BamaDC's Group - CLOSED

Hi Mark. 

If you'll have me, I'd love to join your mentor group.

NAME: Wade

Family Status:  Married 13+ years.  Wife and I doing BT together.  Two kids, 7 and 3. 

Story:  After a scary Dr. appt back in May, I goofed around on Atkins for a few months (40lbs) (273 to start) and then started bike commuting to work and back.  Finding a way to exercise is difficult when you work 12-14 hours five nights a week.  Driving a truck is sedentary as well.  Next, we joined the YMCA at the end of the summer.  One day we found out the pool would be closed the next day (for the annual Medford OR sprint tri).  With no actual training and a messed up ankle, I signed up and finished it.  Now I find that having a tri goal makes it easier to exercise.  Is racing fun?  Maybe I'll find out, the first one was just tiring.

I've compressed vertebrae in my back twice, last time was over 13 years ago (I also married a chiropractor).  I have some left shoulder difficulty (post arthro for torn cartelege) though that is somewhat transient.  My left ankle has some trouble  post-trauma from 25 y/o motorcycle escapades, but with the weight loss and a brace, it is getting better. 

I find that I really enjoy biking, but the fastest bike in my stable is a hybrid with a rack and fenders (trek 7.5fx), except hills I do OK. 

Current Training: I just finished the couch to sprint training program.  My strength/core was lacking, and I overshot on the bike.  For the last 2+ weeks I've been basking in laziness and Medford's icy streets.  We went to Orlando just after Tday.  If weather permits, I ride 15-20 miles per day (commuting).  I've just started the new plan with beginner sprint.

2010 Races/ Goals: Wife and I are looking to repeat the Y sprint at the end of the summer of '10, also talking about the Blue Lake Sprint in Portland OR (June '10 I think), and we have some wacky notion about flying the family back to Wisconsin (my family) to compete in the Whitewater sprint tri in Apr (with as many family as we can convince). 

I've been as low as 217 recently, but this morn, was back at 229 (vacation I guess).  My tri experience is not about weight loss, but I like it as an aside.  The goal on that end is to reduce my size more so that my long ago injuries are less impacted by gravity.

Would love to be the guy running down the street, actually smiling.

Thanks,

Wade

NAME: Brian Cooper

STORY:
I have been doing Triathlons off and on since 1987.  One of the first Triathons I did in 1987 was against a 16 year old kid named Lance Armstrong.  I have loved this sport and got started in it when the Mark Allens and Dave Scotts of the world were pioneers.  I enjoy running and riding and I tolerate swimming.  I am in it to push myself.  I am a goal oriented person.  I will be a middle of the pack person and I am okay with that as long as I get better.  It is exciting to meet new people and love getting to hear people's stories of why they got into the sport and what drives them.  It is fun telling people and looking at their face when you tell them how you train and when you train in my case!  

FAMILY STATUS:

I am maried for 26 years.  We have two daughters.  One is married and a graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.  She is a teacher.  My youngest daughter is graduating in May from North Carolina State and is planning on attending graduate school in the fall.  Has not decided which one yet.  My wife's story is much like my own.  She is currently not working out but I am setting a good example for her every day.  I know she will come around.  I am blessed with a great family.  My wife and I are empty nesters in Orlando, Florida.  It sad in many respects because we can't see our kids on a daily basis. I just became a grandparent in January of this year.  It is great in other respects because I can train without the obstacles others face with young children.  I have done that earlier in my marriage and know what that is like.  It can be managed but at times hard.

CURRENT TRAINING
I am an executive in a large company and I work long hours (12-14hrs) M-F. I don't train during normal hours. I do my training at 3:30 in the morning on M-F.  It works best for me because I can always count on this time and am not being pulled in any directions.  I have been steady with the running and biking.  I am getting stronger in each.  I just started swimming again.  I have never been a strong swimmer.  I can do the distance but the stoke is terrible and I am slow.  I have thought about getting a coach but don't know if I want to get tied down with a time.  In the PM I swim when I have time. 


THIS YEAR'S RACES: Since I started back training on the 1st week of July 2009 - I have completed a couple of 5K's, 1 10K, 2 10 milers, 1 Half marathon, and a century ride.  I am running a little over 8 minute miles in 5K's and 8:38 for 10 milers and 9:08 for the half I just completed. 


2010 RACES:  Miami ING Half Marathon Jan, Century Ride Tour De Cure Orlando, Florida, Florida Great Escape Olympic Tri Clermont Florida in March, St Anthony's Tri in St Petersburg Florida in April,  Florida 70.3 in Orlando in May and maybe a Ironman - Great Floridian in Clermont at the end of October.


WEIGHTLOSS: I just recently got back into the sport in the last 6 months to get fitter.  I turn 50 next year and want to do a HIM and full Ironman.  I have lost 75 pounds since I started back training. Started at 250 and currently weigh 175.


. 

Mark,
When this group closes can a list of the people who are in so that we can put their names on our training logs.  So far looks like a very diverse group.  Looking foward to seeing everyone progress here. So far I think I may be the oldest at 49.  I turn 50 in April.  It is resting to see the folks on here who are using Triathlons as a way to loose weight and get fitter.  I could have posted something six months ago if I had joined a group and it would have said much the same thing that many have posted in this group.  For me it was my youngest daughter who is a student at NC State.  She came home for the summer the last week of June this year.   She had started running.  She knew I had been in and out of triathlons and asked her old 250 pound out of shape dad to go running with her.  75 pounds later I haven't looked back.  It feels great to get up at 3:30AM in the morning and go running or riding.(no pools here open at 3:30) 

Again good luck to everyone in this group in your goals.  I ran 8 miles this morning.  What are you doing to improve today?