Sesh's Group - FULL!

I would like to join your group. My traingn has stalled in these winter months but i have a full season planned for next year. My goals and races for 2009 are:

 1. Continue to lose weight - i am now at 205 and want to be around 190-185

2. Races - St Anthony's Oly, Escape from Alcatraz Oly, Ironman Florida, ING Mary, peachtree 10k

 It seems like we are aligned with both the weight loss factor and distance factor.

Welcome to the group, David.  Those are some great races you've got planned.  I've been thinking about making it over for the ING sometime in the future.

Right off the bat, I'd say it would be a good idea to start getting in a few workouts.  Dragging yourself into some training around the holidays will give you a good start on 2009.  Also, what really helped me drop some pounds was the nutrition log function on this site.  Play around with that and log what all you eat.  It can be really beneficial seeing what you're taking in, what proportions of carbs/fats/proteins, and just total calories in general.

Welcome to the group.  I see this going to be your first season doing tris, and you've signed up for some pretty awesome races, too.  That is some awesome weightloss as well. 

That makes 2.  Tri Nole and BeginnerMan.

Bill,

 I would like to join your group, if you have room.  Here are some details:

(1)  Family - Married, two kids, two cats (if anyone wants them, let me know) one bike.  Live in Lafayette, IN (not Louisiana).

(2)  Stats - 5'9" tall, 175 lbs, 38 years old in 2009.  Weightloss goal is to lose 15 lbs by June (I was 165lbs this past May) and try to get back to 155 lbs by the end of 2009.

(2)  Triathlon History - I ran my first race in Wilmington, NC (Sprint) back in 2003 and was hooked immediately.  I ran the race beause my friend Sam challenged me to run one since he is big into tri's, thanks Sam for getting me hooked.  I have not been able to have a dedicated season in a while, short story is military and injuries, so I am looking forward to this year.

(3)  Last years races - NONE, NADA, ZIP.  I was planning on five sprints and my first ever Olympic but I got some severe shin splints in May that sidelined me for most of the summer.  I rested my shins for two weeks, tried to run again, still pain.  Rested them for 4 weeks, same thing.  I just had to give in to the injury and give it a much needed rest.

(4) Training - I just started back into running (last week was my first week back to running since May timeframe) so I have a long way to go.  I am taking it slow and easy.  My plan is to run and swim this month and slowly work in the stantionary bike in Jan/Feb.  I am not a big fan of the stationary bike, about 30 minutes is all I can handle at a time.  I am following a number of plans from various source (BT, Triathlete's training bible, Triathlete Mag, etc) I just used what I think will work and apply it.

(5)  Goals - This upcoming year just to train hard and injury free.  My goal is to complete an Olympic Tri in 2009 and hopefully a 1/2 Ironman in 2010.

(6)  2009 Races - Below is what I have planned, God willing and injury free:

April - Indoor tri somewhere 

May - Faith 5k run

June - Lafayette YMCA Sprint Tri (SPRINT), Indy Sprint Series Tri (SPRINT)

July - Indy Sprint Series Tri (SPRINT), Tri Del Sol (SPRINT, Middleville, MI)

August - 10K somewhere, Indy Sprint Series (SPRINT), Tri Indy (OLY)

Sept - Potentially the Nations Triathlon (OLY) in DC

I will have to wait and see how this all works out

(7)   Why do I need a mentor - I would just like to have some accountability with my training (it is hard to get up at 5 am just to workout), any advise for swimming would be great, and just plain triathlon advice would be great.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Eric

"Pain is Weakness leaving the body" - USMC

Bill, I would also like to join.

I got dragged kicking and screaming to a sprint tri in July this year (by my sister-in-law), loved it, and accidentally got hooked.  I completed that race and one other sprint in 2008.  There was no actual "sprinting" involved.

I used to be a swimmer, so that is by far my strongest of the 3 sports.  Both of the races I did this year followed the pattern of being among the leaders out of the water and then getting overtaken for the rest of the race .  My cycling is so-so but my running is pretty bad at the moment so I would really like to improve both of those.

2009 Goals:

1. I think one of the main things that would help with my running/cycling is losing weight.  When I started tri training I lost about 7lbs right away but have been fairly steady since then (although I feel like my body is rearranging itself - less fat etc).  I'm at 225 now but would like to be at or below 200 by my first race in July.

2. Complete at minimum these events:  1-mile open water swim event, 2 sprints, a 10k run and finish with an Oly, assuming everything goes well.  I haven't picked out the events yet.

I don't have too many time-related goals at this stage, because I mainly want to improve overall aerobic fitness and get comfortable with longer distances in each sport.  I think the times will come from there.  Having said that, obviously I want to beat my times from this year .

3. Stay injury free.  Since getting back into running I've had a few problems with shin splints, achilles/calf issues etc.  I would like to leave those behind (although the shin splints seem to be gone for the most part). 

Also, I would like to start doing more of my own bike maintenance so I'm looking forward to learning a lot more there.

Thanks a lot

Daniel

Awesome, I go out for a tempo run at lunch and we start filling up.  I think we have six now.  I'll leave it open for a little bit longer to see if we can't trick somebody else into signing up.

Good to have you on board, Eric.  I know how frustrating injuries can be.  You've got the right idea on going slow and easy.  You'll get there eventually that way.  Rushing back could mean you'll never get there. 

As for swimming advice, I never get tired of talking about swimming.  So we can handle that no problem.  And don't worry, we will hold you accountable.  I know people with whips and tasers.  Melissa can vouch for that.

Will you take a brand new beginner?  I am planning on my first sprint tri in June 2009, followed by an oly in September. 

I used to run 5Ks but it's been years, so I started in October with BT's couch to 5K plan, and will switch to a sprint plan in February.  I have some biking experience doing charity rides (30 miles, usually).  I'm a decent swimmer, although my endurance isn't what it used to be.

Married, 2 kids, 2 dogs. 

Debbie

Samantha, we do not hate swimming in this group.  We love to swim, we love to swim, we love to swim  We'll work toward getting you straigtened out.

That's great that this is a family activity for you.  Very, very cool!  And welcome to the group.

Bill,

If there is still room, I would like to join the group!

I'm 34 and married with two boys  (ages 1 and 4).  The beginning of this year I signed up for a 10K to FORCE myself to get in shape and stop the downward spiral of AGING.  I loved the race atmosphere.  I then signed up for a sprint tri, started swimming and bought a TT bike, and got hooked.  This year I've done 2 tris 3 dus and a 10K (hurricanes cancelled 2 tris and a du)

I'm currently on the BT HIM plan training for the New Orleans 70.3 (it's in my backyard so I had to sign up)   I just want to prove to myself I can finish it.

All 3 diciplines are SLOW and need work... Like 53epilot I too would like to have some accountability with my training (the daylight savings stuff is killing me).  I love to "race" and train and plan on doing this from here on out.

Of course you can, Mel.  You gotta catch me up, too, since I've been an absent Nibb lately.

Hi all, I would love to join in, here are some deets:

Name: Kiri

Family: 1 partner, 2 cats, 6 bicycles, no car

Current Training: 3x balanced sprint/oly home-made base building.

Goals:
1. Finish 3 sprints and 1 oly for my first season
2. Lose more weight, 16 pounds so far
3. Have fun
4. Run!

I just got off the couch (basically) 4 months ago - something needed to change - and started this adventure. I am a terrible runner, still working on the couch to 5k. Never been a runner, never wanted to be a runner, but am growing to really enjoy it. I can bicycle and swim forever so for both of those I just need to improve fitness, and get faster.  I am pretty good at sticking to my schedule but always find it hard to motivate to do strength and core. I can use all the advice, wisdom, knowledge, HTFU's I can get... Oh and I'm interested in building my own tri bike this spring, so can use some encouragement on that front as well.

I love beginners  We are actually setting up a group training program for beginners where I live through our tri club and Fleet Feet.  I should be getting some good stuff from there that  I'll pass on to you.

Welcome!  I spoke to soon.  We have nine!

Here it is...

My name is Melissa.  I was a tag-a-long invite for a sprint tri last Fathers day(250yd swim, 13m bike, 3m run, all flat).  I didn't get in much training beyond a little swimming-my bike was in much worse condition than I realized and repairs weren't completed until the night before the race.     I went into the race with 2 goals: to have fun and not to get hurt.  I finished the race feeling somewhat miserable, but awesome at the same time.  

I almost immediately signed up for an open water swim(half mile, mid August) and 2 more sprint tris(late august, early sept).  As the season progressed I slowly got more training in.

I added a 25 mile bike event towards the end of Sept. 

The next week, on the spur of the moment, I signed up for one last sprint tri with another BT member-it was the same course as my original.   It was awesome to see how far I had come.  I took of more than 24 minutes...although I did push myself a lot more than I had in my first race.

I have actually started running-I did a trail run event in November.  Up until last week (I've been fighting a nasty cold ) I had been getting runs in nearly every weekday morning. 

This time last year I weighed about 145lbs...In January I came off a med that was causing me to gain weight and  I have had to make some dietary changes due to food sensitivities. Between the short periods of time when I was struggling to figure out what I could eat and my increased activity I am down to 115lbs.  Personally, I would like to put a few back on-but as muscle.

First I need to get rid of this cold so that I can breathe again.

Let me go dig up my plans for 2009....