Power Mentor Group with Shane & Marc - Closed.

I will be one following from the outside and maybe chime in when appropriate. 

Name:  Jason

Story:  Got into tris after training for my first marathon.  That was 4 full years ago.  My strenght is the bike, and I've been training with power only a few months after I got my first bike...LOL.  So I know what it's like to be totally confused with power and the learning curve required.  At the same time, I still have a lot to learn.

Current Training:  Right now it's all bike all the time.  How fitting.  For the past 2 months all I have been doing is riding, and 2014 will be a break from triathlon and a focus on bike racing (both TTs and road races).

2013 Races:  Honu 70.3 and got a Hawaii resident lottery spot to Kona IM.  Did a few other time trials, 1 road race, and an OWS race.

2014 Races:  A few short TTs to start, then focus on the 40k TT where I hope to officially crack an hour.  I've done it unofficially during a team TT event where I rode solo.  Then likely Cycle to the Sun Road Race (Haleakala), Maui Gran Fondo, and Dick Evans Memorial Road Race (the 112 mile race the original Ironman was based on).  A few other road races thrown in there as well.

Weightloss:  I have quite a bit of weight to lose if I expect to climb as well as some of the other roadies I'll be competing against next year.

What would make me a good mentee:  Most of my riding is commuting to work and group rides, so it's hard for me to follow a workout plan.  I ride anywhere from 12-18 hours a week now, so my plan needs to be different and supplemented with lower intensity riding.  That said, I still do some forms of testing and structured interval workouts to track my progress.  I'm really interested in following along with what Marc and Shane have in store for this group.

Thanks for starting this group, Marc and Shane!  I'm really looking forward to learning from the two of you and everyone else involved.

Name:  Nicole

Story:  Some friends of mine were big into running and decided to give a triathlon a shot.  They had encouraged me to start running, but I was big into weight lifting (and scuba diving -- took up a lot of my free time!).  I decided to give running and triathlons a shot -- first race was April, 2012.  Turned out I really enjoyed it and have been training and racing since.  I bought a power meter in September and have been training with it for a few months, but I'm mostly just guessing at how to put together a training program.  I'm an engineer, so I've really enjoyed learning about my new toy, but I think this group will help me realize how to really use it.

Current Training:  Masters swimming three days a week, a couple days a week on the trainer and one group ride outside, running 5-6 times a week -- fairly unstructured, but will need to be more structured come January.  Also hoping to do the Tour of Sufferlandria at the end of January, but we'll see how that works out with this power meter group....this seems more important to me now.

2013 Races:  A race was Vineman 70.3, though I wasn't running due to a knee injury; did a small sprint and a 5k after I started running again

2014 Races: The only race on the schedule right now is St. George 70.3 in May, a few smaller races will almost certainly be added later in the year

Weightloss:  I am currently at my lowest adult weight.  Part of me wonders if racing a couple pounds lighter would help, but it is not going to be a focus.

What would make me a good mentee:  I log my training religiously and I'm hungry for information!  I also ask questions and take advice / criticism pretty well.  I also have a little experience training with power, so I can relate to what some of the newer power users are going through because I was there very recently.

Equipment:  Riding a P2 with Quarq Elsa power meter, KK Road Machine, have a laptop with ANT+ stick to capture rides to the computer, have Golden Cheetah installed on my computer and loaded with my power data so far (honestly, though, I don't use it to its potential and would like to learn more....and, admittedly, hae no idea how to read that CP graph they give, so that will be one of my first questions!).

Again, thanks for getting this group up, very much appreciated!

Name:  Donto/Don

Story:  Wife & I enjoyed our 3 years of no kids then we started a family in '99. A year after #2 was born (01) we decided to get healthy again (heaviest point in my life) with running and I slowly morphed into tri's doing some team races then in earnest in 2004 on my own when I discovered BT. Many tri & run races since but always learning something.

Current Training:  Took most of 2012 off, lost the mojo, and got myself going again this year.  Mostly running right now 4-5/wk with on again off again trainer rides. Need to start a full tri training routine as I signed up for a March HIM..

2013 Races:  PR'd a competitive local sprint in June that I've been doing since '04. Did a team Olympic in July with my 14 YO son (swim) and 18 YO nephew (bike).  Ran a 10k Turkey Trot race.

2014 Races: 1st half of the year I have a possible Du in late Jan, HIM (r) in late March, possibly a 10 miler early March, competitive local sprint in June.

Weightloss:  About 10 lbs over ideal race weight.  Not worried about it right now, lots of training coming up!

What would make me a good mentee:  I Just completed my new bike build (2013 Felt B12 frame with Ultegra 6800 11-spd) and it needs to get some sweat on it!  I always log my training, can use a HRM if needed, and have used my KK road trainer & VP for several years doing the BT/Jorge winter cycling plan several times. I put the cycling plan in a spreadsheet that does all the CP calcs and training phase workouts determinations.  Looking forward to learning/using GC, all the power metrics and training with others.  I have already downloaded GC and will be pulling the trigger on Ant+ sensor and dongle any day now.

NAME: GoFaster / Neil

STORY: This was my 6th year of Tri's and for the past couple of seasons I've been kind of winging it.  I've had decent results, but more structure is what I'm after and I'm aiming to learn from this group.  I know Marc and Shane to be very knowlegeable, and I see some other members in the PM's that will be sure to add lots more.

I don't have a background in any of theTri sports, but have taken to running, while swimming seems to give me the most trouble. I'm generally FMOP on the bike, but would really like to get to the next level.

FAMILY STATUS: Married, great wife, two crazy kids.

CURRENT TRAINING: Getting into a more regimented schedule again, but have unfortunately fallen sick twice in the past few weeks and am fighting through something again.  Was following the BarryP run program for a couple of months, but have dialed back the running, and would like to put more focus on the bike, and find some improvements in the swim.

2013 RACES: Three Sprints, one Olympic.

2014 RACES: Half Marathon in March, three Sprints, one Olympic, Muskoka 70.3 (4th time will be the charm)

WEIGHTLOSS: I'm a lightweight. At just over 6' feet I'm usually in the mid 150's.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I've been lucky to be in some great groups and learn a ton - think this one is going to be another one, and can hopefully contribute as well as soak it all in.

Story:  ...I was born a poor, un-ed-u-ma-cated kid in a little town in CT...No, really, I'm just a frustrated comedian...well, actually, I'm just a struggling AG tri-ath-a-lete (yea, I know that's not how you spell it) trying to squeeze out some attempt at speed at triathlon before I die.

Seriously, I got a bit inactive and overweight in my 30's despite playing indoor soccer and adult baseball, putting on a few pounds more than I realized. My patients actually commented that I 'shouldn't be going to the fast food chain' and I realized they were right. So, I started eating better and running/training for a marathon at age 40. Read and learned as much as I could about run training specifically and ultimately set some nice PR's as an 'old man'. Never ran track or anything so when I did my first track race in my 40's, it was a real hoot. Finishing a marathon was priceless.

Agressiveness and sloppy training led to stress fractures and after 10 years I decided to go with a 'less impact' type of sport. Turned to cycling at at 50 and signed up for IM. Didn't realize that there was a year wait time, so I did a half IM as my first tri, including my first OWS. Read my RR if you want to LOL. Finishing an ironman was equally priceless.

Been training and learning. Got a tribike after 6 months and used it exclusively in training for the last few years. Now it's time to go with power, rather than HR training for the bike. A bit more benefit, but somewhat different metric. Both have benefit, IMO, and I do know physiology fairly well. (MD-medicine/cardiology, MS-physiology and neurobiology). I have many athlete patients and am reasonalby up to date on cardiac issues in athlete's, in particuliar, one of my specialties. But power...um...(raises hand), I will probably need some help...

Current Training:  It's winter, so I'll take a mini-break to keep my mind and body fresh and be ready for serious training beginning in January 2014. I am hoping to keep 4-6 hrs/week over the winter and begin the ramp to 10 hrs/week. Finding time is always the challenge with my job (working ~60+hrs/week) and having a family.

2013 Races:  I did 2 sprints, 2 olys and 2 1/2IM (including Savageman-now that's a race!).

2014 Races: Only thing on my schedule now is the Quassy 1/2 IM.

Weightloss:  Yes, I need this. Now at 165#'s-about 15 pounds above my goal race weight. I've learned that I really do like to eat-ha!

What would make me a good mentee:  I think this was for Marc, not us, but if it is for us...well, I believe that I have a strong background in running and training paces which I've applied to the bike. I've read about 10 books on triathlon now and think I understand what people are advising regarding the basics. Many nuances from the various writers, but many common themes.

Equipment: Weak, old legs. Oh, and I'm riding a Cervelo 2012 P2 which will be equipped with a Power tap hub for my race wheel (808 Zipp) within a couple weeks. I will keep that on all year long to get indoor/outdoor info. Likely will put on my training wheel with Gatorskins in the springtime until race time when I put my 808 or 404 on the front.

Thank you Marc and Shane. I really appreciate you both sharing your time & knowledge with the group.

Name: Karen

Story: Started running when I turned 30 in an effort to lose weight. Built up to a marathon and loved crossing the finish line soooo much I kept doing marathons. Developed several stress fractures because all I ever did was run. Doctor told me to cross train. Started biking, loved it and found out I was pretty good at it. A friend convinced me to do a sprint tri and I became hooked.

Current Training: Nothing too structured right now. Try to swim a couple times a week with a great masters group but I've been pretty inconsistent the last several months. A couple of spin classes during the week and an outdoor ride on the weekend if weather permits. Run several mornings a week and usually a long run (road or trail) on the weekend.

2013 Races: A couple of trail runs and then my A race was IM Tahoe (awesome!)

2014 Races: A race is IM Boulder with no other tris planned, I like to keep it simple

Weightloss: I lost quite a bit of weight before Tahoe and felt pretty good with where I was at. But some of it has crept back on, so I'd like to lose that plus another 5 - 10 pounds. I struggle with weight. It use to be easy to lose weight, but the older I get the more difficult it becomes. Boo!

What would make me a good mentee: I log my workouts, follow instructions very well, accept feedback (I"m not easily offended), and like to have fun.

Equipment:  Cervelo P2 with Powertap, KK trainer, speed cadence sensor, HR monitor, Garmin 910, laptop, big TV w/ Netflix, husband that will set up fan, bring me water, dogs that cheer me on....

I mentioned in the TT thread that I got my Powertap early this year and used it all summer while training for Tahoe. I followed the Endurance Nation IM plan and did the power tests during training. I have no idea what the data meant, so other than knowing I didn't want to go above a certain # at Tahoe, I had no idea what I was doing with power. I would like to improve my biking with a goal of getting off the bike in Boulder with fresh(ish) legs for the run. I'm excited to get started!