Ochsner Ironman New Orleans 70.3 : Official Thread (Page 7)

Not sure, there was a couple of links to swim spots earlier in this thread that I thought I would try if someone else is out there.  Not comfortable swimming by myself (I can do the distance just don't like soloing).

I am going to ask a potentially dumb question but do you mean bike aid stations where they hand you bottles of water or gatorade (in recyclable bottles like the store) or a "I hand you one bike bottle and you hand one back to me"?

For NOLA it is the first one, actually there are three for the bike portion.  Sorry if I misunderstood your question.

GaryRM, there will be many people swimming on Saturday when you rack your bike. At least there were a bunch last year.

Tripping, the bouy's were set up on Saturday.

Latest on the weather:

GMZ530-142300-LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND LAKE MAUREPAS-946 AM CDT THU APR 14 2011REST OF TODAYSOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. WAVES 1 TO 2 FEET.SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.TONIGHTSOUTH WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS. WAVES 1 TO 2 FEET. SLIGHTCHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT.FRIDAYSOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. WAVES 1 TO 2 FEET.CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.FRIDAY NIGHTWEST WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS. WAVES 1 TO 2 FEET.SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE EVENING.SATURDAYNORTHWEST WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS. WAVES 1 TO 2 FEET.SATURDAY NIGHTNORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. WAVES 1 FOOT ORLESS.SUNDAYSOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. WAVES 1 FOOT OR LESS.SUNDAY NIGHTSOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. WAVES 1 FOOT ORLESS.MONDAYSOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. WAVES 1 TO 2 FEET.MONDAY NIGHTSOUTHEAST WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS. WAVES 1 TO 2 FEET.

They told us last year that we actually had to exchange a bottle to get another one. Most people were just tossing the empty bottle at the start of the aid station and then grabbing a new one.

It is standard, but when the chaos begins "most" aid station workers really don't care if you exchange one.  

Hi peeps I got some help from an awesome BT member Jim from Mississippi .

I won't be in NOLA until after 6pm on Saturday but can help out then if others fall thru.

Okay, starting to actually believe the weather forecast.  Could be great weather for  the race!  Water temp from LUMCON Pontchartrain shows 74.5 so it will be close but looking good!

Marvin look forward to meeting yall Sat.  Like I said we should be rolling into the Big Easy around lunch time.

Hit some of the restaurant suggestions yesterday and today and they have been excellent (Cafe Maspero, Pierre Maspero, and Dickie Brennan's so far).  Walking around the French Quarter today was interesting since two movies were being shot.

I'm planning on heading to bike check in about 2:30 and going for a short ride and run then a short swim.  I'll be there with another BTer Ryan (bigr82).  You won't miss us.  He is 6 foot 8 and I'm 5 foot 7.  Come on out for a ride/run/swim with us.

If I don't see you tomorrow, hopefully I'll see you Sunday.  What is everyone's number?

Mike (#1835)

The race will be wetsuit legal with the temps we will have today.  With winds tomorrow morning our of the NE/ENE, the swim will be kind of choppy, but you will have a tail wind coming home on the bike (like last year).  The winds will pick up through the day but the temps should be the lowest this race has had yet.

Good luck you all -  swim like a fish, ride like the wind and run like you stole something.

Looks like the weather will be near perfect.

Come tell me hi! if you see me. I'll be at the 2pm participants meeting. Tomorrow I'll be the guy in the white official's shirt in transition pre-race (4:30 am!), then white helmet and red/black motorcycle jacket on the bike course. If you have to serve time in the last penalty tent before T2, tell mama bear and the boys hello.

Good luck all!!!  Short of a bit of chop I don't think the weather forecast could be better.

One question: What time should I get to transition in order to get a parking spot?  Last year I rode the bus from the Hilton and the traffic around their seemed to be a zoo (I think that was around 6am). 

http://uno2.uno.edu/maps/lakefront/

Check that link.  There is plenty of parking (nobody ever uses) next to building 33 (UNO's Rec Center).  It's also a good spot for spectators as you will pass there twice the first few miles of the bike and they can be much closer to their vehicles.  s you head towards transition on Elysian Fields, just take a left on Alumni Drive, then a right past the Union on Milneburg Road.

And I got there at 5:30 the last 2 years and have had zero problems finding parking.

Perfect, thanks!!

BTW, my race number is 1814 - hope to see all of you there!

Just saw on Twitter that they cancelled the swim due to high waves.  That stinks for you guys doing the race.  I've been there before.

I hope you all have a great race regardless.

Not because of high waves but because of high winds. The chop was a little rough but definitely swimmable. The bigger concern was the effect the high winds would have on the support craft in the water.

Regardless, the first IM69.1 NO is in the books.