Ironman Coeur d'Alene (Page 3)

Hey!  I'm from Jax (the beach to be exact)!!  That's cool you're coming out.  I have family flying out, too.  Hit the Dames Point, Intercoastal Waterway bridges, etc!!! 

You'll all make it!!!

I'm just over the ditch on Hodges.  I like this location but I definitely have the beach in my sites within the next two years.  I have decided to settle in Jax area so I'm ready for a house!  No more contracting for now.. Its time to come home to a place of my own.

See you guys in IMCDA!  I finally bought my ticket. 

Hi all -- Does anybody have the link that compares all the different Ironman bike courses? I haven't been able to find it.

After getting through some hellish hill rides in Jan-March, going back to the hills in April before going to the flats for my 100 and 120-mile rides, I went back to the hills today for another dose of the hurt that makes your bike go faster.

Then it occurred to me -- I have no idea how the hills I'm riding in compare to the race I'm training for. Example: After riding somewhat flat to mile 8, I climbed steeply to get to mile 9. That hurt. Then things rolled a little to mile 10, then went up and up to mile 17. I went home and mapped the elevation on www.mapmytri.com. I had never done this before, but it turned out I had climbed 3,000 during the 17-mile ride up.

So now I'm curious,  how does that compare to IM CdA?

Thanks in advance for help,

Sharon McN

Here you go....was just there!  http://www.ironmancda.com/bike.html  Look at the bottom for "Click Here" for the Interactive Map.  Good luck!!!

I was there when Hodges was built (did you know it was orignally a toll road??  Good thing there was room to go around the toll arm. )  Haven't been there in a while, but it's a good place.  Still have family there.  Family flying in from Mandarin to CdA.  CdA is gonna rock!!!!

Thanks, and let me tell you, I'm incredibly relieved. And perhaps overtrained.  CDA is in the mountains, so I was expecting similar terrain. I went 3,000 feet up between miles 8 and 17, and it took forever but I did it.

But in our race, we only climb a fraction of that. We climb hills of about 100 feet several times in the first 20 miles, then we go up 500 feet between about mile 18 and 30.

I wonder if some of our CdA veterans would pass on their take on the bike course, maybe some strategy or tips, maybe a few landmarks to look for? Help me visualize (without spending $99 for the Computrainer course video) what I'm going to see, hear and feel during the race?

 Thanks,

Sharon McN 

I have not done done the race yet. June 22nd I will take care of that part. However, I have ridden the course probably a dozen times or so. Intimately familiar with it.

I dont use a Garmin but think I have seen about 5000 feet total climbing or so. It isnt so much the total climbimbing that will zap as much as how you get there. Up 100 down 75 repeatedly wears on the legs.

And the real mental hurt is the second time around on the hills. You will ikely feel very defeated. That feeling passes on the cruise back into town (barring a nasty southwest or west wind that could make for a long day).

People who go to hard on the first lap could find trouble the second time around.

Hope everyone booked their flights early.  I just rechecked prices on my flights and they had gone from $1285.52 for 4 tickets to $3133.52 for the same 4........  Thank you god for making me book early.  

Is anyone else renting a wetsuit, i just rented from wetsuitrental.com hope it works out ok.....?

I'm renting my wetsuit from Inside Out Sports. Will be picking it up in CDA. At least this way I don't have to transport it back and forth. And if the size isn't right they will have other sizes I can exchange with.

Also I signed up for their service where I take them my bike in it's box and they put it together and tune it up for me. $89. I thought that was a good deal. I can't send it with Tribike transport, I only have one bike and can't be without it for almost 3 weeks. 

I just signed up for the tribike transport.  This will be my first adventure using them.  I have to change flights twice out there and twice again when I return.  I will have one large suitecase to deal with because I don't want to be charged an extra $25 for a second piece of luggage, ridiculous.  I thought it was worth the money to have my bike shipped ahead of time plus I won't have to mess with the set up. 
Luckily I have my previous tri bike to keep my legs spinning. 

I have to admit I am nervous about the climbing.  Power has been what I've been focusing on lately. 

Wendy you can peel me again!!!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Are you sure neoprene caps aren't allowed?  The athlete's guide doesn't say they aren't allowed (unlike swim socks) and I have a friend who wore one last year.

I love these 2 quotes:

"Because of unknown contaminants in the water, officials urge residents to take extra precautions when handling debris or entering the water."  Greeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaat!

"Perhaps the worst of the melting is over, but perhaps it isn't," said climatologist Cliff Harris.  Now that's covering your bases!!

When did this email go out? I haven't gotten it. I got the one about the bib numbers going out on June 9th but haven't gotten word on the booties. I believe the neoprene cap was oked in the athlete's guide already...

Robin- I have Tribike Transport on the 11th too.  I have a two hour bike on the 10th and then I'm naked till I pick it up on the 18-19th.  I'll do a 20-30 ride in CDA but that's it before the race.  It makes me nervous but I can't control it.  On the upside I will miss my bike and that will make me enjoy the race even more.

Ditto on the e-mails.

thanks for coming to CDA.

 I was always convinced I was the only one with those feelings. I have started riding only a year ago, and my longest bike ride until this march was 24 miles. The swim training is just at the YMCA, no open water, and when people tell me  I am crazy to run a marathon after the bike, I tell them I am walking the course, if i get there. I found out you can walk marathon in 6 hours with a slow run half the time. I have just changed my tube  for the first time last weekend. Well, just a pro all the way. But I am still married, the family survived the long hours and I found  great riding partner, who became my weekly " girls ( long) afternoon out" therapy session. 

 I just feel like my 97 ford expedition. I am not peppy, efficient and sleek and small,  but I pull my weight up and down the hill. Not fast, but with little care, pretty solid.

see you in CdA, jitka