Ironman Florida : Official Thread (Page 65)

Per coach, my taper begins the weekend of the 23rd, but I think that will still be a long-ish ride.  Not 5-6 hours, but "just" 3-4 hours.  Funny how 3-4 hours isn't that long anymore.  It's all so relative.

Happy to report that I got in a 112 mile bike ride this past weekend.  It was 100% solo, in fact, I only saw 3-4 other riders the entire day.  It was a pretty lonely day.  Windy one too.  I know if I can do the 112 in pretty decent shape here by myself with no support, I can surely do the 112 in Florida.  It was quite the confidence booster.

This weekend is 4 hours and then 2:45 run.  Next weekend is 100 miles and 3 hour run (not on the same day, just the weekend).  Both this weekend and next will have a long swim in there too.

Like mimir98 said, I have moments where I say let's get this show on the road, but then other moments where I don't feel ready at all.  And, like others, I'm worried about my run fitness, but it is what it is pretty much at this point.  The long runs over the next two weekends will be good for me.

Interesting about the bike course change.  My coach said something to me about hearing rumors of this the other day, and sure enough....

Typically which direction do the winds come out of in this area?  Do they come out of the south, off the ocean?  Or, does it really just vary?  I'm just more curious about it than anything else.

Checked out the course changes in earnest last night. HUGE changes. Based on having doen teh course 3 times take it FWIW.  I am slow but I'm smart so there it is.  I qualify this as a lot of people dismiss what i have to say because I can't KQ.

The good
1-eliminates camp flowers road which you could loose a tooth on.
2-Takes us off a very busy highway ( 231 I think.  I suspect this may be the root of the course change)
3-Will most likely be more favorable wind

The Bad
1-Route 20 has the majority of the hills on the course and we will ride them twice now (I feel my dream of a sub 6 hour bike slipping away)
2-they took us back down a newly paved smooth as glass road which was heavenaly and that is off the course now

RE: wind patterns all three years I did the course I expereinced
1-GOing out front beach road (And coming back)  be careful.  THe wind whips off the beach and can take you bike out from under you esp if you are riding a disc.  You can catch a tailwind or head wind but the wind changes suddenly and also as tehre are lots of condos along the beach they act like wind tunnels either between or under teh bulidings.
2-Bascially head wind the first 50 miles.  the tail wind down 231 (Which has been eliminated) a littll more head wind here and there.
3-Looks like with the course change that there will be turns to keep us out of consistent sustained headwinds.
4-Anything is possible.

FYI looks like they are maintain the run course as it was last year with a loop thru the state park rather than an out and back.  It was PTICH BLACK back there for those of you who will be joining me in the BOP after dark.  I HIGHLY suggest getting a light for your hat or SOMETHING because being back there with nothing but a glow stick for light was not good. 

Thanks for the advice/feedback on the course changes.  Short of driving the course upon arrival all I have is the race reports from past years.  I have read all of yours Sue.  Now that the course has changed, those of you familar with the area is all I have (and I assume I am not alone in this situation) are the input from those of you familiar with not only the old course, but the new course as well.

Looks like the winds are going to kick up here this weekend, so maybe I will throw the race wheels on and get some saddle time dealing with that.