UltraIronJen's Club - FULL

Teresa - Big Mama

Hope your group is still open...I wasn't sure if it was closed or not, but here goes!  I will be turning 50 this spring and in honor of that I want to do something "special".  I decided I wanted to do a sprint tri in June.  I, too, have struggled with my weight.  I am only 5' tall so it doesn't take much for me to have a "weight issue".  I have been a very active person until four years ago when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.  Although it does not stop me it does give me fits every once in awhile, but I have the okay from my doc to do this. I am looking to lose about 25 pounds training for this and will probably need the most encouragement and advise in that area!

I have been riding a bike for over two years and don't have a problem with that.  I can ride 25 miles, no sweat.  I've never been a runner, so I am starting from scratch there.  I have been a good swimmer in the past, but know that there tricks to doing it right, so I will be starting some private swim lessons at the Y so I'm not trying to teach myself.  Swimming in a lake certainly will be a challenge, but I'm not afraid to do it.  

I had tried to do this last spring, but circumstances prevented me from being ready when the spring tri was happening here.  So, I decided to wait til this year...and my birthday.  

I have a very loving, supportive husband of 21 years who just got back from France where he biked several stages of the Tour de France and three daughters, all very physically active and very encouraging.  And I've got a group of gals who have been best friends forever and they, too, are going to be standing by me helping me. One likes to drag me to the Y, two of them are dragging me to the Y and another one lets me swim in her pool.   So, I guess my first question is, what do I do?

I'll add to the group and be the 4th "mama" here.  My name is Cathleen, and am 37 years old.  I started training 3 years ago only to get pregant and have baby #3... last year was my first official season!  I battled breathing issues all season (lovely living in Houston TX) and had to cancel 2 races due to health/breathing issues but was able to get a sprint and a Spr/Oly race in.  This year I am registered for the same sprint race as last year and hope to improve my time - not to mention learn how to use my gears correctly.

I have been married for 8 years, have 3 children 8, 7 and 2 years old...  No fear of swimming although I want to learn how to open water sight swim.  Biking no problem I just need to learn how to use my gears - I don't get on my bike often due to 3 children and a husband who is NEVER home - so the spinner is my training partner... but running well, I can do it - I just don't enjoy it.  "Slow and steady wins the race" has been my motto but I'm tired of being slow and want to work on pace. 

FOOD is my passion - hence my slow pace.  I've re-started WW and hope to drop 25lbs by my race in May.  My ultimate goal is to no longer be an Athena by my A race in October... that'll be almost 40 lbs lost (WOW did I actually just type my weight out).  Again my motto of slow and steady wins the race will also help me in the weight loss area.

Look forward to getting to know all you ladies!

oh oh oh.... I know this (from the complete illiteral computer person) learned in my last mentor group.  copy picture to "paint" (i found paint in my asseccories file)  and reduce there to about 50-40% re-save and post  here!

tesera, where in kansas do you live?  i lived in Kansas for 5 years when my husnad was stationed at Fort Riley.  I enjoyed living there.

Hey ladies -

Looks like we got a great group!  I'm glad to see there are moms on here that can help each other manage family and training obligations. I can certainly help with general time management but since I have dogs and cats I am not the best source of advice on how to handle a 5 year old trying to poke you in the eye while you are trying to do your sit-ups.

My first advice for the group: Start training your weakness now.

For some of you, running is where you feel you need the most work. This doesn't mean you are feel strong on swimming and biking, rather you worry the most about the run.  Working through the hard part is what helps you boost your confidence for tackling everything else.  What you do in one leg affects the rest of them. If your weak becomes strong, all 3 will be stronger.

Let's get started by identifying a goal for that weak leg. To continue the running example, "I'm going to run an entire mile without stopping." Setting small goals breaks the big goal of a target race feel manageable. If we only focus on the big event it can be hard to just get started.

When I decided to train for my first Ironman I set shorter steps for my goals because focusing on the Ironman itself was too overwhelming. For example, the bike is my weakest link so I had to really focus on setting mileage goals. Do 20 miles, then 40, etc. For the run, I started by feeling comfortable doing a half marathon, then on to a marathon. For the swim I did it by time. Twenty minutes consecutive, 45 minutes, an hour, an hour and a half, then on to open water.  The last step was to put them all together. If I could do each one, then I was able to do them altogether.

So, what is your first goal?

I'm very excited about this group.  I think it's going to help me tremendously!  I registered yesterday for the Topeka Tinman Sprint Tri and I'm full of nerves, fear and excitment....actually signing up was pretty fun.  My husband is majorly jazzed about the whole thing and can hardly wait for me to actually do this!  He signed up for the Triple Bypass Bike Ride in Colorado in July so we are working on goals together.

 Jen, you said something about training to our weakness.  Well, mine is the running, but I am finding myself getting really nervous about swimming.  I'm going to go get a new suit tomorrow...I'm not happy at the size I have to buy!  And I know it's silly, but I'm so nervous about going to the pool looking like such a cow!  Any suggestions for getting up the nerve to actually show up at the pool and not feeling self-conscious? 

we're out... not retired (he has 12 years with his enlisted time) but finished with his committment.  he was an officer so after his initial 5 years he had 3 years of IRR which we were just removed from last May!  Praise God Allah or whomever you want, I'm just glad the service is up.

We liked Topeka... still get the annual Zoo membership -  Found memories in Kansas

For not feeling self conscious - You are setting yourself a goal of doing something many of your friends, neighbors and other people in the pool have never done, a triathlon. Be empowered by your courage to take on the challenge.  Screw all the skinny girls...they have nothing on you. Stand at the end of the lane, look them all on the eye and jump in. 

when is your TRI??  You might not even need one.  if water temp is above certain temp you're not even allowed to wear it (I think 76).  Given the winter though to date, it should still be USAT legal in June.Look upthe race here for others race Reports and see what they said about it last year...  Practice getting into and out wet suits - because races don't always have a stripper for you coming out of the water.  As was suggested to me - run around the back yard with hose being sprayed on you then work your transition to bike - remember you can't get naked at any point in transition - putting socks on while wet is very difficult and as I found out in my Spr/Oly last year my feet require socks for the bike run... oh the pain!

Tell me about size - had to buy new shorts today - not happy!!! 

what is everyone's plan today???  off for a run and good stretch... my glutus maximus is very sore from yesterday's weight session so a good stretch is called for

I have hill repeats on my schedule for today. I'll need to wear my trail runners because it is sloppy here today. Ugh, I hate running in the cold rain but when you live in the Northwest you don't have a choice!

Enjoy your workouts today!

Hi ladies - I'm having a great time reading your posts! I got in my workout despite rain and cold. I finished up a few things for work, changed into my warm running gear and looked out the window to see hail! Argh. I gave it 10 minutes and it stopped. Until I got out there then it started again. Bleh. I rechecked my schedule and had intervals scheduled today: 90' - 10 x (3' hard w/2' easy). For those who don't read gibberish, my workout in real english was: 90 minute run. In those 90 minutes, I did 3 minutes all out hard followed by 2 minutes easy/rest. I did that 8 times. I was supposed to do 10. I only did 8 because I had salsa for lunch and boy did I regret that! I did 2 mile warm-up and 2 mile cool-down for a total of 8 miles. Wow, I'm tired! Oprah and a cup of hot cocoa are good for recovery.