Colin Cook's Mentor Group - CLOSED

Hey Colin,

Thanks for takin on the role of Mentor! I'm sure I am not the only Newbie that is grateful. Let me see if I can follow the flow of your bio...

My name is Natasha and my username is Native.

Story: I also come from an athletic background and growing up at the beach made it ALOT easier! I'm more of a runner than anything else, but won't say I'm the fastest. And well, I'm no stranger to OWS! I turned to tri's (or the idea of) because I really wanted to challenge myself and because well, WHY NOT?!?!?!

Status: Single. No kids. So aside from work, I have nothing but time to train!!!!

Current Training: Sporadic. Yes, I chose the right word.  This is one of the main areas i need help with.  Getting on a regular training program and  understanding that program. I have been doing alot of strength training and trying to get in one to two mid rides a week (and by mid I mean low end of 22 miles with a group) and another day by myself.  I am typically swimming for about 40minutes every other day (not keeping track of distance) and run in the evenings on the other days with strength training mixed in.

Last years races: All running (5k's, 10k's, Half Marathon)

2010 Races: Undecided. I suppose that is due to not wanting to be unprepared and end up injuring myself. Looking to do Sprints (My first tri/West Point Lake/BFAST), Marathon (ING GA Marathon), and an Olympic (again, undecided)

Weightloss: Can't afford to lose anymore weight.

What will make me a great candidate to mentor: I'm a sponge!  I love to learn and need to learn (perfectionist)

"Quitting is not an option"

Hey Colin!  I would like to join your group!  I like that you are training for the longer distances- I'm currently training for a half-marathon, and I am entertaining the idea of completing a half-iron distance in September, so I would love to learn from you in that area!

This will be my first year of triathlons.  In terms of what sparked my triathlon interest- well, it was after watching the Ironman World Championships (how original! ) in high school, and at that time I did do an indoor triathlon, but haven't gotten around to doing an outdoor one.  (I'm 24 now.)  Pretty much every year I say I want to do a triathlon, but this year will be the year that is different and I will I do many!

So I guess I would say I come from a running background, although I haven't been consistent with it in recent years.  Speaking about now, I started running with a "plan" in February, and like I mentioned, am training for a half-marathon, which will be in June.  I've got a 5k in a couple of weeks, and I'm nervous because it's my first race in a looong time and I'm going in with expectations from myself!

As for triathlons, I'd like to do a handful of sprints this year (and maybe the half-iron in September.)  I'm still contemplating whether to make my first tri a week before my half-marathon- I'm getting anxious about doing one that I just want to do it asap!   I guess first question for you - what do you think about this, a sprint a week before a half-marathon?   I'm not sure how much a triathlon will take out of me.  I want to be fresh for the half-marathon first and foremost.

Okay, I think I've said enough for now!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Edit to add:  My name is Samantha, I realized I forgot to mention that.

Hey Colin, I'd like to get into your group, if possible.

Name: Mark Gould, username is mdgould & I'm 39 (will be 40 this summer)....

Story: Kind of always wanted to do a Tri.  The Air Force makes me run anyway and I enjoy biking, so I figured I just needed to learn to swim better.  I never really played sports, but took up competitive shooting in the late 90s.  That's my primary sport, so I'm going to have to work Tri training in around shooting training and matches; and work, family, etc.  So, I think organizing effective training (esp swimming) is going to be the most difficult thing for me.  I mentioned doing a Tri to a couple of buddies at work and they're interested doing some races this summer too.  I figure we'll at least be able to keep on each other honest during training.

Status: Married 12 years, 2 boys (7 & 9), & 2 cats (Fuzzer and Squeaks).

Current Training: Mostly running and biking a few times a week.  Still working on learning to swim better, but the pool is generally closed by the time I get home.  However, I have been getting in some decent runs and a few bike rides after work.  I can probably work some training in at the office too.  Swimming is going to be the toughest thing for me though.

2010 Races: Want to do some sprints and have an eye on the Nations Tri (Oly) in DC.  I don't think bike or run would be too much of a problem, but the 1500m OW swim is scaring me off at this point.  I'm not looking for fast times, just want to finish for the first few.

Weightloss: Not an issue

Looking forward to it....

Take Care,
Mark

Hi again Colin!

First of all, I am happy to hear your encouragement about a half-ironman in September!  I actually wasn't sure if it would be a bit too much to aim for.  I've been thinking long and hard about it recently because there's a $20 price increase after 4/30, so I'm thinking about whether or not I want to register soon!  I am really leaning towards registering though...

The half-marathon (on 6/6) is definitely a priority... but so is getting in my first tri!  haha!  Otherwise, if I don't do the 5/29 one, my first tri would be on 6/23, and honestly, that just seems sooo far away.   In addition, I'm thinking about sprints on 7/21 and 8/18.  These three are a series put on by our local running store, and they give $30 vouchers if you volunteer at their events.  I've volunteered at a few of their running events now, so I'm hoping to be able to use the vouchers for their triathlons as well.  If so, that'd be three tri's for $75, how can I pass that up!

Now, to let you know about my current training, I will try to explain what I've been doing:

Running.  I'm pretty much following the FIRST training program: http://www.furman.edu/first/Half%20Marathon%20Training%20Program%20-%20metric.pdf so basically three "key" workouts.  I liked it in the beginning because quite honestly, I liked the idea of running less, haha.  But now I'm feeling like I want to run more, so I may add in an extra run, at half the distance of the week's long run.  So, this means about 4 runs a week.  I use McMillan's running calculator to determine my pacing.

Swimming. Like Andrew, I pretty much just get in the pool and swim.  haha.  In the beginning I was also doing interval workouts (I looked at some triathlon training plans), but honestly... I don't think I like intervals... (which I find to be a bit strange since it's the opposite with running- I love interval workouts!)  Drills, the same thing... the thought of them just bores me LOL.  So most recently, I have just been doing continuous swims, bilateral breathing.  I've been gradually increasing the length of my swims.  But, at 2:25/100m, I know I'm slow.  Honestly I don't think my form is that bad, but obviously something isn't right!  And, I do realize intervals and drills help, soooo at some point, I will be willing to do them.   I aim to swim at least 3 times a week.

Biking.  ahhh, the biking!  I believe this will be my weak spot... I'm slow at swimming, but I feel comfortable being able to go the distance.  The biking, I'm in the process of trying to slowly build up.  I was on the stationary bike during the cold winter months (well, February onwards), and ramped up too quickly apparently.  I started experiencing knee aggravation.   So now that I've shifted to outside biking with the weather being nicer, I'm just trying to take it slowly and ease into it, hoping the knee aggravation does not come back!  As of now I'm doing 5 mile rides.  I am thinking about building up one "longer" ride like 3-5 miles more than the previous week.  What is the baseline for increasing long rides?  Honestly, I am just very worried about getting injured!  I am aiming for 3 rides a week.

Also, I incorporate a "recovery week" every 4th week, and this is a drastic cutback. This is more of a mental thing than anything I think.  My paranoia of getting injured (I've had overuse running injuries in the past) has me thinking that I should play it really safe during this week.

Oh, and I lift weights like 2 times a week because I like it.  I have read there is no concrete evidence that points to strength training helping triathletes, but that doesn't really bother me.

This is where I'm at right now, and I hope to keep at it!

Thanks again for your time Colin!

And as a group I hope we'll be able to benefit from each other, it seems like we've got an assortment of backgrounds!

Hello Colin,