Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas : Official Thread (Page 2)

Awesome, thanks. That is all I really was looking for, a dedicated lane versus narrow shoulder. Having some of the course actually closed in icing on the proverbial cake. This is going on my list of strong contenders in 2014.

Have you tried Graston for your PF?  I've worked with several people who have found it to be pretty effective for PF in 3 or 4 sessions.

I have never heard of this...but, I did do a quick internet search...looks like the closest practitioner is about an hour away...which I'm willing to do, as my 9 mile run yesterday was the most painful run of my life (and I wasn't fatigued at all...just the pain in my foot was excurciating)...but, have those folks who have used it had to "stop" training while being treated?  With this race coming up, I can't stop...

Thx for the feedback!!

Tambo

for lodging....there is a Hampton Inn pretty close to the race and i have stayed there twice..there is a Hilton on the Seawall that is a nice hotel as well that i usually always stay when i am in Galveston.

as far as wetsuit..it has always been a full wetsuit for me..

good luck!

Jb

hi folks-

we ended up going the VRBO route...close enough to race venue that our spectators can walk back and relax (check whatever sports scores are on tv, grab a cold beverage and refuel to come back out and cheer us to the finish) while we're putting in our time in on the bike.

I finally went to see "Patty Pain" yesterday regarding my plantar fasiitis (local tri friends have had success with her and she came highly recommended)......and I woke up and stood on my foot for the first time this morning without pain in almost a year.  She seemed to be using the Gastron technique without the tools...it was super painful and she told me I could scream at any time...I didn't have to, but man I wanted to...So, lots of stretching and she thinks within 1-2 more visits and I'll be in good shape.  If this is true...this will be life changing for me...seriously. 

Hope everyone's training is going great and look forward to competing in my first HIM!

Tam

Welcome dfwchris...guess we'll be figuring out this HIM thing together!  This discussion board has been extremely quiet...I have found reading past Galveston discussion boards helpful.  I, too will be competing in my first HIM...although I have completed 4 sprints and 1 oly...all last race season...so this will be my first race this season...I'm very excited as well, and mostly concerned about my nutrition and fueling for this longer distance race...any input from veterans would be welcomed!

Tammy

A few tidbits of advice.  Be ready for wind, and be ready for heat and humidity.  You should be working on your fueling strategy and salt intake so that you last few big training sessions will cement that your strategy is sound.  Once you feel your plans are good, the next most important thing you can do is to stick to your plan! Don't second guess it unless something is going wrong on race day. 

An example would be if you're coming from cool weather to the heat, it's possible that your body will want more fluid and salt, and possibly less food.  Take that as food for thought.  Pay attention to the signs your body gives you on race day, and adjust your plan only if necessary.  Since your not coming from that far away, you're not likely to have that problem.

Nutrition and hydration is highly personal, so take any advice you get about how much/how frequent with a grain of salt. No one knows you better than you do. 

I see they just put the swim waves up on the website.  I am right in the middle -- wave #9.  

Does anyone know if we can swim the course the day before the race?  

If not, where is a good spot for open water swimming in Galveston?

Also, does the swim start in deep water?

From the Athlete guide

"SWIMMING IS NOT PERMITTED AT MOODY GARDENS. Athletes wishing to train may use Stewart Beach, 201 Seawall Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77550 - Beach rules apply and there is an $8 per vehicle cost to enter."

No swimming the day before.  I believe there are alternate sites in the athlete guide.

I am not a big eater for races, but HIM you need to get something in you.  make sure it's something your stomach can take as it's not so much the fueling as it is fueling with something that doesn't mess up your stomach and ruin your race.  I find i cannot stomach gatorade, but a lava field gu 20 minutes into the bike with plenty of water and some shot blocks with plenty of water does it for me for the bike.  and take some salt tablets.  on the run, i have had races where i grab a pretzel at every food stop for the salt, but only one so i do not over do it.  another race, i didn't eat anything entire run and i nailed the run.  others eat quite a bit and take in quite a bit of calories in their hydration.  ?

depends on the day and the heat and how much your body can take.  

A light blue swim cap for me.

For those of you that have done this race before, how bad is it getting out of the water?  Rocks?  Sand?

About how far is it to transition?

Getting out of the water is easy, its a packed sandy bottom, so really shouldnt have any footing issues. As for the run up to transition, its fairly short, so start working on your wetsuit as soon as you're out of the water so you're ready when you get to the wetsuit strippers. I cant remember if they carpet the entire run up to T1 or not, but I think they did.

I'm coming from the north and we just got 8 inches of snow... The chances my first rides outdoors will be in Galveston.

Does anyone have any recommendation on preparing for the heat? A lot of stale trainer rides with long sleeve shirts? How hot and humid are we talking?

I think several runs indoors on the treadmill should help, along with the sauna. I need to still book a hotel. How is parking the day of?

Will melt in the heat! I'm in the last wave.

Obviously you want to do what works for you but I would be really cautious about the perpeteum and nuun.  With regard to nuun, it contains sorbitol, a sugar alochol, which acts as a laxative.   In addition, perpeteum has soy protein, which can cause GI issues in lots of people, epsecially during race day when your body is shifting blood away from the GI system.  Plus Perpeteum only uses one sugar, compared to many other products, which use multiple sugars because the body abosorbs CHO better when there are short, medium and long chain sugars present. 

I know lots of people rank on Perform, which is available on course, but it does a pretty good job of what it was designed to do -- provide fluid, CHO and electrolytes to the body. 

BIB #'s are up on the website. 761 here  

http://www.ironman.com/~/media/b57fef26338742ff91565fed0eb1b77b/tx%2070%203%20bib%20list%203%205.pdf