Triathlon Dreams Big Fart

Well I have always said that if I loose some weight I would love to do a triathlon. I even told the shrink during my psych eval that I would love to do a triathlon. She said something about setting realistic goals. My wife looked at me like I was nuts whenever I said that I would like to do it. Since surgery I have been telling my wife that I want to do the Chicago Triathlon in August. I have been reading AJP's triathlon blog. And I have to admit a couple months ago I probably thought the possibility of doing a triathlon was slim to none. Now let me just say that I know that what I did today at the gym is not close to the same thing as a real triathlon. However considering on Sept 24th I was 405# and a half hour at 2.5 on the treadmill was a serious workout todays accomplishment is a stinky fart non the less.  Today a the gym I swam 1/2 mile, rode the bike 13.5 miles and walked yea mostly walked 3.0 miles on the treadmill. Total time was 2hrs and 18 minutes. Pretty damn slow I know but I am still excited about accomplishing it.  Now I just need to figure out how to train to move improve my times and make sure that I will be able to do the real thing. I just needed to share this with the group. Jon PS- Had to buy new pants yesterday. Size 52 down from 60 on sept 24th.

I thought I was smelling something!  Sounds like you've already come a long way.  "Realistic" goals make sense (but who's to say what realistic is?).  I think you can do anything you set your mind on.  It will take some steps to get there but you're doing it!  Best of luck as your progress continues.  I look forward to hearing more about your accomplishments. Brian

Hey Jon, Not many of us can perform like A.J., but there is an interesting alternative.  There is a 30-day triathalon starting on Jan. 10 sponsored by Mid-Atlantic CONTACT in N.J.   You have 30-days to complete the swim, bike, and run portion of  the event.  It is honor system based, and you can do it from anywhere in the world.   I did it last year to keep me revved up for the winter.   It was fun, although the swimming for me is brutal.  I completed the 110-mile bike ride the first day, the 26 mile run the first week, but the swimming took the whole 30-days.  If your interested I can post additional information on the event when I get home. Keep going for those impossible dreams, Rob 

Well I was thinking more like the sprint distance. Which is why I was excited that I actually completed the distance yesterday at the gym. While I understand doing things on machines and in the controlled environment of the gym is nothing like the real thing. I am now convinced that if I was able to go the distances yesterday I am capable of training and "competing" (more like completing) the  real thing. Just accomplishing 2:18 minutes of continuos activity was not in the realm of possibility a few months ago. Jon

Very cool, Jon!
That's the way to do it. One attainable goal after the other... Eventually you'll accomplish way more than you EVER expected.
Less than a year ago, I was doing the exact same thing as you.

As proof, here's a copy and paste job out of my OH blog from this past New Year's Eve:
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"Dang... Exacty one year ago today I was tipping the scales at over 4 bills. Now, Im LESS than half the man I was that day. I'm careening towards 40 years old (well, 2 1/2 years to go) and I've NEVER felt better! So, just as a year-end present to myself, I decided to take on my own little personal sprint distance triathlon at the gym this morning: I hit the pool for 500 meters, followed it up with an hour-long intense spinning class and finished it off with a 5K on the treadmill. Done... and I could do some more right now if I were so inclined. My new fitness goal for 2007 is to complete the Olympic Distance (instead of my original goal of the Sprint/Short Course Distance) at the New Jersey State Triathlon in July: 1500 Meter Swim; 25 Mile Bike; 10K Run. And from there... who knows? Maybe a Marathon in the next year or even, as a 40th birthday present to myself, 2009 Ironman (2.4 Mile Swim; 112 Mile Bike; 26.2 Mile Run). One thing's for sure... I ain't gonna rule it out. Last year, I don't think I even had the stamina to WATCH the Ironman on television!"
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Just 11 months later, I'm signed up for a 1/2 IronMan for this coming June and I've got Full-On 140.6 IronMan scheduled for the summer of '09!

Keep plugging, brother... It CAN be done!
Congrats on all of your success, thus far!

Be Well,
A.J.

I am there with you.  Don't stop, keep moving.  I'll share with you how I have been blessed (baby steps, but big baby steps).  Starting at over 300#, I have had a heart attack, double heart bypass, high cholesterol, high blood pressure.  My cardiologist came up to me last year with a death sentence..."You have congestive heart failure".  He basiclly said I was dying.  I said isn't there anything that can be done.  He said no.  After this I had RNY.  Have got below 200# and my heart is in the normal range now!!  Thank the Lord.  I did a local 2 mile turkey trot a few weeks ago.  Not a great time, but completed the course running.  Got third place for my age group (out of 4 competitors).  I won a flat of eggs for the prize.  That flat meant more to me than any trophy someone could have one.  It is an individual thing that only you can know what you've done.  The skys the limit...Brian

I'm getting triathalon dreams right with you.  This month is the month I start training for my "Novice" I found this link to wikipedia link that lists the various levels of triathalons lengths.  Definately gives me a path to go down for long term goals too.  Also, you can show your doc your goals are realistic by reaching the intermediate goals!!! Take care-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triathlon