Penn State's mentor group - CLOSED! (Page 108)

Kath2163 - 2010-09-17 9:40 PM  Hi All,

I have a few questions for all of you Ironmen, anyone who has been at the start line of an Ironman and anyone who has signed up for one.

1.)  I started racing when I was 24-ish and after the first two years I said I would do an IM by the time I hit 30.  Just kind of a bucket list thing, to see if I really could do that distance.  I thought after my first sprint tri that there was no way in the world my azz could run 26 miles alone, even without a swim and bike before hand!! 

2.) Lake Placid was the closest IM to where I lived, I figured it'd be less expensive to pick the closer course.  Of course I feared the hills, but I'm a cheap skate and decided I would suck it up and do the training for hills.

3.)  I volunteered to get a better shot at race entry, but the other girl from my hometown was lucky enough to sign up online.  She had a different race day experience and experience leading up to the race because she had never seen it in action before. I was humbled by the opportunity to do an Ironman because of my volunteering experience.   Volunteering isn't as emotional as racing, but it's damn close.  At least it was since I was in the women's T2 tent and I witness what was going on with those athletes before their marathon.

4.)  No coach. I did a lot of training with at least one other person.  I also did a lot of training on my own.  For a 2-3 hour run I don't care if I'm by myself or with someone else, but for a 6 hour bike ride you better believe I'd prefer having someone with me in eyeshot.

You never know what you can accomplish until you try!!!! =)

Kath2163 - 2010-09-20 2:20 PM What to do?.....

I am doing an Olympic distance race in FL in November.  I was supposed to do it last year but life got in the way.  Last year I had planned to ship my bike but now I am wondering if it would be better to rent one.  I really would like to have my tri bike at the race since the course is perfect for that bike but the cost and hassle of shipping it has me wondering. I have spoken to one bike shop that could rent me a P2.  Cervelo's are a bit long for me so I don't know how well it would fit. And what if the bike gets damaged? (something I need to ask the shop).  If it was a HIM I definately would ship my bike. 
Any opinions or thoughts would be appreciated. I am on the fence with this.
Thanks!

PennState - 2010-09-20 4:11 PM btw I tried to comment on your RR Josh, but all the replies are not showing for some raeson?

Kath2163 - 2010-09-20 3:15 PM

 

I just posted something in "site support" regarding that exact issue. 

Kath2163 - 2010-09-20 4:06 PM Josh,

I read your race report and I can't help but wonder why someone didn't ask a volunteer or someone else to get a medical person to check you out while you were on the course.  I am not placing blame at all just curious. I haven't experienced seeing someone that bad off (yet) but I think if I did it would scare me enough to tell someone.

Congrats Fred and Josh on Savageman. Way to push through on a tough course!

PennState - 2010-09-22 4:01 AM Thanks guys! It has been a busy tri year for us all. In the next few weeks I'm sure we will all wander away from the group a bit as it's natural to do this near the end of the season. Likely there will be new mentor groups starting soon. Ken has run them before and I have strongly encouraged Josh to do this as well. BT is a neat little community where people actually help each other without 'compensation' etc. Something I really like

dharris13 - 2010-09-21 5:29 PM

X2!

I too am back from a long absence. I was either on vacation...working in the field for work...and then did not have internet at my house....and thenI guess i had somewhat of a post-IM blues type depression for a little while where i was rather unmotivated and not really liking triathlon...and most other things actually.  Well i think i am slowely coming back and refinding my passion for this sport and life in general.

Anyway...great job everyone and keep it up. Ya'll continue to impress me!

PennState - 2010-09-22 5:01 AM Thanks guys! It has been a busy tri year for us all. In the next few weeks I'm sure we will all wander away from the group a bit as it's natural to do this near the end of the season. Likely there will be new mentor groups starting soon. Ken has run them before and I have strongly encouraged Josh to do this as well. BT is a neat little community where people actually help each other without 'compensation' etc. Something I really like

Kath2163 - 2010-09-17 8:40 PM  Hi All,

I have a few questions for all of you Ironmen, anyone who has been at the start line of an Ironman and anyone who has signed up for one.

1.)  When did you decide that you wanted to do an Ironman?  Was it your goal from the start or did the interest evolve as you became more involved in triathlons?

I have watched the Ironman Kona coverage on TV forever and always thought to myself, I want to do that someday.  But what really got me motivated was watching two friends complete IMWI a few years back.  This got me officially hooked on Tris.  I decided to do a HIM the following year knowing full well this would lead to an Ironman in the future. 

2.) How did you decide which race to do?

Pretty easy for me, IMWI is about 14 miles from my house, door to door.

3.)  It seems that these races are hard to get into.  I keep reading about people volunteering and signing up the next day. Do volunteers have the opportunity to sign up before it is open to the rest of the population?

Yes the races can be hard to get into.  I volunteered at IMWI last year and was able to sign up prior to the rest of the population.  They also have in person sign-up for those who did not volunteer prior to putting it on the internet.  If your quick/lucky you can still sign up on the internet. 

4.)  Do/did you train alone or with a group? Did/do you have a coach?

I trained both alone and with others.  I work with several bikers and I did numerous group rides as part of my training.  This helps to break up the monotomy somewhat.  95% of my runs were by myself.  I did not use a coach or a formal plan.  Went with my basic knowledge of training and understanding how my body recovers and went from there.  I'm sure a coach would have been able to get more out of me.  Factor of cost vs. benefit.

I think about these questions (especially when I read about all of your adventures and watch people cross the finish line of an Ironman race) and figured I would ask.  Hope you don't mind.

Have a great weekend!

PennState - 2010-09-22 4:20 PM I hope to get a chance to meet up with you at IMMOO in 2011. I suspect you will be serving up some significant vengence to that course