My name is Carol Scheible. When I was 20, my cousin started doing triathlons. I remember thinking “That sounds really cool, but I could never do that – I’m not athletic enough”.
Twenty years later I was overweight and out of shape, and generally miserable. I decided to make a commitment to follow a healthy lifestyle for the rest of my life. I lost a bunch of weight without any exercise. Then I hit a plateau where I could not lose any more.
So…I decided to start running. While searching for run training programs online, I ran across this great plan called Couch to 5k at a website called Beginner Triathlete. That old thought about how cool triathloning sounded came back to me …it was tucked away in the back of my mind all those years. This time, instead of thinking “I can’t do it”; I thought “I will do it!”.
After finishing the Couch to 5k training plan, I added biking and swimming to my workouts, and completed my first triathlon in April 05. I am now hooked on the sport of triathlon and am fitter than I have ever been in my life.
My brother, Mark, has been doing triathlons for several years and he is a great help to me – giving me lots of advice and support and answering all my neophyte questions. Thanks, Mark!
My brother-in-law, Tom, is a runner and fitness enthusiast and has always been an inspiration to me.
I’ve recently met a guy on my master’s swim team named Jon. He’s a master’s elite triathlete and actually wins races. He’s very inspiring and is kind enough to share his wisdom with me. He says all it takes is persistance. I think he’s just being modest and is very talented. What they heck, tho, I’ll dream big and tell myself that maybe I can win someday too.
The site Beginner Triathlete is a wonderful resource for triathletes – both novice and veteran. Also, read my post on Getting Started in Triathlon.
Here is a picture of me in Spring 04, as a couch potato. This was after a lost a bunch of weight, but before I started my triathlon training journey. | Here I am in Sept 05 at mile 12 of the VA Beach 1/2 marathon Read Race Report, 2005 Read Race Report, 2006 |
Email me: ncskibum@gmail.com
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I use your Avg HR to Calorie Calculator for all my work outs now. Thanks for posting it. I hope that it stays on your blog for ever. I have it bookmarked. The accuracy is good. I had my VO2Max calculated during a fit test two years ago. Inputting it into your calculator I find that my #'s are within the 13 calorie/minute consumption rate my test formulated for me when I am at my Lactate Threshold. THANKS AGAIN! Best Wishes in Health and Recreational/Competitive Fitness.
Paul
I'm so glad I found your blog! I just signed up for my first triathlon, a sprint, at age 40. It will be in June. I am at my ideal weight, but am out of shape and haven't exercised since I had my last baby 3 years ago. I was really excited about the triathlon, found a great training program and have followed it to the letter, but suddenly am scared to death that I can't do this. You inspire me!
Hi Carol,
I found your blog and it is waaaay cool! I figured out how to follow you on Twitter, but I am such a blog baby (just started one a week ago) that I can't figure out how to become a "follower" of your blog.
Is there a button to click somewhere? Do you "allow" followers?
Thanks,
Pamela
I decided to do a Sprint Triathlon on Labor Day this year. I am 46, was 5'3.5" and 186 lbs. Needless to say, I was not healthy. That evening, under cover of darkness, I donned my running garb and set out on a run with my trusty dog. After .25 mile, I tripped over her and sprained my ankle. She is fine. But, after a quick trip to the Doc's, I realized I had torn ligaments. So...I bicycled and swam. I just completed my Spring Triathlon on October 24, 2009 and finished the whole thing. I've lost 10 lbs so far and surprised myself by actually running the entire 5K portion. I hadn't been able to run at all since deciding I wanted to try this Triathlon thing and injured myself. I almost cried at the finish line I was so happy. What a fabulous sport.
I am 39 and I have just finished the c25k program and I have set my mind on a triathlon. Hearing you story lets me know that I am not crazy.....or at least not the only one that IS crazy!!!! lol
Hey Carol!
There can never be too many inspirational success stories like yours. I'm currently building my first ever blog(I'm computer challenged)and am putting a link to your blog on my blog...
Here is mine if you are interested in displaying it..
http://www.ironstruck4triathletes.blogspot.com
This is my website...........www.ironstruck.ca
Hey Carol!
There can never be too many inspirational success stories like yours. I'm currently building my first ever blog(I'm computer challenged)and am putting a link to your blog on my blog...
Here is mine if you are interested in displaying it..
http://www.ironstruck4triathletes.blogspot.com
This is my website...........www.ironstruck.ca
i finished 6 months of chemo for hodgkins lymphoma about 6 weeks ago. been riding a bunch since then, and now looking down the road at doing duathalons/tri's. just found ur site, so i'm gonna check out this site from the beginning and see how u did it.
thanks!
Congratulations on all of your accomplishments and an amazing blog. I've been keeping track of my beginner (very beginner!) triathlon training experience at my own blog: http://amysfirsttri.blogspot.com/
Best of luck with your races!
Thank you so much for your inspiration. I have high blood pressure and a over active thyroid. Which I have been using as an excuse. NOT ANY MORE! This summer I am going to do my first Triathalon in Muncie, In.