Ironman Florida 2014 : Official Thread (Page 7)

Originally posted by dge12



Hi Alicia !

My official training program just started last week (30 weeks). I am following the same plan that i followed last year for IMMT.

I am "very slowly" recovering from sciatica and ITBS injuries. Not 100% at all. But, i'm doing better now than a few weeks ago. I had a marathon scheduled for May but i cancelled those plans, because of injuries.

Over here, the snow is still covering most of the ground and spring has been very cold. Not easy at all.

"Enjoy" the swim Saturday !
Cheers

David

Originally posted by midwesttrimom Good luck at your 5K SWIM EVENT! That scares me right now. Swam 2800 today and ran this AM. Adding mileage for a half marathon on June 1 and doing a HIM on July 27. Started my training for that and my IMFL training will start the second week in June. However, I feel WAY AHEAD of the game. Is that bad? I am already doing what most plans call for during the 8-10 week mark. Thoughts on this? I am afraid I may get hurt or burned out but I like to do some early summer races, too. Hoping to toss in an Olympic or two and maybe one sprint. Also, need some info about the IMFL swim. Gosh, I know we've gone over this but I have nightmares about getting sea sick, sucking in saltwater, being pulled by the current, etc. Need reassurance if you have any. I am not a bad swimmer, but I swim in lakes in Iowa!!! They are calm. Lake Michigan about killed me off during my 70.3 last year. Seriously! I wanted to be pulled out of the water. It was so rough out there. Huge waves up and over my head and it wasn't saltwater. I wish I was a swimmer...a biker...and a runner.

Originally posted by Socks

Ocean........I pretty much grew up on the beaches of Cape Cod and was an ocean life guard.  Really the BEST advice I can give you is to take a beach vacation if you are able to do so  and spend as much time as you can in the water.  Get comfortable with the ocean and in the ocean.  Go somewhere with a little surf and play in the waves.  Get a boogie board and play on that.    Forget about the critters they won't bother you. Yep you are going to get salt water in your mouth but you most likely won't get enough to make you sick.  The current there really is not to bad and I have probably swum the course 15 times?  I dont' really understand how people get seasick swimming to be honest.  If you believe it will happen then most likely it will.  Learn to pick a point on the horizon to spot off of.  If you are spotting an object/building that is not moving that will help.  If you can't get to the beach before the race be sure to swim every day you are there.  I've taught MANY BTers how to body surf and get out past the waves too.  My #1 best piece of swim advice for IMFL is to get mirrored or tinted goggles.  Across the top you will be swimming directly into the sun and its blinding.

Originally posted by Socks

Ocean........I pretty much grew up on the beaches of Cape Cod and was an ocean life guard.  Really the BEST advice I can give you is to take a beach vacation if you are able to do so  and spend as much time as you can in the water.  Get comfortable with the ocean and in the ocean.  Go somewhere with a little surf and play in the waves.  Get a boogie board and play on that.    Forget about the critters they won't bother you. Yep you are going to get salt water in your mouth but you most likely won't get enough to make you sick.  The current there really is not to bad and I have probably swum the course 15 times?  I dont' really understand how people get seasick swimming to be honest.  If you believe it will happen then most likely it will.  Learn to pick a point on the horizon to spot off of.  If you are spotting an object/building that is not moving that will help.  If you can't get to the beach before the race be sure to swim every day you are there.  I've taught MANY BTers how to body surf and get out past the waves too.  My #1 best piece of swim advice for IMFL is to get mirrored or tinted goggles.  Across the top you will be swimming directly into the sun and its blinding.

Originally posted by midwesttrimom

Good luck at your 5K SWIM EVENT! That scares me right now. Swam 2800 today and ran this AM. Adding mileage for a half marathon on June 1 and doing a HIM on July 27. Started my training for that and my IMFL training will start the second week in June. However, I feel WAY AHEAD of the game. Is that bad? I am already doing what most plans call for during the 8-10 week mark. Thoughts on this? I am afraid I may get hurt or
burned out but I like to do some early summer races, too. Hoping to toss in an Olympic or two and maybe one sprint.

Also, need some info about the IMFL swim. Gosh, I know we've gone over this but I have nightmares about getting sea sick, sucking in saltwater, being pulled by the current, etc. Need reassurance if you have any. I am not a bad swimmer, but I swim in lakes in Iowa!!! They are calm. Lake Michigan about killed me off during my 70.3 last year. Seriously! I wanted to be pulled out of the water. It was so rough out there. Huge waves up and over my head and it wasn't saltwater.

I wish I was a swimmer...a biker...and a runner.

Originally posted by gotbitten





these are two different issues you raise. first, the sea sickness issue. also grew up swimming in lakes, not the ocean. sea sickness is not a figment of the imagination. I grew up boating the lakes and loved the white caps and getting the boat turned sideways and getting a good rock to it and believed this was proof positive I do not get sea sick although I have always gotten motion sick on roller coasters and planes with lots of turbulence. I learned otherwise when I got on a boat on the ocean while on vacation. The swell of the ocean is very different than a lake and I got very sick, keeping my eyes on the horizon did not help. Closing my eyes did not help. Taking Dramamine did not help. My buddy said just ride it out, my body would adjust so I was determined to do mind over matter and keep fishing as we had paid for a full day charter boat and the fish were biting. I just got sicker by the hour. Sea sickness is real and has to do with your inner ear, with everyone's inner ear being slightly different, and the fluids in the inner ear, including the thickness of the fluids. Some people get sea sick, many don't, but do not let people convince you it's all in your head because being comfortable in the water has nothing to do with sea sickness. I dare say, as a lake swimmer, you are more comfortable than most people with the water as you are used to not being able to see the bottom. how do you do on roller coasters? the back seat of the car? on planes with turbulence? on merry-go-rounds? if these are not problems, you are likely just fine.

So the real question is are you someone that gets seasick? how do you do on roller coasters and planes with turbulence? if you have not problems with these, you will likely be fine regarding sea sickness. Did you get sea sick in Lake Michigan, or just the waves that scared you? Did you do Racine? Lake Michigan will give you a pretty good indication of whether you get sea sick - I did Racine and puked while swimming because of the motion sickness. the trick is to swim fast and get out before you get really sick. if you can't swim fast, then be prepared to stop swimming a couple of times and just tread water to try to get your equilibrium back and start swimming again. If you get too sea sick to do this, then sea a doctor about getting a motion sickness script - not the patches but the tablet. Dramamine also is not a good idea. then get out to Spirit Lake and swim a few times after taking a half pill to be sure you know in advance if the pill itself will make you sick.

if your problem in Lake Michigan was the fright from the big waves, get yourself out to Spirit Lake regularly, and swim even when you have white caps. the first time it will be scary, second not as bad, etc. if you can get your brain ready to self-talk your way through the chop in advance, you will be fine. remember, you can always stop and tread water to get yourself ready to swim again.

Originally posted by awal1



I've got IMTX in a few weeks then I'll take a full 3 weeks to recover before I start ramping up for IMFL.



With regard to the swim, it was really choppy last year but that only lasted for the first few hundred yards. Once you got past the breakers it was ok. I can't help you with the sea sickness, but I live on the gulf coast and do a few ocean races. With regard to sucking in water, learn to breath from both sides as waves may be breaking to your dominant side. Also, when you get there practice taking a breath at the top of the swell. Last year was my first IMFL and I was told that was some of the worst water conditions and that waves and chop are usually not an issue. I can attest to that as the day after the race last year the water was like glass.

Originally posted by midwesttrimom

If you don't mind me asking, what plan do you follow? I hope your recovery goes well! My plan is only 24 weeks but since

Originally posted by dge12



Don Fink intermediate plan. It leaves me with enough free time to do other things with my life. I love sailing !!

Originally posted by sk2a2005

I'm in for this year as well!!! I did IMFL 2011 and then took a little time off. Have been doing a lot of running and biking but no real races. Both my friend Dotti and I are back! This is her 4th my 2nd. So excited to be back in IM training mode! Started Mon. Looking forward to seeing everyone down there in 24 weeks!

Originally posted by mikiefaith A quick check of the farmer's almanac shows that 2010 was the year with the high of 62 and low of 42. IF the race was held on nov. 6th.

Originally posted by jashac

I raced that year, and I've got to say it sucked.  50 degrees for a run doesn't sound cold until you add a 15 mph cold north wind while wearing only tri clothes.  People were wearing trash bags from the aide stations to block the wind.   I learned something about what to wear that day.

I cannot believe we're only 24 weeks away!  What happened to this year?

Originally posted by mbwallis

Random question, I guess for the guys since it's related to T1. I expect to swim around a 1:14-16, which puts me in with a mass of people hitting T1 at the roughly same time. Assuming it's wetsuit legal, I'll have no need to get nekkid in T1 as I'll have my tri kit on under my wetsuit. Does anybody ever change outside of the crowded T1 room, e.g. right after you get your bag? I think I read a race report once where somebody did that, and it worked very well for him. It made me wonder why more people don't do it.

Originally posted by sk2a2005

I plan on bringing back the glass water for the swim.

Originally posted by jashac

So this week I get serious.  Really.  This week run every day, and swim every day.  Without fail.  Day 2 on the books.  It's short, but you've got to start a base somewhere.