kenj mentor group - back for another great season! CLOSED (Page 3)

The Steelers have probably the most well traveled fan base, but the Packers aren't too far behind.  Don't know if I can climb on that bandwagon though since they were our most recent SB loss! 

HI Diane

It would be great to have another person from the uk in the group.

Jennifer

Great to have you with us Kurt!  Kurt was in my first mentor group several years ago!  Great first group as they were all very motivated and many of them, including Kurt, successfully completed thier first IM's in the year or 2 after!

Hello!  My name is Denise and I am looking forward to being a part of your mentor group!  I last did a tri in 2000.....a back injury put me out of commission for quite a while and I was no longer able to run.  Over the last 12 years I have been active, working out at the gym, swimming, biking, hiking, etc...  Up to the June, 2012...not so good since then and I am ready to get back to it!  Because I can't run, I am interested in doing aqua bike events or just the swim/bike portions of a tri.

To motivate myself I registered for a half iron aquabike in June.  I think I can get enough training in to keep myself injury free and to finish the race!  Wonder if I should have started with an Olympic distance first and do a half iron later in the year...I guess a saner person would have!

Thanks in advance for your support and guidance!

Denise

Congrats on hitting close to 500!  I can give you some advice, but not much when it comes to HIM/IM distances (just stuff that I've read that "makes sense").

What would be your issues with the run?

Hi, my name is Michelle and I would like to join the group!

NAME: Michelle Turner

STORY: I am 39 and just have never really been athletic. Any health decisions including finding my way into a gym were purely for vanity reasons and when it didn't happen fast enough I would just quit. I do have a weight struggle and for the second time I have lost a significant amount of weight this time being over 50 lbs.  But this time I am keeping it off. I started running 3 years ago to enter into a popular 10k race that most people do to just say they did it.  And for me thats what it was too, but I actually started to like running and the strength that it gave me. I'm not sure when it happened but I then became race addicted. I enjoy the feeling of the start line and then the finish line and everything in between. I'm not the fastest runner but I have a really good time doing it. I like to do things beyond just what I am capable of doing so enter in my desire to do triathlons.  I have not done one yet so I am focused on making this my year. I signed up in a group last year and was prepared to to do my first sprint before the year was out but I could not get passed the swimming. I didn't want to take the chance in open water even through I do have a little comfort in the water. So now I am focused on completing my first super sprint in April and plan to sign up for Augusta HIM in September. A full is on deck for 2014.

FAMILY STATUS: I’m single with no kids but I just recently got into a serious relationship with a guy who is excited about going on this triathlon journey with me. 

CURRENT TRAINING: I am a lazy trainer which I am planning on changing because I see how my lack of training has held me back from progressing. I also am focused on not only training for a specific sport but strength training that is crossfit and calisthenics focused. I am part of a run group which provides me with my run training and hopefully will be able to join a tri group and I may consider one on one coaching. My training has been run focused as I am doing the goofy challenge and then have 2 half marathons and a marathon in March. I am currently working on swimming after taking a lesson to get me started and haven't been on a bike since probably September.

2012 RACES: No tris but I ran my first marathon, 3 halfs, 10k and 5ks and a 10 miler. 

2013 RACES: Super sprint in April, Irongirl sprint in May, an Olympic during the summer as a training for Augusta HIM. I would like to do the Beach2Battleship Half but I'm going to wait until I complete at least 1 tri before I sign up that. 

WEIGHTLOSS: I put on some extra weight over the last month or two so I plan to get it off. I have no specific number as I like to see how my body looks and feels to determine what is a good weight for me. I am big on paleo and really focus my nutrition to be an effective endurance athlete and weight control. 

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I am a sponge. I soak it all up and then you can squeeze me out so I can share it with others.  I believe not in competition, but in collaboration.

Hi Eddie,

If you want to build mileage without injury, I would start by adding frequency before distance, to balance the training load.  At 2-3 runs per week, I'd be afraid to add too much distance.  I know that it's easier said than done, but the nice thing about running is it's simplicity when fitting it in.  You don't need a pool or perfect weather, just some shoes and some time.  You have 4 months before starting a IM plan, so you might want to look at the Barry P method (I found it here at BT, but it makes sense and I'm sure its been around for a while).  It is a 3-2-1 plan with 6 runs per week, 3 short, 2 medium, one long.  So for now, if you wanted to follow it, you would build to 3 x 2 mile runs, 2 x 4 miles, and 1 x 6 miles.  Each week, add your 5% across the board with the 4th week as a recovery with lighter distance (but keep the frequency up).  Keep the intensity level down on almost all of the runs.  Personally, I do my running by time and heart rate, but the same principles apply.

Happy Training!

Great to have you with us Denise! 

This is a good topic to start the conversations off with.  The key to running is slow build using frequency to build with.  You are certainly off to a good start though!

There are quite a few of us in here that use power to train with on the bike so we can certainly discuss that as well!

Crazy day here and I have a lot more on running we can discuss, but I will post that later!

Welcome to our group Michelle!  Glad to hear you have met someone that shares your triathlon interests! 

The Goofy is a great race!  I think you will enjoy that! (as much as anyone can enjoy a HM and a marathon on consecutive days!)

Hey,

I'm in your neck of the woods.  If I might suggest a HIM race for 2013, the Toughman is in your back yard and its a fine race. Also, it's late season for NY, so you have plenty of time to train :-).   Maybe I'll see you at a race this year.  I do a bunch of shorter distances put on by nytc.org.  My tentative schedule is in my training log.  Also, when summer gets close, I try to get some swims in at White Pond in Carmel, if you are ever looking for an open-water buddy.

I think you will be fine, my bigger concern would be the lingering effects of the flu but if you survive ok tomorrow I would just pick up the plan where you are. 

Training for the Goofy in 2010 I aggravated a hamstring early December.  Missed a bunch of runs and many that I did do were short and slow.  By early January I was on the mend and back on plan.  Hit my goal for the HM, which was planned slower than a stand alone, and missed my marathon goal by less than 2 minutes.  It wasn't adjusted from an earlier goal due to the injury, so I don't feel as the missed training hurt me.  The 2 minutes (probably more) were not due to pace, but poorly timed porto potty stops. Damn race starts too early!

This is very good advice!  Most, some would argue all, running injuries come from doing too much, too fast, too soon.  My coach likes to say "there is no pace in base".  In other words, this time of year (unless you are training for a Jan or Feb marathon) is the time of year to build your base miles.  They should be relatively easy miles done at a conversational pace. 

The other bit of advice for running is to make sure you have a decent pair of running shoes.  This doesn't mean expensive, just the right shoes for your running gait.  Most running stores will video tape your lower legs and can recommend a shoe that will correct any over pronation, along with addressing the appropriate arch support etc.  Although I am an advocate of supporting the local shops, if the one that is the best is out of budget, look to the online retailers. 

I think we are getting close to filling up.  I like to start with a bigger group, since there always seems to be a bit of fallout, although it sounds like everyone has some experience both as triathletes as well as BT members.  There are a couple of folks from prior groups that have let me know that they will be joining us, but are tied up with holiday activities.  I will see where we are in the morning and make a decision from that. 

Either way, any issues or topics you want to discuss, like the running questions, keep them coming! 

BTW, start thinking about your January goals.  I would like you all to post them here and we will work to hold each other to them so that we start off the year on the right foot.  Make them reasonable and realistic, but something that will challenge you! 

train more consistent on bike. I got TrainerRoad and ANT+ stick. Plan is to do at least 3 trainer rides a week.

Add more cross training on days off from trainer. Doyogawithme.com and Skimble.com are great websites.

Start getting back into running. I seem to be able to do a mile easily without the Galloway method...I used to struggle with running a mile without stopping. No time/pace goals. Just fitness. 1-2 times a week.

walk Stardust more often!!! (my dog...yes, a Vegas name for a Vegas dog

January Goals

Finish Goofy upright!

Swim 3x a week.I suck at it the most so I need to focus on getting better.

Stretching and mobility daily. I have really slacked on my stretching and I can feel it. I would like to get in a yoga class 1-2x a week.

A combination of intervals/hill/stair training to help with my speed. All I have done is run so I have the distance. Now i want speed.

Get back on the bike. I dont have a trainer so Ill probably start with spin classes while its cold.

Stop eating like a pig. This includes NO alcohol consumption for the month.