Going ALL Naturale! RPE only??

I did FL with my HRM (didn't really follow it), did LP totally by feel.

On the bike .... if it feels like you are going too easy, slow down and go even easier.

The difference between a good run or a long walk is all handled in the first 80 or so of the bike ........

I'm using mine for my first one.  I tend to blow up during HIM's.  I wont be a slave to it, but I want to use to keep tabs.  In the past, I have felt great going harder on the bike and say screw the HR, just to implode during the run.

I think if you have done one in the past (or two would be better) I think you could do in no problem.

I don't use a heart rate monitor racing, but I do use my watch.  I like to see the total time and know where I am.  Usually can't do much to change the pace I am in, but I like to know.  Although, I am planning on this being a race for fun and not worry about time, I'll still have on a watch for the Great Floridian!  :-)

I don't bring a watch or look at time while racing any distance.

IM I did have my PM with me but observed it not a slave to it...I train with it.

You need something to make sure you consume calories. I had an old IM watch on my handlebars set to beep every 20'. Every 20' I ate so I was sure I was consuming the right amount of calories, liquid, and sodium.

No gadgets necessary. For training, you know. For racing an IM, Rick's right, just slide a notch or two down the RPE on the bike, and you're good.

I'm pretty convinced that coaches, equipment mfgr's, and retailers overcomplicate things. Tain't that hard. Just go.

I think it depends on how well you are in tune with your body and RPE. Experienced athletes are very much in tune with their bodies and via RPE can basically nail the pace/power they are racing at. Inexperienced athletes on the other hand don't have that skill yet and tend to over estimate RPE in particular on long distance races. This mistake results on poor pacing and a long slow day.

My athletes train by RPE and some use HRM/GPS/PM as another mean to gauge effort (and for me to gather extra info) but many race just by feel/RPE. In my personal case I train swim/run by pace and RPE and ride by power/RPE. When I race I go by RPE although I do use my power meter on the bike as a secondary way to gauge effort (make sure I am not making anything stupid) but mainly to gather data for post-race analysis.

I would say if you have trained by RPE and can tell pace correctly go ahead and do so. If you haven't you could use any other tool as a secondary way (safety pass) to make sure you are where you are supposed to be.

What you might consider is covering your gadgets up -- in race information is very useful to look at after the fact.

 Athletes nearly always find that RPE is far, far out of whack in the first three hours of an IM distance race.  I've never had accurate RPE relative to HR/pace/power in the first four hours of an IM race.

 I use my gadgets to keep myself capped out -- helps me enjoy my marathon more than the races where I've gone on feel.  Those have tended to be pretty painful on the run.

 Hope this helps,

 gordo

To echo what Jorge said...it's really about how well you know your body. The experienced athlete can use RPE to judge effort and be confident in what their bodies are telling them. I haven't worn a HRM, used a Power Meter, or even worn a watch for most of my races this year.

That being said for someone who is relatively new to the sport OR is doing a HIM or IM for the first time, I think that you need some feedback (i.e. HRM, Power Meter) to assist with pacing. Having not raced a distance before you won't know how you are going to feel 80 miles into the bike or 5 miles into the run. What you (or your coach if you have one) can do is set HR limits for each portion of the course allowing for cardiac drift, dehydration, heat, humidity, fatigue, etc.

I raced IMFL last year with my Garmin and though I wasn't a slave to it, I found it to be entertaining at times   I also set it so it would beep if I was too high on the bike, which it barely did.  Think I spent most of the bike and run in zone 1   But, I finished.   What's nice about the Garmin is you can set it to only show one screen - just time if you want.  After the fact, I like to see the data and I think it also helps my coach.  My biggest fear in not using a HRM would be that "I feel GREAT" feeling on the first half or so of the bike only to realize I was actually going too hard!

Good luck - this weekend, right?