spokes' Group - FULL (Page 2)

Hope you've got room for another Englander in your ranks.  I like the look of this group because of what I read whilst spending too much time in COJ and the current members list. 

NAME: Cando (real name: Dan)

STORY: 32 years old - was an extremely sporty youth.  Played football (ok, soccer) all my life, swam competitively up until 18 (I was a sprinter who hated long distances but represented the county up to 100yds), did a bit of amateur cycling with a mate (just a few organised bike rides every year between about 50-100 miles).  All was going swimmingly (pun intended) until I ruptured my ACL in my left leg at 25.  I also met my wife around that time.  The surgeon I had was very fatalistic about my continuing with sport and for two years I did nothing - going up from 196lbs to 225lbs in the process.  I then started playing a bit of football again around 28/29 and found the knee was up to it if I treated it with plenty of TLC (post match routine not just beer and chips).  One day, around 30 I decided I was just too fat and unfit and I didn't want my kids to have a fat dad.  I was used to being fit and it was affectving everything - my confidence, enthusiasm, energy levels and general happiness.  I decided to do something about it and started gyming and dieting in August 2005.  For nine months I trained hard and eat well with no particular goal other then getting fit.  It had the desired effect - I was doing loads of swimming, weights, spin classes - then chucked in a bit of running.  I got chatting to a bloke at work who did Triathlons - went to watch the London Tri in August '06 and have been hooked (on the training at least, so far) since then.

FAMILY STATUS: Married (five and a half years) father of two daughters (4 and 11 months) also have my wife's two step sons living with us - 18 and 16. 

CURRENT TRAINING: I made a deal with my wife that I don't train on a Sunday (family day) and a max of two evenings per week (defo every Thursday).  Other than that it's most mornings and lunchtimes - travelling allowing (I travel to mainland Europe every other week for a day).  I keep picking up niggly injuries (currently with a sore achilles) and December was an appalling month for training time - Sept / Oct / Nov were pretty good - I'm aiming for about 10 hours a week in 2007 excluding stretching.

LAST YEAR'S RACES: None

2007 RACES: My main goal is the London Oly in August 07 - but I'm also signing up for my local town's half mary in March, Eton and Crystal Palace sprint tris in May, the Norwich Century bike ride at the end of May, Windsor Oly in June along with the London to Brighton bike ride.  London to Southend bike ride in July.

LIMITERS: I don't own a bike!  I do all my cycling in spin classes - I get my bonus in March (end of) and will get one then.  I might be able to get access to one before hand.  With running - it's niggly injuries - I tend to do too much too soon and then go back to square run.  it's annoying because I can easily run the distance (10k) but I clearly haven't prepared my body properly.  I'm trying to have the discipling to reign it in and stick to 10% (note to self: you can't start at 10k and pretend you haven't broken the 10% rule)

WEIGHT LOSS: Currently sitting at 202lbs (20% body fat) after a Christmas blow out - I want to get that down to 190lbs and towards 15% body fat before March is out.

Cheers

Never thought I'd part of any group that was.....THIS MUCH FUN!!!!

Welcome to all across the pond and state side! 

And who is the culprot spreading this wonderful snot producing nonsense?  Would that be our fearless leader?!  If so, thanks for sharing the wealth!

How embarassing -  please accept my apologies Glenn - I have just finished writing 'I must not become Americanised' 100 times - haha, it is scary sometimes how I catch myself being 'tainted' over here. My Yorkshire mates would disown me.

 Must try harder!