Bill's House of Pain-No Vacancy (Page 2)

Bill, I hope it's not too late to join. Mt story so far...

Name: Gus (Darren)

Age: 42

Family Status: Married with two kids

Story: I am currently emabrking on a weight-loss strategy that will see me fit enough to compete in the Noosa Triathlon this year in Novembver. Noosa is an Olympic distance event that is HUGE!

I started my latest weight-loss attempt March 31 and as a result have lost 12lbs. I have included all three disciplines in my exercise regime. I am currently 290lbs at 5' 10" which is quite heavy but I have been told I carry it quite well (probably from well meaning relatives). Having said that I can, and do, often bang out 50+ mile rides with the boys.

This weight-loss attempt will succeed because I am focussed on getting fit/lean enough to race in a couple races rather than just losing weight for the sake of it. That said I believe that joining a mentor group will help keep me honest and as well as provide me with some input on training and racing.

Events: I plan on running a 10k in July at the Gold Coast (Aust) Marathon Carnivasl this year. Followed by a Sprint Tri in October followed by the Olympic in November. It will be a tough schedule but I feel as though I need a tight schedule to keep me motivated and honest. In the past If I had too long a goal and I tended to lose focus and give up.

My long term goals are to run a marathon and ultimately compete in (and complete) an Ironman event.

Thanks Bill. I hope I have given you something to work with!

Hey Bill...

I hope you have room for one more in your group.  I love your philosophy and mentoring approach, and would appreciate the opportunity to learn from you.  Here are my stats:

NAME:  Cheri/Sledge

STORY:  I'm a happy person, have mostly had a good outlook on life, and spent most of my adult life doing some running.  But almost 5 years ago I was in a horrendous car accident, and when I woke up (hanging upside down from my seatbelt!) I thanked my lucky stars to be alive.  Now I spend my time celebrating life.  It's more complicated than that, of course, but I'm exploring and doing things that I never would have considered 5 years ago. 

FAMILY STATUS:  I'm married to an airline pilot who is either home full-time or gone for long periods of time.  It's crazy!

CURRENT TRAINING:  I'm racing the Gulf Coast HIM on May 9th, so I'm very close to taper.  Unfortunately, I've also been traveling for work the last month, and my training has suffered.  I'm concerned...

THIS YEAR'S RACES:  HIM, as above.  It's a celebration of life, 5 years after a broken neck (!), etc...  After that, I'll probably do some runs and a couple of sprint and oly tris. 

WEIGHTLOSS:  Not really an issue, but I certainly want to maintain.  And nutrition could certainly be better!

Probably going to have to cap the group there, unless someone PM's me and makes a compelling case for inclusion.

I do have open invites to one experienced BT friend and a coworker who may join BT shortly, so if you see two more names pop up on the radar, it would be those individuals.

I'm very excited about being a mentor. I've really missed functioning in that role since I left the 75th Ranger Regiment in 2000. Don't worry. I believe we can maintain good order and discipline here without resorting to Ranger policies and procedures... maybe.

I'm going to put together a table that has some basic info on the group including races goals and general fitness status. I'd like for you all to be in the habit of inspiring each other on the training logs. If it takes too much of your time to inspire the whole group try to pick out a few teammates that have a similar similar starting point and goals, or dissimilar starting point and goals. Whatever works.

** Housekeeping note ** If your training log is currently set to "Private", please do one of two things. You have the option to make it completely public, or you can make it public to friends only. If you make it public to friends only, please add me to your friend list and add your teammates as well so they can inspire you. If you need help doing that let me know. Thanks.

* May include two more if those individuals choose to jump in.

Bill - 2009-04-19 7:44 AM

Sledge - 2009-04-19 12:37 AM

Hey Bill...

I hope you have room for one more in your group.  I love your philosophy and mentoring approach, and would appreciate the opportunity to learn from you.  Here are my stats:

NAME:  Cheri/Sledge

STORY:  I'm a happy person, have mostly had a good outlook on life, and spent most of my adult life doing some running.  But almost 5 years ago I was in a horrendous car accident, and when I woke up (hanging upside down from my seatbelt!) I thanked my lucky stars to be alive.  Now I spend my time celebrating life.  It's more complicated than that, of course, but I'm exploring and doing things that I never would have considered 5 years ago. 

FAMILY STATUS:  I'm married to an airline pilot who is either home full-time or gone for long periods of time.  It's crazy!

CURRENT TRAINING:  I'm racing the Gulf Coast HIM on May 9th, so I'm very close to taper.  Unfortunately, I've also been traveling for work the last month, and my training has suffered.  I'm concerned...

THIS YEAR'S RACES:  HIM, as above.  It's a celebration of life, 5 years after a broken neck (!), etc...  After that, I'll probably do some runs and a couple of sprint and oly tris. 

WEIGHTLOSS:  Not really an issue, but I certainly want to maintain.  And nutrition could certainly be better!

  

Hi Cheri. It's going to be good for me to have you here. I've worked the past 8 years as a flight paramedic for a helicopter rescue service. I don't often get to see the people we take care of get up and go tackle a half ironman.

You have one of the earliest races in the group here, so we'll all be on the Cheri bandwagon come May 9th! Do you have your race day pacing and nutrition plans nailed down yet? I like to fine tune those things during the taper so I have something to keep my mind busy as training volume goes down.

Very gald to have you here, both in the group and in the larger sense 5 years after your accident. Welcome to the group!

Happy Sunday everyone!  I'm glad to be part of this group -- I think we have an inspiring mentor who can help each of us at our own level. 

First, I have to thank you Bill for doing what you do -- both as a mentor and as flight paramedic.  It's because of people like you that I am here today!  I'm so thankful that you and others and like you want to do what you do.  I was life-flighted to Pensacola that day, and vividly remember the whole thing.  What a great group of professionals they were, but also compassionate and caring.  Thank you!

So, you ask about race day pacing and nutrition.  I'm a real novice at this.  As far as pacing goes, I've definitely decided that finishing is my goal, and slow and easy will be my mantra.  If I decide to do this again, then I'll worry about time.  But for now I'm just going for comfort.  My background is running, have run quite a few half marathons, and have managed to mostly pace them well.  But I've never done one at the tail end of a long bike ride, so my plan is to not go crazy on the bike.  As far as nutrition, I've been practicing on the bike, but I'm definitely worried about the run.  I've never been able to even drink during a half marathon, so this will be very different for me.  I'm sorta rambling here...  sorry.  Advice is definitely welcome!

Funny coincidence -- I've dragged some co-workers to spin class, and they call that "Cheri's House of Pain". 

Aaron, I hope you do (did?) well today!

I choke!  Can't get it down.  It only happens during a race, and I'm sure it has to do with how much I'm exerting myself.  I can't replicate it during training, probably because I'm lazy when I train and usually don't train anywhere close to race pace.  However, I don't expect to run as fast during the HIM as I usually do during a running race, so perhaps I won't have this issue.

Hi Bill-

NAME: Joe
STORY: I'm 36 years old and live in Chicago. I was a smoker for 20 years until this past January 6th. I played baseball in college so understand the basic mechanics of fitness and nutrion. After graduating from college, I basically went on and off to the gym once or twice a week, warmed up on an eliptical for 10 minutes and went straight to the weights. My main priorities after (and during) college before meeting my wife was partying my butt off, drinking, and girls. That was the old me. I am now training for my first sprint tri August 30th, the Chicago Tri. I gained interest in the sport after overhearing a couple of buddies discuss beginning to train for tri season in late January.
FAMILY STATUS: Married with no kids.
CURRENT TRAINING: I purchased "Your First Triathlon" by Joe Friel about a month ago. I have not begun the 12 week training plan yet. Currently, I'm taking swim lessons once a week, cycling once a week, running twice a week, and weight training once a week.
THIS YEAR'S RACES: The Chicago Sprint Triathlon and considering the Harbor Lights Tri in Waukegan,IL the last week of July 26th first.
2009 RACE GOALS:  My goal this year is to finish my first Sprint Tri with a repectable time 1:30 to 1:45.
WEIGHTLOSS: I'm 6'0 ft high and currently weigh 196. I've lost about 8 pounds since January. My goal weight is 185.
WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTOREE: I have a strong drive to succeed and have made this a number one goal in my life. My major motivation is the fact that my wife is pregenant with our first child. I want to be as healthy a father as I can be for my child.

Let me know if I can join your group.

Thanks,

Joe