SBR Utopia ~~~~ Permanently OPEN!! (Page 89)

He keeps mentioning something about beating those pesky Americans at Alcatraz...  

Since Jason has most certainly been wondering, a few snowflakes were falling on this morning's run.

How brief? long enough to sign up?  

I had to snowblow 12" of those flakes on Tues

http://www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com/Register/Charity_Race_Slots.htm

I just thought it felt nice to be outside today?

When you have an 80 yd driveway and a bunch of walkways to dog kennels and horse pastures on 10 acres you don't do much hand shoveling other than steps and decks

The foot is coming along but I've been slacking on wearing the protective boot and am prolonging recovery a bit.  Swimming is no problem and I'll give the bike an easy sping today to test it out. 

Enough Escape from Alcatraz -- who wants to do Leadman this year? 

The date hasn't been announced yet, but it's been mid-September the last two years, so I'm assuming it'll be around then in 2015 as well.

I'm having a really hard time figuring out what races to do next year.  I did three HIM's, each 8-10 weeks apart, this season and don't want to do that again.  But it seems that all the races I'd be interested in seem to fall within ~12 weeks of Galveston 70.3. 

We just had a 9am fire drill at our office.  The smart people brought their umbrellas with them...because it was a little hot with the sun out.

Scott, you are smart to practice lots and experiment to see what works best for you.  I did my one and only IM in 2012 and sort of winged it.  I had tried things out in training (sort of) and had an idea of what I was going to aim to take in but to be honest I got lucky and sort of got away with it.  

I honestly forget what I was shooting for as far as the number of calories but I had a mix of things on me to avoid getting sick of the same thing for hours on end. I knew the race was going to be using Honey Stinger waffles and gels so I at least trained with those as much as I could in order to live off the course once I ran out of what I was carrying with me.  I started the bike with a bottle between my arms and another bottle behind the saddle.  I also had a bento box on my top tube with some solid food in it.  At aid stations I grabbed either water or perform depending on what I needed at the time.

Others will likely chime in with better advice.  The best I can offer you is "don't be me".   

My setup is just a torpedo bottle up front and a single behind the seat bottle.  For training sometimes I'll put a dual cage behind the seat.  I converted my P4 bottle into my toolkit.

Sometimes for longer training rides I'll mix one bottle normal and one with extra calories.  Then I plan my route so I pass a water fountain at a distance where I want to refill.  Pour half the strong bottle into the other, then top off both with water.  That way I don't have to cart around so many bottles.

Leadman is still on my list but not next year.  I'm still wide open on what I do after Alcatraz next year - considering just sticking to local short course stuff with some bike races mixed in.

Same here.  I plan to do a couple of short course races next year as I "slowly" get myself back into swimming and running.  Still focusing on bike races though.  Keeping my options open for long course in 2016...which would likely include Honu...and if all goes well, I'd keep my options open for Leadman.  There seems to be some talk of a few people I know considering Whistler for 2016...so I may jump on that as an alternative for a late summer finale.

Same here.  I plan to do a couple of short course races next year as I "slowly" get myself back into swimming and running.  Still focusing on bike races though.  Keeping my options open for long course in 2016...which would likely include Honu...and if all goes well, I'd keep my options open for Leadman.  There seems to be some talk of a few people I know considering Whistler for 2016...so I may jump on that as an alternative for a late summer finale.

I'd go to Bend just to drink the beer and play in the mountains! 

Good question, however [checking the record book] looks like current standings are America 1, Canada 0......

In complete seriousness though, to show some love to our notherly, colder brethren in a show of mentor group detente, herein are my personal recommendations based on 2014

Swim

Don't believe the hype.   You know how people talk up races like "hardest ever," "coldest water," etc?  Same here.   Water's actually very warm.   Don't bother training in or even bringing a wetsuit, won't be wetsuit legal (all those race photos are from the colder March 2013 race, little known fact).

Whatever you do, don't train in chop.  It's like a pool out there.

Sighting, blah blah.   Just aim for the big orange bridge.   You will hit land.    Eventually.   And they may not speak your language.  

On the boat, eat as much as you possibly can.   Saves time later stopping at aid stations.  Aim for 2,000 calories on the boat ride over.

Transition 1

SPRINT the entire T1 or you will lose the race before it almost begins.   Best to run in flip flops here.  

Bike 

Flat and aero as can be.  I recommend removing the 39 chainring (or the 34 for you weaklings with baby... i mean compact.. cranks), and go with an 11-20 10 speed cassette.  I know they don't make it, make your own.  Or better yet, an 11-14 with seven 11 tooth cogs.  All you need.   Trust me (I'm a lawyer, would I lie?)

Run 

Oddly though it is an out and back, it's all downhill.   Not sure how they did that but the course director is a genius.   

Sand ladder is more like a little sand dune.  Like T1, sprint the sand section, you'll make up a lot of spots.  

I am sure I'll think of more, but if you just do the above, you'll have  race to remember!

Interesting, what's the thought behind this?