Ford Ironman Wisconsin : Official Thread (Page 28)

I am almost certain it has been re-introduced.  Which sucks.  It is the biggest hill.  I would think, mentally, the hardest part of both loops (besides the Observatory Hill) will be turning around on State St. (6 & 19) and heading back out on the bike path towards UW Hospital and the turn around out there.  BUT - I've never done it before, so what do I know? 

Can anyone give me information about specific times and locations for cutoffs on the IM MOO course?  I know the swim is 2:20 time elapsed, and you have to be off the bike course by 5:30pm (this latter is actually on the Web site).  However, I know that there's at least one more bike cutoff mid-course, and there are a couple of run cutoffs, and I can't find any information about those...

I'm on a team (Team WILD: Women Inspiring Life with Diabetes), and 11 of us are doing IM MOO this year (tell us to 'Go WILD!' out on the course) -- want to share this info with the team for those who need it.  If I know about where the cutoffs are, and I'm close, I won't, for instance, stop to check my blood sugar until _after_ I make it past that mid bike cutoff!  :-)

Thanks

Hmmm - I am not even going to hope that it will still be under construction on race day, but it would be nice. 

I would think State St. would be fine.  When I have run the course before, I think turning on the path to go back out is hard.  I was hoping on race day that the low point would end at the turn around out by the hospital not all the way at the Kohl Center! 

There is really only one HILL on the course and that is Observatory Drive.  I had heard it was back in for '11.  There are a couple of small hills that take it out of you the longer you go--right by camp Randall Stadium and then by the Kohls Center.  In a normal day you would think nothing of them, with 120+ miles under your belt they seem a little larger

The vast majority of the run course is lined with spectators.  The whole State Street area is amazing.  It is standing room only from beginning to end.  Very fun.  It's also very easy to spectate.  Your fans can see you multiple times without moving all that far.

Are you following your plan?  If so, trust your plan.  It will be fine.  Everyone doing their first IM feels this way.  The training is way harder than the race IMHO.

If you have not followed your plan, just adjust your paces accordingly and go in with the idea that forward progress is good and you might surprise your self.  : )  And, you have a whole month left of training so keep at it!

I'm a 1st timer and feeling this way.  I am following the plan I chose (for the most part), but I can't help compare myself to others and feel that I am not doing enough.  It helps to hear people say "trust the plan".  I am doing the intermediate program, so I know that I am doing enough to at least finish.

I was a first timer last year and while it was a little nerve racking not knowing if I was going to be ready, in many ways it was a beautiful thing.  The expectation was to finish and have the time of my life doing it.  I really do think you should trust the training you are doing, enjoy how much stronger you are than a few months ago and look forward to the race with anticipation. Visualize success in each step and strategize how you will handle the bumps that will for sure come your way. I did those things and  I was that stupid girl who had a smile on her face from beginning to end.   There will never be a first time again.  Enjoy it!

Fred, good chance I will be doing a quick swim on Friday AM.  Last year there were a large number of swimmers on the course throughout Friday.  It was pretty choppy and a few had to be pulled/rescued due to the chop/wind conditions. 

This encourages me a lot.  I'm a first timer and feeling the same as others - is what I'm doing enough?  I've been diligent with my training plan, only missing a few short runs/swims mid-week here and there.  I finished a really long brick this weekend, my longest to date, and felt totally wiped out.  I realize now I was dehydrated and didn't respect the heat of the day.  I know I can fix that.  But part of me is still scared that I won't be ready.

I'm glad to hear from the "previous" first timers that this is a normal feeling. 

And I've already warned my wife I'll be an emotional wreck during the taper! 

Steve 

Hello fellow sufferers.  

First timer at age 59.  (I was 400 pounds 6 years ago, so it's taken me a little time to get in shape.)

- Yes, I am having doubts even though I am at 16 to 20 hours of workouts a week. Part of it is the unknown.  Part is the constant tinge of fatigue in everything I do. Part is this incessant heat.    We can do it!

- Question:  I've been up twice to ride the course from Firemen's Park.  Coming again Saturday with Vision Quest.  Anyone else riding Saturday?  I need to do the stick in person and on something other than my Computrainer.   We meet at FP in Verona at 8 a.m.  The stick is supposed to be marked but I would like to ride with someone or a group the first time to catch the turns for sure.  Anyone riding from the center that morning?  Want company?  309-275-7120. Or post it here.  There are two of us. Thanks! 

We can do it! It's just one hell of a long day of working out. :D 

Hello fellow sufferers.  

First timer at age 59.  (I was 400 pounds 6 years ago, so it's taken me a little time to get in shape.)

- Yes, I am having doubts even though I am at 16 to 20 hours of workouts a week. Part of it is the unknown.  Part is the constant tinge of fatigue in everything I do. Part is this incessant heat.    We can do it!

- Question:  I've been up twice to ride the course from Firemen's Park.  Coming again Saturday with Vision Quest.  Anyone else riding Saturday?  I need to do the stick in person and on something other than my Computrainer.   We meet at FP in Verona at 8 a.m.  The stick is supposed to be marked but I would like to ride with someone or a group the first time to catch the turns for sure.  Anyone riding from the center that morning?  Want company?  309-275-7120. Or post it here.  There are two of us. Thanks! 

We can do it! It's just one hell of a long day of working out. :D 

This is why I come here.  Thanks for the encouragement and reinforcement. It's priceless.

Ice.

Been a rough 7 days for me, as I have been very ill and have not done any training for an entire week. Today I am going back to work, and plan to ease back into training tomorrow.  I am still not 100%, and am going to miss racing the Centurion in WI this weekend. I know I have been training consistently, but today I have a little voice nagging in my head about missing some big workouts and causing some stress about IMOOOOO.