Suz and Steph - We are FULL... and off to train! (Page 3)

I'm interested in joining your group. I'm new to triathlons but thoroughly enjoying the sport. I started cycling a year and half ago to get into shape. I'm down 100 pounds (still have 60+ to go). Once I started reaching some big cycling goals, including a double century (Seattle to Portland), I started looking for other events as motivational goals.The local YMCA sponsored a "Lazy Ironman" in which you could log Ironman distances over the couse of eight weeks. I did a quadruple! Last summer I also completed two sprint triathlons, one on my own and one with my 12 year old son. My wife, 17 year old daughter, and I also completed our first half marathon.

I've got more events in my sights this year including a full marathon and a few olympic triathlons. My oldest son wants to keep doing triathlons and my younger boys are interested now too. My wife is thinking about duathlons but she's not sold on the swim yet. We've LOVED getting our whole family active and the  blessings and benefits just keep coming. 

I have no idea what I'm doing with training other than just getting out there and working hard. I've become a capable cyclist, I've always been a pretty good swimmer, and I'm learning to love running. I'm also not very strong technologically with forums like this so I guess you could say I'm looking for all the help I can get.

This looks like a very freindly and supportive group which I would enjoy being a part of.

Hey, I'd love to join your group! 

NAME: Alecia

STORY: Total newbie to the world of Triathlon. I'm an ex competitive figure skater and high school volleyball player. Active my whole life until I quit everything at 16. I still consider myself a recovering videogame addict, wasted nine months (August 2010 - April 2011) on an online game and gained 10lbs and the complexion/eating habits of a preteen. However, I'm inspired to try triathlon and push myself to the limits after being lazy for 2 years.

FAMILY STATUS: Boyfriend of 4 months is a soldier in the Canadian Military. He's planning to do every single race with me since the army will give him leave :)

CURRENT TRAINING: Base training, really. These past four months I've gone from sedentary and struggling to run 2 laps of the 200m indoor track, to running for 15 minutes without giving up. I really enjoyed biking, but swimming is still my nemesis. I'll be taking a weekly long distance swimming class along with fencing and kickboxing Monday and Tuesday nights. Along with that, I'll be trying to steadily increase my runs, bikes and bricks. I'm aiming to do Iron Man Canada in 2014, and that will be my main focus for the next year and a half (besides school)

2012 RACES: None.

2013 RACES:  March 9th, Moonlight Run 10k

WEIGHT LOSS: Last time I weight myself was in October and I found out I was approximately 175lbs and I'm at my heaviest (I get obsessive about numbers, so I don't keep a scale around). I want to make that more like 150 or 140lbs when this year is up. As of today, I've cut out pretty much all the food my university serves (preservatives, fried, artificial anything, high fructose corn syrup...).

I feel like someone's going to tell me that I'm doing too much and aiming too high but 2013 is gonna be my year for getting in shape so I can crush that Iron Man in Whistler, BC in 2014.

So yeah.

Will you keep me around? <3

Hey Suz and Steph,

Can I join your group again?

Happy New Year. 

--Marcus

Hi Suz & Steph,

I would love to join your group. I'm 33 and just started Tri last year. I started "training" in April 2012 without really realizing it; just thought I should lose a few pounds and started running so I could do so and continue to eat like a horse. Then I was swimming a few days a week because my school has a pool in the gym and I like it. I've always biked here and there anyway, so when I found out that slow people without natural athletic gifts could "compete" in triathlons I figured I might as well have a goal and signed up for a Sprint, which I finished in late July. LOVED IT. I want to complete an Oly this year and another Sprint with a better finish.

My workouts have been sporadic the last few months -- I spent August out in the woods hiking, and since then my schedule has been crazy so I've let it slide. For the moment my training consists of "run, bike, swim, lift weights when you feel like it". I could use some motivation & accountability. And I know I need to get a solid training program together. I love that you two put an emphasis on nutrition -- that's really important to me as well.

I haven't set up any training logs here yet but I will if I can join the group.

Thanks!

Julia (Portland, OR)

Hey there guys! 

I'm Greta---I just signed up for the Pigman Sprint Tri here in Iowa in June. yay! 
I am a biker, runner, and a swimmer(I was a synchronized swimmer as a kid too, but I don't think that will score me any points in the tri department!), but have yet to compete in a triathlon. My partner John has done several tri's over the last year and I am convinced that I should get one under my belt this year too! It's my resolution.

I too love yoga, but don't get to do it nearly enough. I spin regularly, run, go to Body Pump classes---and occasionally get some laps in at our local pool. I am working on a training plan now, and am really excited to focus on this new goal of mine.

If there is still room, I'd love to be a part of the group.

Thanks so much

Greta

If there's still room I'd love to join because I cannot do this on my own.

STORY: I'm 22 from Finland and currently studying aboard. I meant to stat my training already in last Autumn when I was studying in China but other exchange students created such a drama that I was mentally so drained that getting through the day was hard enough. So instead of losing those last 10lb, I gained 20 and now I'm somewhere at 180lb (5'6"). Before that triathlon was something I just decided to do, you know something nice and good for myself because I have always sucked in doing so. I was so mad at myself for not doing anything and letting myself get to this point... but now I'm more ready to fix it and get the goal; Henlsinki city triathlon 2013 (sprint 24.8). My exercising background is variating... I've been horseback riding over 10 years, but I had to stop when I went to High school. Then I've been on and off going to different gym classes, and running (I don't like running). Consistency is not my strongest side and I need to work on that. I'm also an zumba instructor - and god I love it - but when I had my first classes they didn't attract people (but that was because of the payment system the people had there, not me and many said that they would come if they didn't need to pay extra). And because I'm a self-blame-queen now I'm frightened to step on the stage because I haven't been giving any classes after 2010. I've been just going and I decided that this has to also change because I'm starting to lose the joy of even going to class when all I want to do is to have my own class. And let's just add that having that instructor training and classes was a really big deal for me because of some other difficulties from my past, so to lose that like that - it was more than just a class.

So now I just want to gather all the pieces and patchwork myself back together because otherwise I'll just end up hating myself for the rest of my life. I just don't like this feeling and I want to be the girl I was a year ago... but first I need to learn to swim (I mean I can swim well but I have no idea about any techniques or anything). ^^

FAMILYSTATUS: Very single

CURRENT TRAINING: Figuring out. I'm at Singapore right now trying to get my visa for Thailand. Some kind of warm up for the still non-existing plan for Phuket. GOALS: Helsinki city triathlon 24.8 (sprint), get on the stage in Phuket and get a class and lose at least that 20lb I got as a souvenir from China.

Suzie and Steph,

If you have room for one more, I'd love to join your group.

NAME: Mike

STORY: I am getting back into triathlon after time off and injury.  I completed my first sprint triatlon in 2008.  In the spring of 2009 I injured my shoulder and had to fall back to a relay team for a 2009 tri.  I had shoulder surgery in the fall of 2009 and completed relays in 2010 and 2011.  This year while volunteering at the NJ State Tri I realized I hungered for the sport and had to get back in.  I am now in a training program and plan on 2 sprints in 2012 (Escape from Fort Delaware and the NJ State). 

FAMILY STATUS: Married for 22 years to a wonderful lady (Fechter99 on BT).  She gives me strength and motivation.  While she may struggle at times with injury she never says quit.  She has completed sprint tri's and duathlons.  She too is back in training for the Oly Duathlon at NJ State 2013.  We have 2 great active boys (16 and 12).  They are involved in swimming, basketball, baseball and Boy Scouts.  They keep us busy, which is why we climb out of bed at 5am to get to the gym.

CURRENT TRAINING: I'm about 5 weeks into a 12 week Couch to Sprint.  I am building my swim edurance and trying to find a groove running (running is my least favorite of the 3).  I plan on the Escape from Fort Delaware in March 2013 and the NJ State in July 2013.  Eventually I'd like to do an Oly distance (maybe 2014) but I'm still scared by the 10K run.

WEIGHTLOSS: Yes, need it and am working on it!  I was my heaviest ever in May (268.8) and have lost 26 lbs so far.  I want to get under 220 and then we'll see where from there.  I am watching everything in and out (thanks to MyFitnessPal). 

Thank you,

Mike

Excellent!  Must be my lucky year!

Lovey, 

As someone who was also sidelined by injury (ies) for almost all of last year, just the fact that you want to get back out there and move yourself forward should be commended.  You are still ahead of the game since there are so many that would give up and quit after going through what you went through.  I think it's awesome, and you will get a lot by being a part of IronGirl and finishing the 5K any which way you can make that happen.  Good luck in achieving your goals!

Kelly

Hooray, thanks guys! The Oly is not until September 22 (Portland) so I have loads of time. Before that I have a 5K (March), 10K (April), and Sprint Tri (July) in the calendar. Going to start by just getting my weekly training hours up to a decent level and going slow. Going for a run right now. Susie, I do love living in Portland where it never gets too cold for this.

Julia

Hey all,

Here is a tidbit about me. 

Name:  Marcus

Story:

 I am just a guy that one day learned from a random blood test that I needed to make changes in my life. So with all the options in front of me the one that made the most sense was diet and exercise. While for a long time I wanted to try triathlon, I thought it would be something I start in my forties.  After all you cant do triathlons in your sixties unless you take care of yourself in your forties. For me triathlon has become the sustaining force behind me staying fit and healthy.  Nearly 4 years after that failed blood test, life style and diet changes, I finally passed that test with flying colors and disaster was averted. So what started out as a quest to become a better healthier me has now morphed into a quest to become a better triathlete.

Family:

I am married to the most wonderful, supportive, caring and compassionate woman.  With out her and her support I would not have successfully made any life changes.  Together we have one daughter who just turned three and have another baby on the way.  (Stork delivery scheduled for 2/21).

Current Training:

I created a custom training plan on BT to get me through the winter.  It runs through March and consists of S,B,R twice a week and I strength train 3 times a week.  I throw in one yoga class in per week for good measure. For the bike portion I take a spin class one day and use a computerized spin bike for the training session. I was a bit lazy this fall and as a result I am bit behind in my current fitness. No worries though, it will all work out in the end.

2012:

This was the year I completed my first Triathlon. NJ State was my first race and it was absolutely amazing. In August, I completed a local Triathlon inMedfordLakes. Sprinkled in between I raced in a few 5ks and an aqua run.  

2013:

This year I plan to race in the NJ State Triathlon again, but the Olympic distance.  It will depend on if I can get my swimming up to par for the distance by late spring. Other wise I will opt for the sprint distance.  I also plan to race in the Atlantic City Triathlon, which is also an Olympic distance.  I will run in a number of 5Ks and may try to add in a local sprint. I also plan to run in the Wildwood 1/2 marathon.   Goals for this year are to bring my swimming pace below 2min/100 and break into the sub 20 min 5k pace.