Ironman 70.3 Muncie : Official Thread

Qwk - 2013-01-07 10:56 AM This will be my first ANY HIM event!  Got a ways to go, but sticking with the training! 

Good luck out there!

I did Muncie last year when they cut the distances because of the heat when it reached a high of 101 during the run.  The bike is very fast.  I never thought I could have trouble with a swim but the water was 87 degrees and I was wiped by the end of the swim.  I did take my time due to the heat.  I was told by someone who has competed in Hawaii to just keep cool and off your feet a day or two before unless you are tweeking your bike, run or swim and need a short test run.  Hope this helps.

Tom 

Stupid question....Does everyone Freestyle swim the whole course, or we I see breast stroking and back stroking going on?  Ive been working on my laps and building up the distance, but I plan on adding in some Breast stroking into my freestyle strokes so I can sight and take a break. (if that makes any sense)

Lora, I just "Liked" your page also. 

Craig

Hey, thanks, Craig.

I plan on swimming freestyle the whole time. Besides the backstroke, it's the only one I can do. I know others who switch strokes for the breaks, though.

I registered yesterday! It still hasn't sunk in yet.

In the last two to three years, I've run two half marathons, have swum two miles before in training and the most I've biked was 45. I've taken a major hiatus and am having to start my training nearly from the beginning. This is exactly what I needed to kick my butt into gear, though. So excited!

I think I jumped in too quick when I signed up for Muncie.  I have NEVER done any tris and its been years since I have done any structured, exercising.  I got caught up in the IM videos and thought to myself, hell, some of these people are not in too good of shape and they finished a Full IM, so I SHOULD be able to do a Half.  

Now fast forward 6 months and well, signing up for Muncie, has kicked my butt into maintaining my current training plans and goals.  To help me with those goals, I have also signed up for the American Heart Association 5k on March 17th, Lexington 1/2 Marathon on March 31st and Miami Sprint Tri on April 20th.

My training also has been diversified.  My wife has me doing Yin Yoga (GREAT for stretching!!) Cross fit training and my usual Swim, Bike, Run.  I would have never thought I could be in this kinda of shape at 44, going on 45.  Other than a sore back, I am thrilled with my ability to Run, Bike, swim and I am excited to see how I can maintain & keep improving my fitness!

See you all out there. 

I am likely in for Muncie this year.  I have gotten approval from the "budget committee" but I 'll wait and see how things roll out.  This would be my 3rd HIM.  I intentionally stayed away from Muncie last year and it was a good thing I did.  I work for a power company and we got absolutely pounded with the June 29 Derecho storm and I was in absolutely no shape to be doing a HIM on July 8 of last year.

Qwk, don't sweat anything yet.  You have 5 full months to get ready.  I suggest you try to get a couple of other shorter races into your schedule before the July race.  It would give you confidence in your abilities as you get closer.  Just make sure you don't skip anymore work outs than you absolutely have too.

I'm in for Muncie HIM.  This is my 2nd year in tri and this will be my first HIM.  I will follow up with REV3 Cedar Point 1/2 distance in September.  If anyone is near Dayton Zoom Racing has thrown in some 40.1 races this year and I think they will be great preps for the 1/2 iron distance.  They are in Waynesville.  There is one in June (Father's day weekend) and one in early August.  Excited for Muncie and hoping that the race distance isn't affected again by weather this year.  Good luck with your training! 

There are some small hills throughout the course but nothing that is killer.  The key to a good run is pacing the hills properly.  A great way to attack running hills is to maintain an even effort up, not an even pace.  Meaning allow yourself to slow down to maintain energy levels and not try to burn up the hill at the pace you just completed the flat right before you began the hill.

..........Then there's the whole cycling and pacing thing to set up a good run too.

Last year's Muncie was my first HIM.

Boy, did I pick the wrong one! :p

Location: MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. Make sure that you MAP OUT the location of the Registration AND the event itself. The people at registration were NO HELP in getting us to the course.

The course: GREAT

The heat: MURDER!

Seriously though, I enjoyed it and will be back this year. MANY people were whining and complaining when it was announced that the course would be shortened. I CRIED....tears of joy. It was deadly hot out.

Swim:  the swim was in BATH WATER. Yet, I did really well and had no heat issues with the water. I freestyled the whole time, but there was A LOT of bumping that I had to deal with. No side was safe. I did have to wait FOREVER for my group to be called.

Transition: WOW. What a run from swim to bike. I tried to hitchhike up the hill, but there were no takers. It is a LOOOONG distance from beach to bike.

Bike: Fast, fast, fast. I could have done the full 56 with ease.

Run: Bad news last year. Many people were walking, or else sitting on the side due to the heat. They did condense the water stations to every half mile or so, and that really helped. GREAT crowd participation. They even had POP! This is a great change from sucking down Gatorade the whole time.

Finish: Pretty cool. I enjoyed running in together with a buddy that I made on the run leg. I felt great encouraging him to keep running. So, random dude from Chicago, I will look for you again this year!

I enjoyed the race and will be back in July!

What? When did that happen?  I hope it is similar in difficulty ... I chose this course for that reason.