Ironman Coeur d'Alene : Official Thread (Page 37)

I did IMTX in 2011, and during the run, I swore I'd never do a hot IM again. Seriously, it was awful. Even my local friends all puked during the run and most needed IVs. I had zero heat acclimization (being in Denver and it snowed the week before the race) so I just slowed wayyyy down.

So I suppose I jinxed us for CDA this year. I hope not.

Bib list is up! I'll be sporting the amazingly lucky #1388 on race day!

Yeah 1057!

#2439 - means I'm an old guy.

2378, guess I am in the "older" group as well?

#1634, sweet 4 digits this time around!

#1276 here.

1659 - darn they didn't give me my favorite number like I requested.

Completed my first tri of the season yesterday. It felt good to finally be racing after what seemed like such a long winter. The water temp at the start of the race was 62 degrees. I wore a neoprene swim cap and ear plugs along with my long sleeve wetsuit. It was quite comfortable and I never really felt too cold. Hopefully the swim can get in the 60's for IMCDA.

Bib # =1668. 5 weeks from today! It's starting to get real.

Five weeks people !!!!!!!!! =)

Question: How windy has it been in past years? And how about heat? And who's ticked off they're missing on the Washing Machine? First Ironman for me.

531 here

1594 here






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1618 My goal is to cross the line before the time reads my bib number!

2008 for me

Locals can provide more knowledge than I can but my understanding it can get a little breezy as you climb on the big loop. I doubt it's overly windy based on what I've read but it will be noticeable.

Heat will be a non issue. I'd be more worried about cold. Of course your mileage may vary based on where you live and train. I've been training in 100 degree heat index so my biggest concern is it will be cold.

21 training days till taper. But who's counting?

Reality slap...

I did a HITS Half this weekend in Grand Junction CO. The last mass start I did was in IMTX '12. A 100 yards into the swim I panicked, which is unlike me. My goggle fogged up, I tried to clear them, than they were full of water, I tried to clear them, then they fogged up again....I started to hyperventilate. I rolled on my back and signalled for help. I held onto a kayak and a floatation device for about 2 minutes, almost the entire field past me. I gathered myself and got back to swimming. I did the swim in 38 minutes, normally I do 35 minutes. This is the first time this has ever happened, I was a good reminder about the chaos that is a mass swim. I started to doubt myself for IMCDA, now I'm thinking I'm going to like the rolling start.

The bike course was super windy! One section was 8 miles uphill into a headwind, that was brutal. Finished the bike in 2:56
The run was an utter mess!

Finished 6:29 second to last in the 45-49 AG.

I hope IMCDA holds a different day for me

Bike course elevation, https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ie08HcNwO8Q/UZpW2Qt6-KI/AAAAAAAAc...

I've ridden the course 2 different weekends so far.

1st weekend -- tailwind going out of town on big loop with somewhat of a cross/headwind coming back into town. Wind was around 15-20MPH. Air temp was pretty decent the whole day. I wore arm sleeves for the 98 miles I rode that day (1 short loop plus 2 long loops) and felt comfortable the whole time.

2nd weekend -- 5-10MPH wind going out of town that was head/cross wind. I hope it is similar to this on race day as I don't want a headwind going back into town on the second loop. Air temp was nice at 8 in the morning but by 10 it was getting warm (88 degrees is what it read on my bike computer). Again wore arm sleeves for the ride and was comfortable till 10. Of course that was coming back (from big loop) with just that slight tailwind and going slow up the hills made things hot. As long as I was riding a a decent speed, I stayed cool enough. For the run, I did about 6 miles that day and I had taken off the arm sleeves. I was comfortable considering I didn't take any liquid on the run. I know during the race though I should be fine as long as I keep dumping water on my hat and put ice under my hat.

Morning temps -- last year it started out at about 60 I think but then dropped into the 50s right before the race with the wind picking up. The afternoon, the weather go to be pretty nice and probably a little warm. I'd say around 75-80.

So hopefully on race day it will be a morning around 60 and a day where it decides to not heat up much.

So excited for CDA...this will be attempt #2 for me but I WILL FINISH this time...1st time was IM Cozumel last year and I missed the swim cut off...I've been working hard and I am ready to be an Ironman...The race is actually ON MY BIRTHDAY...so I will celebrate 36 by being an Ironman

So now the weeks are slowing down to 15 1/2 hr weeks for those of you on the 36 week plan. Are you going to follow that or are you going to keep going big for this week and possibly next then cut it down for the last 3?

I think most of us have experienced a feeling of of panic during the swim and it is not fun. I will admit that the swim is always the worst part for me. A strategy I have used when this happens is to switch to side stroke for a little bit. It still gets me somewhere and allows me to regain composure.

My plan is to stick to the plan. Last week was really tough, and I think my body is ready to cut it down to 15 1/2. Even saying that seems funny to me...

I have 3 big volume weeks remaining and then will begin taper 2 weeks out. The weekends 5, 4, and 3 weeks out have always been very big volume weeks for me and I've usually done a 3 week taper but due to the loss of a couple weeks becasue of injury I'm going with a 2 week taper this race.

You know I never thought about the side stroke, I went right for the breast stroke which didn't help. Thanks for the reminder about the side stroke.