Todd's Tri Turtles 4 (Beginner, Sprint, 5K, 10K) CLOSED (Page 5)

Originally posted by dpjake

Sorry, forgot to include my name is Donna and I'm 40 years old...

Originally posted by allan_c


Name: Catherine

Story: I’m a 43 year old mom of 2 with a very busy career who has gotten interested in triathlon as a forcing function to take better care of myself. I love to exercise, but have always been a “goal oriented” exerciser, which means if I don’t have a good goal I easily start slacking off! Last year I completed my first sprint triathlon and loved the whole process from training through completion. I have registered for 2 more sprints this summer as well as a duathlon. I really enjoy both running and biking, but the swimming part of tri gives me huge anxiety. I would describe myself as a drowner rather than a swimmer ? I swam breast stroke for my first tri, and my goal for this year is to improve my swimming. My biggest challenge is in fitting my training around my otherwise super busy life!

Family Status: Married for 18 years, 2 terrific girls (ages 6 and 9) who also completed there first triathlon last summer!

Current Training: I just started to ramp up again in the New Year after a period of inactivity in the late fall. I am currently focusing on running and swimming and will add in some spin classes/ indoor cycling in the next month or so. My first tri this season is in June, so I will probably start a formal training plan 12 weeks before that.

2014 Races: Title 9 Sprint Triathlon, Hopkinton, MA; Tufts 10K for Women; Cambridge Spring, Fall, and Winter Classics (5Ks)

2015 Races: Escape The Cape Tri (June 13), Title 9 Sprint Tri (Sept. 13), NE Season Opener Duathlon (May 10)

Weightloss: Not my primary objective – I wouldn’t mind losing 5 pounds, but mostly I want to build muscle

What will make me a good mentee: I’m very enthusiastic, will be an active part of the community, and love to celebrate other’s accomplishments!

Originally posted by fianna

Hi Todd
I am 52 and just started law school and it is my goal to compete in Ironman by the time I graduate. I am pretty good at runner but rusty after an ankle injury, have some biking experience and a new road bike, but my biggest challenge is that I never learned to swim properly. I just started at the pool and am not afraid of water, I am just not very coordinated and can't seem to get the breathing right. I am looking for a good mentor and am hoping that you are it!

Marital Status: Married for just over a year. No kids. 6 cats.

2014 - Races - 5k Bubble Run, 10K Race for the Animals

2015 - Canby Dahlia Run - August; Portland Marathon November

Weight Loss- Hopefully I'll lose as I gain training and muscle

Fianna

Originally posted by Gnoory

Question: So I´ve never cycled before. Ok, I know how to ride a bike, but never used it in training. My plan the next month is to put in two sessions pr. week on the seat to get started. Anyone got a tip on a simple startup program I can use to get going?

I will also need to put the bike in our living room as we have little storage space and no separate garage or gym. My wife does not know this yet. Can I cover it up with some candles or tablecloth to make the transition smoother? Or should I take another approach and tempt her with the prospect of me in a tight cycle shorts to enjoy during commercials between the reruns of The Bachelor? I have a nagging feeling that the last option may have the opposite effect with the current state of affairs. Any tips appreciated here.

Originally posted by krista-artista

I hope I am not too late. I just discovered this site.

NAME: Hi everyone. My name is Krista.

STORY: In my childhood/college years I was very athletic, I was a distance swimmer and tennis player and had a full ride to college on a tennis scholarship. I always worked really hard, to try to make up for being 5'3". There were always going to be taller players so I tried hard to be fitter and faster.


WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I love sports and being part of a team. I would love to support people. While I am not an expert at swimming for a triathlon, I do have a background in distance swimming and have done a lot of open water swims. So maybe I can help some with that. I just want to see everyone succeed.

Originally posted by karmo

Hello.

I'm most definitely a turtle! Hope you still have a spot open for me.

NAME: Karen Brown

STORY: I'm 43, and have a permanent disability called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder (nothing to do with my teeth; Dr Tooth was one of the three physicians who first studied and defined the disease, which is the most common inherited form of Muscular Dystrophy, even though most people have never heard of it) that has caused severe nerve damage and resulting muscle atrophy in my arms/hands and legs/feet. I am bilaterally braced and unable to run more than about six steps. I also have recently learned that I have exercise-induced asthma, and am working to manage that. I'm also fiercely determined not to accept 'disabled' as part of who I am.

FAMILY STATUS: Married, with a son who will be five next week!

CURRENT TRAINING: Taking competitive swimming class 2x/week. Free swim 1x/week. Bike 1x/week. Walk 1x/week. Being very new to regular intense exercise, I am being cautious in building my regimen slowly so that my body will adapt and keep up without injury.

2014 RACES: none

2015 RACES: planned for May 9. Sprint is my goal; supersprint is my fall-back, if I'm not quite ready yet for the longer swim & walk.

WEIGHTLOSS: It's happening as I train. It's not my focus, but between eating 90% clean and now exercising regularly, it's happening.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I am using this triathlon to raise funds for CMT research, and I already have some backers, so there's no way I can back out of doing this tri - I'm in it, and I'm gonna finish it! And then find my next one. Also, once I can call myself a triathlete, my son will have a very hard time making excuses for himself, and inspiring him to be his best is my greatest drive.

Originally posted by pleighg

Is it too late to join this group? I am doing a sprint tri at a resort at the end of March; the swim portion is in a "lazy river" at a resort. But, would also like to do an open water sprint later in the season. I am 62 years old and did 1 sprint tri (reverse order) a few years ago.
Thanks.
Pam

Originally posted by interspace8

Hi all,
Can someone explain why I should buy a front zip tri suit vs. a back zip, or vice versa. What are the pros and cons of each style?
Thanks!

Originally posted by dpjake

Hi I'm Donna and I'm 40 years old

STORY: I started running and biking three years ago and love it. My weakness is swimming which I'm being coached on thru this spring.

FAMILY STATUS: Single, no children. I just have a Maltese dog name Jake.

CURRENT TRAINING: I train 6 days a week, consisting of strength training in the morning, running in the evening three times a week, biking twice a week, swimming once a week (which should be bumped up a tad I think)

2014 RACES: 4 half marathons, including the Rock n Roll Las Vegas. 10 mile and 5k races scattered every other week, two duathlons.

2015 RACES: I'm already registered for the Rock n Roll Las Vegas in Nov. This year I'm enrolled in the New England half marathon series. Bumping up my half marathons this year will be good for me. 50 mile bike rides thru the year and also two duathlons.

WEIGHTLOSS: Currently at 130lbs, looking to lose 5 more pounds. Working with a trainer to lower body fat ratio.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I like to follow advice from experienced racers in the field. I'm a structured person who welcomes a planned out training program.

Originally posted by Roni_N

Hello,

I would love to join this group. I am a turtle for sure and only about the finish line!

I am Roni Nagle. I tried posting yesterday but I don't see it so I think I messed something up. This is take 2. I am 47 and I am a single mom of a 13 year old boy and two dogs. I served in the Air Force for 23 years. I have been an on again/off again runner and exerciser my whole life beginning with cross country in high school. I have run a bunch of 5K, one half marathon, and I did a super sprint triathlon in 2008.

I have an autoimmune thyroid disorder and battle weight and energy all the time. The last 5 years have been really rough personally and I have just been in survival mode. In December, I had jaw surgery and was on a liquid diet for 6 weeks. As a result, I was FINALLY able to lose 15 pounds and am excited to keep the momentum going. I was off work for a month and After a few weeks' recovery, I started going to the gym to walk on the treadmill, swim and do the elliptical. I started feeling really good and started walking outside on the few good days we have had. Last weekend, I got curious as to how far I could run without stopping and made it two miles. Woo-hoo! It's a start.

I have wanted to try a tri again and was going to sign up for the Sandman in Virginia Beach at the end of Sept. I just learned it is cancelled this year, so I found another in Richmond at the end of June. It is a sprint, with a 650m river swim, 18.8 mi bike and 5K. The swim is with the current and the tri is advertised as being a good beginner race.

I was a regular volunteer at a youth triathlon series my son raced in while we lived in Florida. ( You have not lived until you have seen a 5-yr old on training wheels racing his heart out!). I love the energy of the races and am excited to be in that environment again.

I did one local 5K in 2014. I only have the Richmond sprint on the schedule so far this year.

I have arthritis in my right knee and I have to take the run easy and slow. I am weakest at the swim, but I need to build endurance in all three areas. I did not ride my bike even for fun once last year. I have read about the couch to sprint training plan and am going to look it up and use it as my guide for training. Free time is a luxury and making time for the gym is a challenge, but I am determined to do this. I signed up for swim lessons at the rec center that start next week. I learned from my super sprint experience that I don't know how to swim as much as I know how not to drown. I want pointers on my technique and breathing. I then plan to move on to the advanced class specifically for people training for a tri.

Thanks for having me. As far as being a good mentee...I am trainable (LOL), and supportive and encouraging of others.

Originally posted by nekomidori

My training,
Yesterday I got on my bike on the trainer.I biked for 22 minutes. I struggled with the how far I sit over in the seat, I grumbled to myself and realized I have a lot of training in my body to be good with this. My husband cycles and double checked the set up and said it was right where it needed to be. I have read that the core needs to be strong to be able to be down in the handlebars where I need to ride. I struggled and grumbled and kept going. I will have to keep training on my bike and less at the Y on spin bikes.
Nicole
Newbie

Originally posted by Smiley9188

Something amazing happened yesterday! I was running on the treadmill. I hate running. I didn't even want to go to the gym but I have slacked off and had dinner plans for 3 nights straight so I went. I had no plan for it. I put on my music and started. About 15 minutes in I thought about how much I hate running and how hard a triathlon is going to be for me. I decided to run to 20 minutes. Then stretch, thinking 'there is plenty of time for me to improve my running'. At 20 minutes I hadn't even gone 2 miles. So I decided to keep going until 2 miles, thinking about logging in my run on this site. At 2 miles an awesome song came on my playlist. So I decided to run until the song was over but halfway through I accidentally restarted the song. So I kept running. THEN at the end, another great song came on! So I kept running, surprised at my attitude! At the end of that song a slow song came on so I skipped ahead in my shuffle until another great song came on and I ended up running 3 miles! Whoop Whoop!

I need to improve my 'workout' playlist! (the song I first got inspired to was Diana Ross- I'm coming out. Then the next was Bare Naked Ladies- One week. And yes, I know how random my music selection is). Thinking I need to add Uptown Funk

So I ask you, my virtual friends, what songs motivate you to keep going?

Originally posted by Gnoory

Good work! :-) The momentum is building up!

My week could have been better, but I got in two jogging sessions of four miles each. I feel it's time to get down to business, so I just sat down and punched in two swimming sessions and three trips running in the calendar. Still waiting for my bike, so no pedaling just yet. Jogging feels heavy after a three month break from execise, but hopefully I will get up and running and in better shape the next few weeks.

Question : I've gotten a bit lost in all the posts here lately, but besides Todd are there any men here? Just curious, not that I'm not enjoying the company :-)

Have a great week. Summer is coming!

Originally posted by nekomidori

I feel great! I just rode on the road and and a path with my husband. I did 6.1 miles in 35 minutes. The bike felt much better on the road than in the trainer. I felt like I could have kept on going. I thought I better take it easy or I wouldn't make it home. I got over some fear of riding with traffic and worked on braking on hills and embracing the speed. Also I need to practice my turns more.

Over all a great ride!! Fun with my husband. It was a mere stretch of his legs but he was glowing to be riding with his wife.
My son(who also rides competitively) said, "Mom, I am so glad you are riding now." I'm so blessed to have great support.


I hope everyone else had a good training today or will have.

I meet up with my new swim instructor tomorrow. I'm excited and a tiny bit nervous but mostly excited. I can't wait to be able to swim like everyone else.(without holding my nose)

Nicole