bhoover10001's Group - Closed for the holidays!

Hi Brian - I'd like to join your group if you don't mind! - Samantha

STORY: I have wanted to do a triathlon for as long as I can remember.  I never did one, mostly because I was too chicken.  Last year, I did the chicago Bike the Drive - the 15 mile leg, and loved it.  So, I was excited and my friend was still giving me lip about never doing a tri and always talking about it.  I'm not sure if it was the exercise endorphins from the bike that morning or what, but I signed up for a sprint and haven't looked back!  Overall, I require organization to keep me functional.  When I start to get off a schedule, I kind of spaz a little.  I was constantly traveling as a consultant, and couldn't nail down any sort of consistency. So, I found myself a local full-time job and have been able to fit my job into my life rather than the other way around.

FAMILY STATUS: Married w. 2 Jack Russell Terriers (we're clearly crazy, haha)

CURRENT TRAINING: I am decidedly dormant for the rest of 2008.  I start at our YMCA in January.  Mondays (start 1/4) I will have a Fundamentals for the Endurance Athlete class at 5:30 am that I will be attending and am considering joining the DuPage Ducks Masters swim team (but I'm hesitant).  I have found a HIM training plan on this site (beginner tri) that I love and think I will be sticking to for my training.

THIS YEAR'S PAST RACES (2008): Naperville Sprint Triathlon, Bucktown 5K, Naperville Turkey Trot (5K)

2009 RACES: Cincinatti Flying Pig Half-Marathon, Capitol View Triathlon <Oly dist./ Madison, WI>, Naperville Sprint Tri, Chicago Triathlon <Oly distance>

WEIGHTLOSS: Yes, please!  Staying away from beer and too much meat tends to make weight fall off of me.  That said, I have a good amount of weight to lose that I know will go away with consistent training/exercise and attention to my diet.  But, I love cookies, beer, red meat, and fish.  I hate eating chicken and am mostly vegetarian through my week with a couple days of meat/fish eating.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I listen to advice.  I like to improve constantly so will try suggestions.  I am always willing to help others when I can!  Also, I have a dream of a HIM in Spring of 2010 to keep me on track.

So, I'm thinking the Florida HIM (Orlando) or the New Orleans HIM in 2010.  NO is new in 2009 and either would be a fun trip.  Florida is flat, which sounds good to me - hills are my enemy!  I'm already assembling my entourage to travel with us, lol.  I think that should be enough to motivate me to keep moving!

I see that you did Half-Vineman which is one I'd love to do too actually.  What was that like?

I'm in awe of your IM status, too.  I had never considered it until I picked up the "I am an Ironman" book when we were in Kona in late Sept.  We saw a lot of people training and that I think did it for me... maybe 2011!

I totally missed the rest of your post - I'm clearly overly hyper today, haha.

I am guessing you went to UIUC then, are you from IL originally? 

My siste lives in Cincy, she was in Hyde Park and has since moved to an awesome loft, heck if I know the name of the neighborhood tho.  We're doing the 1/2 Marathon together.  Initially we were going to do the full, but I backed us off.  I have never run more than 6 miles eve, figured the 1/2 er was a good start.

Have you ever done the Flying Pig?

Brian,

I'm very interested in this group, especially tapping into your IM experience.

Quick about me:  A ran for a long time, then some knee and ankle surgeries which launched me into a few years of doing absolutely nothing.  Last year I was finally able to run again (I was told it might never happen), and I vowed to get back in shape, which I did, running a marathon just a few weeks ago.  I did my first triathlon last September and loved it.  I've got a mix of races in my sights for next year, leading up to IMKY in August, which (obviously) will be my first IM.

--Michael

Thanks!  yeah, that's actually a funny story -- after around mile 20, I was calculating what I needed to do to BQ (leaving little room for error!) and forgot that I had accidentally turned my watch off for a minute instead of lapping.    But it was all for fun anyway.  My PR is much faster, so I've got a long ways to go before I'll say "I'm back".

Hello Brian! I would like to join this group and I hope there still is room!

Me: 46 years young, married 2 kids, 8 and 10. We have lived in Toronto, Ontario for the last 6 years but my homeland is Norway.

My story: Woke up one day when I was 42 and realized that, ! I am old and fat and will probably die way to early if I dont change some of my bad habits. So done. Never done any serious exercise before except for taking my bike to work and some xcountry skiing. In fall of 2004 I did 2 marathons and in April this year I finally did Boston Marthon after several attempts to qualify. What do you do after Boston, well I guess I have to do an ironman!!!

So this summer I did one sprint and one Half Iron distance and I have just been accepted into probably the toughest full irondistance in the world. The Norseman. (www.nxtri.com)

This fall I found the BT website and I am about to set out on first 12 weeks of "no fluff" wintertraining, then 20 weeks of irondistance training. Right now I am off any organized programs. I finished a Marathon just 2 weeks ago so now I am going to enjoy food, drink and xmas. Training starts Dec 28.  I hope to get motivation and help from this group and I hope I can give some too. I know we all will have days when snow, rain, kids, work, lack of sleep tries to keep us in bed instead of getting out there. This will be one of several ways to keep us going!!

Cheers

 Arne

ps will try get some pix going when I figure out this site!

I'd like to join your group.

Good question, Ann... I am having the same decision-making problem.  

 I was thinking gold for 6 months then downgrade to silver.  Anyone have a recommendation?

Ann, Samantha,

The most significant difference between silver and gold membership is that gold gives you access to Q&A about the plan, about your training, etc.  It's a bit like having an online coach, but with stock plans (i.e., not plans that were drawn up specifically for you).  I've heard very good things about from people, but have not tried it myself, as I tend to be very much into self-coaching.  (Yes, there are big pitfalls there!)  Anyway, if online advice about the plans (from real coaches) is what you're looking for, the price is definitely right.

--Michael