IMCDA Are you ready? (Page 12)

All this talk about med tents, ambulances, needing people to help me stumble to my hotel....and here I was planning on a night of drinks and disco dancing after my finish....phoooooey!

For the last two years I have tried to be at the finish line to see the last person come in.  I made it to 11:30pm in 2004 and 10:15pm in 2005.  Both times I was feeling fine and then BAM!  Crashed hard, about enough time to get to the car and pass out.  Don't remember my wife driving me home either year.  Will try again this year to make it to midnight. 

I know how you feel. Sheila wasn't too thrilled about standing around watching people race while she watched after 2 active kids. On race day, they made it out for the start of the race, then after I started the bike, they went for breakfast. When I got back into town for the the end of the first loop, they were there. I was so surprised. I saw them again after the second loop but didn't see them again until after the race. They went back to the hotel for naps then came back after dinner to watch people finish.

Sheila and the kids had a good time.

For 6 months prior to the race Sheila would say "You're always gone training and you're always tired". But after the race she said " I now know why you did this". And of course she also said' I think I might try a triathlon too someday"

Who knows Brandt, maybe you will be buying matching tri bikes next season

Bike shop in Coeur d'Alene is Vertical Earth.  Owner is Mike Gaertner and is doing the race.  3 blocks from transition area and great shop.  Phone number is 208-667-5503.  They have a great crew and everything you might need if you forget something.

As far as the wife.....

Bring her.  Your finish will only be that much sweeter sharing it with someone you love.  There is a ton to do downtown and so much excitement.  I can try and hook her up with my wife if you would like.

Inside Out Sports does assembly and tune ups at the expo.  I used them before for shipping and a tune up and they did a very good job.

http://www.insideoutsports.com/category.aspx?eventid=36&x=52&y=10

Believe it or not north Idaho is not 30 year behind the rest of the world, there are no discos in CDA. 

NO DISCOS???  What a travesty.  Forget it...I'm not coming.   Anyone want my hotel room and my post-race beer?

FREE BEER!  Me, me, me.

(and to think, lifeisgood was worried abut hijacking the thread)

The lake is heating up.  There were several people in the lake this weekend without wetsuits.

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45 days and the lake is still chilly, weather is getting warmer though so you probably will not need a neo cap.  Got a lake swim scheduled next weekend....let you know how chilly it really is.

After the awards lunch we can all go the the park and lay on the merry go-round.  Someone can spin it and someone else can hold the mirrored ball.......DISCO enough for me!

Swim workout today was decent (confidence booster)  Need to remember to keep the pace, even though all you will be swimming over the top of me.

I just need some warm weather to warm up the local fishing hole (darn trout fisherpeople are loosing hooks in the swim area {I just know it} and get some time in the wetsuit .

Just hope they have some hot cider/cocoa at the half way point on the beach.  If it is still cold.

Well, I'll probably be right there with you when it comes to drinking lake water.  And as to the porta-potties....well, um, I just proved that I haven't spent much time in a wetsuit...I completely forgot I will be shrink-wrapped from head to toe in neoprene, so you're right, a porta-potty would be useless.

On another note, the new Inside Triathlon has a section on hill training,and the caption of the picture says "Make this easier: tackling the climbs at Coeur d'Alene."  Later in the article it says "since hills can kill your legs before you even get to the marathon, you'll need to prepare appropriately if IMCDA is on your schedule this season."

Another article in the magazine features IMCDA.  Makes the swim sound like a vacation "You'll make two laps in the cool, deep, water."   Then it talks about the bike... "The bike leg offers a surprisingly tricky tour of short, steep uphills and downhills near Post Falls and mile 40 of the two-loop course;" "predominant headwinds from the plains during the bike transition can be equally energy-sapping", and finally " don't forget to plan for microwave-like temperatures while you are on two wheels."  Then, at the end of the article, it mentions that Michale Lovato loves the course because "the hills mirror a lot of the riding he does at home in Boulder, Colorado."

In sum, I'm crapping my pants right now.  This flatlander clydesdale from South Texas is in for a rude awakening, I'm afraid!  At least the "microwave like temperatures" and the wind are something I'm very accustomed to! 

Wedensday night I felt like that bus was parked on top of me.  Right now on rest day number 2 I'm feeling better.