Ironman Arizona : Official Thread (Page 33)

Freeswimmingfish,

I hope you don't mind but I borrowed your post for our IMFL thread.  That was a pretty cool inspirational post. 

Last year, once the sun went down, it got cool really fast and a lot of the runners finishing after dark were absolutely freezing (I was working morning clothes pick up and there were al ot of blue lips). 

If you're a pokey puppy like me, warm clothes for the run are a must.

Ah...special needs...I've been trying to figure this stuff out...

Bike Special Needs...
- 2 extra Infinit bottles
- Extra Fig Newtons to replenish the bike stock
- Food (still determining what to drop in...probably stuff along the lines of pringles, pbj, jerky, gummies, cookies...i have no idea what will sound good!)
- extra Halls cough drops
- Tube/CO2 cartridge

Run Special Needs...
- long-sleeved shirt for the dark of night!
- Fresh socks
- Extra Gels
- BioFreeze
- Tylenol, Tums, Immodium...my own little pharmacy

I think the other reason - that I couldn't quite articulate late at night (gee, is anyone else sleeping a lot these days?) - for packing my own in bags is just that I prefer not to rely on the course for anythng beyond water if I can help it. Sure, it doesn't mean I wont' end up snacking at aid stations at some point during the day but as much as possible I'd rather be self-supplying during the race so that I don't have to rely on an aid station not running out of something I wanted or not having it in the first place.

Funny you said that. I can't sleep and was thinking this was a side effect of the training. Perhaps I am backwards again haha

I want to be self sufficient too.  I've made it through all the training rides without any aid stations, why would I need them now?  SN bags will have tubes/co2/and maybe some gu for good measure.  Might switch out a water bottle or gatorade, but that's about it.  I'll get more use out of the aid stations during the run. 

Athlete guide indicates SN gear bags will be available for pick up on Monday morning so that definately helps with being able to put stuff in. I'm pretty much with what everyone else suggested and for sure an extra warm layer or two on the run bag for the night. Get's cold fast once the sun goes down.

On my end, it could be the Benadryl I've been taking at night for the itching from all the #$%&*ing bug bites I've gotten training the last couple weeks

They are available, and I was lucky enough to find mine (i think,,.,,,   I got at least one).  But it's like one of those Amazing Race challenges.  You will be picking and sorting through a pile of thousands of bags that may or may not be in the correct box (originally arranged by numbers), that may or may not be intact, or that may or may not be there.  There is no one preventing anyone from taking anyone else's stuff (not that you'd really want to).

So don't put anything in there you wouldn't want to lose.

Will there be Powergels available at every aid station on the bike and run?

I'm planning to take a gel every half hour but I'll only have 4 gels inside my bento box and 2 inside my tri top for the run. Will I be able to keep restocking with gels at the aid stations?


My nutrition plan:

300 cals/hr
1st 30 mins. H20 only
Every 30 mins. Powergel + H20
Gatorade Endurance in between Powergels.
Electrolytes, Powerbar gel blasts, FRS, pretzels, Coke, chicken soup as needed.

Also, On the bike, I'm finding I need to pee too much. Should I take in less water or increase or decrease my electrolyte capsules?

what do you consider too much?  Last weekend I felt just right and I went twice...once at about 30mimles and again at around mile 90.  I figure for 6 hrs that's about right.  I wouldn't want to take in less fluids to reduce that short 30 seconds.

Remember, AZ is dry dry dry, not like San Diego/So Cal.  You will not feel that you are sweating, but you are and it is evaporating.  I'd say reducing fluid intake is a mistake.  Not that you need to increase it, but the climate is totally different than what you have been training in.

I'm not jealous of the training, but sure am jealous that you guys get to do an IM!

What do you consider too much? My coach's rule is you pee every 2 hrs in Ironman. I've found that to be about accurate with how often I need to go on long rides (though usually starts about 1 hr into the ride). In the Arizona climate, I certainly would be concerned if I did less.

You can always just learn to pee on the bike like many people do

My Lord. There are no "rules" about hydration and peeing. It's very individual and conditions dependent. I have NEVER peed in an entire IM race, ever, and was fine. I'm extreme but you get my point, peeing is NOT an indication of hydration always. Personally, I drink when thirsty, not based on a schedule. Your body will tell you waht it needs and the idea of "getting behind" in your hydration has been falling out of favor the last few years. best bet, just do what you have been doing in training, which should be drinking and eating enought o fuel your ride and set you up for the run. More IM's have been ruined for athletes by excessive drinking and eating......

You may want to consider that living off the course and the aid provided is simple, easy, and requires less planning and less weight on your bike at any given time.

*sigh* Yes, it is individual, that's why I said it's what I've found it is accurate for me. Doesn't mean it will be for everyone.

 

I plan on mostly living off the course, I have trained with gatorade, powerbars and Gels. I'll switch out water/gatorade bottles at aid stations.  I'm hoping this is a good plan and I wont be left hungry and begging other competitors for a spare Gu, LOL!

Oh, and peeing, it must be very individual because I had to stop twice at a potty to pee on the run during my HIM last week! Yikes! 

 

Edited by riorio 2009-10-29 7:40 PM

I'm with you on the no peeing rules.  I wouldnt have even thought about it, but now that it's brought up I think I've only stopped to pee during one ride.  It was a 2 hour ride and I had to pee just because I had to pee; never had to pee during any of my long rides.  If I have to pee during the race you better hope you're following the no drafting rule because it's going on my bike. 

I also don't plan my nutrition on a schedule.  I eat a bit before I think I'm getting too hungry and gel when I need a quick boost.  I drink when I'm thristy, mainly water but will take some gatorade to add in a few calories with the same concept as a gu. 

For the race (on the bike) I'll carry three powerbars and three or four GUs.  for liquid I'll carry one, maybe two, bottles of water and one bottle of gatorade. 

He may also want to consider following your own advice from a few posts back, about continuing to do exactly what he's been doing in training since it has worked for him.  Why fix it if it ain't broke?

I had a friend tell me - one who is an Ironman and one who did this course - it's a swim, bike and run with FOOD and lots of other folks.  It's FUN! I for one am looking forward to a supported ride and a run with some FUN in there too. 

FUN! Remember?