Gray Guy/Girls Tri--Masters Sprint/Olympic Mentor Group CLOSED

Steve,

I'm a Gray Guy and  would like to join your group.  This is my third year doing Triathlons.  Having some injury concerns right now that may limit  by running but hope to work  them out.  This years schedule is  almost all swimming only three triathlons 2 sprint and 1 Olympic right now.

Here's a little about me:

Name: Tsvi (pronounced: sve)

Story: I was a swimmer in High School and kind of active in my earlier years, some biking, running and hiking.  About 16 years ago I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma went through the standard CHOP treatment but relapsed after 3 years and had a second and third round of chemotherapy.  I have been in remission and pretty much a couch potato for 10 years.  I finally joined a local wellness center and started swimming in 2010.  By January I was doing 20 miles a month.  While I was looking for swim workouts a came across Beginner Triathlete.  Well swimming did not seem a problem, I once ran 5 and 10Ks, and I know how to ride a bike.   Why not?  So I checked with my Doctor and signed up for my first Triathlon.  Took out my 35 year old ten speed bike (a true 10 speed 5x2), bought a pair of running shoes and started to train using the 16 week Original Sprint program as a guide.  Ten weeks later I was in Smithfield for my first race and I finished, did more of a 5K walk than run but finished.  But I was hooked!    In the last two years I’ve completed 10 Triathlons, a Marathon, two ½ Marathons, a mile swim, and various 5 and 10K runs.  This is my third year and aged up to the 65-69 year olds. Last month I has my first podium finish I Virginia when I took third place M 65-69 in Smithfield Triathlon.

Family Status: Married, 2 Married Sons, 1 Daughter, 1 grand daughter and a grand dog

Current Training:  I have been training about 6-7 hours a week mostly swimming in preparation for the Great Chesapeake swim (4.4 mile) in June.  Been having some knee problems the last 2-3 weeks so have stop running usually 2-3 times a week and only some limited bike also 2-3 times a week before the injury.  I hope to resume Triathlon training later this month with Team in Training (TNT) after a check with the doctor. 

2013 Races:

• ·         Shamrock ½ Marathon Completed in March                                        
• ·       Smithfield Sprint Completed in April                                           
• ·       Nanticoke River Swim  - 3 Mile (May)
• ·       Great Chesapeake Bay Swim - 4.4 Mile (Jun)  "A" race
  
•        Jack King Open Water Swim- 1 Mile (JUN)
• ·       Chris Greene Lake Swim 2 Mile (JUL)
• ·       Tidewater Triathlon (Jul)
• ·       Lake Moomaw- 1 Mile Swim (AUG)
• ·       The Nation's Triathlon (SEP)  "A" race
  
• ·       Swim the loop-  3.5 Mile (Oct)    

Weight Loss: I started at about 200 lbs.  I am currently 180 lbs. would like to drop another 10 lbs. but have been at this weight for almost a year.

You're in Tsvi.  Very impressive in training for the Chesapeake Swim.  My wife and I were down in San Diego last month.  We're up in La Jolla overlooking the ocean and marveled at the open water swimmers chugging along out there in the wide open spaces.  Way too scary for me!

Knee issues are certainly tough.  That's a big part of why I jumped into triathlon...I was running too many miles for my legs to deal with and I was constantly breaking down.  Once I backed off the mileage and run frequency, everything started to go fine.

I think the question I have for you is what your goals are for Triathlon now that you've aged up?  Clearly you're successful with your current level of training.   

Name:  Norma

Story:  Close to 9 years ago, my parents passed away within 5 weeks of each other - one from cancer and the other from a heart attack.  I decided that it was time to focus on me and get my health in order since cancer runs in my family.  I needed to lose 25 lbs., joined Weight Watchers, started walking and along with my family started training in Taekwondo.

To help with my endurance during sparring, I upped my walking into running.  Even though I really don't like to run that much, it was easy enough to do and it did in fact help my endurance.  To get me motivated, I began to run races.  I did 5 and 10ks for a number of years while working through the various belt levels to become a second degree black belt.  My instructor wanted me to teach kickboxing classes.  I eventually started teaching fitness classes that are a hybrid kickbox, cardio, body pump, and circuit using weights, bands, medicine balls, and other various equipment.  I wanted to do triathlons at age 50 but didn't have the proper equipment to do so.  In 2011, I ran an 11k and in 2012 ran 15k and 2 half marathons.  Began triathlon in 2012, doing 3 sprints and just completed my first Olympic distance at the end of last month. 

Family:  Married for 26 years this month with 2 sons (21 & 16).

Current Training:  Well, because of all I do, training is not as consistant as I would like.  I get in as much as I can.  I have another Oly at the end of this month that I am gearing up for.

Weight:  My weight as been consistent for the last 8 years.  I am fairly muscular.

My goal:  To get faster on the bike since that is my weak area.  I know I need to ride more. I am just slow and steady all around!  But more important, to just enjoy the challenge of the sport and the fact that I have the ability to do it.

Hello everyone, I'm Linda from Texas. I did my first sprint tri last year.

I have same tri again this July and a splash n dash ...end of June. I would like to bump up to intermediate distance for next year.

I swim about 1200 m. three times a week. I sprained my shoulder last summer in a dirt bike accident and its not a hundred percent.

I bike two to three times a week about 15 miles at a shot. rolling hills.

I run almost everyday (can you tell which is my strong event yet?) 

I consider my power to weight ratio my weak point. just quit eating pork and trying cut back on salt/sodium. For as much as I run it is amazing I can weigh 135 pounds at 5 ' 3" .

Any help on that one appreciated. I'm lactose and gluten intolerant btw.

I have a rescue dog that must have been owned by a runner..She goes nuts when i saw "run" or she sees me pick up a pair of running shoes. She is thirteen and can run thirty minutes.

Glad to be here. 

You're in!  Welcome to the group.  Post up your bio so we can get to know you.

Steve

Hey Linda--Welcome to the group.  Glad to have you on board!

Steve

Hey Steve.  I'd like to join your group.  

Background

I ran some in high school but then got busy with life and kids.  I started casual running again around 45 and then, wanting something to distract me from turning 50, started distance running.  I did that for five years but then we bought a water access camp where I spent a lot of the summer so there was little time/room for running.  I didn't do much strenuous for a couple of years and then decided to look at triathlons since I have a lot of opportunity to swim in the summer.  I did a try a tri last summer and a duathlon.  I totally agree with triathlons being better for your body and don't miss the hours of pounding the pavement.  I'm a pretty good runner.  I think I'll be pretty good at biking and I'm a terrible swimmer.  

I've signed up for two sprint triathlons this summer and a duathlon.  I'd really love feedback and tips, particularly with swimming and biking.  

Hi, I am a Gray Girl and looking for a group to join.  I have been doing Tri's for 8 years and enjoy them.  Sprints and Olympic distances are what I am doing this year, along with some Master Swimming events.

If accepted, will post my bio.   

Hey Norma--you have a very compelling story.  Thanks for posting it.  Welcome to the group.  I'll be happy to provide  any ideas or just my outsiders perspective.  

2013 is going to be great!

Hi Kay--welcome to the group!  You've got a lot of experience so I'm sure you'll have a lot of great insights, ideas and observations.  

Post up your bio!

You're in.  Welcome to the group.  I'll be happy to provide any ideas or tips that I can on swimming and biking.  Sounds like you've got a solid start on running.  Welcome to the group.

Hi, My name is James and I would like to join the group. I am 55 (56 this coming Friday) and I am going to do my first Sprint Triathlon towards the end of July. I am currently training for a half marathon (again a first) on May 26th up in Boston called "The Run to Remember". Not being a real swimmer I started a masters class and was going pretty religiously but have fallen off due to a new job. This is where I need the most work and will be trying to get back into it again and find more time for my bike.

I got into running again about two years ago and I lost 50 pounds but I would like to lose 20 more to help me get my times lower, last 5k I ran was at 8:22 miles and I would like to get into the 7s this year which I think the weight loss would help.

I have a great wife who is very supportive and 4 wonderful kids ages 10 to 17, yes I got a late start but the main thing is I found the right one.

Hey James--welcome to the Gray Guy mentor group.  First, congrats on your improved health and weight loss.  That's a fabulous achievement!  I'll be more than happy to bounce ideas with you as you train for your first sprint.  Welcome to the group!

Hi Rick:

Holy Cow!  Seriously?   From 350 to 165?  That is spectacular and inspirational. Good luck on your race on the 19th.  One of the things I really like about sprint and olympic distance races (unlike HIM/IM) is there is a relatively quick recovery.   Given your training, your objective of a race a month is realistic.

Last year I plugged in 10 triathlons...basically one a month from March through December.  It' was pretty doable with a caveat.  The "watch out" is hitting a plateau in your training because you can easily schedule of three weeks hard training, one week taper/race which can develop into a training rut.  After a couple of months the improvement stops with out a solid rest/recovery cycle.  So it's important to build that into your annual plan.

I learned the hard way last year at Age Group Nationals.  After starting out racing in March, I hit it every month right up to the national race in August.  But by the time I hit late July my times were beginning to get worse.  By August, my 57 year old body was just plain flat.  I had the worst race of the entire summer at Age Group Nationals.  So I backed it off for about four weeks for a rest/recovery period and then built a training block for a race in October and another in December...and had my two best races of the year.

It's tricky stuff trying to dial in the training for 55+.  Mentally, I keep telling myself I can train with the intensity (albeit slower) I did when I was 30.  Physically, I just can keep it up.  REST days and "easy weeks" are so much more important for recovery.

Good luck and welcome to the group.  I'll look forward to hearing about your race on the 19th!

Steve 

What's your training plan for Sunday?  Post 'em up!

Steve

Ran 13.1 for the first time yesterday and felt really good (Hooray!!!). Last Saturday  I ran 11 miles keeping my heart rate between 135 bpm to 140 bpm which had me averaging around a 12 minute mile. Yesterday I was going to do the same but my friend who is an accomplished runner asked  me to try the following;. take it easy for the first 3 miles then kick it up a little bit to about to 8 mile mark then kick it higher the last 5 miles of my run . Well I kept my heart rate at 135 for the first 3 miles which averaged my regular 12 minute mile. At the end of the mile 3 mark I picked it up to 140-150 bpm pace at about a 11 minute pace and felt good. On the way back in after mile 8 I kicked the heart rate up to 160 and was running 10 minute miles feeling really good but was a little apprehensive that I wouldn't have enough gas in the tank to make it home. Well I started to get a bit winded at mile 12 and as well I should have because I noticed I had pushed my heart rate up to 180 bpm which I have never seen before on my monitor but after regaining my wind I finished the last half mile kind of strong with a time of 2:25. I was very please with this especially because my lower outside of my left knee felt perfectly fine. I have been having some pain there while on my runs the last couple of weeks but usually run through it.

Anyway that brings me to Sunday, so this morning I was going to go out and do an easy 5 but bang as soon as I started there was the pain in my lower outside left knee joint but this time I was actually limping. I kept running thinking I could run through it. I did three miles and said this is stupid , I need to rest this. From doing some online research I believe it is just inflammation where a tendon is attaché to the tibia. They say rest and ice if that doesn't work a cortisone shot. Just really stinks when I have come this far. FYI I was actually up to 30 mile per week but because of the new job I have only been able to put in 20. I am thinking I really need a days rest after a long run but if I don't run on  Sundays that really brings my weekly total down even more. Right now I am swimming Monday, Wednesday Fridays mornings because that is my master class schedule and run Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (long run) and Sunday. I have been doing spin class on Tuesday night and trying to do some light bike rides on Sunday also. I have my first half marathon in 3 weeks so any advice on how to rest this knee and keep adequately trained would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Oh and sorry if this was little long winded but this knee thing is very frustrating.  

Yikes....snow on the ground?  Nasty.  Where are you at?

It will be interesting to see how your threshold ride time compares to what you did last year.   Hopefully your winter indoor trainer sessions were consistent and strong enough so that you're base fitness is reasonably sound.  Pretty tough to start building speed prior to establishing the foundation.

I'm heading out in 30 minutes or so.  Beautiful day here in central Washington State.   It's only 50 now but it's supposed to hit 85 later in the day.  My plan is for about a 2.5 hour ride on my time trial bike.  I'll do about a 30 minute warm up and the plug in 3 X 12 minute hard efforts with 12-15 minutes recovery between each set.  Then ride back up the hill to my house which is about 700 feet of vertical climbing....which due to the gearing on the bike is a painful experience vs. my road bike.  Have a great day!

Northern Ontario.  There's just a few spots that there's still snow.  We had a cold and snowy April.

Wow!  2.5 hours.  That's hard core.  I was pretty sore in my butt and legs after Friday's ride.  

 I put in about 2.5 hours per week on the trainer so I think I have a pretty good base.

Hi Steve

I am a gray guy in every sense. I would be thrilled if I could join the group. This is my second year of triathlon, having only done one tri last year. I got the bug and have signed up for 5 this year. I am a middle of the pack athlete, enjoy the challenge and camaraderie from participating in sports.  I have done four half marathons and a number of adventure races. My claim to fame was an expedition adventure race, 77 hours with only 75 mins sleep.  I am an active bike rider, riding mountain, road, and occasional touring but not racing, run for enjoyment and fitness and am frantically trying to learn to swim properly. I was a state champion windsurfer (in Australia) for three years in a row, many years ago, but there was not a lot a swimming involved in windsurfing or surfing, and you kept your head out of the water. You can see my challenge now. As I read that I am reminded of a T-shirt I saw that said "The older I get, the better I was."

I am married to a beautiful and supportive friend who joins me, sometimes, on the bike and running. We have 4 children, and 7 grandchildren spread across the northern and southern hemisphere.  My wife is American and I am Australian, we live in the mid-west. We both work in education, she is a principal and I am a consultant.

My main exercise companion is a lively border collie. The border collie stare is a great motivator and guilt tripper.

Thanks

Les