Mav's Massachusetts Mentor Group/Full for the Season (Page 4)

I've been thinking a lot about this year's races and will be glad for your thoughts on moving up to longer races. 

I just "got off the couch" 12 months ago; did 2 sprints and a 10K last fall, and I've been training fairly steadily since then.   2012 will be a completely different experience for me.  I've registered for a sprint in May and my first Oly in June.    I'm toying with the idea of a 70.3 in September, and having looked at the BT  training plans, I think I can put in the required hours this spring and summer.   Without the 70.3, I would probably just do 3 Olys (June-July-August) then sprints in September.  Throw in some local run events.

I'm not fast, expect to be firmly BOP, probably race as 'Athena' again this season.  I gather that the move from sprint to Oly seems tougher for folks than does the move from Oly to 70.3.....  Thanks for any advice or feedback--

BTW - mav - PUmpkinman is already half-full; have you registered?

Oy, running on Sunday....the prediction for central MA is high of 21F!  ACK!!  my plan has a 2hr run tomorrow; will probably have to go to the Y and use the treadmill and track.  Better charge up the iPod.

Water going fine here.  The weight challenge sounds good to me.  I want to maintain about 148-150 instead of 156-7, where I've been for several months, and I want to decrease % body fat from 25% to 20%  (I started getting this checked at the Y about once a month).  

I am SO HUNGRY with the training, and snacking after supper often ruins my otherwise "good" nutrition day.  Brushing my teeth right after dinner helps, and I start making herbal tea as soon as I get snacky after supper.  I cannot keep cookies or ice cream, etc. in the house AT ALL, and I try to limit the Clif/Luna/Zone bar stuff to once a day.  

Oh Erin, I'm so psyched that you're doing the Quincy 1/2, too!! I convinced 2 of my friends to do it, as well.  This will be my second 1/2 marathon.  My first was this past October.  I love the distance - it's a TOTAL challenge but doable...  The course looks pretty and relatively flat!

I have a 5 mile run scheduled for tomorrow and am worried about the cold temps, too!  It will be good "practice" for me to figure out what works for running in colder weather...  with the Quincy 1/2 in March, it could very well be cold then, too!  I typically run on the treadmill indoors in the winter when temps get chilly, but given how little snow we've had so far (knock on wood!), I'm trying to do more of my runs outside.

Good luck on your run tomorrow, TriB4Bride/Kimberley... Hope you get that milestone mile in!! 

I love the weight loss challenge and am IN!!  My goal is to lose 10 lbs. before June (more would be awesome too, but trying to be realistic!). I like the idea of posting following a weekend.

This is my first day of the water challenge.  It sounds much easier than it is!  I have to pee all the time!

My "A" race for 2012 is The Lake George Oly Tri on September 1st that I plan to do...  This will be my first Oly distance.  I sometimes do races in upstate NY b/c that is where I grew up and I still have tons of family and friends there.

As for weekend plans, I'm going out for dinner tonight with my husband, which will be a treat.  He was away all week for business and we rarely get time alone, so I'm really looking forward to it!!  I'm sure we'll be watching the Pats/Broncos game at dinner, too!!  Go Pats!

Hello, my name is Daniel.

I somehow stumbled onto this site and these mentor groups.  Not sure how they work or if this is full but I am very interested.  I am in the north suburbs of Chicago, 52, and in my second career now as a 7th grade lit/la teacher.  Married (27 years) with two boys (24 & 20). 

I will write much more if this is not a full group otherwise good luck to all of you.

Daniel

Hi Daniel

You are welcome to join the group. There really isnt much to do...just let us know about your backround....have you done any tris, goals and races for the year, personal fitness accomplishments. We are here to support and encourage eachother.  I have started two challenges for the group. One is to drink64 ounces of water/day ( excluding what you drink during workouts) and a weightloss challenge. The weightloss challenge, each person works on their weightloss goals and posts Monday thier accomplishments. You are welcome to post training and racing questions. I will do my best to answer them...or find the answers for you.

Erin, I have not decided completely to do Pumpkinman. My coach actually suggested that I do the Rev 3 HIM in Maine, but I havent had a chance to check it out. Making a race schedule is on my list of "to do's" this week. I really like the idea of doing the Half Mary in Quincy

I would suggest to everyone that they make a "race schedule". The schedule should support your A race. So if you have a Sprint that is your first race in July...you should consider doing another in August and/or September...you cant do just one. I plan to do a sprint in May, oly in June, HIM aug/Sept, century ride end of Sept, Century Oct and IM in Nov. Each of my races will support my A race. When planning your race schedule be sure to give your body time to recover.

Night time eating is my downfall...I do very well until I go to work ( I work 3-11 pm). When I am home I dont have half the problem. I do find that when I am home if I find something other than TV to distract me I do much better. Recently I have been knitting...it is productive and prevents me form eating.

Daniel here...

Thank you so much for the invitation!  I am in and motivated.  I am desperately trying to figure out the BT website - how to upload a picture, training logs, how to train for a tri, the questions go on and on!

Here is what I know... you have a challenge to drink 64 ounces of water a day and set a weight loss goal and have Monday weigh ins where I report results. I can do that and learn the rest over time.

BACKGROUND - I am 52, live in the north suburbs of Chicago, married (27 years), have two sons (24 & 20) and am a midlife career changer.  I had a wonderful career at Abbott (large health care) where I was Director, Leadership & Employee Development - OD.  I made the cutoff line by 16 days to take a full retirement at 45, signed the papers that afternoon, reinvented myself and for the past 7 years have taught 7th grade lit/la.  I love what I do, feel t is what I am supposed to be doing with my life at this point and time and am a "rooster in a hen house!"  I work in a k-8 building and there are only 3 male classroom teachers - non in middle school.

I have run 17 marathons (longrun26), completed two sprint tris several years ago with no clue what I was doing but had a really great time. 

Just had my 50+ complete check up.  My doctor said I was the most incredibly fit, clinically obese patient he has ever seen.  No meds, clean insides.  My weight this morning is 243.  I am 6'0".  I am currently running about 20 miles a week - long of 8 with the Galloway run walk method.  Run 5, walk 1.  Trying to drop weight without getting hurt.  I do two spin classes a week, three days a week a do weights with P90X program.  I am on the elliptical 4+ hours a week.  I eat smart - 6 meals a day - following the Body For Life Program.  I train with the Polar FT60 Heart Rate monitor and work in all three zones.  I have a great health club I belong to a mile from the house with a pool that is open 24/7.  We have a lake house in northern Door County, WI with the perfect open water lake.  I snow shoe, cross country ski and love the snow.  I use my iPhone for apps (Endomondo) - free and incredible.  I have a Masi entry level - but very nice - road bike and two trail bikes.  I was out in the snow this week with knobbies on my mountain bike.

That is me.  I am a little uncomfortable putting this all down as it seems so self centered.  What do I do?  Where do I start? 

I have a half marathon in two weeks - Chicago's first winter half (get a "Snuggy" at the finish!!!).  Another half in April, May and a sprint tri in July.  Open to more but that is what is on the calendar now. 

I would like to add that my wife is wonderfully supportive.  She is a continual Boston Marathon qualifier, my sons love a healthy life.  My goal is to be 197.  46 pounds!!!  My students at school really look up to me as a role model.  I have race bibs all over my room and they follow my healthy life style.  We can influence children.

Okay... please lead me to a fun journey into triathlon.  I am drinking water and mapping my weight goal.  I am looking forward to a wonderful journey and making new friends here...

Daniel

16 degrees.

change of plans: Dropping the baby off at Grandmas and running her neighborhood tomorrow

yup, it's ugly out there today; I did my long run at the Y: one hour dreadmill, pit stop & 1 mile on the track, 50 mins dreadmill.  It was fine until I realized I had only 10 mins left and then I caved, mentally, and everything started to hurt and I had to slow down UGH.  But I did 10 miles - which is my new longest run ever!

Hi Daniel; that's a good story!  Welcome.   mav is cool; this will be fun.

I commend your taking on middle schoolers.  Teachers are very special people!  Our kids always LOVED their male teachers - cool and different from all the mom-types they looked at for most of the day.   I couldn't cut it, and I left the middle school classroom for graduate school.  

Sounds like you are on  the way to your goal weight!  I don't know the diet plan you mentioned.  For me, counting the calories in/out faithfully week in and week out worked; I lost 1# per week, reached my goal, and learned about portion sizes along the way. Hang in there

I was all fired up and feeling tough to do an outdoor run this morning...  Got bundled up, put on hat and gloves only to find out it was 5 degrees outside!  So I bailed on the outdoor run and went to the gym instead for a treadmill run.  Sounds like we all had a change of plans given the sudden drop in temps!! 

Mav, DO THE QUINCY 1/2!!! 

Welcome to the group, Daniel!  I just joined this mentor group, too!!

Daniel here,

Relaxing with the Packers/Giants football game on.  Did my upper body weights and it took everything I had to get started.  Must be one of those days.  Ran my 4.5 mile loop this morning.  It was cold and windy but the real problem is the ice.  I run slow but take it even slower in these conditions.  Once I get started I am usually okay. 

I am enjoying reading all the posts and keep drinking my water.  Had to add lemon slices to keep me wanting more.

No school tomorrow!  Go to the pool (that will be interesting!) and cardio.  Then grade essays.

Have a great evening!  Daniel

Daniel here... again...

Okay I am playing on this site.  Wow!  There is a lot here.  In a short period of time I am sure it will become second nature.  I do have a few questions though...

1)  Is there an easy way to get to this blog?  I go to "Forums" tab on "Mentor Groups" and then scroll down until I find our group.  Any short cuts?

2)  Is there an advantage to joining the "Gold", "Silver" or "Bronze" memberships.

Be patient with me.  I see how everyone has comments on the bottom of your posts, races...  I think this is an amazing site and you seem like a fun group. 

Daniel

Hi Everybody!

Just got back this evening from visiting my mother and mother-in-law in Florida. Didn't have much time to post while I was away, plus using that tiny iPhone is really hard on the eyes!

It is great to see so many others my age who are already doing triathlons. Very inspiring!

Daniel & Erin, I have some of the same questions about the BT site. Is there a way to get the most recent message to show up first? Seems like you have to click on the last page number to see the most recent posts.

 I'm just starting out with training in all the disciplines, and  only did 2 walking and one bike session last week. But that's more than I would have done in the past so it's still a plus for me. So, I'll go back and do Week 2 in Michael Pate's 22-week sprint plan I'm using because I feel like I didn't do enough last week. In addition, I really need to take it slow because the last time I tried running I injured my achilles. Now that I'm back from Florida it will be easier to try to meet Mav's water goal, too.

I've been trying to lose weight, too, and checking in on those goals would be a good thing for me. I've had limited success using Weight Watchers in the past, losing 10-15, then gaining it back. I probably weight more now than I ever have, and it is pretty frustrating. Mav, eating at work is a problem for me, too. I think it is sort of a stress thing, and a way of procrastinating about specific work projects. I just put the Weight Watchers app on my new iPhone I got for Christmas, and it is really easy tracking your food with it.

My other goal this week is to actually sign up for a race. No turning back then

Nancy

GREAT Job!  I am glad to hear I am not the only who got scare off! I think its time to relent and get a gym membership.  We moved just before the baby was born and had this great gym with a pool and it was so quiet and nice, Just sebior Citizens half the time. Time to look for a new one.

haha, Chris - I was attempting to put together a table for our mentor group as you posted this! 

I've copied something that I have in my blog...  The top link should direct you to the first page of our mentor group forum.  (Sorry, I don't know how to have it jump to the most recent page :/).  And if you click on any of our mentor group members names, it should direct you to their training blog so you can add inspires easily, etc. 

Peppah and Daniel, I wasn't able to link it up to your training blogs b/c you have to add me as a "friend" in your training blog customization first.  To do this:

-Go to "settings" (top of the page)

-Click on "training blog customization"

-Click on "friends"

-Add username of any "friends" you would like to have access to your training blog

-Click "update friends" button at bottom of page

Hope this works! 

Mav's Massachusetts Mentor Group: (click for page one of forum)

mav - Marianne

Erincsg - Erin

Peppah - Nancy

ebshot - Erica

tribeagle - Courtney

chr15 - Chris

TriB4Bride - Kimberley

phoebe37 - Joel

kpringle - Kristen

longrun26 - Daniel