KathyG's 2012 Awesome Mentor Group-Full up (Page 4)

How did it go for Erica on the 5K?

Hello,

May I join?  This year I expect to participate in my first ever tri.  It will be a half IM distance in early September.  Your group caught my eye because I am another middle aged mom of five (3 years to 19, four girls one boy). I will turn the big 50 this year.  Hard to believe!

My sports background includes a few marathons and half marathons each year.  This is the year to make the leap to triathlons!  I must fight the 50-year old female weight creep.  Currently I am swimming two mornings a week with a MIW program.  Plus I try and run three days and spin a few.  Yoga is my mental peace.

I live in Minnesota but am from Maryland.  My spouse and I work full time and have a very full life with active kids.  Training for anything is a challenge and means many very early mornings and little sleep.

As I look forward to a triathlon, the bike leg has me most anxious.  My swimming is strong and I have a lot of endurance.  Biking is the weak link mostly because I haven't biked on the road really since my first daughter was born almost 20 years ago. 

How does a mentor group work? 

Thanks for considering me.

Susan

Steffi,

Amazing how triathlon has grown in Iceland. One of the issues you have is no ows available so all your tris in Iceland are in pools, right? You should share with the group how the swims work as it is very different than here in US.

I hope your experience with a coach is positive.

Impressive to set PBs last year despite few obstacles.

When you lost weight what was your typical daily food intake look like?

Good luck with your weight loss!

The Abu Dhabi race sounds like it will be a blast. It is on my dream race list.

RJ,

I'm excited to have you with our group. First time Ironman experience is fun and challenging.

Definitely tri is a great sport for post retirement. Thank you for serving! Our son is in the Air Force and doing his training currently at Shepard AFB.

What plan do you plan on using?

Congrats on your HIM finish last summer!

Susan,

Welcome...you will the last new person to our group.

Cool you have 5 children just like our family and will soon turn 50..we have a lot in common.

I grew up in Minnesota and just was there over the holidays.

Stretching only. Had about an hour before work to play with the kiddos, so I opted for that over hitting the bike. I'll run the stairs at work to make up for it!

Tomorrow ends my run of nights so after a few hours of sleep and family time, I'll get the bike off of the trainer and get some road miles in (supposed to be 45 tomorrow  ! And later to the Y for some swim intervals.

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday/Monday!

Ladies, I am in awe, 5 children and you still manage time for training!  I have only one and find it challenging.  I so look forward to hearing your experiences and learning from you both

Patrick, it's already Monday here, the time difference is going to be interesting.  I have a very easy day, not working as it's school holidays so I'm taking some leave.  I would normally be up at 5.30am running but we have a really important touch rugby game tonight - we're playing the top team in our division.  I don't play every week as my husband plays in the same team so only play if it's an early game and can take our 7 year old son.  Tonight it's a late game but we're a girl down through injury so as it's the hols, the Munchkin will come in his pjs.  This arvo is a kid's party at Matilda Bay, a beautiful bay on the river not far from our house.  

Thank you Ann for updating the mentor group list above.  Those in mentor group be sure you have the latest version with Susan included.

Just some pointers for those of you new to mentor groups.

1. Ideally you make your blog setting to public or friends only so we can check on each other.

2. Use your blog to record your training each day

3. Add others in our mentor group to your friends list

4. Ask questions that you have. It is easier to post about one topic then multiple so others in the group can respond.

5. If you don't understand some of the BT lingo ask and if you know the answer help out the member.

6. If you haven't done your introduction please do so when time permits.

Over time we will talk about different topics.

Any other thoughts or helpful hints for those of you with experience with Mentor groups?

To start those of you, without a plan or struggling where to start, please share a bit about what you have been doing training wise and what are the next couple of races you have coming up.

If you have a coach we know you will be trusting them to plan your training.

This is going to be a blast!

I did get a new job about 7 weeks ago.  I like it a lot, but I will be traveling a bunch.  But, I did just switch gyms today.  I just joined BSC because there is one with a pool in NYC near where I stay.  I have been away for a while, so I need to catch up with everyone.  Happy belated 50th.

Sorry about that! Your training log shows as Sunday as well.

Good luck in the match today.

thanks, we play only for fun but it's always nice to win.  Last year we were in the finals against a young smart team, all bouncy pony tails and matching kit, with an equal number of subs to the team.  Before the game they were talking about how easy this was going to be because we were so old, scruffy, had only one sub and looked unfit.  It was a glorious thing to whip their arses.

My logs are always a day behind as I don't think there's a way to set it to your local time zone.  Having family in both the UK and USA, it's alway interesting finding Skype times that suit.

Today we went Duckpin bowling. Smaller pins and ball without holes the size of softball.

Kids and Kevin played the first game and I watched. Second game I decided I would try it not sure how I could really bowl. I crutched up to the line, Kevin took my right crutch, while I kept left crutch under my arm, squatted on my right leg while putting bad leg slightly ahead of body and swung the ball. I could do it. I'd stand on the line with one crutch while Kevin would get another ball and I might move zig zag my foot to move right or left and he'd put the ball in my hand that was behind my back and I'd throw next ball. Duckpin you get three tries per frame. To get a spare you need to get all 10 pins down in the 2nd ball.

Hard part is when bowling you squat down on leg opposite of arm you use for ball. So I should squat on left leg and and use my right arm.  I what I did was squat with my right leg and swung with right arm which made it bit more difficult.

My kids were astonished that I started out 3 out of 5 frames with spares or strikes and I had higher score then they even on crutches.

It was quite fun.

I totally agree!  Geez!  One kiddo is a challenge!  I think I'd have a nervous breakdown with more!  Thank goodness I'm to old (hopefully) to have more!  We're not trying to have more.  (I'm turning 40 this year.)  I sure do love my little guy!  He is the best thing that has ever happened to me.  He has taught me patience and the ability to be flexible.  Kids are the best! 

The first time trial is on the first Saturday in March.  We'll see what this new tri bike can do!  I've never raced with fancy wheels or helmet.  Apparently, the record is held by a time trial queen.  That time is going DOWN!

Side note:  My first time trial bike was replaced under warranty.  The frame broke.  The old one was a 2007.  The new one is a 2011!  Wow!  It rocks!  It needs a name.  (I name all my bikes. )  It's a girl.  Any one want to take a gander?

I run races year round.  Our running club hosts at least one race of 3 miles in length or longer every month.  I don't race everything.  My husband and I direct one of the races with 2 distances: 5K and 10K.  Good gawd!  If you want to see what is involved with racing, direct one!  I feel like I pay my dues for being a running/racing slut.

Self-coaching:

Monday-Swim 1650 or so (most of the time I do this one) and Run 20 min easy and teach Spinning

Tuesday-Bike 50-60 min and Run 35 min as a brick if I don't have a client

Wednesday-Swim 1650 or so (meh) and Bike 30 to 45 min and teach Spinning

Thursday-Run up to 1 hour and Bike 45 min or so

Friday-Run 20 min and Swim up to 2000 (meh) and teach Spinning

Saturday-Always a long ride, sometimes with a group.  Will top out in the summer at 75 to 80 miles.

Sunday-Always a long run.  Trying to get back up to 10 miles.  Will top out at 15.

Most of my running is on a treadmill and the cycling is on the trainer or Spin bike due to childcare.  The long rides and runs are always outside regardless of weather due to a fantastic husband.

Forgot to add that kiddo issues necessitate days off each week.  I never, ever meet my plan.

I, also, do yoga all the time.  I rarely log it unless it's a specific session.

Your plan looks really steller so I'm quite glad you never do it all.  It gives me heart that others also don't manage to do what they have planned.

Go get it! Make a conscious effort to smile at 15, 30 and 45 minute marks. You will do great.

Joblin - 2012-01-09 3:29 AM Not sure why my posts come up without paragraphs...must be the ipad doing that

Good Morning everyone! It is fantastic to wake up and find out that this is the group that never sleeps!

Yep, Steffi - it's the iPad, or more specifically, the inability for the editor BT forums use to work correctly with it and other mobile devices. I have the same trouble. Rumor has it that it will be fixed when the new BT site comes on line. In the mean time, you can just put type <p> wherever you want to begin a new paragraph (for the coders in the group, I know, I know, but it works....)

A little dynamic stretching for me, then off to work -what is on tap for everyone else today?

Hey Lorna, that sounds like really positive news! Good luck getting to the pool this week. For me it seems that swimming motivation is the toughest to get back going once I have faced a layoff for a while. Even going for 4 lengths would be worth it - are you able to throw in some lane walking or jogging to make better use of the prep time it takes going to and coming from the pool?

To answer your question, I would probably wait to get some comfort, routine, and familiarity with the water back. OTOH, signing up for coaching could be the motivation and accountability to get to the pool regularly. If you go that route, make sure the coach knows and understands your accident-induced limiters and your ongoing recovery needs. Where was your swim fitness and ability before the accident? What is the limiter currently that you are working against - pain? range of motion? fitness?