Ironman Coeur d'Alene : Official Thread (Page 13)

Another week gone by and another week closer.  How was everyone's training this past week, hopefully good?  Mine was pretty darn good going through today.  Looking forward to tomorrow and a rest day!

Man I leave for 3 days and people start talking about 30% hills.  It's great to hear about the hills actually.   

Snowshoeing 15 miles is hard.  My whole month built up to that race.  I had to stop and use the bathroom, but I finished in 2:30 on the button.  Now time to get some more normal training in.

Have a great week everyone. 

I don't have much showshoeing experience, but I do know it's hard, and considering you went a couple of miles further than a half marathon and did it in 2:30 - that's pretty dang impressive!!!

Great we have people (FlyBoy and PrivateIdaho) to prove us wrong on all that "suppose to be true Internet data".

Thanks guys

Anyone else having trouble getting into the training groove? I've been training and I'm very consistent but I just don't feel like I'm in the groove

Jan total

Run - 70

Bike - 246

Swim - 29000

Not to bad right?

I am feeling pretty good, and feel like I am finally in a good training groove.  I must say though, my numbers feel weak compared to yours and spie34.  I couldn't find time to swim 29000 yds in a week if I tried, nice work!

A 30% grade?  I think everyone would be walking that.  I rode a 28% grade once (with a 34/28) and I could barely turn my cranks over.  When I reached the top I was completely spent.

Anyone training on a computrainer?  I haven't been able to find the the new IMCDA bike course.  Anyone have any luck finding it? 

One last thing, anyone know what is going to be on the course?  When I did IMLP in 2011 they had PowerBar Ironman Perform drink and Powerbar gels.  I still can't look at a packet of PowerBar Raspberry Cream gel without getting sick to my stomach.  Anyone try Bonk Breaker?  It appears that might be on the course.

29000 yards for the month of Jan not a week 

Ahah, now that I look more closely, it does say month of January!  

I believe last year they had GU on the course, can't remember the drink though.

30% was a misleading info from my side. I found a link on web and shared for discussion. Good thing is that locals proved me wrong which I am glad about

Let's take stock.  How many of you are in it to finish?  What is your predicted time?  I'll start.  I'm in it to finish and not completly bonk (that means trying to run the whole mary).  I predict something under 15, but not as fast as 12.  That gives me plenty of room to suck or do good.  My biggest concerns are the cold swim (not a great swimmer) and the downhills since I don't get a ton of practice on the hills here in lower Michigan. 

I am in it to finish, especially after my first attempt at an IM (last year's CDA) didn't go well at all.  That being said, I believe I am capable of being somewhere between 12-13 hours.  

Up to you on the swim but since you mention it I will throw this out there.  Either start off to the side, or wait for the crush to go ahead before starting yourself, you wont lose much time and have a better chance of a successful swim.  This of course is just my opinion after being half drowned at the start last year.  It's also advice I have heard a lot and wish I had listened too last year.

I have used bonk breakers in several marathons and my half-iron last year.  I think they are pretty easy on the stomach and taste fairly decent.  

Since it's my first, my number one goal is to finish, but of course I'd like to finish sooner rather than later.  Best case scenario, the clock says 12-something when I cross the line. 

Something around 14 is probably more realistic.  I'd really like to be able to run the whole Mary and get to the finish before dark (which will be about 9:30pm).  The keys for me will be an uneventful swim (severe calf cramps ruined my day at my HIM last year) and getting through the bike course with something still left in the tank.

I actually got swam over near the very start and swallowed what felt like half the lake, I had to plow through people from underneath to get some air.  I spent the first lap throwing up a fair amount, when I got out of the water after the first lap I paused by the timing matt and one of the helpers asked if I was ok, I dry heaved a bit, said sure and entered the water again.  Before I could get to the first turn, I was so drained I couldn't hold on the kayak (2nd time in the 2nd lap) I grabbed onto by myself.

Check out this video of the swim start, it's from a few years back but, the angle is great and gives you a really good idea what it's like.  I started in the middle of that mess and, at least last year, like you, not a strong swimmer.  I have upped my swimming a lot this year compared to last year and plan on either doing what you are doing or starting to the side.

My predicted time would be just under 12 hours.  A lot can change between now and race day though.  I haven't given the swim start too much thought yet.  At IMLP I started in the front middle and had a great swim.  That however, was a deep water start, which I think isn't quite as physical.

Finished IM St. George last year in 11:37. Not sure how this ride compares, but on top of the massive climbs in St. Geo, we had to deal with some wicked winds through the swim and bike. Plus I'm in much better shape, so I'd like to go 10-something (preferably low-mid 10's), but until I can get up to CDA this spring, I'm not sure how to access the hills.

On the other hand, last year was a perfect Winter for training in No. UT. I pretty much rode outside from January on. This year we are either getting pummeled with snow, or when the snow storms clear, the inversion takes it's place with rancid air and negative temps.

Temps are slowly climbing out of the negatives & single digits, but at this rate, I may not get outside on the bike until May. 

Can anyone out there give me a comparison between CDA and SG (full)?

How's training going for everyone? Getting close to the 20 week mark soon. Fall/winter has been strong for me in training and I'm still feeling good as the hours start to increase.

Clearly I am darn close to race weight already, given I had a 5'2" 85lb female coworker ask me about my weight loss already

In 2011 I was at the front of the swim and got pummeled all the way out to the first turn buoy. I think I swam head up all the way to the first buoy so I wouldn't get kicked in the face. That swim start is wicked! 

I have ridden the SG Course (as a training ride) and I finished IM CDA last year. In my opion they are different types of courses. SG is more of a sustained climb followed by a lot of down hill while CDA is is much more up and down. Even the flat sections of CDA require surges in effort because of the turns or moderate rollers. I would say the 'Wall' in SG is slightly more difficult than the toughest hill at CDA. Hope that helps.

BTW, congrats on an amazing time for SG. We were there to witness the mayhem they called the swim.....I don't think I would have made it out of the water. Add the wind on the bike and that was one brutal day.