Ironman Canada : Official Thread (Page 4)

if you've ever ridden Glen eagles hill, its like that. Its gets steep, but that flattens off a bit to catch your breath. I know you are a stronger rider than I, and you will have no problems with it.

A good weekend of workouts.

Yesterday:

1:30 min OW swim

After work today:

3hr run practicing pacing and 20 sec "walks" of aid stations every mile.

Sunday:

45 min swim

130 mile ride  w/ 5600 ft. of elevation gain

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/43405168

40 min run @ race pace w/ neg split

I'm excited :-)

What a good idea. I need to retire my wetsuit too and it would help my mom find me in the swim if it had stuff written on it in shiny ink.

I did Vineman Relay this weekend as the swimmer. I got to pace myself for 2.4 on the same course I just did 1.2 on. It was interesting to compare and, as I expected, I can't go out as hard as I did for the 1.2 for the 2.4 distance. I was doing okay for about 3/4 of the swim but then I faded at the end and lost about 4 minutes compared to my pace on the first lap. However, they did move the swim exit so it was farther down than two weeks ago. So maybe the course was longer. (I have no idea if they moved the turn around point to match.)

I already knew I couldn't pound the bike as hard so I'm working on a pacing plan for the IMC course. Anyone have any thoughts on where to pound and where to hold back? Besides the obvious of don't go crazy doing uphill. 

I was thinking: fairly fast until Richter Pass, then take it easy going up it, through the rollers and over Yellow Lake and then balls-to-the-walls home to T2. Assuming I can still go that fast after Yellow Lake.

I'm doing an IMC sim route on Sat. that has climbs at all the right places but is much harder than IMC. There just isn't anything around here that has hills as high as IMC that also aren't about twice as steep. (The good thing about this route is that lots of people have done it and then IMC so that, whatever your moving time is here, you should typically be able to do IMC one hour faster.) I'll try that pacing strategy on it though and see what happens.

Hrm haven't done Glen Eagles but I've done Edworthy to Signal hill dozens and dozens of times. 

Think you need to check our logs - we're within minutes of each other on the bike. I'm observing your training very closely and if I finish the bike more than 5 mins ahead of you I'll know I've made a tactical mistake. You've also put more time in the saddle so I think you'll be happy. 

I did get a bit of a reality check this weekend while camping (no bike) - I went for a 18k run then a 25k run the next day in the 33 C temps and while I knew I'd be slower, it was still far worse than I expected. And the potty breaks, UGH!!!

My race day plan is shaping to be 1:30 total for swim/trans/potty, 5:50 or so bike, and anything under 4 for run. Longer if it's windy, or over 30. Doing Chaparal olympic this weekend after a Friday long bike so I'll narrow it down by then. 

Cracked my 310XT screen last night though dammit!!!!

When I did IMC in '09 a BT friend suggested I ride that last bit of the bike course from top of yellow lake back into town before the race. I did and it really helped me come race day.  I know what the terrain was like and felt more confident descending. I had a rough bike and knowing last ~10 miles were down hill helped me mentally a lot.

Best way to pace an Ironman bike is to keep even effort throughout. Many or most triathletes ride up hills to hard especially at the base of the hills.

Couple pointers from my experience in '09...

They handed out chips but no strap other than plastic thing you could use; bring your chip holder if you have one

Much smaller IM village so less vendors than US based IMs; merchandise was priced similar to US IMs; local bike shop carries most everything you need and will do any bike work you need quickly

Once you get into body marking athletes are separated from spectators so I found that early pre IM time to be lonely as I didn't know very many people racing

Check drink they are serving on the course in '09 it was different than US based IMs...less sodium as it was normal Gatorade instead of Gatorade Endurance. On the run they had real Pepsi instead of generic Sam's club cola which was heavenly.

Great location, great venue, lots of fantastic beaches with super facilities for you and your family, super town support

Hey, I ran an hour without having to take a walk break today! LOL

The longest I have run in a single training session is 1:45 and 8.25 miles. I had really hoped to be able to run 2 hours this week and  then 2.5 next week and then taper my run. (I've already started to taper my bike.) But it looks like it's not to be. I did run 13.1 in a race 7 weeks out from IMC but it set back my running by two weeks to do that. The run portion of the event is going to be VERY interesting. In the Chinese, may you life in interesting times, way.

Interesting reading as we get down to the last two weeks and I imagine everyone is either starting their taper or will be in the next day or so.  I'll be the old man of the group at 56 doing my first and I hope to put it all into perspective. Just that we can be there and do this is an awesome thing.

Last month just before I was scheduled to do a local HIM my wife advised me her cancer was back. It was devistating. 2 days before the race I told her I don't know if I can do this thing my heart just isn't in it. She told me she didn't care if my heart was in it or not hers was I was to get my up that mountain.

Her days are numbered yet she has insisted I get out and train and put in the hours. I have and when it gets tough I simply think of her battle. Mine is with a mountain and a run. She has taught me the meaning of courage. I have learnt more about courage and battleing on from her than any where else.

So if you see a big (clysdale)older guy taking his time heading up the mountain and stopping at the top to give a little bald lady a big hug well that will be me. Now for most of you, well you'll be long gone when I get there but that is ok as this is our journey mine and Eva's and we will both enjoy and cherish every minute of it we share.I wish you all well and God's speed.

First of all, Radar987 - you and your wife are so inspiring to me. I will be thinking of you both on race-day for sure. She is the kind of support partner that every triathlete dreams of. Tell her "thank you" on my behalf for reminding me that there are people who support these crazy things we decide to do.

Spacebabe, don't freak yourself out! I had nightmares before my first one... and my second one. This time they are pretty much gone. Take it easy on the bike up the hills. You will be fine. The toughest part that I remember is the out-and-back. Yellow Lake is a tough climb, but after that you are in the home-stretch. I'm sure you will have nothing to worry about. It really isn't as bad as your mind may be telling you. Practice some visualization of yourself biking in the time you want. That always helps me.

This past weekend I did a race that was about 1/3rd IM and it felt really good (despite a darn flat tire!). I think I'm ready. I'm doing one more long bike (about 130km) and one more long run (about 20km) and then I'm tapering. That's right, my long runs are pretty short. I'm hoping that running short distances more often will work for me this time. I'm looking forward to it!!!

Is there a way that we could all meet up somewhere? At the peach on Friday morning wearing red shirts? Or is the underwear run happening this year? Maybe we could body paint BT IMC on our backs.