Ironman 70.3 California : Official Thread (Page 10)

Honestly, we are still too far out to worry about it.  I am betting no rian.  And even if there is, the amount they are currently talking about is less than .2", so it would be minimal.  Arm warmers and maybe a jersey over tri top for the bike.

Last year it was wet, there was some rain but mostly drizzly, I wore calf sleeves and arm warmers for the entire bike and run

Cool!  Thanks!  I ordered some arm warmers anyway.  Training for Oceanside w/o arm warmers this year has taught me a good deal about cycling in sub-50°-low50°F temps.

How do you train in California winters (which are mild, mind you, but in the 40s) without arm warmers???   brrrrrrrrrr

Weather pendulum keeps swinging back and forth.  At the moment looking fairly good, perhaps a shower or two.

I've been trying to dial in my HIM run pace since the race sim Saturday, where I went out way too fast for my fitness.  Have a couple bricks this week for that purpose.  Didn't do so hot this morning, try again Saturday.

Sat is a 2:30 hour bike/:20 minute run, Sunday a 1:15 run and hour swim.... then I am looking forward to a lighter week

I saw the latest forecast is "light afternoon showers". I'll take that, especially since my son tells me that SoCal rain isn't like real rain

I am having a really hard time staying motivated for my training now. I just want it to be here already!!!!!

No mention of rain as of today's forcast.  Breazy though.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/oceanside-ca/92054/march-weather/337180

I'll take lower temps and breezy over rain any time!!!!!!!

There's some uncertainty with a low pressure system next week, whether it will dip down or not.  Some models showing rain Thurs or Fri.  Some keep switching back and forth from Fri to Sat.  Personally, I'd prefer light rain and little wind.  But I don't really get a say in these matters.  We get what we get

But if it stays hi 50s lo 60s that's perfect for me

If I could, I'd request nice on Friday for my niece's first view of the ocean, and cool on Saturday for us. But I don't get a say in the matter either. I like that Saturday finally shows up on the 10-day forecast on my weather channel app!

Yeah that sort of makes it real, in a hurtling train coming down the tracks sort of way

I really wish that I can get this cold out of my chest!

I am coming into this race underprepared thanks to work and illness.

Is there a bib tracker option for this race?

I haven't found one playing around on the website.

bib 536

IN the "Getting around Guide" it states that on race day you can log into the IM site and people can track you there. I am assuming with the bib number.

p.s. I cant wait for this race. My anxiety is building.

2156 :3 It's ON!

If it's rainey and cold enough, I am keeping my wetsuit on for the bike ride.  At least it's rash guard if I slip and crash XD

My best Oceanside tips.  Post em if you got em. formatting is weird from cut and paste......

Swim - Bring an old pair of flip flops. Painful standing on that ashphalt for
the 1/2 hour to hour you'll be waiting in the que

On the return leg, use
the lifeguards on the boards as your buoys and swim as far right as possible.


Bike - There are huge industrial sized white road dots at the entrance
to the base at the Del Mar gate (right out of T1) and the exit at Las Pulgas,
about 13-15 miles in. Lots of bottles go flying there.

Just after
exiting the base at the Las Pulgas turnaround, there is a sharp - i mean more
than 90 degree - right turn at the bottom of the hill, likely to be gravel
there. Careful at the turn, it's tricky.

The section from this turn to
the campground sucks. the pavement for the most part is awful all over the road.
It's a several lanes-wide section, the bike path sucks, the asphalt sucks. Rode
it 2 weeks ago, seems to be a nice section of pavement in the middle I am going
to try to ride. Then you get to the smoothest part, the old concrete runway.
Then it gets sh***y again. And this whole section seems like it should be flat
but it's a gentle uphill grade.

If you need a bathroom on the front
side, skip the portapotties if there's a line, there are tons of bathrooms in
the campground section

The first no pass zone is just after the san
onofre power plant (the two boobies) right when you get on the Trestles bike
path. For later waves, try to see who is in front of you and if someone is
clearly slower than you, maybe work a little harder to pass before entering the
no pass zone. It's longer than you think it's gonna be, and it's a little steep,
so people tend to slow waaaaaaaayyyyyy down. The second no pass zone,
theoretically everyone is going 25 mph. The last no pass zone is along the
strand near the end. Same deal, see who is ahead as you cross the bridge and act
accordingly.

The second bottle hand off is right before the first big
climb mile 32 ish. Consider not taking a full bottle here or getting rid of most
f it before the climbing. You have to get to about mile 45-47 for the next
station.

The section between the first big descent and the second climb
is a mind f*** , especially if there is any wind. I always feel the worst here,
as it's a steady false flat and elevation gain.

Hills are over at mile
42. It's very fast back to the turn on Vandegrift and you can make up time here,
until you hit the headwind. The ability to still be in aero in the last 5 miles
is huge. You will see lots of people sitting up.

After the strand no
pass section there is a sharp little uphill to T2. May want to still be in your
shoes for that.

Run

First 1.5 miles is downhill/flat. Next 1 is mostly flat with one steep run over the pier.  Pacific has some rollers each way. 

Thanks for the tips Chris! Could you elaborate on your comment about the second aid station? Not sure I understand what you're getting at.

Might not want the weight of full bottles for the primary climbing. 

Ah, of course. Thanks!

VERY FLIPPEN COOL of you to post your tips. Im def going to look these over a couple times. Especially since IM new to this course.

Weather report just turned ugly.  Found this article in case what I now see on the reports comes true. 

http://www.endurancenation.us/blog/how-to/how-to-race-a-triathlon-in-the-rain/

Could be an interesting day ... but still very fired up.