light_sabe_r's group is CLOSED

Hey Maddy,

Can I play. Maybe you can help me keep on track for my off season as well. Not that I've had an on season for quite a few years. The season is so far away for us Aussies that I don't know how to maintain my focus til summer.

I'm actually not a complete Newbie either so I wouldn't want to take any of those spots but I've been away from the sport for such a long time.

Okay, since this group doesn't seem to be filling up fast, I guess I will take a bid for a spot. I really could use some non-biased folks to keep me in check. I have the VAMDDCBTTC to whoop my a$$ when I slack off, but I'd like to expand my horizons a bit 

A bit about me and my goals: I'm Chrissy, I'm 27 and I've been doing the tri-thing for almost a year now. Used to be a dancer, never into "sports", esp those of the gym-class variety - I can't hit a softball to save my life. Was a decent swimmer, though never competitively, but that has helped a little as it was one leg of the tri I didn't need to worry about! I bought a road bike last spring and decided to sign up for a sprint. Picked one 12 weeks out and...completed it, let's just say. Can't say I "raced" it  The bike course was VERY hilly and scary.

Beyond my first sprint, I've done one other, a 10K run and a 10-Miler. The 10-Miler was LOTS of fun and training for it really helped my runnning base.

My goals for this season are in my log, but in brief, I hope do some more sprints, my first Oly in September and the Marine Corps Marathon in late October. I'm confident in the swim (just need to train for speed and even longer distances), fairly solid on my run (I'm not fast, but I am consistent and speed will come with time), but I SUCK on the bike. It kinda scares me and so I sometimes find excuses to can bike workouts. I'm okay on trails that I know, but descents scare me as do sharp turns and I cannot climb to save my life. And riding in the road is something I only do during races, with the exception of neighborhoods and streets with slow-moving traffic. I really need to HTFU and get more T-I-T-S, but I could also use some tips and tricks, etc.  So bike needs to be a serious focus this spring/summer. I am supposed to do a century ride in mid-May, which is going to be downright painful, though we have the option of doing only 50 miles. In reality, I could probably complete most, if not the whole thing, but it'll take me all day But I really want to be on track long before my Oly in September, esp. so I can more fully concentrate on my mary plan when it gets harder late this summer.

Hey Wurkit gurl,

I'm in a similar boat to you. I have a pretty good(not great) swim and a solid run but my ride has always let me down.

I'm Tammie, a 46yo married, stay at home mother to a 7 yo son. I've done some enticers, a few sprints and 1 olympic distance but that was nearly 5 years ago. My ride in the OD was 3rd last or something in my age group where as my swim and run were MOP(swim even a bit better)...and I ran with a calf injury!

I too am afraid of descents and cornering and riding on the road. Currently I do most of my riding on the trainer or trail on my mountain bike.So I need to focus on my bike and HTFU.

I was going to maybe play with a couple of enticers and maybe a sprint later in the year. I'm in Australia so Ive got a bit of time til the tri season here. But, a friend has talked me into doing a couple of Olympic distance races to try an qualify for the Age Group Worlds that are going too be in the Gold coast in 2009.

My swim and run time can get me there but if my bike stays the same I won't qualify. So I need to do some work...never have before just winged it in the past.

So help, support, encouragement and tips will be much appreciated and something to keep me focused during the winter months here is much needed.

I understand your fear. Riding on the roads kinda freaks me out, but more because of cars. I haven't had any problems in the races I've done, because the super-fast people just go around you. Stay really far to the right and you won't get in their way.

If there is still room, I'd like to jump in if I could. I started in another April mentor group, but after reading the profiles of members here, you guys seem like a better fit. Is that wrong of me? I'm usually not so fickle!! Hope the other group understands...

If you will have me, here's a little about myself: Working mom of two, married 12 yrs. Come from a non-athletic background, but have been running for 6 yrs. I volunteered at a Tri-fest last summer and have been rolling around the idea of doing a triathlon ever since. I am in full-blown obsession mode now and currently training for a July 27th Sprint, my first!! The only fear I have is the swim. I've been taking swim lessons since January and have seen some progress, although not what I had hoped.

I struggled with weight issues most of my adult life. I saw 200 libs on the scale one day and decided enough was enough. I quit a stressful job, started my own business, had a few kids, and started walking and running.  I lost 80 lbs the first year and have pretty much kept it off since. I started weight training about a year ago with a trainer. Mostly to make me a stronger runner. I bought a used Trek bike in January. Have been out on the actual road only 2x.

I need inspiration, motivation and group comraderie. Seems like you guys could provide that. What do you say? Can I play too?

Can I ask what freaks you out about OWS??

I see...I know a lot of people are freaked about OWS. I personally am okay with lakes and rivers, though I think doing a tri in the ocean (or a bay) would freak me out because I have an irrational fear of sharks. But little lake swims are actually kind of nice. Definitely get in as many OWS as you can, to get more used to it. The more used to the water you are, the more comfortable you will feel, in general. I spent my entire childhood at the town pool and in swimming lessons, so the water itself doesn't bother me. It's the things in the water - but as long as I stay out of the ocean and bodies of water in Florida (where there are alligators), I am probably good  Though I'm sure there will be a race somewhere that will be in the ocean that I will want to do - or the bay, around here.

No, I feel you. There isn't a whole lot of OWS to be had in the DC area either, as far as lakes go. The ones that are open to it, aren't exactly in my backyard. And yeah, be safe and don't go alone

And to add - go and whine on the BC page - the people I train with locally, I met through this site! We are the unofficial VAMDDCBTTC (that would be the VA/MD/DC Beginner Triathlete Triathlon Club)

Hey there!  Room for one more?

My name is Emily and I just completed my first sprint last weekend.  I was part of one of the winter mentor groups and loved having some folks looking over my shoulder - kept me from slacking off too often.

About me: I'm 30 years old and work in a chemistry lab for a pharmaceutical firm.  I come from an athletic background.  Swimming, softball, and basketball in high school.  Rugby in college.  Then I started in with the lazy and the bad habits.  Lots of beer, cigarettes, and unhealthy diet.  Back in August of '07 a co-worker challenged me to train with her for a sprint distance triathlon in June.  I gave up the smoking, started running, dug out the bike, and got back in the pool.  I enjoyed the training so much, I ended up signing up for a pool sprint tri in April.  I survived the first one and now I'm hooked.

Goals:  Swim and run are coming along nicely.  My summer goal is to be all about the bike.  I've decided on an Olympic distance race in September as my ultimate goal for the year.  My A race.  Oh yeah - and I need to do some open water swimming at some point.  First tri with an open water swim is in June - it would be lovely to not drown and to be able to sight well enough so that I don't get lost.

Room for another?

I'm also a scientist.  I manage an LCMS lab in Colorado.  My oldest daughter is named after my hometown of Madison, WI, and is called "Maddy" for short.  I have a tough time with names, so at least I could remember my mentor's name

Yes, and triathlons.  I have done all of zero.  I have some physical challenges overall and especially with running.  Swimming is very new to me also.  Basically what I'm saying is that I need alot of help   My first triathlon is a sprint in Boulder on June 15th.

I hope there is room for me...I look forward to getting to know you all better  

Her Blog says she's on holidays til next week sometime. I was concerned about that also. Is there a way to temporarily close it til she gets back?