ASPHALT JUNKIES Summer Bronzing Crew - CLOSED (Page 3)

So here is our group right now:

1. Brenda
2. Dina
3. Jackie
4. Jen
5. Joanne
6. Tracy
7. Karl
8. Matt
9. Tony
10. Will
11. Vero
12. Derek

This may be a bit of a mistake but I am going to allow one more member to join.  I actually think it will work out well to allow one more member.  There are a large number of return athletes that have a strong balance of training knowledge that we should be alright to pick up one more member.  We will max out at 13 people for this session.............

The next person to join will be the last.

Welcome Derek.  I'm also an ex-hockey player, albeit and American one, and in fact got into this crazy sport rehabbing a hockey injury.

Looks like you've already made some great progress and with a hockey background you'll be hammering the bike in no time.  Good luck this weekend on your half.

Your race schedule looks perfect and we'll help optimize your training to PR along the way.

You are in!  And Welcome to a very solid group (however, I may be a little partial). 

Just so you know, many of us have been together for about 2 years so we know a lot about each other.  I hope this does not create some type of disconnect with you.  Feel free to ask any questions you like, at any time.  Remember that there are 4 mentors in the group and we all have varying gifts when it comes to answering the questions you may ask.  Jeff seems to possess a very unique ability to answer just about any question related to training in a very articulate manner.  Warren and Jonathan have a strong balance of knowledge but, my opinion, they have better cycling knowledge than I. 

Tell us a little about your expectations for Sunday's race.  Which one is it?  Time goal, if any?

One thing you will find in the group is a very strong suggestion to run easy, almost all of the time.  Most of the mentors in the group have suffered through injuries related to training foolishness and can relate to what you put yourself through.

Again, welcome!  Now, I need to go replace the brakes on my daughters car.  No training for me today as I take a 1 day taper for tomorrow's Oly.  After my performance last year at this race I have placed a lot of pressure on myself.

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

Bio recycled and re edited from last spring:

NAME: John, but most of my online friends call me Vero (It’s a gamer name not my real last name)

STORY: During my school years I was the skinny asthmatic kid. I had almost no involvement in sports. In my early 20’s the asthma went away and I started bike riding. I put a couple thousand miles on my brand new Trek 1000 the first year I bought it. I even rode a couple half century events. A host of life events and bad decisions kept me sitting on my butt for most of the next 20 years. In December 2010 on a trip home from visiting my in-laws we (wife, our 2 daughters, and I) were involved in a fairly major car accident. I ended up with torn ligaments in my neck from the whiplash. Since we were doing regular exercises together as part of rehab from the accident we decided it was time to get healthy. In January 2011 my wife and I started a couch to 5k plan together. We eventually picked a 5k race in May and a super sprint tri in September to shoot for. We did both events together at her pace and we are both hooked on doing more, though now we each race at our own pace.

FAMILY STATUS: Married 15 years to my wonderful wife, sometimes training partner, and mother of my 2 amazing daughters (8 and 12). I also have an adult son (21) who lives in the same town as we do.

JOB: I'm an Engineering Technician. I draw plans for highways, roads, bridges, and retaining walls among other things. I drafted some of the plans for the Rio-Salado Tempe Town Lake where the Ironman Arizona swim takes place. Deadlines are sometimes crazy and as they have done this year can change my race and vacation plans unexpectedly.

CURRENT TRAINING: Just starting back up after finishing my first ever half marathon 2 weeks ago. I've been running a few days a week; open water swim once a week, bike is currently sitting unused next to the trainer. I took up Kung Fu last July as a way to cross train and help me stay in shape. Now Kung Fu training has become as much a part of my life as tri training. I attend Kung Fu classes 2 nights a week. I’m working on a new training plan for this year’s races.

LAST YEAR'S RACES: 2012 was my first “Tri season”. I raced in 4 sprint tris last year, lots of 2 to 5.5 mile run races and, with the encouragement of my fellow Junkies, stretched myself and did a 12k race in March of 2012.Completing that 12k helped build a great deal of confidence for some of my early distance goals for 2013.

2013 RACES past:  Several goals already acheived! I have run almost a dozen running races so far this year. Most of the races (4 to 5.5 miles each) on Saturday mornings January through early March as part of a weekly winter points series. I ran a 10 mile race March 2nd as part of that series, set a new PR in a 5k 2 weeks later, and then finished my first ever half marathon at the beginning of May.

2013 RACES Future: I had planned on my first Olympic tri in mid June, but my work schedule and a current rib injury might postpone that for me. Still hopefull, but also tring to be realistic about being prepared. I do plan on 2 sprints on consecutive weekends in September and I’m signed up for a mud/obstacle course 5 mile run in October.

WEIGHT LOSS: I started this journey almost 21/2 years ago at about 202. I was down to about 181 for most of my tri’s this past year, but I’m back up to about 185 now. I’m hoping to get that back down around the 180 mark again through better dedication to training and eating healthy this summer.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I’m very interested in learning from other’s experience on this quest for better endurance and technique in swimming, biking and running. I check these forums frequently (I guess I’m a bit of an information junkie). I am pretty consistent about keeping my logs updated.

Yeah.....those of us on the west coast won't be making it to that race, either. 

Definitely ride your roadie tomorrow.  It's not good riders etiquette to ride your TT bike with a group.  At least until they know you can ride well.

If you should happen to take your TT bike just stay out of the aerobars when you aren't in the front, pulling.

Allison you made it!!  It's great to have you back in the group.  And that makes it official........

............We are closed!!!!

Now I have to find out how to change the status of the group.  I don't have the edit button on my screen any longer.

Hi Allison!  Nice to see you back!