Fred Doucette's Half-Iron and Ironman Focused Group! -CLOSED! (Page 2)

jsiegs - 2010-12-22 9:56 PM Hey Fred, I'd love to join your group.

NAME: Joe

STORY: I'm a NH native who came to Baltimore for college and I've stuck around since.  I'll be 27 on Jan 2 and starting my third full year of triathlons, and the second where I'm training with any purpose.  I started out just winging it, did alright for myself, but wanted more.  I picked up the volume, but had no idea what I was doing (and wanted to know how some of those guys were so much faster than me).  Eventually, found a coach for a couple months to end last season, had a GREAT last race, found BT, ditched the coach and have immersed myself in training plans, philosophy, details, etc.  I'm actually still friends with the coach (he works on the same Army post as I do), and he's gotten me more involved and been a real life mentor for me.  He just convinced me to run for the Executive Board of our local tri club, so I'm gonna give that a shot (though I feel a little unqualified).  I love the scientific approach (I'm a ChemE by trade).  Mass and energy balances - what goes in equals what comes out...it's science!  My recent "last thing I'll buy for myself without having to ask permission" present to myself was a Power Tap powermeter, which I'm learning more about everyday as I use it and read about it.

FAMILY STATUS: Proposed to my amazing gf last July, getting married August 20, 2011.

CURRENT TRAINING: I'm trying to build my run now - starting with 150 miles in sept and shooting for 170 in December, then hang on.  Missed a lot of time on the bike because of work travel, but I'm following Jorge's winter plan.  Swimming...what swimming?  I hope to pick it up with some regularity to start 2011.

THIS YEAR's RACES: My results from 2010 were as follows: I had a 2:14:xx and 2:12:xx Olys at Blackbear and NorthEast, 1:40:xx Oly-ish race at Paris Mountain, a 1:04:xx sprint (good for second OA) and a 5:03 at Rhode Island 70.3.

2011 RACES: I am signed up for Columbia Olympic May 2011, Eagleman 70.3 June 2011.  I'm hoping to add an early season Olympic, a July/Aug Olympic and if I can manage a sprint in June (one I've done 3 times so far, so it's a cool race for me).

WEIGHT LOSS GOALS: I am currently 6'1" and weigh 165 lbs. I've been down to under 150 two years ago, but raced last season about 155, which I think is ideal...hopefully I get back dow there.

WHAT WOULD MAKE ME A GOOD MENTOR: My "A" race is Eagleman, so targeting that HIM distance.  Last year my biggest goal was sub 5 hours at Rhode Island...probably pushed too hard on the bike and fell apart on the run.  It was tough conditions (lots of people thought much tougher than the years before), but I'm still out for revenge at that distance.  I'm pretty active on BT, log everything, like to talk tri to anyone who will listen.  I'm always looking an edge and love to hear what people more experience than me know.  I think I've learned a lot too, and could help others in the group as well.  I'm VERY competitive, probably to a fault, and sometimes that comes out unintentionally, so it's be great if there are others like me, but I try to keep it in check when there aren't.

THis isn't meant to be a "brown nosing" comment, but I've read a lot of what you say in the forums and have always found your advice very helpful, encouraging, and most of all polite and respectful (something that some people here seem to have issues with).  Because of that I would love to join your mentor group this winter.

Fred Doucette - 2010-12-23 10:54 AM
I have a question for you? Were you professionally fit on the bike? If the fit is done well then a road bike and a tri bike should BOTH be very comfortable.

Either way, nothing wrong with using a road bike in an IM or HIM.

I have to run (bringing girls to 'Tangled'). Will chat later

jcb123 - 2010-12-23 1:31 AM Jacob, welcome

Very cool to have someone from Europe in the group! I have 2 young children as you do and do the vast majority of my training on my own. Most of my training occurs before work. I think we can share our training and learn from each other. Do you feel as though running is your strong suit?

'Be Iron Fit' is an excellent book from what I have heard.

Lastly, I was terribly out of shape due to education and training until I was 32. I started to train more seriously around aged 35 and am currently 40. I am definitely in better shape than I was 10 years ago!

jsiegs - 2010-12-23 11:23 AM What's "superfrog" you mentioned?  I think almost everyone, when properly fit, is more comfortable on a road bike than a tri bike (I am).  Dave Luscan (sp?) had a good post about tri fit and "comfort".  He said it's more your ability to withstand the position for the length of the race than comfort.  It's hard as heck for me to stay aero in training, but I force myself to to get used to it.  Races are a different story as I'm so focused I forget about comfort and it's not really an issue for me.  It's not a position that will make me stiff or sore or hurt mind you, just not how I'd choose to ride if I wasn't being timed.  Sorry for the rambling, but yeah, my roadie position isn't really set up for racing, since I don't do that on it, so it's comfortable to me (I actually fit myself on the road bike, so take that for what you will.  My tri bike was a pro fit).  Also, the set up of the road bike with brakes, shifting, handling (because of the geometry differences) will be better.