Steelhead 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

I'm registered, this will be my first HIM.

I've heard nothing but good things about the race, but any info or tips is appriciated.

I am trying to figure out how to make this race work.  Can anyone who has done it before answer a couple of questions (I have looked thru the race reports but not seeing the info I am looking for).

Is there any place to shower/clean up after the race?  

What hotels do you recommend?  

I would like to stay closer to transition, but I am not seeing any options (including camping) that do not pretty much force us to drive to the race site in the morning.  

Thoughts?

I'm in.  I have not participated in a triathlon yet.  This will be my first year and Steelhead will be my second tri.  I'm also curious about whether or not there is a place to shower after the event. 

As far as accomodations, I have been told that there is nothing walking distance to Jean Klock Park so you would be best served planning ahead and getting something on the highway (I-94) that is close.

There is another thread on the topic here:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=236832&start=1

Good luck all!

If anyone finds out about showers, please let us know! 

I'm not doing 2011, but am strongly considering 2012 as my first HIM.

In regards to this race, I have a question for those who have done it before...

I only am comfortable breathing to one side when I swim...could this potentially screw me in this race?  I know that the swim changes (sometimes you go north to south, sometimes you go south to north)...so this would mean I would either be breathing toward the shore, or toward the open water during the race.  I was just thinking, if I can only breathe toward the open water and the waves are a little choppy, would they be in my face all day?

I know I should obviously work on this and get more comfortable breating both ways for several reasons, but every time I'm in the pool I just say screw it, I want to get a good workout in, not waste time trying to learn to turn my head the other way.

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Steelhead in 3.5 weeks and counting! Just started my taper this week.  Looking forward to seeing some BT'ers there.

Duder: I heard multiple times from multiple sources that you should learn to breath bilaterally while swimming.  Your swims should definitely have "form" sessions.  I would include it on one of those days.  Good luck.

But learning to breath bilaterally makes your stroke more symmetric which aids with keeping you going in a straight line.  so, the growing pains of doing so will be worth it. 

As to your question, last year the water was calmed.  So, hopefully it will be like that again .  Although it's a wave start there's a lot of room to move away from the main pack if you need more space to breath.

And if they're choppy, well, no, we hope they're not in your face all day.  At most, 1 hour

I don't remember shower facilities near the race site.  Our team was staying one more night so we just headed to the hotel.  Two months ago I called all the hotels around the event and they were sold out or way too expensive (300+ a night.)  There's a blueberry festival going on.  Finally found something in a town 25-30 mins away.

oriolepwr - 2011-07-20 8:28 PM I have no taper plan at all.  well maybe a 2 day taper         Smart?   nope  but that's what I'm going to do.    And I'm figuring to beat my time in Muncie which was like a week and a half ago.    The weekend before steelhead I'll be riding (um racing heh) the Centurian 100 miler.   So for sheer entertainment value  you can all watch me crash and burn using this strategy.      

or we can bring extra snickers bars and toss them to you to help you keep your levels OK !  That is great that you do this being a T2.  My Mom is T2 and she moved in with me 7 months.  Now that I live with her and administer her insulin and keep track of sugar levels I have a greater appreciation of athletes with diabetes and the careful planning they have to do to succeed in endurance.

I wish you lots of mojo to you for those seven days of (joyful) sufferfest!! LOL No doubt you'll come through

trainforacure - 2011-07-20 8:12 PM

oriolepwr - 2011-07-20 8:28 PM I have no taper plan at all.  well maybe a 2 day taper         Smart?   nope  but that's what I'm going to do.    And I'm figuring to beat my time in Muncie which was like a week and a half ago.    The weekend before steelhead I'll be riding (um racing heh) the Centurian 100 miler.   So for sheer entertainment value  you can all watch me crash and burn using this strategy.      

or we can bring extra snickers bars and toss them to you to help you keep your levels OK !  That is great that you do this being a T2.  My Mom is T2 and she moved in with me 7 months.  Now that I live with her and administer her insulin and keep track of sugar levels I have a greater appreciation of athletes with diabetes and the careful planning they have to do to succeed in endurance.

I wish you lots of mojo to you for those seven days of (joyful) sufferfest!! LOL No doubt you'll come through

My levels are kept in check from a careful diet and lots of exercise!  So I do not need to take insulin or meds.  So for me controlling my diabetes is not much of an issue as long as I am consistent.     Reality is my type 2 diagnosis is what created my active lifestyle that I enjoy immensely.    AN interesting side note.  I did a Ragnar relay last year on an all diabetic team (Glucomotive).  11 Type 1's and me the type 2.   We all talked about it and if you can believe it, no one would  take a cure.   They are all runners,  some are also Triathletes  they manage to wear an insulin pump under their wet suit, come out of the water, test their levels, and pump some insulin.  To me they are all pretty amazing people.    Seriously they do not seem to look at it as a big deal.   It's like Triathlon is a complicated sport to begin with its just another wrinkle.  

    Myself I'm on a mission to get my fellow T2 peeps to be active.   If they did it certainly would help their levels and improve circulation, to help prevent complications.  MOST of all it would enhance their quality of life.  As it has mine.  

  Thank you for all of your work with Team in Training!  a great cause!     AND DO NOT THROW SNICKERS AT ME!