Ironman Texas (Page 58)

Forget the wetsuits... There's no way on earth they will be allowed and that's actually great. That water will be pretty warm in seven weeks.

x2. I've done IM-Lou without a wetsuit and Silverman full with a wetsuit. I'm assuming it'll be too warm for the suit so I'll bementally prepared to swim without it. However, if some fluke happens and it's cool enough, I'll definately wear the suit. At the pace I swim, I just don't believe that overheating (at 84-degrees) is any concern for me, and I know the suit will reduce both my swim time and level of effort.

So if the water is like 83.9 (or anywhere between 76 and 84) and you wear a wetsuit I seem to recall that you are put into the "wetsuit" category and not ranked within your age group since you are not eligible for awards.  For example - if you are my age and wear a wetsuit and finish ahead of me you are not ranked against me since you used a wetsuit.  Is that how they still do it?

For myself I will be sweating my butt off on the bike and run and I see no reason to do it on the swim as well - and if I can convince the 400+ in my age group to don a wetsuit in 83.9 degree water for the race I am in for Kona! 

I changed my mind - everyone wear wetsuits! This is the best plan I ever had!

Wind: S at 22 mph
Precip.: 20%
Humidity: 56%

Windy with a mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 60s.

I'm hoping all of my age group thinks the course is easy and goes out and hammers the bike.

I wouldn't consider the course hard, but it's not IM Florida either. I think the folks who do go out hard are going to have a really tough time of it come the run, which, unless we get blessed with a cool front that day, I am afraid is going to be a stagnant, warm and humid exercise.

I am still reminding myself that 2 mph slower on the bike is going lose you about 25 minutes, but I know I'll gain that back threefold (or more) on the run. Hopefully I'll have the discipline to actually do it come race day.

Well, if there's wetsuits, the heat (over an hour or more of swimming) will make you pass out. Maybe even die. I was there last weekend and I wouldn't wear a wetsuit NOW, much less in six weeks. Also, the lack of a wetsuit spreads the gap between swimmers and non, which is rewarding for the ones that don't slack off in the water.

The only reason I am doing a long ride on Sunday is because my wife is doing the blue bell 10K on Saturday in Brenham.  I was also going to run an hour afterwards, and I could do that on the course if necessary.  My neighborhood is the best for running, but that is my opinion. 

  I will be riding on Saturdays here on out, except maybe Good Friday where I may sneak a ride on Friday and Saturday.

Hey Will, are you riding this Sunday again?  I think Erin is going to rock Galveston this weekend.  I was thinking about it, but decided to do another century/run brick like last weekend.  I need more distance on the bike.

Awesome!  I saw that Walmart on the way to the park last weekend.  I'll see you there!  I am sticking to the plan this Saturday and taking it off this time!