The winter in Chicago has been the worst in years! Its been difficult to get outside and run and impossible to ride. Im doing CA 70.3 in about a month and worried that I wont be able to get any long rides in. I cant sit on my trainer much more than 2 hours. Any suggestions?
Indoors.
I’m in the same boat as you. I haven’t ran outside since Dec. I’ve been hitting the 'mill and trainer hard (the 2+ hour rides are tough), but nothing outside. I get up, look outside, look at the trainer/tv/warmth and pull the shorts on.
I’m afraid it’s gonna come back to haunt me later this year…
Brad
Pick another race, there is a reason why there are more than thirty 70.3 races out there.
Intervals. Shorter time, higher intensity is the way forward.
Unless you’re me. I hibernate, and come up with some plausible sounding excuses for going slow.
Also, indoor training could be benefical to you…
Try intervals as he said another one is doing hill repeats on treadmill. Also keep in mind 2 hours on a computrainer at a preset power is a lot of outside riding. You are pedaling at a given power 2 hours non-stop. on a regular 2 hour road riding how many minutes do you keep that pace?
Pick another race, there is a reason why there are more than thirty 70.3 races out there.
Great Advice! But Im already signed up.
It is going to be 35 and sunny in Chicago tomorrow. HTFU and get out there. I’m trying to imagine conditions where you can’t run outside and am having a hard time. Maybe boilerplate ice storm?
Ed,
It’s pretty easy IMO. For biking, use the trainer, subscribe to netflix / blockbuster, just suck it up, and you can get in all your riding. Get a good movie, and you can push your suffering past two hours. For running, all you need is the right gear, no matter the temp, I’ve run outside all year this winter, as I’m training for a marthon in (gulp!) 30 days. Make sure you have two sets of tights for cold and really cold weather (DeSoto fleece tights are awesome for this), a windbreaker, neck gaiter, hat, two sets of gloves (light and medium), some long sleeve tops of various thickness and your pretty much set. I’m a recent convert to Yaktrax and have to admit they’re pretty awesome for running on the snow. Try signing up for the 100/100 running challenge next year, once you get into it, it’s pretty easy to keep going.
If you want to break things up, try a 1.5 hour trainer ride, 1 hour run, then jump back on the trainer for another hour, if you can do that, you’ll be fine!
Ryan
I don’t know the CA 70.3 course, but I will say that I’d be more worried about dealing with hills than anything else. You can HTFU and get out on your bike, but it’ll still be flat.
You just have to suck it up, I am in the same boat doing the Calif. and training in IL. I have been able to get pretty much all of my long runs in on Sundays outside w/no problem for the past month the weather has beeen above 30 on Sundays. Unfortunately no long outdoor rides but Computrainer my arse off 2-3 days a week. Bricks every Saturday! With the exception of no out door rides I am feeling pretty good about my overall fitness. But my focus as planned this winter has been running.
What is this winter you speak of? Move to Phoenix.
BTW, I keep seeing HTFU every where, I’m pretty sure I get the TFU part, but what is the H?
John
What is this winter you speak of? Move to Phoenix.
BTW, I keep seeing HTFU every where, I’m pretty sure I get the TFU part, but what is the H?
John
Id be out of IL in a second if I could find a good job and house.
I have no clue what HTFU is. It must generation Y speak. Bring back the WWII generation, they are the best!
Ed
Winter really is a different world if you live in the SW, Florida, or even a large part of Texas. In Phoenix the winter may dip down to a frigid 55 high and today is 81. Bottom line we can train outdoors all winter long comfortably. I swim outdoors all winter. I feel for those of you who do early season events and have to train in what I would feel are unusual methods … but you really ought to just start your season a little later. The best answer is to move to the SW … it took me years to really imagine that you didn’t have to shovel snow or endure rain in the winter. Now the only snow I care to see is when I defrost my refrigerator.
Dave
HTFU = Harden The Fuck Up.
HTFU = Harden The Fuck Up.
Thank you sir. I was right on 75% of it…
I moved to New Zealand.
You don’t have a wife or kids or a house, do you? 
In cse you need to hear it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh6pZQX22CQ
.
I haven’t ran outside since Dec. I’ve been hitting the 'mill and trainer hard (the 2+ hour rides are tough), but nothing outside.
I haven’t run outside since Christmas. Too much ice and snow and cold (plus the track’s all snowy and I don’t want to run on pavement, too high impact).
treadmill
pool
trainer/spinning (on occassion)
Same boat here. Training in northern Utah and we’ve broken out of the 12-15 year drought with a very “normal” (which is tons of snow and cold) for three straight months. But last week we got a break…it climbed all the way to 50! But of course mid-week when I work. I was able to get in 1.5 hours and then 3 hours outside on the bike. Felt nice. Now we’re back to snow and cold and this morning I’m banished to the CompuTrainer dungeon for a long brick. The CompuTrainer has been nice and has allowed me to keep some good fitness indoors. But nothing can replace the feel of an outside ride. I am also a bit concerned about hitting those hills at Calif 70.3 but not sure much can be done given the weather limitations and the fact that the race is now less than 4 weeks away.
For me, Calif 70.3 is a stepping stone to IMCDA in June. My coach and I realized the weather limitations for Calif 70.3 would mean I would probably be doing most of this race on Base training. Although, I will say my swim and run fitness has never been better.
Do as much training as you can biking whether it be inside or outside. Try to at least get two long bike rides outside but I would say just start focusing on the run. Get outside. Do long runs and at least two high intensity runs per week. If you are dead after the bike hopefully maybe it won’t be a swim, bike, walk.