[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
Nice work so far, your progress is ridick!!! Keep rollin man.
Nice beard also.
High five for facial hair.[/quote]
Thanks tmoney1. I am loving the beard…
[quote]MikeTheBear wrote:
I thought Charlie Francis worked only with sprinters. I think the plan is the right way to go. I like the idea of building speed and distance at the same time.
I tried this on a treadmill but it just turned into a regular interval session. For some reason, my body only knows two speeds on a treadmill - run fast or walk. I can’t hold a slower but steadier pace on a treadmill; it’s actually easier to run at a steady pace when running for real. I’ll need to try this while running for real.[/quote]
Yea, the treadmill doesn’t seem like a good way to try this type of training out. I can’t stand running on a treadmill anyways but just seems like it wouldn’t give that good of a feel for this type of running.
[quote]MikeTheBear wrote:
Bartl wrote:
Sounds like you plan on having me kick some major ass in this competition.
I don’t want to get your hopes up too high but you may just have an outside shot at placing. Tris are done by age groups and the under 30 age group is not super competitive. Don’t get me wrong - there are some fast folks in those groups, but it seems like many 20-somethings are more interested in getting dates than racing. Mid-30s and above are very competitive, and some of the times that the 50+ crowd puts up are impressive.[/quote]
Too bad I will be in my 30’s when the race is going on…
[quote]theceka wrote:
bartl, great transformation so far; very inspiring + (really) incredible results.
i was looking at the other two who are trying to lose weight and also thinking from personal experience (lost close to 50#s in 3 months) and I think there are two things that set you apart and account for the rapid fat loss: the first (minor) one is your athletic background, which helps in terms (possibly) muscle memory and relatively quick recovery.
The second one, and I think this is the major one, is your activity level outside of the program. If anybody is following your log, they’ll notice that you do a lot outside the gym - hockey, snowboarding, surfing etc - intense stuff, too. I feel like these contribute a lot and you wouldn’t be at the 40# (wait, it’s for 45 now right?) mark at without them.
I think it’s also a good lesson to those of us who are scared of extra activity because they don’t want to “lose muscle.” Muscle loss doesn’t seem be that big of a problem when your diet and training is in check like this. I’m sure there could be metabolism/genetics explanations here but I feel like these two, especially the extra activity, are the main ones.
I’m sure you’ll be down to 200 soon and will be looking good.
Just keep up the good work. Very, very impressive so far.[/quote]
Thanks theceka. One of the first things that Thibs said at the start of this program was that in order to have great success I would need to be active outside of the realm of this program. I took that as a reason to do more than I was doing. I have gotten lucky with the waves AND its not even golf season. I walk every time I play, so throw that into the mix and you are exactly right…I spend a lot of time doing extra curricular activities.
Its something that keeps me sane, stuff that I love doing. For those that are reading that are trying to do the same type of transformation, get your ass outside as much as possible.
Thibs was right…the more active you are, the better your results will be.
[quote]MikeTheBear wrote:
I know CT is your coach and I don’t mean to steal his thunder, but I highly recommend you implement the following routine into your triathlon training to prepare yourself for what will happen during the mass swim start. I can help. Just let me know when and where and I’ll show up with my boat and paddles. 
[/quote]
now that’s my type of training…NOT
[quote]Bartl wrote:
Thibs was right…the more active you are, the better your results will be.
[/quote]
isn’t that just it in a nutshell?
Thanks for the reminder Bartl
What does your stroke look like, Bartl? Have you ever done any open-water or ocean swimming before? Is this a sprint or Olympic distance.
I coached my wife on her swimming technique before her first Olympic distance race. She dropped a ton of time on her swim and finished in the top third of the pack, even though she never swam competitively. Stroke mechanics is ALL of speed, especially in open water.
That and navigation, which is made much easier by swimming straight naturally. Pick up the Total Immersion freestyle DVD if you want to improve. It takes time working through the drills, but the results will save your shoulders and make you fly.
[quote]Bartl wrote:
MikeTheBear wrote:
I know CT is your coach and I don’t mean to steal his thunder, but I highly recommend you implement the following routine into your triathlon training to prepare yourself for what will happen during the mass swim start. I can help. Just let me know when and where and I’ll show up with my boat and paddles.
now that’s my type of training…NOT
[/quote]
Haha! That’s how every open water race is!
Kick hard to keep people off your tail. Elbows are helpful. Swim over people if you have to. Your a big guy so you shouldn’t have any problems if you’re aggressive.
[quote]PRCalDude wrote:
Bartl wrote:
MikeTheBear wrote:
I know CT is your coach and I don’t mean to steal his thunder, but I highly recommend you implement the following routine into your triathlon training to prepare yourself for what will happen during the mass swim start. I can help. Just let me know when and where and I’ll show up with my boat and paddles.
now that’s my type of training…NOT
Haha! That’s how every open water race is!
Kick hard to keep people off your tail. Elbows are helpful. Swim over people if you have to. Your a big guy so you shouldn’t have any problems if you’re aggressive.[/quote]
Don’t forget “accidentally” pulling someone’s goggles off. This is why most people wear their goggles underneath their swim caps. I find that uncomfortable which makes me a sitting duck out there.
Bartl - Make sure you check the rules of your tri but I think nearly every tri requires that you wear the swim cap that you will be provided in your packet. It doesn’t matter that you shave your head - the point isn’t to keep everyone’s hair nice and pretty. The caps are usually different colors to identify your swim start wave, which is why they’re required, and, I think, for safety reasons so the kayaks can spot a swimmer who may be in trouble. Your head will smell like rubber all day.
[quote]PRCalDude wrote:
What does your stroke look like, Bartl? Have you ever done any open-water or ocean swimming before? Is this a sprint or Olympic distance.
I coached my wife on her swimming technique before her first Olympic distance race. She dropped a ton of time on her swim and finished in the top third of the pack, even though she never swam competitively. Stroke mechanics is ALL of speed, especially in open water.
That and navigation, which is made much easier by swimming straight naturally. Pick up the Total Immersion freestyle DVD if you want to improve. It takes time working through the drills, but the results will save your shoulders and make you fly.[/quote]
My stroke is long and deliberate…wait…oh swimming…I forgot.
I have no idea actually. I found the Total Immersion on the web today and found it quite interesting. I have a friend here in town who is a lifeguard and has been swimming and teaching swimming forever. Hopefully he can give me some pointers as well.
[quote]PRCalDude wrote:
Bartl wrote:
MikeTheBear wrote:
I know CT is your coach and I don’t mean to steal his thunder, but I highly recommend you implement the following routine into your triathlon training to prepare yourself for what will happen during the mass swim start. I can help. Just let me know when and where and I’ll show up with my boat and paddles.
now that’s my type of training…NOT
Haha! That’s how every open water race is!
Kick hard to keep people off your tail. Elbows are helpful. Swim over people if you have to. Your a big guy so you shouldn’t have any problems if you’re aggressive.[/quote]
I usually don’t have a problem being aggressive especially when it comes to competing.
[quote]MikeTheBear wrote:
PRCalDude wrote:
Bartl wrote:
MikeTheBear wrote:
I know CT is your coach and I don’t mean to steal his thunder, but I highly recommend you implement the following routine into your triathlon training to prepare yourself for what will happen during the mass swim start. I can help. Just let me know when and where and I’ll show up with my boat and paddles.
now that’s my type of training…NOT
Haha! That’s how every open water race is!
Kick hard to keep people off your tail. Elbows are helpful. Swim over people if you have to. Your a big guy so you shouldn’t have any problems if you’re aggressive.
Don’t forget “accidentally” pulling someone’s goggles off. This is why most people wear their goggles underneath their swim caps. I find that uncomfortable which makes me a sitting duck out there.
Bartl - Make sure you check the rules of your tri but I think nearly every tri requires that you wear the swim cap that you will be provided in your packet. It doesn’t matter that you shave your head - the point isn’t to keep everyone’s hair nice and pretty. The caps are usually different colors to identify your swim start wave, which is why they’re required, and, I think, for safety reasons so the kayaks can spot a swimmer who may be in trouble. Your head will smell like rubber all day.[/quote]
This one is no different. Each starting group is given a colored cap for the reasons you mentioned.
And I shave my head for the sex appeal, not to cut down on water resistance.
[quote]Bartl wrote:
PRCalDude wrote:
What does your stroke look like, Bartl? Have you ever done any open-water or ocean swimming before? Is this a sprint or Olympic distance.
I coached my wife on her swimming technique before her first Olympic distance race. She dropped a ton of time on her swim and finished in the top third of the pack, even though she never swam competitively. Stroke mechanics is ALL of speed, especially in open water.
That and navigation, which is made much easier by swimming straight naturally. Pick up the Total Immersion freestyle DVD if you want to improve. It takes time working through the drills, but the results will save your shoulders and make you fly.
My stroke is long and deliberate…wait…oh swimming…I forgot.
I have no idea actually. I found the Total Immersion on the web today and found it quite interesting. I have a friend here in town who is a lifeguard and has been swimming and teaching swimming forever. Hopefully he can give me some pointers as well.[/quote]
Heh! I used to lifeguard also. He works for SB city?
The thing about swimming is that swimming harder doesn’t necessarily make you go faster. Hydrodynamics are the key. If you just swim harder without the hydrodynamics, you’re just increasing the friction over your body, which increases with roughly the 3/2 of the velocity, which basically means you get very little benefit for a lot of effort. Plus, swimming wrong will hurt your shoulders.
BTW, the SEALs are now using TI’s version of the combat swimmer stroke because it lowered their times. The guy is good.
Are you going to use a wetsuit? Which race is it, or did you already answer that question?
[quote]PRCalDude wrote:
The thing about swimming is that swimming harder doesn’t necessarily make you go faster. Hydrodynamics are the key. If you just swim harder without the hydrodynamics, you’re just increasing the friction over your body, which increases with roughly the 3/2 of the velocity, which basically means you get very little benefit for a lot of effort. Plus, swimming wrong will hurt your shoulders.
BTW, the SEALs are now using TI’s version of the combat swimmer stroke because it lowered their times. The guy is good.
[/quote]
Well, if the SEALs like TI, who am I to argue? I’ve tried TI. I prefer the information at the following site:
And I got way more out of the following DVD, in terms of generating power, than I did from TI:
I’m not knocking TI. Many triathletes love TI and think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. I think that TI is good for a weaker swimmer. It’s also very good for developing a streamlined position, balance in the water, and an overall smooth swim stroke. However, I think it falls short when it comes to generating power to swim faster. I know, I know, TI says that once you’ve mastered the drills you are ready to go faster, and the way to do that is to increase your stroke rate.
IMO, I think with the way the TI stroke is designed, it’s tough to increase your stroke rate, and the stroke will not generate as much power as the one in the Go Swim DVD. And I don’t mean to start an argument, but TI does have its critics. I talked to a guy who went to TI clinics and bought DVDs, basically dropped some change on TI. He then signed up to be a Masters Swimmer and he proudly showed the coach his TI stroke. The coach said “What the hell are you doing?” The coach said he had great balance in the water, but most everything else needed to be changed if he wanted to get faster. Take that for it’s worth.
However, I think it falls short when it comes to generating power to swim faster.
Agreed.
I’m gonna check that out myself.
I’ve only dropped money on the DVD, so it’s not much of a loss for me.
The main problem seems to be the “catching” portion of the stroke-there’s simply not much power to be generated from the arm catch when you’re all the way over on your side, and driving your hips down harder doesn’t seem to help. It makes you rotate to the other side easier, but doesn’t necessarily speed you up or add more power to your stroke, IMO. Maybe I was doing it wrong, but being completely on your side is not the most powerful position to engage your lats and upper pecs into the pull.
I’m not willing to die on the TI hill without checking that other site. Interesting.
Guess how I learned to swim? I was standing on the edge of a pool and my dad swiftly kicked me in my ass, sent me flying head first into the water and guess what…I started swimming.
I forgot to mention something regarding my snowboarding trip. I decided to get a new pair of riding pants because my other ones are about 10 years old and are just now losing their waterproofness. I was pleasantly surprised when the pants I decided to buy were of Medium size.
I don’t remember the last time I wore anything Medium and had them fit loosely.
I have two labs also, and they both snore too.
Why is there so much fighting in hockey?
and actually on thread topic, were you always this active in sports or do you find you are actually doing more activities now that you are feeling so much stronger, lighter, better?
[quote]OctoberGirl wrote:
I have two labs also, and they both snore too.
Why is there so much fighting in hockey?
and actually on thread topic, were you always this active in sports or do you find you are actually doing more activities now that you are feeling so much stronger, lighter, better?
[/quote]
Well, hockey is a very aggressive sport. It is the only sport I have ever played where I really felt like my teammates where family. You just don’t let anyone mess with your family. Plus, you don’t get ejected for doing it. If you watch a lot of hockey from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, they had designated fighters on each team. I remember seeing some of the most amazing full ice, full team brawls. Then put the gloves back on and finishing the game.
I have always been this active. Its just that I ate like shit and didn’t train. Not to sound cocky, but I knew that no matter how big I was, I could play most sports better than most people. But now that I am lighter and stronger, I just know that it will make me that much better of an athlete.
Bartl,
Just curious man, given your atheltic background, is this your first venture into endurance sports?