Ironman St. George - Utah : Official Thread (Page 8)

Between two months of injury (almost zero running in December) and the holidays, I'm about four lbs overweight now.  Doesn't seem like much, but when you look at how obsessed people are with shaving ounces off the weight of their bikes...and at the hills on this course...it's significant.

I'm sitting around 169-172 right now.  Raced both Wildflower and the Full Vineman last year at about 168 and Vineman 70.3 in 2008 at 165.  I was definitely happier with the 165.  I've added some muscle mass since 2008 from swimming, though, so I'd be happy at 167 on race day.

I'm right around 167. I don't really have much to lose anywhere. I might lose some more muscle mass on my upper body which would maybe get me to about 163, but I can't see going much lower than that. My wife is already unhappy that I've lost a lot of my muscle mass.

I've been experimenting with completey changing my race nutrition strategy so we'll see how that goes this weekend on my long ride and run.

i am sitting around 157 and want to be around 150 for race day. with the lack or running and biking so far i am not too concerned. i am more worried about keeping a few lbs on down the stretch. typing this note just made we hungry

3 months left.

90 days.  How's it going?


Me, I'm pretty happy with where I am...especially given I couldn't run at all a month ago.  Biggest bike month ever, just finished up two 13+ hour weeks of SBR and first two 30+ mile run weeks in quite some time.  One hour swim, six hour bike, and just about three hour run (this morning) in the books.  Feb. will be more power phase--more speed, probably less overall volume...hopefully 100 miles+ running, getting ready for marathon taper in mid-March (when I shift back to higher volume on the bike).

WOW!  13 weeks left, and only 11 weeks until my taper.   

Everything is going good for me.  I do not have past IM training to compare it to, but I'm really happy about several things. 1) I am still injury free!!!!  2) my recovery rate is better then ever now.  3) I have moved past the dread stage and I am now currently getting very exited about doing this.

Same here! Injury free so far, and doing much better at hill climbing (on bike and run) than ever before!

Is anyone else out there as hungry as I am? I can't stop eating. All I think about is food. Every time I drive somewhere, I think about all the food inside the restaurants I'm driving by. It's torture.

Edited by dieathlon 2010-02-01 9:32 PM

13 weeks to go! OK so I started training today. I guess I'll follow Gale Berhardts 13 week training plan slightly modified to include a lot of mountain climing (Grouse Mountain, Seymour Mountain, and Cypress Mountain). Other wise it's just slow easy training for me as this is my "B" race which I'm doing just to lose a lot of weight. My "A" race is in August in Norway...the Norseman Extreme.

I'm happy to hear someone else say this... my body is burning fuel constantly, and I'm eating a ton while still dropping weight. I've found I'm hungriest after my long swims.

I'm in the camp of everything going really good, and I am constantly starving as well. I eat a full meal, only to feel hungary 30 minutes later-sometimes it just gets ridiculous. If I don't eat right before going to bed, I will wake in the middle of the night hungary. I go to bed fantasizing about eating the next morning.

Everyone -- I am headed down to St. George for a couple of rides either the third or fourth weekend in February. I am planning on riding Friday and Saturday. At this point, I would like to take one loop on Friday and two on Saturday. I have one buddy who is coming with me, but would anyone else like to join up? We will be staying at the Courtyard while in town...

Mike

(edit) PS. I am also planning on riding with a powermeter and posting those numbers and charts up on my blog and here for those who are interested.

Edited by Rollin' Thunder 2010-02-02 2:50 PM

Glad to hear I'm not alone on the "middle of the night hunger" issue. Every time I drive somewhere, I stare at all the restaurants, thinking about the delicious food they have in there. In fact, I'm gonna go munch on some Wheat Thins right now before I instruct my spin class tonight!

YES!!!!  I think what happens is that I wake in the middle of the night and while my mind is somewhat disoriented and not fully consious, my hunger takes me straight to the kitchen where I will shovel peanut butter, ceral, etc. down my throat for about 5-10 minutes.  It's usually around then that I gain my witts and wonder why the hell I'm laid out on the kitchen floor with empty food canisters in my lap.

I feel better than I ever have. I honestly feel like I'm in better shape today than I was when I raced IMFL in 08. I had a great January considering I lost a few weeks running due to injury but I am back 100% healthy. Already back to 13 mile runs and they're at a faster pace than where I was pre-injury. I should be in the 140-150 mile range again this month. Really happy with my bike mileage in January and I'm starting this weekend off by riding 112 miles on the IMSG course followed by a short run brick on Saturday. Then I'll run 1 loop of the course Sunday. I plan on taking pics and posting the elevation profile when I get a chance.

I hired a nutritionist to help me with my race day nutrition and I cannot believe how much of a difference it has made on my long rides and runs. I thought I had it figured out but they have completely changed my strategy and it's made a huge impact. I'd highly recommend playing with nutrition now because I can tell you first hand it makes a HUGE difference if you don't have it right.

I'll start to add some speed work to both bike and run and will continue with my long bike and run. I can't freakin wait for race day!

Happy training!

January's totals:
Bike: 37h 43m 12s - 750.31 Mi
Run: 9h 36m 57s - 76.07 Mi
Swim: 14h 34m - 41300 Yd

I see the phrase 'peanut butter' and I start salivating. I cannot get enough of it! I'm glad others share the addiction.

Is anyone planning on riding/running the course some time during President's Day weekend (next weekend)? I'm seriously thinking about heading up there, even though it's a long drive (6 hours, I think). I do all my training alone, which is fine, but I think if I'm going to be in totally unfamiliar territory, maybe I should ride in the presence of people for a change. I would really love to check out the course beforehand, and I think next weekend will be the only chance I have.

OK folks, just did 1 loop (70 miles) of the bike course yesterday and about to head out for the full 2 loops in about 15 minutes. I ride a lot of hills in my training and all I can say is BE PREPARED for LOTS of climbs. I will provide a full trip report Monday when I can upload the elevation profile but I can tell you without question there will be some that walk their bikes up the switchback climb the 2nd time through.

My first take is it is a tough, but fair course. There won't be any drafting and pacing on the bike will be EVERYTHING. I am running the course tomorrow but from what I saw when I drove it I can tell you to again be prepared for lots of hills. First 5 miles I drove I swear was ALL uphill.

OK, hope I didn't scare everyone because if you are prepared and can train hills you will do well on this course. Personally, this course fits me much better than a flat course. Also remember, if you climb at some point you get to come down. Take advantage of the downhills on both the bike and run to recover.

12 weeks to go folks. Happy training. I'll post a FULL bike and run report when I get home.

Thanks for the update!!  I can't wait to hear more when you post it.  I really can't train on hills here in Dallas but I will just have to do the best I can.  I do know how to pace from Lake Placid.  I wish I could go train there!

Eddy 

Inside of 12 weeks...

Took it easy on the bike this week, but put up a pretty epic run today:  20.1 miles, 2500' of climbing (1100' in the first 4.5 miles, multiple grades around 15%), 8 miles of trails up in the mountains.  Took it easy on the pace, but a major confidence builder...no stops and feeling good afterwards...I'll be running again in a couple days.

The hype over the difficulty of this course is starting to get to me.

Its like yea its gunna be tough, but you already know that. I guess IM athletes are just obsessive compulsive and need to read over every little last detail of everything to try and have their nerves calmed or something. Probably the same reason they get training plans out of a cookie cutter book and follow them religiously. Talk about herding sheep.

DUDE...its gunna be extra hilly and its gunna be 140.6 miles. Could be cold or hot, could be windy as hell. O, and watch out for cattle guards.

K.I.S.S - keep it simple stupid

THANK YOU. TRAIN hard...end of story. It's an Ironman though, you should be training hard.

First off I have driven and ridden the course and it's gonna be a hard day. That said any IM day is going to be a hard day, buts that all it is, a day. I am going to go out there with two legs and two arms and a big heart and take what the day gives me. So this stuff about the first 5 miles all up hill (total BS) and people will be walking their bikes isn't doing anyone any good. Train hard and don't panic it's a day in your life work hard towards making that day easier but know that nothing you do will make it easy. Isn't that why you signed up? To be challenged? Let's try to keep this string positive and usefull.....

I'm really not trying to be negative and I think anyone on this thread is preparing as they should be and will be fine on this course. However, I can tell you that anyone who thinks they can kind of train and get through an IM will have a challenge on their hands.

We (especially me) just need to take what the day gives you. The course is the same for everyone and your approach is spot on. Just go out and enjoy the day. When you're done you'll be able to say you completed a tough IM.

.... and, according my my Garmin the first 4.5 miles of the run are uphilll. There are some short downhills in there but it's pretty much uphill.