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IM Finishers – Finish Line
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 2009-08-13 10:17 AM |
Extreme Veteran  580  |  Subject: IM Finishers – Finish LineOk, let’s talk about the finish line. No, I am talking about the tape (which I would have liked, but is not the end all be all for me). I am not talking about Mike Reilly (although I will be disappointed if I don’t hear him say his famous words after my name!). I am talking about friends and family that have come to watch you finish. How quickly can you get to your people and your people to you after the finish? I know my husband is going to be anxious to get to me (and me to him). I saw a friend of a friend cross at CDA and her boyfriend was right there with a big hug right after she crossed the line. I think he volunteered earlier in the day as a finish line catcher, but was not actually on duty when she crossed. Anyhow, for me, IM is a mental race as much as it is a physical race and I would like to know what to expect at the end – it will help me visualize the finish line! Thanks! |
| 2009-08-13 10:20 AM in reply to: #2346164 |
Master 1303   Mishicot, Wisconsin | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line Which race are you doing? I can fill you in on IM WI, but that is all I know. |
| 2009-08-13 10:29 AM in reply to: #2346164 |
Expert 1074 Madison, MS | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line At IMFL, as I crossed the finish line, I saw Hubby zooming by on the sidelines (with a bouquet of roses). As soon as I got my stuff and my picture, and my catcher was satisfied I was okay, I was outside the finish area, and in his arms. It probably took less than 3 minutes from the time I crossed. |
| 2009-08-13 10:46 AM in reply to: #2346176 |
Extreme Veteran 580 | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line crea0029 - 2009-08-13 10:20 AM Which race are you doing? I can fill you in on IM WI, but that is all I know. IMFL -- thanks! |
| 2009-08-13 10:57 AM in reply to: #2346164 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line Here is my finish line finish. I worked it. And my family got to me immediately after they took my pictures. On the downside, the family was NOT allowed to take pics with me and the IM backdrop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ix5zaDlji8&feature=email |
| 2009-08-13 11:11 AM in reply to: #2346164 |
Champion 8766 Evergreen, Colorado | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line My friends were literally right outside the "gate" between the finish line and the post-race area. Within a minute I was in their arms. Of course, I finished less than 1.5 hours before the cutoff...not sure if it would be different during the time when the "main pack" is coming through. But I would bet that it isn't long no matter what... |
| 2009-08-13 11:14 AM in reply to: #2346164 |
Champion 8540 the colony texas | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line just take them over the line with you,, then they are right there |
| 2009-08-13 11:14 AM in reply to: #2346164 |
Extreme Veteran 580 | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line Ok, so it sounds like definitely no family IMMEDIATELY. That is ok, again, just wanted to know what to expect! |
| 2009-08-13 11:15 AM in reply to: #2346363 |
Extreme Veteran 580 | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line Gaarryy - 2009-08-13 11:14 AM just take them over the line with you,, then they are right there Always stirring the pot  |
| 2009-08-13 11:21 AM in reply to: #2346164 |
Champion 7558 Albuquerque, New Mexico | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line My wife was a finish line catcher earlier in the day (IMCdA) and somehow was back in the finish area when I finished 2 1/2 hours after her shift ended. She caught me while someone else handed me the medal, shirt, and hat. My next step was the medical tent (and she couldn't follow me in there) and we met back up for the finisher photo. It can be a matter of a minute or two, even at a relatively busy finish time if you don't want to linger inside the finish area. |
| 2009-08-13 12:51 PM in reply to: #2346376 |
Extreme Veteran 580 | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line McFuzz - 2009-08-13 11:21 AM My wife was a finish line catcher earlier in the day (IMCdA) and somehow was back in the finish area when I finished 2 1/2 hours after her shift ended. She caught me while someone else handed me the medal, shirt, and hat. My next step was the medical tent (and she couldn't follow me in there) and we met back up for the finisher photo. It can be a matter of a minute or two, even at a relatively busy finish time if you don't want to linger inside the finish area. So, is volunteering in that capacity earlier in the day the trick?  |
| 2009-08-13 1:00 PM in reply to: #2346164 |
Member 34 Denver-ish | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line I have a related finish line question. How do you folks plan your finishing time? Let's say a first time finisher (ie myself, hopefully) has a large window of when he/she might come in. My wife won't be able to hold the kiddos (very young) in check for a few hours that late in the evening. If she tries to hit my goal time, she might be waiting for a while. If all goes well for me though, I'll be there before my goal. |
| 2009-08-13 1:14 PM in reply to: #2346664 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line miwoodar - 2009-08-13 1:00 PM I have a related finish line question. How do you folks plan your finishing time? Let's say a first time finisher (ie myself, hopefully) has a large window of when he/she might come in. My wife won't be able to hold the kiddos (very young) in check for a few hours that late in the evening. If she tries to hit my goal time, she might be waiting for a while. If all goes well for me though, I'll be there before my goal. Well, you should have a general idea of what your goal times will be. You need to give her those... "in a perfect scenario", and "not in a perfect scenario" times. So that way she has a range of when to look for you. Most IM courses also have a looped run course. So if she sees you after 1 loop, she can get a general idea of your speed. AND if Ironman Live is updating accurately, she can check your splits from the hotel room to judge when you might be coming in off the bike and run. Of course, you can't really count on that being current with your times. It usually ends up lagging at some point. |
| 2009-08-13 2:57 PM in reply to: #2346664 |
Veteran 196 Arlington, VA | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line miwoodar - 2009-08-13 1:00 PM I have a related finish line question. How do you folks plan your finishing time? Let's say a first time finisher (ie myself, hopefully) has a large window of when he/she might come in. My wife won't be able to hold the kiddos (very young) in check for a few hours that late in the evening. If she tries to hit my goal time, she might be waiting for a while. If all goes well for me though, I'll be there before my goal. I wish they'd put a timing mat at mile 24 that is linked to a text message or e-mail address, and shoots off a heads-up email automatically when you cross. That way, your family would get a 14 minute to 40 minute advanced notice, depending on your speed of course. When I ran the NYC Marathon 6 years ago, I hit the wall hard and missed my projected finish time by 55 minutes. My wife had been waiting for me at 5th Ave. and Central Park South with our then two-month old baby. Both the course and the crowd were so thick with people that she gave up well before i got there, thinking I had gone past already. |
| 2009-08-13 2:59 PM in reply to: #2346664 |
The Original 7834 Raleigh/Durham | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line miwoodar - 2009-08-13 2:00 PM I have a related finish line question. How do you folks plan your finishing time? Let's say a first time finisher (ie myself, hopefully) has a large window of when he/she might come in. My wife won't be able to hold the kiddos (very young) in check for a few hours that late in the evening. If she tries to hit my goal time, she might be waiting for a while. If all goes well for me though, I'll be there before my goal. At IM FL they had tents set up with computers where spectators could track atheltes to see where they were at the course. That's a good option. Also, since FL is a double run loop she might be able to have an idea where you're at based off your first loop time. It's kinda tricky though because things can happen on the 2nd loop but it should be a decent estimation. And hopfully the athlete tracker will be on time so splits aren't delayed- sometimes they are delayed which makes it tricky to gauge a finish time and makes it impossible to know. If they aren't delayed then she can go off of your 20 mile split to kinda know when to make it to the finish line. Where are you staying? I'm not a fan of having cell phones on the course- and I don't think they are allowed- not sure?? But...you can always give her a quick call or something to let her know when you get close- I know some athletes do that. |
| 2009-08-13 3:05 PM in reply to: #2346312 |
| Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line KSH - 2009-08-13 8:57 AM Here is my finish line finish. I worked it. And my family got to me immediately after they took my pictures. On the downside, the family was NOT allowed to take pics with me and the IM backdrop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ix5zaDlji8&feature=email I love that finish! At IMAZ, I was with my wife and friends within seconds after crossing the line |
| 2009-08-13 3:08 PM in reply to: #2346164 |
Pro 4507 Simpsonville, SC | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line We had quite the information relay going on when I did CDA this year. It was rainy and cold and my mom and kids couldn't tolerate being out there too terribly long. So.... my husband had my cell phone. My friend and fellow BTer, SuzanneS updated him on my splits and pace via text message. She was in SC watching the computer on IM Live. So when I crossed the timing mat at mile 20, I knew the family was heading to the race site to see me finish. I told them that I would hopefully finish within an hour to hour and a half from that point. So not only did that work in letting my family know that I was almost done, it also was a little prod to pick up the pace so they wouldn't be standing out there in nasty conditions for too long It is amazing what you can do with technology these days! |
| 2009-08-13 7:08 PM in reply to: #2346312 |
Champion 9600 Fountain Hills, AZ | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line KSH - 2009-08-13 10:57 AM Here is my finish line finish. I worked it. And my family got to me immediately after they took my pictures. On the downside, the family was NOT allowed to take pics with me and the IM backdrop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ix5zaDlji8&feature=email Nice Kathy! Here's mine from IMAZ, fast forward about 1:20 in as nothing happens until then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT0sdzH3EAg Edited by bryancd 2009-08-13 7:09 PM |
| 2009-08-13 8:08 PM in reply to: #2346366 |
Extreme Veteran 744 Ontario | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line irondreams - 2009-08-13 11:14 AM Ok, so it sounds like definitely no family IMMEDIATELY. That is ok, again, just wanted to know what to expect! I did Florida last year and my wife was able to jog along just outside the fence as I went up the chute, and then she got to me within a few meters after the finish line. I even managed to get her into the official photo with the IM background, which is my favorite souvenir of the race. She looks a lot more pleased than I do in the photo. I crossed the line rather, um, late in the evening, so perhaps they are more lenient when there are fewer people finishing at once. |
| 2009-08-14 9:20 AM in reply to: #2346164 |
Master 1457 MidWest | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line I'm McFuzz's wife, so I thought I should chime in--- At IMCdA I volunteered on both Thursday and Sunday. It seems that the IM races are getting more stringent about who is allowed in the finish line area. That is understandable, as there is a TON of equipment that WTC/NAS has RIGHT THERE to video, interview,etc. Because I was volunteering the first shift of catchers, I made arrangements with the captains to be allowed back in to catch McFuzz. I may not have had to, but I wanted to make sure they knew. McFuzz was about 1:30 behind his goal time so I spent some time just volunteering again. When he came across, I was able to catch him, although he did not want me to touch him! I didn't know until then that he had finished hisbike and run with a broken collar bone. What he seems to forget is that I am the one who gathered his hat, medal, shirt on our way to medical. Because I had been a volunteer, when he was released from Medical I went to the lady at teh picture line and explained that he had a broken collar bone and needed to leave, could we please squeeze him in or a quick photo. The line was really long at that point. SHe asked me several times if I wanted to be in the pic with him and I said "No" as this was his time to shine. It was his accomplishment and his alone. I do not regret not beign in the pic. Anyway, that is my story on how I was able to catch him at the finish line. |
| 2009-08-14 11:00 AM in reply to: #2346164 |
Extreme Veteran 580 | Subject: RE: IM Finishers – Finish Line Thanks for sharing that insight -- I really appreciate it. Your husband is a stud to finish the IM with a broken collar bone! |
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