Stickyrunner01's Group - The bus is FULL! (Page 3)

NAME: spottedcow – Carrie Tate

BACKGROUND: I had no athletic background earlier in life but, I ran my first marathon with Team In Training about 8 years ago.  I’ve finished 12 marathons since then, but started to get a bit bored after seeing no improvements (PR of 4:10).   I’ve completed only two sprint triathlons in the last year.   I see myself as a weak swimmer, relatively strong cyclist, and slightly below average runner.  Interestingly, I like swimming the best and cycling the least.   I just hired a coach (started about 4 weeks ago) and we’re working on maintenance stuff over winter and I’ve also joined the local master’s swim club, where I currently take a novice swim technique class.  In 2009, I won an unbelievable and expensive tri bike (Specialized S-Works Transition, Zipp 404 wheels, with a fitting) at a tri expo with the purchase of a $100 raffle ticket J.  I really have no business riding it but it’s pretty cool!

In my real life, I’m an emergency room veterinarian

FAMILY STATUS: Married to an incredibly supportive non-triathlete husband (also an ER Veterinarian).  We have one dog – a geriatric three-legged Pit Bull.  He doesn’t run with me but he’s happy to keep the couch warm and he welcomes me home with wags and kisses.

CURRENT TRAINING: Winter maintenance in all three disciplines.  I basically do whatever my coach prescribes for me in a given week.  Right now, I’m working out between 3.5-7hrs per week.

THIS YEAR'S RACES: In 2010:  Door County Half Marathon (May), Madison Marathon (May), City of Seven Hills Sprint Triathlon (August), and Harbor Springs ½ Marathon (Oct).

2011 RACES: Door County Half Marathon (May), Green Bay Triathlon (Olympic – June), Racine 70.3 (July), Ironman Wisconsin (Sept)

2011 GOALS: Stay strong through training and finish the half and full IMs without crashing on the run legs.

WEIGHT-LOSS: I’m 5’8” and 135 pounds.  Based on my past history, I feel best at 125 pounds, so I need to lose 10 by April.  That’s non-negotiable.  My nutrition has been terrible too, so I’m aiming for some major improvements during the next year.

HOPES AND FEARS: My two biggest fears are:  1) Finding balance.  My work schedule can be brutal.  I work primarily overnight hours with shifts scheduled between 12-15 hours long.  I work 2 out of every 3 weekends and most major holidays.  Medical records and procedures often extend the shift even longer.  On weekends, it’s not uncommon to work a 16-18 hour shift.  It’s completely impossible to train during those working stretches.  The flip-flopping between night and day hours is difficult too (especially as I’m getting older), but I’m not going to let my job prevent me from reaching my fitness goals.  2) Allowing anxiety to get the best of me.  When I worry about training or my job, the worry interferes with my sleep and it’s a vicious cycle.  My sleep scheduled is messed up as it is! I need to train well enough to have confidence about the longer races in order to reduce the anxiety.

A WORD OF THANKS: I appreciate your willingness to share your advice and experiences with the rest of us!

NAME: roserc - Rob

BACKGROUND: I've always been a team sport kind of athlete. I've been an ice hockey goalie since high school - no endurance sports. In 1996 I went to the Doctor with what I thought was symptoms of a chest cold and found out that I had heart disease. I had angioplasty for a 95% blockage of my right coronary artery. I immediately lost about 30 pounds and began a strict low-fat diet. I continue to stay close to the diet, but I'm not as strict as I used to be.
As a result of the heart disease, exercise is very important to me. Last year I decided to try a local sprint triatlon with my two sons. We had a lot of fun and since I had trained, I decided to do another later in the summer. Aftet that, I decided that I wanted to train through the winter to see how much better I could do next summer.

FAMILY STATUS: Married for 23 years to a very supportive wife. Two boys ages 18 and 20.

CURRENT TRAINING: Trying to increase volume, but having issues with my left knee. I had three surgeries on the knee about 20 years ago - two to repair a torn menuscus and the last one to remove it since the repair was not working. I ran without problems from last May to October, but then on a long run I started to have issues. I think I increased my time too quickly. I swimm pretty regularly and just got rollers for christmas so I can ride through the winter. I do spin classes as well.
I seem to do pretty well on the swim and the bike, but everyone passes me on the run.

2010 RACES: Ellington Sprint Triathlon in CT in July, and Staten Island Sprint Traithlon in late August

2011 RACES: Pat Griskus Olympic in June, Ellington again in July... not sure after that yet, but I'd like to do at least one more sprint.

2011 GOALS: Stay healthy and get better on the run without knee problems.

WEIGHT-LOSS: I'm 6' and 173lbs.  I’ve lost about 10 pounds since I started tri training, so I don't really want to lose any more.  As I mentioned earlier, my heart history forces me to be pretty careful about what I eat. Heart disease is a major lifestyle change motivator.

I'm looking forward to getting motivated and sharing when I can!

NAME: bfwhitt - Bruce Whittemore - NJ

BACKGROUND: I may be the old man of the group, just hit the big 50 !! Most days I feel like I am in my 30's but there are those days that 50 seems about right, but thank God they are few and far between.... for now. I have always been involved in some type of sports. Played Lacrosse in HS, and have always tried to stay in some kind of shape. Played some over 30 soccer, hockey, and just ended a long softball career. Work from home and loving it, so my training can be very flexible. Strength is running, not a bad swimmer(swam growing up) but have a mental block certainly do not enjoy it like others do, do ok on the bike would like to get a lot better...

FAMILY STATUS: Married 26 years, 3 children, 19, 21, 23 (Girl, Girl, Boy), all very supportive of my training, all still living at home, but going to college.

CURRENT TRAINING: Mostly weight training right now, but have been doing some trail running and trying to get back into the pool, nothing on the bike for several months. I plan to pick up one of the BT training programs any day. Waiting until Jan 2 to get serious.

THIS YEAR'S RACES: In 2010:  on my profile, but short version, 2 Sprints, and two winter trail runs, 2009 did my first Sprint and several runs

2011 RACES: Sprint in April, Oly in July(A-Race), Sprint in early October

2011 GOALS: Beat last years times on all races, and finish an Oly 

WEIGHT-LOSS: I’m 5’10” and 168 pounds. Gained about 5 pounds over the past month, my perfect weight is between 160- 163, need to cut out the sugar and white starches, that should melt off the pounds quickly along with the increased training

HOPES AND FEARS: I am definitely having a mental block to get motivated this year. I have been struggling in my head with dedicating myself to this training. I have been considering a second career which would entail going back to school.....so can I get it all done?....I like feeling as good as I did last year when I was in the best shape of my life, but have a mental block and need to make some decisions. I can make it all happen if I start getting up early.....but I hate getting up early.... so my hope is that I can balance my life and make it all work....my fear is that I do not get either of them done....some serious meditation and prayer over the next week....

Either way I will be training this year.....so count me in...look forward to getting to know you all.......

NAME: dhopman - Dave - Santa Clara, CA

BACKGROUND: I do tri's for the challenge, the healthy lifestyle, the discipline, the sportsmanship, and the friendships.

28 years old, from a swimming/water polo background. I started swimming very young in rec league (4 yo). I was good but not THAT fast. In high school I discovered water polo which I excelled at. Played year-round, went to junior olympics twice, eventually played collegiate level. Post-college, I started with OWS, then started some short running races, then did my first sprint tri. I followed that up with an Oly. In 2006 I started my MBA which killed my multi-sport carreer for a few years. I got back into it in 2009 with a heavy run focus (I'm a fish out of water). Some MBA buddies of mine decided to make a friendly competition out of it, as we were all interested in getting back in shape. We did an Oly, followed by a HIM in July. In October I did my first marathon. The same group of guys convinced me to shoot for my first Ironman - which we're doing in May - IMTX!

FAMILY STATUS: Engaged - getting married in July!

CURRENT TRAINING: Since the full mary in October, haven't been doing squat. I'm working super long hours at the office on a proposal but that should be over very soon, then it's on to my Ironman training.

THIS YEAR'S RACES: Wildflower Oly, Vineman HIM (5:38), SJ RnR Half Marathon (1:39 - PR), SV Marathon (3:40 - 1st marathon), Morgan Hill Half Marathon (1:50 pacer)

2011 RACES: Ironman Texas, probably will do SJ RnR Half Marathon and try to beat my PR from 2010

2011 GOALS: Train smart and complete Ironman Texas healthy (have had some knee problems) - no hard target for time yet...I'm thinking 12 hours or better? No idea... 

WEIGHT-LOSS: I'm 6'4", maybe 180 right now. I'll probably drop back to 170 with the Ironman training which is where I was for Vineman.

HOPES AND FEARS: I really need my knees to stay healthy. This will be an intense 5 months of training for IMTX and I can't afford any injuries. With the wedding coming up, I also need to be smart about balancing my time. The Lady is super supportive but she shouldn't have to do everything on her own.

I hope I can help some people on this thread with the swimming, or with general newbie questions. I'm hoping to get lots of motivation to stay on top of my training plan, and maybe even learn a thing or two from some of you runners out there. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you!

congrats on the engagement!

whew, I didn't log on for a whole day and I am trying to catch up on all the reading in here! I am excited about this group.  Thanks to our mentor for the thread subscribe info! I think that will help me keep up with new posts.  I have fallen off the insanity wagon, I have missed two whole workouts, I swore I'd get caught up today (and I still might) but mornings are best for me since I am raising two girls and one of those is a handful (almost 2!) but I guess i needed my rest.

For those that are new to swimming I strongly recommend finding a swim coach or a mastors program, it took me from barely swimming 200 yrds without dying to swimming a mile strong in about 3 months.  technique technique technique.

I need to find a cheap trainer to set up in my living room or even on my porch, cycling is my WEAKEST link, though in my very small sprint tri experience, I've done really well with my cheap lil road bike but the weather here is miserable cold and I can't seem to get enough layers or even the right layers, there is almost always a wind here at least 10mph but normally around 15-20.

oh yeah I am in the OK panhandle near guymon ok. 

• under-rotating when you don't breathe
• over-rotating when you do breathe
• lifting your head "up" which will put additional strain on your bottom arm. Your ear should be brushing your arm when you breathe to make sure you aren't lifting the head too much.

If you correct any of these issues and you still feel pain then definitely see a PT.