JFord Bradleyd3 2013 Spring Group- Closed

WHEN CAN YOU START MENTORING CONSISTENTLY: January

GROUP FOCUS: Olympic and Longer distance

NAME:  Nadamson12  (Noel) 

STORY: For the past 8 years I have been doing Strength training/power lifting.  As of last August I was tired of the injuries and unhealthiness of the sport and decided I needed a change.  My older brother has been big into half and full IM for the last few years and suggested using them as a chance to get healthy. 

FAMILY STATUS: Married for 7 years with two kids - 6 and 4 

CURRENT TRAINING: I am training primarily for Olympic distances with the desire of doing the Kansas 1/2 in 2014.  My current training consists mostly of running with a top distance of 3 miles s of now (running was never my thing). 

THIS YEAR'S RACES: Our Local YMCA branches held indoor races.  500 m Swim, 6 mi stationary bike ride, and 2 mi run.

2013 RACES:  This year there are 7 sprint and Olympic distance races starting in mid April that I am registering for. 

WEIGHTLOSS: My weight loss goals are simple reduce muscle mass and the extra 15-20 lbs I have put on.  I am currently at 235lbs and think the 200 range would be a great start.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: My philosophy in everything I take on is simple in fact I am getting tattooed on my back soon.  Knowledge + Dedication = Success.  I am hoping to gain the knowledge from you two, combined with everything I can research and read about, add in my dedication and hopefully end with success.  I am very coachable and have a desire.  

I would like to join your group.  I did my first tri's this past summer.  I have my 3rd olympic tri in March, my first HIM in May (Rocketman) and a full distance tri scheduled for September (Rev3 Cedar Point).  I am usually a very good self-motivator and self disciplined.  However, life has been crazy and I can see I need some accountability.  I have been running since July of 2006 (before that I was a couch potato).  I did my first marathon in 2007.  I have done 11 total marathons and a whole bunch of other running distances including doing the Goofy in 2011.  Swimming is probably my weakest.  I have the endurance but not the speed. 

Michelle

Welcome Ginger and Michelle!!!!

It's great to have accountability and that one thing Brad and I can offer, but we also ask that you hold us accountable as well (except for all the typos you will see from us)

Right now, I am using a BT plan to train for an Olympic I have in May. I am starting that plan on Monday. So let me ask the group, what plans are you using to train for your next race?

Noel, the run is important, in fact Lance Armstrong said you ride for show and run for dough! However, bike fitness is very important to the run. If you do not have the right amount of bike fitness, then you will run slower off the bike. So don't discount the bike (you might look into getting a trainer so you can ride your bike indoors, I love mine)

As far as your runs, you mentioned that in your swim workouts you different aspects of swimming, I would also do different aspects on running. My best year running was the year i worked in speed drills into my runs, it helped me the most, so I would consider doing that. BT has alot of different plans for free on here and some you can customize that I would look into!

This was in my inbox:

"Have been wandering about the swim particularly.... I know its usually done front crawl, but I have timed a couple of lengths of breast stroke to crawl, and the breast stroke is faster. I used to swim in a few inter school tournaments with the breast stroke, but my crawl has always  been rubbish. Do i just need to work hard and improve my crawl, or can i do a bit of both do you guys think?"

IMO the crawl is best, but I know many swimmers that use breast stroke in the swim. I know many people that use the breast stroke when they need to sight also! If your race is not until MAY, you have plenty of time to get in that groove using the crawl. A race will never be won in the swim, so I wouldn't worry about trying to be the first out of the water!

Is it better to train if distance, or train for time.

ie... Should I be running miles or running for 40-50 min?  All the training programs on here have you training for time periods and states nothing about distances.  I know my average mile time on bike and run and my average 100 meter swim time, and as I look at the times they want, it has for the Olympic training 16 week program it will have me well over the distances on both Swim and Bike but right at the distances for running. 

I could argue both, but I prefer to train by time for longer distances and by distance for shorter races.  For some people, time is easier because everyone knows how long 30 minutes is, but do not know how far 4 miles. So I would say whatever works for you!

A 3 hour run sounds easier to me than a 16 mile run!

Tonight I am adding core work to my workout schedule, I want abs! My wife is also going to do the workout with me, although she is closer to the "ABS" than I am!

Sunday I have a 3k trail race I am running, last year I finished in 16 minutes, so I hope to beat that time.

Monday, I start my training for Memphis in May Olympic triathlon. I can't wait! 

I to am starting tomorrow.  I am going to start the 20 week X2 Olympic program they have on here.  Should have me ready in June for my first Olympic distance.  As for "abs"  not a worried about them, I have the core strength, but will never have the 6-pack.  I need flexibility so the wife and I have started nightly Yoga here at home and once a week at the YMCA.

ok, I want to join.

BIO:  did 1st TRI in 1988 as something 'to do' before I finished school.  Ran marathons after that, then got busy with the 'real world'.  Have raced bikes (endurance and short, mtn and road) for the last 9 yrs and currently on a competitive cycling team (road).  Will be racing mostly stage races this spring with the team.  Once did a 24 hr mtn bike race as a 2 man team - yeah that was dumb (got 2nd though).  Have knee tenderness - worn from distance running 20 yrs ago the doc said.  Did a sprint TRI 2 yrs ago, but quit TRI's due to knee problems....

Goal:  keep building running base slowly so I can do a HIM this June (Kansas), then again in the fall.  My big goal is 2014: full IM somewhere.  

first question:  just got tri bike.  need to order wheels - advice on depth (front/rear)?

glad to join you folks - let's have fun with some accountability!

James,

Do you have room for another member of your group?

My name is Bob Vogel, and I live in Knoxville, TN. I'm married with three kids, two are out of the house. We have a 14 year old son who keeps us young.

I am 53 years old, 6'2" and weigh 261.5 pounds as of this morning. I suppose I'm coming in as a clydesdale?

I gew up in NJ, and was a competitive swimmer until about 18, so I'm pretty comfortable in the water, I just have no endurance, currently. Also, all of my kids are or have been competitive swimmers, so I've been around the sport most of my life. As I get in better shape, I'm going to look for a Masters Group here in Knoxville - right now, I'd be embarrassed to get the water with them.

I tried a couple of triathalons (Olympic distance) about 25 years ago. I didn't have a very disciplined training regimen, but I finished. I had a lot of fun, but life just got too complicated, so I didn't stay with it. My experience with them was that I could come out of the water in the top 5 (including the alpha males at the front of the heap), I'd drift back to about the back of the first third of the pack during the bike, and then everyone would pass me during the run. I mean, everyone. I run like a rock. Mostly, that was because I was too heavy - even then, I was around 230-235. Little old me would pass me and pat me on the back for encouragement. My wife described my running as looking like the intro to the six million dollar man show - where he runs in slow motion - that was me - slow motion.

After that, I went in the Army. Basic got me down to about 195-200 and in great shape. I was running 6 minute miles for distance and could walk forever with forty pounds on my back.

I got out twenty years ago and have been carbing up ever since! Now at 261, I'm ready to get myself back in shape. (I started a blog about it - http://bobswell.blogspot.com/2013/01/great-workout.html)

We started the Sonoma diet - which is a low carb, Mediterean style diet - great recipes - anyway - I had lost 10 pounds before Christmas and got down to 253, but I've gained 8 back.

My goal is to get down to 185 and be able to complete a couple of Olympic distance triathalons this year. Next year, I'd like to do a 1/2 Ironman and the following year, I'd like to do Ironman.

Right now, I've been working on building core strength using Kettlebells and body weight exercises. I haven't started running, but I've done some distance walking. So, really, I'm starting from scratch.

So, do you have room for a chubby old man like me?

Bob

James,

Do you have room for another member of your group?

My name is Bob Vogel, and I live in Knoxville, TN. I'm married with three kids, two are out of the house. We have a 14 year old son who keeps us young.

I am 53 years old, 6'2" and weigh 261.5 pounds as of this morning. I suppose I'm coming in as a clydesdale?

I gew up in NJ, and was a competitive swimmer until about 18, so I'm pretty comfortable in the water, I just have no endurance, currently. Also, all of my kids are or have been competitive swimmers, so I've been around the sport most of my life. As I get in better shape, I'm going to look for a Masters Group here in Knoxville - right now, I'd be embarrassed to get the water with them.

I tried a couple of triathalons (Olympic distance) about 25 years ago. I didn't have a very disciplined training regimen, but I finished. I had a lot of fun, but life just got too complicated, so I didn't stay with it. My experience with them was that I could come out of the water in the top 5 (including the alpha males at the front of the heap), I'd drift back to about the back of the first third of the pack during the bike, and then everyone would pass me during the run. I mean, everyone. I run like a rock. Mostly, that was because I was too heavy - even then, I was around 230-235. Little old me would pass me and pat me on the back for encouragement. My wife described my running as looking like the intro to the six million dollar man show - where he runs in slow motion - that was me - slow motion.

After that, I went in the Army. Basic got me down to about 195-200 and in great shape. I was running 6 minute miles for distance and could walk forever with forty pounds on my back.

I got out twenty years ago and have been carbing up ever since! Now at 261, I'm ready to get myself back in shape. (I started a blog about it - http://bobswell.blogspot.com/2013/01/great-workout.html)

We started the Sonoma diet - which is a low carb, Mediterean style diet - great recipes - anyway - I had lost 10 pounds before Christmas and got down to 253, but I've gained 8 back.

My goal is to get down to 185 and be able to complete a couple of Olympic distance triathalons this year. Next year, I'd like to do a 1/2 Ironman and the following year, I'd like to do Ironman.

Right now, I've been working on building core strength using Kettlebells and body weight exercises. I haven't started running, but I've done some distance walking. So, really, I'm starting from scratch.

So, do you have room for a chubby old man like me?

Bob

Life has really been trying to mess up my training.  My sister is in final stages of cirrohsis, my youngest daughter is getting married the first week of March, my boss is getting ready to head out of the country for a month (I get to make up the slack), and then there was Christmas and New Year's.  Oh! And then there are the days you struggle to get enough motivation to get out of bed at 4:15am only to arrive at the gym and wait for someone to come and open it up.  By the time they get there, you don't have enough time to get a workout in and get to work! UGH!  It has been crazy. 

But TODAY is a great day.  So far, I did a 3 mile run and 1 hour spinning class.  I plan to ride my bike on the trainer at home this evening (if life doesn't throw another curve ball). 

I can have no more excuses.  My first HIM is May 5.  I need to train more consistently. 

Happy Monday Group! This morning I hit a chilly 27 degree 4 mile run to kick off my Olympic race training. It was soo cold!!! But I did get out there and got it done! Tonight my plan calls for a 14 mile ride, which will be done on the trainer while watching the game! (I just got a new Clyclops trainer and can;t wait)

Yesterday I ran the 1st race of a winter cross country series which consisted of a 3k. I set a new PR for me 14:59, which I was thrilled with since it is a trail run!

As far as my plan, I have imported it into my BT blog, you can go and check it out on the left hand side!