Fred D's triathlon training group CLOSED (Page 2)

NAME: Nikki/Nik

STORY: I have started my fourth season of triathlon after completing my 3rd half-iron distance race this past Sunday. The rest of the race schedule has not been filled in yet because my scheduler is still working on it (that would be Tif).

I like to follow a plan when I am training and I am not one to just shoot from the hip when it comes to workouts.  I am very serious about training because I like going into a race knowing that I have done everything possible to make myself ready to compete.  The training is also quality time spent with Tif and having the accountablitiy makes it easier to be consistent.

The swim and bike are my weak areas.  I have made huge gains in the swim over the passed three seasons and I hope that trend continues this year.  After the training leading up to Ironman Texas 70.3, I have seen gains in the bike.  I am committed to continued focus on the bike in hopes of seeing even more improvement. 

FAMILY STATUS: Partner of 10 years who also shares this triathlon passion with me (and is in the MG); we have 2 Boston Terriers (Torrey- 7 years; Tanner- 11 months).

CURRENT TRAINING: Taking a few days off after the HIM, then some light training after that.  Once the plan is put together for the road to Ironman Texas 2013 I will be hitting it hard

2011 RACES: Houston Half Marathon ; Ironman 70.3 Texas (PR); Tejas Triathlon; Shadow Creek Ranch Sprint Triathlon -Relay (bike); Bridgeland Sprint Tri.

2012 RACES: Ironman 70.3 Texas (Bike & overall race PR 6:08:22); nothing else on the schedule yet, but that is coming soon.

WEIGHT LOSS GOALS: I am currently 5'8" and weigh 143 lbs. My goal race weight was around 145 lbs...so I made that.  This is about as light as I can get so now the goal is just to maintain.

WHAT WOULD MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I like to learn from others and I like to think of myself as coachable.  I am pretty good at keeping up with my logs and I am open to any advice and input. 

Name: Wesley

Story: Been athletic most of my life.  Played football, basketball and baseball throughout high school and went on to play football in college.  Several years after college things started to slip away.  Next thing I know it was November of 2010 and I was almost 250 lbs and terribly out of shape.  Started running and needed something a little more to really get me going.  Lost a little more than 50 lbs and started competeing in triathlons.  Still need to drop about another 20 lbs.

2011 Races:  I raced 6 sprints and 1 oly

2012 Races:  1/2 marathon(Jan), sprint(March), oly(April),Florida HIM(May), sprint(June), sprint(July), sprint(Aug),Augusta HIM(Sept) and IMFL(Nov)

Family: Married with 9 and 7 year old girls (They always come and support me at all of my races )

I 'm not very fast but I'm working on getting better.  Joined a Masters swim team and my swim is greatly improving since the first of the year.  I never miss logging my work-outs.  This is my first year of doing any long distances and am really excited about taking it all in.

NAME: Kimberly Smith, 40

STORY: I have always been active, doing marathons, mountaineeriing, rock climbing, etc.  I moved to Portland, OR and the tri sceen is very active there (despite the weather).  I couldn't really swim other then dog paddle and floating around so I signed up for some DU's.  After doing a few DU's I keep watching the Tri's going on at the same time thinking of how I wish I could join them.  So finally I did.  Signed up for a race and then decided I better learn how to swim.  And one of these days I will.  lol  I have done a few sprints and a few HIM's.  I have yet to do an Oly.  I now live in Tucson and of course enjoy great training conditions, as long as you do not want to practice OWS.

FAMILY STATUS: Live with my partner of 6 years, two dogs, and two cats. 

CURRENT TRAINING: I have just completed the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3.  I have the National DU at the end of the month so will take a week of relaxation and get back at it.  After that I am not entirely sure what I will add to the schedule.  But I am going to focus on improving my run for sure.

2011 RACES:  My race schedule is generally low in tri's as I have to travel for most of them.  Traveling is a complicated thing in my world.  The Elephant Man Long Course tri was my A race for 2011 and that race nearly idd me in.  The course was advertised as hard, and I thought it might be difficult, but wow.  You know you are in for a world of hurt when the volunteers all stop and cheer for those checking in for the long course.

03/12/2011 - Seroma 5k (R) (doing this for my virtual Christchurch run)
04/09/2011 - Catalina State Park Trail Run - 10.35 Miles (R)
04/30/2011 - USAT Duathlon National Championship (R)
05/01/2011 - Warrior Dash - 3.4 Miles (R)
05/07/2011 - Elephant Head Challenge Mountain bike race (R)
09/05/2011 - Saguaro National Park Labor Day 5k Run (R)-running with Tina
09/25/2011 - Elephant Man Long Course Tri (R)
11/19/2011 - El Tour de Tucson - 109 Miles (changed to 111)(R)

2012 RACES:
So far the only race registered for is Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 on April 1st.  I have the desire to do the DU championship at the end of April and an Iron race on July 1st.  I have a few running races as well, with a HM in FL early Jan and a 8 mile trail run in Feb.  I will probably sprinkle a few other running races in there and maybe one more tri later in the season.

WEIGHT LOSS GOALS: I struggle with my weight a lot.  I am not overweight, but not as lean as I would like to be.  I have no doubts as to why, I eat.  And eat, and eat and eat....  usually cookies.  I am trying to learn to move towards good for me foods when I snack.  I tried not snacking but that doesn't go over well with my body.  So I just need to retrain myself.  But it is a minor concern, not really something I stress about too much.

WHAT WOULD MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I have done some HIM's and I feel I have that training down pretty good and how to fit it into my life.  But this year I am training to "race" vs finish.  I don't expect to place, I am still slow, but I want to pick the brains of those who race vs just doing.  Also, I really want to be successful at my Iron attempt as it might be my one and only and having someone who knows how to train for them, fit them into their life and has been there is what I am looking for.  I also love to motivate others and tend to be really consistent in my training, which might help with the motivation if others are checking logs.

Looks like this group rocked the Lonestar 70.3.

Great job Nikki.

Off for a short run and masters class.  Yes...it's only 5pm here. 

You have a rough looking schedule, although it is pretty spread out.  Awesome that you get great support from your family

All, happy to be a part of this group.

NAME: GoFaster / Neil

STORY: This year will make year number 5 - and I'm still trying to figure this all out.   I started out with no background in any of the 3 sports, and quickly discovered that swimming and I don't see eye to eye, the bike I'm okay, but the run is where I have some natural abilities.

Looking to make some overall improvements in 2012.

FAMILY STATUS: Married, great wife, two crazy kids. 

CURRENT TRAINING: Lost some motivation plus suffered a couple of injuries during the winter, which sidelined the training.  Just getting back up to speed after a decent March.  Did find that my power numbers are only slightly down from last year which I'm pleased to see.

2011 RACES: HM where I went 1:33, some Sprints and the Muskoka 70.3 (5:52) - second time doing this race, and second time the hills handed me my behind.  

2012 RACES:  Scratched a May HM as running was not where it needed to be due to calf issues.  Just signed up for Muskoka 70.3.  Looking for the 3rd time to be my breakthrough.  Will also race some Sprints this year, a fall HM, and perhaps a second HIM if I can make the schedule work.

WEIGHTLOSS: Non issue for me.  I'm 6' at 153lbs - enough said.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE:  I've been lucky enough to be part of some great groups in the past (including two of Fred's), and have learned that this groups are a tremendous opportunity to share your own views, have those views critiqued, and hopefully help others while in the process of learning from others.  I also key off strong, motivated individuals - so a good group helps push me, and I want to contribute as much as possible.

Story: My background is a little different to most. I entered a 3k fun run in July 2009 to see if I could complete it and was thoroughly unimpressed with my result (19min which I walked at least half of, and it turned out to only be 1.5miles). This motivated me to find a training plan for a 5k run later in the year and found this site. One thing lead to another and Adam (Blinddave) and I ended up entering 3 sprints that year.

Family Status: Moved in with my Girlfriend of 5yrs at the beginning of the year and we haven't killed each other yet!

Current Training: Running 6x/week (~30mpw), swimming 3x/week (~6-7k) and cycling 3x/week (Jorge's Winter cycling plan)

2011 Races: As well as a few other sprint races, I started the year with the same race as in 2010 (which was my first ever race) and improved my time by 6.5 mins. I also had my first Oly and missed out on the 3hr mark by a mere 1min!

2012 Races: Sprint race in April, Oly in May, first HIM in June and another sprint to finish off the season in September

Weightloss: I've never really be concerned with my weight as it has almost always been around the 140lb mark, though a case of gastroenteritis back in Jan saw my weight drop to 135 and it sort of hovers between 135-138 at the moment.

Goals: Apart from 'finish the HIM without needing medical assistance afterwards', I tend to set short term goals and progress as I achieve them.

Welcome to the group Jason, Wesley and Neil.

Well it must be April. Every year I seem to get ill just as I start tapering for my first race of the year at the end of April. This year it seems to have hit early. Hopefully it means I'll actually be able to do the race at 100% this year

No wonder why this group was done as a continuation.  Seems like a great bunch.

Neil is also following me around...  I think this is the third straight mentor group we've been together in.  We we're in Fred's group last summer.  And I guess we're back for more.

So...my first question for the group is who trains with power?  I know Neil and Fred do, I've been using power for almost 2 years now and am addicted to my power meter. 

Welcome to the group Jason, Wesley and Neil!

I am also looking forward to this round number two of this group.  Is it me but this thread displays very different than the last one. 

Weighted in today at 179 lbs up 3 lbs. This was very expected with lack of training last week.  I will also have to post my bio. 

Daughter biopsy went well yesterday.  The Dr’s procedure report has some good news that the cyst appears benign.  Test rests and meeting with the doctor again on Apr 13.  I let you know.

That is good news James. 

WHEW! Just made it in before the midnight cut-off! Thanks Fred and everyone else here for allowing me to participate with the group. Fred along with others in this group helped get me successfully through my IM training last year; I look forward to all of your insights this year and hope I can contribute in some small way to your training and racing as well. I look forward to reading through your bios and will post mine as soon as I get in front of a real computer.

Here is an updated bio for me:

NAME: rymac / Ryan

STORY: I have always been athletic and played alot of sports in school, primarily hockey and basketball and played hockey in college for 2 years. I really got into triathlon when I was getting into a healthier lifestyle about age 25 (2007). I am 31 now. I was already lifting weights 5 days a week when my friend asked if I wanted to do a sprint duathlon with him. So I ended up borrowing my sisters (way too small for me) bike and started training. My sister has completed IMCdA and IMFL before I ever got into the sport. I did pretty well in that duathlon and decided to try a local triathlon 2 months later and was hooked at that point. It was the 2009 season when I really got serious about training and seeing if I could really tap my potential and be good at this. I am really focused on Olympic and HIM distance at this point and the future mainly because I really want to be fast at that distance.  When I eventually do IM I want to be able to be AG competitive right away.

FAMILY STATUS: I am married and have an 11 month old daughter Keelyn. Most of my training takes place very early in the morning and at my lunch hour to spend as much time with them as possible. They have been great.

CURRENT TRAINING: I am currently training about 9-11 hours per week consistenly in preparation for an early June HIM.  I usually bike 3-4x week with the quality sessions being a threshold, VO2 and longer session.  I use TrainerRoad as a tool to train with power but otherwise use HR or RPE.  I was in a run focus most of the winter getting up to 40+ miles per week.  I am now running about 4-5x week and 25-40 mpw depending on the week.  I am also trying to get to the pool 3x week.

2012 RACES: I do have some pretty lofty goals for 2012 as my training has been really good over the winter and feel I am making some good progress. The early season has been dedicated to running races (Jan-Apr) from 10K – Half Mary. I have a HIM planned June 10 and also August 26, both in Grand Rapids,MI.  I am also going to do several Olympics sandwiched between those. I do have some time goals that I would like to achieve and they basically revolve around a PR . Mainly a sub 4:45 HIM and sub 2:13 Olympic.

WEIGHTLOSS: I am currently at 162.6 and want to be around 156-158 for my racing this summer.  I have been eating much better as of late.

Looking forward to another round with this group.  Welcome to all the new peeps who seem like great additons.