Ironman 70.3 Miami : Official Thread

I'm in the process of weighing the costs of Miami vs. Austin.  Flying to either one is going to be spendy for me, plus the cost of bringing the bike or shipping it.  I can drive to Austin in only 21 hours vs. alot more than 21 hours to Miami.  But, no offense to Texans, I just imagine that Miami will be a nicer venue, and I'll need all the help I can to take my mind off the pain!

Hopefully they've learned alot from last year.  The mistakes that I've read about are so absurd and easy to fix that it should be a good time!

Yeah, this is what I told myself when I registered...

Anyway, my best friend is living there so it's more an excuse to visit him and to finish my season.

We'll see what happenned

This will be my first 70.3. Does anyone know is the run course the same as last year with the same bridge crossing as last year? What about wetsuit legal? From posts last year it sounds like the temp was 80...so that would be a no.

I'm hoping it can't be any worse than last year and I thought I read that WTC stepped in to produce the race after the disaster last year.

Either way looking forward to giving it a shot.

No, it appears on the website that the run course has changed. Last year, they ran over the Port Blvd bridge. This year, it appears it will be over the MacArthur Causeway.

For the wetsuit, let's see the temps on the race's morning

This is my first 70.3 also.  I'm really looking forward to it and plan on making a bit of a vacation out of the trip, as I will be traveling from Ohio.  The bike course is extremely flat, which should mean fast!  I'm a little concerned with the temperature difference from Ohio to Florida, hopefully my body will adapt quick.  

After last year's issues, I'm sure they will be on top of their game this year.  I'm not really worried about it.  

After all the bad things you could read about this event last year, it seems it's going to be a good one

I'm amazed by all the informations you can find now on the website, specially the layout of the venue very much detailed.

Can't wait

Looks like the bib #'s are posted.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I am guessing that I only need to checkin on Friday or Saturday and attend only one Race Briefing... right?

I'm flying in on Friday and will be time crunched to checkin in and catch one of those briefings on the schedule.  I am planning on doing it all on Saturday if I can.

Also, has anyone found a website or alternate source that provides the current water temp?

I'm using this one for the temp:

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=vakf1

I'm pretty sure you'll need to attend only 1 briefing

Bib #2563

Thanks for the link and the info.

I wonder if there will be any type of current to deal with during the swim and hopefully the fuel, etc. won't be too bad in the water with all the cruise ships tied up there.

I'm Bib # 2401

I'm surprised it's that cool.  I had a 0% chance for a wetsuit in my mind.  Any locals know if the water could cool a degree or two by Sunday? 

All I know is the humidity and heat are going to suck the life out of all of us when it comes to the run.  Hoping for a PR.    

I was told by someone that the first buoy is fast, but the next two are really slow and to count on your slowest swim time. 

Yeah, I read in a 2010 race report that there is a current through the first bouy, then you pick it back up rounding the third.  I guess we will see.  

I'm not looking forward to the humidity either!  It's going to be a killer! 

I don't think Rina is going to have any bearing on what happens Sunday. This winds with the cold front don't pick up downthere until late Saturday based on a forecast I looked at. Moderate Chop in the bay most likely, and the water temps are just below wetsuit legal at this point. Looks like a windy bike ride.

So we'll hope all goes well and stays under control.

Just looked at the updated water temps, now 78.4 was 77.4 this AM

Whoa, that sucks a ton!  Have you checked on transferring to another race?  Sorry to hear that.

I crashed on the first rail road track.  I took it dead on and did not turn my wheel at all and right when I was on top of it I totally flipped over.  That was bad.  Several of us went down.  I survived and finished, PR no less.