McFuzz's Mentor Group-2010 Vintage CLOSED

Hi McFuzz,

I'd like to join your group.  I'm looking to train for and possibly participate in my 1st triathlon in 2010.  I say possibly only because it may take me some time to get all the stuff I'll need. I'm not sure when I'll have all the equipment I would need. For example, I don't own a bike, helmet, swim suits, etc.  I'm a runner, for the most part, and own a pair of running shoes... that's about it right now.  That being said, however, I don't see why I can't start training since my health club has everything I'll need to train.  I'll worry about the equipment later.

My Background:
I'm 40 years old, live in Northern California, near San Francisco.  I ran my first marathon in July 2009, but have run several 10K's and similar distance races over the last 2 years or so.  I'm married (12 yrs) with 3 boys (ages 7, 5, and 3).  I've mountain biked in the past and have a pretty good background with riding.  Swimming is another story... I know how to swim but I'm sure not with any good form.  We swam in our pool a lot when I was a boy, but that's about it.  Fortunately, my health club has some very nice lap pools and some instructors to learn from.

I do plan to run the SF Marathon again in July and will probably fit in some other shorter races in between.

Oh and I also want to lose about 10 pounds.  I'm 5'10", 180 pounds and would like to be at 170 by May 2010.


Thanks!

Enrique

I would like to join!

Name:  Wallico/Wally/Kevin

Story:  I ran in High School but that really has no bearing since it was 17 years ago!  I started running again about 6-8 months ago due to the stress at work.  It was the only time my blackberry was away from me.  It did cause some emotional problems but I am starting to live with the seperation a little more often now.  I am interested in the tri's since I have a little case (large according to my wife) of ADD.  Once I was running for a while I got a little bored so I went out and bought a road bike.  After biking for a while and with the cold weather setting in - I am swimming at the YMCA.  I am not great at any of the 3 and need most help with the swimming - I swear I soak up water and start to sink after a half mile! BTY - I am located in Cincinnati, Ohio.


Family Status:  Married for something like 7 years now (Jennifer) - 1 little daughter - Skylar - 5 months 

Current Training:  Very non organized.  Currently I do not follow much routine or schedule.  A little of all 3. I have been getting in a small tri every week.  900-1000 yard swim - 10 to 15 minute break - 45 min bike ride (13ish miles) - 5 min break - 3.1 mile run (24-28 minutes).  All at the YMCA b/c of the weather.

2009 Races:  100th Thanksgiving day Race in Cincinnati - 10K

2010 Races:  ????  Maybe the Flying Pig - it is in my back yard - Chicago Marathon - Run with brother-in-law - I need to pick a HIM??  I want the HIM to be the A race - Chicago to be the B and the Flying Pig will be a just complete (damn hills!) 
 

Weightloss:  I have went from 210 to 182.5 - but it is amazing what the little guy in the fat red suit can do to you.....like to be about 179 coming out of winter and be at a race weight about <175.

What will make me a good mentee:  I have learned most I know from other mentors - all not good by the way.  I have found a way to take bits and pieces from alot of successful people and merge them into what can work for me and make me successful all along the way showing other my successes and failures too!

Welcome aboard Josh, Enrique, Kevin, Lexi, and Jo! 

Add each other (and me) to your list of friends on BT (got into settings > training blog customization > friends)  If you have multiple windows open, you can copy the screen name from one screen and paste it into the friends page, or you can click on the little ... button and search for each of us that way. 

I'll talk to my wife to see if we might make it down for IMKY (Josh).  One of my protege's from 2007 (Boyddr) may be doing Flying Pig, so that'd be my chance to meet up with him IRL (and also you, Kevin).  Kevin, if you're looking for a good HIM, Steelhead (July 31, Benton Harbor, MI) is good.  I've also heard good things about the Muncie Endurathon.  A couple of BT'ers (Tnickerson? Jungle Jenn?)  did Cardinal Harbor last year.  Enrique, I may be out your way in 2011 to do Vineman. 

Josh.  Where in NE Indiana?  We lived in South Bend for 6 years. 

Lexi, hope you're recovered from the concussion. 

Jo, tell us a little more about yourself. 

First bit of mentor advice: 

Be bold in your statements! 

Instead of things like:  "I'd like to do a tri." or "I'd like to weigh 170 pounds in May" be bold, take a risk. 

I'll finish a tri. 

I'll weigh 170 pounds in May. 

You'll find more ownership of the goal and therefore a higher chance of success by striking like from your statements.  I'd like to compete in Kona, but since I'm not willing to train that hard (yet), it isn't a goal. 

Practice this on your spouse.  When you talk to him/her about what you've posted here, be more assertive with what you're going to accomplish.  See what reaction you get.  You may find you get more support for achieving that goal.  (Maybe the Mrs. is willing to skip the snack aisle when grocery shopping to help you lose weight? ) 

Sure Carlos.  Welcome to the group. 

Thanks, Josh, for the update.  Yea, we've been through Angola a few times. 

Skye, I'm glad to have you as part of the group!  Sounds like some ambitious goals and I have no doubt you'll do well with them.  Husband/wife triathloning is tough.  Two sets of all the cool gear, two training schedules, and then the whole "who's racing and who's supporting" question.  I took a step back the season my wife (BAMBAM66) started triathlons. 

I think we can make room for a second Josh (as long as you plan to beat your brother in the sprint tri)  

Congrats on the weight loss and resulting better health. 

And with this, I'm going to close the group. 

So let's start being a group. 

What can we do to help each other accomplish our goals? 

First step is to recognize and celebrate successes.  What are some things we should plan to celebrate January 4th?  I'll start.  I'll be celebrating a year (2009) where I ran 1000 miles.  I've got less than 4 miles to go and I'll probably try to get that tomorrow morning before it's too snowy.  I'm planning for a long run (10+ miles) Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather and availability of my running partner, Natalie.  (The <3:45 marathon goal is really to pace Natalie to a BQ time at Flying Pig.  She went 4:01 at Chicago this fall and my predicted pace is 4:10 or so, so I'll have to train hard to shave 25 minutes from my projected time. ) 

Second step is to ask (and answer) questions.  I don't have all the answers, and I'm not a coach, so feel free to contribute.  Other mentors:  feel free to jump in where you've got some expertise.  Protege's?  YOU also have valuable experiences (hey, I may be asking for marathon advice).  Ask on this thread, ask via inspires.  PM me (or the others in the group) if you really have something to keep more private.  What kinds of things can I answer?  I can help you sort out goals. I can help you identify a plan of attack to achieve the goal.  I can reassure you when life conspires against your best intentions. 

Step three is to forget about the past (successes or failures).  We're working towards the future.  (We won't actually "forget" the past, but we aren't going to let it interfere with what we want to accomplish either. )  It doesn't matter if you've never stuck with a workout plan before.  (Maybe you've never had a support group to help you succeed... )  Sometimes, our past success is a big hurdle to achieving our goals. 

Stay positive! 

Laura,

I suppose we can add one more.  The Rev3 race at Cedar Point has gotten some attention here on BT and it sounds like it would be a fun race (if I were doing an Ironman in 2010).  Be smart about the training, and you'll enjoy the journey and the race.  Nothing wrong with an old Bianchi, but make sure it's at least close to the right size and is set up as close as you can get to your needs. 

Where are you now, and what do you do (assuming you are no longer playing professional volleyball)? 

What ultras and marathons have you done? 

If you're just getting into swimming, take some lessons.  Swimming is very technique dependent and runners often struggle translating run fitness into swim fitness.  I'll help as much as I can remotely. 

A HRM is one of the cool toys that triathletes often use.  I have a Nike Triax Elite which includes the HRM and an accelerometer-based footpod for speed/distance while running.  I had a Polar HRM before.  During the off-season, I do more "naked runs" (i.e. no HRM, not no shorts/shirt).  They're a great training tool if you know how to use them (and are disciplined enough to follow a solid plan).  During the training season, I'll focus more on HR than pace.  If the plan calls for a "Z2 run" (160-170 bpm for me), I try to keep it close to 170, even if that means a slower pace than I might otherwise run.  It doesn't do much good to use a HRM, find your zone, and then run at 175 bpm because you want a <9:00 pace (not that I'd know anything about that...).  It's also good if you want to get into Z4 or Z5 during speed workouts and intervals.  Most of us consider Z2 "too easy" and Z4 "too hard" so we naturally train in Z3 if we're going only on effort. 

The Garmin 310XT is pretty nice and from what I hear has better battery life than the older models (which wouldn't get most of us through an Ironman-distance race) and is waterproof (the older 305's weren't waterproof).  Polar has some very nice units as well, some of which accept either GPS or accelerometer based speed-distance data.  Nashbar had the Timex Bodylink Trailrunner for $250 or less. 

If you have a smartphone, there are some apps that let you use the GPS capability of the phone to record routes and provide pace and distance info (I think you can even download a workout and have the app tell you when you're too fast or too slow).  If you're set up with this, then I'd look for a basic HRM that will let you get averages HR and min/max HR for at least 10 laps (most will do at least 30 laps).  Get one with a chest strap, not one that requires you to put your fingers on the side of the watch when you want a reading.  You can find basic HRM's for about $50-80.  (The $30 ones may not give you more than an average HR and time in a zone, so you may want to be a step up from there. ) 

Thanks so much for the invite!

Where are you now, and what do you do (assuming you are no longer playing professional volleyball)? 

What ultras and have you done?

I grew up in Cleveland Ohio and currently live in Sandusky.  I just finished my second degree and will start as an RN in the Cleveland Clinic Med ICU in March.  I am married but no kids as of yet.  Just a whiny 9 lb schnoodle .

Marathons- I've done Akron twice (07, 08).  That was my first and I fell in love. I've also done Miami 08, Cleveland 08, and Ogden, UT (09).  My slowest marathon was 4:23 and my fastest was 3:55. I want to qualify for Boston one of these days (3:40)

Ultras- Did the Mohican 50 miler (08) and a 50K in Dayton (09). 


As far as training goes for the ironman distance.  I've definately been running consistenty up to this point.  I did my first pool session yesterday and my second bike workout.  The Rev is in Sept so I have a little over 9 months to train.  What should I be focusing on this first month?

Laura

I'm not one for wasting money.  See if you can find some adult group lessons.  It may be $100 for 6 lessons and the real-time feedback should put you on track for swimming 2.4 miles comfortably.  I'd say that is money well spent.  Spending $50 an hour for private lessons?  Not unless the coach is fantastic and you're trying to get from "comfortable" to "fast."  Check with a YMCA, local college, or see if there is a local Master's Swimming group. 

Ironman training is all about building consistent volume without injury or burnout.  Most training plans are 20 weeks long and assume you can run 90 minutes, ride 2 hours or more, and swim 2000+ yards per workout at the beginning of the training plan.  Now is the time to build some technique and start carving out hours in the day for training.  Swim lessons would be good if you need them, otherwise, spend some time working on drills and stroke efficiency.  Start spinning on the bike, 30-60 minutes at a high (90-100 rpm) cadence.  Do some single-leg drills where you pedal with one leg only for 30 seconds at a time.  Otherwise, just get very friendly with your bicycle.