Hey Todd, I rode the Racine bike course yesterday, and wanted to share my thoughts.

It was a great ride. There are some bumps in in the first 4 miles, but it gets better. I guess I'm used to riding on Wisconsin roads. My only problem was after the water stop at mile 38, I started riding with a different group and ended up riding 72 miles instead of 56 .  I'm glad that I did the recon ride, so I have an idea of where I'm going. I will drive the course the Saturday before as a refresher. Having said that, this is a fast course with not too many hills.

Afterwards, I went for a swim in Lake Michigan and it was cold!!! (maybe low 60's) I had trouble keeping my face in the water, although after a 1/2 hour, it did get a little bit better. I'm planning on getting in the water at least 30 minutes before my swim to acclimate. I really hope it warms up a little bit.

For anyone else who is racing Racine, there is another great forum under Iron Race Distance, Racine 70.3.  I've picked up a lot of good info.

All in all, a good day!

Rob (turner100)

Which race is more important to you? The HIM? If so I would not do the Oly. I shelled myself on a 5k that set me back quite a bit, and I would have been in trouble for a longer race the next weekend. You cannot discount the toll that a high intensity, shorter distance can take on your body.

However, like our fearless leader, Dave, I am a race 'ho, so I get wanting to race as much as possible...so if they are both for fun and you will be happier having had both race experiences, I can't argue with that either...

I have had mostly good luck doing just what you are attempting.  If you want to see crazy stuff check out my 2010 race year after recovering from an Achilles tear.    Athlinks http://athlinks.com/racer/37874054#wall

I will say that when you are fit it's a tough thing to really realize how much better you could do by being properly tapered and rested.     I really love racing and the experiences it brings.   But this being said  I absolutely sacrificed results by racing too much.     But I DID love it.  So kinda hard to tell you what to do.   Q  is right,  you will not know or feel the difference,     But there will be one.   You will not race as well at door county if you do the Oly.  But you may not care.    In either case looking forward to getting together  in Door county.  :-)

Let us know what you decide. If you do the Oly, good news is the swim is disproportionately long and you can take it easy on the bike and the run and at least get a good dress rehearsal for nutrition and pacing for the HIM.

Q

Thanks Rob, I saw your post in the racine thread...it looks like I might be doing it with my husband, so we will have to try to meet up...Todd, Matt, you, me...anyone else I am missing? Hoping it is not AFRICA hot this year. Sheesh.

Mike is right, you need to either plan to bring all your own stuff, or live off of the course, or a combo of both. Both strategies take some foresight and planning. If you bring your own stuff, you must figure out a way to keep it with you and access it when you want it. This is where you see people with ginormous hydration systems and pockets full of gu's and power bars and such. Problem here is if you lose a waterbottle full of your precious mixture of whatever, what are you going to do (And as we are hearing Racine is bumpy and you stand a good chance of losing something off of your bike). Unlike full IM, there are no special needs bags on the course, so what you leave transition with is what you have.

I typically will start with a couple of bottles of INFINIT  can't get this on the course.   otherwise I absolutely like to live off the course.    Anything you bring is an added complexity you mostly do not need.   Just ask yourself  what it is that you have to have that is not going to be on the course.   For me that's  endurlyte tabs and Infinit.   Add some Gu's taped to the top tube and I'm good to go.     Like Q says  I put the infinit in bottles I know I'm going to toss on the course.    Then on the bike I will alternate taking perform and plain water from volunteers.  Make sure to point at the volunteer you plan on making the exchange with.  That helps   don't be shy either.    I will sometimes take two bottles at an aide station.  One just to pour over my head and clean my sunglasses with.      Some peeps just cannot tolerate what is available at an aide station.    for me I'm lucky  for the most part I can burn just about anything.

If you live off of the course, then you need to make sure you can stomach what they have. Which is, if I remember correctly, Ironman perform, Power Bar Gels, and possibly Power Bars...I cannot remember ever seeing power bars on the course though, so I can't be sure. last year I trained with all of that, except the actual power bars so I was certain I could tolerate it. 

My exceptions to living off of the course were a gel flask with gu and some water mixed up so I could safely and easily get gu's in on the bike. I had a hell of a time trying to eat a gu in my Oly last year, and someone in my mentor group suggested the flask. Worked like a charm.  I also had a clif bar in my back pocket just in case I got hungry. But if I lost my gel flask, I knew I could tolerate the course brand. 

I like the gel flask thing I'm going to try it

You also need to think about bottle exchanges on the bike. Don't leave transition with a nice water bottle because you will want to toss yours and get a new one in the bottle exchanges. They offer bottles of water and bottles of ironman perfom. The volunteers hold them out, and you need to slow down, pick a volunteer out, look them in the eye, call out what you are taking (Perform!) and hold your hand out to get the bottle. I would take a bottle of perform and empty it into my aero bottle and put a bottle of water into my frame cage (I only have one on my bike). You have to make sure to toss any empties before you leave the aide station or you can get a penalty.

This whole thing is worth visualizing. Also you really need to slow down and be in control of your bike so you don't scare the volunteer or the bottle will probably get dropped.

For the run, there is so much crap on the course, I would definitely live off of the aide stations. I wore my water belt b/c it was eleventy billion degrees and it just annoyed me. They have bananas, flat coke, perform, water, can't remember all else, but plenty.

Did you just say eleventy billion!    HA!

Just have a plan one way or the other. Based on your questions, it sounds like you need to train at least once with some Ironman Perform and Power Bar Gels. If those work for you, it would be simplest to just live off of the course. No need to complicate your life.

Absolutely agree  living off course is the bomb.    steal a GU from a spectator if you have to even.   Not that I would   ;-)

Hey Todd, I rode the Racine bike course yesterday, and wanted to share my thoughts.

It was a great ride. There are some bumps in in the first 4 miles, but it gets better. I guess I'm used to riding on Wisconsin roads. My only problem was after the water stop at mile 38, I started riding with a different group and ended up riding 72 miles instead of 56 .  I'm glad that I did the recon ride, so I have an idea of where I'm going. I will drive the course the Saturday before as a refresher. Having said that, this is a fast course with not too many hills.

Afterwards, I went for a swim in Lake Michigan and it was cold!!! (maybe low 60's) I had trouble keeping my face in the water, although after a 1/2 hour, it did get a little bit better. I'm planning on getting in the water at least 30 minutes before my swim to acclimate. I really hope it warms up a little bit.

For anyone else who is racing Racine, there is another great forum under Iron Race Distance, Racine 70.3.  I've picked up a lot of good info.

All in all, a good day!

Rob (turner100)

You also need to think about bottle exchanges on the bike.

I didn't know this, thanks

Don't leave transition with a nice water bottle because you will want to toss yours and get a new one in the bottle exchanges. They offer bottles of water and bottles of ironman perfom. The volunteers hold them out, and you need to slow down, pick a volunteer out, look them in the eye, call out what you are taking (Perform!) and hold your hand out to get the bottle. I would take a bottle of perform and empty it into my aero bottle and put a bottle of water into my frame cage (I only have one on my bike). You have to make sure to toss any empties before you leave the aide station or you can get a penalty.

This whole thing is worth visualizing.

Just have a plan one way or the other. Based on your questions, it sounds like you need to train at least once with some Ironman Perform and Power Bar Gels. If those work for you, it would be simplest to just live off of the course. No need to complicate your life.

It sounds like there are some big races coming up!! So, is this right so far:

Racine HIM: Todd, Rob, and Quincy

Missoula Half marathon: TJ

Any other races coming up...please post so we can cheer you on!! I don't have anything in the near future, but I did just sign up for the Austin HIM in October. I'm on week four of the 20 week training plan, but I sort of skipped the first two weeks...oh well!!

Yes Sarah great thought    let's keep adding to the upcoming race list.

July 8th  Missoula half mary-   TJ        Lake Zurich Oly- Dave

July 15   Racine 70.3   Todd, Rob and Quincy   (Matt are you doing this?)

July 22    Sprint tri- need name!  -Alicia        Door County 70.3 -Mike and  Dave

July 22    NJ sprint  -Tom

Sept 9   Ironman-WI - Quincy

Oct- Austin 70.3    Sarah

Oct 7   Chicago Marathon-   Quincy, Alicia, Dave

Let's keep editing this list and add everyone's events to it    I for one could use a ton of cheering on.   so let's do this thing..   Don't be shy 

 GO ORIOLEPWR GO!  Think of Flash Gordon ---  GO, FLASH, GO  Come on Bro, you can do it!

My sprint race is July 21 and I'm voluteering for the Oly on the 22nd, both are part of CGI NJ state Tri event.   I'm also volunteering the the NYC TRI (OLY) this sunday, I'm so psyched.  I'm working the entrance to Central Park, should be a blast (not counting the heat LOL)

Tom

Yes Sarah great thought    let's keep adding to the upcoming race list.

July 8th  Missoula half mary-   TJ        Lake Zurich Oly- Dave

July 15   Racine 70.3   Todd, Rob and Quincy   (Matt are you doing this?)

July 22    Sprint tri- need name!  -Alicia        Door County 70.3 -Mike and  Dave

July 22    NJ sprint  -Tom

Sept 9   Ironman-WI - Quincy

Oct- Austin 70.3    Sarah

Oct 7   Chicago Marathon-   Quincy, Alicia, Dave

Let's keep editing this list and add everyone's events to it    I for one could use a ton of cheering on.   so let's do this thing..   Don't be shy 

Added a couple of races. Looks like we will all be training hard in August, but not much racing.

July 8th  Missoula half mary-   TJ        Lake Zurich Oly- Dave

July 14   Zootown Sprint - TJ  

July 15   Racine 70.3   Todd, Rob and Quincy   

July 22    Sprint tri- need name!  -Alicia        Door County 70.3 -Mike and  Dave

July 22    NJ sprint  -Tom

July 28   South Shore Tri (sprint) - Quincy (Dave???)

August 26  Chicago Tri (sprint) - Dave, Quincy

Sept 8    Garden City Oly - TJ

Sept 9   Ironman-WI - Quincy

Oct- Austin 70.3    Sarah

Oct 7   Chicago Marathon-   Quincy, Alicia, Dave

OMG, I finally got babysitting figured out plus my confidence to do the swim, and BLAM, Racine sold out! Can you believe it??? I might take the kids up to spectate though...who knows.

Taper is no fun.  and in the last few days  all the "ghost" injuries come out to play.    Everything starts top hurt and you imagine you won't be able to go the distance.     Just remember it's all to be expected.   

Nothing crazy this weekend ok?