Have I lost my mind to consider a HIM? (Page 20)

I didn't sign up for the NYC tri, I know many who are but I'd rather do many other tri's than that.

I am thinking of doing a HIM distance Aquabike before the HIM but no certain plans yet.

Kate and Debb are neck n' neck!

Morning Ladies -

I need your brutally honest opinion. I'd ask in the forums here but I feel like our situations might differ a little bit from the norm, and I know what consensus would say about this but I wanted your opinion... I don't have to decide which 70.3 until After December, but I'm trying to make up my mind now just so I have a good idea of what I'm working for.

The biggest deciding factor between Door and Racine are basically hills. On one hand I feel like I should do door because I need the hill practice, and it will be a good trial run for how I can handle hills in a race situation. There is a "bluff" that is supposed to be quite a steep hill in that one. I'm not sure how the course overall compares to IMOO I doubt it's AS hilly but more inline...

Racine on the other hand is really mostly flat.

There are other deciding factors but I feel like the hills are the tipping point here.

I guess what I am afraid of is trying to do door, and getting totally freaked out and demoralized before IMOO??

So do I choose the harder course and get a good dose of reality and what I might be in for and risk being under minded by my crappy confidence or do the slightly easier course so I have the comfort of knowing I can do the distance?

I know I sound brave in general about the whole IMOO thing in general, but I tend to keep a lot of my doubts to myself at this point in time. Mostly because I know its WAY too early to know if I'll be OK, and I know my personality is the type to doubt myself even when I have no reason to. If that makes any sense? I don't want people (not you guys) jumping on me and saying "Well if you have doubts you had no business signing up" which is an attitude I've run into (even here on BT) those types of people don't get my reasons, that's fine. We're all different.

I think I know the answer here, but I just wanted your 2cents.

Okay off to do whatever... swim I guess. Trainer later maybe.

Door County all the way.

1. It's Door County - I mean that's a no brainer over Racine anyday
2. You'll likely be racing against people that are also doing IMOO.
3. The max ascent is 259 feet... 9.5/10 ths of the course is fairly flatish - there are some rollers in there, but nothing major.
4. Hills are your friends, particularly ones that are short and sweet and lead to a descent into the finish.
6. Spinning up hills is your friend.
7. I've heard it's a great race from locals.
8. You can totally do it.

I understand your hill jitters, I do. I hate hills. But you just gotta do it. It'll be a much better race to prep for IMOO than a flat course.

If you're really super nervous about the route can you drive up there one weekend and do the route as a training ride before the event?

Yeah I know it's the right answer (Door) I even have it marked on the race calendar already. I've heard nothing but fabulous things about it and how well run it is and how nice the area is. Its a smaller race, but that's probably a good thing.

I guess I'm just being a wuss and having a pre-freak-out about the "bluff" I kept hearing about. I have to remember by July I should be 40lbs lighter to get my butt up those hills, and I really do need hill practice for IMOO.

I'm not sure if I can get up there - it's a farther trip then Madison or Racine, and If I'm going to make that kind of trip I rather go to Madison (which I plan to do at least twice)

Thanks Keel!

Although that does me I need to get better gearing on my bike for hill spinning. I'm thinking about a compact, but I don't know much about the whole gearing thing.

I'm with Kiri!  TACKLE THE HILLS!!  You can do it!  I think it will help you mentally for the race. 

If you have gear or bike questions you know Lisa is your gal!!  I'm anxious to hear her response. 

I might have been the dissent, until I read Kiri's post, largely because I didn't know what we were really talking about in terms of the difference in the terrain between the two HIMs and your IM.  But now having read everything, I agree. 

1.  You've got 9 months to train
2.  The hills aren't that horrible (and hills are my nemesis as well)
3.  That close to your IM you really need to be practicing/racing on terrain that is as similar as possible to the IM
4.  The weight loss as you go along will help you with the hills, even as you become stronger just from practicing and training

And I completely agree about not posting your question on the other forums because you are unlikely to get the "brutally honest" yet supportive answers that you got here.  I really think that there is enough time for you to be very well prepared for the HIM, even a hilly one.  I have read that "hill work is speed work in disguise," so the whole time you are working on the hills, just remember that you are also working on speed.  At least, that is what I tell myself on the hills - running or biking. 

And, for pity's sake, you have lost over 100 pounds.  I don't think that there is anything that you can't do.  Heck, you can probably walk on water, if you set your mind to it. 

Walk on water? I can barely SWIM how could I walk?

Anyway thanks for the input everyone. I found this elevation chart after poking around it definately doesn't look bad at ALL. Just that one and like Kir said it isn't all that long.

http://dlucas.net/DoorHills.jpg

It's like a 5 hour drive from here so as long as the husbands up for the long drive... I'd like to do it.

Kate: Oh cool sounds like you've got tons of plans there! It must be nice to live so close to an IM race... half of the cost of these races is the hotel expenses. I thought long and hard about doing AZ versus WI. In the end I probably should have went with AZ. Maybe if WI goes wrong I'll try AZ in 2011.

There you go.  See, you should have been walking on the water all this time instead of swimming!!

My man has NOT given me the green light to do an IM, largely because he thinks it would be too hard on me.  And he might be right.  I think I have pretty much given up on an IM in 2010, but if I can do two or maybe three HIMs in 2010 (and maybe a marathon), I can better assess, as can he, whether a full IM is really possible.  If I am going to do an IM, I need to do it pretty soon because I am not getting any younger.  (Yes, Kate, do it while you are still young.) 

Hey Ladies! Sorry I've been AWOL lately. I've been running around tying up all my loose ends before going off to Aruba tomorrow morning. I don't know how much time I'll get to spend online (I don't want to pay much for hotel internet access) but I will be working towards my goals. I have my mini gym bands, running shoes, googles, HR monitor etc all packed. Have a good week everyone!

Have a fabulous time Lisa!

Leah - I think he'll be OK with the idea once you show him how you can kick *** on that CA 70.3 course. While I understand the not getting any younger notion one more year probably won't be a drastic difference either way.

Kate/Kir/Keel - The 3 K's how goes it?

Swimming for me in the morning. I should have gone to the pool more then once in between classes, ah well. This will be our 4th class and after that it's halfway over already!

My Knees wanted to start barely hurting again today out on my run after about 4 miles. Any longer and I probably would have started to feel it. Thought I gave it enough time to rest them since last weekend. I have to figure out why this is happening out of the blue. Annoying.

Oh BTW here's a coupon you guys might be interested in: 20 percent off Splish swimsuits until next Friday... That's where I got the kooky cat/skeleton suits from. Coupon Code is: Friday13.

I really kinda like this one, but I have 2 suits now I can't really justify another.



Edited by IdealMuse 2009-11-06 10:58 PM

Lisa - Have a great time in Aruba!  I'd love to be on a beach lounging around.  That is actually my favorite type of vacation! 

Debb - So now that your man is on board with the longer trip to Door is it a done deal?  I'm excited for you!!  It is fun to get the races on the books. 

Leah - Let's both sign up for IMAZ!  We will have lots of time before November 2010.  We could still get two HIMs under our belt before the full next November.  Tell Chuck you want to give it 1 solid year of training. 

I didn't get a work out in today.  I had sitter problems.  I guess Sunday's race will be done with a true taper! At least my legs will be fresh.  I'm nervous.  This will be my longest tri to date.  We leave tomorrow around noon so I will talk to you guys Sunday. 

Debb - I love your fun suits!!  I have two plain old black speedos and they are booring!!  I could use some color!  I'll have to check them out.  Thanks for sharing.

As for your knee, you were running so fast during your hot coco run that they probably need a couple more days off.  You were fast like lightening.  I hope it isn't anything serious.  Baby it.

Just checked out the website.  I'd probably pick the little Keystone Cop swimsuit.  Cute!!

Debb - thanks heaps for telling us about Splish swimsuits.  I had never heard of them and since I am lying in bed totally enjoying my cold (instead of being out on a three-hour long-climb bike ride), I have toured their site VERY BRIEFLY and have already found five suits that I simply must have.  How does one justify five new suits?  I can justify one because the one I have cuts into my shoulders and is uncomfortable.  (Explain this to me - it is the same size and brand as my previous suit, plus I would have lost a few pounds since I bought that one.  Why or how is this new one too small?) 

OK.  I can justify one because my current one is too small. 

I can justify one of the Christmas ones because I have never had a Christmas swimsuit, never seen anyone with a Christmas swimsuit and we are coming up on Christmas season.  Does all that qualify as justification?

I can justify the Wonder Woman suit because I have always been a big fan of Wonder Woman.  This is a stretch because I don't think I would have the guts to wear this at my Masters class because I am the second to slowest person in the entire pool. 

I can justify the kitty one because I am totally into kitties (and have one on my feet overheating me as I type this).

It's a good thing I didn't see the Halloween ones before Halloween.

Not to mention the others that are just so cute.  I don't particularly like wearing what everyone else is wearing (which is why I buy most of my clothes at thrift stores, not to mention that I am cheap.)  These suits are NOT what everyone else wears at my pool.  And lying here with not much to do except tour the internet and spend money that I shouldn't be spending .... 

OK.  One of the Christmas ones, for sure, but that will only be for the month of December.  Now, which one to replace the too-small one?  Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Will report back later.

Have fun in Aruba.   You have all your workout stuff packed, which is a good thing.  I don't care for the "lying out by the pool and drinking drinks with umbrellas in them" kind of vacations.  I like to be active and do things, whether hiking or museums or whatever.  Chuck just doesn't have the stamina for anything much any more and so he has less interest in going on vacations.  Bummer for me.  So, I am jealous of your active Aruba vacation.

Edited by LeahDD 2009-11-07 1:11 PM

You know, this might be doable.  Not quite an exciting as doing an IM in Nice, France, but certainly lots more practical and, if it works out, do Nice in 2011.  Is it hard to get into IMAZ?  All I ever hear about is that all US races sell out within hours of registration opening. 

Debb - sorry to hear about your knees.  My knees hurt sometimes and sometimes not.  I don't think there is anything "wrong" with them, as in really wrong, but a lifetime of being heavier than I should be has taken its toll.  But I can't explain why sometimes they give me problems and other times they don't.  I know that my running warm-up is more directed at my knees than my cardiovascular system.  Until my knees get going, my running stride is rather stiff-legged, but I am more or less OK after that.  They just sometimes hurt. 

Too bad I didn't pick AZ now. Shoot! It was the other one I was toying around with. If I like doing the IMs it might be the next one I do (2011) even if I DNF on IMOO.

Something with less hills sounds good about now. Don't like the Ocean swim at FL.

Leah - Haha sorry for making a dent in your wallet. They are fun though aren't they? Let us know which ones you end up getting. I'm still tempted to get the Koi even though I don't need it.

Edited by IdealMuse 2009-11-07 4:41 PM

Hey ladies!  I'm back.  I consider today's race a good one.  The swim felt great.  I was still BOP but I didn't have a freak out.  I even passed a swimmer or two.  I haven't seen the results yet but I know I came in under my self projected time.  I'll start working on the race report.   

This race was an eye opener for me.  It was a 1000m swim, a 33 mile bike and a 5 mile run.  This was my longest race so far.  This race showed me how far I have to go in training.  The swim was actually the easiest part of the race for me.  Can you believe it??

The other part of this race was that I ran into an former work friend.  She is in incredible shape and was my tri inspiration.  She did CA 70.3 last year.  She said the bike was so brutal that she had to walk up the hill.  I would have never expected her not to make it that climb.  More incentive to work my tail off!

I'm thinking long and hard about the IMAZ.  I'm 50-50 on it right now.  Part of me doesn't know if I WANT to devote that much time to training.  My friend spent 8 hours last Saturday.  When would I see my babies??  Another part of me wants to at least try it.  I really need to do some research.  I really wish I had a HIM under my belt now.  My bro-in-law thinks we should try a Half before signing up for the full.  Hmmmmm.  I'll also look into how fast IMAZ fills up. 

Leah - Sorry you are feel bad.  I hope you get over it soon.  I've been there I feel your pain!  I'll let you know what I find out on IMAZ. 

Debb - You are going to make it.  You are hitting all of your goals!!  I really do think a DNF is in your future.  

Keeley - Where are you?  

Lisa - If you have time let us know how awesome Aruba is. 

Kiri - What are you up too?  did you ever decide on your cross country bike?

20 Weeks!  Tomorrow is the start of my 20 week plan.  Here comes the fun!!  This week I have a 2000m Splash n Dash on the books and a 10 mile run.  It is going to be a heavy training week.