Ironman Florida : Official Thread (Page 41)

Take a deep breath.  It will be OK.  I am NOT a 12 hour finisher....not in my realm.  I am in south florida too.  One thing for sure is it will NEVER be as hot on race day as what you are training in, unless you are up in the pan handle.  Be prepared for cold weather. Lots of layers, wind breakers. I put a windbreaker on at SN on the run last year.  Most brilliant invention ever.  I was so cold.  I ammostly praying that the run is not a total death march for me

Great advice, if you aren't recovering well you may want to taper a little longer.  Last year was my first IM and my body just hurt and I never felt like I was recovering at all during the PEAK phase.  This year has been a different experience.  I am not feeling 100% for workouts but for the most part I am having good quality workouts and am not hurting nearly as bad. 

Halloween and the kids.  Alright it is official now.  My family is coming down so we will be trick or treating Wed. night somewhere.  I know there was some discussion about a BT group but I lost it in all the pages.  Has anyone made any set plans?

"They say" that you can estimate your IM time, by 2 times your HIM + 1/2 hour.  That would put you finishing at 15 hours more or less.  That's pretty respectable!   And it's TWO hours before the final cut off.  I'd say if you're following Fink in the intermediate - or even the beginner, and sticking with it, you should be good for a finish before cut off.  Trust your plan!

one tip.  Go easy on the bike and save yourself for your strength, the run.

For those of you who have done this race or live/have lived in FL, can you tell me what the hills are like on the bike?  I lived in S. FL for ten years and while I can't remember hills, I am familiar with the bridges that go over the intercoastal waterway. Is that what the hills are like?  To be honest, coming from Colorado, the hills are the least of my worries (waves...read sea sickness and my horrible run and GI issues..that is where the worry lies) but it would help to have an idea of what the hills are like. Also, I keep reading about the rough (road) part of the bike ride. Just how bad is it?

Thanks!

bad part of the road is not bad, its on the out and back portion where SN is..its annoying and short lived.  IF you are training in CO don't worry about the rollers on the IMFL course.  THe bridge is the biggest hill and while also annoyingyouhave to go BACK over it at mile 100 that also means you only have 12 miles til you are DONE!!  I train in the flat lands and from my perspective they are not anything to worry about.  Esp for someone coming from COLORADO!!

eeek! I'm getting nervous reading the posts from the past few days! I survived my biggest brick this past wknd, 90/16 and felt really good. It was a good confidence booster going into a cut back week and then taper.

I don't do well in cold temps, my body doesn't cooperate and I feel like my body starts to shut down. I have terrible raynauds, too. I bought thermal shoe booties and was wondering if they would be the right thing to wear. My toes go numb when I'm on the bike and it's in the upper 60s so cooler temps have me worried. I know they might take time to put on/take off, but I'm not planning on winning this...

bib #655!!

they actually bring you INSIDE into the hotel.  Well lit and warm.  There are mens and womens changing areas.  Its chaotic but well lit and much better than a tent on a parking lot.  It is not pancake flat like where I live but the hills are just smaller rollers compared to somewhere like say colorado where they have mountains.  Lets just say I have no hills to train on and the bike course is not a problem for me so take a deep breath and don't worry

Yes to the toe warmers if that is a problem for you.  Wear gloves too.  Lots of layers.  You can always take a layer off and throw it aside at an aide station.

I think the combination of wool socks (maybe another pair under those as well) with toe covers is a better option than the full booties.  You can do things for your feet to help keep them warm (double up on socks, wear plastic shopping bags over your feet (under your shoe to block the wind) for the first few miles then rip them off, tape the vents etc).  Toe covers can be put on before the race and are much easier to take off if you need to.  In 2010 I don't think it ever got out of the 50's on the bike and I was fine with wool socks and toe covers. 

As far as the hills, most of them require maybe a one or two cog shift on the bike and they aren't long at all.  Definitely not anything to worry about.  Use them as an opportunity to stretch and get out of your aero bars.

For Toe Covers think about Duct Tape.  Blocks the wind easy to discard if you get to warm.  Used tape for years and I found that it is easier to adjust tape for warmth than toe covers

Steve and Missy are the BEST!!!

Last year was cold in my book and my feet were fine.  I wear bike shoes and not tri shoes if that makes a difference.  Now I had on long pants, a wind breaker and extra gloves but my feet were fine.

enjoy,

Duane

Ann, sounds just like me last year.  Prior to IMFL last year my only marathons were part of Goofy, I could swim OK, my bike was lacking compared to others and I was 54.  I did fine and you'll do fine.  The best advice I can give is take your time, especially on the bike.  Save it for the run!

Duane 

Sounds like you need a day off, or two.  Too close to the race to flirt with overuse injury.

There's actually a name for it: UPRD.  Unplanned Rest Day.

I look on the calendar and stark terror has taken over as my motivator.

This will be my 4th IMFL and 11th IM - IM Florida until I quit or hit 83 years old (whichever comes first) - The reason IMFL is a repeat is because I can drive my RV there, this is by far the cheapest I can get away at an IM. The only other repeats I will have is I am doing IM Cozumel again this year for the sole reason of hitting IM 12 to get in on the IM Legacy lottery for 2013. All my others are one and done. 

Besides all that IMFL is a good race, well organized, excellent volunteers, single loop bike, awesome and fun crowd for the run.