Eli's Getting Ready for the Season Group-CLOSED (Page 2)

billeckert - 2011-04-13 10:49 PM Hello Eli,

Would like to join your group.  Did the Winter program and was in a group with experior.  Learned a lot from the group and it helped me stay motivated.  Here is my info:

NAME: Bill

STORY: Rode my bicycle a lot until I was 16.  Lifted weights through HS and the Army.  Was on the swim team in 10th and 11th grade.  In the Army for 3 years after HS.  Played Rugby one year in college.  I have not done much of anything for about 15 years.  I have walked some and lifted weights occassionly but nothing regular until recently.  Some HS friends and I planned a trip to raft the Gauley River in WV.  I saw the videos and thought man I better do something before I go.  I walked every day for a month and lost about 5 pounds before I went.  The trip was in early October 2010.  One of my HS friends had started doing triathlons.  I talked to him a little.  It seemed interesting and I looked into it.  I found that it does not have to be an Ironman.  I looked at the Sprint races and thought I could do that.  I found this site and started the 20 week Sprint program -run focused in middle October.  At that time I did not have a place to swim so I just did bike on swim days.  I got a membership to a health club in late November and began swimming.  I restarted a new program in December, the 20 week Sprint program, balanced.  Then in January I changed to a custom plan from this website that gave times and mileage to give me a better idea of where I should be.  I have been following that plan and have have kept my log on here for all of my workouts.  My first sprint tri will be on April 30th and I am ready to be a CLYDESDALE!!

 

FAMILY STATUS: Married 19.5 years, two kids, 17 year old son and 5 year old girl.

 

CURRENT TRAINING: 6 days a week.  Following a custom plan from this website.  Yoga once a week.  After my race on April 30th I am taking a week off of heavy training.  I will do some light swim, bike and run that week.  Then I am starting a 20 week program to do an olympic event in the fall.  

 

THIS YEAR'S RACES:

Tri the Parks - John Tanner State Park - Sprint, April 30th

Tri the Parks - Indian Springs - Sprint, June 11th

Maybe another sprint in July or August.

Tugaloo Triathlon - Olympic - September 24th.

Atlanta Half Marathon in November. (We'll see, it has been on my list forever and just never managed to get out and start training)

2010 RACES:  Couch to refrigerator to couch.

WEIGHTLOSS: Was at 280 last summer.  On a 5' 8" frame that is a little scary.  At 238 right now.  Not really watching the weight as much as I am watching the changes. Still would like to be down between 210 and 220 by fall.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I look forward to joining this group to be able to get some feedback on what I am doing and to be able to see what other people are doing or have done.  I am really interested in hearing about how people got started and what their struggles were and what they continue to be.  I hope that I can add to the group with my input and questions that I am sure to have.

TriColby - 2011-04-14 7:07 AM

Thanks for having me guys.  I am just getting into the sport, and really looking forward to my first race, June 18th in Orlando.  

Story:  I am 28 years old, and started running back in October to lose a few extra pounds.  I really enjoyed the running, so i wanted to start doing more active stuff.  I bought a road bike and have really enjoyed that this year so far.  The swimming is the rough spot for me.  I have never been a swimmer in the athletic sense, just your float around and drink beer swimmer.  I am starting my YMCA membership this weekend to try and get 3 days a week going with that.  

Family Status:  Engaged to a very lovely and supportive gal.

Current Training: I run 3 times a week, and I do strength training 3-4 times a week.  I try and ride my bike as much as possible on the weekends, which usually translates into 15-30 miles of Road and Mountain biking over the course of Saturday and Sunday.

Plans:  I really started this whole thing to get in shape for the Tough Mudder in December.  12 miles of military style obstacle course.  I figured the best way to get in shape for something is to be as active as possible, and multi-sport seems interesting because of my ADD, lol.  I have the Father's Day Triathlon on June 18th in Orlando, which I am debating doing the MyFirst Event for that since i don't know how strong my swimming will be, but there is a part of me that just wants to sign up for the Sprint to test myself.  Then I am hoping for the Fall Triathlon in August in Orlando, and Tough Mudder in December down near Tampa.

Weightloss:  I have lost 21 pounds since October but more importantly I have gotten off my arse for the first time in many years, and I feel great!

I am really looking forward to getting in shape this year and completing some races, and it sounds like you guys are really into this, and that makes it even more exciting to have people to talk to about it. Everyone I know is a professional beer drinker, so when i talk about triathlons or the like, I look like the crazy guy.  Really looking forward to the group, especially for some help with swimming, and thanks for having me.  Nice to be in a group with fellow Floridians!

billeckert - 2011-04-14 8:00 AM Played prop at Georgia Tech right after getting out of the Army.  Started Rugby at 205 and got down to 195 while playing.  Have never seen those weights since.

TriColby - 2011-04-14 8:21 AM Would it be worth the money to invest in a trisuit, or does it really make a difference?  I only own board shorts for swimming anyway, so i need something to swim in, but I was not sure if it was necessary or a good investment.  They look pretty cool, and I could totally see myself feeling ready to tear it up while wearing one, but they are not cheap.  Any thoughts on them?

sobriquetness - 2011-04-14 11:06 AM Hi Eli, Is there still room open in the group? If so, I'll go ahead and post a bio in just a bit. Thanks!

TriColby - 2011-04-14 1:03 PM Time to pull the trigger.  Should I sign up for the My First with a .4K swim, or the Sprint with a .75K swim?  I have 9 weeks to train in the pool?  That should be enough, right?  And it is a USAT event, would I be better off buying the membership for the year, or the 1 time $10 fee?

pgrun - 2011-04-14 3:17 PM

Eli

 

I'd like to join your mentor group - this will be tri year #2 - but last year I did "blind" - and hope to do better this year - with a little help.

If accepted - I'll post a bio tonight - and try to fiind a photo - thanks.

Paul

 

eliwashere - 2011-04-14 4:21 PM

Tough call on the swim, is that the only difference between the races? If so, go for the shorter swim.

As for the membership...do you think you will do 3 or 4 tri's in a year. If 4, buy the membership.

xine2kgts - 2011-04-14 3:43 PM

NAME: Chris

STORY: Always been an active person in playing basketball, baseball, ice hockey, etc. in addition to a lot of weightlifting and recreational cardio. Wanted to get started on a sport that I can do well into the future as I am 22 y/o currently. I have only done 1 sprint triathlon so far but I am training a lot and preparing for 2 olympics. The plan right now is to do olympics this year, half ironman next year, and then full ironman in two years.

FAMILY STATUS: Single but I live with my girlfriend of 2 years

CURRENT TRAINING: Currently working on 3x olympic training plan (3 swim, 3 runs, 3 bikes, and 2 weight lifting sessions)

2010 Races: None

2011 RACES:  Intramural sprint triathlon, 2 Olympic triathlons

WEIGHT LOSS:  Started at 245 and am currently at 229

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I am young, hardworking, and stick to training plans really well. I do a lot of research and I also communicate/e-mail all the time.

nvalaitis - 2011-04-14 9:23 PM

 

TriColby - 2011-04-14 9:21 AM Would it be worth the money to invest in a trisuit, or does it really make a difference?  I only own board shorts for swimming anyway, so i need something to swim in, but I was not sure if it was necessary or a good investment.  They look pretty cool, and I could totally see myself feeling ready to tear it up while wearing one, but they are not cheap.  Any thoughts on them?

TriColby - 2011-04-14 2:03 PM Time to pull the trigger.  Should I sign up for the My First with a .4K swim, or the Sprint with a .75K swim?  I have 9 weeks to train in the pool?  That should be enough, right?  And it is a USAT event, would I be better off buying the membership for the year, or the 1 time $10 fee?

TriColby - 2011-04-14 4:38 PM

 

The only difference is the swim yes, but I figured I may as well go all out.  I am pretty confident that I can swim that distance.  But I am still thinking about it.  

As for the membership, I have 4 slated for the year, though I have not done one yet at all, so I guess I will hold off until I have completed one?  I just didn't know if there were any other benefits to it.

grownassman161 - 2011-04-14 9:39 PM

This is funny hopefully I'll be at this point in a year or so!

 

Chris,

Welcome aboard. Watch out, once you do the olympic distance, anything seems possible

eliwashere - 2011-04-14 11:16 AM

What years? I played for Tulane from 1991-1995. We played you all at a couple of tournaments.