Amyro's group- Closed

Hi Amy,

I'd really like to join your group-I'm doing the London Triathlon - Olympic Distance in August and I need all the help and encouragement I can get! I've put my details below so you can get to know a bit more about me!

Jon

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Name: JONATHAN ELLENOR
Date of Birth:13 JANUARY !(&" 
Age: 36
Sex: MALE
Height: 5 ft 11 inc
Weight: NOT SURE 12 STONE ISH

Write your three season goals below.

Goals should a) be race/event specific b) be measurable, and c) have a specific date for accomplishment (example: go under 2:30 at the XYZ Triathlon on June 3)
-Note: You must have at least one season goal.
First Most Important Season Goal: COMPLETE THE LONDON TRIATHLON ON 2ND AUGUST 09

Second Most Important Season Goal:

Third Most Important Season Goal:

Medical History (Note: All medical questions must be completed)

Have you ever experienced chest, shoulder, neck or arm pain after exercise? Explain NO

Have you ever felt lightheaded, dizzy or fainted after exercise? Explain NO

Have you been diagnosed with Asthma, Diabetes, Heart Trouble, High Blood Pressure? Explain NO
Do you have any medical conditions that would be adversely affected by exercise? Explain NO

Do you have any injuries, past or present, that would be adversely affected by exercise? Explain

Are you currently using any medications? Explain NO

Does your doctor recommend that you DO NOT exert yourself or perform strenuous exercise FOR ANY REASON? NO

When was your last physical examination? 18 MONTHS AGO

TRAINING & RACING HISTORY & Goals

Emphasis: Triathlon, Duathlon, Running ? TRIATHLON

How many hours a week are available for training? 8-10

which day(s) are preferable for rest days? MONDAY OR FRIDAY

Describe your typical weekly training schedule (swim, bike, run, weights, etc):
Monday: 8-10 MILES CYCLING
Tuesday: 8-10 MILES CYCLING
Wednesday: 8-10 MILES CYCLING
Thursday: 8-10 MILES CYCLING
Friday: 8-10 MILES CYCLING
Saturday: 1 HOUR WALK
Sunday: 30 MINUTE RUN
Describe any additional training: REGULAR MOUNTAIN BIKING TRIPS COVERING AROUND 30 MILES

Average hours per week for training last year:
Swim: hrs 0
Bike: hrs 12
Run: hrs 1

Average distance per week last year:
Swim: 0
Bike: miles 80
Run: miles 3

Goals for the season (indicate all that apply):

1st Triathlon or Duathlon
First Olympic distance YES
First ½ Ironman
First Ironman
Be competitive for my age group
Compete for IMQ slot

Favorite distance: Sprint, Olympic, 1/2 Ironman or Ironman
Best race to date:
Distance:
Times: Swim: Bike: Run:

Goal Races for 2008:
Race #1:
Importance: A Race B Race C Race A RACE
Date: Race: Distance: Overall Goal Time: OLYMPIC
Goal Swim Time: Goal Bike Time: Goal Run Time: NO TIME GOAL - FINISH ONLY
Have you done this race before? Year? Time? NO

(Copy and paste for any additional races)

SPORT SPECIFIC TRAINING

SWIM
How long have you been swimming? 30 YEARS
Do you swim with a Master’s Program? NO
The pool you swim in is in Meters or Yards?METERS
What is your best time for:NOT MEASURED-SWIMMING IS MY WEAKEST AREA BY FAR

800M (or yards):
1,500M (or yards):
1.2 miles:
2.4 miles:
What pace do you swim 100s in the pool?
Do you have access to: Pull buoy, Paddles or Fins? YES

BIKE
How long have you been cycling? 5 YEARS
During a race, what is your avg mph? N\A DON'T RACE 
What heart rate does that correlate to? NOT SURE
During training, what is your avg mph?
What hear rate does that correlate to?
What is your best time for:

20k (12.5 miles):
40k (25 miles):
56 miles:
112 miles?:
Do you bike with training partners? NO
Do you have access to a bike trainer? YES
Does your computer have a cadence feature? NOT SURE
Do you own a Compu Trainer TM ? NO
If no, would you like more information? YES

RUN
How long have you been running? 20 YEARS
During a race, what is your avg pace per mi? 7-8 MINS
What heart rate does that correlate to? NOT SURE
What is your best time for:

5k (3.1 miles):
10k (6.2 miles):
½ marathon (13.1 mi):2 HRS 11 MINS
Marathon (26.2 mi):
Do you run with training partners? YES
Do you have access to a track? YES

NUTRITION/OTHER

Do you have your nutrition zeroed in during a race? N/A
Describe a typical pre-race meal: N/A
Describe a typical race day nutrition: N/A
Describe a typical post-race meal: N/A
Describe a typical day’s meals, be accurate and realistic as possible:
Breakfast:CHEESE & HAM SANDWICH & BLACK COFFEE 2 SUGARS
Lunch: SOUP, SANDWICH, CRISPS,CHOCOLATE BAR & TEA NO SUGAR
Dinner:STEAK, ROCKET AND PARMISAN SALAD-NO DRESSING & TEA NO SUGAR 
Snacks: CRISPS AND CHOCOLATE BARS 2 OR TWO A DAY
Do you currently strength train? NO
Do you own a heart rate monitor? NO
If yes, do you use it?
What has been your highest heart rate recorded during exercise?
Has your Lactate Threshold (LT) been tested? Results: NO
Has your Vo2max been tested? Results: NO
What are your average hours of sleep per night? 6

BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS

Indicate 'YES' to or BOLD ONE statement below for each sport that best describes what is standing between you and success in achieving your goals?
 

Swim
I find it difficult to finish the swim portion of a race. YES
In choppy open water swims I lose more time than others in my race category
My swim technique is poor YES
My swimming gets slower as the race progresses.
If I start the swim fast I start gasping for air and must slow down more than others in my race category.
At the end of the swim portion I'm unable to speed up to catch those slightly ahead of me.
 

Bike
Just finishing the bike leg of a race is difficult for me.
I am passed by lots of other triathletes on hills.
I'm a "masher"--I push big gears slowly. YES
Even on flat courses my bike speed decreases near the end.
As the bike portion of a race gets shorter I do worse relative to those in my category.
In short races, I struggle to get over short "power" hills. YES
 

Run
I usually find it difficult to finish long runs.
I run up hills slower than most in my race category.
I bounce up and down more than others when I run. YES
My running gets slower as the race progresses.
In shorter races, if I go anaerobic I'm forced to slow down. YES
I almost never win a sprint to the finish line.

Hi Amy,

I would like to join your group.

In 2008, i have participated in 2 biathlons (swim and run), 1 sprint triathlon, 1 half marathon, and several runs. It is also the year where i focused on swimming and cut back on running. As a non competitive swimmer, my timing has improved quite a bit, but i feel that there is still so much room where i can shorten my swim timing.

In the last month of 2008, i bought my first road bike. Previously, i had riden on a commuter bike with drop bar and trained on mountain bike. I began 2009 by waking up at 6am to join a local cycling group in a 60km ride.

With regards to run, i have never been a good runner. My school club is offering the opportunity to train with a good long-d coach this summer!

Goal for this year would be to participate in a couple of full triathlon and to improve on the technical aspects of triathlon.

Cheers,

Terence

Hi,

No I'm not working with a coach-I am considering getting one to help ot specifically with the swimming aspect-I'm also joining a tri club but before I join I have to improve my swimming. 

I'm trying to figure out the nutrition element of the training log-any ideas!!!

How many members are in our group?

Thanks for your reply.

Jon

Hi Amy,

 I would like to join your group if there is space please.   My name is Charly, I am 26, and I have signed up to the Brighton Sprint Triathlon in September, and a novice in Sussex in May.   I have never done a triathlon before and although i am excited, I am nervous and dont really know where to start with the training.  I don't think the cycling will be a problem as I am used to doing that regularly, but having not used a swimming pool for ten years, the thought of a open water swim is really daunting!!  

Hey Amy,

I'd love to join your group if there's still room! I haven't decided for sure if I'm up to training for a triathlon, but I hope to get into good enough shape to do a sprint distance this summer... the ones around here are mostly 750 k swim, 22 mile bike, 3.1 mile run (there are a couple with 15 mile bike). Sounds like a lot to a total newbie like me, but I'm pretty motivated when I set my mind to something. If I don't feel ready for that, I plan to do a half-marathon this year and then a triathlon next year.

Bio: I have never participated in any marathon/duathlon/triathlon before. Nobody I know has participated in one of these events, for that matter. I just randomly decided that I wanted to complete a triathlon by age 30, so now seems like a good time to start training!

When I was in high school, I lifeguarded in the summers and taught private swim lessons for kids. My last summer lifeguarding I worked the waterfront at a lake, and taught swimming and lifesaving to boyscouts. I have never swam more than a mile in open water.

I took some weight training and nutrition classes in college, and I have maintained a pretty healthy and active lifestyle for most of my adult life.

I'm a little bit nervous because I have a bum knee, which has undergone multiple surgeries. I also had asthma as a kid, but I haven't had any problems with it for several years now... however, I haven't done anything that has really pushed me on a cardio-vascular level, either. My left lung is damaged from a bout with pleuracy when I was a teenager, so one major thing I want to work on is breathing more efficiently and increasing my overall lung capacity. My doctor gave me a peak-flo meter to help with this, so don't be alarmed... I'm not going to do anything without medical advice. Still, any tips on breathing would be extremely appreciated!

Family Status: I'm a 27 year old stay at home mom. I've been married for almost six years now, and I have two little girls, ages four and one. My family is pretty much awesome.

Current Training: I am one of those people who looks like they're in good shape (I do a minimal amount of weight training), but really I'm not. I ran for 30 minutes on the treadmill today and I was seriously winded... a bit pathetic, eh? I workout at my local gym or do pilates at home when I'm feeling too lazy to go out. I like to swim laps, but my form is pretty sad, I'm sure.

I know I have to amp it up so here's my training plan: I do weights for about 30 min a few times a week right now, and usually just do 20 min of cardio. There's two feet of snow on the ground outside, so I will have to make do with indoor facilities for the time being. I'll maintain my weight training schedule, add in some yoga for breathing and flexibility, and increase my cardio training as follows: I'll bike daily, working up to faster and more difficult rides. I will swim three times a week, starting with 20 laps and some side-kicking drills, and gradually increasing my distance. I will run three times a week, on my off days from swimming, again gradually increasing my distance and time.

This year's races: we'll see. I hope to do the BAM sprint at Midway or maybe the Jordanelle Sprint in Park City.

I want to join a mentor group because I'm looking for tips - any tips, really. I think being part of a group like this will really help keep me motivated.

I hope you still have room now that I've spilled my guts!

Thanks and all that,

Dani

 I'm looking at 2 OD races this year. Then move on to HIM early next year and IM late next year.

I did a sprint last year and all the road bike (regardless who is riding the bike, might be from a much older age group) is able to overtake my mountain bike. That's what motivated me to buy a road bike at the end of the year.

I'm looking at improving the stride and running posture, while building a base over the next few months. From my last session with the coach, i figure i have to improve the stride on my non-master leg. I am able to perform the correct technique on the master leg. push - heel kick - knee raise - drive.... haha... it was fun.

You are probably able to give me good advise on my swim with your rich experience in swimming. I am currently doing 800m under 14 minutes in pool, and 100m under 1:25. I felt that i have improved a lot in swim, considering i was not able to do front crawl when i first went for swim training in May. To improve beyond my current timing, would you recommend focusing on the technical aspect (that is to go to a coach for further correction in stroke) or focus on drills to build up the muscle for swimming?

Amy,

I hope that you have some room still available in your group.  I'm 30 yrs. old and I am about as beginner as they get.  I started training about 3 months ago for a sprint that I have coming up in August 2009.  Prior to that, I played basketball occasionally, but lived a relatively sedentary lifestyle.  I'm hoping to do at least two sprints this year and go from there.

It's good that you were a "beginner" recently.  Hopefully, I can pick your brain re swimming as that seems to be my weak point, along with biking and running (ha ha!).  Anyway, I'd like to join this group, if you'll have me.

Thanks,

Bill

 Noted. Thank you!

Hello, my name is Tina and I'm completely new here and would love to join this group.  From what I can tell, it appears being Canadian is a rarity on this forum - however geographics does not necessarily impact on one's ability to support another who shares similar interests!

After watching a triathlon in person last year, I found the inspiration to commit to doing one myself this year.  At this point I haven't had decided on the exact location, but I'm aiming for May/June. 

Tomorrow is the last day of week 1 training.  I'm currently working on a 10 week schedule that I plan to duplicate.  The first time running through it doing activities indoors (running and biking) and the second time doing these activities outdoors.  I will likely not repeat the entire 10 weeks but perhaps start half way through in order to build up my endurance outdoors in time for the big race.

 My motivation to do this triathlon is that for starters, I know physically I can do it, I'll just have to work at it.  Second of all, this last year I've had significant changes happen one being I broke off my year long engagement - a relationship I was in for 5 years that was absolutely horrible; mind you I learned a lot of lessons.  I'm taking this opportunity to complete the triathlon as a "marker" of this year - something I'm doing solely for myself and to regain my sense of pride!

 Amy, here's hoping there's enough room for one more!!!

 Cheers!

Thanks for the advice.  I'm starting to get more comfortable in the water lately.  Slowly improving distance and starting to learn how to breathe on both sides.  So that's something.  Still really only able to tackle 50-100 yds at a time, which is getting frustrating.  I'm sure it's just a matter of putting in the proper time though.  Thanks again.

Bill

running in on the new bicycle. it's just that the set up is a little bit heavy and i feel rather affected by that negative thought when i lack behind - and then i slack and give up trying to keep up with the group.

 am still swimming.

 starting to run, but do not have the time to build up the base.

Today officially ends week 2 of training for me.  Yesterday was my first dual sport day (50 minutes on the bike followed by 300 meters swimming).

I'll really be glad when I can start running and biking outside though

I am Russell Forquer I respectfully request I be permitted to join you group.

 I live in Erie, PA; I am 65 years old, have run 14 Marathons.

Intend to do the Reston sprint on May31, 2009.

Have run for 30 years, good swimmer, okay biker, just need to doit.