enginerd's geek heaven - FULL (Page 2)

Name: Kelli

Story: Live in NYC, although I love San Francisco and would love to switch coasts later this year as long as the job market is nice to me.  I've run on and off for years and have always been active.  A few years ago I watched a friend complete her first triathlon.  Almost instantly I knew it was something I wanted to do.  It took me a couple years, but after teaching myself to swim properly, and drinking gallons of pool water in the process, last year I did my first tri and was instantly addicted! 

Family Status: Single

Current Training:  I'm in my third week of training for my first HIM (Timberman) and loving every second!  I have a great plan that I'm following and currently training 10-13 hours a week....S/B/R each 3x/week. 

2008 Races: This was my first season of triathlon.  I did 3 sprints, one of which was an ocean swim ...very interesting to say the least. 

2009 Races: I started off the season with the DC Cherry Blossom 10-miler last weekend.
More Half-Marathon (in 2 weeks), 2-3 local sprints, NYC Triathlon (Oly) and Timberman (HIM).  Also hoping to get in the lottery for the NYC Marathon this year....if not, maybe Marine Corp Marathon or Steamtown Marathon OR another HIM.

Weightloss: I wouldn't mind dropping 2-3 lbs, but I'm happy to just maintain my current weight.

I'm also excited for this group bc some of you have done/will be doing races that I have in my sights for 2010/2011....Vineman, Escape from Alcatraz, Big Sur Marathon.  I absolutely love this sport, and getting involved in triathlon was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made.  I look forward to getting to know everyone, share some training stories and motivate & inspire each other.

Donato....congrats on a great race last weekend!!

Hello,

I'd love to join this mentor group - if possible. I will add some additional personal info. later on.

Thanks,

Ronen

The best analogy I've been taught about spinning is its like weight lifting.  If you have 1,000 lbs to lift, it will be less taxing on the body to lift 50 lbs 20 times than 250 lbs 4 times.  It makes sense but there are still people out there that do well on the flats with a 70-80 cadence, such as Jan Ullrich.

Alot of my friends converted to spinners (90-110 rpm) and love it, but training your body to spin takes some discipline. 

Name: Pam/ crea0029

Story:  My story is kind of interesting. First off I am 23 years old.  I was as anti-sport as possible all through high school and during the summer of sophomore year of college, I found this book in the library called Slow Fat Triathlete (check it out... it is funny and awesome!).  All of a sudden after I got done with this book, I started trying to run.  I couldn't run more than a quarter of a mile, I could bike but not a lot and even though I could swim, I hadn't been in the pool forever.  My first 5k was slow... 39:15, but I wanted to finish that first one bad and I kept at it.  I bought my bike that spring and in July I finished my first sprint distance triathlon at the Door County Triathlon.  I was hooked and I started trying to figure out how to get faster and stronger.  This was also when I decided that someday I would do an Ironman. The next year I just let things slip and had a year where I barely competed, a bad half marathon to blame that burned me out.  Last year I decided when Door County added a half Ironman course, I would use that to decide if I could get fit enough to complete it and strong enough to sign up for Ironman.  The race went well and in September I went to volunteer at Ironman Wisconsin.  That is actually were I met Donato.  I spent from 5 am to 12:30 am at the race site and was back in line at 7 am to sign up for this year.  In and out of all that, I graduated from college with a degree in child psychology and now work at a hospital in the impatient child psychiatric unit as a counselor.  The job has weird hours but I only work 4 days a week which is doing well with all the training. 

Family Status: Single, but somedays it feels like I am married to my training and I am sure it is only going to get worse.

Current Training: I'm currently on a 36 week Ironman training plan that is modified to accommodate my race schedule and my running and biking weaknesses.  I am averaging at least 10 hours a week but it has been creeping up to 15 and will only get higher as the main race gets closer!  

2008 Races:  Last year  I ran several 5ks, a 4 miler, a duathlon, a quarter-distance Ironman, and a half Ironman and a great indoor triathlon

2009 Races: 

I have already completed a few 5ks and a half marathon.  I will be adding in a few other 5ks because I love racing and my friends and I love to just have fun with these.

May- Cellcom Green Bay Half Marathon

June- 100K Diabetes Bike Ride and Bellin 10K

July-  Door County Half Ironman

August- Jerabek 4 miler turned into a bike/run/bike duathlon, 92 mile Race Around the Lake Bike Ride, and maybe another triathlon... maybe

September 13th- Ironman Wisconsin!!!

Weightloss:   I would like to lose at least 20 more lbs before Ironman in September.  My key is I really need to make sure I don't add too many calories on days that my training is not as high even though I feel hungry because I won't be burning them off.

Thanks!

About me:

NAME: Ronen

AGE: 39

STORY: I used to be a computer geek and a vintage video game collector, who had no interest in sports or active lifestyle - for most of my life. Back in late 2006, reviewing my blood test results, I knew that I had to do something about it, unless I wanted to get a heart attack or a stroke within the next couple of years. Then, to my birthday, I got an iPod. I had to find a good use to it and decided to start running. I wanted to loose weight, get fitter, healthier and do whatever I can to improve my follow-up blood tests. I visited a cardiologist which gave me a green light to start training and I followed a "couch to 5K" training plan - which took me forever to complete. Slowly, I started running longer distances, and by April of 2007, I completed my first half marathon. It was hard and challenging but I was really proud of it. Between April and June of 2007, I started looking for a new job and in June of 2007 we moved from NJ to San Diego, CA. I then decided to look into triathlons and was so happy to find a local tri club which was (and still is) very supportive, friendly and welcoming. I decided to join, not knowing much about what a triathlon really meant. I started swimming in a local pool and slowly gained confidence. I had never learned how to swim so it was a challenge for me. I decided to buy my first wetsuit and race a sprint tri in October of 2007. My first race was a club race (a monthly race organized by the club and is free to all members). It was pretty pathetic but I learned a whole lot. I barely could finish the 800 meter swim, I finished last the bike leg on my old mountain bike and finished the run, when most other people were already in their cars on their way home... Since then, I raced a few more sprints and one Olympic. I raced 4 half marathons as well. I joined a master swimming group about 6 months ago and swim 3 times a week. I spin 2 times a week.

FAMILY STATUS: I am married with 3 children (13,10 and 6).

CURRENT TRAINING:  Swimming: Masters program with a great coach. 3 times a week - at 5:30AM. Bike: I take 2 spin classes a week. Running: Well, not as much as I should or want.

2009 RACES:

Jan 25th - Carlsbad marathon       (Done)

Mar 14th - St. Patrick 10K              (Done)

Apr 26th - La Jolla half marathon  (with my DW)

Oct 26th(?) - SOME HIM - planned

WEIGHTLOSS: Weight was always a challenge for me. During 2008, I lost about 20 lbs and I feel great. I am, relatively, a tall guy and I'll always be a Clyde... My current weight is around 220 lbs.

So all of my 5 children are at home with ages 3, 8, 11, 14 and 17 (only girl). 

The Redding marathon was my first full distance and I was a bit freeked, but in the last two weeks before the event I finally felt I could complete it.  It is an amazingly beautiful course starting above the lake near the dam, running down across the dam and then down all the way along the river and finishes across Sundial bridge.  My avitar has my furious sprint for the finish line.  I was very happy and suprised that my time ended up being 3:48:xx, I was expecting more like 4:15:xx.

It is nice to have another as my kids would say psycho ologist in the group.  My job titles under my current job include, School Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Program Specialist (and other duties as assigned).  In a previous job I did 900 is ER psych. evals, so I can totally relate to the hours.  In graduate school round 2 at one point I was doing an internship 7:30 am to 3:15pm, then going straight to the ER to work until 1am 4 days a week and then do classes the rest of the time.  That was when I put on a lil weight, not much time for exercize in that schedule.  

I look forward to learning from everyone in all 3 events.  I didn't even learn to do freestyle until last June.  

I totally want to do the Door County HIM one of these years, almost did it last summer, but the timing was off and I wasn't quite in shape enough for it.  I grew up a lot in Oshkosh WI and summered in Minoqua, WI where I waterskiied in shows starting at age 12.  It was great fun.       

Oh I totally agree... not to mention the killer bluff climb towards the end of the bike and then the two huge hills on the run course.  The swim isn't a piece of cake, with temps normally being so cold the RD makes wetsuits mandatory.   The food is great and so is the goody bag.  I know the RD and he has made it a two day event now making half IM capacity to 1000.  I think he wants to get picked up by WTC and become a Ironman 70.3... it would make a fantastic addition since it is the only one in the midwest and great timing for IM WI.  Totally think about it sometime... you won't be disappointed... I am doing it again this year!

Ah, see you have more education than me.  I just have a BS in child psychology and am probably going to go down the double bachelors route and get my nursing degree but stay in psychology.  You did have a crazy work schedule.  I work 8 hour shifts, either 7-3 or 3-11, but the schedule sometimes create 5 days in a row or double backs when I work the late shift at night and then the next day work at 7.  That is crazy and draining.