Ironman Texas (Page 69)

Yes and Yes - mainly the welcome dinner.

They've updated the schedule for Saturday (schedule only - not the one in the Athlete Guide)

#1422 here - last big weekend looming ahead. Doing a 95/5 "race rehearsal" brick on Friday and going to Lake Woodlands on Saturday to swim the big 2.4. 

For those who will be in or near the Woodlands on Saturday there is an opportunity for a legal swim in the lake. Costs $35 but they will have both long-course and short-course buoys set up.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lonestar-Multisport/144225416363

That relieves some stress

"...must be placed inside athlete's BIKE-TO-RUN transition bag..."

That IS the bag you'll use in T2.

The published athlete guide clearly reads: "Helmets and cycling shoes MUST go into the athlete’s bike gear bag."

#1717.

I'm not surprised at all by the typos in the athlete's guide.  I've noticed in the past that WTC is terrible about simply copy/pasting from previous guides at other locations and they invariably forget to change things.

How come the letter from the RD in the beginning of the Athlete's guide is not signed by Keith Jordan?  Is he no longer the "official" RD?  Is this part of WTC's scheme for world domination?  

#855 Here!!!!

I got mine out of the way about a month ago when I had a dream I went from swim to run in T1.  I was about a mile into the run when I realized everyone else was riding past me on a bike.  I was so mad at the 20 minutes lost running.  That would make for one monster T1 time.  Haha.  I think this was a result of me second guessing the decision not to do Kemah or Galveston.  I must have thought that not doing a tri in 6 months would make me forget the order of events.  Geez. 

@ evillarroel....  You were right.  I changed my mind in regards to the wind from Hate it, to a love/hate relationship.  I have been riding againt the wind for weeks now, as everyone else here in Texas I am sure. 

Today the wind was calm, and what a difference from yesterdays ride.  Same route, same distance, same bike set-up.  With yesterdays gusting winds 18.35 mph average.  Today 23.15 mph average with hardly any wind at all.  Three flag poles that I pass on my route were hanging for a change vs fully extending.  It felt EFFORT LESS!!!   

Hope the winds are like this come May 21st, I think we will all benefit tremendously.

Still nursing a foot injury, guess I'm in my run taper....

Rode the course today (less the Woodlands parkway) - 94 miles on the odemeter.  Winds were from the SSE and seemed to be  head on all way from the left turn off 149 all the way to dobbins, it was a grind and felt so good the first 45 miles - good news is it can't be much worse on race day! (famous last words)

Bottle handups every 10 miles on the bike for IMTX.  Anyone have any experience with this?  Does it get crowded and do you have to slow way down, or even maybe jump off your bike if needed?

Just trying to work out hydration strategy, less bottles, more bottles.  I would just hate to miss a handup and then be out of fluid for the next ten miles.  I have seen some handups before in HIMS but never dipped in, I had enough to cover the distance on my own.  But a Full IM is a different story.

TJ - any news on the water temp for tomorrow's swim?  Not that I am bringing my wetsuit...

no, but I will have a thermometer. I bet the cool temps the last 2 days kept the temp from getting out of control though