Wurkit_Gurl's Group - CLOSED (sssh...we're training)

PS - as you guys join the group, post your own bio (as suggested by Ron), so I know where you're coming from. Although this group will be encouraging towards newbies, I WILL still get on your case if you slack off (I'll be watching your logs)! There IS a hard-core triathlete in all of you

Hi, I would like to join your group. My name is Stephanie and I live in Oklahoma City. I'm 27 (on Friday), married for 5 1/2 years with no kids. I am an absolute beginner. My husband got me started on biking several years ago, and after I started running last year, I thought it would be easy to add one more component and try triathlons. I am scheduled to do my first sprint tri in less than two weeks. I feel pretty good about it.

That race has kept me enthusiastic about training, but there are days that I would love to be lazy. That's where the extra motivation comes in and this sounds like it could be fun.

Hi Stephanie, and welcome, as the first member of my group! Wow, your race is coming up soon - good luck to you! If you have any last minute newbie questions you want to ask, feel free to ask them here. I did A LOT of research on all of that stuff before my first race so I was as prepared as I could be. But if you want a real laugh, check out my first race report Sounds like you'll do great though, with several years of biking under you - that's the biggest part of the race.

Sometimes it's all right to be lazy. Some days it's more beneficial to let your body rest than push it while it's fatigued, which could possibly lead to injury. Other days, it's best to just HTFU ("harden the EFF up" as we like to say around here ) and get out there - usually I feel much better after I've worked out.

In a mentor group? Depends - the max suggested is like 8 or 10, I think. But some people want to have less than that. Hopefully there will be some others who will join soon...

Welcome, Sage - congrats on the weight loss! With more tri training, I'm sure you'll get down to your goal weight in no time! I am actually running my first half marathon in May - I'm prettty excited about it.

Sounds like you made it through your first tri successfully - I'd comment about trying to put on bike tights while wet, but seeing as how the race was in BC in March, I'm sure you needed the extra warmth. When the weather heats up a bit, it might be a good idea to invest in a tri top and tri shorts or a trisuit (which is a top and shorts sewn together - not to be confused with a wetsuit, which is a rubber thing (tri-specific, not for surfing or diving) that you wear over your tri clothes). If the weather is cooler, you can always swim in the tri shorts, and toss on a longsleeve top, or throw on arm warmers or a light jacket over your tri-top.

Congrats on not barfing I certainly FELT like I was gonna barf after my first race, but I didn't! I actually have a friend who pushes himself so hard on the runs, or during running races, that he throws up - he considers it a badge of honor. One day, I will probably get to that point, but it's not something I strive for

Don't worry about your run pace - that will come in time. If it makes you feel any better, I started out at about the same pace - only I'm considerably smaller, so I felt pretty pathetic. But CONSISTENT running training has gotten me from that 11:30 pace to sub-9 for short distances, and I recently PR'd in a 10-Miler with a 9:20/mile pace. So you WILL get faster - just takes some time.

PS - your bike sounds sweet! I don't even have a tribike yet - just a roadie. I'm not allowing myself to buy one until my cycling skills get better

One more thing - Sage, have you been logging your workouts on BT at all? That's cool if you're logging somewhere else, but if you aren't, consider doing so. It's a handy tool to see how far you've progressed, it keeps you accountable, and it lets me see where you're at, leave you inspires, etc

I've added both of you guys to my friends list - feel free to do the same!

Thanks! I was wondering if you would see that in my log.

Yup! Like your new avatar too!

Hi James, glad you've joined the group! I will definitely keep an eye on your logs to make sure you're not slacking (and by all means, if I am slacking, you guys can get on my case too!) Looks like you've got some fun stuff coming up this season.

I like how you changed it to "what will make me a good mentee" Like I said in my bio, I've learned A LOT in the last 2 years, and am still learning. If you have any questions as all, feel free to ask! If I don't know, I can tap my resources to find out, or point you to various links, etc. Of course, the forums here are for that too, so feel free to post there as well, but that's what I'm here for

amkaz - 2009-04-09 3:31 PM Hi!  I would like to join your group if I can?

NAME: amkaz, aka Amy
STORY:  I was a mediocre competitive swimmer from 8-20.  I never really met my potential in that area.  I was a little too social.  After swimming, I wasn't very athletic at all, LSS I got really unhealthy and very over weight.  I decided a few months ago enough was enough and I was going to be healthy before I turn 40 in December.  I made a few wise (rash and impulsive) decisions and entered "races" that I plan to "finish".  I bought new running shoes, dusted off my bike, found my cap and goggles, and am merrily on my way.
FAMILY STATUS:  Married to a couch potato that I love with all my heart, but not becoming a counch potato, too, is a challenge.
CURRENT TRAINING:  Check out my log.   I just joined but I am tracking it daily.  I train alone so I am apprehensive about running outside and biking outside, alone, but I will figure it out.  I already found a 5.5 mile trail and a 9.5 mile trail that allow both bikes and runners, so I have a place to ride free of cars.  Riding on the road FREAKS ME OUT.
2009 RACES:  My very first TRI: Naperville Triathlon June 14 to start, then we will see what happens for Tri's.  Then after June 14 (and not before) I will concentrate on my very first Marathon (I have never done more than a 5K GASP).  The tri plan I have chosen works with the marathon plan I will be on, with the exception of a few run lengths some days, so I think I will be fine as long as I stick to the plan.  If all goes well this year at the Chicago Marathon I am going to run the Marine Corps Marathon in DC next October. 
WEIGHTLOSS:  I am down 32 lbs since 11/08 and have 50 more to goal, but my main goal is the TRI, I think the weight will continue to take care of itself with the training and diet.

I am nervous and scared, but each day when I walk/run, spin, or swim I picture crossing the finish line, and it makes me feel on top of the world.  So far I am LOVING training and becoming healthier.   I still have a long way to go but I really feel like I have what it will take to do it this time, and to be honest this is the one thing in my life in this crazy economy that I feel like I can control, and I am taking the bull by the horns so I can turn 40 PROUD.

Welcome Amy! I totally understand your apprehension about training alone. And riding on the road with cars! Glad you've found a trail you can ride on. Another option I sometimes used when I had to run at night was the local high school track - it's open to the community and is well-lit. Boring running laps, but it's better than nothing, or the treadmill. I trained during the day by myself a lot - was just always aware of my surroundings, telling someone where I was, etc. You should check out the forum for your state to see if there are any other people in your area that  you can link up with. Or join a bike club, running club or triathlon club, if you can. I love my tri club - lots of people to train with, lots of group workouts that are scheduled, coaching, etc. It's been worth it, imho.

I am running MCM this October, so I will let you know how it goes! If I end up liking it, I'd like to do Chicago sometime, since I've never been and I hear it's almost an entirely flat course

Nope, not too late to join! Sorry to hear about your knee replacement. Keep at the rehab and PT and whatever else they've got you doing. I SHOULD be better about the PT I'm supposed to do for my muscle imbalances, caused by a leg length discrepancy, which forced me to drop out of running the Marine Corps Marathon this past fall - I had to defer, only 4 weeks out Hopefully, as you race more and it becomes a passionate hobby for you, your wife will be more understanding I'm single, so I don't have anyone I need to check in with, and I've always dated uber-athletic men who wish I were more hard-core; that's how I got into triathlon!

Welcome! Do you have access to a pool? You've got awhile before you need to worry about swimming, but you should incorporate that into your routine as well. If you need a plan, there are a lot of good plans on BT.

I'm getting ready to head out guys, to pay a visit to the PT, so I will be back on later tonight! Sorry for the quick intro, Steve!

NAME: payneadam, aka Adam (very original...I know)

STORY: Always been athletic through highschool and college, but always team sports (soccer was the main focus).  I was commissioned as an officer in the Army out of college so that served as my motivation to stay fit.  I recently left the Army and needed some motivation to start getting up in the mornings again.  I went to my first triathlon last weekend in Galveston, Texas and was blown away.  It looks like a ton of fun and I figured what better motivation than setting a mark on a calendar for a triathlon. 

FAMILY STATUS: Married to my wife (coming up on 5 years).  No kids yet. 2 dogs.

CURRENT TRAINING: I have been working out off and on with weights and cardio since leaving the Army.  I just started a training plan to get me ready for a sprint triathlon in late may.

2009 RACES:  I will be reserving a spot in my first tri this weekend.  It is a first timer sprint triathlon on memorial day in Austin, Texas (Capital of Texas Triathlon - Sprint Distance)I hope to complete one more triathlon at the end of the season around September (There is another one in Galveston that looks promising).  My main goal is to be ready for an olympic length by the beginning of next season.

WEIGHTLOSS: I am about 210 currently and would like to be down to 190.  More than that I just want to be in better shape.


Overall, I am decent with the run and the bike.  I need a lot of help in the swim.  I can stay floating and move forward but it is neither fast nor pretty.  I am really excited about starting the workouts and cannot wait for my first.