Ironman 70.3 St. George : Official Thread

Yep, I'm trying to time the expense so that my wife doesn't go ballistic.  I will be signing up at a more pallatable time since I just dropped $125 on a bike trainer I bought from my BIL.  I keep a spreadsheet where I track all of my endurance sports expenses and holy cow you would think I'm a golfer the way I'm spending money this year!

I will be going down to St. George to preview the course sometime in February but let me know if you organize something for this Fall.

Nice LnL, hopefully I can keep you behind me again JK It will be my first Ironman brand race to. I am interested to see how much different it is.

OK Garr it is on!  I will see you at the finish to hand you your medal .  Well, that's assuming I survive the bike course which by the looks of the elevation map I may not.  Stupid bike is my achilles heel.  This should be a great experience.  Have you decided on a 140.6 for next year?

Sweet, I needed a little motivation for the winter  I am planning on the Bear Lake Brawl next year. Its already paid for so why not. The bad thing is the run is my Achilles heel and its not a easy run.

I'm in. I signed up when it went on sale.

I'm doing IM Florida this weekend.

I'll start worry about St. George on Monday.

Tiana

Good to see all the new people signing up. Tritiny, how did Florida go?

Florida didn't go so well. I got really sea sick on the swim. I kept puking and puking and puking. And didn't finish the swim. 

I'm feeling pretty down. But finishing St. George will be my revenge.

What training plans are y'all using? Wondering if I should take a couple of weeks off or get right back into training. 

Tiana

also thinking of st george as my first HIM after missing out on the registration for oceanside.

but the elevation gains on the bike [plus one 10% climb] and run scares the bejesus out of me. i can do that distance and that elevation on its own no problem, but the prospect of a half marathon afterwards is a bit intimidating as my first HIM. then again, i hear it's beautiful and that the volunteers and race is tops. and it's the us pro championship so it would be cool to see the pros out there.

so...how appropriate is this one for a 70.3. first-timer?

also thinking of st george as my first HIM after missing out on the registration for oceanside.

but the elevation gains on the bike [plus one 10% climb] and run scares the bejesus out of me. i can do that distance and that elevation on its own no problem, but the prospect of a half marathon afterwards is a bit intimidating as my first HIM. then again, i hear it's beautiful and that the volunteers and race is tops. and it's the us pro championship so it would be cool to see the pros out there.

so...how appropriate is this one for a 70.3. first-timer?

I actually think a more challenging course (within limits of course) is better to start with than an easy one.  I think you will for sure finish and the feeling of accomplishment will be very real.  My first HIM was this year at Bear Lake in Utah/Idaho and while it wasn't a piece of cake with rolling hills and all it probably doesn't compare at all in difficulty to St. George. This means I most likely won't PR and it will feel doubly hard for me.

Chances are that if you do St. George for your first you will find an HIM like Oceanside a piece of cake.  I come from a running background and my first marathon was way harder than most of the others I have done and for some reason I keep coming back to it.  So come join us at St. George!

I agree completely!!! My first HIM was the Bear lake one also. Having a challanging course is great. I know my time wont be great but I will be able to say I finished one of the hardest HIM's in the world.

Double

I'm in. My first 70.3. Does anyone know the area and what to expect?

It will be a beautiful course, but it is not flat. The St George area is either up or down I have done a few races there and they have been fun and challanging. Which i what I like!! I think it will be all about pacing yourself and knowing when to push it and when to hold back a little so you can finish strong!!

I copied this from a fellow Bt'r that lives in St George, Can't wait  

"The climb up through Snow Canyon is much tougher than "The Wall". Snow Canyon is a 4 miler that just keeps getting steeper as you get closer to the top. Grade near the top is over 10%. It will be a brutal climb come race day since we will hit it at about mile 45ish."