Kenj - triathletes in training CLOSED (Page 2)

It is good to see so many from western NY! I was in Ken's previous group and I am a Rochester guy too. Unfortunately, I am also a homicide detective with the RPD and things are very busy right now. So, my "attendance" on the website has been sporadic. I am still training though and I would love to be part of things here. I will post a bio later on when I get a few minutes. I also have to type a lot of these posts from an I-PAD which sucks. So, bear with me and my silly auto correct. Happy training everyone.

Kirk

NAME:  Yvonne

STORY:   Turning 40, did my first tri this past oct, sprint rambling rose and I'm hooked. Did a half marathon w team in training in 2006, so much fun. But got injured training for the next two events, first stress fracture in rgt tibia, then later one in left foot, then eventually one in right foot. So thought maybe tri would be better.  Just got a new road bike, first ever, clip less pedals and all, still figuring out how to use it! I've already done two sprints this year and looking forward to doing some more.

FAMILY STATUS: Married with two kids, 8 & 9 yo girls, both have done one tri and they are currently on a Youth Triathlon Team training for an event in May.  My dh is also on board to tri a sprint this fall! Working really hard to get the whole family on a healthier path with running and triathlons.

CURRENT TRAINING:  Pretty consistent since January, slacked a little the last week or two because I felt like I needed a break, but pretty active overall, weights and cardio at the gym, running ( couch to 5k to slowly work up tp distance),  swimming and biking.

2011 RACES:  Rambling rose sprint tri oct 2011 - my first one!

2012 RACES:   Azalea Sprint Tri (done!),Shamrock 8K (done!), Girls Run the World Sprint (done!), First in Flight 5K April 21, Warrior dash in may, ramblin rose may, Tower of Terror 10 Miler Disney in Sept., Ramblin Rose in oct. -  really want to do a longer distance in October, maybe white lake international but not sure if that's too ambitious?!?

WEIGHTLOSS:   Have lost 35 lbs in the last 14 months, another 25 to go. Working in some P90X starting this month too to jump start some more weight loss.

WHY I WANT TO BE PART OF THIS GROUP:    I love BT! Totally addicted! I'm reading all the posts, everything, and spending way too much time on this site lol.  I find it really helpful to stay motivated by reading about everyone's journey and all the diverse backgrounds.  I don't know many people locally so I use you all as virtual training buddies

Excited to get to know everyone!

Yvonne

Ok I have some time for my bio now... Sit back, relax and get ready to fall aspleep.

Story: So, I am a 42 yo male, divorced, living with my SO, Maureen this woman is a saint, my son Drew. In October I was weighing in at 304 lbs. I finally went for a check up at my dr's who sent me for lab work, come to find out I was diagnosed with Diabetes Milletus Type 2 and hypothyroidism. So I started taking pills for both. My fasting BG was 280's with a A1C level of 9.3. With hard work I have gotten my fasting BG down to 90 and a A1C level of 5.3. It is awesome to get there. Of course after looking at my diet and doing some research I read a book called WHEAT BELLY and have followed it pretty closely. That is what has helped me get my levels down. Of course in the process I have lost 74 lbs currently. Been plauteauing lately though. It is because of my diet lately, just need to refocus again. 

  I had started to run shortly after I was diagnosed and in december I started having some pain in my right ankle. I just figured it was from running or something like that. Well, one day the pain became so bad that I actually came to the hospital I work at. My ankle was tapped and they thought I had a septic joint, so off to surgery for a washout. All the tests came back negative for infections with this, of course AFTER my surgery, so more tests were done. It came back that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am currently using methotrexate for treatment and feel wonderful. Will there be a day that I cannot run? Maybe, but until then it is my choice to be active and I will not give up that right easily.

Family status: Divorced father of 3 kids, Kaety 22, Drew 19 and Olivia 14.  I also have wonderful twin grandson Jayson and Steven almost 3 by Kaety, who is also pregnant with a girl right now. Kaety lives w/ her BF, Drew with me and Olivia wit my ex-wife. Been divorced for 6 years and it is still tough to adjust not having my little girl with me. I crave my time for her and always count down to our next time together. My grandson are the cutest in the world, obviously. I have a wonderful SO, Maureen who loves them like her own and is also supportive of my endeavors.

Current training...Well I definetly train at least 4 days a week, need to really do my 6. I am doing well with the biking (at the gym), running ( I am doing a c25k, however this weekend I ran and only walked for about 2 minutes total out of 30 min), my swim, well, I don't drown. It sucks to swim and not do well at it. Just bought a book on total immersion and will be looking into it.

Last year races: I only ran to the food line, I think I beat most people but it wasn't officailly timed.

2012 Races: Well just did my Spring Forward race here in rochester. I am teamed up with my GF to compete as a team for the Flower City Duathlon. She is doing the running 5kx2 and I am doing the 20 mile bike ride. I also am doing a 40 mile bike ride for the Tour DeCure in June. Just signed up for a nurses run and also the corporate challenge in May, both 5K. After these I am not sure.

Goals: Well, here it is. I want to keep practicing and do some sprint tri's middle to end of summer, along with some half marathons. Next year I want to do olympic tri's and some marathons. 2 years, HIM. 3 years IM. I am my hardest critic about my performance. If I would rate it in a smell, it would be fish left outside on a hot day and well for a couple of days with a skunk dead on top of it. OK maybe not that bad but I am hard on myself. Hope you like the visual!

What I offer. Well, I will be one of your best cheerleader. I do draw the line at wearing a skirt and jumping up and down for you. For the locals, well if I have off I will be more than happy to come cheer you on at your races. So want to volunteer for the HIM Syracuse. Figure I can learn some stuff there.

Peter

It is good to see so many from western NY! I was in Ken's previous group and I am a Rochester guy too. Unfortunately, I am also a homicide detective with the RPD and things are very busy right now. So, my "attendance" on the website has been sporadic. I am still training though and I would love to be part of things here. I will post a bio later on when I get a few minutes. I also have to type a lot of these posts from an I-PAD which sucks. So, bear with me and my silly auto correct. Happy training everyone.

Kirk

It is good to see so many from western NY! I was in Ken's previous group and I am a Rochester guy too. Unfortunately, I am also a homicide detective with the RPD and things are very busy right now. So, my "attendance" on the website has been sporadic. I am still training though and I would love to be part of things here. I will post a bio later on when I get a few minutes. I also have to type a lot of these posts from an I-PAD which sucks. So, bear with me and my silly auto correct. Happy training everyone.

Kirk

Morning!

Not sure if I'm in the right place! I'm a total beginner in the triathlon world. I've just started to get back in shape for one on 7/21/12. I've always been very active, just needed something new and different that I have not done yet. Please point me in the right direction for the correct forum I should be in.

Thanks,

Lynda

NAME: bdenehy/Bill Denehy 

STORY: I’m 37 and live in Cold Spring, NY (Hudson Valley).  I started on all 3 sports last spring.  The driving factor was my sorry state of fitness and health.  A year and a half ago, I was at my heaviest weight and was suffering terribly from a herniated disc and sciatica.  With 3 young kids to play with, I didn’t want to go through life acting like an old man at 36.  I had a background in recreational running from many moons ago but had never swam or biked, and have no history of team/organized sports.  I quickly found that biking is now my absolute favorite activity, but somewhere where I need a lot of improvement.

I did my first tri last year after picking up a basic training plan off of the internet (before finding this site) and starting with 1 mile run/walks and 5 mile bike rides.

FAMILY STATUS: I’m married for 9 years with 3 fantastic kids, 1 ½ to 6.  As much as I can, I try to keep my triathlon training/racing separate from family time.  This means very early workouts, never exercising in the evenings, and the occasional missed training day on weekends.  I’m excited that my son is now old enough to start some activities with me and we are planning on doing some .5 - 1 mile fun runs, before local races.

CURRENT TRAINING: This season got off to a pretty rocky start.  I crashed my bike in December, separating my shoulder and causing some more cosmetic damage.  The shoulder put me way behind in biking and swimming (where I hoped to focus in the winter) but I kept up with the running.   Another issue for me is the timing of busy season at work.  I’m an accountant and work some pretty rough hours from January-April, staying in hotels near work many nights to avoid the commute.  I learned too late that I need to start my tri season later and leave some runway after busy season to catch up.  The other disappointment was that I DNF’d my first race of the season this past Sunday (a very flat half marathon).  I can go on about the whys/why nots, but short story is that I thought I was faster than I am and could not hang.  Moving on to the next race.

2011 RACES: 2 Sprints and 1 Oly in the fall.  I felt like I was well trained for each and executed well, if a little conservatively.

2012 RACES:  Oh goodness.  I really jumped in with both feet and became addicted to racing as well as training, but I’m just racing against myself at my current speed.  I’m currently registered for 1 duathlon, 4 sprints, 1 Oly, 2 HIMs, IMAZ, 1 Marathon, and a partridge in a pear tree.  My focus is on Rev3 Quassy in June.  If I live through that, I’ll start worrying about Arizona in November.

WEIGHTLOSS:  Before Tri-ing and watching my food intake, I hit 180lbs.  That might not sound so bad, but on my little frame, it’s not good.  I’ve dropped to 150-155 and seem to be maintaining okay.  I’m considering trying to drop to 145 for my June HIM, to make up for my weak bike fitness on a hilly course. I can’t do much as far as strength training with my busted up shoulder, so if I’m ever going to be skinnier, now is the time.

WHAT WILL MAKE ME A GOOD MENTEE: I am focused, focused, focused.  I spend a lot of time thinking about training (maybe too much).  I do like to share, but like the small group feel of mentor groups.  I’ve never been in one, but lurked around a couple.  The broader boards can suck you in and go any which way (maybe I’ll read them over the summer).  I’m happy to share what I’ve learned so far, and would love some accountability in return.  Given my schedule, my dog will likely be my only regular “real life” training partner, and he cant ride a bike, yet…

Story: Athlete in high school (basketball, baseball, track, XC) who went onto run DI XC/Track at Bucknell University from 1996-2000. Took an 8 year hiatus and started up running again on 1/1/10 at a New Years 5k. Slight running injury got me into the pool and I made a decision to train for a local tri that summer. I did 1 sprint tri in 2010 and 3 sprints in 2011. (4th, 1st, 3rd in AG)

Family status: Married to my wonderful wife, Amanda, with 2 awesome boys ages 4.5 and 3. Another wee one due later this year (our families don't even know yet!). Amanda has struggled with my training/racing regimen. Each year gets a little better as she realizes my enjoyment for the sport. I've had to plan my training time carefully around family commitments.

Current training: Currently, I'm running a lot as I'm preparing to run my first marathon in Pittsburgh on May 6th. I started the year swimming a lot, but that along with biking has definitely taken a back seat over the last 6 weeks and probably will until after the 'thon. I really enjoy running and it's by far my best of the 3 disciplines. I've even considered focusing on the run to "see what I can do" over the next few years.

2011 races: Tri in the Buff Sprint Tri, Willow Creek Sprint Tri and Presque Isle Sprint Tri along with various 5ks and 1 half marathon (1:23 personal best time)

2012 Races: Only thing definite is the Pittsburgh Marathon. I've tossed so many ideas around as to different tri's and also the notion of running a fall marathon; other local running races thrown in. There is a new HIM right in my backyard in September.

Goals: Weight loss isn't a goal for me at this point. I've steadily lost weight over the last 2+ years and I'm down about 35 pounds. My wife isn't too happy about it!

I have set some lofty running goals, but they're more long term. Hard for me to accept that I'm not 22 anymore.

I hope to be an encouragement to the other mentees as they head into race season. Ken's a great mentor with tons of knowledge. We're lucky to have him at our disposal.

Steve

Hi Lynda,

I am not sure what you were looking for, but you found the mentor groups, and ours in particular.  You are welcome to join our group.  We help and support each other through the training and help with questions on gear or training issues.  If you want to join us please post a bio about yourself. Thanks Ken

Hey Ken,

I'm in for another round.