Ironman Arizona : Official Thread (Page 48)

I live in Mass and I dont even belong to a pool. Most of my swimming this year has been in OW. That being said when I did IMAZ in 2010 I was very cold. I learned a few things. I did not wear neoprene booties or cap. This time I will.

My plan to stay warm is based on what I have done in my practice swims which is based on research...

I wear a full wetsuit

Triple cap...silicone, neoprene cap, goggles, race cap

neoprene booties ( they are USAT legal in temps under 65*)

I wear aquasphere vistas ( mask that covers alot of my face).

Silicone ear plugs ( cold water in my ears for an extended time throws off my balance)

I drink a hot coffee before I go in. I pour warm liquid down my suit before I go in.

I dress very warm before I get my wetsuit on. Fleece, Hat, gloves, heavy socks ( dont let your body temp decrease before you get  your suit on/ get in the water)

I swam 90 minutes yesterday in 56* temp and the only thing that was numb were my hands...otherwise fine

There is research that states that women tend to get a lower core temp more quickly in cold water as the percentage of muscle and body fat is less than men ( not so certain about this one) But I have noticed that in colder water swims women do seem to have a more difficult time than men.

Hope this helps...I know following this has made a huge difference for me...we will see how it pans out on race day!!!

Saturday A.M. - 126 mile ride

Saturday P.M. - 4.7 mile recovery run

Sunday A.M. - 3,800m continuous swim in 57:26

Sunday P.M. - 22 mile run in 2:37

One more hard week for me before I taper down the bike and run.  1.5 weeks until I taper the swim.

You're killing it.  Very impressive.

Dang it, the mental questions are finally getting to me now.  I wasn't giving it a though till now.

I THINK I decided to leave the TT bike at home this time.  SUCH a hard decision.  I have used it in the last three, but this year, I can't seem to get comfortable on it for rides over 3-4 hours and spend a lot of time sitting up.  Maybe 2/3 of the time.  If I'm going to sit up THAT much, I might as well be supper comfortable on my road bike and feel better off the bike (no stiff back and achey neck).

Just tough to leave the trusty steed at home.  Plus everyone else is going to have their fancy TT bikes and what kind of owner am I to leave mine at home?

I think this year it's about comfort than overall speed.  My training just was not what I wanted it to be.  Couldn't get the body to agree with what my mind wanted it to do.

Also reconsidering wheel selection, outfit, etc. 

Maybe it's just that time with 3 weeks to go to start second guessing everything?

I did my last OWS of 4000 yards on September 29th in water that was about 64 degrees.  Full wetsuit, neoprene cap, latex cap, ear plugs, and swim booties (IST Proline Titanium 5mm).  The swim went great and I wasn't cold in the least, other than my face for about 5 minutes.  And to boot, I'm a skinny dude with about 6% body fat.

I really think the booties have made a huge difference as your feet are the first thing to get wet (if you walk in gingerly like me).  I highly recommend the booties and cap!

Last year I was just fine with the swim cap they gave me and my wetsuit...  Cold jumping in, but felt great once the gun started.

(and peeing in my wetsuit of course )

erin116 - 2012-10-29 2:23 PM

Kido - 2012-10-29 2:28 PM

Maybe it's just that time with 3 weeks to go to start second guessing everything?

Yep, I have no idea what I'm doing at this point - mostly I need to decide on wetsuits for the swim, clothing for the rest of the race. Do I want to change? Do I not want to change? I have tri clothes strewn all over the house, no idea what fits and I haven't had the courage to try any on. I know which tri shorts to wear for the bike. Otherwise everything else is up in the air... Mav, thanks for those swim tips!!! I am copying them down so I don't have to search through the thread again

In case you care...   Much of what I'm going to do is just like last year (and similar to other long events)

Wetsuit and normal swim cap for the swim.

I wore a two piece tri suit and compression socks and packed arm warmers.  I decided NOT to wear the arm warmers in T1 when I felt pretty warm.

I swap out of my tri top in T2 and swith to a normal running shirt and my hat, of course.  Kept the compression socks on.

I was actaully using the sponges with water to keep kool for the first half of the run.

Get in line for a massage.

It might just be in my head, but I swear by the compresson socks and massage.  My legs felt the best they ever did after an ironman using that formula.

slather on a whole lot of vaseline -- it really does seal out the cold .... until it washes off, but you swim fast enough you'll be good to go

Different people have different effect from cold water.  The water temp should be between 60-63 on race day, and last year I wore my full wetsuit and 2 swim caps (but neither were my neoprene cap).  I did not really feel the cold on my face, hands or feet until about 3500m in, and even then it was not bad.  Getting out of the water my adrenaline was rushing so much I really could not feel anything.

Last year I wore what you see in my profile pic to the left.  I did wear a cycling bib (put on in T1) for comfort on the bike along with arm warmers.  No bib this year, and arm warmers will be a game time decision.  Single piece trisuit this year as well, rather than the 2 piece get-up I wore in 2011.  Compression sleeves are the only real addition.

Sponges on the run were heaven - and once the sun went down it was fine to just leave them behind.  It really was a beautiful day in Phoenix last year - if we get fortunate enough for more of the same it will be a great temp all race long.

I made it through the peak week! Nearly 20 hours. 

Week 27 Totals - 226.30 mi / 19 hr 49 min

Swim – 6.36 mi / 2 hr 50 min

Bike – 170.70 mi / 10 hr 12 min

Run – 49.24 mi / 6 hr 47 min

Let the taper begin!

i was completely frozen and I wore the neoprene hat - i was so cold I swore I had a stroke while swimming as my right side didn't seem to even be working at the last turn -- but then again, I get cold in the public indoor pool.  I'm not a heat generating swimmer. 

I know!  who is responsible for getting me all excited to hand over my cash.