IM Arizona swim start

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2008-02-26 11:26 AM

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Subject: IM Arizona swim start
Just curious what the safest place to start the swim would be for a slower swimmer? I was not sure if I should stay to the right or left. How crazy is it with everyone trying to get in the water at the last minute? I have only done IM Fl and I was able to stand on the beach and let them clear out some, before I started. Deep water starts scares me a little. My swim time in Florida was 1:30. Any tips would be great, thanks
Mitch

Edited by tridaddy 2008-02-26 11:30 AM

2008-02-26 11:36 AM
in reply to: #1236085

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Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start
The IMAZ swim start is very spread out...covering 1/2 the width of Tempe Town Lake from just underneath the bridge. It's a bit egg-beater like for about 5 minutes, then you can easily find your space. You can start further back behind the crowds if you want to avoid being run over at the start, but I'd be inclined to start inside toward the center of the Lake so you don't have to make up too much extra distance.
2008-02-26 12:05 PM
in reply to: #1236085

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Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start

One side or other won't matter.  Put yourself where you feel comfortable cause everyone will drift towards the middle once the race starts.

2008-02-26 12:23 PM
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2008-02-26 2:29 PM
in reply to: #1236085

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Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start
It's a question I was asking myself just this weekend..

I re-played the 2006 race from TIVO just to look at the aerial view of the swim start and found something kind of interesting: The washing machine looked least crazy all the way over to the left(furthest from the shore)! IOW, the most direct path seemed to be the least used - go figure.
2008-02-26 2:40 PM
in reply to: #1236685

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Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start

alltom1 - 2008-02-26 11:29 AM

It's a question I was asking myself just this weekend.. I re-played the 2006 race from TIVO just to look at the aerial view of the swim start and found something kind of interesting: The washing machine looked least crazy all the way over to the left(furthest from the shore)! IOW, the most direct path seemed to be the least used - go figure.

That's where I was. At the back and right on the buoy line. It wasn't crowded at all. This year I'm going to move over a bit to have more opportunities to draft and get pulled along by the crowd.

2008-02-26 7:55 PM
in reply to: #1236085

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Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start
Last year at az, came in about the same time...about 1:30. I was probably next to pirategirl, I started at the back and far right (assuming she was far right and not just right of the bouy line). I waited 20 seconds after the gun to start swimming. Funny thing was, about 1/5 of the way, I started catching people and having to fight through some of the crowd I was trying to avoid.

I'll be at the same place so if we meet up at the BT get together and know who each other are, we can start at the same place and probably come in at the same time

Edited by auto208562 2008-02-26 7:56 PM
2008-02-27 7:36 PM
in reply to: #1237566

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Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start

auto208562 - 2008-02-26 6:55 PM I'll be at the same place so if we meet up at the BT get together and know who each other are, we can start at the same place and probably come in at the same time

IM AZ on 4/13/08 will be my first IM -- and since I'm a BT member -- I was wondering where the get together will be to meet up with other BT'ers? Thanks.

2008-02-28 1:03 AM
in reply to: #1240085

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Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start
Watch all posts by JeffFleep and Tri Take Me Away. Tri Take Me Away set it up last year, meetings for swim and bike, carbo dinner, and also they had a "party" one of the nights. JeffFleep and Tri Take me away are like 2 peas in a pod so watch for both of their posts.

jeffreyk - 2008-02-27 5:36 PM

auto208562 - 2008-02-26 6:55 PM I'll be at the same place so if we meet up at the BT get together and know who each other are, we can start at the same place and probably come in at the same time

IM AZ on 4/13/08 will be my first IM -- and since I'm a BT member -- I was wondering where the get together will be to meet up with other BT'ers? Thanks.

2008-03-14 12:52 AM
in reply to: #1236085

Mesa
Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start
Last year I started to the left/middle of the lake. I was able to swim without getting wacked at all. I didn't even have to sight for the first 1/2 of the race as I had swimmers to my left and I breath on my left side. Just kept them at the same distance.


2008-03-14 8:48 AM
in reply to: #1236085

Albuquerque, NM
Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start

Last year at IMAZ I was just inside of Chile"s mark and about 20 yards back and there were hardly anyone around us.  But the closer you got to the shore the more crowded it was. 



2008-03-14 1:19 PM
in reply to: #1236085

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Jacksonville, FL
Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start
Sounds like some good advice here...last year @ IMAZ I started front & middle...what was I thinking? Not very "race" smart...
2008-03-14 1:26 PM
in reply to: #1236085

Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start
Interesting point made on "that other site" that Tempe Town Lake s not straight, but curves, so the buoy line may not be the shortest distance between two points.....  if that's of interest
2008-03-14 2:50 PM
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Subject: RE: IM Arizona swim start
auto208562 - 2008-02-28 2:03 AM Watch all posts by JeffFleep and Tri Take Me Away. Tri Take Me Away set it up last year, meetings for swim and bike, carbo dinner, and also they had a "party" one of the nights. JeffFleep and Tri Take me away are like 2 peas in a pod so watch for both of their posts.
jeffreyk - 2008-02-27 5:36 PM

auto208562 - 2008-02-26 6:55 PM I'll be at the same place so if we meet up at the BT get together and know who each other are, we can start at the same place and probably come in at the same time

IM AZ on 4/13/08 will be my first IM -- and since I'm a BT member -- I was wondering where the get together will be to meet up with other BT'ers? Thanks.

Hehe...actually it was ME and TTMA that set up the pre-race dinner.  But yeah, keep an eye on Aaron's posts as well.  The pre-race dinner will likely be at our house again.  We'll post more info in the next couple of weeks.

My take on swim start...I started in the middle...there was clear water in the middle for almost the entire swim...people either stuck to the bouy line, or to the wall.  I swam in clear water in the middle the whole time. 

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