I'm pretty sure "Eileen Steil" and "lazy" are mutually exclusive :) Good luck with your sale--3 dental implants--so freakin' expensive :/ I hope your knees are OK, ankle improves, and that you can get the rest and recovery you need while taking care of so many (big!) others. The thought of swimming 48 miles makes me want to hide in a hole in the ground. You rock!

And I took a cot and sleeping bag into work yesterday. Gonna try to take your advice and work in a short post lunch nap.

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Trying to fight gravity on a planet that insists

Trust me I can get lazy and crash with the best of em. I love endurance so the swim shocked me that there was minimal physical damage. There was mental damage LOL bummed the rest couldn't have been finished. I will be thrilled tomorrow when the finishing touches get put in, it will be closure.

I'm proud of u ignoring the naysayers - you obviously have balance as a priority. I work around so many pro and elite athletes and get what it takes - there's a difference between competing and completing. Both requires time spent. Both require dedication. The fact that your husband took 2 days he wanted to support and feel right about the choice. You will love this year of training and overcoming challenges. There will be ups and downs. Truly enjoy the process, that's the best part - the finish line is the best emotional part, the start line and the National Anthem gives me goose bumps to this day. You get to write your own story, don't be afraid to push the limits a little bit :-) you might just surprise yourself.

 
age: 39
gender: M
hours training/week: 7-11
job/hours: Consultant / 40
favorite of the three disciplines: all
least favorite: all
main tri distance you race: HIM
bike: Trek TTX 9.8
OCD, scale of 1 to 10: 9 (If I wasn't on the iPad I would have went back and started each point with a cap - even now it's killing me)..
comfort with risk, scale of 1 to 10: 5
biggest food craving: Coffee - is it a food....
hours of sleep avg/night: 6
introvert/extrovert: Introvert
thing you check out first on other triathletes: Breasts on females / body marking on males (to check if they're in my AG....)
guilty pleasure that undermines your training, but you can't/don't want to give it up: Family

NFLers - I'd have to stand on a stool (a tall one) to give them a massage.

Thanks for the update. You are amazing and it's always good to hear from you. One day we will meet in real life!
love tc

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maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD

age: 57
gender:M
hours training/week: 12-18
job/hours: Career Coach, 30 (love what I do)
favorite of the three disciplines: biking now, used to be a runner, but body not cooperating
least favorite: swim
main tri distance you race: Sprint, but want to do IM when I'm 60
bike: Cervelo P2
OCD, scale of 1 to 10: .Training: 8-9, Life: 4 Punctuality: 9
comfort with risk, scale of 1 to 10: 10
biggest food craving: mixed nuts
hours of sleep avg/night: 5
introvert/extrovert: EXTROVERT
thing you check out first on other triathletes: Women: legs, six-pack, Men: bike
guilty pleasure that undermines your training, but you can't/don't want to give it up: chocolate

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Cervelo R3 and Cannondale Synapse, Argon18 Electron Track Bike

what an interesting trajectory this post is...

i'll play.

Age: 33

Gender: F

Hrs Training: 13 Off season, 18-22 Training Season

Job/Hrs: 20, business owner, passive income, living the dream

Favorite Discipline: swim and bike and run

Strongest Discipline: swim and bike

Least Favorite Discipline: transitions

Weakest Discipline: Run (major run focus in this off season)

Main Distance: IM and half IM and road racing

Bike: SC9 Trek TT bike, R3SL Cervelo for road, Kona xc bike, giant mtn bike

Comfort w/Risk: 9

Biggest Food Craving: Dark chocolate and chips, pickles....and sometimes at the same time.

Hrs.of Sleep: 10-11 - i sleep like a growing teenager.

Introvert/Extrovert: Extrovert

First thing I check out on Triathletes: Their EGO...and nerdy compression socks... ;o)..also to see how vascular they are (veiny)

Guilty Pleasure: epo...blood doping...cocaine... ;)

age: 26
gender: F
hours training/week: 10-25 depending on time of year
job/hours: PhD student, 40
favorite of the three disciplines: cycling
least favorite: varies
strongest: swim or bike
main tri distance you race: I race them all, favorite is probably HIM
bike: tri- P2, road-Madone
OCD, scale of 1 to 10: 7 (I hope it's that low)
comfort with risk, scale of 1 to 10: 4
biggest food craving: chocolate
hours of sleep avg/night: 7.5
introvert/extrovert: introvert
thing you check out first on other triathletes: back (I used to be a swimmer)
guilty pleasure that undermines your training, but you can't/don't want to give it up: staying up late

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twitter | Blog

Age: 24
Gender: Male
Training per week (hours): 20
Occupation / hours per week: Field Engineer / 100
*God, I wish I was back in school when I only had 15 hours per week of actual work to do*
Favorite discipline: Cycling
Least favorite discipline: Waking up in the morning
Distance: Sprint/Olympic
Bike: SHIV Pro
OCD'ness': I honestly don't have the time or energy to be OCD anymore, but when I do it's all the way up there
Risk: "Go Fast, Take Chances"
Food craving: DQ Blizzard (Snickers)
Average hours sleep per night: 5
Extrovert or Introvert: Introvert but not by choice, by schedule
Always have to get a good look at their bike in the morning. I can always check out legs & butts on the run when I'm getting torched by everyone else.
Guilty pleasure: Golfing, Really what's so damn addicting about hitting, and losing, a little white ball anyways?

Age: 34
Gender: Female
Training per week (hours): ~18
Occupation / hours per week: Customer Service Representative / 40.
Favorite discipline: Honestly, all three. Love them equally, love them all. And the weightlifting I do.
Least favorite discipline: I love it all. I have triathlon coursing in my blood :)
Strongest discipline: I'm improving in all three and I think as I make myself into an athlete I will be competitive in all three.
Distance: 1 HIM, 2 Olys, buncha Sprints, IMCDA 13.
Bike: Royal Windsor 2011 ($800 Bikesdirect bike).
OCD'ness': 11/1-10. I use for good, not evil :)
Risk: I finished a marathon in 9 hours and 15 minutes because I was gonna die or finish. Hopefully finish (which I did).
Food craving: Peanut butter.
Average hours sleep per night: 6
Extrovert or Introvert: Depends on how well I know the person. The more I know a person the more extrovert I get.
Thing you check out first on other triathletes: Legs. I'm a legs person more than a biceps person. Love to see legs with muscle.
Guilty pleasure that undermines your training: Training is my guilty pleasure :)

Age: 27
Gender: Male
Training per week (hours): ~16
Occupation / hours per week: Finishing up PhD in biochem/ 55+
Favorite discipline: Running. No hassle, can be done anywhere
Least favorite discipline: Swimming. I hate the crowded pools.
Main tri distance: HIM/ IM
Strongest discipline: I'm the fastest during the run, but I have much more endurance on the bike.
Bike: QR Cd0.1
OCD'ness': 3 when it comes to triathlon, other areas of my life more like a 7.
Risk: 7.
Food craving: Chex mix and ice cream.
Average hours sleep per night: 6-7
Extrovert or Introvert: I want to do everything alone, but never turns out that way.
Thing you check out first on other triathletes: Veins and tattoos.
Guilty pleasure that undermines your training: movies and TV shows.

Don't we all. But that's a true statement in this case.

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---------------------------------------------------------
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -- A fake Albert Einstein "quote"

Don't we all. But that's a true statement in this case.

Looking over this thread, it seems to be true. Its probably the #1 performance improver that most on here could make - sleep more. Not train more.

If you don't believe me, have a look at the research, or talk to any of the coaches that know what they are talking about, which will back me up on this.

If I got only 5 - 6 hrs sleep/night, for more than a week, I would be sick with a cold or some other ailment - almost guaranteed

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

age: 33
gender: F
hours training/week: Currently- Very low. Typically when I'm training 12-20
job/hours: Emergency Medicine Resident (60 hrs plus out of work study time, volunteering and teaching)
favorite of the three disciplines: Cycling
least favorite: Run
main tri distance you race: Kind of everything
bike: Cervelo P2Sl, Cervelo RS
OCD, scale of 1 to 10: 3
comfort with risk, scale of 1 to 10: 3
biggest food craving: Peanut butter
hours of sleep avg/night: Who knows. I'm a shift worker. Anywhere from 5-10
introvert/extrovert: Somewhere in the middle
thing you check out first on other triathletes: Bike
guilty pleasure that undermines your training, but you can't/don't want to give it up: Wine

I'm in....

Age: 44
Gender: Male
Training Hours: 10-12
Job/Hours: Corporate Lawyer/Varies 30-60
Favorite Disclipline: Running
Least Favorite: Running
Distance: Sprint up to Half, varies
Bike: Cervelo P3
OCD: 7
Comfort with Risk: 5
Food Craving: Peanut Butter M&Ms
Hours of Sleep: 6-7
Introvert or Extrovert: Pretty close call, but introvert I guess
First thing to check out: Bike
Guilty please that undermines training: Wine

Totally going to try to take your advice on this, but I'm wondering if you could get a little more specific...

Certainly the amount of sleep one needs varies quite a bit between individuals; some people do just fine on 5-6, and some people really "need" 10 to function at their best. I totally believe you--and agree--that the big gains (and immune system function) require adequate sleep and recovery, and more so as the volume goes up. Can you give some basic sleep mins or guidelines given volume or other significant parameters?

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Trying to fight gravity on a planet that insists

Age: 22
Gender: Male
Hrs Training: 11 - 26 (avg. 18)
Job/Hrs.: environmental modelling / 20 hrs
Favorite Discipline: run
Strongest Discipline: run
Least Favorite Discipline: bike
Weakest Discipline: bike
Main Distance: Oly
Bike: '07 Specialized Transition
Scale of OCD: 8
Comfort w/Risk: 2
Biggest Food Craving: bananas, PB
Hrs. of Sleep: 6.5 hrs at night + ~1 hr nap
Introvert/Extrovert: introvert
First thing I check out on Triathletes: their bike
Guilty Pleasure: naps


I don't have true OCD, but definitely many tendencies. I'm a happy, productive and successful person when I stick to a rigid daily routine. But any deviation from the schedule (in sleep, training, work, eating...) and things fall apart.

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CodyBeals.com | Instagram | TikTok
ASICS | Ventum | Martin's | HED | VARLO | Shimano | 4iiii | Keystone Communications

age: 30
gender: M
hours training/week: depends on which race but tri = avg 16
job/hours: Investment Manager, 50
favorite of the three disciplines: running
least favorite: bike, because i suck at it
main tri distance you race: HIM
bike: 2010 Felt B2R, 404s
OCD, scale of 1 to 10: 4
comfort with risk, scale of 1 to 10: 3
biggest food craving: chocolate (pie),
hours of sleep avg/night: right now = 6(baby), usually 8
introvert/extrovert: introvert, few friends and always on my own plan
thing you check out first on other triathletes: legs
guilty pleasure that undermines your training, but you can't/don't want to give it up: oreos

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Disco
South Bend, IN

Habitual Line Stepper..

Well I guess what the hell.

age: 27
gender: M
hours training/week: 10-20
job/hours: Sports and Recreation director 40-60 depending on event schedule
favorite of the three disciplines: running
least favorite: swim
main tri distance you race: HIM
bike: Look 576, 2 Giant mountain, 1 jamis mountain, 1busted old commuter
OCD, scale of 1 to 10: 2 at best
comfort with risk, scale of 1 to 10: 10
biggest food craving:
hours of sleep avg/night: tuesday-saturday 3-5 Sunday&Monday 6-8
introvert/extrovert: X-tro
thing you check out first on other triathletes: Calves
guilty pleasure that undermines your training, but you can't/don't want to give it up: Bad sleeping habits, unhealthy eating (like sometimes 2 whole pizzas in one sitting)

I got hurt too much as a downhill biker/jumper and used to race on feet so I decided to put it all together and add some swimming.

age: 57
gender: Male
hours training/week: 10-12
job/hours: accounting, 40 (average)
favorite of the three disciplines: running
least favorite: swimming
main tri distance you race: sprint/olympic
bike: Trek SC and Specialized Transition
OCD, scale of 1 to 10: 2 (took the test)
comfort with risk, scale of 1 to 10: 5
biggest food craving: coffee,red meat
hours of sleep avg/night: 7
introvert/extrovert: introvert, always train alone
thing you check out first on other triathletes: tummies on women. don't check out guys, but I don't judge...
guilty pleasure that undermines your training, but you can't/don't want to give it up: red wine

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Find out what it is in life that you don't do well, then don't
do that thing.

age: 24
gender: F
hours training/week: 10-12, on average
job/hours: non profit volunteer coordinator/admin
favorite of the three disciplines: running or cycling
least favorite: swim
main tri distance you race: sprint/oly/HIM. Usually a mix of them
bike: I bought my bike off of Craigslist. It's a used Aquila (house brand of a Toronto area LBS). I've dubbed my sport "ghettoathlon"; the only saving grace is that at least it's all 105 and Ultegra. Besides, winning feels that much better when you have the shittiest bike in the field.
OCD, scale of 1 to 10: 6
comfort with risk, scale of 1 to 10: 7
biggest food craving: bread, ice cream, chocolate (SUGAR)
hours of sleep avg/night: 7.5
introvert/extrovert: introvert, mostly. Large groups of people exhaust me. Keep it <4 in social settings
thing you check out first on other triathletes: legs
guilty pleasure that undermines your training, but you can't/don't want to give it up: beer, beer, beer.

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. . . . . . . . .
-julie

I'll play

Age: 36
Gender: Male
Hrs Training: 12
Job/Hrs.: hazardous waste remediation - business development (estimating and engineering)
Favorite Discipline: bike (crits and road races)
Strongest Discipline: swim
Least Favorite Discipline: swim
Weakest Discipline: run
Main Distance: not applicable - I went straight to IM (IMCdA), had a blast, but backtracked after finding interest in cycling
Bike: 2012 Giant TCR Advanced SL
Scale of OCD: 7
Comfort w/Risk: 8
Biggest Food Craving: bananas
Hrs. of Sleep: 6.5 hrs at night
Introvert/Extrovert: even split but think I present myself as a quiet extrovert
First thing I check out on Triathletes: their bike
Guilty Pleasure: beers

Age: 37
Gender: Male
Hrs Training: winter: 8-10 summer: 12-15, maybe a little more this coming year
Job/Hrs.: stay at home dad, part time student, part time at a bike shop, small business owner/30-50 hours weekly though work blends into home life quite nicely most of the time. The exact hours are pretty vague as a result.
Favorite Discipline: right now it's swimming but only because I'm on the steep part of the improvement curve and it's feeling fun to chase down faster times
Strongest Discipline: its my running currently but should be my biking
Least Favorite Discipline: none
Weakest Discipline: swim. Still a MOPer until T1
Main Distance: Olympics and HIMs
Bike: Trek SC
Scale of OCD: recovering OC maniac. Now in life I'd say I'm a 5. In work/Business/Bikes= 10+ though I try not to be OCD with my kids.
Comfort w/Risk: 4, down from a solid 10 a mere 15 years ago. Now I have a family....and I've been reminded of my mortality a lot in past years.
Biggest Food Craving: Chocolate
Hrs. of Sleep: 8-9 hrs typically. Helps a lot as mentioned above. As my wife says, sleeping is my superpower.
Introvert/Extrovert: pretty split.
First thing I check out on Triathletes: legs....for chicks its just to see some hot looking legs, for dudes I feel like it's going to predict how fast they are (but it never does).
Guilty Pleasure: I always drink a coke during long rides

Just posting to ST gets you a 7/10 on the OCD scale :-)

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TriDork

"Happiness is a myth. All you can hope for is to get laid once in a while, drunk once in a while and to eat chocolate every day"

I'm sending you an award for a cool post.

age: 29
gender: M
hours training/week: 9-10, July and August are around 12-13
job/hours: teacher, musician, doctoral student for the last four years (but JUST finished!!). Everything together has hovered around 75 hours (September through June), but things are changing now- not sure where the total hours will end up, should be around 60.
favorite of the three disciplines: bike
least favorite: swim
main tri distance you race: HIM, but going to DU's only for next year
bike: P3
OCD, scale of 1 to 10: 8- used to be a 10, but am getting better with this!
comfort with risk, scale of 1 to 10: 8
biggest food craving: pizza
hours of sleep avg/night: 6.5
introvert/extrovert: introvert- I hate crowds, but do like an occasional run or ride with someone else
thing you check out first on other triathletes: nothing really
guilty pleasure that undermines your training, but you can't/don't want to give it up: this glass of vodka sitting next to me