think it's worth it.
Click to expand...

Hah, I hear you man. The bike will probably cost me around $3500 when it's all said and done. Couple hundred more for running gear that I already have. The tomtom tri Watch I have was $300 or so. It's crazy how much we pay to do this stuff. :laugh:

All I really have to get at this point is another water bottle mount for my bike, and a tri suit of some sort. Oh, and some clip-in shoes.
 
If you plan to do long-distance tri, for the love of God get a two-piece suit. The one-piece is nice for sprints, but a real problem should you have an issue of the call-of-major-nature kind.

At the very least, the zipper should be in front.
 
Now in the people I've spoken with that have done them, they've suggested the one piece for convenience sake... but never thought about trying to take a piss, or making sure that would be easy.

Did you train with yours on at all before the day of the actual race, or do any open water practice swims? That's probably next on my agenda.
 
Oh yes. I have about 8 km to where I do OW swimming, so I ride my run-about out there, always in my race shorts. Gets the skin used to being wet in those shorts, while biking.

The thing that is almost impossible to simulate in training is the way energy products can affect your stomach. I'd say about 20 % of the people in Sunday's race had a bit of a stink to them. If you have a sudden but imperative call of nature, a tri suit that's difficult to "arrange" for that is a major concern.
 
Gotcha. My biggest obstacle is going to find somewhere to practice some open water swims.. and even then, the only times it would be safe to do so, it's going to be so calm it will be as flat as the pool I swim in... So it's almost like what's the point? Any other time where it's remotely choppy, there will be too many boats flying around.
 
Was wondering if you guys have any suggestions for running watches?
 
Wilch said:
Was wondering if you guys have any suggestions for running watches?
Click to expand...

I have the tomtom multi-sport watch and I love it, and use it as my everyday watch. The new ones that they came out with recently have a heart rate monitor built into the watch, so you don't have to wear a strap. Really wish mine were like that, but it works perfectly fine and I have no reason to upgrade.


If you want one of the most ridiculous in depth reviews on watches and stuff like that.... Google DC Rainmaker's blog.
 
RayP said:
I have the tomtom multi-sport watch and I love it, and use it as my everyday watch. The new ones that they came out with recently have a heart rate monitor built into the watch, so you don't have to wear a strap. Really wish mine were like that, but it works perfectly fine and I have no reason to upgrade.


If you want one of the most ridiculous in depth reviews on watches and stuff like that.... Google DC Rainmaker's blog.
Click to expand...

Sure thing. Thanks buddy.

I've always had problems keeping a routine with cardio workouts. I think being able to track my progress can help, because I'm the type of person that needs to see numbers (like leveling up in a video game) to feel like I'm making progress. Feel like this could maybe help me.
 
Wilch said:
Sure thing. Thanks buddy.

I've always had problems keeping a routine with cardio workouts. I think being able to track my progress can help, because I'm the type of person that needs to see numbers (like leveling up in a video game) to feel like I'm making progress. Feel like this could maybe help me.
Click to expand...

Well, in that case, I'd consider looking into setting a goal of a distance to train for, and then buying a plan that integrates with Training Peaks. That's what I'm doing at the moment, with a Hal Higdon plan. It gives me the structure and direction that I need, rather than just running with no plans, goals, or targets.
 
RayP said:
Well, in that case, I'd consider looking into setting a goal of a distance to train for, and then buying a plan that integrates with Training Peaks. That's what I'm doing at the moment, with a Hal Higdon plan. It gives me the structure and direction that I need, rather than just running with no plans, goals, or targets.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I will keep that in mind.

I also got lucky and met a trainer who happens to be my teammate on a beer league team.

He's only charging me $10 for each session (about 1 hour 15 minutes), so I might start with that first. I've already done a couple of sessions with him, and we focus on hockey workouts, including core and some explosive cardio training.

We've been doing some sprints, and I thought it's been great.

On my own time later on, I would still like to integrate some form of less explosive cardio training to cut a bit.

First thing's first... I need to motivate myself into doing this, because I get up at 6:30am for work, and get home earliest between 6:40pm~7:00pm - and I'm usually quite exhausted by then. I feel like if I don't do some form of jogging or cycling, this will turn into a vicious cycle where I become more and more lethargic due to a lack of exercise.
 
No HRM strap is a definite benefit, IF it can reliably pick up the heartrate at the wrist.

My strap slid down my torso during Sunday's race, so I had no reliable HR info during the run (it quoted a HR of about 100 bpm...). It stayed in place for the bike, though, which was where I really needed it.
 
Wilch said:
Sure thing. Thanks buddy.

I've always had problems keeping a routine with cardio workouts. I think being able to track my progress can help, because I'm the type of person that needs to see numbers (like leveling up in a video game) to feel like I'm making progress. Feel like this could maybe help me.
Click to expand...

I use this site to map out my run and calculate distance and I just use the timer in my ipod to track the time. It isn't perfect but it gets the job done. After that, I just use Runstastic, a free app on my phone, to manually enter my runs and it tracks everything.

For now, it is enough for me since I don't have the cash to buy a good running watch... Plus I end up running indoors a lot on the treadmill because Montreal during the summers is either way too hot and humid to run without feeling like you're going to die, or pissing rain (I find it easier on my knees too, they can get pretty sore). Also, these heart rate monitors never work right for me... They always overestimate my activity and calorie burn. I think I have a fast heart beat or something... Doctors have done tests and said everything is normal, but back when I was out of shape my RHR was over 100 bpm (it's about 58-60 bpm now) but it still gets very high when I'm doing an intense run, upwards of 170-180 bpm, but I don't feel completely winded or like I'm about to die and I honestly could even step it up a little, so I know I'm not burning the 600+ calories the heart rate monitors tell me.
 
Well, just had a pretty awesome 24 ish hour stretch. Had a really busy morning of work yesterday running around, then biked 30+ miles, walked the dog pretty quickly after that for an hour or so, then had 8-9 beers last night with friends, and just got back from a 16 mile run this morning, at what I'm going to call a 9:15 per mile pace.


Not too shabby.
 
Finally got my rythm and pace back this morning. Had a nice 8 mile run, final pace was about 8:30 per, but got killed by 2 stoplights I just couldn't sneak by (added at least 60 seconds). Most importantly, the second half of the run felt great and back to my old pace. The average pace over the last 4+ miles was closer to 8:00 per, and those by far were the best feeling miles. Miles 1-2 were ehhh at best, and had me thinking here we go again...
 
Pretty good run today, 17 miles at a 9:08 per mile pace. Had a pretty strong run going, and beat a couple hills that normally beat me... But there was one hill at the 15.5M mark that just got me, and if it weren't for that hill, I probably would have finished at 9:00 even or maybe even a second or two under. Oh well... for as much as I drank last night, I don't have any complaints with how things went today. It's also great to know that I've ran 17 miles, stretched, showered, and it's not even noon yet. :yo:
 
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