Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas : Official Thread (Page 3)

I rode a lot of the course, and drove all of it in late Jan.  The roads are in pretty good shape nothing really horrible.

The wind is usually really strong one direction or the other.  I hope for a head wind out so I feel like I'm flying the last half of the ride.

Thanks for the update! 

I'm with you...practicing with a head wind the last 1/2 of my training rides when I can, but praying for a tailwind the last 1/2 on race day!  Hopefully some steady state trainer rides will also prove beneficial come race day. 

This is going to be my 1st Ironman 70.3 and looking forward... Starting on the wave scheduled for 7:30am I'm sure will help a lot!  Hope the tail wind is on the way back like it was on the 5i50 last year.

Can anyone comment on what they have along the way on the bike route, as far as energy drinks... what kind of battles do they hand out (or should i say, can you grab on the way)? Trying to figure out what is the best way on the hydration plan.

My first too! 

I don't like to rely on race course nutrition.  Not sure if it's true for Ironman races, but it never seems they actually have on the course what and where they say they are going to have it at the smaller local races.  I'm going with Infinit and 2 bottles of water for the bike (one disposable bottle I can chuck), and will carry a Fuel Belt with Infinit for the run.  I estimate that I should only have to pick up water once on the bike if it's not too hot out based on what I've been consuming on my 60 mile rides.  Will probably grab a little bit of water at every run station.

That's my plan anyway...different for everyone!  :-)

Thanks for the update!!  Very helpful!  I'm hoping for the tailwind on the way back, but just to be safe did a 3 hour steady state pull on the trainer today...figured it simulated a headwind in both directions!  LOL!  I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be for this race.  Now time to get nervous...for no good reason!!  :-/

rbalazs - 2012-03-11 5:07 PM Are the winds always headwind and tailwind or are there cross winds? I'm trying to decide between a 404 or 808 front wheel. If it's a constant wind with minor gusts I'll go with the 808. But if it's Kona like winds where you get a 50mph gust that blows you from one side of the road to the other than it's the 404. Anyone with wind experience on the course I'm all ears!

Rick, winds normally come from some southerly direction.  Last year was SSW, the year before was more S.  That meant headwind/tailwind (with some crosswind) last year and a lot of crosswind in 2010.  I rode a disc both years with a Hed H3 front in 2010 and a Hed Jet 6 front last year.  I'm running the H3 again this year.  It can be very windy in Galveston.  Prepare as such.

Good info.. I also hear a lot that hydration will play a big roll once you get off the bike and you are in the middle of the run... Drink all the fluid that you might have left in your bike before getting off it.  Your body will thank you for it... you will need it.  Thanks for all the tips Brian.

No beach at all.

You walk out on a pier about 10 feet above the water.  The wave ahead of you is in the water.  They start.  You jump in a minute later, you swim around for 4 mins, you start, the next wave jumps in the water.

Hmm.  Not so sure how I feel about that.

Thanks for the info.

You feel fine about it.  Excited in fact.  Can't wait even I imagine.    It'll be fine

Best not to touch the ground - I seem to remember being warned that there sharp oyster beds.

The start is fun.

HA thanks for the encouragement.

All of my races thus far have been beach starts.  Guess there's a first time for everything

I'm actually spending more time in Austin then Galveston so I am pretty much on the same schedule as you.  Head up Sat and head out after the face.

Is anyone swimming Sat?  Not much OWS here in Tucson.   So I might head over to that other beach and get a little swim in

I'm on the same schedule.  No eating out for me, with how sensitive my stomach is I have to haul all my own food.  Not chancing anything.  Pasta does sound yummy though!