Marathon thread

[steph08]

Awesome job on the swim practice, Nancy.

Meghan - good luck this weekend. It is hotter than Hades here and supposed to be almost 90 on Saturday, so I bet it is even warmer on your side of the state!

[flamingo]

It's been great weather the last couple weeks for outdoor training runs. Which of course means that come time for my actual race it's going to be 90 degrees and humid. Good thing it starts at 6:30 in the morning.

I need to do a 12 mile run this weekend. I'm not dreading it, but not really jazzed about it either. The apartment complex also has to paint my door Saturday. Which is fine, but I have to be home for 2 hours for that to happen (must leave door propped open for 2 hours to dry). And, I can't run Sunday because I have to work. Soooo, my door better be the first one they paint! If I can track a painter down on Saturday, I can ask them to paint my door right away. Hopefully I see one right at 7am when they start!

[Cookies Galore]

Good luck getting that run in this weekend, flamingo!

It's supposed to "cool down" to 83 degrees and low humidity on Sunday, so it should be in the 60s-70s during my race (starts at 7 a.m.). Still warm for me but it could be worse! I am nervous as hell!

[NancysSummerSip]

Wow, everyone is in the "heat" of training/racing now.

No races for me until the end of the month. I do have a swim meet next month. I have the order of events, but I will speak to my Saturday coach and get his thoughts on what events I should do.

[flamingo]

12 miler done! 9:04/mile. I'm pretty happy with that for a training run! I felt good the whole time, and now that I'm done, I still feel good, and have enough energy to run errands all afternoon. This is a good sign! In the past, after long training runs, I'd want to veg on the couch the rest of the day. now if the painters would just show up so I could get on with my errands!

[Cookies Galore]

It was hot. It was humid. It was awful. I'm happy to say I (barely) ran my first half.

[flamingo]

Cookies Galore Good job! Congrats on getting it done!  

[steph08]

Nice job on the training run, flamingo!

Meghan - good job on finishing the half. I know how you feel about just surviving and finishing. The weather has been brutal - you did awesome no matter what time you ran!

[NancysSummerSip]

OMG, way to go, Meghan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You look hawt even when you're hot!

I did transition practice (bike to run) Saturday afternoon, and went over to the wood chip trail this morning to practice for the triathlon (the run portion will be done on this particular trail). I hate trail running. Really hate it.

[NancysSummerSip]

OK, so one more week to Triathlon Saturday. Four weeks to my next swim meet. And I may throw a one-mile ocean swim in there, too.

I am swimming tonight (open water) and tomorrow (pool). Also getting in some quick transition practice tomorrow afternoon (bike to run). Sunday is a rest day - clean and check the bike for the last time, fill the tires and make sure they hold air, oil everything, etc. I've started packing my gear already.

Monday is a trail run - the last one before the event. Regular swims and one more run during the week. Friday night will be a light meal and (I hope) a good night's rest.

[NancysSummerSip]

Just signed up for my first ocean mile swim. A very scary thing. My dear friend, whose funeral I went to yesterday, loved the ocean so much, loved boating, and respected all things connected to our waterways. I'm doing this as much for her as I am for me.

[Cookies Galore]

Jun 19, 2015 8:58:18 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

OK, so one more week to Triathlon Saturday. Four weeks to my next swim meet. And I may throw a one-mile ocean swim in there, too.

I am swimming tonight (open water) and tomorrow (pool). Also getting in some quick transition practice tomorrow afternoon (bike to run). Sunday is a rest day - clean and check the bike for the last time, fill the tires and make sure they hold air, oil everything, etc. I've started packing my gear already.

Monday is a trail run - the last one before the event. Regular swims and one more run during the week. Friday night will be a light meal and (I hope) a good night's rest.

Good luck! Hubs' triathlon is this upcoming Saturday as well.

[NancysSummerSip]

Jun 22, 2015 13:41:28 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Jun 19, 2015 8:58:18 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

OK, so one more week to Triathlon Saturday. Four weeks to my next swim meet. And I may throw a one-mile ocean swim in there, too.

I am swimming tonight (open water) and tomorrow (pool). Also getting in some quick transition practice tomorrow afternoon (bike to run). Sunday is a rest day - clean and check the bike for the last time, fill the tires and make sure they hold air, oil everything, etc. I've started packing my gear already.

Monday is a trail run - the last one before the event. Regular swims and one more run during the week. Friday night will be a light meal and (I hope) a good night's rest.

Good luck! Hubs' triathlon is this upcoming Saturday as well.

What type? Mine is a super-sprint, the shortest of all the distances. Hey, it's my first. I figured I'd go short for the first try.

[Cookies Galore]

Jun 24, 2015 9:06:55 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Jun 22, 2015 13:41:28 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Good luck! Hubs' triathlon is this upcoming Saturday as well.

What type? Mine is a super-sprint, the shortest of all the distances. Hey, it's my first. I figured I'd go short for the first try.

He's doing a sprint. Already thinking about an olympic. Finish this one first, buddy.
ETA: Looking at the forecast for the rest of the week, it might be a run-bike-run.

[NancysSummerSip]

Aw, I hear you. I'm thinking just like he is.

[Cookies Galore]

Torrential downpour last night so the swim was cancelled. Hubs did good with the run bike run, though. With transitions he finished in an hour and twenty. I ran a good distance taking pictures of him!

[NancysSummerSip]

Afternoon all. Triathlon done. Finished ninth out of 15 in my age group. Nothing busted, bruised or broken. Not bad for a first timer. Time of 47 minutes for a super-sprint. Ugly, but I'll take it.

[flamingo]

NancysSummerSip - Congrats on finishing! That's awesome! 

I ran my last LONG training run today. Next weekend will 6/7 miles, then i won't run the weekend before my race, then finally my race. Let's hope the 20 mph wind I ran directly into this morning is not around to thwart me on race day!!

[NancysSummerSip]

OKI, y'all...is it wrong that I am thinking about doing another triathlon? Sprint distance this time, on Labor Day weekend (1/4 mile swim in a lake, 10 mile bike, 3 mile run, both of those on enclosed roads in a park)? I've been to this park before for a running event, so I do know it. Not a bad ride from home (less than 1 hour).

Oh, crap. Just shoot me now.

[Cookies Galore]

Why not? Go for it!
Hubs wanted to sign up for another tri in two weeks since the swim was canceled last weekend. The timing is inconvenient so he found one in August. After kicking duathlon ass on Sunday (18.3 mph bike pace/7:30 run pace) he set the goal of half Ironman by his 40th birthday. If I thought he was going crazy with swim practice for a sprint...

[NancysSummerSip]

I need to get a bike rack first. Getting the bike in and out of the compact car is compacting my back.

I am off Friday, so I think after my other errands, I will go to my bike store and see what they think will work. They many not carry the right type, but they will know from experience what to suggest.

FWIW, if anyone else wants to suggest one, I have a Nissan Versa hatchback with the roof spoiler. So far, my research indicates that a T-bar hitch is one option, and I'm definitely not a fan of it. I don't think it is very stable.

[Cookies Galore]

Hmm... we have a Fit (hatchback) and we just put hubs' bike in the back. No clue on bike rack recommendations since we don't need one for this car just yet.

[NancysSummerSip]

Jun 30, 2015 11:30:19 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Hmm... we have a Fit (hatchback) and we just put hubs' bike in the back. No clue on bike rack recommendations since we don't need one for this car just yet.

Mine also fits in the back, but the lifting and pulling is getting old. Not sure how old either of you are, but I'm considered a senior by competition standards. Plus I've scratched the car bumper in a few places.

I don't want a permanent rack, but one I can use and remove at will would be nice. Oh, and a roof rack is out of the question. I'm about five feet tall, and cannot reach the middle of the roof of my car.

This is the one I am considering, except for a single bike.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Jun 30, 2015 10:12:19 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Why not? Go for it!
Hubs wanted to sign up for another tri in two weeks since the swim was canceled last weekend. The timing is inconvenient so he found one in August. After kicking duathlon ass on Sunday (18.3 mph bike pace/7:30 run pace) he set the goal of half Ironman by his 40th birthday. If I thought he was going crazy with swim practice for a sprint...

Half Ironman (Eagleman) here in Cambridge Md. Well organized event. Just missed this years. Next is June 12, 2016

[Cookies Galore]

Jun 30, 2015 12:49:59 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Jun 30, 2015 10:12:19 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Why not? Go for it!
Hubs wanted to sign up for another tri in two weeks since the swim was canceled last weekend. The timing is inconvenient so he found one in August. After kicking duathlon ass on Sunday (18.3 mph bike pace/7:30 run pace) he set the goal of half Ironman by his 40th birthday. If I thought he was going crazy with swim practice for a sprint...

Half Ironman (Eagleman) here in Cambridge Md. Well organized event. Just missed this years. Next is June 12, 2016

Good to know! He has until 2018 to complete one before his 40th!

[NancysSummerSip]

Jun 30, 2015 12:49:59 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Jun 30, 2015 10:12:19 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Why not? Go for it!
Hubs wanted to sign up for another tri in two weeks since the swim was canceled last weekend. The timing is inconvenient so he found one in August. After kicking duathlon ass on Sunday (18.3 mph bike pace/7:30 run pace) he set the goal of half Ironman by his 40th birthday. If I thought he was going crazy with swim practice for a sprint...

Half Ironman (Eagleman) here in Cambridge Md. Well organized event. Just missed this years. Next is June 12, 2016

I never heard a half-Ironman called an Eagleman before. Now I know. Oh, and of course, you are planning to do this, right Ken?

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Nancy I think it's named for this area. The half Ironman is the Eagleman at 70.3 miles. The full Ironman is the Chesepeakeman. I think this explains it best:

ChesapeakeMan Ultra Triathlon

This event has been named a 140.6 Best Race, in Triathlete Magazines March, 2010 edition, and is the USAT Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship event. Come experience 140.6 miles of Maryland Eastern Shore hospitality as featured in James Michener's book "Chesapeake". CheseapeakeMan uses much of the world-renowned Ironman 70.3 EagleMan venue. Start your day with a 2.4-mile Swim in the protected Hambrooks Bay section of the Choptank River in Great Marsh Park. Then follow with a two loop cycling experience through the flat and windy Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. The run is a three loop fast and flat course with a finish at Cambridge - South Dorchester High School. Join us for the Champions Brunch & Awards at the Hyatt Regency on Sunday morning.

[Cookies Galore]

I found a half Ironman in St. Croix. Obviously that's the one I want him to do. I'll cheer from the beach. ;-)

[steph08]

My DH always b!tches at me that I want to do destination races (Disney, etc.). He's like "Why can't you just run races around home?" Uh, because a vacation before/after a race is way better than doing a race and coming home and cleaning.

[NancysSummerSip]

Jul 1, 2015 8:01:09 GMT -5 steph08 said:

My DH always b!tches at me that I want to do destination races (Disney, etc.). He's like "Why can't you just run races around home?" Uh, because a vacation before/after a race is way better than doing a race and coming home and cleaning.

1) Because the races done around home look familiar - they look like home, dammit!

2) Because the races done away mean someone else takes care of stuff, like making beds, cleaning the bathroom and serving food.
3) Because an out of town race means new friends, new faces and new scenery. It's a nice change to see new stuff, even if there are still potholes and dog poop on the out of town course. They are NEW potholes and dog poop!

BTW, I am doing an out of town race in September. We will stay at a Residence Inn with a kitchen, so I can have my own food the night before, at least. That's really the only time I am super-picky.