Ironman 70.3 New Orleans : Official Thread (Page 5)

What is the link to where people can plug in our race number to track us during the race?

I'm trying to hold off on looking at weather so I don't get obsessed...

I think you mean this: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/coverage/athlete-tracker.aspx

I think if you go there on race day, you'll see a link for New Orleans. Or just google "Ironman New Orleans athlete tracker" on race day. If my wife can find it, anybody can find it.

Got a question about the swim...May be a small issue, but how is the start? Jump off a pier? How far a drop to the water?

Heard sighting is an issue do to the number of confusing buoys and such. I may expect that with 8 at a time and not such a time trial start, we'll have more of a pack to follow than in the past.

Any sighting tips? Hear you swim into the sun on the 1st and 3rd leg. Anything in the distance to spot on any of the legs? Do they in fact have red/orange buoys for guidance and yellow for turns...and how many did they put out...1 per 100, or just one per leg?

Check my math...If race starts at 7:15-ish for age groups, 8 in the water every 10 seconds, therefore approx. 50-60 per minute (less than the perfect math 64)....approx. 1800 athletes.....so everyone (including my wife who is in the last wave) should be in the water in 30-35 minutes after age group start...

Jump from a pier which is about 3.5' from the water.


Heard sighting is an issue do to the number of confusing buoys and such. I may expect that with 8 at a time and not such a time trial start, we'll have more of a pack to follow than in the past.

Weather has been bouncing around a bit but currently showing SE winds about 20. I know it'll change 5 times to race day but it's better than the 80% chance of thunder storms they were showing. Is SE the prevailing? Looks like it would be a quartering headwind out and tailwind back, reversed for the little out and back spur. If it's windy I think being a bit further back is good to get some slingshot passes in. Or maybe I am just justifying my third to last wave start.

As a follow up and piggy back question.....is the S or SE wind (IE blowing S or SE) the direction that provides the headwind on the out leg and a tailwind on the way back?

Figure that is the most desirable option?

Also back on the swim.....is there a current? and if so, is it a consistent direction, or is it completely dependent on the wind direction?

A wind from the east will make the bike easier giving (at least partial) a tailwind for most of the way home. Here is a map from basically the turnaround back to transition. For the most part, it's east all the way back in.







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As far as the run, a northeast wind would provide the best possible scenario, but in my opinion, a southwest wind won't be bad either. It will give us a headwind once we get off the lake, but should also be at out back for the first (and hardest) 6 miles of the run.







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In regards to the swim...no, there won't be a current, but there will be a chop. The swim is held in a protected marina, which will make the winds a non-factor but as waves hit the marina walls and bounce back form 2,000 people swimming, it will cause a chop (check pictures above).

The current forecast is pretty similar to what we had in year 1, which would be great swimming conditions in the lake.


I don't know if you saw the videos I posted on the last page, but the main thing to look at in concerns to wind is whether it not it will come from the east or west. A wind coming out of the west would make for a MUCH harder race.

We will have rain the early part of this week, then around midweek, the winds will shift and we will get winds from the south. What I suggest paying to might not just be conditions predicted on race day, but a couple days before and after. We know sometime later this week we will get winds from the southeast (good), but we also know sometime early next week (molnday) the winds are projected to switch and start coming out of the north bringing more rain, colder air and temps in the morning in the upper 40s.

If you pray, just pray that front currently projected to hit on Monday doesn't gain any "speed".

As far as temps...with a high projected right around 80, when you are in the first 6 miles of the run there is ZERO shade, so rest assured 80 will feel alot hotter in the sun. AND, if there is a south wind, you won't really feel it on the lakefront. (which is a reason I think a northeast wind id ideal). So be prepared for hot conditions. Bring salt tablets if you take some. They will have ice on the course so if trying to decide between a hat and visor, consider the sun and heat a factor.

Edited by LSUfan4444 2014-04-07 8:00 AM

OK...here is my last post (hopefully) on wind....and it may be due to my confusion on how the weather.com is listing conditions. Right now on race day it lists 16 MPH SSE...

So is that stating the wind is blowing in a SSE direction, or coming out of the SSE? I generally think myself reasonable smart, but for the life of me cant figure this out.

SSE wind means it is coming FROM the SSE. It is a bit counter intuitive, but that's how it is.

you guys are stressing me out with all this wind talk.

Not too concerned about the wind. This year has been one of the windiest in Oklahoma. I rarely got a training day in with under 30+mph winds. It's been miserable.

ha,yea,, the wind thing,, it will be what it will be,, stay aero and maintain effort,,and if it is like it was last year,,you will be a rocket with the tail wind on the way back,,,I went from an ave of 16 on the way out to holding a lot of 25+mph on the way back finishing with an average of over 18.

Edited by kandk 2014-04-07 11:42 AM

I've always followed bryan dunn's motto, the wind is the other guy's problem.  It's gonna be windy.  Use your position and slingshot drafting to your advantage

I'm more concerned with the oven that's gonna be the first 5 miles of the run.  I'll be carrying a hand bottle and putting ice in there at the early aid statons. 

Edited by ChrisM 2014-04-07 11:47 AM

I agree heat is always the enemy for me. I'd rather freeze.

The high right now is 77 for Sunday. in what world is that an oven? Are you guys from the north (not trying to be rude, serious question). I feel like even coming off of winter 77 is far from hot.

For what its worth I like in Atlanta...

I live in so cal and am 190#,  I come home from a 10 miler drenched in sweat in 65 degree weather.  In my neighborhood, about a mile from the pacific, 85 is a heat wave.    77 with a tailwind on a cement surface is going to feel hot for me.   oh yeah, add 85% humidity.... it's 25% where I live

That said, 63 degree water feels warm to me.

vive la difference

 

Edited by ChrisM 2014-04-07 2:16 PM

we just jumped in and swam last year on friday. signs up said no swimming but nobody hassled us as we just got in and swam to the outside perimeter and back. 10 mins or so.

what a rebel.