Hi everyone, my name is Josh Kugler

Everyone please add me as a friend here on BT.

My Story:  I am 37 years old, self employed (owner / part owner of 3 businesses).  I live in North East Indiana with my wife, Maria "Ree" and our three dogs (no kids)  We live a very active lifestyle.  I am seldom home befor it gets dark during anytime of the year (way past dark in the winter) I love to hunt, fish, skydive, all things tri, and eat like a pig. (mostly Buffalo Wild Wings)

Last year, I was sitting on the couch all fat and sassy thinking that if Matt Hoover (Biggest Looser season 2) could do an Ironman, that I could do it.  So I found BT and got into Mike's mentor group as a starting point.  Hoping that since Mike had already done an IM he would be able to help me figure out how to go about it.  I was right, in fact without his help, I am sure I would not have done it. 

Along the way, I have found a new group of friends and created bonds stronger than you would ever think possible with people (some of whom I have yet to meet in person) over the internet. 

I would love to help pay it foward for everything Mike (McFuzz) and our group from last year has done for me.  Unfortunately I am not sure I have all the experience needed to mentor my own group just yet.  But since this group is so large and my wife is involved in it I hope Mike will not mind my 2 cents worth now and then. 

I don't need to be cottled with inspires like I once did, but it is always exciting to see a red number in that box when you log on, so feel free to hit me anytime. 

In the past year I have logged just uner 1,700 miles on my bike, ran almost 450 miles, and spent more time in the lake than in my own bed it seems (just under 95 mile of swimming).  I completed my fist sprint tri in the early summer (finished liked 80 out of 120 but I survived. Completed IMKY in August in less than the required 17 hours (barely) and realized that the race was only the icing on the cake.  The road to the Ironman was more important to me than the actuall race.  There are a lot of landmarks along that road, and I am glad to have had the chance to share that road with some of my friend here on BT.  At the end of the summer, I went on for a sixth place finish at one last sprint in Columbus, OH where I met up with three friends I had met here on BT.

Weight Loss I went from just over 200 lbs to 181 on the morning of IMKY (174 that night after the race).  Weight loss was not as important to me as actually looking good.  I have a couple of befor and after pics on my profile you can see.

Current traing embarassingly non-existant right now.  One of my businesses is in South Dakota, and I just got home a few weeks ago.  I have just hired a coach, and will be hitting it very hard starting next training for my first race of 2011.

Race plans  2011 1/2 Marathon with my brother in Indy in May.  Triple T - Columbus, OH in May.  1/2 IM - Racine, WI (with my wife) in July.  - 2012 IMKY

I love to yack, and tell stories, and ramble on, and on, and on.  I can be found on FB under [email protected] and I love to share experiences and advice when ever I can help.

I would rather live one day as a lion, than a lifetime as a lamb.

Going Long: Training for Ironman-Distance Triathlons (Ultrafit Multisport Training Series) [Paperback]

Hi McFuzzies!

I hope you are enjoying the holidays.  I thought I’d post a little more info about me as a way of introduction.

Personal Info:    My name is Enrique Pasos.  I’m 5’10”,  163 lbs, 42 yrs old next month.  I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have lived in California my entire life.  Born in LA, but moved up here in 1988, went to college, started a family, etc.  I’ve worked in the IT industry for almost 20 yrs.  I was using the Internet before there was such a thing as a website. I’m a tech-head at heart and love computers and playing video games (sometimes a little too much   ).  I’m married for 13 yrs to a wonderful, supportive wife and have 3 boys (8, 6, and 4 yo).   Those little guys are my hugest motivation and thinking of them sometimes gets me to the finish line during the most trying of times.

My Story:  As I mentioned before, I am a McFuzz 2010 Mentee.  When I joined up on BT last year, I weighed 180 lbs and was primarily a runner.  I started running in 2008 after 20 yrs of relative inactivity.  I suffered for many years from some very bad chronic pains (neck, back, RSI, etc) which kept me from exercising as much as I wanted to.  In 2007, I discovered that I suffered from TMS/PPD and subsequently made a near miraculous recovery.  I then decided to reclaim my fitness and started to run.  Fast forward to last year and I had completed several 10K’s and a Marathon and was looking for the next “mountain”.  I decided a triathlon was it.  With only a pair of running shoes as far as equipment goes, I joined McFuzz and the other mentees and with no swimming background and only a little biking experience, I ended up completing 6 sprint tri’s in 2010 and dropped 17 lbs.  I watched some of my fellow mentees do Ironman distance races (Josh who posted above is one of them) and I knew I could do one also.  So 2011 is my “Ironman” year.  McFuzz said it would be ok to hang with the 2011 group.  Personally, even though I may never actually meet any of you, I like the camaraderie that is developed through these online groups.  It certainly helped me last year.

Current training: After the last Tri in September, I pretty much went into a “run” focused mode with bike cross-training and no swimming at all.  I’ve been training for the Disney Marathon weekend in Orlando which is just 2 weeks away now!  I’ll run a 5K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon all on one weekend.  Wish me luck.  This is the biggest physical challenge so far for me.  I think I read that Buff is running the Half Marathon.  That’s awesome!!  Best of luck to you!

2011 Goals: Successfully complete Marathon Weekend mentioned above, complete the Vineman Full Triathlon, run a few other races, keep on living a healthy lifestyle.

It's nice to meet you all.

Enrique