BrotherTri’s - Triathlon Training Support Group - CLOSED

Name:  McManusclan5 / Matt

Story:  Got back into tris in the fall of 2012 with two sprints after about 17 years off of multi-sport.  I'd run during the interval between, but some years just barely.  In Spring of 2012 a colleague at work convinced me to upgrade my 20 y.o. steel bike to caaaaaaaaaarbon (can't say it any other way), and I got jazzed about being on the road again.  Road all spring/summer and dropped some weight (190 down to 175).  I was swimming some anyway (never swam in any organized way, just would wade into the ocean and swim), so I thought, what the heck - I'll do a tri.  The Better Half joined me and it was on!

She subsequently got hooked on running and is getting really good, with terrific results, but sadly is not so gung-ho on tri (although a HS swimmer, she hates OWS and mass starts, plus she rides the brakes on the bike all the way downhill).  So, 2013 was my first full year of tris.  Did a few sprints, a couple Oly's and one HIM.  LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.  

Family:  Married to the Better Half (Kim) with three kids.  Boy/girl/boy ages 13/11/9.  First, best and most important part of my life.

Current training:  2013 as above (got up to 12-15 hours per week in the builds, but wanted a few more weeks at that level - life and too many race tapers just kept getting in the way and limiting me more 8-10 hour weeks than I wanted).  2014 will be a run focus to start, with a HM at the end of February (Cape Cod in winter - fun!), and building base on the drainer and in the pool.  Then I'm thinking HIM in June and August or September, with some sprints and Oly's for spice.  Maaaaaybe AGN in August.

I used Friel's "Your Best Triathlon" last year and will likely do so again this year.  I think I might tweak the workouts to sprinkle a bit more intensity in and shorten some days, while making the longer days a bit longer (not necessarily overall, but the long workouts in each sport longer ones once a week, if that makes sense).

This Year's Races:  As above.  New England TriFest in VT was a nice (and my first) Oly.  Falmouth Sprint was a hoot, with a thousand people.  Timberman was my first HIM and Winny is a great lake.  Nantucket Oly was a blast, as we went over as a family for a week - so I had spectators on course!!  DoverSherborn sprint was fun, as I got to compare my time to the previous year's race and saw a boatload of friends there.  Did a BUNCH of 5k's locally and the kids did mile races at each of them (a couple where the whole family was on the podium!).  Paced Kim through her first HM at the Boston Run to Remember (especially meaningful after the marathon events last year) - which she crushed!  All in, it was a dumptruck full of awesome kind of year!

2014:  Thinking about Grand Rapid HIM in June with a SUPER-stretch goal of qualifying to race ITU long course in Sweden (and take the family there) in 2015.  Not sure the logistics will work out, in which case I'll likely do Patriot HIM a week later.  Maybe AGN.  Probably Timberman, although Pumpkinman/Rev3 Maine and a couple others are possibilities.  A bunch of 5k's, 10k's, a HM or two, some fall road races, etc…  

I'm struggling with balancing training/racing plans this year and getting the family out on the boat, down to the beach and all the other typical summer stuff we usually do but (if I'm honest) cut short last year to accommodate my and Kim's training (we'd go to the beach but both of us seemed to always be working out).  Balance is always tough, but I realize how lucky we are to be balancing such great things rather than more "core" stuff for us (we never miss kids' stuff - for anything - and work has fortunately been a non-issue with scheduling).  Looking back, it felt more selfish than it did at the time - so we're going to watch that more carefully this year.  I'm going to TRY to pull back the throttles a bit in training and see if I can be happy with that (but suspect that I'll just start re-arranging my schedule to try to fit it all in - and we'll see what happens!).  Ah, tri...

Weight loss:  Went from 190 to 155-ish at race weight for the HIM last August.  Now at ~165.  Want to be around 162-163 for training weight and keep 155 as race target, but only right around a long course race.  I think…  I have a suspicion that I could race lighter this year than last, coming into it with more base and a lower starting weight, but I don't want to break down.  I don't actually pay toooo close attention to it, but I now do step on the scale every morning.  

What would make me a good mentee:  As you can see from the above, not brevity!!  I'll try to avoid the TLDR posts…  What I am is very excited about it.  Very interested in the physiology behind endurance training (MD/PhD from a previous life, so I sometimes geek out).  Super happy when others achieve in the sport or outside it as a result of work in it (aka supportive and energized by others doing well).  I am very much looking forward to hearing more details about how others train, approach the race schedule, race season, etc. - so, bring on the conversation!  (Oh, and I'm not bothered by differences of opinion)  

Matt

Welcome Fraz!

And welcome to tri.  It's a blast (warning, it can be addictive).  

Looking forward to seeing how your season goes and what parts of the sport get you jazzed - exciting to be coming into it "fresh!"

Have you cycled much before, or will it be new to you?

Matt

If possible, I'd love to get in this group, please.

Name - cdban66/Chris

STORY: I had been somewhat athletic in High School, playing soccer, beach volleyball and basketball, but that was a long time ago. Marriage, two children, business ownership, and the general busyness of life just got in the way. A few years back I began going to the gym, lifting weights and such. Then, in late July, 2010, we had a family weight loss challenge. In order to lose (BTW, I did win the challenge), I began running. My youngest daughter suggested we run a race at Disney, so I began to prep for that and my oldest sister joined in as well. Before that race had happened, I began looking for more challenge/diversity, since I was enjoying the training. I had a friend who had been in tri’s a while back, he gave me his old bike and it grew from there. Now I try to race a few times a year and have begun to consider longer races in my future

STATUS: I am a 6’3”, 47 yr old male and I've been married for nearly 27 years. I have 2 girls, ages 23 and 25. My wife, Ann or TW (THE Wife), is the most wonderful person a man could have in his life and has been very supportive of this addition to my lifestyle.

CURRENT TRAINING: I am currently in a run focus stage, but in about mid February, after a trail race, I will move to all 3 sports. I have found that I really enjoy trail running, so part of my training is done there whenever possible. More than anything else, this has been about changing to a less sedentary lifestyle.

LAST YEAR: 2012 and 2013 were skinny racing, or should I say participating, years. I did a couple of races, but family obligations (there were many) took precedence, as they always do. My hope is to see time improvements from last year, especially in the run, and advances in my overall endurance fitness.

2013 RACES: I PR'd my HM in March. That was followed by a couple of sprints during the summer, a pretty good bike crash in the middle of a July race was the lowlight. I pretty much stopped racing by September.

2014 races: Flatwoods Ramble 10 mile trail run in Feb. Probably about 3 or 4 sprints in the summer, then something longer at the end of the season. All this is very soft and I hope to sit down and firm it all up in early January.

BODY COMP: As I mentioned above, this all started as part of a family weight loss challenge. I started at 240 lbs. At my lowest I had reached 207, which felt low for me. Currently I am about 225, with a goal weight of 210+/- for race season.

WHAT WOULD MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I am not the fastest, but I am supportive, upbeat, and really do want to be a better triathlete. I am starting a single speed/fixie bike build in January, with the intention of learning more on the mechanical side. I have an eye towards a tri bike build in the future. And I recently recieved a Timex Global Trainer, so I have a learning curve on the gadget side of things.

Thanks James. I like the idea of a group/mentors with a strong background and the willingness to give me an occasional "man up" if I need it.

Looking forward to a good start to the year.

Matt, Rev3 Venice is 30 minutes from my house. I was going to do the Oly last year, but that fell apart. So, I am not sure how far I'll go, but either the oly or the half is on the possibility list for 2014.

I've also heard great things about the Rev3 races and was close to doing one in the fall last year (decide to injure myself training for a marathon instead - wonder which choice I should've made, huh?).  It's great that you have the option for the Oly or the Half - let's you decide what distance closer to the date based on training, provided the race doesn't sell out.

Do you know if they filled early last year?  Would be great if you could audible a bit into the season...

Matt