IMCDA Are you ready? (Page 7)

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I think you will find your handbook on the 81st day (6/26/06).  I will give it to you at breakfast!

Stop it now...All this talk of checking out the course is making me jealous.  I thought I was doing well by arriving on Wednesday!  I hope everyone's training is going well, it's been great to have this thread to keep checking in on everyone.  79 days...is that right?  Good stuff!

ivan

I'm pumped up reading some of the IMZONA reports, (stupid internet conection to my PC is wacked right now) using the work computer which is ancient.

Weather has cooled to the Ice Age again.  Trying to recalculate a 2:20 swim, 8 hour bike and a 6 hour Mary.

I'm taking days off from work in the latter part of April to get some day long training events accomplished.

Just looked at IM North America.  We are next.  ( I don't count 70.3 Florida in May)  (not that there is anything wrong with a 70.3) (Never done one myself)

Hey Melissa,

I took a look at your logs, and you've been putting in some very nice workouts.  I am no expert, but I do seek lots of "counsel" around here, and from what I've learned, what you are feeling is pretty natural and part of the Ironman training process.  I, too, have been having the burn-out feeling, and have turned to several of my BT friends for encouragement.  The best advice I've been given is to take a rest day or two, decompress, and then move forward again.  It works!

As silly as it may sound, I think it helped me a lot when I added many of the IMCDA BTers to my friends list, and started looking at logs and inspiring folks.  They will inspire back, trust me!  It has been a great motivator, and there are always folks to offer encouragement on my "not so great" days.

I am adding you to my list now...I'll check in on you from time to time and give you the best butt kicking encouragement  I can!

Keep on trucking, Melissa...it won't be long before we are all on the CDA course together! 

Hey Mel-

Hang tough girl!  Everyone says the training is tougher than the event.  Mix up your routine a little bit.  Your logs look good!  Try a mountain bike ride or trial run, etc.  Just be careful..getting hurt sucks!

Mel, remember how great you felt after Ralph's?  How about that bike split PB by an hour?  Your training is coming along great.  You are going to rock Wildflower and then have an awesome day at CdA.  Take a rest day if needed.  You will perservere!

Hey Everyone-

I met with some of the race people today.  Part of my job as Chairman at the CDA Chamber.  Thought everyone should know there will be a small alteration to the run course as 7th street will be closed while the library starts constuction.  Actually there may be several small "tweaks" to the course as there is a lot of construction going to happen downtown this summer.  Nothing serious and no more hills!

Sounds like my kind of course!    I'm ALL about no hills! 

They put beer in the IVs??  Cool...I didn't know that!

I'm just hoping that it is still Sunday when I finish

No more hills?  How do you run along the lake and not hit some hills?  Do you mean that there are less hills than last year or are you saying they just didn't add any more?

I went back to race reports to review last years event.  Only found two.    Cray and Achen.  Neither do I see on the boards anymore....

Trying to get some more ideas on what the course discription is like.  Especially the bike.

Here are a couple links to maps and course profiles.

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

http://www.ironmancda.com/run.html

The link to compare CDA with other courses should come up at the bottom of these pages too. 

Here is the course (bike)!

Start out going very slight incline up to 8th, the levels out more or less until just past CDA Resort Golf Course, then slight downhill and then pretty flat until first real hill.  This hill is just as you round Bennet Bay to your right (still on CDA lakeshore Drive).  Steep, but short.  Short is less than 1/2 mile.  Crest hill and pretty much downhill til turnaround, but hill coming back is not as steep, but longer.  Right at crest is bike aid station (may move a litttle bit this year).  Steep downhill then back round the lake to town then out HWY 95 to Upriver.  Pretty good hill here, bit long and steep (took me about 10 minutes on Saturday at approx 10MPH.  Steep followed by a steep downhill (hit 37MPH on Sat).  Then just rollers along E. Riverview to the left hand turn at W. Riverview.  I believe W. Riverview is the steepest hill (seems that way to me). Slowed to about 8MPH, but did not get out of the saddle.  Once you reach the top, then serious downhill and a left out Milsap, little hill but more downhill.  Pretty much rollers or flat back into town.

After that you do it again (2 laps).  Look at the course profile.  Hills are there, but they are not long sustained grinds that take 1/2 hour.  You can put your head down, slip into an easy gear and just spin up them!

Always the downhill to follow!!  The aid stations are pretty strategically on the crest or flats so it is a non-issue.

Good places to fuel....

Along the lake (before the first hill), at the turnaround, along the lake, along NW Blvd, along E. Riverview (especially before the turn onto W. Riverview), along Idaho St, along Centennial trial, along Poleline, along Seltice.

How about at 2pm on Friday before we all meet in the Athletes Village and we can drive the course.  I can seat 5 (including me) and Flyboy said he could drive a couple.  I can find more drivers. 

I will get you all a specific meeting spot later.

Hope this helps!

I have a Suburban so I can seat 6, or maybe 7 if we squeeze in close.  A couple other vehicles and we should be set.