Hi Everyone,
I just found this group today. I'm a triathlete and my longest to race date is a half Ironman (70.3). My first Ironman will be October 2015 in Louisville, KY. Great to 'meet' you!

Welcome, welcome. I'm hoping Lou gets more attention now that it's later in the year.

So glad to have discovered this group!

I'm a 34-year-old mom of 4, and up until this year had never done anything remotely athletic in my life. I smoked for years and never had to worry about my weight....until I quit smoking and took up ice cream instead. Anyhow, I completed the C25K program in March, ran my first 5K race in May, bought a road bike in July, and participated in my first sprint tri with my husband in September.

My next events will be my first 10K in March, followed by my first half marathon in May. I'm still on the fence about which tri(s) to do next summer, as I have a giant fear of open water to overcome between now and then.

Hello Everyone!
My name is Brian and I am 39 years old (turning 40 in 2 weeks ). I have been on a journey to get healthier for about 10 years and have been doing triathlons for 4 years now. My longest distance has been a half ironman completed in September 2013. Last year I was in a bike accident during my annual first tri of the year on May 17 and it really impacted my ability to train and achieve my goal of completing my first full iron distance race. I was able to plod through the year and did complete a few sprint distance races, but it was a big disappointment. I am an alcoholic and addict that has been clean and sober since July 8 2005. I made a commitment to complete an Ironman within 10 years. Looks like that wont happen but that is ok. Another goal I made was to get married in the same time frame and that will happen!!! I am getting married on June 7 this year, so that puts a wrench in my tri training. So for 2015 I am planning on completing as many sprint distance races as possible, maybe one each weekend, around my wedding and honeymoon. I quit drinking in 2005, and quit smoking in 2011, now I really need to lose some weight. Currently I am about 215 lbs. and would like to get under 190. I am 5'9 and stocky so even though that sounds heavy I have a lot of muscle mass due to working in construction most of my life. About 6 years ago I took a desk job and gained weight. I have been stuck at this weight for about 5 years and have struggled to loose it. I am willing to do what it takes but I could always use support, advice and accountability. I am very glad to be part of this group and will be sending some friend requests soon. Please feel free to send some my way too.
Thanks for reading!
B

Hi everyone, I am Neil (36) from Nottingham UK. I got into Triathlons in 2009 whilst trying to get rid of some excessive weight I had aquired in my late twenties and after doing a few local sprints in the first year went on to take part in 17 sprint Triathlons between 2010 and 2012. Then I got married, moved house and had a child (Well my wife did most of the hard work with that!) and the Tri's went out of the window... After xmas having put on a few pounds of baby sympathy weight I started training again and have my first tri in 3 years on Sunday.

I have had to massively adjust my training schedule due to the combination of work commitments and a baby but I am very much enjoying getting back in shape and especially getting back out on my bike.

Hi everyone! I've been competing in triathlons for the last 6 or 7 years, I'm a solid age grouper who likes to pay to get free T shirts. I vividly remember watching Julie Moss in 1982 compete in Kona. I did NOT think "Hey, I totally want to do that!" but it must have planted some seed. So when I was training for an open water swim (St. Croix Buc to Buc 5 mile that sounded like a good idea at the time) I started adding some cross training of running and biking, entered a sprint and was 10 seconds from placing...well...

So here I am, competed in my first IM last year (Choo...the run will take you to a dark dark place, the bike is fast even if it was 116 miles, the swim faster) with a torn meniscus. Surgery cleaned that up but found damage to the cartilage and periosteum, well that put a damper on running. I'm doing a couple of Aqua Velos this year and then return to IM next year with IMMD, my mantra is "I will walk the *kitten* out of this marathon!"

When I'm not in the pool or on my bike I'm working for a large construction company or hanging out with my 2 kids (12 yo and 2 yo).

I too have a Cervelo aluminum road bike, I love that bike. No shame in quality aluminum and I'd take it over entry carbon and a couple extra grand any day.

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!