Ironman Coeur d'Alene : Official Thread (Page 139)

My particular version of taper madness...

Yesterday morning, I dropped off my bike for transport.  Driving to work, I wondered if there wasn't a particular gear that I should have left my bike in.  Big Ring or Small Ring and where in the cassette.

Also, I pulled the suitcase out 3 days ago at 11:00 PM.  Every time that I walk by it, I toss something in there.  I need to tape my checklist right next to it.  My wife said, "What are you doing?" I snapped, "I need to start getting my stuff together."  If she wasn't already slated for sainthood before, she certainly is now.

So far, I have thrown in my tri-onesie, tri-shorts, tri-top, bottle cages, bike computer and several random rubber bands.  Now I am going to throw in my bike shoes and pedals.

Did you "pinch flat" as in hit a pothole or something hard enough to get a snakebite... or was the tube pinched between the tire bead and the rim.

If it was the former, then a butyl tube would have flatted too... and probably even easier than latex.  If the latter, that is very common with a tube that wasn't meticulously installed.  Two install problems are pinching the tube between tire and rim, and having rim tape inproperly installed (because latex is so flexible, when it is inflated it will find any little gap where a spoke hole isn't covered or where the valve stem has a little metal burr on it, etc).

IMHO there is no downside to using a latex tube, if properly installed.  If you are nervous about the install (latex is a little stickier so can be a minor pain to get seated properly) an LBS will do it for a couple bucks.  Make sure to ask them to carefully check your rim tape, particularly the valve stem hole, when they do it. 

If DIY my advice is a bit of talcum powder... inflate the tube a couple pumps while putting the tire beads on the rim... you may have to deflate for the last little bit of the beat on the second side.  Then run your thumbs around both sides making sure there (visually) there is no latex tube showing... then re-inflate a couple pumps and do the same thing... essentially you are pulling the tube up into the tire by thumbing the beads so you can see the rim tape.  After you inspect both sides, inflate fully and you should be good to go. 

With tires, in general the faster they are the more of a gamble you are taking (a reasonable gample imho, but that's another discussion).  With tubes, latex is not a gamble... just get it installed right and it is as, if not more, flat-resistant than a butyl tube... and faster (and more comfortable) 100% of the time.

PS - your spare tube should be butyl (for ease of install, and because latex tubes do not hold CO2 very well.

Amen.  Last night at 6PM the heat index was 102.  I only ran 6 miles but it felt like 20.

Any one have any experience with the MyAthlete GPS and an iPhone?  I tried using their tracking system last night to track some of the RAAM athletes and it appears to use Flash (which we all know does not work with the iPhone).

I wrote them and they said the iPhone app is coming out in July.  However I have sworn I've seen people say they used iPhones to track athletes before. (I did ask them to clarify if people can use an iPhone for CdA)

Besdies their website says "At the race they can use any web enabled cell phone or handheld device such as an iPhone, Blackberry, or Treo for example."

That is fantastic news.......A friend of mine did Ironman Texas last month and she did the same thing.  She hammered the swim and bike knowing she would have to walk the run.  She said she saved her "slow jog" for passing the main crowd on each loop and for the last half mile.  She did a 13:30 or so.  You can still post a great time. 

Brad-  That is awesome!!  You've been amazingly patient with the injury, and I'm really happy to hear you'll be crossing that finish line!

All- I see we have some talk of meeting up at dinner on Friday.  Just to clarify, are we talking about the athlete's dinner?

I'm trying not to think about it too much, but just out of curiosity, if there was a thunderstorm in the area on race day, would they cancel the swim?  That would be a major letdown

Yes.  However about a month ago at FL 70.3 a wicked band of thunderstorms rolled thru that morning during transition setup.  Everyone thought they would cancel the swim.  But they delayed for 20 mins and the storm passed and all was good.  I heard the rule of thumb was no lightning for 30 mins and they would let the swim take place.

But there is no point even worrying about race day weather until race day.  If CdA weather is anything like FL it changes from day to day and the weather people are just taking an (educated) guess.

Just an FYI: They got back to me.  There is a non-flash webpage that iPhone can access.  Not as nice as the flash page but it'll work.

Yes!  That's so fantastic!  Can't wait to see you there!

YES MyAthlete works on an iPhone, iPad, Blackberry etc.  We have been doing so since we started MyAthlete.  Every Shadow you rent (and soon to buy) has its own unique URL that is HTML based.  So any of your friends and family that go to track you at IM CDA on an iPhone, iPad, Droid, Blackberry will be able to do so just like they always have.  Those at home on PC's or MAC's will see you on our new event site which is Flash based.

The question in the e-mail last night specifically asked about RAAM and did not mention IM CDA so the answer was about RAAM. MyAthlete is a sponsor of RAAM and RAAM wanted our new Flash event site so they could imbed it into their site.  Also in the e-mail reply last night I asked which RAAM rider was trying to be viewed and we would provide the HTML link for that rider.  

Lastly yes we are developing apps for the iPhone, iPad and Droid to take full advantage of those platforms so you will be able to see the cool features we have our flash site and more.  Even then you will still be able to go to the HTML version if the viewer so chooses.

John

John, thanks for the clarification (scary how fast you found this thread ) I mentioned RAAM as this was the only event currently going on where I could test the functionality.  Whihc by the way works awesome on a PC/Mac.

The non-flash version works on the iPhone perfectly.  Thanks for the information.  Will be renting one for IMCdA.

Thanks for the example.  Nice to know it has worked out for others.  I must admit I have thought about giving it a little more oomph in the second bike loop than I normally would since I know I have to walk most of the mary anyway.  There is a certain amount freedom in that.

So I'm at work grabbing some files and my laptop.  Because I'm getting sick and the right thing to do is stay at home, not infect others, and get some rest.  One of my direct reports walks into my office, coughing without covering her mouth, and asks me some questions.

Me: "Are you sick?"
Her: "Yeah, I had a 101 degree fever last night."
Me: "WTF are you doing here?  STAY HOME if you are sick."

Seriously, why is this so hard for people to understand?!?  We have had this discussion MANY times with the entire team.  I re-emphasized this a few weeks ago before heading into taper.  I find this incredibly disrespectful.  If I'm sick on race day, this will certainly not help when it's time for reviews...

Yesterday I jumped in a local lake for my first OWS this year.  One thing I had forgotten is how buoyant wetsuits are.  Relative to the pool swims, I felt like a cork sticking halfway out of the water!  That took more getting used to than the temperature.  It was definitely cold and although I'm sure the water temp was warmer than CdA, at least it was something.  Might go again in a couple of days to get a little more used to it.  

Brad

What is wrong with people?  She is not working on something so terribly important that requires her to be here while sick.  I just called her into my office, reminded her that it's incredibly disrespectful to be at work and expose coworkers to illness, and that she needs to go home.  I of course got the look like I'm the queen of the evil empire.

On the upside, after a few hot cups of tea, I'm feeling fine.  I think it's just the Taper Gods tapping me on the shoulder saying "hey you stupid triathlete, take it easy this week, okay?"

I posted this earlier here but your story reminded me of it.  About 2 weeks ago I sent out this email...

Subkect: Sickness

"I know everyone right now is OK but there is something going around.  With less than 2 weeks till the big race I cannot affordto get sick.  So, if you are not feeling well... stay the f**k home!"

(I did not censor it in my email however)