StephSprint... mentor group FULL! (Page 13)

This is a good point; these mentor groups help keep me accountable and motivated too.  Lately, I've also gone into the "challenge me" forums and have done a couple of running challenges.  You should check them out.

Ann-Marie

50 inch waist.  I know from experience I must have been at 400 pounds or close to it.  Who in their right mind would go near a scale that big? 

(Scott.jpg)

Iceman,

I knew from last year's group about your incredible weight loss but seeing the pictures...all I can say is WOW.  What an amazing accomplishment.  And you have keep going and made it your lifestyle, that makes it even better.  It really does prove the saying, If there's a will, there's a way.  

Susie

x whatever we're up to on the WOW!  Pretty amazing stuff.

Ann-Marie

Happy Friday!   I know that we're almost done with January, but I just read this blog post and thought I would share.  I hope you don't mind....

Frankly, while I was reading this and the author asked to think about what you truly want out of life, what it is that will bring you fulfillment, pride, and happiness, when I thought about it for myself for a moment, it made my eyes misty and I was quite emotionally moved.  IMHO, it's important to have that deep level of knowledge about what it is we truly want in life... that it's something so deep and at the core that it makes you well up with emotion.  That's what keeps us going with the going gets tough... keeps us getting up when we fall down.    Enjoy!

Four quick tips on setting goals

I'm sure I'm "preaching to the choir" on this right?  You wouldn't be here if you didn't have something boiling down deep inside!

Sorry I've been MIA for a bit all.  This month has been full of personal turmoil that affected my attitude towards life and training.  Reading back through some of the pages here I should have just kept my butt active with the group, it would have helped.  The above paragraph really touched a cord with me today.  I'm am pulling myself out of the slump I've been in all month and getting back on track.

Ice is so right, attitude is everything.  Negative thoughts and people suck the energy right out of you.  Went out and did a 10 mile trail run today with a group of friends, people who are always smiley and positive.  They were great and encouraging and just what I needed today.  Being with them and on the snow covered trails with nature's beauty is just what I needed to banish the last of my own personal negativity away.

Life.Is.Good (if we just let it be)

Ran 8 miles outside today.   It was brisk (29 and a bit windy) but the sun was shinning and just to be outside getting in longish run was absolutely wonderful!

Ice is absolutely right about those negative thoughts and even when something bad happens try to see some positive or just try to do something that makes you feel lighter.  You may not be able to get rid of what ever is happening in your life at the moment, but trying to have the right attitude can help you get through it.  I always feel better after a run or good workout.  I may have to go right back to the same crap, but at least I feel better.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Susie

You missed me Okey, please add.  I log my workouts right after while I'm cooling down.  Unless you get chatty (like I do) takes only a few minutes in which I am usually guzzling water at the same time.

This is generally when I log also

Dee, Angi, great runs!  Angi, where around Peoria do you run?  Peoria Il.? 

I did 70 mins on the bike, low cadence, high power.  Then a 30 min run on the trainer.  Then 15 mins on the kettle bells.  Great day.

Today's trail run was at Farmdale Resevoir in East Peoria, IL.  When I do solo trail runs either do Forest Park Nature Center in Peoria Heights or Rock Island Trail (not a real trail to me)  Also hope to get in some runs at McNaughton Park in Pekin, IL as that is where my 50 miler is in April.  I joined the CITRA and MUGs facebook pages to try and get more group runs in.

I run with Lake Run over here during the spring for speed work.  I would love to do a long ultra sometime but I am SLOW.   Trying to hit the short courses hard up to a half IM this year to try to improve my times.  Will see how that goes.  I love trail running.  

Question for you central Illinois and Peoria folks......

My son's girlfriend (also attending school in Peoria) is doing a Century ride in July and wants to get out on her bike as soon as she can to begin training.  Can you suggest some good biking areas or routes?  The area near Bradley seems a bit dicey. Both she and my son have a car so they can drive somewhere if needed.

Riding in Peoria is fairly dicey for a bike.  It's something I struggle with as well.  Couple of places I go to.  River Beach Road off of 29 is great.  She would pick it up right before Cedar Hills drive out by Cat Mossville plant.  Follow that road up into Chillicothe and then vere right when you get past the park can pretty much ride as many miles as you want. 

For a short 12 mile ride there is the path from East Peoria to Morton.  You pick it up at the Fondulac Park office.  It's paved, but lots of cross roads and you share it with walkers and runners.  I forget what the trail is actually called.

Rock Island Trail is fairly good as well.  It's not paved but still perfectly ridable.  That would be picked up on Alta Rd past the Allen Rd Walmart.  This trail is I think 36 miles one way and goes through lots of the small towns.  You also share this with walkers and runners but it's fairly wide.

One closer to home that McFuzz used to ride but I never have is Southport Rd (Rte 8)  Get on Farmington Rd right there at Main.  Southport Rd is the light after Sterling.  This route has some fairly big hills which is why I haven't tried it.  Some traffic but not a ton.

Hope that gives her some ideas.  You could also PM McFuzz for some other routes as I'm still a newbie on the bike

Ok I have a few questions.

First...do you need a person to help you in doing a triathlon?  Someone to pick up your gear and bike?  How does that work?

Sencond...what equipment do you realy need to compete in your first tri?  I have a cheap walmart mountain bike will that work?  I got a good pair of running shoes.  I could use those on both the bike and run portion right?  Swim shorts?  Im too fat for those small speedos, so I found a longer version made my speedo, do you wear those to bike in as well or do you change into a different pair of bike/jogging shorts after the swim?

Third...how do I go about finding others in my area that are into this sport to possibly train with?

Its exciting being new in this sport, I just hope all the dumb questions I have dont affend everyone.

Thanks

Okey

I'll see what I can do to answer your questions.

1.  You cannot get any aid from outside sources during the race.  Only racers are allowed into the transition area - this is where you set up your bike and all your other equipment, e.g, bike shoes, running shoes (if not the same as bike shoes), helmet, sun glasses, race belt (if you use one).  So you're on your own there. If you can get someone to drag your bike and gear to and from the car that is a bonus!

2. You will see all types of bikes in your race, especially at the sprint distance.  There is even a fat tire category for those that use hybrids or mountain bikes.  So, your Wal-mart bike is fine.  It is also fine to use running shoes for both the bike and the run.  If you had a bike with clipless pedals you'd have to use bike shoes, but with a mountain bike, running shoes are the way to go.  Using the same shoe for both the bike and run will actually make you faster in T2 (the transition from the bike to the run) as you won't have to change shoes.

There are no changing tents at the race (unless you do an ironman), and nudity isn't allowed, so whatever you wear for the swim you will have on for the whole race.  You could throw running shorts on top of your jammers/swimsuit, but that is up to you.  Although in a sprint distance wearing jammers are probably fine, anything longer you'll probably want to wear trishorts because they have a bit of padding which makes the bike a bit more comfortable.  Trishorts are like bike shorts with less padding, so there is no issue with having a big, heavy, wet pad while your running.  that would not be fun  

3.  You may be able to find a local tri group by visiting a bike store that carries tri bikes and gear.  Or you may find a masters swim program and find many of the participants are involved in triathlons.  Or you could just google it.  I don't belong to a local tri club, but I do run with a running program and swim with a masters program.  I agree that training with others has a lot of benefits including providing motivation, sharing in the pain and friendship.

We were all newbies once and had the same types of questions, so don't be afraid to ask.  Good luck!!

Ann-Marie

Ann-Marie