Let's Get It Started! with chrisbowers mentor group - CLOSED and ROLLING! (Page 2)

Finally had time to sit down and type it out so here it is!

Name: Lauren

Story:  Starting at about the age of 4, I swam competitively through High school.  Before high school, I got burned out and stopped for two years then swam in High School as PE.  I always preferred the distance swimming (500yards was the most in a meet)  I got to where I was swimming a 500 easily in around 7min.  After High School, College and then work life took over.  I was nowhere in the shape I should be in. (and still am not)  I have never been the type of person to be able to just "Get in Shape"  it doesnt work for me.  So I signed up for a Tri and I'll be darned if I will make a fool of myself so I got in shape.  Had a great time and signed up for more!

Family Status:  Just me and My Basenji "Jane" but I have a great, supportive extended family

Current Training: I have been off since around September (Since my last tri on 9-11-11) due to work, heat and injuries (I have re-occuring pinched nerves in 1 in my upper back and 1 lower back from past).  Just got back into riding and will get on training Jan2 (18 weeks from my first planned Tri this year!)

2011 Races: 2011 was my first year in Triathlon.  "My First Triathlon" in July, Surf Town Tri in August, TriRock San Diego in September and SheRox in October.  All Sprint Races

2012 Planned Races: Wildflower in May (not sure distance, maybe try the double: Sprint and Olympic?!?!)  Vineman Half Aquabike in July, TriRock San Diego Olympic.  Maybe throw in a sprint or two in the middle!

Weightloss:  Have struggled with it my whole life, especially runs in the family.  I know it is a big part of the reasons I have issues with my back.  Hopefully this year I can get below 200.  All I really want is to be in good shape.  I am not built like most females I know so it makes it difficult to estimate what my weight should be so weight is just a number to me.  I want to be comfortable in my own skin.

Other: Because of work and other things, training is going to be difficult this year, but I am going to give it my best and try to stick to my plan.  Unlike most people, I live in the middle of the desert, so it is very difficult to train from June through the end of September as temperatures stay above 100 and very often reach above 120 deg.  That is when I go inside and get on the trainer (just purchased two months ago!)  Swimming becomes my escape, but running and biking suffers.  Last year came dangerously close to full heat stroke on a ride so I am going to have to plan a little better this year!

I am looking forward to having the support this group can bring and hopefully set some new PRs! 

sorry double post

Ha ha, my husband gave up the son dream after we had 3 daughters.  Our oldest daughter had our first grandchild and we were all so relieved it was a Boy! 

NAME: Cynthia

STORY: Couch potato for my entire adult life until about 2 yrs ago.  Eating chips watching 2006 IM championship, (for the 3rd or 4th time that summer), and Sister Madonna seemed to run by my t.v. screen and said why aren't YOU doing this?  I tossed my chips aside and said, "Alright Sister Madonna...I'll do it!"  Geez.  So my first year was to see if I could the 2nd was to improve...now?  Its just what I do.  I too hated running, could not swim and did not even own a bike until about 3 weeks before my first tri.  

Family Status: Married to Mr. Supportive, (he gets this and helps me in many ways) for over 27 years.  We have 3 adult daughters, spread coast to coast, and on 12/26/11 we will officially be empty nesters.  We have a punk and half of a grandson that I do believe is the cutest kid in the world of course.

CURRENT TRAINING: Started the off season with a strength training program which has made a big change in physique.  For the past two months I have been grinding out the miles and did not log much.  Will set up a training program for an OLY .  Santa brought a trainer for me and that it going to help soooo much.  I work over 70 miles from home so time is a limiter...but my biggest limiter is when I am a mental midget, as my middlest sometimes reminds me not to be.

THIS YEAR'S RACES: Several sprints, Dust Devil, Napa, Donner Lake and my first OLy, the TriRock series in San Diego.  I made small improvements to my times from the previous year but not as big as I should have been made.  Out of my league in the San Diego TriRock but it was pretty cool.

2012 RACES: I will repeat the sprints and definitely the TriRock...last time I finished dead last and want to NOT do that again.  I want to be more prepared and better fueled.  

WEIGHT LOSS: I have lost over 75 pounds; none of it in the past two years, I actually weigh exactly what I weighed when I started "tri"ing.  However, I have gone down two sizes since doing triathlons. I guess a little something called muscle tone.  I have lost the 75 pounds over the years, weighing 235 at my heaviest and now 163.  I would like to get to 145 but not look like a sack of antlers, I want to be strong.

I am looking forward to a new season.  Spending Christmas day getting myself organized for the upcoming season, choosing a new training plan, setting new goals for the month of January, the year and selecting my races.  

Good luck to all!

Cynthia,

  Looking forward to meeting you at TriRock this year.  I did the sprint last year in the Athena Division and have entered this year the Olympic in my AG (Start a little sooner!)  See you there!  Loved that race except for the bike!

Hey Chris,

Hoping to join if there's still room!

Name: Brian

Background:  I swam on year round swim teams from the age of 6-18, played 4 years of water polo in high school then joined the Navy and became a Search and Rescue Swimmer ( I think my swimming background had something to do with that choice!!) After the birth of my daughter, I started sinking into the couch more than the swimming pool. I had gained wayyy too much weight and my body was starting to get upset with me.  Last year, my cousin completed the Ironman, Kona and that it what got me motivated to do the same. I can't let him be the only one in the family to complete an Ironman!  I have been training for almost 2 mos now and have lost 13 lbs so far.   Swimming is my strong point and I have no problems with the bike, it's the run that I have never come to enjoy.

Family: 37 years old, Married (3 years) One daugher (13) who is a year round swimmer.

2012 Races: 5k run Jan 22nd, Sprint Tri June 2nd, and whatever else sounds fun. Bay to Breakers is always a good one!

Health/Weightloss:  I am 6'2" and weigh 222.  I'm looking to get down sub 200 in before Christmas of next year.  I have always struggled with keeping the weight off my entire life (I love to eat!!) but my diet has drastically changed the last 3 mos and so far so good.

My name is Jeff (aka jeffnboise).  I'm 49, been dabbling in tris for a few years now.  Mostly a runner/cyclist (kinda suck at swimming).  I'd love to join the "group" if you'll have me.  Bio will follow.

thanks,  jeff

Leaving to go visit an Athletic Center that has a pool.  I plan to start swim training next week. 

Ken

January Goals 2012

1. Follow plan (A lot of swimming on weekends; I do not have access to the pool after work)
2. Log my food intake on BT
3. Find a yoga class - had one but it got canceled
4. Start the New Year off with a 5K race (actually done on New Year's eve but it will be my kick off event)

My sister has 4 boys.   Her first grandchild was a girl.  I think she'll be spoiled.

What a small world!!! Yes I was an AW and on North Island, but I was attached to HC-85. I was a TAR if you know what that means.  I had a bunch of friends in HS-2 and possibly HS-8 but it's been so long I can't remember exactly.  That is so cool to have another Navy person here!!!

Heading to see a PT tomorrow for this calf issue. Hope this helps. My ortho thinks it might be compartment syndrome, but we will try the PT first. I have been dealing with this almost two years and its time to get some relief so I can really hit the training hard.

How much training do you guys do if you are sick. I hadn't ridden for a couple of weeks due to injury and I have caught a chest cold over the holidays. Yesterdays ride, was ruggedly awful. I had to stop ( which I did only the first time on a bike) a couple of times on the way home to get some strength back... I was whacked by the time I arrived. It felt I had ridden over a 100k, and not two journeys of 30k split by a working day... I slept 10 hours last night and today, I am in the wolly head cold syndrome.. I couldn't force myself out of the bed to swim.. 

But given my condition and my goal of Ironman in June ( injured knee at present ) what would you guys do around training?