Ironman St. George - Utah : Official Thread (Page 19)

I know the two Marriott's on the east side of town still have rooms. Both properties are fairly new.

Mike

That reminds me.  I should look up a hotel...  I still don't have arrangements...

I realize no one of you can probably answer this since every race is unique, but I will probably have to do this race solo (meaning I will have no supporters).

I'm curious if there is a good strategy to pull it off.  I figure I park close to the finish and they will have shuttle service to the swim?  Then when I'm done, the car is there.

Also, I'm not sure how I will be able to sleep after the race in a strange bed and thought of driving back to Vegas right after the event.  Thoughts?

I've never done an IM, but I'm assuming I'll be so tired I could sleep on a bed of nails. You might want to count on staying Sat night.

Not much available for only one night in St George. You have to do a minimum of 3 nights if you go through the IM site. Travelocity has a few available for just Sat night though. Might just sleep in the car or find a park or bus bench.

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Jim, if you need a ride to Sand Hollow the morning of, I am sure you can catch one with me. I will be at one of the Marriott's in town and would be happy to make arrangements.

What did you decide for Saturday?

Mike

Anyone know what the exact deal is on transportation on race morning?

The website indicates no public parking at the swim venue with shuttles from Washington County Fairgrounds.  I've been assuming no athlete parking at T1...show up on the shuttle with your swim gear and get ready there (then check in "morning clothes bag" before the start).  Anyone know if that's the drill or if we can self-drive to Sand Hollow and potentially leave stuff in the car?  Looks like my dad will have a rental car, so I could drive myself on race morning and he and my wife can use his vehicle...just want to have an idea exactly where I'm driving to...

I am not positive on this but I believe spectators will be bussed over as well. Having seen the parking area at the reservoir I cant imagine they will have any space for cars after T1 has been set up. 

Please forgive my ignorance again.....

I just looked up my bike info, because I had no idea what the details are on it. This is what I've got:

BOTTOM BRACKET: FSA BB-7420ST

BRAKES: Tektro R570, Dual Pivot

CASSETTE: Shimano 105, 11/23T, 10-speed

CHAIN: KMC DX-10SC

CRANKSET: FSA CK-8080CC, 53/39T, Double

FORK: Carbon Aero w/ Alloy steerer

FRAME: 6061 Butted Aluminum Frame

FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano 105 FD-5600-B, Double, Braze-on, 31.8mm clamp

GRIPS/TAPE: Black Velo Cork

HANDLEBAR: Scattante Bar/Stem Aero Combo, Black

HEADSET: FSA Integrated, 1 1/8"

LEVERS: Tektro RX4.1 TT

PEDALS: NA

RACK MOUNTS: None

REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano 105 RD-5600, 10-speed

SADDLE: Velo VL-2057

SEATPOST: Alloy, 27.2 x 350mm

SHIFTERS: Shimano Dura-Ace SL-BS78 Bar End, Grey

STEM: Scattante Bar/Stem Aero Combo, Black

TIRES: Kenda K-191, 700c x 23

WHEELSET: Alex ALX 320 Comp, Front: 20H; Rear: 24H


Will I survive St. George with this, or should I make some minor changes?? Your thoughts/opinions are appreciated!

Adela - you are running standard gearing in the front.  With an 11/23 cassette *I* would be concerned (speaking for myself).  Then again I am a spinner when I climb.  I am running a 11/28, IMSG isnt brutal but there are some steeper pitches and I dont want to burn up my legs.  You'll LOVE that gearing on the downhill!  You'll FLY!

Had a real confidence boost today.  I ran my hill interval workout (the last time was about a month ago).  Last month, I only ran 5-6 intervals at my LT HR.  This time, I ran 8, and my pace was 30 seconds per mile faster at the same HR.

After some pretty depressing long runs, today's 8 miles shows some real progress.

NOW I'm excited to get off the Mtn which has been my weekly ride/climb.  I average a sluggish 13 mph getting up and down that thing.  I'm excited, after two months of that, to open it up on my old typical "flat" ride (still 2300' of vert) and see what damage I can do.  I would get a thrill if I can get 1-2 mph over my old average pace.

Swap (or have your LBS do it) the 11-23 to an 11-27.  Your legs will appreciate it when you hit the 1/4-1/2 mile of 12% out there (so I have been told by a rider who has done that route on occasion).

You still have all the top end speed with the 11, and get 3 more low end gears to use in a jam.

I personally would be standing up and struggling to get my big arse up 12% for any significant distance with a 23 (even with my compact crank) and you have a standard crank...

That's just me.  Remember, you have a marathon to run after this...

Signed,
Joe average IMer...

Sounds good...  We can talk when things get closer and I get more race details.

My plan (like my other point to point races) is to park at the finish and bus it to the start.  When I'm done, just pack the bike and roll...

As for Sat. I will probably not go unless I suddenly get excited or the urge to throw in an extra long ride.  Something I have been known to do...  But if I'm going to throw in an extra bike, my thoughts have turned to maybe getting in a long MTB ride instead.  It's been since Sept. since I got down and dirty.

Just got my ride all tuned up for the race!!!  I now have a few weeks to ride it and make sure any cable stretching and adjustments can be made before I ship it to the race!!!  Really starting to fine tune everything and make sure I have all my gear together for the race.  Now if I can just get throught the last few tough weeks of training!  I hope everyone is doing good.

Eddy

We will miss you on Saturday Jim, but I understand. A MTB ride may be just what you need right now. The intervals on a good single track ride always make me happy...

Mike

I did the ride to Searchlight Sunday, 105 miles with 4,700+ vertical climbs, not too much wind, hit a low of 36 degrees heading through the desert valley which was FREEZING. Averaged 15 mph which wasn't good or bad as it had been four years since I had done that ride I really didn't recall the terrain so I just tried to stay within myself. Hadn't planned on doing anything with my bike prior to heading to Oceanside for the California IM 70.3 this weekend but my chain kept slipping and ended up replacing it yesterday. I will be heading up to St. George on Thursday before the race and staying at the Comfort Inn. I have a triple on my Javelin Barolo which I generally don't use in training but I won't hesitate to drop into the small chain ring during a race. As for long runs, I did 18 miles each of the last two weeks, dropped to 12 this week due to the IM 70.3 this weekend and will look to do 20 each of the next two weeks. I did my first open water swim since last November this past Monday, 75 minutes, 20 bouys - wind kicked up about half way through. Praying for light or no winds on May 1! I've done one full distance IM, Coeur d'Alene in 2006, about a dozen halfs. Looking forward to St. George, hoping to drop a few more pounds between now and race day, hard to do when I have good discipline for training but little discipline with my portions. Thanks for all the posts, the threads have been both interesting and helpful.

Here are my plans for the weekend, apparently there is a century ride doing the loop as well starting at 8AM.  My group wants to start BUTT early.  I am not happy about this:


    * Start ride Saturday approx 5am.  Two loops of bike course, approx. 90 miles, hopefully done by 10:30-11am.
    * Run after bike, one loop of run course, 13 miles, approx 2-2.5 hrs.

Start ride from:
Super 8 St. George UT
260 East St. George Blvd.
St. George, UT 84770 US
Phone: 435-673-6161
Fax:435-674-2406

I MIGHT try a swim Sunday...is that crazy?  WAY too cold right now it sounds...

I expect a full report when you return!!

I did 1/2mile open water swim @ SH yesterday and it was too bad.  I heard someone did a 3 mile swim last week and it was much colder than yesterday.

LOL -- have fun at 5 a.m. Dress warm -- it gets cold at night in the desert and riding up that pass will make it a little cooler even still. We will start at 10 or 11 a.m. We have all day and are old, so we don't love to get up early like you young kids...

Mike

This group that is trying to conn me into going with them is all "Kona dudes" I dont belong with them anyway.  I dont want to be riding with lights and LAYERS!   My husband talked some sense into me and we do plan on starting later! :p  Where are you guys starting from?

Water temp in sand hollow is up to 52 degrees as of yesterday. The 48 degrees it showed since 3/10 was starting to scare me.

52?!??!  Holy crap...

I think we will be parking at the elementary school in Ivins -- it is slightly off course, but it will be a good place to park. We are planning on starting around 10 a.m. See you there.

Mike