2016 Clyde/Athena Tri-N-4-Weight Loss Mentor Group - Open

Robin, allow me to be the first on the forum to CONGRATULATE you on your retirement. I am pretty sure you will find that finding time for training is much easier when you are retired. I know I have much more time when school is not in session.

1/1/2016
1/21 - Walk - 37m 12s - 2.00 miles - 18m 36s /Mi
Brrrr! 28ºF with 10-15 mph winds. Started the New Year off right. Did a nice little walk. Have to learn my proper layering.

I'm sad to report that, my running "career" is over.

As I mentioned in the 2015 thread, I had a setback in late 2012/early 2013 from a bad left knee, more specifically the knee cap; "Grade 2 Chondromalacia of the Lateral Patellar Facet" .All details here: http://www.fatguysredemption.com/2013/04/26/fat-guys-redemption-2-0...

It took a LONG time to get rid of the pain, and after that I was paranoid to even do anything for fear of it coming back. But last August I decided to start over again, slowly, making sure of doing things right this time - keep up with leg strength training, stretching, very slow mileage increase, using Hoka One shoes for more cushion, etc.. Everything was going fine, until 3-4 days ago - I felt it again.

I've been taking Naproxen for 2 days now and haven't done any leg workouts or runs in the last 3 days, but I can still feel the tightness in my knee when I bend it.

Clearly there's something bio-mechanically wrong with my left leg as my right knee is perfectly fine and always has been. I even had a 3D gait analysis done in 2014 and it showed that there wasn't really anything out of the ordinary except maybe a little ankle weakness on both legs.

I'm going to see if I can still bike at least. I'll do 30 mins on the trainer this afternoon and see if the knee gets aggravated.

Ray, don't give up yet! Consider going down a different path and just doing racewalking instead of running. Every time I have tried to return to running I have wound up injured. This summer I was determined not to get re-injured and did some internet research. I discovered a couple of interesting points and websites.

First of all, racewalking isn't necessarily "too slow". The US Men's Road record is currently 3h 2m for a 40km race. That's 25 miles! So add one more mile and your still talking about a marathon in under 3.5 hours.

Second, and most importantly for me, I have completed a summer of training without injury. And I have included a 10k walk in each month. I'm still struggling to break the 10mpk (15 min per mile) pace but I have done it. And that's more than I have been able to do in any previous year.

Check out Racewalk.com for some great info on how to start and the correct form. Then go to the Beginner's Marathon Walking Schedule for a training plan. The same website will also have plans to get you to where you can complete a full marathon in under 5½ hours. That's just 7.67mpk. I old, fat, and American, so I don't know if that is a good pace for a Canook. But for me that would be 12.6 min per mile and I think that is totally doable in a year or two.

Stay the course man. And remember, this sport is 90% mental. If you want it bad enough you will find a way. We're all here for you man.

Glad to see the '16 thread. Going to keep this short.

Weight 271.5. That's up 11.5lb from last Jan. It's doubly depressing because I was down to 245 mid-year.

I am out if town until the 5th, sans gear. So, jumping back on the bandwagon, running in the AM because PM never happens and adding in the Scoche + HRM Amy got me for Christmas... I need to lose the weight again, I feel horrible.

2/21 - Walk - 35m 12s - 2.00 miles - 17m 36s /Mi
20º and 10-15 mph winds. I need my head examined! Boy that was COLD!

What is the process for joining this group and will it be listed in the mentor groups tab or here in general discussion?

Chris, you say "I'm interested". We say "Hey, that's great. Welcome to the group." And that's pretty much it.

It's listed right here in General Discussion, right where you found us.

Welcome to the group.

3/21 - Walk - 52m 17s - 3.00 miles - 17m 25s /Mi
Subbed at JSHS and had to do Hall Patrol during lunch anyway, so I stayed out there during my prep period and got three miles in. Then rushed my sandwich before the period ended.

Hi,

I'd love to join again, I'm trying to focus more on health and gradual weight loss rather than a very restrictive plan but I am feeling a lot happier about being me which is a really good place to be.

Kate

Well... membership is very strict here....

So, yeah! Party on with us!

Quick background story on me:

2007 - decided I needed to do something "big" before I turned 30, so I signed up for a half marathon with zero running experience.
2009 - decided that running alone wasn't doing it, so I signed up for a sprint triathlon, finished 21st out of 22 in the 39 & under Clydes.
Jan. 2010 - Saw a picture of myself and realized just how out of shape (fat) I really was.
Feb. 2010 - started on The Abs Diet and BT training plans, went from 295 lbs and 33% body fat down to a low of 225 lbs and 12% body fat over the next 2+ years. Had unprecedented success as a Clyde, podium finish in every race for 2+ years and a PR 4th place AG finish.
2011 - changed jobs and lost most of the free time I used for training, children got older and became involved in activities that took the place of those long rides and runs.
2012 - 2015 - Slowly worked my way back to the 240's, then the 250's, then 260, 270, 280, 290, all the while still competing and surprisingly, still being fairly successful.
2016 - time to get moving back down the scale. Started a walking program with my wife and will be walking in the Key West Half Marathon next weekend. It will be her first race longer than a 5k.

Goals for 2016 -

Average 3-4 pounds lost per month
More consistent training, average 4 workouts per week each month
Start back on the Abs Diet (I really liked it but my family didn't)
Take time for me, schedule at least 1 long, solo workout monthly (40+ mile bike ride)

Hi Big Mike,

I'd like to join your 2016 Group.

I'm 58 years of age, based in Melbourne Australia. In 2014 I took 11 months to prepare for my first triathlon by loosing 14 KG (31 LB) and learning to swim. Unfortunately the Thursday before the race my knee "blew up" but I was so determined to complete the race (150 m swim / 10 KM ride / 1500 m run) that I completed the race on one leg. While I felt satisfied that I had met my goal I put myself out of action for 12 months. In hindsight I should have waited for the next race. In 2015 I put 10 KG back on and lost my fitness.

I've been back in training for a month now, focusing on weight loss and starting to build endurance.

I'll be a bit out of step with most of the group as we're in summer and it's tri season now.

I've previously been a member of a couple of mentor groups. One was full of encouragement for newbies and the other was quite technical. I'm looking for encouragement and sharing experiences with like minded folks.

Looking forward to participating in this group.

Rod (Aussie Turtle)

Welcome Rod!

You can always look back at last year's thread to see what we're all about.

Weight: 170.5 (-1)

Planned reboot for this morning didn't go as... well... planned. I ended up oversleeping and not getting out to run. Also, the Z100 is gone and I am back on the Denali. Working on a new BB (the one I got is too wide), drop & aero bars, and a new shifting system asap. Of course if it doesn't work out I'll be out there anyways

Hi everyone, I've tracked you down to our new home.

My year has started well, last week (first proper week of training) I managed:

Swim, 3 swims, 3,000m 1:02
Bike, 2 rides, 71.5km, 2:56
Run, 5 runs, 32.4km, 3:50

For a total of 7 hours, 48 minutes. Pretty happy with that.

This week, I'm aiming for around 10 hours. I'll be adding a 4th swim, an open water event on Thursday. And adding a trainer session on the bike.
I'll also be increasing my long ride, and swapping a short run for a medium length one.

Why all these high numbers, today is 40 days from the Wanaka half ironman. I am all signed up and entered, flights paid fro accommodation booked. So ready or not, I will be lining up on the start line. This week there are 5 training weeks left, and a 6th to travel and taper. I've got to make them all count.

Weight - 291.0 lbs

Race week - taper calls for 3 - 30 minute walks with some stretching and a possible bike ride

Race goal - 3:15:00 and cross the finish line with my wife still smiling.