Dodgersmom's Group - The inn is full!

Hi LaRae.  I would LOVE to have you in my group.

Congratulations on your incredible weightloss job.  My husband has also lost incredible amounts of weight.  Last year was his first real year doing tris.

I'm glad you are following a training plan. For me, having that accountability was the key to getting me started.  If I just went about the day thinking maybe I'll run today, or swim with no real goal, more often than not I found myself sitting in front of the TV saying "I really should do something"!

One thing that would be a great help is to start entering your workouts in your training log.  Again, on the accountability front, it is great to be able to know what you are doing.  It is also great to be able to look back even a month from now, to see the progress you have made!!

We all started off slow, but you will be amazed at how fast you will progress.  Welcome to the group!!

Hi Care!  Another Texan!!  Welcome to the group.  Congrats for getting back out there.  I have played the weight game so many times in my life.  Up down, up down.  Even now, with consistent training I still play the game.

I have come to the conclusion that the scale is not a good indicator of where you are.  There are so many factors that can make it different from day to day.  It's how your clothes are fitting, and how you feel.

I'm glad to see that you have chosen a plan to follow.  Like I said to LaRae, having that accountability is great. 

Have you set your sights on a tri for 2008?  The benefit of living in North Texas is that there are so many choices.  Look into www.dallasathletes.com.  Their races are really good.  I also LOVE the Irongirl in Las Colinas.  That would be my recommendation for a first tri.  Gerat couse, women only (there is even a first timers start) and well organized.  I have done it for the past 2 years and will be there again this year.

Also, check out the Texas forum.  There are always lots of things going on!

Glad to have you in the group!

Hi Marcy!

I am 44 years young and started with Tri's about 3 years ago where I started with 2 sprints.  Last year I did an OLY with Team in Training for Leukemia and Lymphoma and had a wonderful experience.

After the OLY I decided I needed a rest, (wrong move!) that was in June.  Needless to say I started gaining back the weight I had lost while training and just felt awful about myself.  I snapped out of it a little and signed up for the OLY again plus a HIM in August.  I was motivated until the holiday season and kind of lost it again with my diet and training.  I work 4, 10 hour days and commute 2.5 hours day, so I really need to be diligent in fitting the time in and actually doing it and not saying I should do it.

I hope you will consider me for your group.

Stacy

Hi Stacey,  Welcome to the group! 

Congrats on taking the step to sign up for a HIM, and making the commitment to get off the couch!  I agree, it is especially tough this time of year to get motivated.  If your workplace is anythng like mine, you could go from desk to desk just eating all the bad stuff that people bring in. 

You have a tough work schedule...are you a nurse?  The trick is to make use of the time that you do have.  Is there a gym where you work that you could hit during lunchtime?  Definately make the best use of the time off you have, but be careful not to overdo it.  The body can only take so much.

Are you following a training plan?  That would be my number one piece of advice.  Like I told the others, for me, it's about accountability.  Look at some of the BT HIM plans.  (Which one are you doing BTW).  Log daily (I'll be checking!!)

The good thng is, the holidays are almost over.  All the candy and cookies will be gone and it will be time to get to work.  August is not that far away!

Wecome to the group!

Hi Care.  Yes, it is a sprint.  The swim is in the lake off of 114 and O'Connor.  The bike is pretty flat as is the run. 

Yes, it is a USAT race, and to be honest, you don't want to even consider a race that is not USAT sanctioned.  I really think it is worth the investment to join.  I think it's about $40 and you get the cool window sticker for your car!

Hi Marcy!

I am a PT that works in an outpatient setting in a hospital in Boston.  I do have a gym here and this is where I work out during the week before work...5:00 AM

I am doing the Oly to HIM bridge plan that the coaches here on the site suggested I do.  Right now I am focusing most on running since I am doing a half marathon at the end of Feb.

Thanks for having me in the group!  Happy New year!

Stacy

Hi Mike,  Welcome to the group.  It's always great to have another Texan! 

First of all, stop feeling disgusted with yourself.  What's done is done and you can't go back.  The most important thing is to think about tomorrow, and the next day and the next.  The cookie you ate yesterday is history and you have no control over it.  You do, however, have control of what you do today, tomorrow and every day after that.

It's all about making smart choices.  I have found that if I graze throughout the day, I never get that ravenous feeling or those sugar spikes that make you feel crazy for about a half hour and then you just want to take a nap!

It's a lot of small changes I have made with regards to my eating that have helped me.  Multi Grain bread instead of white or wheat, brown rice, wheat pasta.  I never feel like I am denying myself.  Not sure if you have Double Dave's pizza in Longview, but they have a whole wheat crust so when I really want a pizza, I have that.

The book you have is good.  If it's the one I am thinking about, it is written by Joe Friel, one of the masters of the sport.  I bought that book for a friend who needs a little encouragement to do her first tri.

A few pieces of advice I can offer...

Get on a training plan. BT has some great ones that can get you through your first sprint.  I also think that book has a plan in it.  FOLLOW IT!  Make it a part of your day just like going to work.  Do you belong to a gym?  I prefer to get my bike and run workouts done in the morning before work.  It's just nice to know that by 7am I am done for the day.  Swims are a little harder logistically so I do them after work.

Piece of advice #2.  Start logging your workouts in BT.  It's important not only from an accountability standpoint, but it is great to be able to look back and see the progress you have made!

One question, what is your goal for the race in March?  Is it to just finish or to finish in a certain time/position.  Is it a pool swim?  Just some personal thoughts.  I went into my first tri with the goal to finish and I did.  I was also next to last but that was OK because I wanted to cross the line smiling and I did.  If I had said I want to finish in under 1:30, I would have been very disappointed and may not have had the passion to keep going.  In three years, I have progressed from a back of the paker, to a front of the back of the packer to a middle of the packer.  This year I hope to be a front of the middle of the packer (man that's confusing, but I think you know what I mean.  Set some goals, but make sure they are realistic.  I know you can do it!

Welcome to the group!

Hi mark!  Welcome!  You are our last group member!  Wow, three texans, a bostonite and a girl from across the pond.  What a great group!

Funny, my triathlon career started in Orlando.  My very first tri was the Disney Danskin race.  Funny thing about Disney, when it comes to their marathons that are all over it in terms of organization.  They have not quite gotten there with their tris yet.  I did the Disney International twice.  Loved it the first time as it was my first Oly distance.  The seecond time I realized how badly managed it was, not to mention there were areas that were just unsafe.  I'll take my Texas tris!

I was also a tennis player in my youth.  I think it was an issue of playing too much and I lost my passion for it.  Like you, I partied through my college days. After that, I stopped doing almost everything.  Tri's came about 3 years ago when I turned 40.  Now I'm hooked.

I love what you said about the feeling of accomplishment when you finished your first tri.  And believe me, if you work for it, that feeling comes with every finish line you cross.  We both know that it will not come easy.  It will require some hard work, but anything is possible.

You have to make it a part of your life.  I got a shirt for Christmas.  I'm training for ironman Arizona (yikes) and basically it says "Swim, Bike, Run, Eat, Sleep".  Of course, I have to fit a 9 hour a day job in there too, but it actually works.  My husband (Doughboy on BT) is training with me and that is a HUGH help.  If you have supportive people around you, anything is possible.

OK...standard questions and advice...

Are you following a training plan?  If not, you need to especially of you have your sights set on that OLY in April!  It is VERY doable.  Check out some of the BT plans, or just do a Google search and you can find them.  Of course, finding a plan is just the first step, you have to follow it!

Next...log your workouts.  The accountability is great.  I love looking at my yearly totals, and going back to my logs from a year ago to see the progres I have made!

Welcome to the group!! 

Hey Marcy and thanks for having me.

Now for some questions:

I was dissapointed in the silver plans that are available. There aren't any 16 wks plans at that level only 12 and 21 week. I imported the 12 wk plan but right off the bat it says I should be able to swim such-n-such distance before starting the plan. I litterally have not been in the pool in 6 months or so. I have no doubt that i can get back in it pretty quickly, but 12 weeks mighht be too aggresive.

The other issue I have is my work schedule. Currently I need to be at work at 6AM and dont leave til 5:30PM Monday thru Friday.  All the plans I looked at have 2 of the long work-outs during the week. This is just not going to work given my work load. Ideally I'd like to have the long swim and long bike on the weekends when i have more time. The long run is OK during the week, currently I run through my nieborhood and it wouldn't be a problem for me.

What I have done is create a train plan on my own. i'd like to be able to import it but I havent seen where I could do that easily. Do you know of a way?

Another question I have. I have a pretty good running base. Currently I am running 6 miles 3 days a week. My bike and swim are non-existent however. I am fact currently trying to find a bike to purchase. I hope to have one by the 7th.

Because of this I been thinking maybe I should push the Oly back into the summer and perhaps do a Sprint at the end of Marh into April time frame. What do you think?

Thanks again for your help.

Mark

Hi Mark,

I think any plan that you can stick to is a good plan!  One thing my coach told me is that it's OK to flip workouts around to different days to better accommodate your life.  I really hate it when life gets in the way of training!

Sounds like your running is there.  Have you looked at Craig's list for a bike?  Sometimes you can get some great deals but just watch for the size.  A bike that does not fit right is a disaster waiting  to happen.

You may want to think about starting the season with a sprint.  Check out www.lonestartri.com.  I did the Oly there lat year and my husband did the sprint.  Keith Jordan is probably one of the best race directors around.  If it was not 2 weeks before IMAZ, I would be there.  It would be a great first race.  It's on March 29th.  The course is flat and fast and there will be tons of other BT'ers there.

The awesome thing about Texas is that there are races almost every weekend.  If you start with the sprint, you should easily be able to handle an Oly in the summer.   

Well,  Looks like our group is all set.  I love the fact that we all have common goals!  If you guys and gals would start logging your workouts, that would be GREAT.  I'll be checking daily and sending lots of inspires plus posting here.  Any questions, just ask.  What I don't know I will promise to find out.

Also, Most of you already have your sights set on a race or two for the season.  Can you let me know what they are/

I am really looking forward to getting to know all of you better.  You are all already in my friends list.  You may want to add us to yours!

Have a good night everyone! 

OK. I started fooling around with the "planned vs actual" calendar and I might be getting the hang of it. I'll see about spending an afternoon inputing what I came up with hopefully soon. I am leaving to visit family back in Florida tomorrow and i'm not sure of what access I will have to a computer, if I can i'll imput my 15 week training plan am going to follow sometime this weekend. If not it'll have to wait til I get back after the 7th.

I happened to have my runs from the past few days still saved in my Garmin. I went ahead and put those into my actual.

I hope everyone in the group has a wonderful and safe rst of the holiday. See you'll next year.

Mark

Have a great time in Florida!  Take advantage of the nice weather to get outside!!  PM me if you are having trouble entering your plan.  My husband (Doughboy) knows how to do it.  I actually let him do mine so I can have him tell you how to do it!  Have a safe trip and talk to you soon!

Marcy

Glad you are going to do IronGirl.  That really is one of my favorites.  I will be there too!  You may want to look for something between the 5K and Irongirl.  Maybe another 5 or 10K in May. 

That sounds like a good idea with the training plan.  Where do you swim.  Most of my friends are in Allen and McKinney and I know they swin at the Lifetime Fitness. Maybe I'll coem out and run the 5K with you!   

How does your husband feel about your new found passion (I say passion because it may not be now, but it will be )

It is so great that your husband is supportive!  Too many times I know of people who have had to give up the sport because their significant other does not support them.

Getting back into it it is tough, but once you make it a habit, then the days that you don't work out feel strange.  We have one day off a week (mondays) and I find myself almost feeling guilty for sitting on the couch and watching TV.  My body, however, thanks me for it.  

The fact that you have goals will make you want to get out there and workout.  

I'm excited for you!