Ironman Florida : Official Thread (Page 27)

I know why I won't do a HIM close to an IM.  There is always the potential of injury and long recovery.  I aggravated an old injury because I did a HIM last week-end.  I'm pretty sure I would be training normally if I didn't do it.  But they again everyone recovers and races differently.  Just be careful on coming back training.  Take the 1st week easy.  And by the 2nd week post race see how you feel.  You might end up needing 2 weeks recovery.

I'm a back of pack kinda swimmer (until the pros lap me). Last year I came down on one of these jellyfish - I pushed down and only had contact with the "dome" and while it felt weird (leathery) there was no harm - this is not to say I ever want to touch the underside to find out what happens then. 

I did the ChesapeakeMan 140.6 last year. The swim is in the choptank river which has a ton of jelly fish in it. I layered up on the vasoline and still got stung. (i use a sleeveless wetsuit). It feels like you are grabbing seaweed and then it stings a bit. By mile 20 on the bike the sting was gone and all I had were some red lines on my arms where I got hit. By the time I got off the bike even the lines were gone. It doesnt hurt enough to worry about them. Although when you grab them it's enough to scare the snot out of you and get you out of rythm for a few seconds. I think vinnegar kills the sting. I filled up a hammer gel flask with vinnagar and put it in my bike bag but didnt even bother using it. The pain wasnt big enough to worry about it. (this was the first time I was ever stung by a jellyfish. It's nothing to worry about. Worry about nutrition, not jellyfish.

THIS is a lot of Jelly Fish.  this was in Corpus Christi last year.  I did a 1.2 mile OWS race in a FULL wetsuit and got stung at least 40 times.  It was like swimming thru dodgeballs. these were alongside a dock at the pier but it was ridiculous.  It WILL NOT BE LIKE THIS at IMFL.  You might see one or 2 but seriously don't stress

X2

I did see some last year but they were too deep to reach.  Of course my depth perception under water is not that good so I thought I was going to hit them.  Not a problem.

enjoy,

Duane

has anyone tried the product "sea safe"? I found out last Dec in Jamaica that I'm allergic to jelly fish stings. I got stung on my side and was in horrible pain. Swelled really bad, I had trouble breathing, etc. Doctor had to be called onto the resort and I needed shots to calm it down. I'm wearing a sleeveless wet suit for IMFL and was going to try sea safe, unless someone can recommend something else. And I'm just going to pray I don't get stung on the face.

I still have the tentacle scars...which are actually pretty cool. :-)

Late season races are tough because everyone else is done or ramping down and you are in peek training.  I have always done late season IM so i am used to it plus I live in a place you can train year round so basically there is no off season.  I got used to it but its pretty normal

I suspect in pre-IM excitment you might have pushed a little too hard a little too soon.  Your body does need some rest.  I would suggest a light week.  Your body is screaming at you to back off.  LISTEN TO IT.  I am not saying do nothing for a week but scaling back a week would be wise.  Dont try that long run again today. No 2 a days fora  week, do short rides runs and swims and take one full rest day.  REST, sleep, eat well, go the movies.  Your body mind and spirit will be refreshed next week and able to handle things again.  DON'T PANIC.  yeah its 60 days but if you burn out bad now then you will waste another couple weeks and risk injury.   A light week won't hurt you and most likely will help a TON.  

I've been doing IMs since 2006.  I'm a slow athlete but I am smart and experienced and I am a sports doc.  trust me take a week and re-group.  Its the best thing you can do for your training.

Great advice!! Backing off or missing a couple workouts will not really hurt your training, especially if it rejuvenates you to help push thru these last few weeks.

Socks is right....take a light week.  Its hard because you think you will lose fitness or miss out on fitness gains.  If you go too hard early in the seaon, you risk injury (I am good example).  1 week is not going to make you that much slower it might actually make you faster in the long run!

Not much more to add.  I too live in Florida and basically train year round. First race is in January and last race is November.  Last 2 years was IMFL but before that Miami Man HIM the week after IMFL.  The key is periods of rest/easier training. 

For example.  I am taking tomorrow off from work because I need a day.  I just know it and can feel it.  Luckily I have enough vacation days to burn.  I will run in the AM but will sleep in first, no alarm clock!  Just a short hour run with some core work afterward.  I will then spend the day with my wife.  We are going to the movies and probably the outlet mall.  i will have the crappy popcorn at the movies without thinking twice about it. 

Now Saturday will be a 5.5 hr ride then Sunday a 2 hr ride followed by an hour brick run afterward and that's OK, I'll be ready. 

But I just need time off once in awhile.  If I don't then I'll start to feel the way you are feeling.  I'll do this twice while in IM training in addition to travel days to/from Augusta which is also kind of a rest time.  Works for me.

good luck,

Duane

The Doc is right.  IM training is about pushing your body to it's absolute limit, letting it recover, then doing it again.  You've hit that limit.  Most experienced IM athletes have been there.  It's time to listen to your body.  Let it recover, you'll not loose fitness, you'll come back stronger and ready -physically and mentally - to train again.

You don't get stronger while you're training, you get stronger when you rest after training.

Good luck.  Rest some and hang in there.  We've got two whole months left.

I felt the same way about two weeks ago....emotionally and physically exhausted.  I was burning the candle on both ends between training, work, and attempting to maintain a personal life.  The key for me was getting several solid nights of sleep 8-10 hours.  I still trained but dialed back the intensity a notch for a few days so my body could recover.  Add some group run, swims, or bikes in to make a training day more social....it will take your mind off of the fact your working out.  

Ha!  We were just talking about this on Saturday.  Last year, only 3 of us were doing a late season IM.  Our team would come back to our cars after our 72 mi loop and I'd have to refill and go back out for another 30 miles, usually alone.  Almost everyone else would be done and be saying, "sorry you have to go back out".  Basically saying "that has to suck".  Especially hard when it is 95 degrees.

Well most of those folks are now doing IMFL this year so they have to go back out with me.  I just laugh   But it is so much more fun when there are 6 or 7 of us going back out.

enjoy,

Duane

Tips from the IMFL course:

I got the privilege to train on the IMFL course this weekend, therefore I am going to try to share some tips I learned for you who cannot see the course before race week.

Tip 1) Be prepared for a rough swim.  It may or may not be but I am coming to this race so unlucky for you everytime I have been to PCB and raced or trained it has been rough.  So in other words I bring the rough seas with me

Tip 2) Start swimming in your wetsuit, I tried yesterday to swim in my wetsuit and learned I need to build up my shoulder strength for it.  This may be different than most but I had shoulder surgery two years ago on my right shoulder so I will have to get it ready to go.

Tip 3) Bike, we all knew be prepared for the winds but just FYI as the race has been pronounced PANCAKE FLAT over the years I am here to tell you it isn’t.  I have raced Gulf Coast twice and that portion is pancake flat but the back side is not.  Now it is not hard by any means but you do need to be aware so you don’t go out too hard too fast. 

Tip 4) On the bike at the end of Blue Springs Road where you will turn left onto HWY 20 you will descend down a short steep hill only to have to come to a sudden stop to turn.  During the race you need to be very careful here.

Tip 5) On the Front beach road if you ride to the extreme right side of the road be careful of several manholes/potholes.  Keep your head up.

Tip 6)  The run is what it is, Flat but it was hot this weekend.  Heat index while we were running was 102.  Hopefully I don’t bring these temps to Florida on race day.

Have fun training and if anything else sticks out in my mind I will let yall know. 

Oh yeah, jellyfish stings don't hurt that bad.

Would people mind sharing a little bit about what they are doing these last 8 1/2 weeks?  Last long runs/rides 2 weeks out or 3 weeks out?  Volume?  Etc.  Anything at all would be most appreciated, just want to make sure I'm on the right track.  Thanks

Do you think it is ridable in the big ring all the time? (I have 54t, and training in Houston I never use the small ring, but with strong headwind I may need to use it, so maybe I would change for a 50t)