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2011-08-17 12:11 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
Yep, staying healthy is the key!  Especially during this week's run-focused theme (for those doing the Beginner Iron Program).  It's tough to do as a non-runner!  At least the weather is getting more bearable...

Edited by golf2tri 2011-08-17 12:12 PM


2011-08-17 1:50 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread

x2

 

90% is to make it to the starting line "fairly" healthy!

2011-08-21 7:27 AM
in reply to: #3260445

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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
I was mentally replaying last year's swim start in my head and recollected some advice I'd been given about dealing with the scrum after the cannon goes off:

If you are at all inclined to stay out of the worst part of the washing machine, swim upstream for 25 yards or so.. The current is going to be strong on race day, and you'll be carried right up to and past the first buoy. It's pretty congested at the start - not the worst I've ever seen(that would be IMAZ) but even a midsized scrum can be a race day bummer..

Once past the 1st buoy, you want to swim a line all the way over to the left - current is allegedly stronger there, but more importantly, you'll be positioned for the left turn towards Seapath marina/condos. That turn comes up more quickly than you expect...
2011-08-21 12:29 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
I agree with alltom - I talked with some locals before the 2009 start and thats exactly the advice I was given. The current can really scream. Staying to the left of the course keeps you in the fastest part of it. I did have a little trouble negotiating the left turn but the current basically pushed me to the swim finish.

The tides are pretty impressive in the Wilmington area - you can watch the river change directions near downtown when the tide changes.
2011-08-21 2:12 PM
in reply to: #3652377

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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread

alltom1 - 2011-08-21 8:27 AM I was mentally replaying last year's swim start in my head and recollected some advice I'd been given about dealing with the scrum after the cannon goes off: If you are at all inclined to stay out of the worst part of the washing machine, swim upstream for 25 yards or so.. The current is going to be strong on race day, and you'll be carried right up to and past the first buoy. It's pretty congested at the start - not the worst I've ever seen(that would be IMAZ) but even a midsized scrum can be a race day bummer.. Once past the 1st buoy, you want to swim a line all the way over to the left - current is allegedly stronger there, but more importantly, you'll be positioned for the left turn towards Seapath marina/condos. That turn comes up more quickly than you expect...

Are you saying that from the beginning you want to go as far towards the far shoreline as possible or after the first turn bouy?

 

2011-08-21 3:55 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
jkholden - 2011-08-21 3:12 PM

alltom1 - 2011-08-21 8:27 AM I was mentally replaying last year's swim start in my head and recollected some advice I'd been given about dealing with the scrum after the cannon goes off: If you are at all inclined to stay out of the worst part of the washing machine, swim upstream for 25 yards or so.. The current is going to be strong on race day, and you'll be carried right up to and past the first buoy. It's pretty congested at the start - not the worst I've ever seen(that would be IMAZ) but even a midsized scrum can be a race day bummer.. Once past the 1st buoy, you want to swim a line all the way over to the left - current is allegedly stronger there, but more importantly, you'll be positioned for the left turn towards Seapath marina/condos. That turn comes up more quickly than you expect...

Are you saying that from the beginning you want to go as far towards the far shoreline as possible or after the first turn bouy?

 



The first buoy is pretty close to the beach start - you swim out maybe 25-50 yards and make a right turn. Swimming straight towards the buoy is the most direct line but it's gonna be really crowded - If you aim for 25 yards to the left of the buoy, you'll find open water MUCH quicker and the current will carry you back. This will make more sense once you're standing on the beach.

The rest of the swim, you want to be as far to the left on the course as you can without swimming into marshland.


2011-08-21 5:08 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
Just over 100 spots left, There will be more folks racing this year then ever before. I run quite a few North Carolina races and B2B is the Super Bowl of them. Bring your family and friends Wilmington and North Carolina will welcome you. I am getting pumed!
2011-08-21 5:45 PM
in reply to: #3652567

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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread

exnavydoc - 2011-08-21 12:29 PM I agree with alltom - I talked with some locals before the 2009 start and thats exactly the advice I was given. The current can really scream. Staying to the left of the course keeps you in the fastest part of it. I did have a little trouble negotiating the left turn but the current basically pushed me to the swim finish. The tides are pretty impressive in the Wilmington area - you can watch the river change directions near downtown when the tide changes.

 

is the left turn, you had trouble with,  at the end of the swim??



Edited by gabrelsj 2011-08-21 5:46 PM
2011-08-22 12:33 PM
in reply to: #3260445

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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
There's only two buoys/markers to worry about on the entire course, that's it.  The first is an orange buoy and is right when you start keep that on your right.  I think an earlier poster was saying stay left to avoid the masses and the current will carry you right down the channel.

The only left turn on the course is around the boat with the squiggly guy, something you would see at a used car lot, etc.  It's on top of a boat, turn left head to marina.

If you go to far to the left side when you initially start down the long straight away, getting around the boat may take more work.  I just went down the middle or just a bit left of the middle and had no issues and hit the ladders at the marina in 49 minutes without pushing it, so I 'd say the current was okay.

Once around the boat just head towards the marina.  It is a real simple swim and I saw people swimming around a buoy way off to the right near the turn which had to add some serious time. Don't make it complicated.  They will cover this in the pre race meeting and the boat should be in place when you take the shuttle to the start area, though the squiggly guy wasn't up when we went by, it was easy enough to see during the swim.
2011-08-22 12:51 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
For some reason I had a hard time seeing the squiggly man. Once I had him in sight it was a piece of cake. My usual iron distance swim is 80 - 90 minutes. Did this one in 55. That should give you an idea of the strength of the current.

Only 100 spots left!
2011-08-23 9:25 AM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread

Last year on the IM swim they had course people yelling at swimmers to turn before the boat/squiggly man, not after it. Left me wondering exactly what was supposed to happen.



2011-08-23 8:47 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
TriBee - 2011-08-23 10:25 AM

Last year on the IM swim they had course people yelling at swimmers to turn before the boat/squiggly man, not after it. Left me wondering exactly what was supposed to happen.



Maybe they changed things up then.  Either way this has to be the easiest swim method being a point to point.  I really enjoyed it and you just can't screw it up as there's only a couple of buoys/boats that come into play.

Looking at my results official time was 53 minutes for B2B, and last year in a less trained state I did a 1:10 for 2.4 miles while doing a 5k OWS event.  They had a boat marking the 2.4 mark and made it a point to check my watch.  So most folks should easily gain 15-20 minutes for the full IM swim when the currents are good. 
2011-08-24 7:28 AM
in reply to: #3656317

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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
rottieguy - 2011-08-23 9:47 PM
TriBee - 2011-08-23 10:25 AM

Last year on the IM swim they had course people yelling at swimmers to turn before the boat/squiggly man, not after it. Left me wondering exactly what was supposed to happen.



Maybe they changed things up then.  Either way this has to be the easiest swim method being a point to point.  I really enjoyed it and you just can't screw it up as there's only a couple of buoys/boats that come into play.

Looking at my results official time was 53 minutes for B2B, and last year in a less trained state I did a 1:10 for 2.4 miles while doing a 5k OWS event.  They had a boat marking the 2.4 mark and made it a point to check my watch.  So most folks should easily gain 15-20 minutes for the full IM swim when the currents are good. 

 

I like the sound of that!  I was wondering how serious the current would be and if it's affects were overblown, but if that is true then they are understated! 

 

How is everyone feeling fitness wise?

2011-08-24 8:14 AM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
saubbie23 - 2011-08-24 8:28 AM

rottieguy - 2011-08-23 9:47 PM
TriBee - 2011-08-23 10:25 AM

Last year on the IM swim they had course people yelling at swimmers to turn before the boat/squiggly man, not after it. Left me wondering exactly what was supposed to happen.



Maybe they changed things up then.  Either way this has to be the easiest swim method being a point to point.  I really enjoyed it and you just can't screw it up as there's only a couple of buoys/boats that come into play.

Looking at my results official time was 53 minutes for B2B, and last year in a less trained state I did a 1:10 for 2.4 miles while doing a 5k OWS event.  They had a boat marking the 2.4 mark and made it a point to check my watch.  So most folks should easily gain 15-20 minutes for the full IM swim when the currents are good. 

 

I like the sound of that!  I was wondering how serious the current would be and if it's affects were overblown, but if that is true then they are understated! 

 

How is everyone feeling fitness wise?



Please to trust me...what you hear about the currents isn't overstated. You'll be swimming along, sighting on a buoy way off in the distance and next thing you know, you're flying past. It's like being on your bike with a huge tailwind.

Fitness:

Bike/Swim = ok, I guess
Run = looking like another IM shuffle at B2B

Hope other folks are feeling more confident in their training!

2011-08-24 9:23 AM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread

 Your best bet for speed is middle of channel during the straight away, people say left but the left actually was in the middle because everyone was on the right angling for the 90 degree turn.Try not to count on the current, last year we swam into a head wind with a nice chop on the water. I realize it was slack tide, but wind is wind, also the left turn was awful swimmers all over the place into a bright sun my navigation sucked. This year I am getting there on Thursday and me and a buddy are going to practice the last 90 degree turn then a couple of smaller angles turns  and navigation to the ladders. another tip the further ladders are less crowded, After a hard swim climbing those slick as snot ladders needs to be negotiated with care saw one guy fall back and crash right down on top another dude.

Just saying the swim might be swift, but remember the saying swim smart, ride hard and run tough.

Now the good news the wet suit stripper I had was fantastic...she had me out of my suit and wet suit tucked under my arm in 20 seconds yelling GO! scared me a bit and I ran fast from her she was awesome!

2011-08-24 9:24 AM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
saubbie23 - 2011-08-24 7:28 AM
rottieguy - 2011-08-23 9:47 PM
TriBee - 2011-08-23 10:25 AM

Last year on the IM swim they had course people yelling at swimmers to turn before the boat/squiggly man, not after it. Left me wondering exactly what was supposed to happen.



Maybe they changed things up then.  Either way this has to be the easiest swim method being a point to point.  I really enjoyed it and you just can't screw it up as there's only a couple of buoys/boats that come into play.

Looking at my results official time was 53 minutes for B2B, and last year in a less trained state I did a 1:10 for 2.4 miles while doing a 5k OWS event.  They had a boat marking the 2.4 mark and made it a point to check my watch.  So most folks should easily gain 15-20 minutes for the full IM swim when the currents are good. 

 

I like the sound of that!  I was wondering how serious the current would be and if it's affects were overblown, but if that is true then they are understated! 

 

How is everyone feeling fitness wise?

i read in a race report about the sun being tough for a swimmer breathing to the right.  i am most comfortable breathing to my right.  for those who have raced B2B, should i learn to breath to left? 

 

 



2011-08-24 11:33 AM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
Was that my race report?  I found it irritating but can easily breath from either side so it was real simple to breath off to the left with the occasional breath to the right to see what was happening on that side of the course.

Practice some ows with dark tinted goggles you'll probably be fine.  But that bright ball was there for the first long stretch which covers a big chunk of the swim and my tinted goggles didn't seem to be dark enough.

On Edit:  This probably won't come into play as it did in 2009 or 2010 since we were back on standard time on Nov 7, 2009 and a week later in 2010 you'll be in Oct during daylight savings time so the sun won't be coming up til after you actually start and wouldn't be high enough until well after your out of the water.  So no need to worry.

Edited by rottieguy 2011-08-24 11:48 AM
2011-08-24 2:15 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread

rottieguy - 2011-08-24 11:33 AM Was that my race report?  I found it irritating but can easily breath from either side so it was real simple to breath off to the left with the occasional breath to the right to see what was happening on that side of the course.

Practice some ows with dark tinted goggles you'll probably be fine.  But that bright ball was there for the first long stretch which covers a big chunk of the swim and my tinted goggles didn't seem to be dark enough.

On Edit:  This probably won't come into play as it did in 2009 or 2010 since we were back on standard time on Nov 7, 2009 and a week later in 2010 you'll be in Oct during daylight savings time so the sun won't be coming up til after you actually start and wouldn't be high enough until well after your out of the water.  So no need to worry.

yeh- it was your report.  i did not think about daylight savings time...hopefully that will help.  i tried breathing to the left yesterday and it did not go real well.  i have time to get better but would rather not.

2011-08-24 6:27 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread

Irene, Irene stay away.

Please head back to sea today.

2011-08-25 2:53 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
FWIW... off-side breathing drills are good for balance, too.  I'm not real comfortable doing left-side breathing, but I usually do some left-side drills in each workout for good measure.  I seem to have moved from a BOP swimmer to MOP this season with an increased focus on drills.  It hasn't yet increased my swim confidence, though, so I'm digging the idea of a tide....
2011-08-25 4:06 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
alltom1 - 2011-08-21 8:27 AM I was mentally replaying last year's swim start in my head and recollected some advice I'd been given about dealing with the scrum after the cannon goes off: If you are at all inclined to stay out of the worst part of the washing machine, swim upstream for 25 yards or so.. The current is going to be strong on race day, and you'll be carried right up to and past the first buoy. It's pretty congested at the start - not the worst I've ever seen(that would be IMAZ) but even a midsized scrum can be a race day bummer.. Once past the 1st buoy, you want to swim a line all the way over to the left - current is allegedly stronger there, but more importantly, you'll be positioned for the left turn towards Seapath marina/condos. That turn comes up more quickly than you expect...


That alltom1 is a smart guy. 

I waited on the beach up current from the first buoy for about 5 seconds after the gun went off.  What is 5 to 100 seconds wait when it will make your 1 hour swim faster?  When I saw a good sized opening I dove in and swam about 15 yards wide of the buoy.  The current was trying to pull me towards the tangled mass that was fighting to get around it.  After that I hung to the left side of center because some fishing guys told me that's where the current was stronger.  I don't know if that was true or not, but there were very few swimmers over there with me and I had a really easy swim. 

btw,  I got out in 55 minutes at B2B and 1:25 at IM Lou last year. 


2011-08-29 9:12 AM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
Anyone hear how the Wilmington area survived Irene?
2011-08-29 9:27 AM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread

Oldteen - 2011-08-29 10:12 AM Anyone hear how the Wilmington area survived Irene?

No damage to speak of in the Wilmington and Wrighsville Beach areas.

http://www.wral.com/weather/hurricanes/page/1399368/?id_county=1450

2011-08-30 9:37 AM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
So I am late to the party on booking a room, it seems that the Hilton is fully booked.  Any other rec's on hotels in the area?  I was looking at the Hampton Inn, is it easy to get around town?  Thanks
2011-08-30 5:47 PM
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Subject: RE: Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread
I stay at the hampton inn at wrightsville beach about a mile maybe to T1, I did the half last year and was gonna let my wife sleep in and walk I got on the main HWY and someone picked me up right away. Yea real easy to get around town the hardest thing is the battleship area no cars allowed so it's water taxi or shuttle which can be a little crowded on race day.
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