esc's Goonies Never Say Die mentor group - closed (Page 2)

For now I'll most likely lurk in the background.  I'm trying to learn from what other people are doing and will most likely not be starting with biking or swimming for at least another month as I'm more focused on other races right now with mainly trail runs and obstacle type courses.  If you'll still have me I'd love to learn more though.

You absolutely are still welcome in the group!  Feel free to chime in at any time to talk about how your run training is going or to ask any questions.  I take it that the 50 miler relay that your doing is a trail run.  How many folks are on your relay team?  How much running are you going to be doing in one stretch?

Yes.  A brick is back to back workouts.  Generally, there are workouts where you run right off the bike but I've also seen schedules that have you bike right after a swim.  I rarely do brick workouts.  It's nice to try and do a bike-run brick as race time approaches just so you can get a feel for running on wooden legs.  It really is an odd feeling.  I can't even put it into words.  It's almost like a disconnect between torso and legs - I know my legs are down there and churning but they don't feel like real legs.  It takes me about a mile before everything starts to feel back to normal.  When you start competing in longer races you can use a brick workout to practice your race paces and to check your nutrition strategy.

Usually, a training plan will specify if the workout is a brick workout.  I took a quick look at the free BT plans and see that they don't have any details for workouts.  They just specify mintues to train in each sport.  As a silver memeber, you have access to plans with details.  They will say something along the lines of "Brick run - run 10 minutes directly after bike."

Bricks are in no way a necessary part of training.  Again, I recommend getting in one or two bike-run bricks as race day approaches but if you can't make it work it will not derail your training.

What University do you teach at?  What sorts of classes?

It sounds like you're subscribed to the forum rather than to this particular thread.  To get notifications for just this thread open the thread and scroll to the bottom of the page and select "toggle e-mail notifications".  You'll get a screen asking if you want to subscribe to the thread.  Check the box and hit submit.

Now go to your training log and select the settings tool at the top of the screen.  Select the forum settings tab then the mass subscribe/unsubscribe tab.  Deselect the Mentor forum.  The "unsubscribe from threads" tab will let you review the threads that you're subscribed to.  You can select/deselect from there, too.

enders_shadow - 2012-01-11 8:38 AM Got room for one more, I hope? (And please, don't hold it against me that I'm a Hawkeye/Illini married to a Wolverine/Illini with a brother who's part Wildcat...) NAME: Kristen (enders_shadow) STORY: I am 39 - looking at the big 4-0 in June, yikes! I'm a runner - slow, but sure. I joined BT about 5 years ago, did some triathlons, did some half-marathons and a marathon. Got hurt. Had a bad reaction to some meds. Gained a lot of weight. Fell off BT for a year or so. And now I'm back, with a vengeance? No, probably back rather sheepishly. I realize that I need the folks of BT to keep me motivated and on track. FAMILY STATUS: Married - 12 years this summer. 2 girls, ages 7 and almost 10. One furry animal. Husband is fit but doesn't do endurance events - supports me. Girls are crazy active - the younger does dance & gymnastics, the elder is a year-round competitive soccer player and has picked up basketball in her "off-season". So, I'm a full-time worker, full-time wife, full-time mom, full-time chauffeur...and then I try to train on top of that. CURRENT TRAINING: I'm currently training for a couple of half-marys this spring, one in March and one in May. I think this year may be a run-only year. I have some mental issues with getting back into tri, but that's a story for later. THIS YEAR'S RACES: For the first part of 2011, I was a lazy slug. Then to get motivated I joined a 1/2 mary training team for an August race, which I ran (in the middle of a hurricane - yeah me!). Since then, I've done some 5Ks and a 5 miler. 2012 RACES: March = 1/2 mary. May = 1/2 mary. August = 1/2 mary (hopefully, and I'm thinking about doing the training team again for this). November 1/2 mary (hopefully). I want to try a full mary again in 2013 and also maybe tri again. But this year, to get back to normal, I think I'll probably run. WEIGHTLOSS: Yes. A long weightloss story made short. January 2006, my baby turned 1, I weighed 206+. Started my fitness/weightloss journey. Lost 40 pounds that year. Held steady in the 160s for a couple years. Sometime in 2008-2009, I got to a fighting weight of 145. Injury. A couple of bad race experiences. Bad drugs. Now I'm back in the 190s. My goal for 2012 is to get back to the 160s, at least. Taking it slow and doing it right. So, please let me in. I could use the encouragement as I get back on the horse.

Kristen!  You're in.  I remember seeing you around the challenge forums back in the day.  Don't worry about that Hawkeye/Illini/Wildcat/Wolverine thing.  I only discriminate against those silly Hoosier fans.

I will do my best to help keep you motivated for the upcoming season.  With all the family commitments that you have going, I can imagine that it's easiest to concentrate on just running.  I do encourage you to mix in a little cross-training on the bike if you get the chance.  I know I feel much better if I do some spinning on the trainer a few times a week.  It really seems to help the legs.

Alright, Nicole - name change duly noted.

We will keep this thread going for as long as this mentoring program lasts (until end of March/April).  After that we'll get moved to the archive.  A new round of mentor groups will get posted.  We can keep our group going in the archive or you can choose a new group.  Or I can start a new group and all the current members can join in and we'll see if we can recruit some new blood.  Clear as mud?

I hear ya on the scheduling thing.  I work 12 hour shifts so I struggle to work my training in on my work days.  It's a 3 days on, 3 days off schedule so my work days change from week to week.  I realized a few years back that trying to use a traditional training schedule is impossible for me.  I've ever so slowly figured out how to plan out my training and then I plug it in around my work days.  On the plus side, after three hectic work days, I get three days off to catch up on sleep, housework, errands, and get in some extra training time.  My favorite weeks are the weeks that work out to only three days of work for the entire week.  So lovely.

Hi Emily,

I would like to join your group.  Last year was my first year and things were going very well.  I then had a bike crash just before my first event and suffered a broken neck.  I have undergone surgery and had a two level fusion and am doing very well.

I will be released to start riding and running in April.  I think that I might be able to participate in a sprint by the end of the summer.  I know I cannot start training yet, but I wanted to get into a group before they are all filled up.  I am really looking forward to getting my life back and start doing the things that I enjoy again.  I really enjoyed getting ready for my first triathlon season until the mishap.

Thanks

Jeff

Hello

I would love to join the group if it's still open. 

Name: Joey

I'm just getting back into training and decided to get back into tris.  In the past 15 months I have gained around 60 pounds and need to get back to the best shape of my life from 2010  Jan 2010 I started my weigh loss journey and lost 120 pounds in about 8 months (340 to 220).  That year I finished two 1/2 marathons several 5k's, an olympic distance tri and then started to train for my first half IM.  I then moved back to CO that October (2010).  Since then my training and nutrition has been very lacking, which caused the 60 pound weight gain.  The added stress and challenge of traveling 2 - 3 weeks out of the month and eating out all the time when on the road has been my biggest challenge. 

I had signed up for the AZ RNR 1/2 marathon several months back as a motivator to get back into training and procrastinated so long that I only have about three sold weeks of running in before the race this weekend!!!  On the positive side, I have been super clean in my eating and have been cycling and running almost every day for three weeks.  I'm starting to get my sea legs back and it feels good.  I purchased a spin bike for Christmas, which has come in handy big time.  It has allowed me to get my AM runs in and then several nights put an hour on the bike.  I have only swam like three times in the past 4 months.  Need to get back in the pool three times a week, minimum..  Since I'm so far away from any tri, I'm going to model a plan around the week 1 half IM training plan and build up my base.  Let's see how that goes

Current weight 275 pounds

Goal - 245 by March 31st

Race Goals:

Finish 1/2 Mar this weekend in the first order of business.  Complete at least one oly tri and a couple sprint tris, complete a century ride, complete 2 1/2 marathons.

Stretch goal - complete the Soma half IM race in AZ this fall - Will take the next two months of training to see if I should make the commitment.

Joey 

Emily, Do you have room for one more? 

I share my toys and play well with others.  

thanks,  jeff

Hi Jeff/jross64 - I'm glad you're in our group - but your post may have just scared me into never leaving my bike trainer. I've crashed once already (thankfully, pretty much coming to a stop...you know the "learning to ride being clipped in inaugural crash").  That alone was frightening...I can't imagine a serious injury, although I know they happen.  I'm so inspired and motivated by your eagerness to "get your life back".  I look forward to being a cyber training partner!

Thanks...I remember that feeling during that first ever tri...great answer to my questions.  Got my toggle notifications set up and I'm not getting 100 emails about every mentoring group change! Whew!

I teach at U of Arkansas - American National Government - several sections!  Hoping to design a new class this fall!

Great weather here at the moment...gonna go take advantage!

Tammy

Geez - I go out for a long run and three more people join up!  Hello to Jeff, Joey, and Jeff!

Sooie, Hogs!  One of the assistant coachs for Pudue Women's Basketball (Christi Smith) played for the Razorbacks. 

Wow!  That's a rough start to your triathlon adventure.  Are you doing PT or something similar while you're healing up?

Procrastination in my middle name - I know what it's like to find a race suddenly looming.  Take it easy on yourself on race day.  You don't want to get hurt when your season is just beginning!

I want proof of said sharing.  Please send me a bike - preferrably a fast one.  Thanks a heap.

PS - could you make your logs public or add me to your friends list.  It would make it much easier for me to stalk you.

coolgenes - 2012-01-11 3:26 PM Hi Emily, Do you still have time for one more to mentor? I've just turned 40, always wanted to do a triathlon and had the long time goal of doing one before I'm 40. I found out that it's really not that old and now I have the added advantage of being the youngest in my age group For my birthday last year I got a copy of Time Crunched Triathlete and it convinced me. Anyway I am committed to it this time if I can just get a base in all disciplines in 5-8 hours a week. I ran one summer about 5 years back while in Germany and was third in my age division after 4 races. Never raced bicycle but was my favorite for a long time. Not swum since high school. I am married to a wonderful woman who says she wants to be my groupie (her words I swear!) and have a 3 year old boy My biggest problem will be finding time. I am a researcher working for three different professors that share my time. Plus I always want to spend time with my familyl I plan on doing a local Sprint in May and go from there. Currently I am doing elliptical for 30 mins. 3-4 days a week plus a 4 mile loop at least 1x per week. Increasing bike rides distance, now at 20 km 1x per week, will work on speed later. Planning on concentrating on swimming in Jan. to get to a good base in that, currently my worst leg. PS. I graduated from Purdue in 1994, does that count for anything?

I always have room for a Boilermaker.

Love that user name!  Are you a bio researcher?  Or is your name Gene?  Or maybe you're a KISS fan and think Gene Simmons is the bees knees?

Scheduling is always a tough one to figure out.  It's an experiment of one.  You just have to keep at it and decide what works for you.  I have a little list of "rules" that I plan my training by.  It's taken four years to come up with what I've got and I'm still refining.  I know lots of folks have to do early mornings to work around family and work.  I'm sure your groupie would be more than willing to push you out of bed if the alarm is clanging away at 5am.

Thanks Emily.  Hi Group!!!

So, here's my 'bio'...

Jeff aka jeffnboise.  I'm in Boise, ID (Duh!),  but I, too, grew up in the Midwest (Illlinois-Go Salukis)

49 yrs young, divorced/single father of three (18, 16, 10).  Been a runner all my life, a cyclist since the late 80's and a swimmer since....well, I'm STILL not much of a swimmer.

Started doing tris a few years ago because it was a 'fringe' sport and seemed like a good way to stay fit.  I enjoy the challenge and like the fact that, at almost 50, I still feel pretty good.  I'm not too much of a structured trainer.  I'll sometimes miss a workout to have a few beers with friends.  I like to hike and go on multi-day bike adventures (STP, Skinny Tire festival, etc).  I missed all of last year with some nagging injuries and buying/selling house and sending son off to Air Force.  But I seem to have the competitive fire burning again, so we'll give it another go this season.

I'm 5-9" and currently weighing in about 160.  And that's WAY too much.  I'll be aiming to race about 150.

I do mostly Oly-distance, but I got my eyes on a 1/2 IM in the late fall.  I'll also do a couple 1/2 marys, and some trail races around the Boise area.

That's about it....my 'tri' life in a short paragraph.  Thanks again for having me and I look forward to watching everyone exceed their expectations.  Have a great week.  

jeff

btw: My training logs are now open to the public and I'll re-start my posting. I actually have been working out a bit.