Ironman Wisconsin : Official Thread (Page 16)

Originally posted by Bevie

Took 2nd place overall at an international (tad shorter bike/run) tri on Sunday. There were "pros/elites" there as well and I beat 6 of them as well. If you count them in with us age groupers I was ninth overall.

Dropped about 12 minutes off my time from last year and I averaged 23.3 mph which was faster than I have ever averaged in a race. Swim went really well too. Fastest age grouper swim time and fifth with the pros I believe. It was a good weekend for me!

Originally posted by strikyr



That sounds pretty scary to be honest. I would agree it probably was do to the heat and maybe dehydration. I hope you are feeling better.

Originally posted by strikyr

After 3 down weeks with travel and then back to back races I was finally able to get back into my training and put up a decent 14.5 hour week last week. I had some good workouts especially on the bike. I'm hoping to do more this week, so far so good. Less than 9 weeks to go need to get as much work in as I can.

Originally posted by ChrisM

You guys hearing anything about switching to a rolling swim start?  Seems to be the rumor over on ST....

Originally posted by daviddclough

Got my second 20 mile run in today. It was 85 degrees when I finished. Pretty hard run. Almost a 70 mile week. I gotta start getting some swims here soon.

Originally posted by maslowrun

I had a chance to attend WIBA this year and learned so much about IMWI.
While I was there I took a bunch of pictures around the Monona Terrace and marked with them the various transition paths.

So if you are a visual learner like myself and want to see what transition area looks like, here you go:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onastick/sets/72157634639307631/

Originally posted by daviddclough

Got my second 20 mile run in today. It was 85 degrees when I finished. Pretty hard run. Almost a 70 mile week. I gotta start getting some swims here soon.

Originally posted by maslowrun

I had a chance to attend WIBA this year and learned so much about IMWI.
While I was there I took a bunch of pictures around the Monona Terrace and marked with them the various transition paths.

So if you are a visual learner like myself and want to see what transition area looks like, here you go:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onastick/sets/72157634639307631/

Originally posted by maslowrun

I had a chance to attend WIBA this year and learned so much about IMWI.
While I was there I took a bunch of pictures around the Monona Terrace and marked with them the various transition paths.

So if you are a visual learner like myself and want to see what transition area looks like, here you go:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/onastick/sets/72157634639307631/

Originally posted by MrSolis


A couple of questions
-it looks like a long run, do you have an stimate of how long it is from the water to the changing room. from there up to the bikes?
-do they lay carpet or is it just running on concrete?

Originally posted by 1stTimeTri



Just a small change, if you don't mind.

Identifying picture #2 from the top:
The arrows from the "Top of Helix From Swim" to "Go inside Monona Terrace to change" to the white car are not correct.
They should be marked from the "Top of Helix From Swim" to behind the parked SUVs on the left side of the picture to the Monona Terrace T1 entrance door,
then exit out of the Monona Terrace T1 exit door (the concrete pillars will be on your right while running) through the parking exit gate to "Bikes racked up here".

Makes sense?

Originally posted by 1stTimeTri

As you complete the swim:
1). As you are starting to get out of the water, there is a ramp in the water (wooden or covered with astro-turf, but not sure), which there are volunteers who help you up to the rubber timing mat.
2). Timing mat to Helix is blacktop, but before you run to the Helix, there are wetsuit strippers that can assist pulling your wetsuit off (if you are lucky and not in the middle of the mass which then you either wait or forget about it and hustle up the Helix).
3). Helix is concrete. Spectators are lined up on both sides. Very cool.
4). Top of Helix to T1 entry in the Monona Terrace is concrete.
5). Once inside the Monona Terrace, there is carpeting all the way through. Feels good.
From water exit to T1 is approximately 200 yards or better, with the incline of going up the Helix - 3 big spiral ascents.

6). From T1 exit door to bike transition is concrete.
Distance of running to bike totally depends on your race number and where you are racked based off your race number. Pros/elites have the furthest to run to their bikes since their bikes are racked closest to the opposite Helix for bike mount and exit.
People like me will have to wait and see what our numbers are - for both IM Moos my bike has been racked in the middle of the bike transition, so 1/2 of my running is to the bike, and then the other 1/2 of my running was with the bike to get to the Helix bike mount and exit.

I carry my shoes all the way down to the bike mount area/exit area, run off to the side to put the bike shoes on, clip in, quick check to see if I have a 1/10 of a second "opportunity" to get in the mass before the bike mount line, then CAREFULLY head down the Helix. DO NOT FLY DOWN THE HELIX! BAD!

IMPORTANT NOTE: MAKE SURE TO HAVE WATER BOTTLES TIGHT IN THEIR CAGES, GU GELS SECURED, ETC. ETC. BEFORE HEADING DOWN OR YOU'RE SCREWED AND CAN HOLD UP A MASS OF ANGRY TRIATHLETES!

When I worked at the bike mount 2 years ago, the first lady pro lost a bottle just after she mounted her bike and headed down the helix. I chased the water bottle, retrieved it, ran the water bottle down to her (she happened to slow down) and then gave it to her. She was SOOOOOO thankful!
I wouldn't do that for persons after the Pros since there is toooooooo much congestion/angst/etc.

Originally posted by strikyr



Thanks for posting this, this is great info. Sounds like the helix can be very congested on the way out. As far as the bottles go do we have to worry about any speed bumps or anything like that which could cause you to lose a bottle on the way out? I assuming the answer is yes but I figured I ask anyway. Also is there some sort of speed limit going down the helix? Not that I'm going to be in a rush or anything and it sounds like it will be too busy to fly down but can you get penalized for going too fast coming down?

Originally posted by Omahabritt



I was at WIBA too! They did mention that going down the helix is a "no passing zone". So you'll only be able to go as fast as the people in front of you. There is also another no passing zone, when you get on the bike path shortly after you start. I thought the roads were in really great shape, especially on the descents. Very happy about not having to dodge potholes when going really fast!

Originally posted by TriBoilermaker

Did the loop twice yesterday. Good experience for a first timer. I didn't think the roads were in great shape but I'm spoiled in that regard. Learned a lot and would recommend anyone doing the race for the first time to ride the course if you can. My race plan was to bike very conservatively and yesterdays preview certainly reinforced that strategy for me! The hills on that second loop can really zap the legs!!

Hope everyone is having good health. Keep working, only 7 weeks to go!!