Today I set a goal - Page 3

livi · 07-20-2013, 11:48 PM

Many of us fathers are in the same position as you are with your daughter. Unfortunately not everyone have the heart and strength to make the investment and effort you do. Good for you and even better for your daughter! Very impressive.

I am in a similar position children wise. I also made a promise to myself to reach the finish line in a long athletic race. (As you remind me of Rika - with a picture in your post :-)). I did it and it was the most challenging day in my life both physically and mentally but I am glad I tried. Rooting for you!

drcoastline · 07-21-2013, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laneco

You are doing GREAT!!!!

The clipless pedals allow you to make very smooth circles with your pedaling motion. Most people who a standard platform tend to pedal "squares" or "stomp postholes" in their pedaling action. You want a light, fluid feel, a very circular motion, like an engine's crankshaft - it should spin, not bang around. High RPM is your friend, even if it's just the last few minutes of the bike portion before the run. Go into a lightly loaded high rpm and spin out those last few minutes (don't bounce on the saddle, stay smooth). It helps with the bicycle-legs that you get on transitions.

Tri-bikes are notoriously twitchy. They are often aero-framed or bladed-forks, darty in the cross-winds, very steep seat angle, and often the rider's weight is very forward. They are also the fastest bike out there for non-drafting events. Definitely need to ride/ride/ride one to keep from flailing around. Clipless pedals actually help when you are able to smooth the pedal stroke and LIFT (engage the hammies and hiney). If you can find a local school track that you can ride on, put the bike in the outside lane and ride it, keeping between the lines. Very safe way to smooth this out. Otherwise, find a quiet, long road with a little shoulder and a fogline. Ride just to one side of the fogline, eyes focused ahead, not down at the line, follow the line using your peripheral vision. You should be able to make pretty quick gains in this area.

I think you're training is really coming along. Working out with the tri-club is a great idea!! You are on your way!

angela

Thanks for all the advise Angela. AND OTHERS. Much appreciated. I think the pedaling "squares" vs. circles is dead on. That's the difference.

I don't think our school will allow me on the track but We have some very nice long roads between the Islands I can ride early before traffic picks up. One just happens to be the bike course. Lucky me.

Some how I broke the forward derailleur cable this morning on the Tri-bike making the turn around at the five mile mark. The chain got stuck in the small gear on the front and the middle gear on the rear cassette. I couldn't shift more than one gear up or down on the rear so my five mile ride back home was high RPM's all the way.

Paco- we took a pic after the race but I am not posting my dehydrated ugly mug. I look terrible. I didn't post it above but the race organizers weren't much on hydration.

Let me put it into perspective. The race was put on by the locals Elks Club and Mid Atlantic Police and Fire to benefit the Police and Fire survivors. Anyone that knows our local Elks Club will attest those guys have no clue what a bottle of water is. A pitcher of beer yes. Water is used to make beer not to drink alone.

So the run starts at 9AM, 98 degrees, the sun is more or less over my left shoulder with a slight breeze in my face. A quarter mile in is a table with a few Dixie cups of water with a guy with the shakes handing them out. I ran right past figuring there will be another table later. At about the mile mark there was a table with a vendor selling bottles of water for $2. Huh? I kept going thinking there will be water at the turnaround. No water. Now the sun is right in my face and the breeze at my back. So now my choices are $2 for water a half mile away or the Dixie cup at a mile and a quarter. Since I didn't have $2 on me I opted for the Dixie cup. As I approached the Dixie cup table the guy is inundated with about fifty runners all grasping for his Dixie cups. It looked like the Zombie apocalypse, so I kept on going to the end.

drcoastline · 07-21-2013, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

A few things from a fellow 50/50 parent, rec athlete...

Great job on doing what it takes to get to parent your daughter min 50%. Shows you have your priorities straight. Too bad there are not more parents like you out there. I am sure you maximize the time you have with your daughter as well. I know I do with my son.

For the training, make sure you mix it up. Train multiple ways. Ensure you mix speed work with endurance work, and keep up the core and some resistance training.

For the race, DO NOT worry about the location or pace of others in your age group during the race. Their is plenty of historical data (repeatable) to show what sort of time will get you to your goal. You have found this data already. Race against the data and your goal, not others in our group. Do you really know anything about your fellow competitors strenghts? Probably not, so don't pay any attention to them. Your goal should be based on a finishing time that nets you a placing you are hoping for. This will also help you keep your goal realistic and achievable, two of the most important factors of goal setting. Race your race, not anyone elses.

Why track someone (you don't know) through the swim and bike. Later you find out they were a collegiate swimmer and rode in a cylcing club but can't run worth a darn. You waste energy trying to pace them only to get spent and realize they can't run..... Again, pick a finishing time goal, and stick to it. Keep and an eye on your event times and segment times, know where your strenghts are and beat your goal.

Another thing to consider. When push comes to shove out on the course, it is really mind over matter. That is something you have already demonstrated being able to do. With the sacrifices and choices you made to do "what is right" when it comes to your child you will have no trouble overcoming the mind game of meeting your goal on race day. You know you can complete the events and you will.

I am training with my (almost) 11 year old son for his second triathalon. We train his mind as much as his body when we are out training.

Can't wait to read your post where you beat your finishing time goal!

Thanks Jeff,

I think there are more parents (fathers) like us. The problem is many don't have the means to see it through or get frustrated and give up. I guess fortunately for me I am the only child of divorced parents. I was raised in the 60's-80's when it wasn't chic to be a single mother or a child with out a father. What I did notice was the kids whose fathers would show up at football, baseball, basketball practice were playing in the games and I wasn't. I learned real quick that if I wanted to play I needed to play twice as hard even if I was hurt, take, risks and think faster than the other kids if I wanted to play.

The family court system is stacked against us. If you approach it from a traditional stand point you will wallow and get no where. The lawyers will take your money and the judges won't change a thing. Again, I learned the system. Most judges are old white guys. Most of the attorneys are men. How do you win? Hire a hot young accomplished woman attorney. A man can not argue from a woman's point of view. I made up the most ground when the judge became a woman., Now I have a woman attorney arguing for me to a woman judge and a male attorney trying to argue a woman's point of view.

Of course you also need to be willing and able to make sacrifices and take risks. On more than one occasion I have filed ethics complaints against opposing counsel and the judge.

drcoastline · 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livi

Many of us fathers are in the same position as you are with your daughter. Unfortunately not everyone have the heart and strength to make the investment and effort you do. Good for you and even better for your daughter! Very impressive.

I am in a similar position children wise. I also made a promise to myself to reach the finish line in a long athletic race. (As you remind me of Rika - with a picture in your post :-)). I did it and it was the most challenging day in my life both physically and mentally but I am glad I tried. Rooting for you!

I do it for love. I love my daughter more than I love my 911, house, business, boat, money. We all sacrifice so much for our jobs, cars, possessions. For what we perceive as success. Why not our children? People move halfway around the world for a new job to earn more money. I say move five hundred miles to be closer to your kids, cook them dinner and watch their soccer game or ballet as in my case. So what if you have to give up the McMansion and drive a Toyota Camry instead of MB 500.

Early on in my custody battle I had an evaluator ask me "why are you fighting so hard why are you doing this"? To me there was only one answer. How do I explain to my daughter when she comes asking she wasn't worth fighting for? How do I say I wanted a new 911 more?

This says it all.

Steve Jobs - Inspirational Speech "If today were the last day of my life" - YouTube

drcoastline · 08-03-2013, 09:28 AM

Today was a good day.

I ran my second 5K this morning. I ran 3 minutes faster today than the last 5K. Of course the last run was with my niece and I held up to run with her. Today I was on my own so I don't know if I improved my time. The other 5K was also pushing 100 degrees. Today was over cast and temp in the mid 70's. Before the run I did a quarter mile swim and a 10 mile bike ride. It's a little difficult for me to check my swim time because I transitioned into the ocean a little over a week ago and don't have any way of accurately checking my distance. I can only estimate. But, last years 10th place male 45-49 finished the swim in 16:35. When I was in the bay I was under his time. I think I am close in the ocean but don't know for sure. His bike time was 32:55. My time today was 30:48. My run today was 26:56. We'll call it 27:00 even. He ran 27:21.

The highlight of my day was during my swim. I purposely swam in the mouth of inlet this morning to get some wave action, practice swimming over swells, dealing with the occasional breaking wave and to practice catching the momentum of a wave when possible.

I was about 30 yards off shore slightly past the break but in the area where the face of the wave was building. The waves were quartering into the beach. Throughout most of my swim there was a pod of maybe 10 to 15 dolphins 50 yards or so offshore of me. They weren't doing anything special slowly swimming in a circle with the occasional dorsal fin breaking the surface. Out of nowhere they were in the waves with me surfing the waves. Jumping through the face some as close as 15 feet away. A few remained offshore jumping out of the water doing flips and acrobatics.

It was an awesome sight.

drcoastline · 08-03-2013, 09:30 AM

drcoastline · 08-14-2013, 05:04 PM

Two days to go until the big day. Over all I feel pretty good about my condition and hitting my goal. I had a bad day running last week. That blew my mind for a few days but I'm over it now. I ran about a mile and a half yesterday. Didn't do anything today. I will do an easy five mile bike ride tomorrow and take a swim Friday morning. Packet pick up is Friday night at the school around the corner.

Paco Anton · Paco Anton's Garage

Please post your times and position at the end. I need some inspiration for my upcoming events.

I recently entered a 4.5 mile run on a nearby beach and although I finished in the bottom part of the table I ended up very satisfied with the experience.

Good luck!!!

drcoastline · 08-16-2013, 07:21 AM

Less than 24 hours to go.

It's a beautiful morning. Everything is in full swing at the race site. Tents going up, The bike racks are set. Athletes practicing the swim, riding the course and running. The race committee even put on an ocean swim course.

Sorry some of the photos won't load.

Rikao4 · 09:50 AM

Good Luck..
your gonna do well...
most of all..
have fun..

oh and that flapping sound behind you tomorrow...
bunch of old birds trying to cheer you on..
alas we are out of breath already..
except for that Angela show off..
she will be doing low level barrel rolls..

Rika

drcoastline · 08-16-2013, 03:25 PM

Thanks Paco and Rika.

Thank you everyone for the advice, support, encouragement, etc.

A special thanks to Angela I have learned a lot from your posts. Thank you.

drcoastline · 08-17-2013, 04:25 PM

Over all today went well. I didn't hit my goal but I tried my best. It was a great experience. In the end I had fun.

There were some Murphy's law moments that I had to contend with that made it interesting and I contemplated quitting at one point.

So last night at about 7:30PM I am getting all my gear ready. I get everything organized packed up and ready to go. I get my bike wipe it down and check the air pressure in the tires. The back tire is low. I get out my little air compressor. Crank it up and go to put air in the tire. The nozzle doest fit the valve stem. It's not that low so I decide to just leave it alone. I go to put the valve cap back on and the stem breaks. Out comes all the air and I don't have another tube. It's now 8:30PM my bike guy is closed and the packet pick up area that had a bike service area is closed. It's a long shot but I ran to Walmart to see if they have a tube that would fit. No go but I did buy a hand pump. I decide to get the mountain bike ready just in case. The transition area opened at 5AM this morning. I was the first on there. I pick my spot and put the mountain bike in place.

The bike company doing service for the event showed up at about 5:15AM. I ask the guy if he has a 650 tube. He wasn't sure and says let me get set up and I'll look. By the time he got set up it was 5:45AM. He had one 650 tube. I ran back to my house and put my bike back together. I got back to transition at about 6:20AM and traded the bikes. Transition closed at 6:30AM.

The swim consisted of a 100 yard swim out to a marker a left turn 220 yards to the next turn marker and back to shore. There were roughly 1500 competitors today. From what I understand the start was a little unconventional. They started in groups of ten, ten seconds apart. The organizers stated this was for safety reasons. I was probably in the 15th or so starting group. From the start to the point where we entered the water was approximately a 100 yard run. I didn't kill myself getting to the water so not to tire myself out. There was a decent size swell creating some nice breakers. Which I was hoping for. Yesterday it was dead flat like a lake. What I wasn't prepared for was the other people. People not knowing how to get through the surf being pushed back into me. Being kicked and bumped while swimming. People stopping right in front of me to take a rest blocking my way. I watched the youtube videos and knew this happened what I didn't realize was how much energy this battle uses up. By the time I rounded the first buoy I was getting winded and frustrated. I cleared the marker and kept swimming. I keep lifting my head out of the water to see what was going on in front of me so I didn't swim up on people. This was very draining. As I passed the halfway marker I looked up to spot the next marker. "WHACK" some guy on his back doing a sort of backward butterfly smacked me in the face with his hand. I stopped swimming to regain my composure. As I was treading water a wave broke on me and I inhaled water and then another. Now I'm disoriented and gasping for air. I looked around and it was like the scene at the end of Titanic with all the people flailing around. I almost quit at this point. I composed my self and finished the swim. I was truly spent as I exited the ocean. I tried to run but as soon as I hit the soft sand my legs were like rubber. I walked through the sand about 100 yards.

I struggled a little putting on my shirt during transition. Being wet it stuck to my body. After that all went pretty smooth. I think my ride went pretty much as planned as did my run. I am not really sure what I could have done to change the swim. I can't think of any way to practice or prepare for what goes on. I guess you just learn how to deal with it by experience.

So I trained against the tenth place finishers time from 2012. which was.

Swim T1 Bike T2 Run Finish time
16:35 3:22 32:55 2:36 27:21 1:22:49

My time today is below. I finished 210 out of 440 males and 27th out of 60 45-49 years old males

13:20.1 4:49.6 31:21.3 3:00.1 27:14.4 1:19:45.5

This years 10th place male 45-49 time was

10:18.7 3:42.5 31:59.3 2:58.2 21:24.7 1:10:23.4

I have signed up for two more sprint Tri's. Atlantic City in September which is the same distance and run by the same organization that ran today's event and another in Morehead City in NC in October which is a 20 mile bike.

drcoastline · 08-17-2013, 05:17 PM

The start

The hard part is over

My girls and me

Flat Six · Flat Six's Garage

Way to go brother -- congratulations!

tweezers74 · 08-18-2013, 02:01 AM

Yay! So proud of you for attaining your goals! That is so awesome! And that medal looks great on you!

drcoastline · 08-18-2013, 02:34 PM

Thanks Flat Six and Teweezers74. Much appreciated.

Paco Anton · Paco Anton's Garage

Hi Dr.

I somehow missed your post.

Yes, the group swimming part is definitely a PITA, the rest is just riding and running

Now that you have tried it it will be hard to quit.

I did a Superprint on saturday as a training for next month's Sprint, so it was 300 m (330 yards) swim, 10 km (6 mi.) ride and 1,5 km (1 mi.) run. I got disoriented in the swim and ended up losing my way and doing more distance than required, got passed on the bike as I had a mountain bike and the rest had road bikes and then was too tired to even think of running fast. I finished in the bottom 10% but the experience was really worthwhile.

Now I need to train hard so I can finish the Sprint which means more than doubling the distances.

Rikao4 · 08-26-2013, 09:09 AM

congrats..
were proud of ya..
did you catch Angela's barrel roll..
psst..that wasn't an arm that caught you..
it was one of her flipper's..
she's sorry..
Iron Man look out..

Rika

drcoastline · 01-01-2014, 10:12 AM

Here we go again. It's time to prepare for the next Triathlon. I signed up for the Escape the Cape. June 8th. The swim starts from the Cape May/Lewes ferry.

Paco Anton · Paco Anton's Garage

Nice!!!!

Jumping from the ferry looks like a challenge. The beach run will be tough unless they prepare a hard surface. Anyway looks quite doable and fun.

I am hating this winter so far. I have parked the bike until spring and am quite behind on swimming training. On the other hand I am running more and yesterday completed a 10k Saint Sylvester race (the one in Madrid is the largest in the world with 40.000 runners)