Ironman Florida : Official Thread (Page 34)

I think you missed a week. At least I hope you did otherwise we only have 4 weeks until the race

Last year I bought my wife a ticket to the dinner when I registered. We never went. Had a much better time with Pizza in the room. Didn;t miss anything mandatory unless the mentioned a shortcut no one told me about.

Duane

A lot of people skip the official dinner but go to the meeting.  No tickets necessary.

Oops - how about 20, 18, 16, 12 then 8???

I think you will be fine with 2:30 hr long run and 5hr bike.  Don't worry!  My longest run this summer was 2:15 and that was 6 weeks ago. 

I never sleep   Just kidding....but I am up pretty early! And I am always done on the week-ends at 10-10:30 so I don't miss out family time!  But its getting old fast.....I am going to take a break from the long stuff next year.

I have never done an Ironman under 85 F and have done one at 97

So I guess anything cooler than that is good with me!

Athlete guide is up.  2012

edit. nice IMAZ footer.  ha! 

Hi,

Two questions to those who have done this race before.

I have heard that getting your Special Needs bag back is iffy at best.  Has this been your experience?

I don't see chicken broth listed as one of the items served on the run.  Have they served it in the past?  As a late finisher and someone who has GI issues, it was really helpful at IMAZ.

Thanks!

I've only raced it once so I don't have a long history.  Last year I did gt both my special needs bags back with no issue.  They had them in the Banquet room (same as T1) and opened at AM Sunday if I remember.  They try to keep them in some sort of number order but I could see where they might get mixed up. 

As for chicken broth, I think they had it.  The last loop of my run is still kind of fuzzy so I cannot say for sure.  But tI think I tried it last year.  

enjoy,

Duane 

You have a chance to get your SN bag back.  They bring theboxes with the bags back to transition and you can pick thru them.  Usually I have found my stuff.  I think last year I only found onebag.  Don't put anything in them that you  would be devastated to loose. 

I have done the race 5 times and they have always had chicken broth.  They put it in cooler things to keep it warm.

Best piece of advice I can give you as a fellow late finisher is to get a light for your hat for the second loop of the run.  Its pitch black dark in the state park.  You can get them at Target or any sporting good store.  Get some kind of light...you can thank me after the race. 

All, thought I'd pop my head in here and see how things were going.  I've been lurking on this thread for about the past 11 months, but I appreciate the advice everyone's given.  Starting to freak out a bit, since the race is only 37 days away.  Augusta this weekend for me, then two more weekends of big volume before starting to taper.

Hope everyone's training is going well. 

Not to my knowledge although if you go back a few pages there were somepeople trying to organize some trick o treating

I second the light suggestion.  This course  is DARK.  And the inside of the porta potties is even darker!

I just bought this one from Amazon for Kona...it's so ridiculously light I don't even notice I'm wearing it....

one quick point to remember re SN bags....

last year they made them avaiable  - as stated earlier - but only til noon on that sunday.... after that they loaded all of the lefto over stuff onto a truck and off to charity it went... I know because I got there at one and my stuff was long gone.  just keep this in mind if you are a late finisher and head to the hotel after the race and sleep in the next day....

On this topic, a point of interest to some.

I recommend not to tie your transition bag strings in a knot before you drop them off or the morning of the race.  One of the last things you'll want to be doing in transition is fumbling trying to untie your bags.  If you do tie them, tie them in a bow.  Also, when you pack your transition bags, pack them so that what you will need first is on top and what you'll need last is on bottom and you shouldn't have to dump your bag out.  For T1, if you put a mesh laundry bag at the top of the transition bag, you can take that out first and throw your wetsuit, cap and goggles, etc in there so it doesn't get lost/kicked in transition, then take your stuff out one thing at a time of your transition bag.

When you're done with your transition bag (or SNB for that matter) do not depend on the volunteer to tie your bag for you.  If you want it tied, tie it yourself.  And this time, tie it in a knot so nothing falls out.

I totally second this.  Having worked the change tent twice....DO NOT KNOT YOUR BAG!!!!! :D  The volunteer ends up having to rip your bag open for you and the your stuff is really all over the place...and then we have to get a replacement bag for it...which complicates everything.  Use a bow...your stuff won't fall out!

The other things that pay dividends in your transition bags:

1. Divide things into gallon size ziplocs to make them easier to find.  Otherwise it all comes out as one jumbled mess.  For example, you could put all the stuff you plan to stuff into your jersey pockets into a ziploc.  Or if you like to wash off your feet, put your towel and lube or whatever in a ziploc.  Group like things together...makes them easier to find.

2. If you plan to wear arm warmers or something similar...PRE ROLL THEM!  Roll them up so all you have to do is shove your arm through and unroll them up your arm.  Works for compression socks too.

3. Label your big and/or important stuff.  Things can tend to scatter and a name really helps get it back where it belongs.

4. Volunteers are pre-loaded to dump your bag onto the floor...if you don't want your bag dumped you need to speak up EARLY!

If I think of anything else I'll let you know.  I highly recommend people work the change tent sometime...you definitely see the best and the worst out there!  Some good ideas...some very not good ideas. :D