Howdy.

I decided years ago to run a tri sprint after watching some friends compete. I accomplished that task but then life hit with a series of family medical issues. Those were hard years, but I think much of that is past now, my kids are well into their teens and I am ready to get back in the saddle. First, however, I have to drop some pounds and getting in shape will be slow and steady. I know lots of folks can do this in six or twelve weeks. That is not my program. My goal's are a bit more conservative. The large goal right now is to run a Sprint in the spring - I am targeting March, but it may be April depending on meet availability and my schedule. Longer term I may try an Olympic distance one day and would love to find some folks to run a tri-team one day. I don't currently have any plans to run anything more (e.g., half or full). (I also want to do a zombie run and maybe a mudder or spartan type race, but TriSprint first).

Me. I'll be 48 in August, am 5'7ish and a classic endomorph. I can pack on weight (adipose or muscle) rather quickly, but dropping pounds is a knife fight. I am about 250 now, but want to get out of the Clydesdale class well before the first roll. It is do-able and I am already on my way with a healthy eating plan and daily exercise and have been consistent since mid June - short, I know, but long enough to have built the habit into my routines and genuinely looking forward to my workouts. More, long enough to know I want to do the TriSprint. (I actually started working out for me and only decided after much thought to set the Tri goal in stone in the last couple of weeks).

My basic plan is to keep working the weight loss while building the cardio and strength base. I intend to assess where I am in November and adapt my workouts towards an actual Tri. I also plan to run some form of 5K well before the first tri just as a warm up. I am currently slowly progressing on the treadmill; I do 30 minutes each day with a slow progression to increase speed/distance. I added a stationary bike and when I get comfy enough, I will get back out on my road bike. I will add swimming last as it is my absolute favorite so I get to keep it as a goal. I also know from experience that I can tune that up very quickly.

I went looking for a Tri group here because I remember enough to know that I don't know poop. For example, I added stationary bike to my routine last week and realized I don't recall correct leg extension or cadence. I am finding seat height by feel and been trying to keep my cadence around 65 for now. But, the point is I have no sound basis for those decisions. I hope to learn from the experience of others.

I am fairly new to MFP - joined in mid June. If anyone is interested in adding a rook as a friend, I'd sure appreciate it. Just add a quick note with your request so I don't overlook. Again, I hope by following news feeds of the experienced, that I will learn and I am very open minded to others constructive criticisms (I may not agree, but certainly give thorough thought to those trying to be helpful).

Anyway, glad to be here and looking forward to my journey and some new friends. Hope to even run a few with some of ya one day. Right now, I would be mainly in the SE US (NC, SC, Va) but eventually hope to branch out and do a bit of touring. I know I want to run at least one event in Pittsburgh (oh my, those hills though) and maybe even something Internationally just for the fun of it - like maybe a nice trip to the UK to do a race, watch a rugby match or two, and have a yard or two of ale.

Steve

10 years ago I finished IM Madison. It was a horrible day of wet/windy conditions. I finished but it was brutal. I quit triathlons and fell way out of shape. I was at 230 on race day and I'm 5'11" so I wasn't exactly svelte even then. This fall I hit my crisis weight of 245 and figured I needed a kick in the pants. I probably over-committed, but I signed up for a 10 year anniversary run of IM Madison. Now I'm paying for it. My run is coming along pretty well. Swimming is so so, but I was a HS swimmer, so my technique is at least reasonable. The bike is my weak point. I live in central IA, so there are no hills that compare to the course that I know of that aren't on gravel roads. I'm using TR as much as I can to get quality, but I'm still a horrible FTP of 206 (up from 195) last fall. I'm now 15 weeks out and I'm going crazy. My weight is down to 224 and my diet is mostly under control. I have a half marathon in early June, a flat 70.3 race in July and the IM in September. Wish me luck! I need it.

I started my triathlon journey last summer. Some coworkers and I decided to do a sprint relay, i was the bike rider. We did pretty well and after another relay toward the end of the season I decided I really wanted to try the whole event on my own. I bought a wetsuit at the second event and started training from the point forward. I did the "learn to swim a mile" app, then I did it again, and again. I also trained through another app called 1stTimeTri. The winter was a perfect time to get ready for race day. During the winter I also bought a pretty decent road bike. Last month I completed my first super sprint (200, 7, 2), and placed 4th over all. Next month I have my second (400, 6.5, 2), followed by at least one per month through August.

I love this sport. I love the fact that it's hard, that most of it is training and thinking. I love the anticipation of race day and the thought of a PB. I love the people who love this sport. The genuine way they talk and want to help one another. And I love wondering what my ultimate limit is.

I’m 55, 6’0”, 215 lbs and have been triathlon training for a year. I’ve done 3 sprint triathlons and just finished my first olympic distance event. Cycling is my strong suit because of my strong legs and background as a matched spint bicycling competitor. Running is my weak suit, simply because of weight. I’m running a 6’45” mile currently, but I have found that difficult to sustain for longer distances.

I have lost about 50 lbs since starting a year ago. Still, 215 lbs at 18% body fat is far too heavy. If my calculations are correct (lean body mass of 177) 8% body fat would be 192 or somewhere thereabout. Still heavy for triathlons, I know. But I like the training and I like the people, and I’m getting in the best shape of my life, so even if I’m not on the podium I’m having fun.

Hi Shannon! Get in to pool this winter way more than you want to - those laps do the most for me come summer!