Ryan and Mike's beginner group - CLOSED

WHEN CAN YOU START MENTORING CONSISTENTLY: Now

NAME: BIGR82   /   Ryan McClain

STORY: After always hating to run, gaining WAY to much weight after getting a full time job, finally I saw a glimpse of light.   It was a simple weight loss challenge, I was shocked that I couldn't weigh on a doctors scale.  Even at 6 foot 8 inches, you can only hide so much weight(370lbs).  My life changed from a stupid challenge, to getting healthy to be around for my friends & family.  After doing a local 5K with old buddies, the triathlon suggestion was made, the rest has been history. This year I've done 5 triathlons.  Meeting people through my local Tri Club, the BT forums, and last years Mentor groups, it has been simply amazing.  Mike(RANSICK) and I met on last years winter Mentor group.   Finding out we lived somewhat close to each other, it made it possible to train/race together numerous times this year.

FAMILY STATUS: Been married for going on 6 years, we are both 28 years old and only have a small dog as of now. 

CURRENT TRAINING: I try to do 3 s/b/r trainings  each week, but if things get crazy at work, I make sure to get at least 3 days of running in.  I'm doing a custom 20 week HIM plan right now building up to the New Orleans 70.3  April 17th.

 THIS YEAR'S RACES: This was my first year of doing Triathlons.  Did my first Sprint in April, it was the Sullivan IL sprint.  I also did the Gateway Sprint Tri(carlyle IL), Evergreen Sprint tri with OLY Bike(bloomington IL), Lytle Park Sprint tri (mattoon IL), Finishing the year with the Great Illini Olympic Tri(mattoon IL)

 2011 RACES:  Starting the season off with my first HIM, New Orleans M-dot 70.3 in April.  Season after that is up in the air but looking at doing.  Sullivan Sprint tri May 1st, Gateway Oly Tri (last weekend in May), Evergreen Tri in July,  possibly the Chicago Triathlon in August, finishing with another HIM at the end of the year.

 WEIGHTLOSS: 1/12/09  I was 370 pounds, in a year made it down to 280, currently about 290.  The winter seems to be easier to loose weight.  Hoping to be around 240-250 by April, but that will be a hard push

 WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTOR: Even though I've only had a year of triathlon racing/ training/volunteering, I've had great people around me all year long.  I very thankful for all the knowledge I've gained, with the help of Mike(RANSICK), there's allot of information and motivation to go around.  I truly think everyone has greatness in them, sometimes people just need a little help finding it.

NAME: Ransick - Mike

STORY: I've always been a casual jogger and mountain biker, but never consistent.  I was slowly putting on a couple pounds a year and got to the point I needed to lose some weight.  Without a goal, I just don't train consistently.  Last year a friend talked me in to running the St. Louis half marathon in April 2009.  I had never run more than about 5 miles, so this was a good, but achievable, goal.  Once I accomplished that, I decided I wanted to do a Sprint triathlon.  The only problem was I was not a swimmer (like a lot of beginners).  I went to the pool 3x a week and almost gave up because it was so humbling and humiliating.  I decided to stick it through and figured I could do a late season tri.  I was wrong!  Some people have swimming breakthroughs in a matter of weeks or a couple months.  It took me six months but I did it!  So in 2010 I did my first tri and it was amazing.  The best way I can describe it is that it made me feel alive.

FAMILY STATUS: 44 years old, married for 22 years.  My wife and I have a 19 year old daughter, a 13 year old son, and a few dogs and cats.

CURRENT TRAINING: I'm following a custom built  20 week BT half ironman plan and mixing Jorge's winter cycling program in and will soon be mixing in some aspects of a tri-fuel plan.

THIS YEAR'S RACES: I did 2 half marathons and 5 sprint triathlons.  I planned to do an Olympic triathlon, but was sidelined due to a shoulder injury. 

2010 RACES:  I'm signed up for New Orleans 70.3.  The rest is in planning but will probably include a couple sprints, a couple olys, and another 70.3.

WEIGHTLOSS: I'm 5' 7" / 160 lbs (down from my all time high of 185).  I would like to lose a little more.  I don't really care what the weight number is, but I don't like looking like a stuffed sausage in a wet suit :-)

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTOR: I study the sport by reading books, reading lots of threads on BT and asking questions.  I love to learn and if I don't know the answer, I will help you find it.  Unfortunately, sometimes the answer is "whatever works for you", but I'll help you come up with a plan to figure that out too.  I also enjoy encouraging people to set reasonable goals and help them reach them.