kaburns1214 Mentor Group - CLOSED

NAME: UHCoog/Scott

STORY:  I was always the chunky kid who excelled at sports.  I played several sports though childhood and played HS Baseball.  I was recruited by several small schools prior to a knee injury.  I had always been big but without sports and joining a fraternity I ballooned up to 250-260 in college.  Once I was married and moved into the professional world I found power lifting.  I pretty much settled in to a routine and hovered around 220-240 in weight depending on training protocol.  Last march a friend of mine registered for a sprint tri.  I found this idea intriguing and knowing that staying the weight I was wasn’t healthy long term I switched focus.  From then to now I’ve done 3 sprint tris and my weight has gone to 179.  Currently I watch my diet closely (IF), lift and train for tris.  This is the healthiest and lightest I have been in my adult life.  I’m ready to go whole hog at triathlons and see exactly how good I can get.

FAMILY STATUS: Married with 2 daughters under the age of 4.

CURRENT TRAINING: Currently I’m training for a half mary in February, but still spending a ton of time on the bike as well.  Unfortunately all the pools I have access to are outdoors and swim time has been hampered by the weather.  As a former power lifter I still LOVE to lift weights so that is part of, granted a shrinking part of, my routine.  I workout in some form or fashion 5-6 days a week.

GOALS:  So far I’ve been a MOP finisher.  I’d like to fist and foremost extend the distance out I race to Olys and HIMs.  Secondly I’d like to creep ever closer to FOP status.

2010 RACES: Clear Lake Sprint, Monster 2 Sprint, Katy Sprint

2011 RACES:  Cowtown ½ Marathon on Feb. 28^th, Gateway to the Bay Oly on April 3^rd, MS 150 (bike ride from Houston to Austin) on April 16^th and 17^th, Bridgeland Sprint Tri on August 7^th, Austin HIM on Oct. 23^rd.  Also looking for something in the June/July area.

WEIGHTLOSS:  March of last year I weighed in at 237.  I used a couple months of ketogenic dieting and then triathlon training to get down to 190 before racing my first sprint.  Currently I weigh in at 179 and can almost see my abs.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE:  I know how to be coached.  I listen, process, and implement.  I also tend to go full speed at everything I have a passion for.  Triathlons and family pretty much fit that bill right now.   

NAME: itziaol / itzia
A real beginner

HISTORY:  I’m 44 years old.   In the past 5 years I’ve concentrated on working and studding, but after looking at my holiday pictures this Summer, I decided I had to do something about my figure and started dieting and exercising.  I have knee problems, so I was afraid they were going to hurt if I ran, but a friend gave me a programme to follow and I was alright.   I ran my first 10K race in November.  Then I started to think of participating in a sprint triathlon as a goal to accomplish when I’m 45.

I practically grew up swimming.  I’m a tropical fish.  I trained with a diving team and a swimming team as a teenager, but my passion was always classical ballet.  I have no experience in riding a road bike, although I used to ride to school and I ride a mountain bike from time to time.   I’ve been a good girl, so Santa is bringing me a road bike; a used one to start with.  Therefore, I would appreciate any advice you can give me in order to help him chose it.

FAMILY STATUS:  I’m married and have two kids, a 10 year old girl and a 14 year old boy.  My family is used to supporting me in my personal projects, whether they are building a house, going back to work, aiming for a promotion, doing a Masters, etc.

CURRENT TRAINING: I’ve been training 4 times a week so far, but I’m willing to do 6 in order to get ready.  For the moment I’m recovering from a sprained ankle.  The paradox is that I did not injure myself training, but while calmly walking down some steps at work.  :-S  I guess I’ll have to start from scratch now.

GOALS: I’ve been dreaming of doing a sprint triathlon in May, but since I was injured, I guess it would be more realistic to aim for August and perhaps October.

WEIGHTLOSS:  I’ve lost 11lbs, which is not a lot, nevertheless my body composition has changed.  I still have to lose at least another 19lbs to reach my ideal weight.

NAME: rizer22/Jeff

HISTORY:  I’m 33 years old.    After highschool and some college, I've always been the guy in and out of the gym.  Golf was my game, and would play that twice a week.  Until this past summer.  A father of a kid in my son's class, came over for my son's birthday, and we started chatting about how he mountain bike races.  Somehow, without trying, he convinced me, and I bought a bike 3 days later, entered my first mountain bike race 3 weeks after that.  I have all but given up golf.  So 2010 was my first experience in any type of true endurance sports, other than the occasional 3 mile run here and there.  Now I seem to be addicted to at least mountain bike racing for now.

FAMILY STATUS:  Married, with two awesome boys, age 6 and 3.

CURRENT TRAINING: I've been back training for about a month now.  I had a slight medical scare in September which has sidelined me for a couple months.  I had an infection in the lining of my brain, surgery, followed by a severe reaction to a potent antibiotic, giving me a four day visit to the hospital.  I have been cleared, but amazed at how much stamina I lost. I ride my mountain bike twice a week, in the bitter cold, with the guy that got me into it. I also do the eliptical machine 4 days a week, since I do not own a road bike yet.  (February, Specialized Roubaix Comp, can't wait)

GOALS: I have a friend that completed a HIM this past year, and two others that did sprints.  Now I am intrigued.  I am not a great runner as far as distant, but feel I am a fast sprinter.  Always was in high school at least.  I can build the endurance with motivation.  Swimming: I can swim, but I am sure my technique is terrible, and the thought of all those swimmers in a lake or ocean at once, scares the bleep out of me.  My goals are at least one or two sprints, but still focusing on mountain bike racing.  One of those sprints may be an off road one.

WEIGHTLOSS:  I don't really have a weight issue.  5' 9', 164 pounds.  I tend to eat pretty good, but i do love Pizza and Reese's, but have pretty good will power.

Hopes:  I am hoping to gain some great knowledge, and lose the fear of doing the sprint.  Descending a long technical, rocky downhill on a mountain bike, does not scare me.  Actually, I love it.  But swimming for some reason with that many people does.  I also am hoping to gain some more nutrition knowledge, and get a more structured training plan, instead of just doing whatever.

Thank you for taking your time to help all of us.  Please add me to your program if you will.

Name: liz6ard (Liz)


Story:  I planned competive sports most of my life, but fell in love with softball. Played all thru college and am now looking forward to getting competive in other sports. Running and weight trainings has always been part of my lifestyle but it was not until this last year that I needed a goal other than hitting the gym 4-5 times a week.   I recently have completed a half marathon and felt it wasn't enough. I want more and want to challenge myself in other areas other than running. 

Family Status: I am a military wife with a beautiful almost 5 yr old son....married 6 1/2 years!!  We also have a dog named German Sheperd name Domino who thinks she can snuggle easily on the couch at 65 lbs...LOL.  I've known my husband since childhood and he too shares a passion of challenging oneself physically and emotionally.

Current Training:  I am currently training to run another half marathon in Galveston in February.  I run three times a wk; intervals, tempo and long and also weight training 2-3 times a wk.

Past Races: Beach to Bay, Corpus Christi, Tx; 2008, 2009; Rock n Roll Half Marathon, San Antonio, Tx; 2010

Future Races: Mardi Gras Half Marathon Galveston, Tx, Feb; other half marathons that are in the area such as Seabrook and Davy Crockett Bear Chase.  Unsure of first sprint marathon, not registered yet but plan to do one in San Antonio, Tx. area in 2011.

Looking forward to receiving sound advice and encouragement thru this process, as this type of training is unknown to me.  Concerns are limited availability to swimming pools and choosing the right equipment.  Also I try to eat clean as best as I can, harder around the holidays (LOL) but any additional info on nutrition will be appreciated.

Liz T.

NAME: abqtj (Steve)

STORY:  Played virtually everything growing up, but never a "runner". Always a decent swimmer, but never on a team or formal instruction after age 4-5. Biked some in HS/College, but again nothing formal. Did a couple of centuries then, but fell out of it about 20 years ago. Most of my adult life I've spent playing ice hockey (goalie) and enjoy it quite a bit. Friend talked me in to triathlons last year when I bought myself a road bike as my 40th bday gift. So I signed up for a sprint in July 2010 and had a blast. 

FAMILY STATUS: Living in sin with my girlfriend of 18+ years (Diane). No kids, just two crazy Labs (Jasper and Spencer).

CURRENT TRAINING: Nothing concrete at the moment. I try and run 2-3 times per week and get on the bike as my schedule allows. Have not swam since November. I've gone from running 1 mile this year as a long run to currently hitting 3-4 miles with little problem. Also my swimming has gone from gassed at 25-50yds to knocking out 2000-3000yds for a session and not being terribly beat up after. Very proud of the swimming improvement. Now I just need to be a little quicker at every discipline. 

GOALS:  Just keep improving and learning. Conquer race day anxiety. Want to do an Oly this year. Long term goal is to be able to complete a half marathon. 

2010 RACES: Santa Fe Tri (reverse sprint), Hotter 'n Hell 100 (50 miler), Jingle Bell Sprint (DNS, sick race morning).

2011 RACES:  Likely: Santa Fe Tri, Jay Benson Tri (sprint), maybe 1-2 other sprints. An Olympic distance will be my primary focus, just haven't chosen it yet (either Elephantman or Cochiti Tri). Also will be doing the Hotter 'n Hell 100 again, this time the full 100 miles. Big Dream is to complete the Triple Threat at the Hotter 'n Hell (13 mile MTB Race, 100 mile road, half marathon).

WEIGHTLOSS:  Since this pertains to me too...Started this in March of 2010 at about 233. Currently hover in the 212-215 range. Done solely with exercise and a little bit of paying attention to diet. Biggest change and achievement for me was dropping my Diet Coke habit. Went from 12-15 on a LIGHT day for the past 20+ years to zero cold turkey. Diet's always been iffy for me, being a restaurant GM.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE:  Love forums and especially the support on this one. Willing to listen and learn and hopefully have something to offer along the way.

NAME: DDVMM

STORY: I am a black belt in TKD and have been an on and off runner for years. I have been running consistently for over a year again. I was diagnosed with metastatic thyroid cancer on April 9, 2010 and have been through surgery and radiation in the last year, but I have been training throughout and think that is why I bounced back so quickly!

FAMILY STATUS: Married to a great, supportive husband, 4 kiddos (ages 2,7,9,11) with crazy schedules, work a little more than PT, girl scout troop leader, cub scout den leader.

CURRENT TRAINING:Running 3-4 times a week slowing working my mileage up. I bike occasionally as well but nothing regular. I don't have anywhere to swim in the winter.

GOALS: To keep getting better! To keep learning!

2010 RACES: Couple 5K's

2011 RACES: Half marathon in April 2011 - 1 year from my diagnosis. July 23 is my first sprint tri and I am very excited.

WEIGHTLOSS:  I probably don't *need* to lose weight but I think I would feel better if I took 5-10 pounds off. I think I will add some 5-10K's in there as well.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE:  I love online forums and from what I have read on this site, there seems to be a lot of support and knowledge. I am a pretty good cheerleader too!