The Running Thread - 2018

[FFigawi]

Well, gonna have to resurrect that triathlon thread next year.

Just registered for the Naperville Sprint Triathlon for Aug 2019.

People do crazy things when faced with a low introductory price. That or all the extra marathon training miles has made me loopy.
Guess I know what I'm asking Santa for this year

YEESSSSSS!

 

[LdyStormy76]

Well, gonna have to resurrect that triathlon thread next year.

Just registered for the Naperville Sprint Triathlon for Aug 2019.

People do crazy things when faced with a low introductory price. That or all the extra marathon training miles has made me loopy.
Guess I know what I'm asking Santa for this year

Given all the different styles of bikes people ride at that event the only important factors are it has at least two wheels and you power it with your legs or arms. DH and I have seen it all the years we partially spectated it, including the young woman with a wicker basket on the front of her everyday bike. In fact, there seem to be just as many everyday/around town type bikes at the two events as there are the speciality ones.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Well, gonna have to resurrect that triathlon thread next year.

Just registered for the Naperville Sprint Triathlon for Aug 2019.

People do crazy things when faced with a low introductory price. That or all the extra marathon training miles has made me loopy.
Guess I know what I'm asking Santa for this year

I still have a goal of doing at least a 1/2 Ironman by the time I turn 50. I'll be curious to see how you like this. My fear is the swimming. I sink like a rock when I hit the water.

 

[Waiting2goback]

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

My fear is the swimming. I sink like a rock when I hit the water.

This is a timely conversation. I'm thinking about registering for an indoor tri at the local Y, on October 13th. The swim portion is 10 minutes long. I can swim enough to not drown, but that's about it. Maybe 2 lengths of the pool.

I need the Couch to 5K (whatever the equivalent distance is) program for swimming. Not sure yet how many days a week I'm willing to devote to swim training.

Any suggestions from the triathletes or swimmers?

 

[Bree]

The swimming portion of a tri scares me. I’m a really good doggy paddler and a pro at floating around in a tube. A tri with a lazy river segment might me a good fit for me???

In all seriousness though. After Dopey I’m thinking about a sprint tri. My town offers triathlon swimming lessons for all levels of swimmers. It seems to be ocean swimming here in FL. Is that harder? Too many alligators in our lakes and rivers.

 

[camaker]

This is a timely conversation. I'm thinking about registering for an indoor tri at the local Y, on October 13th. The swim portion is 10 minutes long. I can swim enough to not drown, but that's about it. Maybe 2 lengths of the pool.

I need the Couch to 5K (whatever the equivalent distance is) program for swimming. Not sure yet how many days a week I'm willing to devote to swim training.

Any suggestions from the triathletes or swimmers?

I'm in the same boat. Planning to try an IM70.3 next year. Got a bike this month and I don't think that's going to be a problem, but I haven't done any swimming since a PE class in college that was a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I'm not even sure where to start...

 

[Dis5150]

The swimming portion of a tri scares me. I’m a really good doggy paddler and a pro at floating around in a tube. A tri with a lazy river segment might me a good fit for me???

In all seriousness though. After Dopey I’m thinking about a sprint tri. My town offers triathlon swimming lessons for all levels of swimmers. It seems to be ocean swimming here in FL. Is that harder? Too many alligators in our lakes and rivers.

We are swimming twins! But I can't even open my eyes under water and since I doubt dog paddling is possible in the swim portion I doubt a tri is EVER in my future!

ETA: I do own a very high end mountain bike. Of course it is over 20 years old and I haven't ridden it in probably that long, lol.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: If money was no object what running related product or service other than a destination race would you buy.

Todays question is a suggestion from a fellow poster from this thread.

ATTQOTD: I would pay for a coaching service that would not only just create a training program for me, but have access to them weekly to discuss the runs, pacing, and make modifications along the way.

 

[PrincessV]

ATTQOTD: Treadmill - a really, really nice, high-end treadmill. Mine has now passed its 20-year mark and, while I'm impressed and amazed at its longevity, it's really uncomfortable to run on and if I could afford a nicer replacement, I'd wish for it to die already, lol!

If I had any money left, I'd love a true gait analysis in the UF sports lab.

 

[Chasing Dopey]

QOTD: If money was no object what running related product or service other than a destination race would you buy.

I was going to say I would always get the latest Garmin, but it's hard to beat the idea of an all-inclusive coaching service.

EDIT: Wait! What am I saying? An Elliptigo! Or maybe a pool where I could do some pool running when injured.

 

[apdebord]

ATTQOTD: A 200 meter indoor track on the lot next to my house.

 

[SarahDisney]

ATTQOTD: I really don't know. I buy the things I need for running, and I really don't need much. I was thinking maybe a better treadmill, but if/when I move, I won't have room for a treadmill (I'll be lucky if I have room to hang up my sweaty running clothing ... oh Manhattan). Maybe an Equinox membership, because then I could be snobby about my $300/month gym membership (hopefully they have good treadmills...).

Also ... I already have an awesome coach who creates my plans (when I want him to ... sometimes I do my own plans), answers all my questions, reviews my runs at the end of the week (I don't know if he does it more often on his own, but that's when we discuss it), and helps me come up with my race strategy. Thanks, @DopeyBadger!

 

[Sanchez]

This is a timely conversation. I'm thinking about registering for an indoor tri at the local Y, on October 13th. The swim portion is 10 minutes long. I can swim enough to not drown, but that's about it. Maybe 2 lengths of the pool.

I need the Couch to 5K (whatever the equivalent distance is) program for swimming. Not sure yet how many days a week I'm willing to devote to swim training.

Any suggestions from the triathletes or swimmers?

I am far from an experienced triathlete having trained for my first (International Distance) last fall. Completed four sprints this year and two/three international/Olympic on the calendar this fall. I am a terrible swimmer and my first race was a swimming disaster (1,000 meter lake swim.) I was spent by the time I exited the water. I had trained up to 1,600 meters in the pool but race conditions and open water are very different. I had to take a completely different approach to swim training and my swim is much improved.

Triathlon can be very expensive and I do not recommend investing too much until you decide that you want to continue on. In no particular order:

1. The best thing you can do for swim training is join a Master’s swim program. In my area there are practice sessions available 6 days per week throughout the day. I swim 2-3 times per week with the Masters and once on my own. I typically get 2,500-3,200 meters in per swim session and the coaching is helpful. I pay $40 per month;
2. Get involved with a shop training program or a local Tri club. I do not use these for training but they will often have group open water swims and other seminars such as transitions and training plans;
3. At minimum you will need swim goggles, bike, running shoes and an outfit that you can use for all disciplines. Tri shorts and a Tri top are essential in my opinion. It is ok to use a standard bike in a sprint but as you move forward a road bike is essential;
4. If uncomfortable in the water make your first race a pool swim if possible. Open water swims are chaotic. In my first race I took a kick to the head in the first 50 meters. Instead of settling down I panicked and my heart rate shot up. It made for a miserable swim. I didn’t really recover until half way through the 21 mile bike.

Overall, in my opinion Tri training is much more enjoyable than standard run training. As we get older the swimming and biking is easier on the body.

 

[HomeiswhereMickeyis]

ATTQOTD: A high end treadmill (mine is used, cost $40, has no digital readout, and is at least 20 years old) or a pool for cross-training.

 

[Princess KP]

The swimming portion of a tri scares me. I’m a really good doggy paddler and a pro at floating around in a tube. A tri with a lazy river segment might me a good fit for me???

We are swimming twins! But I can't even open my eyes under water and since I doubt dog paddling is possible in the swim portion I doubt a tri is EVER in my future!

I thought I was the only one who's afraid of the water. I've taken swim lessons but still not comfortable unless my feet can touch the bottom of the pool / ocean.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: If money was no object what running related product or service other than a destination race would you buy.

A dietician to prepare every meal and snack for me for a complete training cycle.

 

[Miranda]

The treadmills at OTF are amazing... they are Freemotion ones, I think the 10.9 model at our studio judging by the control panel. If I had space in my house for one, I'd get one of those, although there's probably other things I'd rather spend my money on first since I'm not a treadmill lover.

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: I would pay someone to build a paved or packed gravel track around my property so I could run at home. We are on 4 acres so I don't even know what that would convert to in miles but it isn't a big square, its oddly shaped so it would be interesting at least and lots of shade (pine forest surrounds us.)

 

[Princess KP]

ATTQOTD: A coaching service. I would like someone to create a running plan for me and to kick my butt if I am slacking off.