Ironman Arizona : Official Thread (Page 52)

coming from a really bad swimmer, it's easy to keep your bearings because you simply swim parallel to the walls out and back, parallel to bridge for the turn

I am not sure there really is an "address" for Tempe Beach Park.  However, if you Google Map Tempe Beach Park, Tempe, AZ, it should pinpoint you right at IM Village, right by the swim start.

This I like to hear!  Navigation is always an issue for me.  Good to know that if I get too off course, I'll bump into a wall!

I always find swimming in TTL very easy. It's like a big, dirty swimming pool. The water is smooth and the walls make sighting very easy. If you are getting too close or far from the wall, you are off course.

Before the race, try to walk up to the turn-around point and find a landmark of some sort. That way you know when you're getting close to the turns. On the way back, you go under a bridge or two, which makes sighting easy.

The biggest problem is that the lake is REALLY dirty. As in 'can't see your hand at the end of your arm' dirty. I'm not exaggerating. You can be right on someone trying to draft, and only see occasional bubbles from them kicking. If you can do the Splash-and-Dash or practice swim, it's a good idea if only to learn how bad the visibility is.

I'm slowly getting items knocked off the shopping list.  Just picked up a race belt and some body glide.  

I am sure this is an obvious question, but with the amount of racers I have to ask.  I am flying with my bike so no CO2 cartridges on the plane.  Will it be easy to find places (within walking distance) of the race to pickup CO2?

I'm slowly getting items knocked off the shopping list.  Just picked up a race belt and some body glide.  

I am sure this is an obvious question, but with the amount of racers I have to ask.  I am flying with my bike so no CO2 cartridges on the plane.  Will it be easy to find places (within walking distance) of the race to pickup CO2?

GI Joe!!

Way too deep to stand, although if you go along the wall (Where a lot of people start) there is a "bench" where I've heard people stand if they need a break...I wouldn't even want to know what's at the bottom of TTL. I'm sure there are a few lake zombies down there as well.

I'm slowly getting items knocked off the shopping list.  Just picked up a race belt and some body glide.  

I am sure this is an obvious question, but with the amount of racers I have to ask.  I am flying with my bike so no CO2 cartridges on the plane.  Will it be easy to find places (within walking distance) of the race to pickup CO2?

You CANNOT swim in TTL on Thursday or Friday.  It is CLOSED to swimming except for special events.  The practice swim on Saturday is the ONLY pre-race opportunity to get in the water and swim.

The sun will be in your eyes early in the race, as we swim to the east at sunrise.  However, as Tim and Jasen mentioned, with the lake walls it is relatively easy to keep yourself centered in the swim alley.  That and the fact that it is not that wide to begin with, you will be among so many other people you really cannot get too far off course.

The swim turns about 300m beyond the Rural/Scottsdale Rd bridge, so at worst you can use that as your warning that you soon will be at the turn buoy.  As Tim mentioned, on the way back you go under the Mill Ave bridges and they are about 150m from the final turn buoy to head to the swim exit.  As you will be going away from the sun at this point, you should have no problem sighting.

The lake is murky as anything I have ever swam in.  But it is deep enough throughout that you cannot stand up if you get tired.  Of course, with a wetsuit on you really do not need to stand up anyway, just float on your back.  There is a ledge along the side by the wall that some people stop and sit on.

Tri-Sports opened up next to Monti's (steakhouse across the street from IM Village) on Mill Ave.  I like them, but that place is going to be NUTS next week.  If you are going to the Slowtwitch/Zoot event on Friday at Tribe Multisport, pick up your items there.  They should have everything you need, and if you get there a little early, you can beat the crowd and not have to wait in a LONG line.

Trisports has a retail location on S. Mill.  They say very close to the Expo area.

Yes, you could throw a football from the expo and hit the Trisports...Very close.

Yes, you could throw a football from the expo and hit the Trisports...Very close.