KathyG's 2012 Awesome Mentor Group-Full up (Page 9)

Louis Garneau bib shorts are my absolute favorites.  I have two pairs and I always save them for my long trainer rides on weekends.   The padding is fantastic and the bibs mean that there's no pressure on my waist from a waist band.

I ride on a Cobb saddle, which I love.  I need a saddle with a slit.  Solid saddles do not work for me.

I am new to forums in general as well as to the expanded uses of BT.  I have been logging my training for about 6 months but that is really all I have ever done with this.  I am not really a newbie on the net but never have really gotten that involved with an online community.....Maybe I should just read the help section,

but

can anyone tell me how to not have to click thru all the forums every time to get to this one, can you flag it somehow so you get the posts?  I have lost it a few times already

is there a quick tutorial somewhere for beginners to this website...  

I have looked at some of your profiles and some of you are obviously pros at this!  I have been logging nutrition somewhere else but feel it will be easier to just do it here.  I am also believe that you stay on track better if you document, both training and nutrition.  Comes with the territory, I have been in the medical research field and clinical trials for 20 years, if you do not document it it did not happen

Have a great end of the week everyone.  Hoping to get to a spinning class later, there is a cold front blowing thru today so no outside biking and packing for my trip are my biggies for the day

Pam

What type of roads did you do that grabbing car mirrors on? I would be concerned I would be pulled or something that I would fall.

I was buzzed by a car in CT who was going 55-60 mph and a BT friend saw it from behind...she was really shaken up...car went onto the shoulder and had plenty of room to drive in the lane and be quite far from me.

How is the law enforced?

My favorite bike shorts are Terry Euro shorts...they have no grippers just big cuff and also not a traditional waistband.   Tri shorts I like Oomph with distance pad or DeSoto 400 miles shorts. For longer tris I like tri shorts that have a chamois shaped more like bike short chamois so it sort of has wings (no padding on that part) that go down upper inside part of my thigh a little instead of a small hour glass type chamois.

I ride a SMP glider saddle on my tri bike which has a very big cut out.

Rest days - at the most one, but usually none. There are easy days and hard days and I try to not have back to back hard days, but I also do much better when I'm moving at least once a day.

Saddle - I just got an Adamo saddle about a month ago and it is truly one of the most comfortable saddles I have used. Shorts - For races, I have typical tri-shorts with a very thin terry liner, but for longer stand alone bike rides, I have a pair of really nice Pearl Izumi's with a chamois liner that I love. Being comfortable on the bike is key for me!

This sounds very much like what I go thru on a regular basis.

Also work from home which usually makes it super easy to schedule and actually work out...

I am responsible for Europe so I get up and start working early (5-6AM)  which enables me to go workout early when I do not have my kids or after they are off to school the other days.  Planned workouts often seem to get delayed or cx'd when I get swamped with conference calls and deadlines for projects.

This week my both kids have been sick and home with me since Wednesday.  I was hoping to go to a spin class today but now it looks like my daughter needs to be seen again by her ped.  

Maybe I can get a sitter to watch them for a hour or 2 while I work out later...  I ended up doing the trainer late last night but bc I was so tired by then I only did 30 mins and probably to easy.

Luckily it is still 6 months till my HIM

My husband works from home when not traveling.

It is easy to work all the time as it is so accessible. He tries to schedule his time to workout. Doing it early before he starts working is ideal so he gets it done but doesn't happen often.

Ann, hope you get your grant proposal done efficiently today.

Don't stress about camping. If you have any time, make a list and have your kids gather things when they get home. If you can't leave today, tomorrow seems like a good option.

Mike, Sure you can join...post your bio when you have some spare time.

Pam, I had the same question. Ann hooked me up with the way to bookmark this forum:

copy http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=419378&start=201&posts=211

Add to your LINKS menu located on the right side of your Training Log page.

Hope that helps!

OK, here's my story. Thanks for the welcome!

NAME: Mike_D/Mike D (very original screen name)

STORY:  Rewind to February 2010, at the doctor office. Basic height/weight/bp/pulse check. Saw the scale hit an unthinkable number (270) and it was an enormous shocking gut punch moment. Also seeing doctor note "obese" as part of his write up really opened my eyes. Despite a very active/athletic upbringing, too many years of sitting behind a desk, inactivity, and eating junk had taken its toll. Within a week I was at the gym for the first time in 4 or 5 years doing a weights/cardio routine I'd done in earlier more active times. Also started in a fitness boot camp class at the Y. Started losing weight and wanted to keep it going.

Forward to April -- I was asked to be the bike rider on a relay team in our local sprint tri. Jumped at the chance despite not having ridden a bike in a long time. Kept up the gym work, and started to ride my Trek street hybrid  a few times. Come race day (late June, 2010) I had an epiphany. Doing the race, despite how slow I was (51 minutes for 14 miles!) made me decide then and there I was going to do a race myself. Within 4 days I'd signed up for a local sprint, found BT, found a C25K plan, and found a swim teacher.  The race was 11 weeks away, and I hadn't run in years, and could not swim. I had my work cut out for me.

Crossing the finish line in that first race was a euphoric moment which hooked me on tri immediately. First words after I finished were "I have to do this again!! - just maybe not today". Met a couple fellow BT'ers there who were a big help.

I kept up the R/B/S and my weight loss hit the 60 pound mark. I'd never felt so good in decades. I feel like I'd reinvented myself through fitness, and doing tri's is how I was going to keep it that way.


FAMILY STATUS: Married - 16 years to an awesome chick who somehow puts up with my nonsense. Two kids, both girls 12 & 8.

CURRENT TRAINING: Back at it with run & bike as I was sidelined due to knee tendonitits. Its healed, and I started back running & biking a few weeks ago. All is well.  Masters swimming now, too. Training for my first HIM starts next week!!!

2011  RACES: Just 3 sprints due to a foot injury suffered in late Feb '11 while in final stages of half mary training.

2012 RACES:   Only signed up for 2 tri so far – Patriot Half Iron & Cohasset, MA sprint. Looking to do more races, but the HIM will be my “A” for the year.  I need to plan out my year soon. Maybe add Timberman HIM in there for some August fun & adventure  

WEIGHTLOSS:  I'm at 220, would love to get to 200 by June.

OTHER STUFF: Love training and racing; in particular the long runs as I find them an incredibly peaceful zen-like time. And I love my bike, although judging by how infrequently I ride it on the trainer you'd think I hate it. Started a master swim class in December and can already tell it has had a very positive impact on my swimming.

OVERALL: I’m really excited for 2012. 2011 was a bit of a disappointment, but this year I WILL arrive at the starting line in June healthy, trained well, and ready to have a good time. I do this for fun & fitness, and keep that in mind every time I workout & race. Its awesome!

Stalker. 

LOL. Well, hello there Mr my-first-mentor-on-BT.

Welcome aboard Mike.

I thankfully made it to the gym today.  Ran 2 miles, which I haven't done in a while.  Did some core as well.  I need to get in the pool next week.  It's funny, in my previous job, I had all the time in the world to go workout, but no where to actually workout (no gym nearby and no showers at work), but with my new job in Boston, I have multiple place where I can work out, but may not have the time everyday.  I had every intention of going yesterday and 2 meetings pop up out of the blue and then an unexpected client dinner and poof, no time to work out.  Oh well, I'll take what I can get.

Training plan question for the group.

My "A"/big goal race for the year will be a HIM in mid June (goals-- arrive healthy, finish, have fun, not be DFL). I'm nearing the start of trainging, but am getting confused about training plans. What I am planning on doing (as of now) is to use the Don Fink BIF 30 week competitive IM plan, and use the first 22 weeks as my HIM Plan. I've seen others from BT discussing using it, and have been positive. For me, it fits my time/life/logistics quite well, and that is a big plus. However, someone recently mentioned to me that the Fink plan isn't necessariliy a HIM plan, and the race at that point is just a fitness check rather than a build to that race. Its focus is on longer, slower workouts for IM. Good point, I guess?

I've looked at the BT HIM plans and those, too, have some very positive reviews. I'd be tempted to use them as a 'legit' HIM plan, but the workout schedules would likely be a bit tough to pull off consistently, and thats a major concern.

Should I just stick w/ my original thoughts of using the Fink plan, and go from there? Look for a different plan? Are there potential pitfalls I may need to address along the way with it? Any thoughts, input, experience welcome! Thanks!!!

Happy Friday the 13th!

I am looking to upgrade from the toe cages I have on my bike (as a beginner) to clipless. Any recommendations?

If you use this link: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=419378&posts=last

(note the &posts=last bit) it will jump right to the last page in the thread.

Welcome Mike D! I'm thinking about the Patriot as well...I'm giving myself until the end of January to evaluate how my (hopefully in the rear view window) injury is progressing. After being injured I really find that I 1) had a hard time being motivated to train without an event to train for and 2) can't wait to sign up for events...but because I flushed a chunk of change on events I couldn't participate in last year - I am a little trigger shy.

Three day weekend here for school and work. I've got a long run and swim tomorrow, long bike on Sunday. How about you folks?

Kelly - please, please, please do not take this the wrong way because I am genuinely interested - what is your goal when you grab a passing car? In your experience does this action achieve that goal?

Mike...Welcome to the group!

I can't comment on the Fink plan, however I did use the BT HIM plan last year.  My goal was to finish the HIM and I did.  I was prepared for the HIM and did good for my first Tri.  I rearranged the workouts to fit my schedule almost every week.  Yes, there are days that you won't be able to what was planned...that's life.  Just ensure that if you miss a workout...it is not the same one every week like a long bike ride or run. 

I'm sure the experienced HIM tri folks can relate the plans they used.

RJ

I've got Looks and really like them.  I was very very nervous about going clipless after flirting with them on my commuter bike back in Edinburgh about 20 years ago; after the third time of lying in the gutter being looked at by concerned tourists, I got rid of them.  This time around has been much more successful, I have them quite loose but they've never come out accidently.  A few months ago when an accident happened right in front of me, I unclipped without even thinking about it.

Thanks for all the bike shorts recommendations.  I will go to a local bike store and see what they have. 

Yesterday was only a 4.8 mile run over lunch.  It was a cold blustery day and the trail I run winds around a lake and is so peaceful.  But now I feel like I am getting sick.  Generally I don't stress about colds but I have had some rather serious health issues develop around my immune system which makes any sort of cold worrisome.

Has anyone not followed any sort of formal training program?  I have to admit I don't have the perseverance to follow a formal program.  I think I will focus on increasing my ability in each event and see how it goes this fall.  That has been my marathon approach and it has been satisfactory so far.

This weekend is packed with kid activities but I plan to do something everyday.  Today I would like to spin and swim.  Tomorrow run and yoga.  Monday run and spin?

MikeD-love your story!  Good work.

Anna-You are really busy.  In the thick of raising an active family, maintaining your professional life and training for a tri!  Wonder Woman.