Ironman World Championship 70.3 : Official Thread (Page 2)

I checked out your Garmin splits.  A very solid training run.  You have earned the "Destroyer" moniker.  I ran a 1:28:42 half marathon on Sunday in a race and was chest bumping my wife.  You nearly ran that in a training session...

If it does turn out to be a non-wet suit swim, which I think is highly likely, it will be a greta race for a strong swim.

I have a feeling it's going to turn out to be a great race for the strongest triathlete.   

...say's a strong swimmer..

Just about 1 month to go.  I don't know about the rest of you but I am ready for a break and some time off after this one.  I've been at it for what seems like years...

Actually, this season has been a joy compared to 2009 and 2010 which were Ironman years. I love 70.3 training, I feel so much...better all around.

I can't compare to full training I just need a mental break at some point. When all of the training started I was running in sub 30 degree temps and now it's 103 temps. I've not had much more than 14 days off in the last 30 weeks and 4 of those 14 were because of illness back in late February. So thats like only 10 rest days over 30 weeks. It's taking it's toll. I'm just ready to race again.

I have been taking Monday completely off for the last few months and it really helps me recharge both physically and mentaly.

Yeah that's been my rest, active recovery day for the most part as well.  It's just tough with two kids and all of the commitments that come along with that.  Not looking for any sympathy as I know many others are in the same situation.  It's just a crazy weekly balancing act.  I'd sure like to have a little down time from it.

Well I am in. Got all registered yesterday. Looks like I better start riding more hills. Heading down from Salt Lake City on the 8th and staying untill the 12th. Hopefully get to meet some other BTers!

OK, I am going up to Henderson next Friday to do some training on the course Saturday. It's only a 5 hour drive from here and I got a sweet room at the Loews where we will be staying. I'll give you all my thoughts to follow up what Doug already reported back with...

Enjoy the trip.  Try to find out a current water temp if you can.  I can't even find one online for lake mead. 

There's a thread on ST for the race where on the RD's has been posting and she pretty much said you can leave the wet suits at home. Water temps are in low 80's at Lake Las Vegas and it's been over 100 here everyday and will continue for the next few weeks. This race is going to be HOT.

...and ZOOT will have our new suit ready as well.

ust checked into the Loews. The desk told me they already have people here for the race, mostly European pro's trying to acclimate I think. Resort is really nice as is the whole Lake Las Vegas resort area. Heading down to see the swim course...and then to the pool for a beer!

Swim looks nice.  I like the under the bridge finish and don't think I'll mind the run around to T1.  I heard it's only 300m or so but then we have to run up a hill with our bikes before mount.  I just bought some smoked goggles to help out with the sun that will over head.  I'm not used to starting so late, so all my goggles were a lighter tint.

The swim will be cake. It's narrow enough so that an out and back is a no brainer for sighting. I'm going to ride by T1 in the morning to see the layout. Then a ride on the course and one loop of the run. It's a bit cooler here then home. You guys have no idea how hot it's going to be on race day!

If the long term forecast holds it is supposed to drop in temp to a high of 96 on race day. Still hot but better than 111 or whatever it was today. I am hoping!

Oh yes, bib numbers are up.

Edited by gerald12 2011-08-26 11:23 PM

Well back from the course. I won't bother posting the Garmin data as one, it's already been well vetted, and two, I made two worng turns so it's not accurate anyway.

So, the course. Hop on your bike and leave T1 and it's almost a mile climb out of Lake Las Vegas. You may want to have the front chain ring in the small gear from the start. You make a right and head 1/2 mile or so to the turn around which is a narrow rec. path that leads beneath the highway. It's a no pass zone and will be slow. That puts you back on the highway heading east toward Lake Meade Recreation Area. After a climb past the entrance to Lake Las Vegas, it's a fast decent to North Shore Drive. Then it about 10 miles of continuous climbs and descents. Some are on the long side, some pitch up steeply at the start and then shallow out, but it's endless. You are never really going along a flat, straight stretch of road the whole way. It's very pretty, reminds me of many of the rides we have here outside of Phoenix and it's not easy. This is a legit and challenging course. I was out of the saddle frequently although I only once or twice went into my small ring. The climb out of the recreation are is long but not too bad.

The trip into town is a lot of false flats before turning and descending on Warm Springs Rd. You get some nice views of the Vegas strip but this while section of the course is downhill or flat through some ugly commercial areas. Then the last 10 miles are so you have to climb back up into Henderson and T2. This is mostly through commercial and then residential streets. Road surface in general is very good, the bike lane in Lake Meade has some shallow rumble strips, so you either ride to their right or left, left being more in the road. T2 at the community center looks very nice. As far as the run, it's either going uphill or going downhill mostly on rec path or sidewalk, all of which are concrete it seems unless they let us run on the road. It won't be a fun run.

Honestly, the biggest issue will be the heat. It was 100 at 9:00am and 108 by 11:30. Now it will cool down some but our weather here isn't looking to break anytime soon, so this is going to be the biggest issue for the race, potentially EXTREME heat, so do what you can to be as heat acclimated as possible. And I say this as someone who lives out here, it's going to be freakin' hot.

I guess I'll chime in this thread.  I "qualified" for this race in 70.3 Ironman Philippines two weeks ago.  My time was not spectacular by any means and I got in through the roll down.  There were unclaimed LV slots so we grabbed it since it's only a 4-hour drive away and we probably won't get the chance to do it again.  I'm ready to see my time as bottom 10% overall in all honesty. 

I did the 70.3 Rage in the Sage in my unofficial first HIM this April and have done some of the bike part and it is not easy (see bike course for Rage below).  I say unofficial because I did it 2 weeks out from an accident.  I was already in Vegas for a seminar that week so might as well do the race right?  I walked most of the run since I messed up my nutrition on the bike since I didn't want to let go of the aero/base bars.  Oh well...  

http://www.runningahead.com/maps/e3eda29fdec84b84aa1ecd59f64a083f

For this race, I just wanted to finish safe and watch in awe some of the pros and top of the food chain AGs!!!  This will be quite the experience!!!  The photo on my profile is actually from the bike portion of the race inside the national park.

Edited by arkmann 2011-08-28 7:06 AM

Ah, thanks for that, just what I figured and for sure a T1 where shoes clipped into pedals is a must.