Beach2Battleship Iron Distance Triathlon : Official Thread (Page 7)

I second the VRBO.com suggestion. I did that in 2010 and got an awesome little condo on Front St. on the run course.

Another option is to look at the independent hotels downtown. Check out The Wilmingtonian and Hotel Tarrymore. Both are less than 1/2mi from the Hilton. Another hotel that is often forgotten i sthe Best Western at the Convention center.

There a parking decks downtown and in the past they have let people park for free during the day on Saturday and only started charging at 6 or 7pm on the night of the race, so with you doing the half that should work.

I heard that Armstrong was considering B2B this year since he can't race in Hawaii anymore.  Any truth to this LOL.  Sorry, couldn't resist with the meltdown over on Slowtwitch these days.

Fixed that for you

Just signed on for the HIM...looking for accommodations.  Looks like the Port City Guest House for now and it seems like the last place with rooms close in.  Few feelers out on condo rentals.   I may be looking to split with some one or two. thoughts?

The Best Western at the Conference Center ie T2 has rooms. There are also loads of B&B's that are closer to the morning shuttle/Finish than Port City Guest House. The Wilmingtonian, and Hotel Tarrymore have rooms as well I believe.

I've probably taken this to a new level.  I've swam about 5 times this year.  Yea, it's that bad.  I know I need to do more, but it will probably never be my focus over the next 16 weeks.  I'm hoping a reality check will come in at my next Oly.

Was planning on doing the HIM, but I'm so far ahead on my training, I am seriously considering doing the full. 

Current weekly: S - 2 x 1800 

                        B - 3hrs in the mountains & 2 x 75min flat intervals

                        R - 1 x 12, 2 x 6, 2 x 3  (miles)

I'm about 3 weeks away from being ready for the half.   Talk me into the full!!!

Aww, I'm so sorry!  At least you get to do the half.  Think of it as good course recon for next year.   Hope it heals quickly.

Many thanks on the well-wishes.  At least something has gotten me back in the pool!

So for any of you ocean pros out there, is this basically good news below for the tide/swim situation????  Can this change, or are these predictions pretty spot on 15 weeks out?  I'm assuming that we'll be 2 hours in to the tide coming in when the race starts which is still pretty beneficial?

2012-10-20  5:22 AM EDT  -0.64 feet  Low Tide
2012-10-20  7:21 AM EDT   Sunrise
2012-10-20 12:04 PM EDT   4.52 feet  High Tide

http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/7074.html?y=2012&m=10&d=20

I believe you go by Masonboro Inlet tide chart, but i could be wrong.

It shows low tide at 6:22 at .20ft whatever that means.

1.  Yes, the tide forecast data is very accurate, very far in advance.  (duh, it's 99% the rotation of the earth and moon, it can be predicted "like clockwork" for centuries in advance)  But only if you have the tide forecast for the correct location.

2. Stop talking about "will the tide be coming in?".  The organizers have been doing triathlons in this same water for almost as many years as there has been triathlon ("Ironman" started 1978, Wilmington started 1979).  They know people like the "fast swim".  They know their tides.  They plan the event for a weekend when the low tide is just before sunrise... so the tide is coming in as the triathletes are swimming, with the incoming tide.  

The only issue might be if there is a cold wind blowing the opposite direction and it kicks up the "chop" (short, steep waves), but that is rare and can not be accurately predicted more than a few of days in advance.  Well, that and the sharks, but that's rare too.

Ok, move along people, there's nothing to see here ; )

Correct, the Masonboro Intel is just south of the start and that is the chart you need to read.  The flood will come in thru Masonboro.  The .20ft means that the low tide is .20ft above the mean low tide.

The tidal range is only about 4' which is not that much.  Slack tide is at 6:22.  By 7:30 the tide should be starting to run farly hard (between 6:22 and 7:22, the flow will be "picking up steam").  By around 8:00 it will be close to it's highest flow rate.

link - http://tides.mobilegeographics.com/locations/3631.html?y=2012&m=10&d=20

Except that they got it wrong in 2010. The tide that year was slack at best, with a strong wind in the opposite direction...not exactly roaring. In 2011 it was an amazing current, according to reports. Looks like they picked a good weekend this year though.

Don't use Wrightsville Beach chart.  Use the Masonboro Inlet chart.

Good point alltom- maybe it was just the dates not lining up. They still said "blazingly fast swim" on the website  When I looked at 2010's times versus 2011's times, I looked at my placement and time and what my placement in 2011 would have gotten me:

In 2010 for the full, I was 45th on the swim in 1:08:xx.

In 2011 for the full, the person who came 45th in the swim finished in 43:xx.

It is a big race so this is not likely to be due to super fast people showing up in 2011. I had anticipated finishing the swim in 50ish given friends who had done it before . I was quite surprised when I wasn't even at the twisty man in 50 mins! It just goes to show you have to prepare for the full distance and be prepared for just about anything.

While we're on the topic of swims, let's talk about wetsuits.

Sleeveless? or sleeved?