Tue 23 Feb 2010
Running with the Pack 70: Trio of Triathlons, THON, Bilateral Breathing, and More…
Posted by Allan under podcasting, running, triathlon
[32] Comments
This week, we talk about the trio of triathlons that I have signed up for, my attempts to learn to breathe bilaterally when swimming, the Penn State Dance Marathon, and other topics sent in from listeners.
This article on ice baths made me think of you…answers some of the questions you had after doing yours! http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=87...
Very nice. Thanks Cheryl. The ideal temperature range is helpful. No need to have it colder than necessary. It's hard to judge water temperature though since we're used to estimating air temperatures. A 80 degree day is warm, but an 80 degree pool is cool. I need a special ice bath thermometer.
But no matter how much I read, nothing would have prepared me for the real experience of getting in that tub the first time. I'm glad I recorded it.
Great Podcast this week! Listened while I drove home and loved the part about the "Afterglowy" I think that is a perfect word for it! I don't know when I get the "Runner's high" but do have that part in some of my runs where it just all clicks and I feel like superman. Some other runs, not so much. I also liked the part about the Body Glide, that stuff is great! I not only wear it on all the usual parts but also where my Polar strap goes across my chest, that thing can tear you up if you are not careful. Quick funny note on my Vibrams, as you might have guessed from Running Sailor name I am in the Military and I do PT with my troops who have taken to calling my Vibrams my Ninja Turtle shoes!
Yep. "Afterglowy" fits. Call the dictionary folks and make room for a new entry!
I'm still trying to figure out the magic formula for getting that feeling. I suspect it's different for everyone. I get a huge afterglowy feeling after swimming for most of an hour, but running seems to take longer and it's not nearly as intense. [I haven't done cycling enough to know how it affects me.] When I get runner's high or swimmer's glow, it's not really a rush as much as what you and Brandon describe where you realize that you're feeling really good and could keep going and going.
Those troops may call them your Ninja Turtle shoes now, but I bet several of them are considering buying a pair for themselves and would do it if they thought they could get away with it.
So do you and the troops ever sign up for events? I have thought about doing the Marine Corps Marathon and think it's cool to see active service guys doing stuff like that. I also watched the movie "Running on the Sun" that has a military guy attempting to run the Badwater ultramarathon. I was really impressed with how he and his group reacted when things went not-according-to-plan. I highly recommend that movie.
Hey Allan- hoping my diving experience may be able to shed some light onto your question about using wetsuits in pools. I've worn my wetsuit in marine and freshwater, as well as pools. They can safely be worn in all types of water without sustaining damage. I do recommend, however, that you wash out your suit in fresh water after every use, preferably within a couple of hours. Salt or chlorine can do a number on your suit over time if you do not wash it out. Hope this helps!
Thanks Tanya. I had a chat today with Brandon (from ironbrandon.com) and it sounds like the two of you are in agreement. I have a note in to the aquatics director of the pool where I swim as well as the advisor for the student triathlon club to see if they'll let me swim in the pool in a wet suit and if there are local places where I can give open water swimming a try. I'll let you all know how that turns out through the podcast.
An update on this. I talked with the aquatics director of our local swimming facility and she said that I would be fine wearing my wetsuit in the pool. Like you and Brandon, she just gave me some tips for taking care of the suit so the chemicals don't prematurely age the suit. I'm going to give it a try after I get over my cold.
First, love the show! Keep up the great work!! I'm a new listener…just started listening the beginning of January. Just one comment on the show, nothing to do with the content. It seems the sound level is rather quiet (I download from iTunes). I listen through my car radio and I have to crank up the volume. That wouldn't be necessarily bad, but whenever Stevie laughs it's very loud. Unfortunately in an annoying way. (She laughs a lot.) Not sure if there is anything you can do. But it doesn't seem to be an issue with other podcasts. That aside, thanks for all the work you put into it!
Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you're enjoying the show. I'll see if there is something that I can do to balance out the levels a bit more. I normally listen with headphones and have my iPod set to limit maximum volume, so I doubt I would have noticed.
Allan, let's do a sound test (w/ laugh and without) before our next show. I DO tend to laugh a lot, and I'm sorry it's loud enough to be annoying. We should try to figure out how to clean that up.
Sure. I think we can change the levels so our talking voices are louder, but the laughing bits don't blow out anyone's eardrums. I wouldn't want you to stop laughing though. We joke around about this stuff because it's a little embarrassing and unusual and we're running nerds and we admit it. I think most of our listeners are in the same boat. The humor keeps us honest.
Great show. It got me through a dull treadmill session.
On the running high, I don't get much during a session but I get it for a few hours afterwards, especially after a race. I can also get quite emotional after a long race so its best if I'm on my own in the car. I haven't yet got a high from swimming (only started 2 months ago) but I am so pleased after every session when I have managed not to drown.
I was interested in your comments that apart from Brandon, anyone attempting an ironman in their first season of triathlon is mad. I agree but I've now paid the £330 and there is no going back
My first tri will be one 16th May and the Ironman is 1st August. Gulp!!!!!
Hey Simon, I hope that "Gulp" wasn't you swallowing some water!
Seriously though, I'm not a coach. I haven't done an Ironman before and just did my first triathlon last year. There are plenty of people who would say that just running a marathon is crazy, never mind the long swim and bike courses before it.
I just read an article in Triathlete Magazine where the author was talking about a friend who did his first Ironman without really training for it. He concluded that as long as you stayed determined and slogged through the course, you could finish it.
My triathlons are currently limited by my cycling skills – which aren't great. I just learned to ride a bike with gears last year and don't have much endurance on a bike. I could swim and run the half-Ironman distances any day of the week, but 56 miles on a bike would be a major effort.
I know that you run – are you a strong cyclist as well? If so, then you should be fine. Swimming is the shortest of the three sections (by time, distance, and effort). You'll be wearing a wetsuit, which should make it easy to float. You're also allowed to stop and take breaks – even holding onto a bouy if you need to.
LOL. I do keep hydrated in the pool by drinking lots of water
I wouldn't say I'm a strong cyclist but I had a good year on the bike last year at did the Etape in June (stage of the Tour de France). I just need to find the time to do the same kind of training in the coming months. Cycling is just so time consuming.
I have no doubt that if you built up your bike miles you'd be able to do an ironman. You sound like you could swim all day and I know you can run a marathon. I think most people have one weaker disipline but it shouldn't stop you.
And keep working on Stevie; she should definitly do a triathlon. She'd do great.
Um…yeah. I'd say you know what you're doing on a bicycle then. The thought of going out for a serious 6 hour ride is way beyond my comfort level. There are some cycling groups in my area – I'd want to team up with them, both for companionship and to learn what I'm doing. I'd also need a better bike than my $350 one that I bought so I could beat it up and not feel too bad about it.
So we'll see how my International/Olympic distance triathlons go this year. I have a feeling that I may find those challenging and interesting enough to keep me happy – at least for a while.
I am SO on Ravelry! stevier there is my handle. I'll be looking for divaknitting next time I'm on, definitely! Now if I could just figure out how to knit and run at the same time…
Allan and Stevie I love the podcast. It was one of the first running podcasts that I found and really enjoy. I miss Jeff and hope he is well, but it is great to have you on board Stevie. You bring a fresh new perspective. I'm still getting caught up on the old episodes, so Jeff is still with the show for now (for me anyway).
I am thinking of getting into the ranks of triathletes and am looking forward to hearing how you make out with your new adventures Allan. I had to giggle when Stevie said she might consider doing a triathlon just because it means an opportunity to get into more gear. Sounds like me! Please keep us updated as you learn all the new how's and why's of triathlon training and participation.
I will be doing the Goofy challenge with you in 2011. I can't wait! I did want to ask you what alterations in your marathon training plan will you make to accomodate for the back to back "long runs" of the Goofy challenge. Have you ever seen a training plan specifically for this event?
Thanks again for your time and effort with the podcast. I really enjoy the show!
Shelly
Jeff is doing well. I see him nearly every day and he's focusing on finishing his doctorate. He's also very busy with a few projects at work. But he's going to the gym on a regular basis and taking some time away from running marathons.
Stevie and I have a professional and personal interest in all kinds of technologies, so that carries over to endurance sports. Aside from the gear, I also like the variety of activity involved with doing one sport that is really three. I like feeling fit overall instead of just in my legs. I'll definitely keep everyone in the loop about my events. I know that many listeners are are most interested in running, so I don't plan to make it the main focus – but many of the topics transfer anyway (nutrition, finding time, health benefits, etc…).
That's really cool about the Goofy Challenge. Remind me again in the fall and I'll make sure that you know our plans and can meet up with us at some point if you like. Right now, I'm thinking that Andrew and I will come into Orlando on Thursday and stay through Wednesday. We like to stay in one of the resorts on Disney property, so we can be immersed in Disney magic. As for a training plan, I haven't read any specific training plans for the Goofy challenge, but what I plan to do is get use to double long runs on the weekends starting in the fall. So instead of training for a marathon and working up to a single long run of 22 miles on a Saturday or Sunday, I'll work up to something like a 12 mile run on Saturday and 20 mile run on Sunday. It will be tough because my peak distance will be just before Christmas, but I think I can do it. I think ice baths are going to play a very large part of my training.
Hi Allan & Stevie – Thanks for another great show. The BodyGlide talk cracked me up! I had a similiar chafing experience as the woman you mentioned, after I ran the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll marathon last summer (my BQ race!). I was running in Mizuno baggy shorts and had no idea about the chafing until after the race. My husband met me at the finish line and pointed out my "issue." Thank goodness for space blankets….I wrapped myself from the waist down to avoid further embarassment! I was surprisingly painful and took about 3 weeks to fully heal. Needless to say, I have been running in Sugoi tights ever since!
I really enjoy your show, and thanks for turning me on to Brandon's marathon/IronBrandon podcast as well. He is awesome!
Cheers-
Rebecca
Thanks for sharing that Rebecca. Things that are very outside normal experience happen during endurance sports. I've had a similar chafing problem on my man-parts. Not to the point of bleeding, but still unpleasant. The bottom line is that anything that touches something else can and will chafe. That's why I thought the Body Glide dip would be a good idea – so you don't miss anything important!
I hope that sharing these kinds of stories can help others avoid painful problems.
Just listened to a science podcast discussing how parasites can be transferred via bare feet, but they spent a bit of time covering barefoot running and even talked about the Vibrams. Podcast: Stuff From the Science Lab, Episode: Running with Parasites, Date: March 4, 2010.
On a separate note, I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon today in support of a co-worker trying to set a new PR for herself. 10,000 women, 400 men. Men are welcome, but only women can earn prizes, and there are no male age groupings. The overall top three finishers were male (no prize for them), but finished less than a minute in front of the top female. It was a relaxing run for me as I enjoyed the sites and spent time taking pictures with the disposable camera that is part of the goody bag. And yes, my co-worker set a new PR for herself at 2:44. I beat her by 3 seconds, but only because I dashed ahead at the line to turn around and take a photo of her as she finished.
Hey Jim. I heard about the parasite thing back when I was in high school. Hookworms and threadworms can infect you that way and then get into your intestines. It's a concern if you go barefoot in areas where there may be feces. Considering how many dogs are in my neighborhood, I'm not going to be running barefoot anytime soon. On the other hand, I have no concerns about running in my Vibrams because they provide a significant barrier.
Thanks for telling me about the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Congratulations on your run and helping your friend PR. That sounds like a fun experience. I have a bunch of left over disposable cameras from a course that I was teaching (they were used as part of a scavenger hunt), but I prefer digital cameras. I'll probably take mine along when I do the Goofy Challenge next year, both as a way to remember the experience and to make sure that I don't run too fast, especially during the half marathon.
Hey Allan – started listening to you guys in September 09 right as I started running. Just finished my first half marathon on Sunday in 1:51. Continuing to enjoy the podcast. Good luck in your triathlon training.
Hey Third. Thanks for writing in. Congrats on the half-marathon. It sounds like you and I run around the same pace. Anything else planned for the coming year?
Hi, Allan and Stevie. I've listened for awhile but this is my first post. The podcasts are great. I've gone over a week now without your voices and I'm having withdrawals. I hope you'll be doing another episode soon. You're both great at sharing your experiences in a way that makes it feel like your listeners are a part of the conversation.
That's pretty funny. I guess it's one way to get people to write in. That's actually one thing that helps to build that feeling of conversation.
But in any case, you should get your "fix" by tomorrow. Stevie and I are planning to record today after work and I'll post it tonight.
I will add to the conversation more often.
I tried downloading your latest podcast but I'm getting an error in iTunes. It says it cannot find this episode. I can download other podcasts but not yours. Has anyone else reported problems or am I all alone?
Sent from my Palm (so spelling and grammar don't count)
I just unsubscribed and resubscribed – no problem. Episode 71 downloaded right away.
Aha. I deleted and re-subscribed. The \”un\” followed by the \”re\” did the trick. Thanks. I will now get my fix.
Sent from my Palm (so spelling and grammar don't count)
Cool – glad that worked out. Let us know about the sound quality and I hope you're secretly a great graphic artist. [That will make more sense after you listen.]
Hey Heath. I'll be doing Chicago in the fall and Disney in January, so if you feel like marking off Illinois or Florida in the next 12 months, you're welcome to join me. It's best to keep it interesting and focus on doing this stuff for the long haul. That's easy if you like to travel and do different races.
Thanks for the feedback about the sound. We'll keep playing around with it.
Thanks for the invitation. I'm doing one in Kansas in the fall but I'm not sure about spring 2011 yet. Running with you and Stevie is part of the list.
Sent from my Palm (so spelling and grammar don't count)