tripletmom01 mentor group - FULL!!!!!

Hello!  My name is Melissa.  I'm 34, married and have two kids - 4 & 2.  I have been a runner off and on for most of my life and in fairly decent shape.  But the last 2 years I have gotten off track with health/exercise and have been wanting to get back in.   I have tried different things with varying degrees of success, but am ready to do something new...something that takes a little more risk and dedication.  I have been considering doing a triathlon (sprint) for the last couple of months and finally pulled the trigger last week.  I have biked infrequently for the last 5 years...and only learned how to swim freestyle last month.  (I figured I should try it out - so I took a lesson at the YMCA!).  So I am definitely in the category of BEGINNER! 

Anyway, not sure how this works, but I figured I can use all the help I can get!  

Cheers!

Melissa

Can I join your gang?

I'm 34, 6 foot, 174lb, a Dad to a 2yr and a 5 month old, a Pharmacist to trade and mightily impressed at your training log considering the 3 little people!!

Sport background:

I've always swum (in the local club as a kid and at uni) and after moving to the Highlands I struggled to get to the pool. A new job has meant I'm back into it big style (They're remarkably quiet at lunchtime!) and loving it!

The biking - again I've always done a bit and over the past couple of years I've very slowly got into a little bit of competition - just club stuff - mostly mountainbiking, with some time trialing thrown in for the masochist in me! (it's just so boring thrashing along on your tod!)

Running - I HATE it! Why bother? I can walk all day and arrive cool and calm, but I go running and turn into a knackered sweat monster - normally with bruised ankles! A couple of months ago I did a Cancer Care duathlon and amazingly did ok at the running and even beat a couple of guys who I assumed would leave me standing - This is why I'm starting tri's - I'd always fancied it, but the running put me off. I guess the run is at the end and you're allowed to be knackered and sweaty by then eh?!

I've started following the run focused sprint training schedule (need as much help as I can!) and have signed up for a local cross counrty sprint in March. I'm not sure about other events - because I'm based in the Highlands there's not much locally and with post-grad training and small people, I think 2009 might be a bit harrassed! (To be honest most of the time I'm happy enough with the endorphins from the training) There's a monster event(http://www.nofussevents.co.uk/event/The-Big-Ben-Nevis-Triathlon/1029/) in September which I'll miss in 2009 because of holidays, but would like to be fit enough for 2010 - we'll see...

Any time management tips greatfully received!

Looking forward to any input,

Cheers,

K

Would you be willing to take on a wounded but recovering member?!?  I have some of the same events planned; HHH(100k), Door Count 1/2, and my first Iron, IMWI'09.  I am very positive and am looking for a fun inspirational group.  I think I may have found it!

Ive been tri-ing for about 3 years, have gone from sprint, to Oly, to 1/2 Iron(Steelhead), and now find myself in the remarkable spot of doing IMWI '09.  I crashed 4 days after paying for IMWI, doing my best superman impression over my aerobars at 20+Mph which resulted in a 3rd deg shoulder separation.  I am finding it hard to find the motivation now because of this setback, but I know I can come back, it is just going to take ALOT more work than before.  I am an average joe who is not built for speed.  I just want to finish.

thx Pat

Tammy,

Count Eric (tribadger) and I (retiretotri) in on your group.

We did IM WI last year and have the Capitol View Olympic, Door County HIM, and IM WI on the schedule in 2009.  In addition to that, the Madison Half Marathon and maybe the Lake Monona 20K in May.

Really looking forward to it!

YES to all of you!!  I am excited to get to know you all better and help any way I can.  So far there are seven of us I think one or two more and I will call it full.

I will read all of your bios tonight- I am off to the kids Christmas concert!

If you havent written one please do!!!

WELCOME!

I have received the go ahead to join. I know the group is closed, but Tammy was kind enough to let me in. I am honored to be a member of the group and under Tammy's tutelage. 

NAME: Tracy

STORY: It is kind of long sorted story for me. I have always been a runner. It was an activity I could do that didn't cost me any money. Therefore, I ran. I ran and ran and ran and ran. About 3 years ago a friend of mine started talking to me about triathlons. I thought...hmmm...I could do that. I bought a road bike and started biking. The next year in 07 I decided to do one triathlon. I was hooked. In 08 I did another 3 races. All sprint distances. I am a weak biker. That is my achilles hell, I mean heel. I finally have a trainer and plan to spend a lot of time on my bike this winter.

FAMILY STATUS: Married for 6 years to my wonderful husband Michael. Who has supported my addiction to triathloning 100%. He even let me by a new tri bike this year. I am the proud owner of a P2C that makes certain parts go numb! We have 5 fur kids, 2 dogs and 3 cats. 

CURRENT TRAINING: Right now I am doing a hodge podge of things. I have been trying to lose some weight for our trip to Costa Rica on the 1st. I have been swimming twice a week, running twice a week with strength training and biking 1 day. 

THIS YEAR'S RACES: I did 3 sprint distance triathlons. In my last one I got 4th in my AG. If only I could have run my normal time. It was muggy and I forgot my inhaler. I got 4th. If only...

2009 RACES: More sprints for me. I plan on doing the Elkhart Lake, Door County, Waupaca and Manitowoc. I might up one of those to Oly distances if I get the confidence. I also plan to do a couple 5ks, maybe a 10k if I feel up to it and a duathlon that is in my town.

OK-

A few things as we get started

1- PLEASE log your training in your blogs.  I will be checking up on you guys daily  Its hard to offer advice or insight when Im not sure what you are doing.

2- Dont be afraid to ask ?s.  And dont be afraid to offer others in our group advice.. I cant be giving ALL the advice

3- When you get a chance let us know whatyour goals are for the upcoming season and what your race schedule looks like.  (if you havent already)

4- Check out each others blogs and inspire each other!!

I am excited- I think we have a great bunch of athletes here!!!

Melissa-

Where are you from?  And- have you signed up for your first tri?? 

Keith

Are you from the UK?  That race sounds awesome

You are a great swimmer- you can help ME out there all you want! 

I love running  We will make a runner out of you.  Just keep at it,   Are you following any sort of plan?

George-

I look forward to motivating you  Is your injury all healed??

Why dont you sign up for a race later in the year...might get you going?!

Pat-

OUCH- nice crash- I had a nice one of my own a  few years ago- pics in my album.  So are you healed? 

Looks like you are doing Georges bike plan?  Thats great.

Well I am sure I will get to meet yout his summer

HI Kara

I actually raved with Sara Reinerston 2 years ago- she is awesome.  I I heard the Hoyts speak at my first HIM  So inspirational

Sounds like your husband is supportive?  thats great

Sounds like you have a good start to planning your season.  What area are you looking to work on the most?

Corinna-

2 y old twins   Id like to tell you it gets easier...but I cant   Ialso love to bike and run and just swim because its part of thr tri... I am working hard on it though.

You are building your own MNT bike park??  That is AWESOME!

You have a great race schedule, now we just gotta get you in  the pool

how about throwing a hm inthere somewhere??

Hi Heather!

Looks like you are a busy girl too

Does your hubby do tris?

Looks like we are going to have to find you some training time.

whenyou get a chance letme know your goals and planned races!

yeah Lori and Eric- I am glad you two joined!

We will have to do some MOO riding this summer.

Let  me know what you guys are working on in the off season and what you want out of IM this year

And last but not least Tracy!

 I love riding- but the winter gets real boring on the trainer.  do you ever do spin classes?  I know some triathletes think they are lame- butat least you can socialize and they DO help!  The P2C is awesome...lucky girl and costa rice??  Maybe I should get rid of my kids

Your training looks good for the off season.

where is Kewaunee?

oh.. I like sweets too...luckily I train enough I can eat them   8-10 isnt much- you can lose it- Ill help- do you log your eating??

Kewaunee is just south of Door County on Lake Michigan. It is north of Two Rivers if you are at all familiar with the lakeshore?? There is a really challenging Duathlon race here in July, right before the Door County Tri.

I was just talking with John from In Competition sports in Green Bay. He recommended spinning also. He said it helps create a better pedal stroke? Is that the right term? The coveted round pedal motion. I think I have a square pedal motion. I bike like I am a kid again on her banana seat bike.

Dh and I are going to spin on Saturdays at the Y in Manitowoc. It is our plan! I have been on and off logging my food. I will get serious after we get back from vacation. It has been YEARS since we have been on a vacation. I don't eat much meat so it can be a challenge for me to get the right ratio of protein. Maybe you can give me some guidance.

I saved since 07 for the P2C. It was a long haul, but I finally got all the cash to get the bike. Now I wonder if I have bitten off more than I can chew with the bike!

I think as us being runners THEN bikers our ankels are kind of striff during the pedal stroke.  I sort if try to remeber to almost pretend I am kicking my butt on the upstroke.  And remeber to go over the top.  FOr a while I had a dead spot at the bottom of the pedal stroke.  A good thing about spin class is they usually have mirros where you can watch yourself.  Some of the spinerval dvds have some good tips on pedal stroke too.

Can you recommend which spinnerval dvds to buy? I have been looking at them for a long time, but was unsure what to get. I am going to bike tomorrow. I will think about kicking my butt tomorrow. That is good advice.

There is a bike shop in GB that can computerize your pedal stroke. If I knew what I was doing wrong that would help A LOT!!  I am focusing on biking this winter. No slacking or getting bored on the trainer. I need to get faster and more efficient.

 I am not sure how anyone could bike for 112 miles??? That is amazing to me. 20 miles seems like a small feat.