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Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread (Page 2)
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 2011-01-27 7:50 AM in reply to: #3315221 |
Extreme Veteran 533   Vermont |  Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Threadcobratodd - 2011-01-22 1:24 PM I'm really excited about it, the more I read, the more I feel good about my training. I never thought I'd be here even considering this. I looked back at the results from 2001 and there were just about 500 finishers, 9 years later, its over 2500! Only thing that has gone up that much is the price of fuel! Just catching up with this thread and thought I would chime in. This race started out relatively small and then exploded. It is a pretty big race now, but I have to say that it is by far one of the best run races out there. I know that the race has changed hands somehow over the past couple of years. I did the race when Keith was the race director and, as expected, it was a great race. I was not sure what to expect last year, but it was still very well done. Some races start to deteriorate as they grow, but this has not happened. For those folks doing your first 70.3 or if this is your first time doing this race, you made a great choice, you will not regret it. Great course, great support and where else can you finish the race and have Chrissie Wellington congratulating you and giving you your finisher's medal??? |
| 2011-01-27 7:57 AM in reply to: #3323890 |
| Extreme Veteran 533 Vermont | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread cltriguy - 2011-01-27 1:05 AM Hi all... This will be my first HIM and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm just glad that it's seven months away, seeing as my swimming leaves a lot to be desired right now, i.e. it sucks. For you Timberman vets out there, any thoughts or advice on this swim? Thanks in advance! Rhett No worries, my swim needs some work right about now as well. You have time. The swim at Timber is fine. I have had good days there (I am not fast) and I have had days where it felt like we were swimming in the ocean. My tips for the swim...(1) Take what the day gives you. You cannot control the wind, waves, sun or rain, (2) Bring tinted goggles. You may not need them, but the sun can be blinding after turning the first buoy, (3) Be patient. As someone has already mentioned, you get down to the water, get all fired up and then have to wait for several waves (in some cases) go out. I was in wave 10 or 11 last year. It seems like forever while you wait, (4) For now, get in the water and get to work. The more work you do now, the easier it will be on race day. |
| 2011-01-27 8:05 AM in reply to: #3297555 |
| Extreme Veteran 533 Vermont | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread tcovert - 2011-01-13 1:58 PM Really? No thread started for this race yet? C'mon...it's only 31 1/2 weeks away!!! Seriously, though...my wife and I are both in for this...2nd HIM for her (I've done a couple IMs). Coming out from SoCal...first time shipping bikes to a race...the whole nine yards. She's a native Mainer and has quite a number of family members nearby, so--hopefully--lots of support. Her sister-in-law and her nephew's girlfriend have both been talking about signing up for the sprint and making it a big family weekend thing. I find this to be a very family friendly race. You picked a great race to come east for. |
| 2011-01-27 8:09 PM in reply to: #3297555 |
Master 1494  Kingston Ontario | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Good to see there are a few other IMLP 2012 wannabees too! Thanks for the good info on the race so far. I should be good in any water conditions as I swim in Lake Ontario - crazy waves sometimes |
| 2011-01-27 9:59 PM in reply to: #3297555 |
| Member 18 | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread I'm signed up for this race - it will be the first HIM I have ever done! I'm super excited, and it's great to see others that have done it! Anybody have any good training tips for open water? That's probably the thing I'm the most nervous about. |
| 2011-01-28 7:53 AM in reply to: #3326058 |
Extreme Veteran 475 Watertown, MA | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread cbwaid - 2011-01-27 9:59 PM I'm signed up for this race - it will be the first HIM I have ever done! I'm super excited, and it's great to see others that have done it! Anybody have any good training tips for open water? That's probably the thing I'm the most nervous about. Welcome to the group! To answer your question: practice, practice, practice. The only real difference from a pure form standpoint is that you have to site, you can't just stare at a black line on the bottom of a pool. If you don't have much access to an open body of water then just try it in the pool--every 5-6 strokes, as you're starting your pull (so one arm is in the 'recovery' phase, out of the water and about to be thrust in front of you) stick your head up and try to pick one thing at the end of the pool to focus on. Practice doing this smoothly, efficiently, and while taking a breath. Outside of that there really isn't much difference between pool and (non-ocean) OW swimming. You won't really encounter any waves in non-ocean OW swimming so stroke modifications and work on bi-lateral breathing aren't concerns. If you're also talking about pool vs. triathlon swimming, then there's things like drafting and not getting kicked in the head or swum over, but that's a different conversation altogether  . |
| 2011-01-28 7:58 AM in reply to: #3297555 |
Expert 798 Kewaunee, WI | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Hey Ya'll. I am fairly certain I will be coming east to race this HIM. It will be my first. I am fairly excited. My husband loves to fly fish. He tells me the area has a lot of good fishing. It is sounds like a perfect vacation to me. Race a HIM and he can fish!!! Everyone is happy. |
| 2011-01-28 9:00 AM in reply to: #3326058 |
| Extreme Veteran 494 Morris County, NJ | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread cbwaid - 2011-01-27 10:59 PM I'm signed up for this race - it will be the first HIM I have ever done! I'm super excited, and it's great to see others that have done it! Anybody have any good training tips for open water? That's probably the thing I'm the most nervous about. Courtney--You are going to be so impressed with yourself when you cross the finish line! Regarding your OWS nervousness, I suggest you swim in open water as often as you possibly can until you are absolutely not nervous. I know it sounds simplistic, but it's the simple truth. Where do you live? Here in Jersey, there are open-water ocean swim clinics that start as early as May, there are tri groups that offer OWS training opportunities, and there are some really great competitive timed open-water swims for the 1.2 mile distance. In my personal experience, OWS cannot be duplicated in a pool. Specifically, during the swim portion of Timberman, I wished I had done more ocean swimming. I loaded up on lake swimming thinking I was approximating the race conditions, but Lake W is so darned big, the wind caused some ocean-like swells. That said, at no time was I afraid that I would not safely complete the swim. I did need to adjust my siting to synchronize with the peak of the swells, and you can bet my booty will be practicing in the ocean this summer. On a positive note, the swim course was extremely well-marked with buoys, and the turn buoys were manned with boats that were mounted with large blinking lights--you can't miss them. Also, the water was absolutely swarming with kayaks. Since I am not a fast swimmer, I usually like to stay well-wide of the pack and swim near the outside kayaks/surfboards. But, the Timberman lifeguards kept a very narrow (IMO) swim lane, and I was chastised several times for appearing off-course. I have never felt so observed in the water. Hope this helps! |
| 2011-01-28 9:03 AM in reply to: #3318012 |
| Extreme Veteran 494 Morris County, NJ | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread runnerx - 2011-01-24 11:36 AM Hmmm...some familiar names in this thread from last year's race. Hey Wally! You know all the cool kids are going to be in Lake W this August. Why not join us? |
| 2011-01-28 9:05 AM in reply to: #3315164 |
| Extreme Veteran 494 Morris County, NJ | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Brownie28 - 2011-01-22 12:26 PM Hey everyone! Ray, Great to see you're coming back for more. You did so well last year, you are bound to tear up the course this time around! |
| 2011-01-28 9:29 AM in reply to: #3297555 |
Extreme Veteran 821 | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread I will be there too! This is going to be a "A" race for me. I am already training (building base)! Can't wait |
| 2011-01-28 10:18 AM in reply to: #3326530 |
Master 1989 New Jersey | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread jtrezza - 2011-01-28 10:03 AM runnerx - 2011-01-24 11:36 AM Hmmm...some familiar names in this thread from last year's race. Hey Wally! You know all the cool kids are going to be in Lake W this August. Why not join us? Well, i don't want to bring down the "coolness" factor. I have to admit, being in an "Ironman 70.3" did have the wow factor, in spite of it costing way more than a non-Ironman branded race. And of course, having Chrissie's congratulations at the end didn't hurt either. I'm tempted...very tempted... Gotta see how a few other things play out before committing. |
| 2011-01-28 10:36 AM in reply to: #3297555 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Courtney- I second what Jackie said about in water support. There are plenty of Kayaks/jetskis in the water to make sure everyone stays safe (believe me I know- I ended up on the back of a jetski at one point with the most severe leg cramps imaginable) I suggest practicing open water swimming as often as you can. You will be just fine. I would love to be in an earlier wave this time around. I wonder if Chrissie and Andy plan to race it again this year... break more course records? |
| 2011-01-28 12:18 PM in reply to: #3297555 |
Master 1494 Kingston Ontario | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Swim question...I don't know the USAT rules being in Canada and also we rarely have this issue Thanks! |
| 2011-01-28 6:37 PM in reply to: #3327097 |
Extreme Veteran 453 Long Island, NY | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread keepitup - 2011-01-28 12:18 PM Swim question...I don't know the USAT rules being in Canada and also we rarely have this issue Thanks! As far as I know Timberman has always been wetsuit legal. But yes there are temps that can make a race not wetsuit legal. (Can't remember the exact temps but there are different rules for pros and age groupers) I am sure someone else will chime in with the rules. |
| 2011-01-29 7:36 AM in reply to: #3297555 |
Extreme Veteran 490 Higganum, Connecticut | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Okay, being my first HIM attempt, I have the obvious training concerns that anyone would have at 200 days from the start. Sooooo, at this point (28 weeks from the race), what is a good place to be with a persons training? I understand there are a million variables, so let's keep it in generic terms for a novice. I'm not going there to win my age group, or even place in the top 10%, or 20% (although it would be nice). I'd just like to know how hard I should be pushing myself this far out from the race. I plan on starting the 20 week Beginner to HIM training plan on April 1, prior to that I'm logging in about 6,000 to 8,000 yards a week on the swim, 20 to 50 miles (spinning due to the Nuclear Winter we are experiencing in CT), and running about 9 to 12 miles a week. Is that a good place to be at this point to survive the HIM distance at 41 years old? Could someone offer a milestone goal in terms of distance (not speed/time) for 3, 2, or 1 month(s) prior to the start of the race that they would feel comfortable with in terms of fitness level? Edited by cobratodd 2011-01-29 7:38 AM |
| 2011-01-29 9:57 AM in reply to: #3327097 |
| Extreme Veteran 494 Morris County, NJ | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread keepitup - 2011-01-28 1:18 PM Swim question...I don't know the USAT rules being in Canada and also we rarely have this issue ...are there certain high water temps that make wetsuits illegal? I would not be happy if I found out the day of the race that I had to swim without one. I imagine NH water temps would be similar to ours in the summer and this wouldn't be a problem Thanks!Each age group participant shall be permitted to wear a wet suit without penalty in any event sanctioned by USA Triathlon up to and including a water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water temperature is greater than 78 degrees, but less than 84 degrees Fahrenheit,age group participants may wear a wet suit at their own discretion, provided however that participants who wear a wet suit within this temperature range shall not be eligible for prizes or awards. Age group participants shall not wear wet suits in water temperatures equal to or greater than 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
Edited by jtrezza 2011-01-29 10:00 AM |
| 2011-01-29 11:01 AM in reply to: #3328340 |
Extreme Veteran 475 Watertown, MA | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Just to follow up on Jacqueline's post and the wetsuit question: Timberman has been wetsuit legal every year going back a long time...I know WTC likes to keep races consistent in their treatment so unless we have an insane heatwave this year and the water temp skyrockets I'd plan on it being wetsuit legal. |
| 2011-01-29 11:30 AM in reply to: #3328223 |
Extreme Veteran 475 Watertown, MA | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread cobratodd - 2011-01-29 7:36 AM I plan on starting the 20 week Beginner to HIM training plan on April 1, prior to that I'm logging in about 6,000 to 8,000 yards a week on the swim, 20 to 50 miles (spinning due to the Nuclear Winter we are experiencing in CT), and running about 9 to 12 miles a week. Is that a good place to be at this point to survive the HIM distance at 41 years old? Could someone offer a milestone goal in terms of distance (not speed/time) for 3, 2, or 1 month(s) prior to the start of the race that they would feel comfortable with in terms of fitness level? Hey Todd, welcome to the group and welcome to the world of long distance tri training! I wouldn't worry about distances this far out, for offseason training you should really just focus on 1) maintenance in all three disciplines and 2) depending on your particular situation, a focus on any 'weakness'--be it swim, bike or run. In other words, don't worry about distance/time right now, just work on your weakest discipline and do 1-3 'maintenance' sessions in the other disciplines every week. I would suggest, if you don't necessarily have a weakness, something like this: 8K swimming is about right, make sure to break these up into intervals of 100-400m and drills to improve form. Slowly bring the running distance up from 9-12 to the 15-20 miles/week area, all at endurance pace, nice and easy. Biking, in my opinion, is the most important of the three disciplines--longest distance of the race and it dictates how hard you can run after you get off the bike. Do 3-4 bike sessions a week, 1 at endurance pace, 1 including hard intervals (2x20 minutes, 4x10 minutes, etc) and 1 including a 40 minute to 1.5 hour 'tempo' ride at moderate pace. I've heard people have good success with the BT 'Beginner 1/2 Ironman' training plan; you should basically plan on being able comfortably complete a 1.5 hour bike ride, 1 hour run and 40 minute swim prior to starting the plan as those are the long sessions you'll do in the first few weeks...from there the plan will slowly bring up volume to get you ready for the half distance. As far as question #2: there's really no answer to that as there are a ton of variables...as a first-timer who's only goal is to finish you might have goals of 2K swim/50 mile ride/12 mile run a month prior to the race; to be better prepared you might have goals of 3K swim/60 mile ride/14 mile run at race pace, with a brick workout of 2.5 hour ride/60 minute run. My coach had me doing a hard 3 hour bike and 60 minute brick run--all at race pace--with a 90 minute race-pace run the next day, a month out from the race last year...it really all depends on where you're at endurance-wise as to how hard/long you can push the training. My advice: keep things simple for the next few months, bring up the run volume a bit and work the bike hard; then 20 weeks out start the BT plan and let that be your guide, it WILL get you in 'race shape' so you'll be more than ready to tackle 1.2/56/13.1 come race day. |
| 2011-01-29 12:51 PM in reply to: #3328426 |
Extreme Veteran 490 Higganum, Connecticut | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Thank you!!! |
| 2011-01-29 1:42 PM in reply to: #3297555 |
Master 1494 Kingston Ontario | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Thanks for the USAT info. Funny to even think about a lake being too warm when there is ice all over ours right now |
| 2011-01-30 2:52 PM in reply to: #3328223 |
Master 1989 New Jersey | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread cobratodd - 2011-01-29 8:36 AM Okay, being my first HIM attempt, I have the obvious training concerns that anyone would have at 200 days from the start. Sooooo, at this point (28 weeks from the race), what is a good place to be with a persons training? I understand there are a million variables, so let's keep it in generic terms for a novice. I'm not going there to win my age group, or even place in the top 10%, or 20% (although it would be nice). I'd just like to know how hard I should be pushing myself this far out from the race. I plan on starting the 20 week Beginner to HIM training plan on April 1, prior to that I'm logging in about 6,000 to 8,000 yards a week on the swim, 20 to 50 miles (spinning due to the Nuclear Winter we are experiencing in CT), and running about 9 to 12 miles a week. Is that a good place to be at this point to survive the HIM distance at 41 years old? Could someone offer a milestone goal in terms of distance (not speed/time) for 3, 2, or 1 month(s) prior to the start of the race that they would feel comfortable with in terms of fitness level? My own opinion..."it depends" The key is to do what YOU feel comfortable with. What will make you most confident on race day? Choose a plan, follow it, and trust that it will get you to a good race...because it will!! And since you have a plan, see what those initial weeks are in the plan and aim your training now so that you'll be nice and fresh and can comfortably handle those distances in the plan. Brownie offered some good advice (and backed it up last year, btw). But a different take on things...I'm currently at 0 miles per week running, about 25 mpw cycling, and doing 1 or 2 1500y days in the pool. For me to feel comfortable, I'll build to 100 mpw on the bike, 20-25 running, and swimming...eh, I dislike swimming so 2x/wk in the pool with one of them in the 2000-2500y range. So that would my "milestone goal" for about a month before the race. Keep it simple, especially for your first HIM. |
| 2011-01-31 6:43 PM in reply to: #3297555 |
| 4 | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread This will be my first HIM. I got antsy late last year and registered. I did a couple of sprints, an Olympic and a 1/2M last year and will have another 1/2M and 2 more Oly's under my belt by the time August 21st rolls around. I'm really really really looking forward to this race. Thanks for posting the bike elevation and all the great advice. |
| 2011-02-08 2:08 PM in reply to: #3297555 |
Expert 798 Kewaunee, WI | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread Ok, I have airline tickets and a cabin rented. Does anyone know how quick this baby fills up?? This is my first HIM. I am a bit tense about throwing down the $300. We can turn it into a mini vacation if I anything goes wrong. |
| 2011-02-08 2:44 PM in reply to: #3345459 |
Extreme Veteran 490 Higganum, Connecticut | Subject: RE: Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread There is a lot to do there in the White mountains - it's a beautiful part of the country. |
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