Baowolf's Mentor Group- Closed (Page 23)

Congrats Samantha. Awesome job. I am so happy for you.

Great news Steve, I know that you will do awesome there next year.

Mitzi, so happy that you also reached your goal. So truly happy for you.

Great job everyone. Love this group.

Samantha- Incredible Job!!!!! I was following all the posts and I had my hair standing on my arms! You Go Ironman!!!!

Mitzi!!! Yae!!! Congrats on the Race, you keep the training up!

I have been maintaining my training and focusing on the bike a lot. My next tri is this Saturday which is a 1/2 mile swim, 20 mile bike, and 3.2 mile run. Really excited about it!

Jared

You folks are rubbing off on me -- just caught myself perusing the registration pages of the various Ironman (140.6) events in 2013 & 2014......I'm nervous just looking at the big button which says "Register Here!!"

Edited by Mike_D 2013-06-25 9:48 AM

DO IT! Do it!!

Press that button Mike D! You will not regret it

Do it Mike. And just remember that we have the BEST mentor.

Believe me, I was in the same boat. You can do it.

Race Report is up - http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid...

Steve - Dude, YOU ARE COMING TO CDA!!! I'm so freakin excited!

Jim - You signed up for a HIM...woohoo. I had gatorskins put on my bike for my race and I didn't have any problems. I saw so many people with flats and I don't know what else. I was thankful my tires stayed nice and full of air!

Mitch - Oceanside 2014 sounds like the safe option!

I'm rereading all your tracking me posts and I'm getting tears in my eyes. You guys are so awesome!

Mitzi - your new pic is FANTASTIC!

Carol - I love hearing about your trips to support your friend. Knowing the unfairness would make me sick every time I walked into that place and I wouldn't know what to say. I know your support of her matters in ways that are unseen. You are a solid friend!

Steve - what is a RR? The tension definitely builds. Coming down that final stretch on Sherman is amazing. I could hear the crown and Mike Reilly long before I could see the finish line, but then I turned that corner. OMSTars! So stoked you and your wife stayed up to watch. I can't wait to meet you both in person next year!

Mike - So about that tattoo...not my style. But I do want to get a 140.6 sticker for my car :D Happy Sprint tri this upcoming weekend! Kayaking is awesome! Go ahead and sign up - I dare you! :D

Mitzi - YOu are also an athlete! Check out my race report! :D

Mitch - I love that you stayed up to watch. i feel so very well supported.

Pam - thank you so much. Have a great vaca!

Ken - thanks so much. I love this group too!

Jared - Thanks! Bike focus is good. Happy race this weekend.

Pretty sure I won't be signing up for IMCDA next year. Not sure I can handle another year of a crazy training schedule. Plus, it'll be way fun to cheer on the best mentor in the world as he kills it and support him and his family as much as I can :D I'm super stoked to know I'll get to meet them all for real!

I still tired and legs still don't work right. Trying to figure out if I should be walking around more or if that will make it worse. It is pretty hard to walk and stairs are dangerous...hahahahaha. What a journey. I am certain I will be reeling from it all for a long time. The tearful emotions of it all are starting to manifest as I read all the post from you guys and all the posts on facebook. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of support I have received. It's hard to believe that I am an inspiration to people because I always see everyone else as the inspirations to me. I'm not the girl who does the inspirational things; I'm the one sitting on the couch watching people on t.v. do the great things. But of course, that isn't my reality anymore. I'm just overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness that my reality has changed. I don't know all the benefits that will come from this journey, but I'm not the same person I was - PTL!

Thank you, thank you, thank you All. And Steve, my thanks doesn't seem to be enough to express how much your mentorship has meant to me. I am certain you were placed in my life for such a time as this and your role in bringing my dream into a reality is irreplaceable. The right words elude me - YOU ROCK!

Edited by anthalynn 2013-06-25 1:38 PM

"I'm not the girl who does the inspirational things; I'm the one sitting on the couch watching people on t.v. do the great things. But of course, that isn't my reality anymore. I'm just overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness that my reality has changed. I don't know all the benefits that will come from this journey, but I'm not the same person I was - PTL! "

She was a fine woman - doing the best she could at the time. Now you have transformed yourself into an amazing athlete who will inspire lots of people!!

I just had to dig back into the archives and pull this up so folks who don't know Samantha know how far she has come. She can hit me for hit next summer.

4/15/2011
"First name: My name is Samantha, I am 34 and I would love to join this group!

How long you have been training for Triathlons: This is the first year I will train and participate in a triathlon.

Family Status (married, single, number of children): I am single with no children.

Date of upcoming race and type of race: I am signed up for a sprint tri on July 24th.

What your base run/swim/bike distance are per week: I am not sure what my base is since I am a beginner, but I have a sprint tri plan I will be starting in a week. I am currently biking and walking fast a couple times per week to prepare to start training.

Do you have a weight loss goal: I would love to lose 20 pounds, but it is not much of a priority because I know it will come with training well and eating well. More importantly I want to be faithful to my plan so I am ready to race with confidence.

Are you run/bike or swim focused: I will focus more on running because it is my weakest area. I struggle with endurance over-all. I was a couch potato who smoked a pack a day for most of my young life, then I was introduced to backpacking and mountain biking and they inspired me to begin pursuing physical fitness. I have not smoked in 4 years and my health has increased, so now I am ready to step it up and pursue a more significant goal. I really long to build my endurance to achieve my goal of completing an IM.

I am excited to be a part of a group so I can listen to what others are doing and be encouraged by their success and growth. Plus I love encouraging other people in what they are doing. I get more excited about the success and perseverance of others than I do about my own successes. I am hard on myself and look forward to hearing other perspectives and being challenged. With that said, Steve, I am really excited to hear about your experience at the Boston. What an awesome race to participate in. I noticed your time goal - whoa! I hope you met that goal because that would be crazy cool!"

So coming from no triathlon fitness to completing an IM with perfect pacing, very amazing. I also trained 2 years for my first IM and wouldn't recommend going any quicker than that.

Congrats again Samantha. Just so folks know it takes roughly 1 month of doing mostly nothing to recover from an IM. It is good to do some walking like 1 mile once a day or every other day, maybe spin at very very low intensity for a couple 5, or swim 500 to 1000 yards, but no intensity at all. You just have no umphta in ya for anything that will raise your heart rate. So enjoy some well earned rest, not allowed to do long bike rides, swims or runs for 1 month 8).

Oh and RR is Race Report.

Edited by Baowolf 2013-06-25 4:29 PM

Reading my first intro to Steve's group made me laugh. That was two years and two months ago. Crazy! I decided to look at my training from those early days for the first time since I began and I was more surprised than I expected to be. It all makes me laugh!

Here are some of my logs:
Running on April 15, 2011 - in the comments section I wrote "I walked for 2min, then jogged for 2min the entire time."
duration:22m
distance:1.54 miles
pace:14m 17s /Mi
I was very proud of myself

May 14th, 2011 - comments "Second workout for the day and my first time doing two. It had some good elevation gain and was tough.
Run 33m 43s; 2.40 miles; 14m 03s /Mi
Bike 24m 58s; 3.81 miles;9.16 Mi/hr

May 17, 2011 - Comments "First swim of training. It was slow but it happened and I am thankful for that".
20m 25s; 225.00 yards; 09m 04s /100 yards

I'm constantly amazed by the effects of training on the body.

A month off. Phew! That'll be different.

That is so cool Samantha!

Wow that is awesome Samantha!!!
Great Consistent work equals great results!!!!!

I've spent a lot of time telling people in our group to appreciate their accomplishments in training and/or races so I'm going to take my own advice!

I set off to do a 40 mile bike ride today but I only made it to 26...I just wasn't feeling it as they say. I spent a lot of time thinking about things on my ride and appreciating what I've got is one of them. So I got off my bike and decided to do a brick....put my things away and went off to do a 3.5 mile run. The run was pretty good...ended up at a 9:30ish pace. It made me very happy...I've thought a lot about where I was in March after my surgery and if you told me I'd be doing this in late June...I'd be ecstatic. I thank God for healing me and allowing me to accomplish what I've been able to do in a very short amount of time. I know I'm not fully healed for another month and that I probably won't have my old leg strength back for longer but I'm blessed to be able to perform despite that!

I guess its time to share my goals for the rest of 2013. I'm going to do the sprint triathlon in August, an Olympic in September, and a full marathon in October in memory of my firefighter friend who passed away back in February. Assuming I stay healthy...I'll be following Mike's lead and looking at IM races for 2014 to bring in my 40th Bday in style.

I think some of my perspective also has to do with seeing a Patriot player arrested today. I've been fortunate enough to play against guys who made it to the NBA, MLB, and the NFL during my sporting career....and I'd have given just about anything to have been a hair faster so I could've been one of them. So, when I see a guy with all that talent and being blessed with the opportunity to be a professional athlete...and then you throw it all away...it makes me sad. I know what his reality is...he's a 24 year old guy who's going to spend anywhere from 5 years to life in prison (depending on charges) and he's going to live a difficult life during his sentence. He's also got a little girl who's not going to have her dad around...and if she goes to visit him she's going to be scared to death...I've seen many little kids crying when going to visit their fathers at my institution....sigh, stepping off my soapbox now.

Samantha, I just can't tell you how happy I am to have been able to witness your journey. Ha, I can say "I knew her when....." .

Jay, like your perspective. It is so hard to let go of what we used to do/be and start from where we are. Congrats on getting out there for a good run after the bike!

Speaking of starting from where we are, my "return to running" plan is going well, as is working on my swim endurance. Think my hubby may join me at the pool tonight .

Jay..... as much as we all love you, you need to keep that Type A personality in check. Lets take a look at the mary for now, you have what 3-4 months to go from basically no run fitness to mary distance? Are you planning run walk, straight walk or straight run, nevermind I know the answer, balls to the wall fast marathon. But you need to survive to get there safely. So.... we start with building in some consistency to your training. My recommendation is 5 days a week with maybe 2 bike 2 swim as you want to get some tris in too, gona be harder to do both at the same time. So just looking at the run, 2,2,2,2,2,3 jog walk watever to cover the distance yes only 2 miles per day long of three. Long runs then become 4, 5, 3, 6, 7, 4, 8, 9, 5, 10, 11, 6, 12, 13, 7, 14, 15, 8, 16, 17, 9, 18, 19, 10, 20, 12, 20, 12, 20, 12, 8, race = safe minimum training plan of 32 weeks and assuming you start next week and the race is the end of October that gives you 18 weeks. I could cheat it down a little because I have 5 years of heavy endurance training and don't have a recently torn achilies. So for a run walk program it is more doable, but I just want you to be realistic before comiting to the marathon. Doing a half marathon would be very reasonable, a full is not as reasonable unless you are ok with walking 1/3 of it jogging 2/3 of it. Building to an IM in one year is also a significant undertaking, most folks take 2 years, but doable in 1 year of solid training assuming you don't overdo it and hurt yourself. So share your thoughts on the Mary and IM and we move with as safe a plan as you can tolerate.

Today is my 800 repeat day, 16 mph winds and I dug up the heart rate monitor strap to check in on whether my percieved effort was matching my actual HR: 800s Pace/ Average HR: 7:20 (156), 6:54 (161), 6:48 (165), 6:52 (168), 6:54 (168). So ya reaching my LT on each 800 repeat after the first one, that's all I am going to be able to do for today speedwise. Rest of the day has a 20 mile bike ride and 29000 yard swim.

Thanks for the advice and concern Steve. My focus is on triathlon first and foremost...the sprint and the olympic are my big races. The marathon is something I had in my head from the minute my surgeon said "it'd be impressive if you did a marathon 7 months post op" You may call it silly...I get it! but I don't forget things like that....and shortly after that my friend passed away and it became a stronger goal if you will. As far as the marathon...I just want to get to the end. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't go as hard as I can but I'm a realist too....I'm not going to dedicate to an exclusive run plan at the expense of my tri races....and I suspect that will result in me having good overall fitness but not good running fitness in October. I've done Boston half mary trained so I know how to get to the finish line without as much training as I'd like.

Looking forward to potential IM training, I have the training template from IronFit on a spreadsheet. I suspect that I'll use that 26 week program unless others (who know more than me!) poo poo that idea.

Jay, your goals are your goals nothing silly about aggressive goals unless your wife he nurse and PT object 8). An IM in a year is definately doable, just not gonna be easy (as easy as IMs are). You know that my philosophy is to go into races fully trained and ready to go, but I am realistic in knowing that that timing does not always work with race dates. So if you want to keep triathlons in check then I would go run 5, bike 3 swim 2-3 per week. I would build the long as recommended above, but know that you will max out at maybe 16 miles for a long for the marathon instead of 20. that will cut 4-7 weeks off your prep time. Then go 15 12 16 12 16 taper or some such at the end. But you do need to get that consistency in there 8). And when you get to your mary know that your pace will need to be somewhat restrained because walking kills your time if you intend to jog the whole thing.

My advice will be prudent, something to keep in mind, but your decisions regarding training, pacing etc. are your own. I'll just give ya what I know and tweek things so that it is the most realistic plan you can have. Going in undertrained just means slower pace or more walking is all. However, if you want to do an IM in 4 weeks and your long bike is 20 miles, long run 5 and long swim 1000 yards I will try to persuade you to just say know based on concern for your safety.

Hi all!! Got another 40 miler in today w my girlfriend. I think it's probably best to maybe forgo long rides with my sweet friend. It's just too slow. Too casual. No hard effort. Well in certain areas I pushed til I had to turn off. So I'd stop to wait for her. Sometimes several minutes. Our last 2 40 mi rides were at 13 mph. I'm not fast But if I were to give it all I got and go alone I'd be in the high 14's and with a workout where I felt it in my quads. At the moment I really don't feel like I even worked out today. .

Samantha, love the old log comments from newbie-land! Even though we've been doing tris
for about the same amount if time I still feel like a beginner.

Jay, I giggled at the word "poo poo". Lol

Edited by EV3110 2013-06-26 7:21 PM

Elena - I never train with anyone. Don't want to hold anyone up and don't want to be held up. I also find that I like focusing on what I'm doing. When your friend asks about rides, maybe offer to go out for coffee?

I did a moderate 3.5 mile run just to get my legs under me yesterday considering I have my tri this Weekend. I am a little disappointed looking back at my total training this month. This month was the first month I have logged everything. I am needing to dive into a concrete plan!!!!!!!!!

This Triathlon is a 850 yard swim, 20 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run. I am excited about the race, and I cant wait till Saturday. However, my mind goes to what is my next goal for this year. Should I try an Olympic, or half marathon, long bike race. I am just having dificulty deciding what is best for the rest of this year. All I can think of is building my foundation to get more balance in my training regimen for next year. Any help or goals that yal set in your first year?

My $0.02.....Train consistently and build a base is a good goal for the first year. Do a couple sprint races to get a feel for it, learn about what goes on in a race, and to see how you like it. If after the season you feel you want to do longer races, find something for next year, sign up, get a training plan together to get you ready.

My first 'year' of tri was 1/2 a season where I did my first tri (bike in a relay) then a full sprint 3 months later. My immediate concerns were learn to swim and to start running, and ride more.

Edited by Mike_D 2013-06-27 9:18 AM

Just realized its my 'tri' birthday of sorts this weekend. 3 years ago this Sunday I participated in my first tri as the bike-leg of a realy with my 2 nieces. Didn't really know what I was in for, rode my Trek 7200 street hybrid bike, and clocked in at 51 minutes for the 12.4 mile course. Thought I may croak about halfway through.

BUT.....that one experience started all this craziness for me. Within a few days of doing that race, I'd signed up for my first race in September of that year, found BT, signed up, and started logging workouts on 7/5/10. I also had to figure out how to swim and start running. First 25 yards of freestyle I did took 37 strokes to get across the pool, and I was wiped out. Couch to 5k program started me running.

Funny to sit here today and think about it. I should probably be in much better shape than I am after 3 years, but real life often over rules the best laid training plans. Still, this is the healthiest I've been in many many years, have lost weight, feel great, and feel better about my physical condition than I have since probably high school. Have some more racing this year, know what I need to do to improve my terrible run fitness, and am enjoying the journey. Also great to see my 10 year old daughter getting excited about doing her 2nd tri this summer at the New England Kids Tri (same race she did last year).

So, overall, definitely a great choice in lifestyle & a fantastic way to stay fit, have fun, and enjoy things.

Mike- Thanks I am really enjoying it a lot. I just need that next step in training.

Carol – Keep those wheels rolling. How often does your plan have you running?

Mitzi – I train alone as well but find sharing achievements and goals on the BT and FB circles provides some nice motivation.

Jared – Funny you are thinking of goals ahead of your race. I was a bit lost after my first race last year and finally found that running was something I wanted to focus on and ran my first 10K and ½ Mary. There is also a feature on the training section for setting goals. I like that section a lot but making it interesting and achievable can be tricky. Some simple goals I set are like run 4x/wk for 3 weeks, or average 50 miles/wk for 3 weeks on the bike….

Mike – Happy B-day! The journey is interesting and I am sure your kids must be very proud.

Elena – Your determination is commendable. Looking at your logs it looks like 40 mile is a comfortable ride for you and you also do work on the trainer. If you work hard on your trainer, then I see nothing wrong with relaxing with a friend, even if you do end up taking some extra water breaks. Unless you have something specific you are training for.

Jay – Glad you are able to count your blessings, I have mentioned to others to remember their joy. In the heat of training, meeting goals, hitting a pace, we often forget our health and happiness is most important. You’ve had an amazing recovery, keep it up!

Last I remember, I was going to run and swim forgetting, it was my 15th wedding anniversary. Fortunately for me my wife forgot too, but needless to say the workout did not go as planned. I picked up our celebration pizza. Then, I did get 5K run in. Last week was my first 8 hour training week . My bike is getting the noise back, although at least I can feel more comfortable that the wheels are not about to fall off. Last night I went out for the long run and glad to keep it nice and slow as the heat and humidity have set in. Tonight yeah… swim and run planned. Hope I am not forgetting anything tonight.

Mike - Happy tri-Birthday! Had another person ask me where I was putting the tattoo. It is definitely a popular follow-up.

Elena - Good job on the 40 mile rides! I have done 90% of training alone for the same reasons you and Mitzi mentioned. I don't want to be the slow one or the fast one. Group rides are better for finding someone to pace with.

Carol - so glad to hear your legs are responding well to upped running. How was your friend doing?

Jay - You have goals and I love that! Definitely not worth hurting yourself, but you seem to have the smarts to dial things back when necessary. It'll be fun to find out what you decide and watch you follow-through.

Joe - Glad your wife forgot too And she still let you get in a bit of training; I'm impressed. I don't know how you deal with the humidity.

Jared - Yay for your upcoming tri!

So today is the first day my legs don't feel like they will give out any second while walking. I can even go down stairs like normal, which means I finally get to do laundry I find my mind starting to wander forward and wonder what I'll do next. I laughed when I thought about doing CDA again just to prove to myself that the first one wasn't a "first-timers" luck/fluke. So I haven't done anything but walk to and from car and destination, but Saturday I'm headed to Spokane, Washington to watch friends compete in the largest 3 on 3 basketball tournement in the USA or maybe the world. It's called Hoopfest. It's a really big deal around here and it'll require I do some walking and I'm looking forward to that.