BigSkiesMentorGroup - COMPLETE! (Page 6)

here is where we are in the map. I got us all but 3.

BigSkies map -where are we?

BIO:

STORY:

Forty-six year old father of three teenage boys living in the St. Louis, MO area.  Busy law practice means getting up early to train but the winter weather and lack of daylight makes that a challenge.  Always been active but seem to change my focus every few years (racquetball, weight training, etc.).  No real background in any of the 3 events save one year of high school cross country which I hated.  Started running again about 3 years ago but still find it more challenging than the other 2.  I first got challenged by some buddies to enter a 5K then by another to try a sprint tri.  Love the challenge and it certainly keeps me getting out of bed at 5 a.m. in the dark knowing there is a race a month away.  Participated in my first sprint tri on a borrowed hybrid bike, bought my own road bike the next month and was flabbergasted at the difference it made.  Have just recently bought my second bike, this one a 2008 Cervelo P2 tri bike.  Can't wait to get it out on the road.

CURRENT TRAINING:

Try to run 4 times a week, generally following a training plan developed on Runner's World (easy run, tempo/speed work, long run and try to fit in a run/bike interval day).  Spring weather has made it difficult/impossible to get the bike out on the road much so most of my cycling has taken place on a stationary bike at the gym.  I don't have a trainer at home.  Lately I've been cycling at least twice a week but will ramp that up a bit once nicer weather arrives.  I try to get into the pool twice a week but am not much of a swimmer.  Never taken a class, received any expert advice, etc.  I know how important that can be and might do it one of these days but I still consider this aspect of the sport to be the least important in light of the fact most of my races are no longer than 500m in the pool.  I have improved my stroke considerably, I think, just by watching training videos found on Youtube but my endurance is lacking.  Never work on drills or anything, I simply swim.

PAST/FUTURE RACES:

I have competed in 3 outdoor sprints, 2 indoor sprints, a number of biathlons and dozens of 5Ks.  Finished the St. Louis Half Marathon 2 years ago in the pouring rain but not sure i'm interested in that distance in the future.  Supposed to compete in a small sprint this morning at Washington University in St. Louis, but bad weather may put a kibosh on it.  Tornadoes came thru last night and thunderstorming right now. 

My race buddy and I plan to race in a few more sprints this summer and several biathlons (most of which typically consist of 22 mile bike and 5 mile run).  All local.

GOALS:

To increase endurance, swim better and be able to compete in my age group.  We've also recently begun discussing moving up to an Oly tri.  This is my first time participating in a forum group and I look forward to all the advice/encouragement I anticipate receiving.  See you on the message boards.

Joe

Helmuth, you and I seem to be quite similar in terms of age, ability, experience, etc.  Good luck next weekend and I look forward to hearing about the Oly.  Interested in your training leading up to this event.

Here's my bio as promised ...

NAME: lufferly-Lisa

STORY: Currently 52 years old.  For my 50th birthday, with some extra time on my hands after my daughter graduated from high school, I decided to become a triathlete, having never been involved in any athletics EVER. My family thought I'd finally lost my mind. I've always liked to swim, enjoyed biking, and HATED running (can't say as that has improved by much). I literally couldn't run from one street light to the next in my neighborhood. Since then, I've lost 28 lbs, completed 3 mini-sprints, 4 sprints, 7 half marathons, and numerous 5Ks and 10Ks.  I've worked full time as a legal nurse consultant for the past 19 years at a large law firm in town, after working as a CCU RN for 8 years. I have a 30 mile commute each way, so spend that time catching up on my reading. If I spent as much time training, as I do reading about running, etc I'd surely be a pro!

FAMILY STATUS: Married with four kids - son, age 30; son, age 23; daughter, age 22 tomorrow!; and son, age 12.  My boys are currently doing contract work with lights and sound; my daughter is a professional actress and currently on tour with the musical Mamma Mia; and my 12 year old keeps us busy playing select baseball. My husband has been unemployed since October (with severance through next October). I LOVE having a house-husband; translated as full time housekeeper, cook, gardener, and handyman!

CURRENT TRAINING:  I started running with a group associated with USA Fit two years ago to prepare for my half marathons in December and January. Last year we started running in April, thinking it would be easier to acclimate to the hot summer (previously we'd started in July). What we succeeded in doing was totally burning ourselves out by our half in January, so I've been taking a bit of a break for an attitude adjustment. I started swimming with a masters group a couple of months ago and have enjoyed that.  I also have access to a gym with a pool and a trainer for my bike.

LAST YEAR'S RACES: 2 sprints, 2 5Ks, 1 5 mile, 1 10 mile, 1 10K, and 3 half marathons. That seems so unreal, coming from a total non-athlete less than 3 years ago ...

2011 RACES: The only race at this point that I'm committed to is the St. Jude's Half Marathon in December. My boys are trying to talk me into Beach Palooza in September (which would be their first race) but I may opt for a tri that weekend instead. I'd like to do a sprint that I've done the last 3 years in June, but looks like we'll be in Alaska at that time.  I've started jotting down a tentative schedule and will post when it becomes more definitive.

WEIGHT LOSS: I've lost 28 lbs since starting my training and would like to loss about 10 more. I'm 5'9" and 172 at present. I have hypothyroidism, so my metabolism tends to be a little screwy. I eat fairly healthy, and think I don't eat enough rather than too much.

LISA

LISA -

Saw you will be in Alaska in June. Are you doing a formal tour, have relatives, or on your own? Maybe we will get the opportunity to meet other than just through the group. Dont know if you have been here previously but June is a beautiful time in Alaska. A little on the cold side right now. But ran this morning it was 38 out and yesterday did a bike race about the same temp, though it felt colder on a bike. It will get warmer.

Veronica

Hey Steve,

Still have room for one more?  Below is my "story"

Background:

Not much of an athletic background.  Most of my training has been in lifting until a couple of years ago when the shoulder started to have problems so I decided to shelf the plates and take up the tri life.  With no experience in swimming, biking or running I participated in my first sprint and was hooked.  Last year I completed a half and olympic distance but got injured in the fall (severe shin splint _4 months off) due to overuse and stupidity. 

This season I have my sight set  on the Wilmington Beach 2 Battleship half and am toying with the idea of training for a full.  First race this season will be an Olympic on June 5th.

Family:  Married to Lisa for over 25 plus years with 5 "children" ranging from 19 to 27. Lisa did her first sprint last year and she is planning a couple this year.  It always helps to find the races that have sprints with olympcis or halfs so we both can race on the same day.

Current Training:  I am spending a lot of time on building my base one segment at a time.  Currently I am up to 3000 yds swimming 2x/ week,  my long ride is currently at 80 miles, with my long run at 8 miles (currently this is what I am working on increasing).  With 50 years under my belt and about 210 pounds around it, I am a back of the pack type guy (somebody has to ensure the cones get picked up!).  My goal is to finish.

Goals:  Racing injury free.....My "A" race will be the B2B in Wilmington in the fall.  Still undecided about the distance, I still have visions of doing a full until I get back from a long bike ride and cannot even imagine running 26 miles. First race will be in June with another Olympic in July.  I am not much of a hot weather fan. 

This will be my first time in a group which I am looking forward to, hope to hear from you soon.

Joe

Steve,

I was huffing and puffing BIG TIME.  I can't tell you how many times I had to get off the bike and walk that sucker up a hill at the end.  I didn't come in last for the bike though...there was one other guy behind me, on a mountain bike LOL!  I completed the race last year in 2:15:21 and the majority of that was the bike.  I think the bike portion took me an hour and a half.  I know my swim was 12:02 and my run was around 20min but I don't remember the exact time. 

Bike wise now I am on a road bike.  I purchased a Dawes something or other.  It's a cheap road bike ($275) but it works and is light years better than the mountain bike.  I had to keep in mind that I still had to pay for someone to put it together and purchase a bike computer, etc.  The only thing that I have to do to it now is have the pedal cages adjusted.  I went to a local running store to purchase new running shoes a few weeks ago and the guy there told me my hip movement on the bike could be limited too much by the cages and that is what is bothering my knee.  Since I pronate so much the rotation of my hip is restricted greatly by the position the cage keeps my foot in and suggested I go to a bike shop to have them adjust the cages accordingly.  I am hoping that next year I'll be able to purchase the bike shoes and the clips. 

Do the clips on the bike really make that much of a difference? 

Morning all!

I'm back from the missing.  Was in Dallas for a work/charity golf event on Thursday & Friday and then got de-railed w/Easter weekend activities.

Love the map!  It's cool to see where everyone is.  I'm jealous of Joe, living on the OBX.  That's where I'd like to retire, if I can convince the wife.  Her 1st marathon was the OBX marathon; her 2nd (my 1st) was VA Beach.  I really like that area.

Hope the training is going well for everyone.  Light cardio and weights for me today. 

Cheers!

Swim work out question:

I realized this morning that I am just been coasting through my swim workouts.  It had been over a month since the last time I got in the pool and this morning my work out was a piece of cake.  It got me thinking of all the drills I did during swim team (I was a sprinter doing 100m max) and that I needed to kick it up a notch.  I'm not exactly sure how to go about this for open water longer distance swims. 

I don't have much time to spend in the pool...45 min at a time max (if I can get a lane right away) and can make it definitely twice a week (wed night / thurs morning) every week.  All I've been doing is swimming 500 yards, 100 yards kick only recovery, 500 yards, 100 yards kick recovery and work out is done in about 25 minutes. 

I thought about adding a drill that use to be one of my favorites as a kid:  sprint for 25, kick only 25, arms only 25, recover 25 and repeat. 

Any ideas or favorite "go to's" that you can suggest?

Thanks!

Sarah

The Saturday sprint went off pretty much without a hitch despite the Friday nite tornadoes.  Steady rain thruout but not too much of a downpour.  Temps were mid-50s which was great for run but made the bike kind of chilly once I was soaked thru 5 minutes into that leg.  Biking was hazardous due to wet pavement and saw at least 6-8 people with road rash, scrapes, etc from taking spills.  My race buddy actually went down pretty hard right in front of me, couldn't finish bike leg, but limped back to transition area and ran with me.  Time was about what I anticipated (1:34) particularly given crummy weather conditions.

Another 5K this weekend then looking to do another sprint first week of June.

Steve, I welcome any swim drill suggestions you may have.  Part of my problem is simply endurance, part is form breakdown once I begin to fatigue.

I already own a bike trainer but have used it 2X in two years due to space issues indoors.  Rode my Trek 1500 during Saturday's sprint which continues to be a trusty steed.  I am looking forward to breaking out the Cervelo soon, though.  I wish it would stop raining.