Ironman 70.3 California : Official Thread (Page 3)

Bike course looks the same except for the ending.  I'm guessing they shortened the out and back near Las Pulgas gate just a bit to account for the additional distance.  This will be my first race with different transition areas. Last year I had a standard crank, but this year I'm running a compact.  That should alleviate some of the pain on the hills....hopefully.

I also switched bikes and went to a compact.  I've only done one hill ride so far, but it's a world's worth of difference, at least for this clydesdale

looking forward to seeing the new course

Yeah, bike is basically the same, extra 1/2 mile or so at the end,,,,,, that run though.  Guess there's no longer any threat of a sand run   Altho the pics posted above...  and looking at the elevation of the pier over the strand, looks like there's a couple more ups and downs (but we lose breakwater). 

I don't know if the speed limit is actually enforced, but there are course Marshals and volunteers at the top and bottom.  They may record bib numbers of anyone deemed going too fast, passing or being unsafe.  The downhill can be pretty sketchy in high winds and there is a relatively sharp turn at the bottom.  I think this is where there was a fatality on the course back when it was a full-Iron distance event.  The wind whips through the bottom of the valley and if it's gusty it can catch you off-guard.  My first year, in 2009, it was no issue on my roadie and stock wheels.  This year, with a headwind, it didn't really affect me, but in 2010, with a stiff crosswind and 9.0 front wheel, it was pretty freaky.  I had the death wobble going for sure.  Was very glad to make it to the bottom unscathed!  It's not a long section and it won't make much of a difference at all in your time to slow down a bit for a half mile or so.

The other no-pass zone is annoying.  It's a steep uphill for about a quarter of a mile from Trestles to Christianitos at the end of the northbound section of the course.  I got caught behind someone that decided to take the time to fiddle around with feeding himself while crawling up the hill.  We had a Marshal following behind us on a motorcycle, but he didn't see (or didn't care) when the guy in front of me threw his wrapper on the ground.

I just figure that we have to take everything as it comes and try to use these section as an opportunity to catch our breath and regroup for the next section of the course.  It's a long race and a few seconds here or there aren't really going to make all that much difference - surely not enough to risk a penalty, DQ, serious injury or worse.

Another area that jams up on the bike is the inland section just before the first of the Big 3 hills on base.  You can see the hill approaching and at just about the same time you get hit with the wind coming out of the south.  I think it's right after the 2nd fluid station and riders seem to take some time to feed before tackling the hill (I do).  The wind also causes packs to form.  Not much we can do about that.  They don't last long as the hills spread everyone out.  The next 10-15 miles make up the toughest part of the course.

Actually it was a guy that went into the guardrail and suffered fatal head and neck injuries.  It's a negative radius turn at the bottom, so they want you to scrub some speed off before getting there. 

The other no passing zone can be more annoying, depending on who you end up behind for that short stretch

Guy\Lady, I was at least in the general vicinity of being correct   Either way sounds better to be safe than sorry on that stretch of it.  

Sorry - didn't mean to be nit picky    

How is everyone's training?  My training is not going as planned.  Which is to say, just like every year I get injured/busy/lazy, etc etc...  so I guess maybe things are going toplan?  LOL.  We still have over 11 weeks, so I'll get there.

I think I am over the injuries that plagued me through XMas, so I am back on track, just behind the curve.  Better news though is that if things continue to go as they have been with my weight, I will be racing Calif. 2012 30-35 pounds lighter than last year, and will be using a compact crank.  That has to offset at least some of my out-of-shapeness, right?????

Well, seems I broke my big toe in 3 places last Sunday at the Xterra 21k in So. Cal.  Very painful and probably can't run for another 4 weeks or so.  I'll be upping my swimming tremendously and as soon as the swelling goes down I will be back on my bike. 

Any advice on keeping my fitness without running?  Will hard drills in the pool and the bike make up for the lack of running?

"Any advice on keeping my fitness without running?  Will hard drills in the pool and the bike make up for the lack of running?"

Can't you ride a stationary bike?  I have seen people at the gym in full foot/ankle boots get on the stationary bike and at least get some cadence going.  If you can manage that, it should at least soften the blow of not getting your road miles in (I would think).

Total bummer about the toe - I am always fearful of any injuries and their effect on training.

cr@p...  sorry to hear it Mitch.  Aquajogging?  Elliptical?  Not ideal but you have a pretty good running base, so.....

Course changes are official

http://ironmancalifornia.com/course/

This scared me   Need to be more consistent in my training.

When do you guys do a preview ride (without CP I guess) of the course?  I would like to get in on one if others are planning one.

You can preview the front part of the course as long as Camp Pendleton is open to bike traffic. I'm considering going tomorrow or next weekend but would be coming from the south.

Heal up Mitch ... sorry to hear about the broken toe.

Last year a few of us did it abot 3 weeks before.  I am in for another, and also in to check out the new parts of the run

Did you guys leave from Orange County or start in San Diego? I would be interested in joining you guys if I'm fast enough to keep up.

Oceanside.

I don't think the ride is about speed (not for me anyway), and you're probably faster than me   I went with halfironmike (now full I guess ) and destroyer last year.  THOSE guys are fast

Thanks Chris, good to know. Those guys are really fast.

I would be up for another course preview FE - just need to pick a date.  I can do it any weekend except 2/18-19 & 3/10-11.

I would love to get a pre ride in.  My toe won't be ready for a few weeks but Let's keep in touch about it.

I've gotten in the pool the last 3 days,  Foot is just about ready to try some spinning on the trainer.  It's healing quite well but I still have some pain.  A few more weeks of non running just means more time to swim and ride!

Ran a loop of the run course today. A lot of the course feels like is the old Oceanside course. It will be interesting to see how things are divided and organized on the pier come race day. The pier ramp was okay, a little tough on the legs because it's steep (as is the uphill onto Seagaze to start the 2nd lap). 

The parking lot that T2 will likely be in looks smaller than transition at the harbor, things may be tighter compared to years before. T2 used to be race day parking, I'm interested to see where they will park racers this year. I'm planning on checking out new parking options with the course changes. 

For our preview workout, we can park in the large lot near the harbor - the one with the entrance through the tunnel under the railroad tracks.

It will be interesting to see how they will handle the separate transition areas.  Honu was like that.  T1 should basically be the same, although I heard we'll have unique spots instead of having to rack within a range of bib numbers.  We'll just have to figure out how they're going to handle T2 and run gear.  At Honu, they had bike catchers that racked bikes for us.  We just had to run to the rows of gear bags (IM style) to pick up our run stuff.  At Honu, they bring the swim gear back and drop it off near the finish.  If this is the case, we'll probably have to stuff our swim gear back in our bike gear bag in T1 to be sure we get it all back.

Here is one vote for doing a Sunday preview ride.  I have kid's basketball on Saturdays.

The weather got crappy out here (high desert), how is it for you guys?