Mad Manatees Mentor Group - VERY CLOSED!!! Sorry! (Page 60)

  I have a long way to go. 

  I was thinking of making a time goal.  If you know me, this is huger than me completing endurance events.  I am the energizer bunny (and my 1st event ever in 2006 was a marathon) and know that I will complete.  I have never had consistency and sometimes I wonder how much I would improve if I actually trained consistently.  I think I would have to start smaller at this point, if I am going for a time goal and not just to finish. 

Is it stupid to train for only a 9 mile race and then fly 2000 miles to do it?  

Too late.

The basic knowledge to begin.  How to do a history, how to structure / tailor workouts to individual athletes based on individual starting points and goals.  This course seemed to be very thorough and a great starting point. Long term - I would think it helps from a marketing standpoint, like bullet points on a resume.  I have built small business websites for almost 3 years now, and have owned 2 companies of my own.  I'm always thinking about marketing.  

I'm one that needs the structure of a course.  I would find it overwhelming to go try to find the materials that are covered in this course.  Not to mention - purchasing all these books would have some expense involved (probably approaching the cost of the course)

This is all great advice - and I really appreciate it and will be following it.  Especially the chewing YOUR ear off part.  I have considered the swimming coach vs triathlon coach.  I would like to focus on the triathlon side of things.

I love the advice about training with single sport athletes as much as possible...Will be looking into that more around here.  

Thanks again for the advice.  

Chad, the only coaching advice I have comes from left field. I don't use one, nor do I intend to, as those are not my goals. But I have played a variety of sports and I have figured out a couple of coaching aspects:

• The best athlete is NOT the best coach. Coaching is an art form unto itself.
• The best coach tailors to the needs of the athlete. Think John Fox changing the Broncos last year to take advantage of Tebow, then changing again to take advantage of Manning. Be open to different things.
• What works for one may not work for another. You seem motivated by showing people they are wrong about you. I am motivated internally/personally. As a coach, you need to be able to push both buttons to help the athlete grow.
• Learn as much about psychology as you do physiology. The mind is where many athletes are seperated from others.
• Every job has many of the same things about it, make sure you love the bad parts of the job (pay, benefits, hours, whatever) as you do the good parts. Your own outlook determines many things.

The last part is simple. I wish you only the best and success!!!! Job choices are like triathlon, it may be a long go, but in the end it will be worth it. Preparation is key.

Yes, you already stalk and I don't thank you enough.  It really does keep me going even if I don't always reply. 

Is it stupid to train for only a 9 mile race and then fly 2000 miles to do it?  

Yes, you already stalk and I don't thank you enough.  It really does keep me going even if I don't always reply. 

So I was psychoanalyzing as I tried to put goals down on paper.  My problem is that I have no goals.  I don't have a passion to want to lose weight, eventhough I like being thinner and am more confident. I haven't had anyone tell me I was ugly or fat, and I am usually pretty happy and healthy, so losing weight will have to be a bonus effect, not a goal.  I don't care enough to stick to a diet.  I like to socialize and drink too much to deprive.  I can make healthy choices but I don't have a desire to consciously restrict my calories.  Been there (started dieting at 11 years old and am finally comfortable in my skin so my weight doesn't ruin my day until I start comparing myself to other people), done that many times over and over again.  I have been 48lbs lighter than I am now.  I looked like a skeleton and I wasn't happy.   

I looked at my marathon plan and I have no goals.  I just can't make another goal to finish.  I've done that 6 times. It is not a challenge.  I can't make a goal of finishing Big Sur in the time limit.  I did that in 2012 and that was the scariest, most fulfilling goal I have ever accomplished and I am still flying high from that.  I can't do Big Sur with less fitness than last year and have a bad experience. I am too afraid of that.  I don't want a bad memory and I have such incredible memories right now.  i just can't ruin them.  I am not sure I have it in me to get to that same level of fitness in 14 weeks.  I have a long way to go. 

There are other races at Big Sur  (and here is where I need advice) so I was thinking of "racing" the 9 mile.  I've never done a 9 mile race so it is an automatic PR but I've also only "raced" one 5k in my life.  I was thinking of making a time goal.  If you know me, this is huger than me completing endurance events.  I am the energizer bunny (and my 1st event ever in 2006 was a marathon) and know that I will complete.  I have never had consistency and sometimes I wonder how much I would improve if I actually trained consistently.  I think I would have to start smaller at this point, if I am going for a time goal and not just to finish. 

Is it stupid to train for only a 9 mile race and then fly 2000 miles to do it?  

Thank you for all the great advice.  These tips are all things that I thoroughly believe in and your examples are great.  

I learned the lesson about the best athlete not being the best coach through the practice of Taekwondo for 3 1/2 years. (a little know fact about me)   - At first, as a white belt, it seemed weird to see some of the black belts that couldn't do the flying double back twisting spinning tornado knock your head off kick .....then as I progressed through the ranks that I could not do a flying double back blah, blah kick - but I could instruct a kid how to do it.....the light bulb turned on.  

Just to clarify - I'm not only motivated by proving doubters wrong...it's one facet of my motivation.  I am primarily motivated to do what I do by my desire to live a long and healthy life and to set a good example for my son.  The doubters are just an extra bit of motivation, but the reality is, I could care less what anyone thinks.  (except my new mantee pod mates.. )  

I have always enjoyed training / teaching of any type.  I love training new employees - and have always enjoyed sharing my knowledge.  I love triathlons, and just being healthy in general.  I would love to help someone along their journey as well.  

I will keep you all posted.  My primary concern with that course was that it was a bunch of garbage.  It seems like a great place to get started - so I'm going to do it!  Dang it - now I have a new website to build.  Where am I going to fit that in? 

IN OTHER NEWS:

I swam 3100 yards tonight at the Master's Swim.  Furthest for me yet.  All the slackers with me in the slow lane kept asking me to lead.  It's like getting chased by a pack of dogs.  I guess that's one way to get motivation.  At times when I was struggling I would think, "If I was in the middle of 1500m, I really couldn't stop right now."  That helped.

After a rough day at work I am tired and near exhausted. I had trouble falling asleep last night so getting my pre-work run in this morning did not happen, I was hoping for a snow day. I kind of felt it at work and had wished I had gotten my butt up to do it. I did actually come home, checked my snail mail and then hoped on the trainer.

I think I may set a goal of 30 in 30 with my shortest run being 2 miles on Sundays. I know it is going to jump my miles up by what is in my logs, but I do not always log my Army PT. I estimate my normal run being about 3.5 miles at an easy pace for this first month. After a week I might lengthen a midweek run to add some more mileage. My long run would be on Friday being around 6-7 miles. What thoughts do the Manatees have? I have learned by now to stop or slow down if the body screams or complains. I am still paying for stupidity in my youth from  running cross country.

I do not have a set training plan yet. I only have one known race but a couple I hope to do. My Masters Swim is back in session so I will be rejoining them 2-3 times a week (M, W, Sa). The other nights would be rides on the trainer until mid-March. My runs would be in the morning before work. Friday may be swapped around for a ride in the morning and run at night due to it being my "long" run day.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

After a rough day at work I am tired and near exhausted. I had trouble falling asleep last night so getting my pre-work run in this morning did not happen, I was hoping for a snow day. I kind of felt it at work and had wished I had gotten my butt up to do it. I did actually come home, checked my snail mail and then hoped on the trainer.

I think I may set a goal of 30 in 30 with my shortest run being 2 miles on Sundays. I know it is going to jump my miles up by what is in my logs, but I do not always log my Army PT. I estimate my normal run being about 3.5 miles at an easy pace for this first month. After a week I might lengthen a midweek run to add some more mileage. My long run would be on Friday being around 6-7 miles. What thoughts do the Manatees have? I have learned by now to stop or slow down if the body screams or complains. I am still paying for stupidity in my youth from  running cross country.

I do not have a set training plan yet. I only have one known race but a couple I hope to do. My Masters Swim is back in session so I will be rejoining them 2-3 times a week (M, W, Sa). The other nights would be rides on the trainer until mid-March. My runs would be in the morning before work. Friday may be swapped around for a ride in the morning and run at night due to it being my "long" run day.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

It looks like you are going into this with your eyes wide open. That is very smart. Take the steps you need to build a foundation, work your tail off and it will all come together over time. Congratulations!!!

I love it.  I think streaking is a great way to build consistency in running.  When I did my streak - there were days the streak got me out there, no matter what.  I am contemplating another streak myself...maybe we can go streaking together.  LOL

Did it?    Or do you need some help with the chant/song? Sometimes one person isn't enough.