Big Steve's Group (Year Two) - CLOSED (Page 2)

Hey Todd, great to have you in the group.   I'm glad you got the bug .... "again"! Those are some interesting tri's you've completed.  Fearless - that's a Sprint done twice right?  Swim-Bike-Run-Swim-Bike-Run?  Very cool.

Welcome on board!

NAME: Chantal13 / Chantal

STORY: I just started running this year (2011) in April.  I went from not running at all to doing two half marathons in the fall.  I used to be a competitive swimmer in my teens, but that was a while ago.  I also used to be an avid cyclist but I have barely rode a bike in the past decade.

I am gearing up for my first 70.3 Ironman in June along with two other people who I work with. I know I have a long road ahead of me and that I am a little bit nuts for doing a 70.3 as my first triathlon, but that's just how I roll.

I work rotating shifts, so I have to be able to adjust my training schedule to fit with my work schedule.  It's a bit of a challenge but there's no way around it.

CURRENT TRAINING: I am just starting my prep phase this week.  No swimming yet because the pools are closed until January.

THIS YEAR'S RACES:

• 4 5K races
• 2 6K races
• Durham 1/4 Marathon
• Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (1/2)
• Angus Glen Half Marathon

2012 RACES

My big race is the Mont-Tremblant 70.3 in June.  I also have a few half marathons planned throughout the year.

WEIGHTLOSS: I need to drop a few pounds to get to my racing weight.

WOW, zero tri's to HIM in June.  That's quite a goal, love the ambition!   Sounds like you've got the previous experience in each area that will benefit you as you start training for MT.  I would still try and squeeze in a sprint or two or preferably an Olympic distance as you get closer to June if your schedule allows.   Though very aggressive you should be able to build up the endurance for a HIM but not doing any race prior you'll miss out on everything else that only comes with race day experience.

Welcome to the group!

Take a look at the Sprint training plans on this site.  The Michael Pates Total Sprint Program one looks to be pretty good and it allows you to slowly ease into running as it starts off with walking for the first couple of weeks.

If you go to this link ... http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/trainingplans... you can scroll down to it and then import it into your training log so you'll get day by day training instructions.

Not so good last week.  With all the last minute Christmas activity, probably about my lowest numbers of the year:

Bike (trainer): 50:08 - 9.68 miles

Run: 36:42 - 4 miles

Swim: 0

Thanks for the welcome, Steven.  I am going to see if I can find a sprint or olympic tri to get a bit of transition (and multisport) experience in but I haven't seen much of anything in my area for 2012 yet.

Hi Steven, I am in!

NAME: Margarita

STORY:  Hi All! I have been friends with Steven for several years. He is a great guy and a role model. I started doing tris the same year as Steven. In the time it took me to slightly improve my sprint time, Steven went from a sprint distance to an Ironman.

I am looking to move on to the Olymipc and possibly HIM distance this year.

FAMILY STATUS: 36, married, daughter is turning 10 in 5 hours!

CURRENT TRAINING:  no regular training since September. Was planning to take a 2-week break and somehow it got out of control. Structured training starts on 1/2. My coach has already uploaded the plan and he has no mercy. I think I need to remeber how to use the treadmill and find my bicycle now.

THIS YEAR'S RACES:

Philadelphia Broad Street 10-Miler

Black Bear Sprint (still recovering)

Hammonton Sprint

Forgot-the-name-it-was-a-small-race Sprint

NJ State Tri (Sprint)

2012 RACES:

Broad Street 10-Miler or Rutgers half-marathon (May)

Columbia Tri (Olympic, May)

One or two sprints in June and July

Steelman Oly (August)

Possibly a very very flat HIM in NJ (September).

WEIGHTLOSS:  As of September 1st, 2011 I had to lose 15lbs. As of now, it's 22...

Good luck everybody! Looking forward to sharing the 2012 Tri Season with you!

Hey Rita, thanks for the joining the group (again)!  Its going to be a great 2012 paining I mean training season

I think I spent more time eating than training, but that will be changing quickly!

week of 12/19 running 1:23:51    8.72miles,   strength   32min

Looks like we have a great group, Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

It was pretty difficult for me to do much last week.  I worked a 20-hour shift and a couple of 12-hour shifts along with the usual 8-hour shifts.  I ran on the treadmill at work and rode my bike on the trainer at home when I could fit in the time.  Hopefully things at work cool down a bit after the holidays.

Planned: Bike: 2:55:00 Run: 1:25:00 Strength: 50:00 Total: 5:10:00
Actual: Bike: 1:26:26 / 44.31 km (27.53 mi) Run: 1:24:47 / 10.25 km (6.37 mi) Strength: 30:00 Total: 3:21:13

(Edit: added miles since that's what most people seem to be using)

Hi Steven, hope there's still room in your group. I'd love to join. I need all the help I can get to finish my first tri. 

NAME: Amn / An

STORY: I moved to NYC almost two years ago and made it a priority to stay active. Being active keeps me sane. I'm not what you would call athletically-gifted so I work hard to keep up with everyone else. For the past few months, I focused on training for and completing my first half marathon. I decided 2012 is going to be the year I address my swimming, which resembles controlled drowning. I'll be taking on my first tri in June.

CURRENT TRAINING: Cycling is my strongest leg of the tri so I'm focused on my swimming and running right now. 

THIS YEAR'S RACES: My main race this year was the Nike Women's Half. After completing that half, I got hooked and tacked on another, the Philadelphia Half. I did a few shorter races and duathlons along the way.

2012 RACES: My main race next year is the sprint distance of the DC Tri. My goal is to survive the swim. My other goal is to do a half under 2 hrs, but I haven't figured out which race to shoot for yet.

WEIGHTLOSS: I'm looking to drop about 10 lbs to get down to my weight during my high school cross country days.

Hi An, yep there is still room. Good call, focusing on your weak points.  When I started training for my first Tri I couldn't swim 2 laps in a pool without getting totally winded. I would recommend taking some lessons.  I developed bad habits trying to learn on my own which were hard to reverse later.  A few lessons in the early stages will go a long way

Welcome to the group!

Thank you for the tip. I will start tomorrow with running (i'm used to walk so I think I run 1 minute and walk a minute ? or is that not good) because walking 20 minutes i'm used to do that a lot.

STORY: For the past ~ 20 years, I've played baseball as a pitcher and once even toyed around with the idea of going pro.  After thousands of innings pitched, my shoulder is telling me it's time to retire, so I signed up for a triathlon last Summer to occupy my weekends.  After my first one, I was hooked & want to do it right in 2012!

FAMILY STATUS: Recently divorced and starting over...I have a 5-year old daughter who is everything to me.  The downside of the separation and subsequent divorce was gaining weight and getting out of shape; the upside is that I spent the better part of last year getting back into shape and had the extra time to do it.

CURRENT TRAINING: I've taken it pretty easy since the Philly half-marathon last month.  I needed the break, but am now starting to feel 'ugh'...so I'm ready to start training for the 2012 season!

THIS YEAR'S RACES:

I ran in a half-dozen or so 5K's and 10K's over the past year; my triathlons were limited to:

• Keystone State Triathlon (sprint distance)
• Atlantic City Triathlon (olympic distance)

As mentioned above, I also ran in the Philly half-marathon in late November.

2012 RACES

I plan on doing about 1 triathlon/month starting in March or April.  I don't have an exact race plan mapped out just yet, but I know I am doing the following ones because I've already registered for them:

• Keystone State Triathlon
• Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
• Philadelphia Triathlon
• Atlantic City Triathlon

I'll also run the Broad Street Race in May (10-miler) and be signing up for others as more information becomes available.

WEIGHT LOSS: I'm a big guy at 6'5" and currently 235 pounds.  I want to lose about 15-20 pounds in the process of my training.  My weight tends to waiver with my training regimen, but I would be ecstatic to get down to 210 pounds to make the biking/running events easier on my joints (and faster times).

I'm hoping that being a member of such a group will help keep me motivated during the cold months that are imminent here in Philly & learn how to improve my individual times in each of the events.

Hey John,

Wow, almost pro - very impressive.  Your swim stroke must be pretty quick with all that arm strength!   Welcome to the group.   Except for Todd (California) and maybe Kathy (Georgia)  we'll all need some extra motivation during the cold moths ahead. 

Congrats on getting into Escape from Alcatraz.  I entered that lottery and actually got in for the next one as well.  My excitement was short lived after I found out that its the same weekend as my younger daughter's recital so I wont be able to make it.  Can't wait to hear all about it.

Hi Steve, if you are still accepting requests for mentoring, I'd like to join up.

NAME: macm/Michael

STORY: I moved to Austin in 2009, was introduced to triathlon bought a road bike for the first time.  My first and only tri was an Olympic at the Austin Tri in September 2010.  The race also killed me and I haven't really exercised much since.

FAMILY STATUS: Engaged with one boy, 6.

CURRENT TRAINING:  None, but planning to start up a regimen.

THIS YEAR'S RACES:  None

2012 RACES

• Austin Triathlon
• Others if I can get into shape for one.

WEIGHTLOSS: I'm at 190 now and need to get down to between 170-175.

Hey Michael,

Yep, still open and there is room for a couple more.  Welcome to the group!  What distance is the Autin Tri that you're signed up for?

STEVE,

I would like to join your group if there is still room. I am probably the oldest member of the group if allowed in, am 61 turning 62 in a couple of months and I need lots of help. Competed in 3 sprint triathlons this year and have plans of adding at least 1 Olympic this coming year in June with hopes of doing an HIM in September. Hope to be adding more info about myself shortly.

Ok so...I OFFICIALLY began my training last night with a run with my wife. We cruised a little over 3 miles at about a 13 min/mile clip. I know it's not fast but considering I haven't run since Nov 11 I'm pretty happy with how I felt and that I am pain free! Haha.

Tonight is the official first ride...officially. I'm going to ride my normal 25 mile loop easy.

Last week was a bit rough for me with traveling and the holidays but I was able to get some training in.

Swim: 0:20 0.5 mile
Bike: 0
Run: 1:22 8 miles
Strength: 0 

Thanks for the tip on swim classes. I'm planning to take a triathlon swim class in January. I've been working on just getting comfortable in the pool. I went from getting winded after one pool length to now being able to do a lap without getting too winded this month. I'm hoping five months is enough to get to half a mile.

Yep, there is still room.  Welcome!  Looking forward to getting more info.  I love the fact that is sport is ageless.   I think I'll finally be able to qualify for Kona after I turn 70

I haven't been to Sams Club in years.  While running an errand today, my daughter wanted to stop by a new one that opened up not too far from us.  When I saw all the health stuff in large quantities at great prices I was like a kid in a candy store!  I think I stocked up on enough Cliff bars, protein bars and trail mix to last me through the entire winter.  Oh, yeah 24 packs of Gatorade made it into the cart too