Ironman Kansas 70.3 : Official Thread (Page 7)

You were right about the park staff being super helpful and polite.  They told me the site had shade, was on the run course, and was near the finish line.  (waiting for the confirmation e-mail with site picture)  Aught to be a good time.  My wife was glad to hear it was close to the action.

I'm on the fence about whether or not to camp.  Bike check in is the day before, correct?  I don't mind driving from OP to Lawrence and back the day before.  I figure I'm going to race 70.3 miles so walking a few miles the morning of isn't a big deal (like I'm going to get any sleep anyhow).  Other than having a cool spot for family/cheering section what other perks am I missing about the campsite thing?

Race morning logistics is a biggie for me. Since I'm like you and don't get much sleep the night before races anyway, I figured tent camping won't make much of a difference. It hasn't in the past - I still get the same amount of non-sleep.

I really liked being able to wake up on race morning and literally already being RIGHT THERE at transition. No loading up the car, driving, parking, taking the shuttle, worrying about traffic and traffic bottlenecks, etc. Just less stress.

Not necessarily for your case, but the cost is also significantly cheaper than a hotel.

Plus it's fun to camp with friends/BTers! Last year there were a few different groups of BTers who either did a practice swim together, or drove the race course for the first timers. Always fun to have a built-in group of friends to do that stuff with.

looking to sign up tomorrow, have to see if I can get the camper (and if there are any spots left). or see if I can get a hotel room otherwise. I have read that it was quite hot last year durring the day, how about evening temps for the nights? also i'm signing my son up to do the IronKids, anyone know if that's held in Lawrence itself (pool swim i assume).  he's pretty stoked that he's doing an "IronRace" with his dad.. (and so is his dad!).

Thanks in advance.

Congrats on getting your son involved. That is cool indeed. I see on the IronKids website that it is on the 11th, so we HIM'ers can go support the kiddos. I was out hobbling along on my run wearing one of my Cardiac Ironman jerseys and a little guy I passed near the park screamed about being an IronKid, so maybe I will see him up there as well.

Guess I had better check into the campsite availability myself... sounds like THAT is where all the fun is going to happen.

Yeah, my 12 week program from this site started Sunday....arghhhh!  Why did I slack off during the Winter?  Ha.  Oh well, it's ,e paying for it now.  Next Winter I'm gonna have to follow a Maint. Program just to keep me on track.  Nothing like a daily reminder telling me what I need to be doing for that day.

This will be year 2 for me @ Kansas.  Just registered and got the same campsite as last year right by the swim start and T1.  Sweet!  Guess I better re-learn how to swim.  Haven't seen water since Branson!  Hope everyone's training is going well.

I didn't read through this whole thing so this may have been discussed, but has a date been set for the training ride they do on-course every year?

Nothing has been said. In the past, from what I could gather, the training event wasn't so much put on officially by the KS 70.3 race, but instead by those associated with it. It's had connections to the Kansas half-marathon race and has been held on that same weekend. I may be wrong, but I believe some area triathlon coaches, or a coaching service help put it on.

If nothing gets organized I'd be up for a group ride out on the course sometime in April. Any interest?

The Kansas Triathlon Club is putting on a IMKS training camp Memorial Day Weekend. I am not clear if they are the same group or associated with the group that usually puts on the training weekend (which has been on Memorial Day Weekend in the past), but it looks awesome... details on their Facebook event page here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=130871516983098 

Debbie I have a Blackburn trainer - nothing fancy but I will say that compared to the nicer brands like CycleOps, mine is kind of a pain to get on and off, and it's difficult to make it "sit" right. If I were to go back and do it again, I'd spend the extra $50 or $75 or whatever on the nicer one, especially since a purchase like this is a one-time purchase and not something that will wear out over time.

In the winter I'd been going back and forth between trainer and spin classes but now I'm trying to stick to the trainer to get my butt used to the saddle.

This time of year it's especially nice to have a trainer since the weather is so unpredictable. I might be a wimp, but for example yesterday it was a nice 60-degrees and sunny, but the winds were sustained at 31mph and gusting to 40mph. As much as it pained me to look out the window at the sunny skies, I sat on the trainer as I thought it was safer.

I'd check the sales, this actually might be a great time to pick one up as everyone is starting to ride outdoors more.
 

I bought the Giant Cyclotron Auto trainer for about $250. It's a great trainer, easy to put the bike in and take out.  It took some tinkering the first time, but it's a breeze now.  The only complaint I have is that it can be noisy depending on the speed.  I also bought the block for the front wheel so the bike is not angled downward and I bought a rubberized mat to go underneath the length of the bike to keep the floor clear from sweat.  I set up a Vornado fan on the floor and I'm good to go for 2 hr rides while watching NCAA Tourny.  TV volume has to go up to about 40 to hear the commentary over the fan and trainer racket, but it beats riding against the 40mph Kansas wind, which is louder than the TV/fan volume.

http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/EN-PA/partsaccessories/familycycling/295/26085/

I haven't made it to the lake yet.  Still too cold here in Southern Illinois and snow predicted off and on for the next week.

I am hoping to get in the water mid-April.