HILDEKQ'S Magnificently Motivational Mentor Group - CLOSED!! (Page 2)

STORY:  I am 38 years old, (or 39 in triathlon years!) and am starting training for my second season of triathlon.  I am a swimmer first, then comes the running, and I'm a realtive newbie at biking.  I’ve been a swimmer all my life, and swam division I in college at the University of Minnesota. Back in July of 2008 my daughter was about 18 months old and I decided I could no longer use the excuse that I "just had a baby" so I joined weight watchers and started the Couch to 5K running program. After I completed that in September I needed another goal so a (crazy!) friend of mine convinced me that signing up for a half marathon in November was the way to go (who goes from 5K to HM??? - what was I thinking!??) So I ran my first HM in November 2008 and have done 4 since then along with many 5K's and a few 10K's. Between July 2008 and February 2009 I lost just over 50 pounds. In the fall of 2009 we moved from VA to NH and I decided I needed a new goal to stay on the workout train since my life was kind of turned upside down with the move - I needed something to focus on rather than the stress that would drive me to eat and gain the weight back. Since I was always a swimmer and felt like a descent runner I thought triathlon was the next step. I bought a bike in April 2010 and started Tri-ing! I competed in 2 sprint Tri's and 1 Oly Tri and LOVED them all! During that training I was approached by a woman at the gym who asked me to join her bodybuilding team I thought she was kidding but, it turns out she really thought I would be good at it. So, at the end of my Tri season (August 2010) I began training for my first bodybuilding competition which I competed in in October 2010 - I placed 5th overall in the novice group and got the award for the best novice poser so, I guess she was right! The transformation I saw in my body was AMAZING, and I had a blast! Since then I have been in maintenance mode and as of last week started training up for another bodybuilding competition in March Once that is done I will switch modes back to triathlon training

CURRENT TRAINING AND RACE PLAN:  The focus at the moment is on my bodybuilding and maintaining some cardio fitness! I will be doing some snowshoe running races in the coming months as well and then in March I will switch back to full fledged tri training I am planning 2 sprints and an Oly again this year with several trail runs and road running races sprinkled in The swimming comes easy to me, I enjoy the running and the biking is "ok" but probably the area where I have the most to gain in terms of improvement.

My name is Tammy, and I am a triathlete. (Chorus: Hi, Tammy). I usually go by Turtle around here to distinguish me from the other Tammy. I'm 43, an airline pilot, a wife and a mom, so my workouts sometimes happen at weird times & places. Thanks to the travel, I get to experience dodgy public pools in every corner of the country, and I have a drawer full of winter running gear, even though I live in perennially summery Phoenix.

Being athletic is relatively new to me. I was the fat kid in school and did nothing more active than marching band until my 20's, when I started running to lose weight. It worked, and I was an on-and-off runner and regular exerciser from then on. I started training for my first (sub-sprint) Tri a year ago, looking for some cross-training to avoid the running injuries that plagued me. I was instantly hooked and went on to do a couple of regular Sprints and an Oly. My big goal for this year is to finish my first half-Iron distance tri in April. Endurance comes easy for me, but speed is my nemesis. It doesn't come naturally and I hate training for it! BUT, I don't want to take all day to finish my race, either. I just aspire to be middle-of-the-pack. As long as race volunteers aren't asking me "Are you OK??" I'll be happy!

I look forward to hanging out with you all for the new season of S/B/R!

Tammy/turtle

p.s. my user name- tstl- stands for "the sky's the limit" 

Looks like a great group.  I'm really up for round 2 of the MMM's.  We had a lot of fun in the first go-around.  Here is my story:

Name/age: Janet, age 51 (52 in tri years)

Location: SE Michigan

Family:  I have a wonderfully supportive husband and 2 coon-hound / lab mix pups.  Neither my husband nor my dogs have any interest in triathlons or anything remotely similar. 

Story:  I consider myself a runner and always have been.  I'm not too fast, but I generally enjoy every mile.  In 2001 I ran my first marathon, and completed my 8th marathon last year.  I've also run countless 5k, 10k, 10 milers, and 1/2 marathons along the way.  Last year I felt I needed to try something new and it was a toss up between trying some ultra marathon distances or triathlons.  You can guess which way I went.  I completed 3 sprint distance triathlons last year.   I still may have a ultra in me but not in the forseeable future.  Swimming is my weakness, I am new to cycling but feel my runners legs can pretty much hold their own on the bike.

Goals: My training log contains my race schedule, I will continue to fine-tune things as time goes along..  I like to concentrate on running in the winter months and have a marathon scheduled for the end of May.    2011 will include at least 1 OLY.  I am lusting after a HIM but think I need to at least attempt the OLY first before making a commitment.  Since swimming is my weakness, I will be spending lots of time in the pool in order to get some endurance in the water.

I look forward to following everyone's progress as they work towards their goals.

Tammy (TSTL) - Good for you! I am always amazed at women who do the unexpected and break the 'glass ceiling'!! I worked as a Tank Mechanic in the Army for 4 years to buck the system telling me that because I am female I can only work certain jobs!!
 I actually started on this journey in Psychology 20 years ago after my first baby boy was born, but thought that with all the 'baggage' I had it wouldn't be the right field for me. Got my BS in Criminal Justice, tried some Business courses....and realized that psych is really my PASSION. I'm leaning more toward the forensic side of the field or the research/academia and would like to see myself w/my PhD in 10 years.....