IMSG and racing in tough conditions Q and (Page 3)

Along the lines of the Beer question what was the first real food you ate?  (If you tell me a bagel with choc/rasp roctane spread on it we'll have to talk)

Well, here's a question.  How you personally draw the line that the conditions are too dangerous to race in and a race, in the grand scheme of life, is not worth it?

I.e. winds.  10 MPH?  15 MPH?  25 MPH?  40 MPH?  Gusts of 55+?

How do you decide what that threshold is where your own personal safety is not worth the race.  Or do you go by, if the race is not cancelled, I'm racing?

There's a song about this: "You're so vain, you probably think this thread is about you." Just kidding. Nothing to ask but just wanted to thank you for this thread. Great stuff- very interesting and inspiring.

Bryan

You mentioned in the RR you took in water on swim.  I did this in a 70.3 last year and my race was pretty much over.  I got severly bloated.  My bike wasn't terrible but definitely slower, and I had trouble doing much running at all.  The bouncing got painful.  Is there something you did to avoid this? or something you can do to allieve the problem once it starts?

bryancd - 2012-05-09 9:47 AM

GatorDeb - 2012-05-09 7:36 AM

Well, here's a question.  How you personally draw the line that the conditions are too dangerous to race in and a race, in the grand scheme of life, is not worth it?

I.e. winds.  10 MPH?  15 MPH?  25 MPH?  40 MPH?  Gusts of 55+?

How do you decide what that threshold is where your own personal safety is not worth the race.  Or do you go by, if the race is not cancelled, I'm racing?

Even in my threads you ask interesting questions! If the race is on, I am racing. I feel comfortable in bad conditions and have never feared for my personal safety. Now for training, that's a different consideration and the better question. If it's so windy, say 30-40mph I will consider changing my plan. Not because i fear for my safety but because the quality of the training will likely be adversely effected by the conditions and my time might be better spent running or swimming instead on that day as opposed to get blown around on the bike being miserable.

For your bike training do you use the trainer at all (especially for the days that calls for bike training but the weather is not up to par) or is everything outside, and you adjust your training schedule?  Being in AZ weather has to help with the outside part of training. 

If I'm allowed, I have two questions for you:

First off, you mentioned that you're glad under the conditions that you chose to race in your aero helmet.  Does that mean you find that in other conditions you prefer not to wear the aero helmet?

And second, what now?  With a Kona slot in hand can you say what your game plan is regarding training and the time in between two iron distance races?

Thanks for the info!

Bryan,

Nice job on the race and congrats.

I read the race report and you said the second loop of the bike was pretty uneventful. Did you have any problems with any of the slower competitors you were lapping. Given the conditions I could see where a less experienced biker could get in your way.

I'm signed up for IMAZ and I know at some point I'll be getting passed by the pro field. I've kinda figured out about where it will come by looking at previous years swim and bike times vs what I expect mine to be.

As a slower AG racer I always stick all the way to the right and hold my line, and usually take a glance back before passing, before going through aid stations and definetly always look behind before going around a corner and at the turn around point.

Any other advice you could give so I don't mess up anyone else's race?

I'm actually kinda looking forward to getting passed by the pro just so I can see in person just how fast they are, but I know on a 3-loop course like IMAZ I'm sure at some point someone will get in there way, I just don't want it to be me.

Congrats Brian, that is an outstanding result...  Can't wait to keep an eye on you at Kona.

I do want to add a couple things.  I have been around the block a couple times as well.  Granted, I can't compare physically, but I do want to say, the MENTAL challange is the same for everyone.  Maybe even harder for those who are out there 12-14-17 like me hours compared to 8-10.

Every IM is hard in it's own way.  Lance armstrong said it, it doesn't get easier, I just get faster.  So just accept if there is bad weather, that you should be going just as hard (as Brian did with keeping his HR in check) but probably was just out on the course longer than with ideal conditions.

How you deal with the mental challanges is different for everyone.  You need to find what works FOR YOU.  I have raced with people that say they are going to quit every mile or pull out at the next aid station (and say that station after station), but then you see them at the end.  Others look like they are just having a party - smiling the entire time.  I tend to take more of a "this is business" approach.  I trained for months for this, and it's why I'm here.  Plus, how good does it feel to be done!  My biggest motivation on the course is knowing how dissapointed I wuold be if I don't finish AND how great if feels to know you complete it.  I just think of that finish line.  I trust my training, trust my body, make smart decisions...

I even like when the weather goes south.  Makes for better stories!    My last IM I biked uphill both ways, in the snow, on a hybrid... 

So I'm just trying to say, listen to the pros, take advice, but learn what works for YOU.  Relax and accept and make solid decisions.  Nothing "rash".

Congrats again Brian.

bryancd - 2012-05-09 9:43 AM ^Agreed. Also, I think it was Greg Lemond who made that qoute famoue.

Maybe Lance "wrote" it like he stole it?

That's the main thing I struggle with, drawing that line, although I'm getting closer to HTFU and becoming one of those "the race is on, I'm racing."  I was way undertrained for a century in February and trained mostly in the trainer up to 30 miles (live and learn) and found out the trainer does NOT prepare you for wind, and it was a freakish windy day that they hadn't had in previous years, and scores of people bailed, a friend of a friend didn't, got blown off the bike, broke some ribs.  I think that was the right choice because my bike handling skills weren't there, so I think it becomes less of an issue the more trained you are.  Now that I've been riding a few times in winds I'm comfortable up to 30 MPH or so (and I just haven't had the chance to ride in higher), but yeah, for a training ride, 40MPH gusts will send me inside.

This thread is invaluable, thanks for the taking the time, lots of great little tips

And no way I could have navigated that swim now.  Not because of the choppiness, but because I need other caps to navigate, my open water navigational skills suck   I use other people to get around in the water.  Highlights the importance of navigation skills, it would suck to not be able to have been done the swim not because of the water conditions but because of something silly like the navigation.