Bob Stocks Group - Closed

I want in!!  I've only been doing triathlons for 2 seasons and still have a lot to learn.  The more I learn . . . the less I feel like I know   

Here's my bio (sorry it got long!)

NAME: rreischl/Renee

STORY: I live in Omaha, Nebraska and am a controls engineer / programmer for a company that designs and builds custom machinery.  I am 34 years old, single, with no children (hopefully someday).  As a kid I was incredibly active and played sports (especially soccer – lived for it) year round.  But I put on a ton of weight during college and no matter how hard I tried, couldn’t seem to get it off.  With the help of an awesome online support group I finally managed to lose most of it (123#) in 2007.  Backup – to 10 years ago – after HS and during my couch potato years – my first exposure to triathlons was seeing the IM Championship on TV.  It was amazing!  I immediately knew I wanted to someday do one – IF I ever lost my weight.  During my weightloss process in 07 I joined a bootcamp in July where I was forced to run (like 100 yds).  To lose weight I'd been working out a couple hours per day doing Jazzercise (aerobics) but had been too afraid to try to run until then – afraid my body wouldn’t be able to take it.  Once I discovered it was possible I worked on my own to build mileage.  Once I got up to 6 miles I started to look into the possibility of making my IM dream a reality.  I stumbled upon advertisements for the first year of Ironman Kansas 70.3 and decided since it was so close to Omaha, it was meant to be – this was around Oct 07.  I figured I’d better see if I could remember how to swim – hadn’t done it since I was a kid.  I had to stop and gasp for air after about 12 yds – YIKES!  But after a couple weeks I’d built up my endurance (not speed, mind you – still haven’t figured that one out).  It was winter so there was no experimenting on the bike, but I was confident I could build up my bike if I could get the swim down.  I found BT and checked out the beginner HIM plan.  I thought I was close to being able to complete the starting volumes in each discipline - yet I asked a fitness expert I respect greatly on my weight-loss site if he thought it was feasible for me to do a HIM in 6 months if I committed to it.  I got the yes I was looking for and the rest is history!  I followed the beginner HIM plan on here as close to a “T” as I could.  I wanted to see a tri in person before doing my HIM (in June of 08) so I signed up for an OLY in Dallas in April 08 – boy was traveling for my first an experience!  I did my first half-ironman in June of 08.  The race was called due to rain and I got pulled off the course at mi 11 of the run   I found another and finished my first HIM 2 months later, in August 08.  After injuring my hammie in Jan 09, I didn't see as much improvement this year as I'd hoped – but I am healed and ready to hit the ground running in 2010!  I’m signed up for Ironman Wisconsin in Sep 2010 and am SOOOOOO EXCITED!! :D  I’m not the fastest one out there, but I know I will train hard and do my best to be prepared for all of my races this year!

FAMILY STATUS: As mentioned above – I’m single (but looking - lol).  I have a huge extended family and a close immediate family which is fun.  I’ve got 3 brothers (all married) – I am a proud aunt to a niece (3 yo) and nephew (8 mo) thanks to the oldest of my 3 younger brothers and excited to be an aunt again to a niece (1 day old) thanks to my baby brother!  Hoping to travel to meet her next weekend! :D

CURRENT TRAINING: Up until now I’ve always used a BT training plan for my triathlons.  I have been lucky to receive excellent fitness advice from the online expert I mentioned above – especially regarding running.  My plan for my IM training is to develop my own plan using “Going Long”. 

THIS YEARS RACES: In 2009 I did PF Chang’s Rock N Roll Half-Marathon in AZ (injured my hammie there – goal was sub 2:00 – came in about 1 minute 12 seconds over that . . . grrr!), Flying Pig Half-Marathon in Cinci (metup with many of my amazing buddies from my weight-loss group (including the expert I respect so much – he came in like 19th!) – ran this race with a good buddy as she went for a PR), Ironman KS 70.3 (still fighting hammie – mantra was “comfy base miles and a healthy hammie” ), Chicago Lakes Sprint Tri (my first sprint – did it with same buddy – her first tri!), Portland-to-Coast Relay Walk (always fun), Apple Dumpling Days Half-Marathon (Elroy, WI – on a bit of a whim I did this on the way to watch IMWI – got my sub 2 by a few seconds LOL), Aflac Iron Girl Duathlon (Bloomington, MN), Marine Corps Marathon (my 1st marathon!) – DC, Living History Farms Race (7 mi off-road race near Des Moines IA – anyone I’ve talked to that has done it agrees – funnest race EVER!  I felt like I was 5 again running through the creek and mud in November)

2010 RACES: Lincoln Half-Marathon in early May, Chisago Lakes HIM in July, IMWI in Sep :D, Twin Cities 10k or 10-miler (This is 3 weeks post-IM, so I'm undecided on the distance, unsure how I'll feel.  This is more social – to meetup with friends again), Living History Farms Race (trying to get all my cousins to train for this and do it as a big group)

WEIGHT LOSS: I lost 123# in 2007 – my goal was to lose 135 (half of me – yikes!)  Instead of getting that last 12 off, I’ve put about 10 back on.  It's been a tough balance for me - learning to fuel properly - for the longer workouts especially!  My goal this year is to lose the last 23 ASAP and do most of my training at a body weight I haven’t seen since HS!

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I am excited about the sport of triathlons – both in working toward my own goals and supporting friends as they work towards theirs!  I can't wait to get to know everyone who joins and get rolling!  Thanks for taking on a group, Bob!

I could certainly use some run help. Someone that can do 50 marathons before they are 50 has got to know what they are doing!  My biggest issues are injuries and someone telling me when to take a break...

NAME:NRG42/Cheri

STORY: I am 6 month old completely addicted newbie. I am a long time team athlete (swimming, volleyball, and softball), but new to the world of endurance.  I have no clue on what I am doing but have been completely dedicated to S/B/R since the day we met! 

FAMILY STATUS: 33 years old amd married with two boys who are 7 and 4.  Very little support ……most friends and family think that I am completely NUTS!!!! 

CURRENT TRAINING: No plan, but quiet a few miles in all disciplines.  Play v-ball competitively still and spend a lot of time on my core training.

NAME: Rudedog55/Rudy


STORY: I live in southern CT, work in Westchester County NY, Got off the couch in June of 2008 to do a charity bike ride and suffered through the 25 miles but did it, i looked for an outlet to continue the excercise and found this site and Triathlon. I did my first tri in October of 2008, a micro sprint that took me 1h 8m, did a second Tri which was a full sprint a month later in 1h46m. I weighed about 260lbs and could not run more than 500 feet.  Deceided to train consistently and tackle 2009 full on, I started last year about the same time as right now, did 3 duatlons before tri season started, i think i did 6 Tri's... 3 sprints, 2 Oly's and finished off the season with a Half-Ironman. I set Pr's in almost every race as the year went on, my best times were a 1h13m sprint, 2h40m Oly and i completed my half in 5h55m and some change.

FAMILY STATUS: I am married to my very understanding and very pregnant wife Nanci, we are expecting out first child on Jan 6th, yes tat is 1 week away, it is a scheduled c-secton. We will be having a little baby girl, her name will be Morgan Olivia.

CURRENT TRAINING: I am head slacker in charge, i have done almost nothing in the last 2 months, that is all about to change.....

THIS YEARS RACES: See my race reports, trust me other than the NYC Tri, they are worth the read, lol. I also did 4 Cycloross races, which is the most painful fun you can have on a bicycle.

2010 RACES: This Season is up in the air, i am certain to do some running races, and i will do a couple of sprints, and maybe 1 Oly, at the end of last year i was a little burned out, and that is part of the reason for my weight gain and lack of motivation this fall. I had treated every race as an "a" race and i think that hurt in the long run, by november i was Dog tired.

WEIGHT LOSS: Started in June of 2008 at 262lbs, i had had enough, i got to rock bottom 225 in July of 2009 and am currently 244lbs, my goal is to be around 200lbs, my work etic is good my diet sucks.

What will make me a good mentee??:   Well this will be my third mentor group, and i have a years worth of trial and tribulation to speak about. I like meeting new people and talking tri stuff, and if anyone ever gets to meet Bob Stocks in person they should jump on the opportunity as he is a first class Gentleman and one hell of an athlete and humanitarian that people should emulate more often.


thats me in a nut shell, if you like to read, check out my race reports, they are a touch on the long side, but are pretty funny. You should also check out Bob Stocks reports, especially Lake placid 2009, they show what sportsmanship is all about, and why we all do this crazy type "a" nutjob dominated sport.