Dangremond's Group - FULL/CLOSED

Kristen,

Glad to have you in my group.  I imagine our paths have crossed at Life Time and certainly at Big Fish Tri this past summer.  I used to hate running as much as you profess...when in the Navy we had to take 2 fitness tests a year.  During the test you had to run 1.5 miles.  Religiously, I ran 3 miles per year when I was in the Navy.  Now, I love it.  Perhaps you can convince me to love swimming and I'll get you to love running? 

Also, I'm an early morning workout person (family is priority in evenings but my wife understands that at times (after dark usually) I'm running or heading to the gym.

I'm looking forward to working together over the next few months to jump start your next season.

-Mitch

Jeff,

The more the merrier!  Where in Ky do you hail from?  I grew up in Oldham County before returning to my roots in Michigan.

You are right regarding the ramping up slowly.  I am taking an"overtime" approach to building up for longer distance tri's.  Olympics this year (maybe a half ironman), half ironman next year...and then maybe a full ironman in the following year.  You are also right that if you follow a consistent training plan the weight will come off!

-Mitch

We live in Elizabethtown (eTown) - about 45 min south of Louisville.  Lots of fun hills to run/bike on.

Sign me up! I'd love to be a part of your group. I feel I could really benefit from additional inspiration

Name: New Triathloner (Grace)

Story: I was a field hockey player, swimmer and softball player in high school and have gone on to be an equestrian in college and now finally a sprint triathlon hopeful as an adult. I have always enjoyed activity and competition but not running. I have a 3-year-old daughter who is the light of my life but I gained 70 pounds during my pregnancy with her. I have struggled to lose 40 pounds since she was born and continue to work toward losing an additional 20 pounds at least. I have struggled with my weight for years. Before I became pregnant with my daughter I had maintained a healthy weight using Weight Watchers for two years. I am trying to get back to that wonderful feeling and physique I enjoyed almost four years ago. I first got back into fitness last January by beginning with my YMCA’s First Step Fitness program. I then did the Couch to 5K program and I’m now training for a 10K. I also competed in an aquathlon in October, 2008. Beyond that I am also thrilled about the prospect of completing my first sprint triathlon in 2009.

Family Status: Married with one daughter (my little genius)

Current Training: I am following various plans for various races but plan on following the week-by-week 12-week to Triathlon guide when I am 12 weeks away from my first tri. I will determine my level of fitness at that point and go from there. I plan on attending a triathlon forum in January as well. I enjoy swimming, it comes easily to me. I also enjoy running now but can’t seem to get my 5K’s below 31 minutes. Bicycling is a new sport for me, though I lived on my bike as a teenager. I fit workouts in by pulling my 30 pound little girl around in a bike trailer or picking her up at daycare with this. The cold weather has put a damper on that but I’ve been riding the stationary bikes at the local (30 minutes away!) YMCA.

This year's races:

3.5 Mile Fun Run (Holyoke,MA)

2 Mile Bridge of Flowers Run (Shelburne Falls, MA)

Jail Break 5K (Greenfield, MA) We Fit 5K (Hadley, MA)

We Fit Together 5K (Hadley, MA)

YWCA Worcester Aquathon (Worcester, MA)

The Billy Kelly Memorial 5k & 5 Mile Road Race (Mansfield, MA)

Northampton Hot Chocolate Race (12/6/2008)

2009 Races: Hangover Classic 10K (1/1/2009)

Philadelphia Women's Triathlon

(plus two other sprint triathlons?? Maybe just one…my target one is local and in August)

Weight loss: see above

Other: I’m ready to take it to the next level. Please pick me.

Name: cdymes (Chris)

STORY: 36 year old male who realized that I am that person who 20 years ago kind of snickered at.  Out of shape father of two who comes up with every excuse under the sun not to stick to a regiment.  I have completed 4 sprint tri's in my 36 years and felt awesome about them.  My issue is doing more than one race in the season, I think I get burnt out to easy.  '08 I finally start getting somewhat serious and hyperextended my knee.

Family Status: Married with 2 daughters.

Current Training: 2 Spin classes per week; started running/walking after knee....TRYING to get back into pool.

2009 Races: Looking for advice on 3 sprints finishing with half marathon year ending '09.

Weight loss: Started at 254 down to 228, now inching back up to 234 with holidays.  Looking to be at the 215 mark with my 6'3" frame.

So, can I join your group?

Thanks

Chris

Chris and Grace - thanks for your interest and I'm happy to have both of you join our group.

Grace - I'll do my best to help you achieve your goals and stay disciplined to your plans.  I have two daughters of my own so I appreciate your comments on your little genius. 

I will admit that my first love was cycling but overtime you will really love the other disciplines as well.

Chris,

I work with agroup of guys who can be pretty merciless when joking around.  It was some fun loving comments a few years ago about my physique that really got me motivated to get back in shape.  In my last season I pretty much accomplished what you are looking to do this year - so hopefully I can add value as you work on your journey.

-Mitch

Hi Mitch,

Can I join your group?  I run 1/2 marathions, 10k's, and recently did my first dualthlon after getting into road biking?  Thanks.

Linda

 Holy cow Linda - your run volumes are out of this world!!  Consider me impressed.

And Mitch - is that clock time on your 1/2 marathon finish correct???  Wow.

Linda,

Glad to have you join!  Can you tell us all a bit more about yourself?  I'd love for our group to develop a team attitude where we all support one another and share in each other's goals.  Thanks!

Mitch

Name : Duffers (Avi) 

STORY: I was completely out of shape last year.  Around march someone posted on a local board looking for a tri training partner.  I signed up for the tri but only ended up training with him twice.  But after I finished my tri was hooked and did another one late in the summer.  However, in the second, I had a big problem with the open water/wetsuit. I freaked out when I entered the water and did a lot of doggy paddling.. It was bad! I'm looking to try and become more comfortable in the swim especially open water before my tri's this year

Family Status: Married with 2 kids.

Current Training: Beginning to get back in pool.  Swimming 1/2 a mile in about 25 minutes.  Not very fast but finishing.  Currently nursing a hip injury so i haven't been running much.  Biking will pick up in the spring

2009 Races: Looking to do two olympic during the summer. NYC in July and Nations in Sep

Weight loss: Currently 183 which is my biggest weight ever.  I think its a combination of added muscle and added fat.  Would like to get down to 168-170 range which would be awesome on my 5-10' frame..

 can I please join your group?

Avi,

Glad to have you in the group!  You've got some nice goals for 2009 and we'll all do our best to keep you motivated to help you get there!

Mitch

Mitch,

I'm psyched to be in the group!  Thank you for accepting me.  I am currently training for a 10K on 1/1/09 and set the goal to do 80% or more of the Hal Higdon plan(wiggle room for family blunders & weather) by the finish of the race.  Should I somehow link you to my training log?

-Grace

Everyone should go into their control panel...link is through training log and go to their friends tab and add me and the rest of the folks in our group to their friends list.  That way you have an easy to remember link on your training log to each of our training logs.

With that in mind...everyone needs to log their training activity.  Try to also utilize the comments section and some of the qualitative options (amount of sleep, sick/healthy, etc.).  It also allows you to enter weight if you want to track that goal.

Also, I took the plunge this year and signed up as a silver member.  I'm using a couple of the BT Training plans (Winter Maintenance with a Half Marathon dropped on top of it) to guide myself this year.  If you are a paying member make sure you have your planned training logged so that I can see that as well.  We all are human and will very likely not complete all training as planned but at a minimum this will help in figuring out what everyone is trying to do, etc.

Grace,

I used the Hal Higdon half marathon plan for my race in the fall and it worked really well.  I too tried to complete as much as possible but remember to try to not beat yourself up too much when family or life gets in the way of the plan.  Missing a workout or two will not be the end of you and it seems that you get this!  Kudos to you!

Your group still says open.  I would like to join up if there's room for one more.

I am new to all of this.  Well, I have been on BT's website since September logging my exercises and getting advice, but don't plan on a Sprint Tri until late this coming Summer.

Name's Christy and I am 37 years old, married with two children and living in NC.  I work full time and usually get my workouts in after work. 

Challenges:  Living with Stage IV cancer, (but cancer free right now, yea) so I have had many surgeries.  My last one was this summer with three previous before that.  So, after chemo and recovery, my doctors have given me the green light to do this.  I feel great now.  However, due to the year of down time, I have had to regroup.  I am getting back to where I was but it's been a struggle.  I don't like to run, so I make myself do it.  I am at a gym right now with no pool, but will be looking for a new gym or alternative when my 3 year membership expires next month.  I have a crappy bike right now, but husband is insistant that I get a nicer one, so will be looking early next year. 

Other than that, I have been working out consistently since September when I was given the go ahead.  I try to workout at least 5 days a week. 

Weight Challenges:  Currently trying to lose weight.  Just hit my first minor goal of 10 pounds.  30 to go.

Christy,

Glad to have you as well.  I think we have 7 and room for one more after you.

Mitch

Hi Mitch,

 My name is Travis and would like to join your group.

Story: I am 19 years old and I played soccer and rugby in high school. I ran cross country and track before high school, but it wasn't challenging enough for me. After being in college for two years ive become out of shape and unmotivated to work out.

Goal: Today I've decided to set myself a new goal and enter in a triathlon. I've never competed in this type of event before and am hoping you and this team can help me acheive my goals.

I would really like to join your group and hope to have a few questions awnsered and advice on certain things.

Travis,

Welcome aboard....glad to have you!

I think we have 8 plus myslef so I think we will close the group to new members.

Mitch

Alright - our group is officially formed and I'm excited about serving as a mentor for the prep portion of our upcoming season.  I think this is really the most important part of the season.  I believe that you have to make something a routine if you expect it to happen regularly.  That is why part of my off-season/winter goals is to finally get in the routine of swimming 3 to 4 times per week.  I'm not there yet but I will be.  So I think one of our group goals should be to focus on each of our weaknesses and find ways to overcome it.

I also have to be honest and confess that one of the reasons I chose to be a mentor is that it will force me to be honest with myself about workouts, etc.  Thanks to each of you for giving me the opportunity to serve as a mentor!

Does anyone have weekend plans for working out?  I'm scheduled to conduct a time trial on my bike tomorrow.  I will do that on my trainer.  I would also like to get to the gym to make up my swim that I missed due to weather this morning and for a short run.  Sunday I am scheduled for a long run and wish that the weather would allow me to do that outside, but I suspect I will have to run on the treadmill instead.  Boo Hiss!!!

I am actually still searching for my training plan.  I think I will use one that I did two years ago...it is a 14 week schedule.  My first race I plan on is a modified sprint in Valdese, NC on April 4th. It is 250 yard pool swim, 9 mile Bike, 5k run.

So I am close the 14 week mark, until then I would like to get back into the swing.  I am still a little nervous about my knee.  I am oncall this weekend and cant be to far from my house so my plan is Sat 25min walk/run followed with Sun 30 minute spin on bike with trainer.

I have been looking for some good core excercises to do at home.  Any advice??

I am pretty excited in starting for this year.  Also want to say good luck to the group.