Ford Ironman 70.3 California: Official Thread (Page 6)

I'm not sure of the actual grade of these climbs, but you've got a couple hills of pretty good climbing, though they are not excessively long -- maybe a few minutes max for each hill depending on your speed.  If you do lots of climbing in your regular riding, these hills shouldn't pose any trouble to you.  If you only ride on the flats, then I'd suggest getting some climbing in before the race.  From what I could see, most people tended to back off a little on the climbs rather than hammering them, but maybe that's all they could do, don't know.

The only climb that I found really annoying was on the way out beyond the jaunt down the beach area where they apparently established a no-pass zone on a narrower hill.  Man, I could have walked my bike up that hill faster than some people were riding.  I didn't realize this was a no pass zone and was blowing by people when somebody told me I was in a no-pass zone.  They need to figure out a better way of dealing with that section.

I know that I havn't trained on the hills much if any this year, so those hills will probably get me again. Two years ago, I walked all 3 of them. Last year, I think I only walked one of them. So make sure you train on them, they can be a challenge.

I was probably one of those you saw walking up, but I still had fun overall, and a great race to be part off.

Water should be around 58-60'F this year, unless some cold upwelling system shows up out of no where. Two years ago, water was 50'F, and I will remember that year. 2007. Ouch!

Good luck all, and see you all on the course, and at the finish line.

I definitively wearing a full suit. She's probably an open water Masters swimmer. No matter how cold the water is, it is illegal to compete with swim suits (I meant wet suits).

 That is crazy, but I guess some people think we are crazy for doing triathlons.  There are all sorts of levels of crazy, and swimming in San Francisco Bay without a wetsuit officially crosses my line.  Wow, good luck to you if that's your idea of fun!  Anyway, we should be in luck with the water temp, it doesn't look to be down at 50 on race day. 

This is my first time, so I can't comment on the hills.  I drive through that area from time to time, and they don't look easy to me.  If they are too steep I may walk, not like I'm going to qualify for Kona or anything. 

Maybe if they let me compete in the 85+ division, I might have a chance.  But since I'm only 32, I am not booking my flight just yet.

We are really getting down to the wire now, this is my last weekend of hard training.  I am nervous as this is my first HIM distance but I know I have done the work. 

Hope to see all of you there, even though we probably won't recognize each other.  Good luck on the last few weeks of training.

 Good luck to you too bud!! I'll be on a white Kestrel Talon dated about a decade old.

What's everyone else riding? Anyone else doing the Challenged Athletes fund raiser? If not, please don't hesitate to stop by my link and please help me with donations. Seems they are hard to come this year.

See you all there! Anyone knows anything about a lunch on Friday? Any details?

The hills   First is steepest but shortest.  You can see the top from the bottom.  Second is less steep but a little longer than the first.  Third is less steep and a little longer than the second.

Get in the granny and spin up them if you can.  I came out of the saddle a couple times, but don't kill yourself.  you've still got the headwind to deal with in the last 10 miles

Didn't see too many walkers, but did see one guy break his chain near the top

Congrats on that new bike! I'm sure you will PR with that new bike.

I'm hopping to be there, but all I've got so far is less than $300.00 for CAF. All the people who donated last year couldn't give this year. It really sucks. So may have to see you at the race and/or around. So far, looking really bad for CAF luncheon for me.

Good luck, and have fun!

This is my first half IM and really looking forward to it.  Actually I have a lot of anxiety but I'm in the "just bring it" mode.  I'm riding an older Red Kestrel Airfoil.  I broke the rear derailer cable stop so it's being held on by a couple zip ties.  Say hi if you see someone with a similar bike on the side of the road messing with new zip ties. 

18 days to go gentlemen....I'm stoked!

 I rode the ~5000 vertical ft of Palomar last Saturday and was quite pleased with my completion time/effort, so I'm mentally prepared for the climbs at Pendleton after ascending that beast.  Driving back from Palomar past Pendleton those hills suddenly looked far less formidable than they had just 3.5 hours earlier on my way out to Palomar.

I've been doing OWS all winter at Hermosa Beach (~70 miles North of Oceanside) and the temps have been very comfortable with a full suit on.  Last Sunday the water was almost 60F and quite comfortable after about two minutes, including my bald skull with only a TYR thermal cap on it.

 I'll be on an '08 P3C w/ 808s and a rear cover.  See y'all at the line (start and finish).  Good luck!

 -John

That's the bike I want, but I will be using a rented Cannondale Slice.  I just got done getting fitted for the P3 but it won't arrive until after the event.  I have done all my training on my road bike so hopefully I won't crash and burn on the tri bike.

That's the way to train ... well done. I'm looking forward to one more "long" ride with some good climbing this weekend. Only 18 more days ... wow ... time is ticking by.

I wouldn't sweat the bike too bad - its been said a thousand times - "it ain't the bike, its the engine".  Its true.  Don't get me wrong, the "bling" factor of piloting a late model aero-carbon frame w/ deep aero wheels is great personal motivation, but if you've got the base, you'll pull a good split no matter what you ride, so long as the basic geometry is right.  If you've been riding roadie geometry with road bar + clip ons and the Slice will be outfitted w/ aerobars I'd be a little more leery - you might end up with a lot of shoulder/neck strain (and possibly some hip discomfort from the change in hip angle) unless you've been riding steep and aero all along.  Something to consider at least.  Hopefully you're getting the rental far enough in advance that you can at least do a little test ride and make final adjustments to the fit before the race. 

Ride it like you stole it....and good luck!

-John

http://www.ironmancalifornia.com/bike.html

 No switchbacks - just straight climbs. 

Road surface varies from very rough, to excellent. 

-John

There's one good descent on the backside of a climb where speed is restricted to 25mph for safety, and there will be a radar setup with speed displayed to keep you honest.

I'm now questionable for this race.  Training was going very well and everything looked good, then I got the lousy virus that my wife and kids have all been battling for 2+ weeks.  I'm five days into this thing, and I'm getting worse, not better.  So my last training is hampered, and I'm really run down.  No point in doing this race if I'm not going to be firing on all cylinders.  If I get better in the next couple of days, maybe I can still salvage it.

On point one, I think that descent is also a no pass zone IIRC.  With people on the course watching, so just be careful.  I *think* it's after the 2d or 3d hill, definitely not the first....  I don't think......

On point two, bummer about your sickness, but this from someone who did it last year, what 3 weeks post shoulder surgery or something???     Feel better, hope you get to race it.  Just getting off a sickness myself

1.Do you need to bring timing chip strap?

2.How crowded do bike course porta potties get , just in case?

No, they supply it

Not very, as I recall, but I wasn't stopping to use them.  THere are also a number of public toilets on the front side of the course as you ride thru the campground

Oh my Lord!! Can't believe that the race is next weekend!!

I know I'm nervous as heck, and just will do as best as I can. I gues I will be racing in my age group this year due to lack of people donating for the CAF fundraiser I've been doing. Hard year to have people donating.

So on the good side, I still have not seen a BT get together on Friday for lunch. Anyone with suggestions?

I'm open for getting together on Friday.