HILDEBEAST'S Magnificently Motivational Mentor Group - CLOSED!!!! (Page 10)

Erin, if you can't see someone's logs, THEY have to add YOU as a friend... who's logs are still blocked and I'll tell them to add you...

If you are reading this and haven't added ALL the MMMers, please do!!

I guess that is what I am asking- how to add MMMers.  Sorry, just a little clueless here.  And I can't remember whose log I couldn't view but I will try and figure it out

That is so awesome that you scored a bike, Jen!! 

It's interesting that some of you have brought up the aero thing helping with cyclist's palsy...  I had some crazy nerve issues in my left forearm, wrist and thumb with my pregnancies, most likely carpal tunnel caused by swelling.  It has resolved for the most part except I notice that when I ride my hybrid and the spin bikes at the gym, my left wrist acts up again.  I think I did some long-term damage to that nerve and now it's turning into something like cyclist's palsy when I ride?  But only when I'm holding onto the handlebars.  I bet that the aero position would make it much more comfortable for my wrist!  Gives me some more to think about when it comes to bike buying time...

I'm thinking maybe I'd like the aero bars.  I always thought I'd just go with clip on aeros instead of a tri bike.  But the bike trainer was on my Christmas list this year.  Sounds like many of you think the aero position is best for really long distances.  If I'm gonna do a HIM maybe I should consider the purchase this year.  If there's one thing you can say for us tri people its that we're all "gear heads" -- love buying "stuff" don't we!  Can't believe how much I've spent on this sport!  It's partially what keeps me at it -- have to get my money's worth, right?

HELP! I have spent all morning attempting to import my training plan for the next 11 weeks. I used the Import Template AND saved it in csv format, and I still can't seem to get this to work. Any thoughts or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated -  my computer is about to grow wings 

Thanks!
Michelle 

sounds like a great clothing collection melanie

Hilde - So is it a good idea to do a few full/ extra distance bricks before the race?

Holy lots of posts Batman! This group is awesome!!! I think my last mentor group might have had this many posts total for the whole season. Took me forever to catch up on just the forum posts from the last week. Hope to return some of the "inspires" soon. Sorry for the non-responses.... after reading through the forum, I realized I too was ignorant of how that worked 

Glad to hear everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Santa spoiled me rotten this year (although because I'm a tri newbie and can't afford much gear own my own, it's pretty much all I asked for this year).

• Garmin 305 - Took advantage of the rare beautiful December weather today to play with it. What a SUPER cool gadget  
• Bontrager cycling shoes
• iPod nano (Yeah for no arm band!)
• running tights
• tri top
• and cash (to purchase a Cycleops Fluid 2 trainer)
• cycling gloves
• mini-presta pump

Happy training this week (for those of you aren't waiting until next week)! My jeans have begun protesting, so I decided not to wait. 

~Michelle

Dang, I must be sleeping or something when you guys get to gabbing over here!!

Vanessa... once you hit the reply button on an inspire, a box will pop up and usually the other person's blog... if you can't see the inspire box, it's probably UNDER their blog page, so close out their page and you should see it.  Don't worry, once you do it once you'll know what to do!

Man, you guys got some super swag for Xmas... trainers, clothing, a Garmin 305 (my one HAVE TO HAVE it item!), whoo hoo!!!!  Yep, we have a multitude of bikes out there too... and Alex actually has TWO new bikes, a roadie AND a tri bike, but she's a serious overachiever, ha ha!!  All great bikes, I know we have Cervelo, Kuota, Felt, Look in our possession... all depends on how your body is built, how it fits, and your BUDGET of course!!  And how hot it looks too....

Tammy, you are rockin' the bikini and I like the race wheel too!  People, and by that I mean, ladies!!  Don't be afraid to call out Wilson... he's a man, he can take it!! 

So I didn't get a lot of swag for Christmas, but I did have a great holiday... our trip to San Antonio was a huge hit!!  Unfiortunately it was really dank and chilly and rainy on and off.  We had an uneventful drive down, checked into the hotel and changed for dinner, then walked along the Riverwalk just as they were turning on the lights!!  I guess they've switched to all LED lights, and where they used to have lights hanging down over the river, now they just have tons of trees wrapped.  We went to Fogo de Chao (Brazilian Steak House) for dinner, we'd been to one in Austin.... mmmmmmm, truly a feast for meat lovers if you've never been to one, and feast for the eyes seeing all the waiters in their gaucho pants!  Very spensy though!!  But it was Christmas so we splurged.  We had gone down to ride the boat cruise that winds all around the Riverwalk, and as luck would have it, the boats weren't running, guessing it was the rain... damn!  And we had tickets that were part of our hotel package... but we could see all the lights just walking, so it wasn't a total waste.  Lots of stuff was closed, but a lot was also open.  We went back to the hotel to change back in to jeans, then hit an Irish Pub, (Durty Nelly's) that had a rockin' piano player who just did song after song, all singalong stuff.  I was drinking O'Douls, Reade and Ron were drinking Guiness and Kylie had Bud Light or something.... let's just say that when we left, I was the only sober one, and the only one who knew how to get back to the hotel!!  Reade was too funny, singing all the words to all the songs (who knew?) and fist pumping guys with his stump, wtf??  People just love him!  It was good to get away even just for the overnight....

About 5 pm, the lights were just starting to turn on... walking to the restaurant...

This was from street level, the actual Riverwalk (and the base of the trees) is one story down...

This was from the river level... the arch is a bridge that crosses the river.  It's really hard to see, but these are all colored lights, just gorgeous!!

This was on the walk back to the hotel (after about 10 Guiness')... this is at the Hyatt hotel, this "river" runs through the lowest level of the hotel, into a large pool of water and eventually right out into the real river.  Reade is in the background deciding if he should jump across the gap, Ron is wading across the "river" in his cowboy boots,  stupid drunks!

Taken from a bridge that crosses the river... our hotel is on the left, but breakfast was being served in the hotel on the right.  Note the homeless person on the bench, and it was chilly!

OMG, I'm so far behind!!  This group is super hardcore, so I have a lot of catching up to do. My last group wasn't this active all last year.  Here's my info (told you I was slow!):

Story: I'm 42 years old, and this is my second year of tri.  In my prior life I was a 40 year old workaholic that was seriously overweight and unhealthy and one day decided to get off my a$$ and do something about it.  I lost 80 lbs and started running in 2009.  After countless 5Ks, a few 10Ks and two HM, I felt that I needed a change (and so did my nerve damaged feet), so in 2011, I mixed it up and became a triathlete.

Family Status:I've been married for 13 years to a supportive husband who runs really fast, but could care less about biking and hates to swim.  We have two furry and catnip drugged kids named Snoopy and Corduroy. 

Current Training:  This is part of my problem.  I took a break from training since I was in line for a promotion at work (which I finally got two weeks ago, yay!!), and now I'm trying to get back into it.  Previously, I was training at least 4 days a week, typically 5 days, mixing it up between swim, bike and run.  Now that 's it's getting cold in NY, the bike trainer will be making an appearance, swim training will be at the local Y, but I'll still be running outside all winter, running asthma and all. 

The problem with training for me is that I have a very demanding job that requires me to work up to 70 hours a week at times, with travel, or going to clients with a 5 hour daily commute.  This leaves me little time for training sometimes, and mental exhaustion to the point where I sometimes fell like vegging out in front of the TV to watch a marathon of Chopped on Food Network rather than move around at all. No week is ever the same.

2011 Races:  Countless 5Ks (probably 20+), two 10Ks, Long Island HM, Mini Mightly Man Pool Tri (April), Gold Coast Sprint Tri (June), Smith Point Sprint Tri (August), and Trislip (September).

 Planned 2012 Races: Carl Hart Duathlon (May), Long Island HM (May), Great South Bay Sprint (June), NJ State Oly-my first! (July), Smith Point Sprint (August), Dirty Sock Run-10K (August), Hamptons HM (September), a tri to be named later (August/September), Carl Hart Fall Duathlon (October).  That's the plan so far.  I'm registering for the NYC Marathon, but I'm sure I won't get in, so that may change the above schedule.

Weight Issues:  I'm so bummed that I've gained 30lbs of my 80lb loss back, so I need to get in gear and get into fighting shape by May (stop snacking!!).  Looking forward to some accountability and camaraderie to get motivated and keep moving! 

Now as you can see, I'm a serious turtle; slow at everything.  My mantra is:  "I may be slow, but at least I'm moving forward", so I look forward to moving forward with you all.  Thanks!

-Kelly

Hilde and Vanessa - Hope you both have a very Happy Birthday tomorrow!! 

Congratulations on your promotion, Kelly!!

Hilde, glad you had a nice time in San Antonio.  The river walk looks beautiful!!  Glad you stayed out of trouble...

You guys are all great with the inspires, keep 'em comin'!!    It feels so great to log into BT and see them pop up on the screen, very motivating!! 

So, I have a specific question for the group...  What are you all riding for bikes??  I rode a Trek hybrid last tri season.  Love the bike, but I did feel like it was super heavy.  I'm looking to purchase either a road or tri bike for next season, but was curious to see what people have and what they recommend.  I realize that it's a personal decision and really depends on body type and how the bike/brand fits.  Just wanted to throw that question out there!  Thanks!!

Thanks for your responses, Shawn and Louise!  So far I have only done sprint tris, but hope to do an Oly this season.  I also have the pipe dream of doing an HIM in 2013 or 2014...

My budget is $2K but would really be happier with $1500.  (And so would my husband!)

Happy Day After Boxing Day, everyone! So cool to come back, update my logs, and catch up on the chat here!

Like some of you, I got some fun tri gear for Xmas:

--Phantom, my fabulous Cervelo P2 (OK, so this was a present to myself...still counts!)-- so Wilson, I think I count twice on the "recent bike purchase" front: got Katana, my roadie, back in July, and Phantom in December! Love them both, even if I may have few savings to speak of for a while...

--some books on nutrition, recovery, and one-hour workouts

--a little Iron Man 2 action figure (for inspiration, I'm told!)

--a copy of my horoscope from the fateful day I came up with the realization that I could actually *do* an IM (I blame that horoscope and Don Fink, I really do!)

--lots of videos to watch during the long trainer rides that will be my fate this winter

Spent time with my family, ate WAY too much food, managed to get some exercise in...it's all been most excellent, I have to say. Glad to hear all of you have had a wonderful holiday-- hope everyone continues to do so for as long as possible!