Ironman Arizona : Official Thread (Page 3)

x2 I like the no nonsense approach of Fink.  I used it for HIM last year and plan to use Be Iron Fit for my first IM this year.  Somewhere I got the idea that the practice half iron race was around 8 weeks before the ironman.  Does that sound about right?  Starting from November, I'm working backwards on my race schedule for 2012. 

When is the ideal Half Iron for an Ironman in Nov?
Would you choose August or September and why?

You're right, Fink's program has a 1/2 IM 8 weeks before Ironman so it should be the weekend of 9 22/23, right? I'm doing a 1/2 in July because it's one I want to do. I want to stick the the program as much as possible but I also want to do some races for fun so I'll just make those changes.

I'm looking at late August for a HIM this summer.  Which will be plenty of time to correct issues and keep training hard for AZ.

Also, Mission Palms is all booked up, FYI.

Unless you are a natural penguin, I am not sure why you would even want to consider the IM AZ swim without a wetsuit.  I wore my full this year (tempted to try my sleeveless in the practice swim but decided against it), and I was very glad I did.  the water was chilly on entry, but everything settled down once we got moving.  However, I had friends in transition and swim exit, and they said the sleeveless athletes looked far worse for wear, in general, than did the full wetsuit athletes.

It is always a personal preference (I far prefer my sleeveless for shoulder freedom), but considering the temps and distance, I doubt in 2012 I will change to the sleeveless when my execution with the full was satisfactory.  Plus, the peelers take care of removal, so that is a non-issue either way.

Either way I'll probably end up wearing a wetsuit. Right now I do not like the lack of freedom of movement I have in my shoulders. I have the right size, take my time putting it on, get plenty of excess etc etc. So it fits right.

I guess I just need more time in it. This summer I did 4 400 yd test. 2 without, and 2 with over the course of 4 days. In each of the test without the suit I was about 30 sec faster and less tired. For some reason no matter how hard I tried I always pulled to the right with the suit as well, so some of it may have been recorrecting course.

I'm not sure if swimming at a slower more relaxed pace over a much longer distance will amplify my concearns, or make it not as bad.

I will get a sleeves and try that out, I'm sure I'd like it much better.

Late to the thread but I'm in!  This is my first IM as well.  Had a respectable HIM race this fall that gave me the confidence to go for the IM.  I'm looking into Fink's plan as well.  I figure if I use the advanced program, it will allow me a little latitude if I have to miss or shorten workouts.  I would love to hire a coach but at $200+ a month, I'd have to decide between that and equipment/PT, etc.  And I will definitely need PT to get to the starting line.

Lucky me, my brother lives in Phoenix so I can stay in a house with all of the amenities of home.

What HIM were you thinking of?

For those of you still deciding on which training plan to use, I just want to say that I'm a big fan of the Don Fink intermediate plan...used it in training for IM LOU last year - felt 100% prepared and had a great race. 

-----

www.AwkwardRacePhotos.com

Hi All,

I'm in and WAY too excited this far out.  I'm going out for a week to combine IMAZ with visiting my folks in Mesa, seeing the sights, etc.  We're staying at the Westgate Painted Mountain.  Haven't settled on a training plan.  I'm going to use the BT beginner for a HIM in June, read Don Fink, and play it by ear.  Happy and safe training to you all!!!

I'll be there..........as a volunteer in 2012. then I'll be back in 2013 as a parcticipant.

I've been doing some research on places to stay, that have kitchens.  Even as a volunteer, eating out for all meals for an entire week is NOT appealing to me. I've checked out the VRBO site & a few hotels. There are a few condos/houses available for rent, at a decent price. As far as hotels with kitchens. It looks like the closest option is Hampton Inn. It's roughly 2.5 miles from the transition area. The suites that come with a full kitchen are 1 bedroom & either 1 King or 2 Queen beds. Another hotel option is the Country Inn & Suites. It's only 1.5 miles from transition, but no kithcens.

For my final practice race before IMAZ I'm considering the Black Diamond long course triathlon the weekend of 9/22-23.  My other option is the Troika 70.3 in Spokane.  It will be hot in Eastern Washington the first weekend in August.

As far as the plan goes, I will also be on the Fink Competitive plan because it worked well for me at IMFL 2011, my first - I too finished a full 1-1.5 hours ahead of what I expected... gives me enough of a push so that if work commitments mess with the plan, I am still ahead of the game. I am NOT a runner, so my wonderful running coach Bar92 modified the run portion. She had me doing a couple 18- and 20-milers in the plan, which for this plodding elephant, already makes for a LONG day.

Right now, my game plan is: 3M Half-marathon January, LoneStar 70.3 April 1st (because of a personal need to do this one again), possibly the Kansas 70.3 in June, likely the AquaBike at Redman in September, and some smaller stuff in the mix as well.

And heck yeah, I will be in a full sleeve penguin suit!

Off topic, but I have to say to Dino019, I like your profile pic.    Aggie grad here.  

GIG 'EM !!!!!!!

Thinking about trying the new Rev3 half in the Dells this year.  Although it might not be a good run-up to AZ since the Dells' course looks to be quite hilly.

Agreed - MaRquee last year was disappointing, especially as it was to be the first big race of the year.  Red Rock recovered well, and the du turned out to be good anyway, but for us crazies we lived with the "what would my time had been if I traded the 5K run for a 1.2 mi swim?"

Also, it would be nice if Red Rock changed the SOMA bike course to more closely mirror IM AZ (like MaRquee does - up past Gilbert & back twice).  I think they would get more IM AZers as a training day than they get now with the many-turn urban course.

It's all good either way - we have great races here in AZ most of the year (Flagstaff picks up the summer slack for the Phoenix oven temps) - so there is no need to sweat the small stuff (plagiarism at its best!).

Guess I need to join the group, I'm in...Had to borrow my customers computer but I got'er dun.

Dino019 Any TU hater is a friend of mine. I might not Gig'em but I do support the Coog's house! HA

First IM, Got the important stuff- got my family and work on board. So here I go.

I like the timing of the Rev3, but I agree with you on the course.  I am looking at Chisago in July and the Maple Grove TriStar 111 in August.

Dino,

I did the race in 2010 and rented a condo about 2 miles from the site through vrbo.. This year I volunteered. I waited til 2 weeks out and got a great deal on a condo at Legacy Golf Resort(about6 miles from the site) through priceline.com. $45/night. I also got a car for $11/day. You dont need to be close to the venue as a volunteer. They provide you with parking passes. The suite I was in had a kitchen washer and dryer.. Hope this helps.