Mental Manatee Mentors Part 3--CLOSED (Page 12)

I keep a pair of child safe scissors with my race gear. I'd also suggest duct tape in case your race number will not stick to your bike.

What she said, snip a starter on your gels and bars so that you can easily rip them open while on the move.

I'm glad you asked about this. First, my plan is to start with water and Perform in my aero bottles (see pic, it's big and has two compartments) and to have 4 waffles, cut in half, on the bike. I don't have my drinking on a set schedule. I do the waffles every 25 minutes with a gel on the hour. The waffles fit fine in my front bento box. I'm contemplating whether to carry my own gels in my pocket, put them in the back bento, or get them off the course. I plan to get water/Perform refills off the course but that brings me to one of my questions. Should I leave my bottle cage empty for empty bottles? I usually have my camelbak thermal bottle in there but I might need the space for empties?

On the run I plan to use a gel about every 45 minutes, as I pass aid stations. I'm also wondering about the coke on the run course. Someone on the Perform thread in TT mentioned that the coke is a better option than the Perform. I've never tried to run with it. Is it flat coke? Fizzy doesn't sound like a good idea.

I cut my waffles in half and put them in a baggie. Thought about taping gels to the bike but haven't practiced it yet.

When will you have your first nutrition?  You'll get out of the water and run to transition.  Do whatever you need to do and get on the bike and then...  Once your hear rate has settled down and you are a mile or two into the bike, kinda getting into the grove you will ???  And when is your last nutrition?  x miles from T2?  x minutes from T2?

What I do is have fluids in my aerodrink and in my cage.  I finish the aerodrink before the first bottle exchange and refill it with the fluids that I am carrying.  I dump the empty at the beginning of the bottle exchange and get a replacement.  This ensures that if I miss an exchange, I am not without fluids. 

You'll have to ask if the cola is flat.  When I did B2B it was flat.  When I did Vineman, it was not. 

I'm glad that you have a plan.  It certainly sounds workable.  For me, it would be easier to do the run nutrition based on miles (every 4 miles or every 5 miles, etc.) since the course and aid stations are laid out that way.  Besides, by the run, I may be tri math impaired.

Similar question as for the bike above.  When does your 45 minute clock start?  You will exit T2 and have your first gel at the first aid station?  Second aid station? 

(and yes, these are rhetorical questions)

I've seen that but they'd get in my way for sure.

Hmmmm. When I do a standalone ride I do the first half waffle once i'm in a groove. At the race that probably means out of T1 and past the beginning bike congestion. Hadn't thought about the last waffle and how that will spell out for my run. Need to think about that. I've never tried a disposable water bottle in my cage. Do they hold ok? Since I'm eating off the course on the run my time will be an estimate and I'll just grab from the next aid stop. When I did my HM I made it to mile 5 before I slowed down for a gel. I don't want to stray from the plan at Oceanside, though, because I don't want to run out of energy, which seems to be a problem for me lately.

I have not had problems on either bike but you should do what you are comfortable with.  I'm just offering what has worked for me.

You will have plenty of energy on race day!  Trust the plan!  Taper + adrenaline will be your friends :-)  Seriously, plan your nutrition like you will have the energy that you did last month but do think about the time between last calories on the bike and first gel on the run.  

amd723 - 2013-03-11 6:55 PM Gotta tell a story on myself. I taught this afternoon at the local college. Before heading out I stopped by my house for lunch. As I was on the interstate heading to the school I realized I was wearing flip flops! Completely forgot to put my real shoes back on and then didn't have time to go back home to make the switch. So I taught wearing a suit and flip flops . I think I totally rocked that look and may try it for my next court appearance

I snorted out loud!  Way to rock the flops, girl!

Yeah... Jo is hoping it will be delivered with Macca in it

So, are you going to Chicago?

Yeah, I'm going to do Chicago.  I'm very freaked out at the thought of a marathon at the moment, but I'll do it.  A HIM seems less daunting in my mind than a marathon.  Feels very much like jumping off of a cliff.

Oh, that's what that was about.  This is what I get for skimming.

Well, I think a HIM is less daunting 

It's alright though,  you have plenty of time to prepare. And what a great marathon! Definitely on my list!

Do you have any recommendations on lodging/parking for Chicago?

I'll be doing Hawk-i with a bunch of friends (10+, surely) as part of Team Revolution.  It'll be a good time.  First time for me.

As for camping, I'd recommend Caesar's Creek State Park.  It has a great body of water (lots of tris there, naturally), and a good amount of trails.  I've never camped there, but it's where I would go.  There are others in the area as well.

I knooooooow.  A marathon is unavoidably on my life to-do list.  It'll be a lot of fun to do such a big event.  (Once my heart rate comes down from being super nervous at the start).

I actually eased into it really well. Except I will be traveling (which is 2 hours ahead) and then coming back so that might be a little strange on top of the current change. 

I expected to have trouble battling the rack monster to get up for my training, but so far I've done okay. The evenings are weird, though. I have to get used to it being light longer and not think I can cram more in to the evenings.

While we are on the fueling topic, I am considering just drinking water/taking gels in Boston. If I skip the sports drink I think at most it will be like 10 calories (and like 1g of carbs) per station x 26, so 260 calories (and that is a high estimate) and 26g of carbs. And that is assuming I took it at every station. I feel like IF it were an issue, I could just take an additional gel or two.

Does anyone see any flaws in my thoughts?

I did the HM with only water and 2 gels and it was no problem at all. 

Since you are likely NOT going to hit every aid station I think you are def better off with gels. Seemed to do well with that plan at your HM.

I would gel ever x miles.  You have a lot more control that way given that you have no idea how they are going to mix the sports drink (as directed?  too much water so weak?).  Besides, you know that it just worked for you. ;-)

Yeah, that too. Mainly it's because it tastes like garbage though.  Oh, and avoiding sticky hands.