Ironman Arizona : Official Thread (Page 23)

The IM Village last year was relatively quiet with short lines up through Friday afternoon.  I checked in Thursday and entered the tent after about 3-4 minutes wait.  The IM store gets pretty busy in the afternoons, especially on Friday and Saturday (Sat there was a line about 150 people long to check out).  One thing to note - the group that sells the acrylic phot holders and other frames was low on stock as of late Friday, so if you want something special, get there early.

I think this is a personal thing.  I plan on arriving on Thursday.  I will check in on Thursday, grocery shop and get settled.  Friday, I'll do a short bike ride to make sure the bike made the trip ok, pack the transition and special needs bags, and then chill out.  Saturday morning I'll do the practice swim and drop everything off.  If I could swing it with time off from work, I'd probably get there a day or two earlier, but that's me.  I don't like to feel rushed at all.

Big time, thanks.

Things are a changing lol.

My brother in law up and decided to move back to Iowa in a couple weeks. His house will still be there, but he is turning off the elec and water.

So looks like I need a place to stay, unless I don't shower or use electronics for a week.

That'll be a big change in travel costs. I may have to shorten the trip to save money, or rather not spend too much more than I already am.

I guess you could swim the whole thing, but mostly it's just to get in the water and keep things loose.  For me, the big part of the practice swim will be to see how I do in the cold temps.  I would be surprised if anyone swims the whole distance.

I think last year, athletes had to have their chip and wristband to swim at the practice swim.  I know one showed up without the chip and wasn't allowed in, so check the athlete guide, etc. as we get closer if you want to swim on Saturday.

Good Luck to everyone racing this week, My Oly test race is on Sunday.

Now, that is something I'd be up for.  Just get in, make sure I remember how to swim.  Get out and rest up.

From what I saw last year as a Volunteer at IMAZ, just getting out of the river is an experience.  There is no beach to run out onto.  There is a ladder that you climb to get out.  There are helpers on the edge of the ladder grabbing swimmers and pulling them up and onto the dock.

For the practice swim you CANNOT swim the entire swim course.  They only open up about 1500m or so of the lake distance, so if you want to swim 4K M, you will have to make some loops to do so.

As for swim exit, it is definitely one of the more challenging venue for a swim exit.  The stadium-like stairs drop down into the water, and there are about eight (8) lanes to climb out of.  Volunteers will be at the base of the stairs to help pull you out of the water (if you so choose).  There is a concrete ledge under the water a few feet, but it can take you by surprise if you are not aware of it.

I volunteered at swim exit in 2010 and pulled people out of the water.  One thing I noticed more than anything.....As you are going from a weightless position to one on your feet, calf cramps were occurring to about half of the athletes.  Last year I planned for this by purposely stretching and flexing my calves after making the last buoy turn and swimming the final 50-75M.  It worked well, and I took advantage of the concrete ledge and stepped on it and flexed my calves again.  Voila....no cramps.  You can practice your exit on practice swim day.

Jordan Rapp (who has won IMAZ) made this comment in the past:

I *NEVER* swim in Tempe Town Lake except on race day. And when people ask for my #1 piece of advice for IMAZ it is, "do NOT swim in the Lake on Saturday." And it is for EXACTLY that reason. 

The "reason" he is referring to is the subpar quality of the water and the potential to make you sick.

Save the swim for race day, folks.  Why risk it?

Here is the problem I have with that.....is I won't have a chance to really feel what the water temps will be until race weekend......i would rather feel the temps the day before and try to figure out what I need to do to acclimate, than to try and do that on race day.  JUST Saying.....plus now people are talking about geeting out of the water is a challenge so now I got to check that out....I figure the more I can stick to my race plan theh better, I rather be prepared than unprepared ......

This is something I have worried about, as I have heard similar stories.  And a 12+ hour day is enough time for symptoms to start to manifest themselves...

Anyone have any bad experiences with the quality of the water making them ill or have heard of this?

I have the opportunity (good or bad) to swim in TTL several times per year.  I understand Jordan's reasons, but if it were THAT dangerous they would not hold the swim there, let alone any other events during the year.  Everyone must make their own decision on that, but after swimming in it several times this year, as of yet I have shone no sines uf deeteereorashun inn my brane or bawdily ffuncshuns. I'm jus as normle as I ever been an will bee.  HA HA

Seriously, it is up to each person, but do not let the mental aspect of swimming or not swimming on Saturday affect your mindset for the race - there are far too many other things to think about that week.

What type of bikes are you going to use for the race?? I am planning to use a not so expensive bike...its marin portofino road bike. I cant afford to get a new bike unless somehow win the lottery before 11/18.

You think my bike is good enough?

As long as your bike is mechanically sound it should be fine.  It's the motor that really matters!

Okay, maybe it's not the best swim venue out there...I mean, it is a hole dug in the middle of a city and filled with water after all. But with that being said, I've swam in TTL numerous times and have never had an issue. I'm not sure that I'll do the practice swim the day before the race, but that's mostly because I don't like to do anything the day before race day. I will, however, do all of the splash-n-dash series that takes place in TTL...I believe that last one is a week before the race.

Here's all I have to say about the Tempe swim...  Take it for what it's worth.

Yeah, I heard the stories of people getting sick after the practice swim... so I chose not to do it.  Why risk it?

BUT, I didn't get sick after the race.  And I didn't read in ANY race report (granted, I didn't read that many) of people getting sice after the race.

So why do you get sick after the practice swim and not the race?  Does the "bug" know the difference?  And the race swim is 2-3 times longer...

I still probably won't do the practice swim.  Not because I'm afraid of getting sick, but more to avoid the freezing water.  It's hard enough getting in it once.

Food for thought.

mndiver and fit4infinity, how did the HIM/Olympic go?

I won the sprint I entered.  There were 4 elites that came in before me, but I got 1st overall amateur.  Surprised myself because I didn't think we were supposed to win sprints in the middle of Ironman training.