Looking for a Few Virtual Training Partners v2.0

Lets kick this off by filling telling the group a little about yourself.

Name: n.k (Nole)

Triathlon (and/or other sports) experience: I've been doing triathlons for two seasons.  I have completed three Olympics and one HIM.  I basically have no athletic background.

Short term goal(s): Complete Phoenix Rock and Roll marathon, my first.  Hopefully finish in under 4:30, though just finishing is my main goal.  Lose 14 lbs by the marathon.

Long term goals(s): Complete at least one, if not two, HIMs next year and get much, much faster.

Other info about you: I am 29, a middle school math teacher, married for 6 years (wife is just getting into tris, though not nearly as serious as I am), father of two kids both under 3.  When I started triathlons I was at 245 lbs, but made it all the way down to 195 lbs at the end of this summer.  I've packed a few lbs back on during the football season (beer and nachos!).

What are you hoping to get from this group?: I am basically just looking for a few people to check in on my logs to help keep me accountable both with my training and my weight.  I'd also love advice or feedback on how I can train more effectively and get fast/go longer.  Also, just looking for some comrade and like-minded 'Internet training partners.'

I'll play.

Name:  Ann-Marie

Triathlon/sport experience:  Just finishing my 2d season.  First season was 5 sprints.  This season i completed 3 sprints, 1 international and 1 HIM.  I have also completed 3 marathons and quite a few HMs. 

Short-term goals: My HIM was 11/13 and i'm having a bit of a hard time getting cranked back up, but I'm thinking of running a HM this weekend.  My knees a little sore, so that isn't helping my motivation.  After that, I'll see if i can work myself up to a marathon (or maybe just another HM) in Jan. or Feb. 

Long-term goals:  I don't know how "long-term" this is, but I'd like to do 2 HIMs next season and at least one fall marathon.  After that, I have no idea.  I also need to drop 5 -7 pounds to really get back to where i'm happy. 

Other info:  I'm a middle aged (currently) single woman.  I am also an attorney for a law enforcement agency which means that i am often on-call and may have my workouts interupted with work related issues.  I have a big family and am lucky that 2 brothers,  1 sister and a sister-in-law often join me in the sprint races and HMs.  I am trying to talk them into longer races, but so far they have resisted my efforts

What I hope to get from this group:  Although I am self-motivated, having people checking up on me helps get me out of bed on those mornings when that voice in my head tries to convince me that sleeping in is a good thing.  I also like to see how others are doing and support their efforts.  Finally, for the last year I've been playing around with becoming a vegetarian - I only eat meat a couple of times a week and, if we have any vegetarians here, would love to get some recipes and other nutritional advice.

I'm, in...

I like long walks on beaches and sunsets, oh wait wrong forum.

I'm 32, 6'2", and 220. Work in sales and part time pilot(I'm phasing it out). I am married with 3.5 year old twins and a two year old. Extremely, full schedule with the need to fill the extra blanks with training. I have passively ran for 5 years, cycled the MS150 for three and Tri's for two years. I have completed numerous sprints, one OLY, and one short distance. The BIG event next year is IMAZ. My Signature shows the rest of my long distance schedule for next year.

My goal is to get into the 190's, low 190's and my target IM time is +/-14 hours.

Let me know what all updates ya'll will want. I have considered similar threads or even a online sprint tri. I know honesty would play a factor and the podium would just be bragging rights but it could be fun.

I'll get in on some of this!

Name: Timmay!!

Triathlon (and/or other sports) experience: I was athletic all of my youth including competieve soccer, tennis, volleyball, swimming and tri's... until college.  After that pretty sedintary outside of some Mens competitive volleyball until my early 30's (unless bar hopping is considered exercise). 

Short term goal(s): 2 sprints, 2 Oly's, and I would really like to enjoy running!  Right now I hate, hate, hate it!!!!!

Long term goals(s): 2014 IM

Other info about you: 35 year old guy with a great girlfriend and two obnoxious boxers.  I work in sales for a large remodeling company and have a (for now) WONDERFULLY flexible schedule for training.  Now if only I could take advantage of it!  I began racing motorcycles at 30 (weighed in at 255 then ooooph) I dedicated myself to losing weight at 33, down to 190 by 34 with Krav Maga and calisthenics.  Now I mountain bike quite a bit, still do some Krav Maga along with SBR training. I found some of the lost weight and am hovering around 205. All my cycling logs to date are XC single track on my mountain bike, but I am in the process of buying a road bike in the VERY near future! 

What are you hoping to get from this group?: I train better when someone holds me accountable.  I find even when I keep logs I hold myself more accountable as I hate looking back and seeing empty days that werent planned!

I am in~ I am a 50+ year old mother wife...I was a smoker and weighed over 200 lbs. I quit smoking and have participated in triathlons both sprint and olympic ~ I have run half marathons and was able to get my weight down to the low 160s. I lost both my parents to cancer last year and was put in a funk of no exercise and lots of bad food~ I have gained half of my weight back and decided enough is enough~ and so I had to find a race to do to get inspirece again ~ was able to get into the Vineman HIM. 

I am a past mountain bike racer and feel the run is totally doable ~ its swimming I will need you guys to help me with. I am not a strong swimmer and it is hard for me to motivate to swim at the outdoor pool in the winter...

are we going to use this thread or get Dee to make us a new one???

I'm game! I'm focusing now on training for a POSSIBLE participation in an Xterra race in March of 2012. 

Name: Blanda

Triathlon (and/or other sports) experience: Soccer for Guam and running for many years, and recreational rugby. Raced my 1st super sprint tri this year. 

Short term goal(s): Xterra in March of 2012.

Long term goals(s): Dunno yet!

Other info about you: 39, married with 3 kids. 

What are you hoping to get from this group?: Accountability and improvement from reading about your training experiences.

Hi timmay ~ I used to hate to run too~ I actually kinda like it now~ do you have an ipod or music you run with? and if you do....do you have a special mix of your favorite boogie woogie music?? this helps me ~ I sometimes find myself belting out a song as Im running~ haha

How far are you running? and how often?

do you run on a treadmill or outside?

btw ~ your obnoxious boxer looks adorable ~ i have two bostons and Im not sure you know obnoxious til you meet kahuna and frisco~

D001 - 2011-11-30 1:00 AM Here you go, a links table for your blogs.

BT Training Partners v2.0 n.k - Nole amd723 - Ann-Marie brooksinc1976 - Brooks tstruyk - Timmay Girl Passing on Left - Julee Blanda - Blanda mambos - Matt

Very cool! Thank you.

Matt: I committed to the Runner's World Thanksgiving to New Year's run streak, plus the Guam Xterra race in is March of 2012, so I MUST kick it up a notch.

Right now I have a headache in my eyes (eye ache?) and am super sleepy, but seeing you all getting motivated to get motivated is going to push out the door for my short run and swim.

looks like we have a good group going!

Thanks for putting up the link to our blogs.

My plan for surviving xmas is simple - run often, swim when I can and try to keep walking past the sweets! I'll be in south Florida for xmas as will be various family members who run and swim, so we should be able to keep each other in line.  The weather usually even allows ocean swims - which I love.

I'm off to my masters' swim - great way to start a wednesday!

Ann-Marie

Got my 1 mile warm up (Runner's World Run Streak) mile in, and 700 meters of swimming.

I miscounted either Monday or tonight because the swim time difference between the two is huge. It's so hard to keep lap count! How do you guys do it?!

Here is my info

Name....Vinny

Experience....3 years training. Three Olympics, five sprints, a half Mary, two 10k and bunch of 5k races.

Short term goals....March half marathon, figure out my 2012 race schedule

Long term...99% sure I am doing my first HIM in June. I want to log all my workouts, goals, etc in bt for 2012

Other info...35 y/o, married with two kids. Got into tris to lose weight and get in shape. I am 6'7" tall so I am not your typical sized triathlete. My height helps with the swimming but running is my weak point. I have been running 6 days a week since my last oly two months ago and have seen some improvement. Just ran a personal best 5 k on thanksgiving so I must be doing something right.

What am I hoping to get from the group.....money! Just kidding. Encouragement and feedback would be great. I am hoping I can do the same for the group.

If you are swimming 700 straight then it would difficult to keep track of 28 laps as your mind wanders.  I rarely swim anything over 500 straight.  For example here is a 2000 yard swim I do sometimes.

WU: 5x100, swim, pull, kick, swim, pull 

Ladder:  50, 100, 200, 300, 200, 100, 50

2x100 fast

Cool down: 3x100 different strokes

I haven't been in the water (much needed break) for a while but will be picking it back up soon!

In!

Name: Kate

Triathlon (and/or other sports) experience: This was my first season of Triathlon.  I was very active in sports growing up all through high school.  Basketball, volleyball, track (mostly the field part).  I completed 5 races this year and am looking forward to next season

Short term goal(s): Get more competitive in the Athena Sprint category (I'm 6' tall and will never see the other side of 150!). 

Long term goals(s): Next year is all about sprints/olys but once I complete my degree at the end of 2012, I would like to do at least one HIM - preferably the Chisago Lakes Half Iron in Minnesota as it was my first real open water race.

Other info about you:I am 30 years old and a confirmed bachelorette.  I was in great shape in high school and was an actively gigging musician in Chicago for 9 years.  Slugging around 80 pound amps and my bass gear kept me fit.  Once I joined the real world in a consulting firm and had some health issues, my weight soared.  I've lost 56 pounds since February 17th of this year and have 24ish more to go before I hit goal.

What are you hoping to get from this group?: I've hit a slump in my training and weight loss over the last two months.  The first 50 pounds came off in 6 months and only 6 have come off since.  I like having a group of people to keep me accountable and to help me get better in this sport!

Name: Lenny

Triathlon (and/or other sports) experience: First tri in 1994, first marathon in 1986, IM Wis in 2006, first 50K trail run this past Sept.

Short term goal(s): Right now I am training for the Disney 1/2 and full marathon weekend in January.

Long term goals(s): This year was all about running, next year I want to get back into tri training.

Other info about you: 46, married for 19 years, 2 boys 14 & 16, I have a Yellow Lab that runs with me. I run the office of a family owned sawmill.

What are you hoping to get from this group?: I like having a group of people to check in with to share training stories, ideas and information.

Today was a rest day, so took Brewer for a walk then lifted weights at the Y.

Another goal for 2012, lift weights more.

Great!  Maybe next year I'll have enough time to work in weights....

I want to start tracking more effectively.  Once I am accurately tracking on a daily basis I think I can make a better judgment as to how I should adjust my training. 

I have the same problem and have no tricks to help.  In fact, this morning I lost track just doing 200 yd sets - I can't seem to keep my thoughts from wandering.  So, I just end up going back to the lowest lap I think I've done and figure if I do a little extra yardage it isn't hurting anyone.

Thanks so much, guys, for your input on lap counting. I'm glad it's not so unusual to lose count! I'll give each tip a try, and I do need to vary my workout, which does sound like it'll help keep count. Lately I've been just doing a set number of laps (700 at the moment). 

Cool thing is that this month I start training with a swim team that doesn't compete. Swim teams for Morale and Welfare programs on military installations aren't allowed to be competitive. Odd, huh? Good for me though because I'd hold the team back, har har. I love the coach and he says I can work at my own pace until I feel I can hang. Looking forward to it!