Sunday, September 5, 2010

my first brick went a little like this

elevation from bike

my diaper shorts were calling to me again, as was the gorgeous weather so i went out for a bike ride sunday afternoon. i did a 10+ mile loop twice and negative split the laps (~43min for the first lap, ~41min for the second). i need some advice for hill-climbing though. i down shift (usually from 3/6 left/right to 2/3, i have a 21-speed commuter) and still feel like i'd be better off if i hopped off the bike and walked it up the hill. according to garmin the biggest hill is about 160ft climb, which just doesn't seem like it should whoop my butt?

i knew before i went out for the bike ride that i wanted to try and make it a brick. i wanted to see what the brick business was all about and i haven't exactly ran my miles this week. i'd be short on miles, but at least i'd get in a good workout.

i had a nice little headache going before i went out, so i made sure to drink a lot of water on the bike (a few gulps every 2 miles or so) and took a vanilla gingerbread gu after the first lap (~11 miles). when i got back to the house, i quickly changed out of my biking shorts and into some running ones, had a sip of gatorade and headed back out for a run. it had gotten a bit warmer (80-81) and i probably should have had another gu or something before going out for the run. my legs were spaghetti, but that was expected. i never found a rhythm and definitely bonked on the run. i could not wait to get home and make a smoothie.

sunday (9/5) bike: 21.25 miles, 1:24:43 (~15mph), avg hr 160, 76-80*
(finally a slight increase in average speed!)
sunday (9/5) run: 5 miles, 47:15 (9:27 avg pace), avg/max hr 165/179, 81*/36%humid

27 comments:

  1. Great job on your brick! Good workout!

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  2. Brick business! Are you planning on jumping into a tri? Brick workouts have always sounded intriguingly fun in a... hard sort of way. Sounds like it was an awesome workout. I've thought about doing a run after a bike ride, but then I get to the end of the bike ride and just feel too darn lazy for additional running. Props to you.

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  3. Sounds like a great workout. I hope your weather is as nice as it is here in Iowa this weekend.

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  4. for hill climbing the trick is to be shameless. seriously. be without shame. what this means practically is that you should drop into your smallest front chain ring and it should feel like you are spinning the pedals pretty steadily. your speed will drop a whole bunch in these small gears but you will not trash you legs and it will be easier to run.

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  5. I'm with sweatykid. Are you going to try a tri? I'm sure you'd get it done cause you seem to get pretty serious about your goals. I'd cheer for you, specially if you keep the diaper shorts!:)

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  6. Bike trips are great because you have fun and help you to improve the running goals!
    Hill climbing is hard but you get used to! continue climbing, no pain no gain :-)
    Hugs,
    Tania

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  7. Brick runs take some time to get used to--you'll be there before you know it. That said, I think you did great (even in diapers!).

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  8. oooh! a brick!!! woo woo! i do that sort of stuff in the gym, but rarely with running. is it still a brick if you do exercises back to back but running isn't involved??? anyway you kicked that brick's BUTT. nice work. heat and humidity too. happy monday labor day coming up!!!!! :)

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  9. Oh... do we see a tri or a du in your future?? About the hill climbing on the bike. Don't worry about using the granny gear, you will get stronger with practice. What you also should try is to sit as upright as possible going up the hill, because it's easier to engage the big muscles at that position.

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  10. I stopped reading at vanilla gingerbread gu. Apparently I haven't been shopping for gu in the right places. YUM!

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  11. Congrats on your first brick workout! You did awesome to make it 5 miles after a 20 mile ride! I think my first brick workout was something like 20 mile bike/2 mile run.

    Like the previous commenters mentioned, don't be afraid to granny gear it on the hills. Most bikers that come from a running background (myself included) tend to kill their legs by pushing too big of a gear on the hills rather than backing off to a lower gear and increasing cadence.

    Keep up the great work! Is there a tri in your future?

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  12. I am not even close to being knowledgeable of what a brick work out is but cool smoothie goes your way for doing it. I have a brand new bike from 8 years ago with not even 2 miles total on it. What a shame. I should give it a go some time. Do you carry bricks with you on the bike? Maybe I will research this one. Take care.

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  13. Welcome to the bricks! Now we should get you swimming:)
    Unlike Rachel, I stay in the middle front ring for the climbs (unless the hill is v long and steep), and go on the easier gear on the back. Then, I stand up when I get closer to the top of the hill, to get momentum, and as soon as I get to the top I go to a higher gear on the back for the downhill. If you are getting serious about biking you should read Joe Friel's blog. He talks about hill climbing based on weight - for ex., for me, he recommends doing most climbs standing up as that is more efficient.

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  14. Nice job on the brick!
    I did some major hills yesterday. The wind didn't help, but the temp was in the high 60's-hard to resist going out for something!
    My hills are fly like hell going down and pedal like hell going up!
    How's that for "professional" advice? Hahaha!

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  15. Wow, I have no idea what a "brick" is, but it sounds cool! Hmm, I'm thinking that even though I could never beat you in running, I may actually have a chance to be a faster biker than you. I just had to say that! Are you training for a bi or a tri by any chance?

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  16. So you change your run for bike? It's good to change sometimes, your knees will be more healthy!

    I don't understand the meaning of the brick but... don't care!

    Are your right, your workout are good!

    See you Lindsay!

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  17. Unfortunately the only way to get better at hills is to ride more of them. Try different things each time - gears, standing, sitting, etc, until you find a style comfortable for you.

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  18. that is fantastic! great job!! I love the vanilla gingerbread gu!

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  19. nice pace on the run after the bike ride...looks like you're ready for some duathlons...

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  20. The spaghetti legs come free of charge with a brick run! Congrats on not giving up you have a lot of determination

    Paul

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  21. Amazing workout! I could never do it. I know that spaghetti feeling after riding and I HATE it :) Nice job pushing through!

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  22. For the hills I recommend 1) do more hills 2) stay in the saddle 3) stay in middle gear, granny gear is just too many revolutions = lactic burn out the whazoo.

    And I really hope there's a vanilla gingerbread Gu in my future.

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  23. Way to push through the tough run.

    Awesome bike ride too!

    I hope you're not leaning toward the dark side. ;)

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  24. Way to push through the tough run.

    Awesome bike ride too!

    I hope you're not leaning toward the dark side. ;)

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  25. I think for future "bricks" you should actually carry a brick as a symbol to all those that pass by.

    Metaphors are surprisingly effective.

    Hope you're having a good Tuesday!

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  26. Looks great, you are doing good. Keep it up!!!

    zbsports

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  27. Just got back from a brick today, well an opposite brick (10-mile run, 15-mile ride). Hopefully you'll get used to doing them more often.

    Hilarious that you call them diaper shorts, I need a pair myself! I've been trying to go to local bike shop training rides (maybe there are some where you're at). They give you tips and hints on riding and bike maintenance, which I definitely need. I've definitely gone up some hills where I know for a fact, walking up would be more efficient (and less painful)..

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