Hi Everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Triathlon Week

amyfit · 05-16-2006, 02:00 PM

Hi Everybody,
I'm a second season triathlete. I actually got my start bodybuilding back in 2001. I competed in one show and found out that I like to eat. Especially carbs!! Anyway, the bodybuilding world believes in interval training to lean out the legs. So after my stint in bodybuilding I was in much better shape and found that I needed more than just walking to keep me in that shape. So I started running. I've been running since 2002 and last year a couple of coworkers talked me into doing a tri. I did one and I was hooked. I did two more after that and with my new found aerobic base and confidence I also ran my first marathon last year :) !
This year I have a sprint tri lined up for the 27th of May, and OLY tri in June, same for July, August, and the beginning of September. Then, I have a half ironman planned for the end of September and a marathon in October.
I'm really looking forward to the season and hoping to keep my IT band problems at bay. I've been fighting that since September of last year. Any suggestions on how to keep it under control would be GREATLY appericiated!
Have a great day and keep tri-ing!!!
Amy

sfricks · 05-16-2006, 02:25 PM

Great schedule chick! Welcome on and happy Tri'ing!

Hernan96 · 05-16-2006, 06:33 PM

Welcome Amy and good luck with the training and races this year. I have had IT Band problems since college. I have several stretches I do before I run or bike. I am actually having a flare up this week on my right IT. I just got a new bike and shoes a few months ago and have been playing with my cleat position plus I have been bad and not wearing my orthoticss in my cycling shoes like I should be. I always wear them when running. You may need to try orthotics. I will try to post a link of the stretches I do soon.

amyfit · 05-17-2006, 05:44 PM

Thanks for the Welcome! I'm looking forward to the upcoming season :)

amyfit · 05-17-2006, 05:46 PM

Yeah, the stretches sound great!!! Do you do any strength exercises also to help it? Or what about stability exercises?

sfricks · 05-17-2006, 05:50 PM

Welcome Amy. Question... How does body building play into your training? Do you still lift? Let us know more about this.

amyfit · 05-18-2006, 06:26 AM

Last year I tried to keep up with all the lifting that I used to do. I quickly found out that couldn't do it. I still lift, but now I periodize my lifting to coincide with tri training. As soon as the season is done, I'll do light weight high reps for 2 weeks, then it's two weeks of moderate weight and reps, then for the next 3 months I go few reps and heavy to build back muscle. As the training season starts for me (March) I go back to moderate for 6 weeks, then light weight high reps for 6. Starting racing season, I don't have the energy to lift and I focus only on tri training and racing.
For me my rep range is 16 for high reps, 10-12 for moderate, and 6-8 for low reps. I also try to do plyo during the high and moderate phase of my lifting.
How do you all do your weight training? Is it similar?
Amy

garrett333 · 05-18-2006, 07:33 AM

Welcom amy. I used to power lift. I gave that up altogether once i turned 30. I then started to focus on cardio type workouts (heart healthy). Sometimes really miss pounding the heavy weights but tri training has been a blast the short time (newbie) i have been doing it. You stumbled across the right message board for information i have recieved lots of helpful adivce. good luck

sfricks · 05-18-2006, 09:04 AM

Hi Amy. My fall out from gym time occurred about 15 years ago. I severely ripped a tendon in my right elbow. PT and surgery no help. I haven't lifted seriously since then. It took me many years before I had any motivation to get fit again. Now, other than running, it's all low impact stuff (bike & swim). To this day if I press hard on the swim, my elbow acts up for days. So... no upper body conditioning for me at all. I can't even do push-ups. All this on top of a bad upper back from another injury :( So... I'm relegated to swimming for the top end. My legs however are in great shape. I was easily pressing 450 kgs (1000 lbs) in my lifting days. I'm really not sure this helped my cycling at all. Perhaps it may have even hurt it slightly in the beginning. This is kind of why I asked. I’ve been semi-afraid to start leg work again. I haven’t found any consensus from triathletes on this matter. Some say lift, some say climb in a large gear, some say sit and spin in a medium-low gear to get cardio & strength. Don’t know which has the greater benefit. What I do know is if I have an hour to spend in the gym, I’ll spend it swimming, biking or running OR just as well… SCUBA diving :)!

So Amy… Let us know how the training goes. I’m curious how it crosses over. Also, post a pic. Love to see those rippling muscles under the spandex. Before anyone complains, I'm just an admirer of a great physique!