Ironman Florida : Official Thread (Page 25)

yeah - 1200.00 is out of the box - now even thats been suspended - As far as I'm concerned this race has been "checked off" on my list and thats good nuff for me -  If this was the cost for this past race i doubt I would have participated. If it is for a first time Ironman I would not recommend only because there is a serious lack of spectators due to the logistics of the course.  

That's what we called the Ironman Texas effect.  Once people saw how hot Texas would get in May, they said, nah, let's go back to Florida, lol.

I did 11:41 in 2010, which would be at 6:41 pm and it was pretty dark:

Finishers chute:

This is in the state park on the second loop, so figure some time around 5:15/5:30.

This is about to hit the turnaround after the first loop (just before special needs), so figure probably some time around 4:00 or 4:15 pm.

So, based on all that, I would think you need to finish real close to, if not under 11 hours to finish in daylight.

Some people consider a smidge of pink in the sky to still be "daylight". :D 

Well...also...sunset times vary wildly from year to year.  The first year I did this race they had the early bike cut off because sunset was something like 1715.  Plus back in the day this race ALWAYS used to be after we already reset the clocks.  Now it tends to be the night before.

I looked up sunset for THIS year and it is 1755...there is DEFINITELY some light still in the sky up to 30' past sunset.  So I think there will be a SMIDGE of daylight still at 1830, but that's IT...and between 1755 and 1830 you are technically in civil twilight...not "daytime".  You are running west when finishing too so the light will all be in FRONT of you, not behind you...behind you (aka in your pictures) will look dark.

So, 11 hours it should still be fairly light...you might get some daylight effect up to 11:30 clock time...

I don't want to bore you with all the details, but my lodging for IMFL is still up in the air due to some circumstances out of my control, so I need to take charge and get this figured out to lock something in...and soon.  

So, at this 'late hour', where do you suggest I start calling?  I imagine everything right next to the race site is probably booked by now.  I think there was a mention on this thread of a Marriott (or some national hotel chain) a few miles away from the race site that was fairly quiet.

Any and all suggestions are welcome!  Thanks. 

Try Majestic.  We stay there all the time.  Starbucks in tower 1.  A little over a mile away....closer to hwy 79.

You shouldn't target a pace. You should target a HR or RPE and you get what that gives you...if you try to hit a pace you could run yourself into the ground trying to hit a pace that your body isn't able to give.  Hold an effort/HR and see what you get.  Early on the run it should probably be a HR Z2/easy RPE...if you still have gas left in the tank later then you increase that.

Although I am planning to run based purely on HR and RPE, I know a lot of people use this calculator to figure out their ideal pace.

http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/calculator/

But then again, since this is my first IM, my PR will be finishing in under 17 hours

Using HR to run is only a good tool if you know what the numbers mean for you specifically.  For me (based on numerous VO2 Max / Aenorobic Threshold tests), I know I need to keep my AVG HR somewhere between 152-162 for the entire run.  If I spend too much time at 155 early in the run, I will have to slow down towards the end, but if I can run the first 10K around 140-145, the second 10k around 145-150, the third 10K somewhere between 150-155, I should be okay and able to have relatively even or negative splits based off of how I rode earlier in the day and end up somewhere in the low 150's.  I can adjust that on race day and paybe push a little harder (into the mid to upper 150 average) if I am feeling good.

Comparing paces gets difficult because of different variables which will alter your HR, but as a frame of reference, my last IM I ran 10:23 a mile, my marathon mefore that was ran like 8:50's and my last 1/2 mary before that was ran around 7:30/mile

if you're in M40-44 you should plan on running the first 5 miles at a 5k pace, then slowly speed it up to where your plan is to be running miles 22 -26.2 at ~mile pace. 

if you're not in this a/g then listen to everyone else. 

happy friday all!!!  have a great training weekend!!!!

I flew SW into PCB two years ago.  Went like clockwork.  I had a soft side bike bag.  Think I paid $50 extra luggage fee, but that was two years ago.  Of course you want to allow extra time to check an over sized bag, and pay a few extra bucks. 

Couple hints which you may already know:  go to the hardware store and buy foam pipe insulation. cut it to lengths and use it to pad all the frame components on your bike.  Zip tie it on.

After you've got your bike packed, zip-tie everything together.  sometimes the security people go poking around, then don't put the wheels or some other component back where it belongs.  If it's all zip-tied in place they can look but not change the orientation of the parts in the bag.

Have you looked into Tri Bike TRansport?

www.tribiketransport.com

http://www.tribiketransport.com/event_listing.html

I read that you can give a family member a ticket and they can retrieve your bike while you're out on the run.

1) is that true?

2) what if you're not staying at a hotel right at the start? We'll be ~7 miles away and assuming we'll have to park and take the shuttle from the parking lot to the start the morning of the race. So when my family gets my bike, they take the bike on the shuttle with them back to where they are parked??

thanks!

Yes - it is so nice having your transition bags and your bike taken care of.  Not something I'd like to mess with after the race

As for the shuttle I think it runs from the Wal-Mart parking lot.  That is not too far away, less than a mile and probably closer to a half mile.    Easily walkable.  Just make sure there is more than one person.  Last year my wife had my bike, two transition bags and my morning clothes bag.  She had her hands full!

enjoy,

Duane

Thanks, this will be my first time flying with my bike.  I've looking into the different transport companies, but I'm in California and I'd be without my bike for over 2 weeks before and after the race. 

Can you put other gear into your bike bag? Did you do anything specail with the rear derailleur?

Yes, have your family member retrieve your bags and bike while you are running.  It really isn't worth using the "shuttle" unless you have people in your party that can't walk well.  The Wal-Mart is MAYBE 0.75 miles from transition.  Way faster to just walk there.  If you get there early enough you can get a good parking space in their lot that's close to the main road (shortens the walk).

I typically walk there via Thompson, but that is the bike course so it gets easier to walk there once they close the bike segment down.

DO NOT be tempted to park elsewhere even if it feels closer to the start...many of the businesses around the venue WILL tow your car.  Park at Wal-Mart and walk!  If you are not up to the walk post-IM you can either take the shuttle or have your family get the car from Wal-Mart and get it "closer" (as close as you can get without hitting closed road).  You can probably knock the walk down to less than half a mile.