stevebradley's Mentor Group FULL (Page 226)

great pics, jess!!  i'm really happy you got that fit!!!  I think you will find it will make a huge difference.

I wanted to send you a quick warning about the choptank water temperatures too.  someone just posted on our team forums that the current water temperature in cambridge is 75 degrees.  with just shy of 2 weeks to go and a hot forecast on the agenda it is feasible that wetsuits will not be allowed.  it might be a good idea to mentally prepare for this to be a non-wetsuit swim. 

vigo has made the joke in years past that he drops a bag of ice in the water near the official's thermometer on race day, but i'm not sure how much wiggle room he actually has. 

10,000 is definitely worth a celebration!  Sorry I have been quiet.  I have been trying to maintain a minimum of training.  It is difficult with no race on the horizon.  And it is hot.  I have plenty of excuses!   Anyway, still checking in here to try and keep up with everyone and updating my training log.  Hopefully next month I can pick something to train for.  2 more weeks of softball then a vacation down to the beach (hopefully won't be covered in oil), THEN I'll get serious...I promise!

Have a great weekend all!

hey jess,

i, like steve, knew i would have trouble remember to respond to everything, so i made a list

1.) water bottle:  I guess without seeing it, it's hard for me to understand how your aero bottle won't fit, but i'll take your word for it.  is there anyway you can ask your bike fit guy to see if he can make adjustments that allow you to keep it without sacrificing fit?    will a torpedo bottle fit? http://www.nytro.com/index.cfm/product/?ProductID=4541  this goes between your aerobars and holds a regular water bottle.  if not, how about a rear of the seat set-up? http://www.nytro.com/index.cfm/product/?ProductID=98.  i have an aerobottle and a rear of the seat thingy, so i can roll with an aero bottle and 2 regular bottles.    definitely get this worked out.  i agree, it is the #1 thing that is going to lead to a strong race.  you HAVE to have something that you will drink with.

2.) great job practicing the flat.  this is another that it's hard to help with without seeing your bike, but if you can't take it to a shop before, there will be a bike shop at the expo on friday and saturday.  there always is.  they will take a look at it for free and do some tune ups on it if need be. 

3.) water temp/jellies: on the bt race talk thread for eman someone posted that the national weather service said the bay temp was 78 degrees as of today.  technically speaking, usat calls for no wetsuits above 78 degrees if you want to qualify for awards.  vigo usually jokes that he 'drops a bag of ice' near the thermometer on race morning so he likely does have some wiggle room.  i'm not sure how much, though.  if they announce it's over 78 degrees, i will not be wearing a suit.  if it is under, i will likely be wearing a full sleeved suit.  last year, the jellies were out in force.  i wore a sleeveless suit and slathered my face and arms with vaseline.  mindy had actually done some google searching for me after i made a panicked post here and found the vaseline tid-bid.  i don't know if it was that, but i had NO ISSUES with the jellies at all last year.  i felt them, but they did not hurt at all.  it just felt like i was brushing up against seaweed.  no burning.  no stinging.  as a cautionary measure, i found out later that vaseline is bad for neoprene.  so, if i wear a suit, i will not be putting vaseline on myself (since my new wetsuit goes for $800).  another word of caution, if you do use vaseline, MAKE SURE you keep it away from your goggles.  that was a near-debacle for me last year.  vaseline will not rinse off your goggles in the water, and you will not be able to see out of them.  one more word of caution, if you do use vaseline, DO NOT PUT IT ON YOUR FACE where your goggles will hit as your goggles will not seal after this....a further debacle from last year.  please feel free to read my race report from last year. http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=164165  .  as of today, i have heard no confirmed reports that jellies are in cambridge yet.  i have heard that they are in annapolis.  keep your fingers crossed.  if it is a non-wetsuit swim AND there are jellies, i will be slathered in vaseline.  since you are getting in town early, you can always swim friday and saturday to calm the nerves and get used to the conditions.

4.) logistics: ryan and i are heading down pretty early in the day on friday and are staying until sunday at the cambridge holiday inn express.  we will be heading to the expo/packet pick-up friday.  on saturday AM, i'm planning on taking a 30 min easy ride followed by a 15 min easy run.  if you would like to join me, let me know.  my cell is 703.371.1540.  my email is [email protected].  i will be accessible both ways. 

5.) waves.  that sucks about your wave.  period.  that is a change from last year.  i went off much early as 25-29 wave.  all you can do now is just mentally prepare for the reality.  you are going of last.  it sucks.  it is going to be hot.  it is what it is.  you will do fine in the heat.  it is no big deal.  the high is only calling for 89 degrees.  it could be and has been MUCH worse.  you will be fine.  say it and believe it.  prep that all week.

6.) what to do this week?  drink drink and drink.  hydrate.  eat clean.  no junk.  get to bed early everyday.  get salt in your diet.  salt your food.

7.) items to bring that are eman specific: vaseline!  last year i accidentally bought baby powder scent, but i smelled lovely all day   sunscreen.  at running HAT.  they will have ice at the aid stations, at least they have the last 2 years.  if it is hot you will want to have a hat to 1.) keep th sun off your face and 2.) put ice under.  it will keep you cooler.  another idea if it is hot enough is to run with a small athletic towel.  you can wet it at aid stations and run with it around your neck.  i don't know what your nutrition plan is, but you might want to consider adding hammer's enduralytes to it.  it's basically a salt pill.  i take 2 pre race and then 1-2 every hour during the race.  i have NEVER gotten a cramp in a race since i started taking them.  the first time i tried them was Eman last year.  i love them.  i do not do a race without them.  the hammer guy will be at the expo.  talk to him about them.  you can buy them there and he also has little pill carrying cases that fit nicely in a tri top pocket or under the leg of your bike shorts.

that's all i have for you now.  let me know if you have other questions.  you're going to do awesome!