MSers In Training 2011

[AMFADVENTURES]

2/5/2011

Only managed 3 hours on the trainer last week, just too much snow to shovel. Now seems like I’ve contracted the crud everybody else has been affected with for the last month or so. A little unsure what this week might hold.

Looking forward to better days,

AMF

[AMFADVENTURES]

2/2/2011

Dave,
What, you guys are enjoying a balmy –3 degrees while up here we’re in the negative double digits? Seriously, welcome aboard Dave, it will be interesting to hear how your bike training goes and your ride later this summer, good luck.

I got 2 hours outside on the bike on Sunday just as temps started dropping but haven’t been on a bike or trainer since. Shoveled snow on Monday in the –7 degree’s. The day I can shovel snow and still get on a bike will be the day I declare myself cured. I can definitely say I’m not there yet. But this is a rest week for me anyway, I only need 2 more hours before Saturday.

BTW Sue, here’s another perspective on that “feeling silly” thing when you’re training indoors looking out the window. On Tuesday I was doing a little elliptical work looking out the window on the icy roads and below zero temps and feeling pretty smug when a guy on some kind of cross bike goes riding down the sidewalk. It completely deflated me, I thought I was doing pretty good just to get to the club under those conditions but this guy was riding his bike in that stuff. It sure put a different spin on that whole "tough enough” thing.

Hoping for an early spring,

AMF

[ActiveMSers]

Okay, I'm chiming in, too. Even though temps are supposed to drop to -3 in Albuquerque tomorrow, I'm keeping up my 2-hour daily workouts... inside. I'm training for my first ride on the bike since the summer of 2009. My goal: late summer 2011. I'll be working out on my exercise cycle to build up to 1 hour of working the legs only (the bike has arm resistance, too) with minimal rest. I'll post my progress here!

[AMFADVENTURES]

A mid Winters Tryst

Got 7 hours this week, 5 hours indoors and 2 hours outside on the bike today.

What a rare interlude there was today. Temperatures in the mid 60’s, cloudless skies, the smell of warmth in the air, the feel of sunlight on the skin, all too tempting to ignore. It was a mid winter tryst, an irresistible affair with a beautiful day and it lasted 2 amorous hours. Everyone was out, the joggers, the bikers, the dogs with their walkers, the moms with their baby carriages, the ardent old couples walking hand in hand on the trail. I only hope it will carry me through the rest of the winter I know lies ahead.

AMF

[AMFADVENTURES]

Yahoo!!!

We’re in, my buddy and I have got a really good reason to train now. There’s a ride in Colorado that anybody who considers himself or herself a serious recreational cyclist just has to try at least once before he turns in his cleats. It’s the “Triple Bypass” and I just got my acceptance notice. It’s only 1 day but it covers 122 miles over 3 mountain passes for almost 10,000 feet of ascent! Oh boy, the serious training starts now, I really got to get my climbing legs back, and more, much, much more.

Marina, I’d stick with the machine that feels the most like your bike, sounds like the Aerodyne. Besides, 5 miles on the Aerodyne with the moving arms might translate to 7.5 on the bike come spring! Good job!

Keep on keeping on everybody, the Continental Divide, MS 150’s, many Marathons and The Triple Bypass are calling!

AMF

[Marinadca]

I finally went to the complex gym to check out our stationary bike options. They had recumbent bikes and these Schwinn Air Dyne things, upright stationary bike, with a big airwheel and moving arms (This thing, I looked it up because I'd not seen anything like it before..http://www.schwinnfitness.com/schwin...rcise+Bike.jsp)

I did 5 miles in about 25 minutes and it felt a lot like biking, except for the arm movements of course. A big bonus was the wheel in the front was blowing nice air right in my face, and that was just what I needed.

I wonder if I should be using this thing or the recumbent bike?

[Teresa26.2]

Did my first long run again today...10 miles...felt great!

AMF--Qualifying for Boston is my DREAM...Right now I'm focusing on small chunks of time.

[AMFADVENTURES]

1/21/2011

Getting closer, got 5 hours this week, 1 hour short of schedule. Seems to have a lot to do with getting a routine down, hopefully I’ll make 6.5 next week. The indoor bike’s not my favorite either Marina.

Speaking of making goals, my favorite Sports Medicine Journal is out with their version of how to make your goals during these cold, dark winter days. Be sure to check out the column on the health benefits of chocolate too! I confess, I frequently have a chocolate milk for my post ride recovery drink. Come to think of it, we’ve been known to ride 30 or 40 miles just to get a chocolate shake, then 30 or 40 miles back!
http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?...ONTENTID=15550

Jenn, look forward to hearing how your training goes. Sue, “never been in a gym before”??? That should offer a refreshing perspective! Are you getting any snow boarding in? Jenn, glad you're back, hope things are looking up.

Teresa, my SIL did the PF Chang marathon in Phoenix last Sun. He missed qualifying for Boston by less than 10 minutes. That was almost an hour better than he did last year when he went out way too fast, way too early. 30,000 runners including the ½, took longer to get out of the parking lot and home than to do the race!!!!!!!

AMF

[Teresa26.2]

Did my first post marathon run tonight. 4.5 miles around the neighborhood.

My next goal is the Napa Valley Marathon on March 6th.

Great training, all!

[AMFADVENTURES]

Teresa,

Congratulations, etch another marathon in the belt, completing 8 marathons is awesome! Got anything else in the works this year? Well done Teresa, really, really well done!

AMF

[Marinadca]

Wooohooo for finishing, that is fantastic Teresa

[Teresa26.2]

Well, it wasn't my best, nor my worst. I went out way too fast and slowed considerably. I finished with a 5:20. I am a little bummed, but any day I run is a good day.

The weather was great.

[Teresa26.2]

Thanks guys,
I'm about to head up to Redding. I still have a lingering cough, so I am not sure how I'll run tomorrow. We'll see.

AMF--I've seen the same thing in marathoning. It's called proper pacing. I've seen many jump out too quickly only to be reeled in by me in the later miles. It's called patience.

"Tortoise and the Hare", baby..."Tortoise and the Hare".

[AMFADVENTURES]

Registration for the Colorado MS 150 is open. It appears to be the same gorgeous route as last year. Perfect!

Last year some 40-something young stud cajoled my buddy into doing the second day century. I’d heard rumors of some really nasty hills on that course so I declined but my buddy took up the challenge. Nasty hills there were, like a 19%er and a couple of 12%ers. Well, the young stud ran off and left my buddy early on. Apparently he hammered up that 19% grade and the next 12% hill. But at the last 12%er, my buddy who had ridden the big hills more reasonably, caught up to him and rode past while the young guy was walking his bike. They didn’t meet back up until the lunch stop. The young guy was totally fried, he had completely wasted himself on that 19% grade, but he was young and fit and he did manage to get to the finish although not comfortably. My buddy on the other hand, found a group of struggling team members and pulled the last 35 miles for them. I’m thinking I’ll try the century route this year. I might walk the 19% hill but I think I can get up the 12%ers and I think I’ll get to the finish reasonably comfortably, that’s my goal anyway.

I’m also thinking of doing another 150 this year, maybe New Mexico, it looks like a neat ride.

On the training front, last weeks effort was abysmal, we won’t even go there, we’ll just try to crank it up next week.

Good luck Teresa, I’ve been watching the weather forcast, looks like it could get a bit damp. I’ll be pulling for you tomorrow.

AMF

[Marinadca]

Good luck Teresa, I hope the weather holds out for you