DeCracker's Group ( de tricrackletes) Full

Pam, good to see you training and getting ready for the upcoming season. Even though you aren't technically in my group please do not hesitate to ask about any of the SCTS races. It would be my priviledge to ry to answer any question you may have especially about PI or about the HIM. Take care.

Michael, Welcome aboard and congratulations on your decision to tri. I know you will find it as rewarding as it is challenging. It seems you're on the right track. You've chosen a training plan and you have set a reasonable racing schedule. If I follow your writing correctly it would seem that your concerns are:

Travel/training conflicts

Weight loss.

Many things will conflict with your training. The demands of family, work, education, etc can't be overruled by your desire to train. Keep your priorities ie wife, work, everything else. Training is sometimes about sacrifices and not at your wife's or work's expense but at yours. Organize your time carefully. Train early, or train late. Make use of available technology. Make sure to pack the MP3 and have some good aerobic downloads. After a long day go back to the hotel, double bolt the door and do aerobics for 30 mins. Tune into Fit TV. If the weather permits hit the pavement for a nice run. The sacrifices you make for training will fuel your desire to meet your goals. When you get to race day the effort will be worth the lost sleep and early runs.

As for the weight loss, easy does it. Michael I believe you have to watch what you eat, control your portions, and stay focused. Strive for 1 to 1 1/2 lbs per week. That's 12-15 lbs by St. A's. You know the drill. No sweets, no snacks, no heavy drinking. Plenty of fruits, veggies, and lean protein. When you become tired or exhausted your willpower suffers. Stay strong and well rested and you'll find yourself cruising towards your weightloss goals.

I'll check in every few days. Hang tough, train hard.

btw I did St. A's last year and it was a fabulous time. You will meet a ton of BTers and have a blast. If you hear horror stories of last years swim, believe them for it was brutal.

Well Jocelyn you are an inspiration to me and I say Welcome Aboard and let's get headed towards your goal. Congratulations on choosing triathlons as your avenue of renewed health and fitness. You have made a wise choice also in joining BT. Here you will find many others seeking the same goal as yours. You are already on track for success. Weight Watchers is an excellent weight loss venue IFyou combine it with exercise. So many folks don't and have poor results. Diet....and....exercise is the key. You will see fantastic results, but never forget that we want steady progress.

OK a few tips for you. If you don't have a heart rate monitor get one and let me know when you have it so I can offer some tips that worked for me. Women are going to have some periodic weight issues that guys don't, don't let that depress you, just expect it and move on with training. Of the three disciplines you will see the greatest impact from the bike. I know it's painful for you but as you become accustomed to the bike and as your leg strength improves the pain will subside. The bike is low impact and will enable you to get into a HR zone that will max your fat burning potential. Walking is second best. Swimming will be your best aerobic training for now. I'll check on you often and look forward to seeing you make your goals.

Russ 

Joe, Welcome to the group. You've made a great decision to use tri's as your means of improved health and fitness. Write and let me know what your diet strategy is and if I can offer any advice. How much time do you have to devote to training on a weekly basis? Is there a gym or Y nearby which you use? Don't forget to fill out those daily training logs. The path to losing a hundred pounds begins with losing a single gram. You didn't gain it overnight nor will you lose it overnight but you will meet your goal. Steady progress is the key. Let's lose the fat and keep the muscle and we do that by reducing somewhat slowly but always combining diet with exercise. I'll check your logs over the next few days and I'll add you to my list. Thanks for joining BT, and trust me ..I get so inspired seeing guys putting forth the effort to succeed in this age when everybody wants everything easy and they want it now. That's not how the sport of triathlon works. It's about training, learning, sweating out little achievments, and getting better. Again I Welcome you to the TricracKletes. We're gonna become better atheletes and have fun at the same time.

Russ

Kim and Wendy, Welcome to the Tricrackletes. The two of you give us five but I think I'll leave it open for one more. Kim I hope being a member of this team plus belonging to BT will make a difference this time. We are here to inspire and motivate each other so that we all (myself included) meet this years goals. I see a nice 5k finish in your near future.

Wendy, first of all, stay out of the trees. I'm proof that we can't train or workout injured.

Make sure to fill out your logs as you train or workout. Make sure your logs are open to the public else I can't look in on you. Most of you have chosen a plan. If you haven't or if you're not sure you've chosen the right plan, then let's talk about it. I would suggest that before choosing a plan you first realistically determine how much time you can devote to training. As I've said before, do not train at the expense of your family or work. Look at your week and see where you can fit in training and then study the training options. Then realize that the plan is not a Commandment from God. You can miss a day and not be sentenced to eternity in Hell.

Later today I hope to write more to each of you but that's enough for now. Thanks for joining BT and Thanks for becoming Tricrackletes. This is going to be a fun ride.

OK Tricrackletes our really really last member is Chad so be sure to add everyone to your list in your Training page menu.

• Check on and inspire each other as often as possible.
• Ask questions and give answers when you can help. We all bring something special to the forum. De Cracker is the smartest man on earth but he's fictional. Russ doesn't have all the answers but he tries.
• A word of caution about DeCracker. He's a jive pimpster trapped in the body of an aging southern white man. He thinks he's smart, cute, and funny but you decide. Put him in his place if you have to, just be gentle.
• "Training" is anything we do that is triathlon specific, ie swim, bike, run, transition. Anything else done to enhance our fitness is referred to as "working out" so log training as training and working out as workouts or exercise.
• Please log your weight at least once a week. I'll log mine on Tuesday night since I weigh in every Tuesday. I'm right there in the weight loss boat with you.
• Promise me that you will diet and exercise. You have to do both to be effective.
• Use whatever diet you wish but just resign yourself to the fact that donuts, cakes, candy bars, soft drinks, and all the other "good" stuff is now dietary history. We're gonna be sugar free, low cal, high output tri monsters.
• Get your rest. Late night binges can't happen if you're asleep. Willpower is directly related to rest and strength. Find an alternate "feel good" for food.
• Everyone needs a heart rate monitor. I want each of you to spend time each day exercising in your 60% zone. For starters we will consider your max to be 220 minus your age. 60% of max puts you in prime fat burning range and helps develope your aerobic base. 30-60 mins in this range is the minimum.
• Check this forum daily. I will be addding tips. These will be "Gettin' Mo Better" tips. (see I told you he was a jive pimpster). They will range from exercises to training tips to transition tips to diet to whatever.
• I want to see you all meet your goal which you all have set. How about some milestones? I knew a month ago that I needed to loose 30 pounds. Thats my goal but my milestones are, each 10 pounds, the Hunting Is Adventure race, and a Century ride. I know that by reaching each milestone I will meet my weight loss goal and my goal of a better racing season. btw I'm down 10 lbs despite the holidays.
• Stay involved. Inspire one another, participate in the BT forums, don't limit you logs to just training and workouts. Log in those things that are good or bad in your life or things that are bugging you. Someone here may be able to help.
• OK, get to crackin'!!!