Welcome Jackie, it's great to have you.  Looks like we have some of the same goals this year.  I was just thinking about starting Jorge's program now that I am back from my break.  Congrats on your 1st season. 

Of course Mike.  Welcome.  You have made some really big gains this year and I hope you can share your secrets to success with the rest of the group. 

Just a reminder to make sure your logs are made public, or if you are keeping them private to just your friends, please add everyone in the group as a friend.  If you don't know how, just ask.  Once the group is set, I will set up a table (like the one in my log right now) so it's easy to get to other group member's pages.

Welcome George.  Good for you to make the decision to get off the couch.  Kids can be a good motivator.  Please do not hesitate to ask any questions as you get into training.  I hope you take full advantage of the this site and the group. 

Welcome Dan.  We take any speed of runners around here.  I a pretty slow runner.  Will you be focused strictly on running until May or are you going to try and get some biking and swimming in?  Swimming is the biggest mental hurdle to get over for a lot of people, but once you get used to the water and get some time in, it does really click. 

Welcome Alex and Bill.  Glad to have you both.

I am hoping to balance it out a little more between males and females, so I would like to get a few more females to join before letting anymore guys in. 

NAME: Ail/Ailie       

STORY: I am 35 year old (female) and have done one “season” in this lovely sport. I say “season” as I did 2 races, so I do not think that counts. Was a huge jock in HS (field hockey, winter and spring track, basketball) skiing and climbing for fun, rowed in college. Always consider myself an active person and love being outside, but realized I was not really getting much done when I went to the gym. Signed up for my first tri to support a friend who was doing one, OK and to compete…a little…ok a lot…..I love to compete. Found I liked them and the work that you have to put into them. Makes going to the gym and working out mean something again. I am 5’8” and weight about 170, need to drop weight. I currently hate running probably because I am so heavy now, never really liked it, it was just a means to an end. I like swimming (grew up in New England, summer on boats and the ocean) so open water does not freak me out, OK on the bike, know how to run, just suck at it right now.

FAMILY STATUS: single with 2 dogs that keep me on my toes

CURRENT TRAINING: I am doing the 4-7h winter maintenance program 20 week plan, (before that I was doing the beginner sprint 12 week program in the summer) but it is looking to be more like a 23 week plan and with xmas and being sick I have had to push back the weeks a few times…..

2010 RACES:  Tri to Beat Cancer sprint, Take Flight tri sprint

2011 RACES:   The same two as last ear plus a few more to make a full “season” also maybe an OLY at the end of the season.

GOALS: Want to maybe try for an OLY, but mainly get my running to improve. The bike and swim could be faster but I know that my run is HORRID right now. That is the main reason I am sticking with sprints, the run distance. I don’t see myself really ever going past that, a ½ or full marathon seems ludicrous to me, but who knows….

NAME: itziaol / itzia
A real beginner

HISTORY:  I’m 44 years old.   In the past 5 years I’ve concentrated on working and studding, but after looking at my holiday pictures this Summer, I decided I had to do something about my figure and started dieting and exercising.  I have knee problems, so I was afraid they were going to hurt if I ran, but a friend gave me a programme to follow and I was alright.   I ran my first 10K race in November.  Then I started to think of participating in a sprint triathlon as a goal to accomplish when I’m 45.

I practically grew up swimming.  I’m a tropical fish.  I trained with a diving team and a swimming team as a teenager, but my passion was always classical ballet.  I have no experience in riding a road bike, although I used to ride to school and I ride a mountain bike from time to time.   I’ve been a good girl, so Santa is bringing me a road bike; a used one to start with.  Therefore, I would appreciate any advice you can give me in order to help him chose it.

FAMILY STATUS:  I’m married and have two kids, a 10 year old girl and a 14 year old boy.  My family is used to supporting me in my personal projects, whether they are building a house, going back to work, aiming for a promotion, studying, etc.

CURRENT TRAINING: I’ve been training 4 times a week so far, but I’m willing to do 6 in order to get ready.  For the moment I’m recovering from a sprained ankle.  The paradox is that I did not injure myself training, but while calmly walking down some steps at work.  :-S  I guess I’ll have to start from scratch now.

GOALS: I’ve been dreaming of doing a sprint triathlon in May, but since I was injured, I guess it would be more realistic to aim for August and perhaps October.

WEIGHTLOSS:  I’ve lost 9lbs, which is not a lot, nevertheless my body composition has changed.  I still have to lose at least another 14lbs to reach my ideal weight.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE:  I am very structured and disciplined.  Once I set my mind to obtaining something I don’t stop until I get it.  I’ve always been a good student and a hard worker.  I’m also a good researcher and I tend to spend an awful lot of time in front of the computer.  So even though I might not know much about this subject, I can find things out and share them with the group.  I know that setting my self goals and obtaining them will build up the confidence I need to make some overdue professional decisions.  So… I need to do this.  I hope you accept me as your mentee, even though I’m such an old beginner.