Bonnie Crawford's Group - FULL

Hi Bonnie....thanks for mentoring...I think I can learn a lot from you.

Here is my info:

NAME: Noony/Nathalie

STORY: I am an attorney who works in the D.C. area. I recently realized that I have focused on career aspirations rather than my fitness and wellbeing and have gained a lot of weight over the years. Last year, I started doing triathlons to lose weight and get healthy and discovered that I really love it.

FAMILY STATUS: Married (to jimbo on BT) with 2 cats.

CURRENT TRAINING: I use the BT 3x OLY plan. It seems to work well though running is still the most difficult discipline for me.....i'm heavy and slow and its tough to keep moving. I ride with my husband but would like to get more self-motivated and confident to train by myself.

LAST YEAR'S RACES: 3Sports Sprint Triathlon, Iron Girl Columbia. I loved Irongirl....I really felt more confident in my abilities after this race.....I felt like I really accomplished something.

2007 RACES: I'm signed up for Little Pepper (Sprint) in Va in June, will do 3Sports Triathlon in July and Irongirl Columbia in August. My first OLY, Big Lick Triathlon, is planned for September in Va.

WEIGHTLOSS: I've lost 40+ pounds since beginning training.....weight loss has been really slow as of late and I have a lot more to lose. I'm hoping to really get my training back on track to also start losing weight again. When I'm really training and eating well, the weight seems to come off pretty easily. The trick for me is to stay focused.

Hi Bonnie! I'm so glad this group is opening. I was disappointed to find all the groups full when I joined BT 2 months ago. Count me in here. I'll post more later...have to get back to work for now

Thanks for starting this group, Bonnie. Got home a few minutes ago and thought I'd do a quick intro before bed.

I'm a newbie, deciding to tri about 2 months ago after swimming all winter and realizing I could swim a sprint distance. Like most women in their 40's, I too struggle with weight issues. I've found tri training has taken my focus off the scale because I can see improvement in so many other ways...body shape, endurance, resting heart rate, etc.

I'm a mom of 5, ages 4-18 (yes, they're all mine from the same man). My 16-yr-old daughter is going to tri with me, so there's an incentive.

I've never run a race or even seen a tri, and I'm registered already. My 100m split is 3 minutes. I still struggle to clip in my left foot on my bike. And I'm trying very hard to think positively about running.

I have a friend who is an Ironwoman helping mentor me, but I've made plenty of stupid mistakes over the last couple of months, from thinking T1 and T2 were thoracic vertebrae, to falling off my bike trying to make a cool running start (and bending the wheel), to asking for a kickstand at the bike shop for my new bike ( a real no no, I found out). Oh, and there was the man's bike helmet I bought and wore, and the list goes on.

I hope you ladies have as much fun as I have already. My friend, the Ironwoman smiled at me one day when we were riding. She said she was watching me with anticipation of all the exciting times she knew I had to come ahead of me. I'm learning to take risks and I really am having the time of my life.

NAME: shepherd/Kate

STORY: I'm currently finishing up my Masters in Biology here in Kansas and working full-time as a janitor for the summer. Come July, I'll be moving back down to Georgia and starting my fast-track teacher program. My husband is staying in Kansas til September, and I'll be living with my grandmother until he moves down. I'll be starting as a high school biology teacher on August 4th.

FAMILY STATUS: Married to an awesome Tri-Sherpa who understands my training obsession (but training isn't his thing). And we also have a dog... see my icon.

CURRENT TRAINING: I've been flying by the seat of my pants with my training. I know I need to get on it with a training plan, but I'm not sure how easily I can adhere to a plan because I don't know how much time I'll have come July. I also don't think I'll have access to a good lap pool until I start getting paid (end of August). Plenty of time to practice OWS! Working on the Aggressive Couch-to-5k from this site, I'm running 18/walking 12 at the moment. Swimming's probably my strong point, but I'm not very fast. Biking's my worst... I need lots of engine work.

LAST YEAR'S RACES: KC Women's Triathlon (my first)

2007 RACES: JCC Indoor Sprint (Feb), Mercy Wild Run (First 5k, done), Flint Hills Sprint (A race - June 4th!), Acworth Women's Tri sprint(August 12), Tri-PTC sprint (A race - Sept 8), Emerald Pointe (Oct 7), Half-mary (either late 2007 or early 08)

WEIGHTLOSS: I've lost about a net 15lbs, but since I started, I've dropped over 11% bodyfat... which is HUGE! My goal for this is to make it down to 23-25% body fat, and right now, I'm right around 31%.

OTHER GOALS: Eventually, I want to do an IM. But I also want a steady progression of progress in shorter races. I'm sticking to sprints this year to hopefully get down to my desired leanness (and learn to run). Planning on trying a couple of OLYs next year. Then half-iron, then IM. Then hopefully I'll know my favorite racing distance.

Bonnie - I'm glad you're mentoring!

-Kate.

Hi girls! Just finished my bike ride and have to go sleep fast for a night shift. Thought I'd check in. Today is one of those days you'd like to bottle and bring out in January. 80 degrees, sunny, hard to beat.

Welcome, Becki! I have a hard time juggling work, kids, husband, and training as well. I'm finding new and creative ways to get in a workout, and frequently show up at work now without makeup and with wet hair. Your running schedule is awesome. That's my hardest.

Hi Kate! I'm a southern biology gal too! My husband and I both graduated in Bio. You and I are at the same place with the running plan. I struggled with 18 min this week, but made it! Like your dog!

Gotta go. Shower and bed on the schedule.

Very excited!

I'm planning on adding all of you girls to my watchlist on my log and reading too.

Today I managed a short 15+ minute ride. Just really wiped from work, but at the very least, I did make it onto the bike. I'm happy about that!

Also as forewarning - I'm going to be MIA most of July and August, I'll be staying with family down in Georgia while I do my teacher training, so I won't have easily accessible internet. Hopefully I can get on once or twice a week from the library.  

What's the furthest you've ever swam, biked or run/walked (if you don't know miles put time)?
Swam: in one go, 800yds. Typically my swimming workout days end up being 1500-1800yds total.

Biked: 12 miles... and it hurt!

Ran (just ran): 1.56mi, run/walk: 5mi

In the last month - what was your average workout week?

Swim 1x (60 min - 1500yd)

Bike 2x30 min (about 5mi), 1 longer ride for 10mi (this one didn't always happen)

Run/walk: Weeks on couch-to-5k. Most recently 18 min run/12 min walk. I typically do all the running at the front, after a walking warmup.

What is your strongest sport and weakest sport?

I think this group is really going to help me get back into training, get focused and motivated. I'm really looking forward to getting to know all of you.

What's the furthest you've ever swam, biked or run/walked (if you don't know miles put time)?

I have swam 2000 yds but not in a while....I probably could currently swim 800-1000 yds. I've been absent from the pool recently. I've bike 25 miles. I've run/walked a 10K.

In the last month - what was your average workout week? Like, walked 3x for 30 min or swam 1x for 20 min etc.

Average workout in the last couple weeks has been 3X each sport varying from 30 minute runs to 1 hour runs, 40 min to 70 min on the bike, and swimming 30-40 minutes.

What is your strongest sport and weakest sport?

Strongest sport is swimming....I'm comfortable in the water. Running is definitely the most difficult. I move slow and its hard to keep running. I'm working on that.

Biking is okay for me. I've improved a lot in the last year but hills are still quite a challenge. I need to be able to not get psyched out by a big hill in front of me....I tend to panic a little when I see a steep uphill.

Nathalie

Bonnie, I really like your common sense approach to training. It's good to get recommendations for us real beginners. I feel better about my training if I set small goals to meet, rather than compare myself to others, although the temptation is everpresent!

One thing that helps me ladies, is every day in my blog I record "Today's success". It may be something as small as resisting a chocolate chip cookie, or actually lacing up my shoes to run. It helps keep me focused.

Gotta go gals. Family is leaving for Santa Fe tomorrow at 3A. Taking travel trailer, 2 cars, 6 bikes, 5 kids, and 3 cases of beer. Plan to hike and bike in the Oh-so-thin air up there. If I'm offline, I haven't deserted. Just don't have a computer handy. Ya'll have a great week!

Happy training!

Up at 1:30 to go to Santa Fe (800+) miles, and  I've got a few moments to read over your posts. Saw the questions from you, Bonnie. You are amazing...over 300 to begin! I know I can learn a lot from your experience. I've never done a tri, and just decided to do it this year.

What's the furthest you've ever swam, biked or run/walked (if you don't know miles put time)?  Swim-1300yds in pool, Bike-17miles in hills. I live in piney hills of north LA...no flat area. Run-5 miles in past, 18 minutes as of late...building very slowly.  Had a medial knee and lower back problem in past, so very cautious on the run. Training on dirt or track only.

What is your strongest sport and weakest sport? Feel all are weak. Prefer biking...I don't fatigue as easily. Usually stop because of time constraints. Swam all winter indoor pool, relearning with TI method. I'm pretty comfortable in the water and usually swim my workout straight, without a break. But that's the problem, I'm comfortable, and go pretty slow. Hate running for now. Amazes me how I can be so comfortable in other sports and really suck at running. HR jumps over 150 as soon as I pick my first foot up off the ground.  Figure that. Trying to readjust my attitude.

(Uh oh, DH just got up and I gotta run)

What is your strongest sport and weakest sport? Have to refer you to my log. I love to chart, keeps me honest.

Gotta go...will see ya'll on the road.

Hi,

Apparel Suggestions

Now for the really important question... What do I wear?    

Those triathlete suits look a bit intimidating...

What are the GOT TO HAVES and OPTIONAL apparel I should consider? 

What I already have

• A swimming suit (NOT a sports kind) - it's got a little skirt on the bottom - I'm thinking is NOT an option
• T-Shirts
• Running Shorts
• Running Shoes

I have two tris that I have signed up for this summer.  The first tri (in Door County, WI) I will only have to do the Swimming and Running (my husband is doing the swim portion).  The 2nd tri I will be on my own, and in the water  

What about:  sunglasses?  goggles?  swimming cap (it seems like everyone has one of these on... why?)?

Equipment

What equipment for my bike would YOU suggest are MUST HAVES and those that are options?  I am fortunate enough to have purchased a road bike 20 years ago that is still in great shape and made out of chrome (very light).  It's in the shop for a tune up now.  I'm assuming I should use this one, and not my more recently purchased "mountain bike" type bike. 

What accessories are really important to have?

I have to get a new helmet - what kind would you suggest?

I really would like to track my mileage when I ride my bike - what would you suggest?

Transitions

I am embarrassed to ask, but how does all of this work?  You don't strip down naked to get your clothes for the bike portion on - so what do you do?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 Alley