Timberman - Half Iron : Official Thread (Page 4)

Anyone thinking of trying a "dry run" at this during the summer (say June or July)?

I'm in CT, so it's a matter of camping out for a weekend up there and trying out the bike course and possibly a loop or two of the run.

So this being my first HIM and first race with aid stations on the bike..can someone explain how that works exactly?  Do I bring bottles like I normally would and switch them out at stations as I go?  This probably sound so stupid, but do people actually stop or just slow down and grab?  Seems like it could get a little crazy.  Any tips for doing this as smoothly as possible?

Thanks!

Kaitlin

Yes bring bottles you don't mind tossing. As you approach an aid station, you pitch your empty bottle (they have targets over garbage cans or boxes to hit) then you grab a new bottle from a volunteer who is holding up either water or a sports drink. There are other volunteers holding up gels or bars or whatever they are offering.

Kaitlin,

Some people will stop at the bike aid stations and others will slow down and grab what they need on the fly. You will be given either water or sports drink (whatever you ask for) in a plastic bottle. When you arrive at the next aid station you discard the empty bottle and grab another. If you start out with a bottle(s) in your cage(s) make sure it is not a bottle that you want to keep. You will need to drop this bottle if you plan on grabbing and keeping a new bottle at the aid station.

I hope that helps.

I'm pretty much ready to go...not really on a specific training plan for this race (kind of always try to maintain a general half iron fitness level during the season).  Last week's totals were 100+ miles bike, 32 run and 4500 yds swim, with long sessions of 63 bike, 12 run and 2500 nonstop in the pool.  Doing a 70 mile ride with my wife tomorrow, which will give me 115 mi bike, ~30 run and 5000 yds swim for this week with longs of 70, 10.5, and 2100 (plus a half mile ocean swim on Memorial Day).  I'm not doing any races until mid-July, so just focusing on getting healthier and gradually building speed on the bike and swim over the next eight weeks or so.

Biggest challenges are deciding how to get two bikes to NH from CA (my wife and I are both racing) in a way that will work with a smallish rental car and nursing what I'm now pretty sure is a mild sports hernia through to the end of my season in late September.  Injury doesn't interfere with biking or running, but I feel it when I kick with my right leg on the swim...no sharp pain, just dull ache...kind of thing I can train and race with, but will have to take care of later in the year.

It's usually sold out by Jan/Feb...no idea why it's still open (if it is) but I'd make a decision pretty soon

I've been hurt for the past few months, only now just getting back into training but the injury is lingering so I might be a game-time decision.  It's been frustrating because I worked my butt off this winter and my cycling form was fantastic, now I'm kinda back to square one.  And the injury is something that's been recurring for two years now but a few different doctors ahven't been able to determine the cause/solution.  Oh well, gotta get back into training and see what kind of shape I can manage in the next two months...I've never not PR'd a race I've done for a second/third time and I don't want to start now!

Everyone's been quiet here!  9 weeks left.  How is training going for everyone?  

I am definitely getting in more training this year compared to last year.  Looking forward to it!  

 And I can't believe it has not sold out yet?!  

Not everyone wants to race around 2K people, plus there a tons of cheaper and great races around the same dates.

Hope training is going good for everybody!

Elbi999 - thanks for asking!  Training is going OK here.  Timberman will be my first HIM.  I'm worried about the hills.  I lived in Pittsburgh until this week (just moved to Florida).  Lots of hills in Pitt and I got in some good rides, but I struggled on those rides.  I expect I'm looking at a 3 hour ride at the race.  The move to Florida was supposed to happen in the spring, so that it would all be out of the way when I got into the heavy HIM training.  Ooops.  I'm right in the middle of both the past two weeks.  Still managing to get in good sessions (except for this past weekend).  I'll be ready, but not as well trained as I wanted to be.  

How about you, Elbi999 - how's your training going?  Everyone else?  It would be nice to hear from some of the others who are racing.  

My training has been going well.  I have managed to not suffer from the injuries that plagued me last year during my HIM training and racing.  I had terrible issues with calf muscle tears. 

I currently live in Pittsburgh - which is pretty much all hills.  I have switched to a TT bike this year (Speed Concept 9.7) which I love!!!  However, it is a bit different than my road bike, so I have been spending most of my time getting used to the new bike.  Is a bit different on the hills so I am utilizing this time to really work on climbing. I will be ready by race day for sure.

I am really anxious to race, as I started training in April and will not hit my first race until July 31st.  Oh the pain of it!   Then the Timberman and then Rev 3 in Cedar Point will round out my year until I head to Mallorca, Spain in October for a cycling tour.

Hope everyone is having a great racing season so far!  

Any of you veterans to this race or HIM distance in general have any tips for the first-timers?  What do you wish you knew before your first HIM?

Thanks!

It's July 21st. One month away! How is everyone doing?  I'm slowly feeling more and more confident with my training but still nervous as it's my first HIM.

Anyone staying at the TownPlaces Suites in Gilford?  Wondering if I could hitch a ride with someone race morning.