kenj's group closed, training hard and having fun!!

Hey Ken,

I would like to join your group.

I'd like to join if you'll have me.

NAME: Trout/Steve

STORY: 33 yo; former HS/DI college runner in the late 90s.  Took about 8 years 'off' from an active lifestyle - got married, had kids, progressed in career.  In 2010, I decided to get back into running which led to triathlon.  Started swimming in Jan 2010, biking in March 2010.  I have done only one sprint tri - August 2010 - but feel there is some potential to do well in this sport.

FAMILY STATUS: Married to Amanda for 6 years.  Two boys ages 3.5 and 2. 

CURRENT TRAINING: Current training has been down due to work and family commitments.  Bike training has been almost nothing due to weather and home projects that took my space for the moment.  In March I set a goal to top 20,000 yds swimming - my weakest discipline - and I achieved that.  I've also seen great progress in my swimming efficiency and speed over the winter (2min/100 to 1:45/100).  With spring finally coming and schedule slowing down, I will be riding and running more outdoors.

THIS YEAR'S RACES: I've done a handful of running races this winter through our local YMCA.  2-5ks, 1-5mi. and 1-10 miler (1:08).  Last fall I did my first half marathon on an up and down course in 1:29.

2011 RACES:  Up in the air at this point.  Plan to at least do the same sprint tri in August.  Would like to do an olympic distance and another sprint as well.  Mix in a handful of 5ks and a half mary in October.

WEIGHTLOSS:  

Was 183 on 1/1/2010; down to 156 today.

Lately I've been struggling with whether this 'endeavor' is where I should be putting my time.  I enjoy competition and training.  I like feeling better and looking better.  However, with a young family at home I begin to consider what will mean the most.  I fear losing some of my best physical years - and possibly to compete at a high level. 

Ken - I live in NW PA, just across the border from Olean, NY.  I'm considering Keuka or possibly Tri in the Buff south of Buffalo.  Presque Isle in Erie, PA is on my radar as well.

Name: Kathleen

Story:This is my fourth year doing triathlons. My original goal was to complete one sprint distance race but I caught the bug and here I am. For the first two years of training/racing I had a group of friends with whom I shared the experience  but last year I was on my own as I decided to do Boulder 70.3 which no one wanted to take on and I was really the only one who had the interest to continue in this sport. I was part of a mentor group last Spring/Summer and it was  great! The group provided me the support and friendship that I was missing and their wealth of knowledge and advice was fantastic. The group  guided me through the purchase of my tri bike and helped me decide to take the plunge and sign up for IMAZ 2011.
I am a MOP at most races(unless they are in Boulder and then I am a BOP) due to my very poor running ability. My strengh is the bike but I lose it on the run everytime.  I have hired a coach this year and I hope that with a more stuctured focus and a program that pushes me to do things in training that I have never done before, I will have some type of breakthrough. It doesn't have to be huge breakthougth, just some type of improvement, which I haven't seen as of yet.  I also have had some very bad GI problems after two of the half marathons that I ran/walked and that is obviously something I am going to have to get a handle on if I plan to make it to the finish line at IMAZ.  I have to admit that an IM freaks me out and I get nervous just thinking about it. Yet, I really think I can do it.  It might not be pretty at the end(and during the run) but I am pretty determined when I want to be.

Family Status: My fiancee and I live together. Our new addition is the cute little guy in the picture. 16 week old Cocker Spaniel named Casey. He is a true handful but it was love at first sight.

Current training:  I had a late season race last year (November) so I haven't really taken a true break from tri training. I am currently scheduled to do seven to eight hours a week on average and am now just getting back in the pool after a five week lay off from it due to some surgery I had.

Last Years Races: I did  six tris including the HIM,  and two half marathons last year. I tend to over book myself and know that I need to race less this summer.

2011 Races:I am signed up for the Boulder Tri Series (sprint, olympic and HIM) and IMAZ. I don't know if I want to do the whole series but will be doing Boulder 70.3 again. I am also doing a century ride in June and just completed a half marathon.

Weight loss goals: I could probably stand to lose five lbs or so. I had a weight problem my entire life and stopped getting on the scale a long time ago as it made me crazy. I would like to drop a little weight to see if that helps with my run. At least I think that everytime I am out there running along and watching everyone make it look so easy.

What would make me a good mentee: I really came to care about the other people in our group last spring/summer.  There really was a give and take and it was obvious that we all really cared about how each other was doing and wanted to help where we could. A few of our members did IMs last year and the rest of us would be following them on line and cheering for them throughout the day. I think my desire to help others,  or just be "an ear" is one thing that would make me a good mentee.  I so appreciate the advice and support of others and love to learn new things. I don't always understand all of it (the whole rolling resistance thing makes my eyes glaze over ) but I try to absorb as much as I can.
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Ken and Steve,

How did you lose the weight?  Ken, 100 lbs is a lot! (like you didn't know that). That if fantastic!

Juggling triathlon with everything else certainly can be a challenge. I don't have young kids so I can't speak to your situation Steve but I know that for me with a new puppy and a larger work load, it has been easy to lose the balance that I had. I felt like my work is/was taking time away from my training where as most people feel the opposite (that triathlon takes away from their personal lives). With my race schedule this year, I need to get back on track and take care of me. (I work with people who have disabilities so am always in the care giver roll in some way).  I don't think that there is any right answer to this question but it does appear from all the forum posts that most of us are in the same boat when it comes to this.

Thankfully I haven't had to change much to drop some pounds.  On 1/1/10 I weighed the most ever and that was after 8 years of limited activity.  I really feel for me it was the swimming that dropped the weight fast.  I lost almost all of my weight within the first few months of training - about 25 - just over the last several have I been able to drop a few more.  I think I'm at a good weight now (156) and don't expect to drop too much more.  Even when in I was running 70 miles/week in college I was only high 140s/low 150s. 

My diet has been altered slightly (less soda/pop and no pop tarts for breakfast!).

My wife was very critical of my new found hobby last year. She never knew the active guy that I was 'back in the day.'  She is signed up for a beginner's running group starting in May so I'm happy that my activity is rubbing off on her.

Looking forward to learning and sharing with you all.

A Steelers fan?!?  Living near Rochester?  LET'S GO BUFFALO!

I give you a lot of credit for the discipline and commitment to lose the weight.

If yer foolish enough to have me I'd love to join yer group.

Does that make me a ... groupie?

Congrats on the astounding weight loss Ken!! Bravo, sir.

Ken, I would like to join your group.

My name is Vivian and I am signed up for a sprint tri in August.  This will be my first ever, I've been in weight loss mode since last July and have lost 22 lbs. thus far.  Am aiming for a total of 30.

I will post my full bio later.