EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread (Page 9)

2009-05-23 3:55 PM

in reply to: #1869406

Pro

4174

Keller, Texas

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

Crap...I am in the next to last freakin wave. I race Athena but was going to switch to AG to start earlier but guess what...45-49 start with the Athena's so I am stuck in wave 10.

Doughboy switched from Clyde to AG and starts an hour and 3 minutes ahead of me.

Stupid USAT age rules. I AM NOT 45 YET damnit

Guess I have lots of rabbits to chase down now.

Edited by dodgersmom 2009-05-23 3:57 PM

phillybarb

2009-05-23 6:25 PM

in reply to: #1869406

Expert

1288

Hatboro, PA

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

I have a question. Does Eagleman have wetsuit strippers? I did my first ever wetsuit swim on Thursday night and had an extremely hard time getting the wetsuit off. If I have to get if off myself at the race, I am going to have the world's longest T1 time!

I'm in wave 7. Maybe it's good luck that I am in the pink wave, as I wear a pink swim cap now! I need luck at this stage with all the setbacks I have had in my training.

oceanannie

2009-05-23 6:48 PM

in reply to: #1869406

Expert

957

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

Nope, no wetsuit strippers. Speaking of the swim exit, there is a fire department hose that rinses us off and usually water and maybe Gatorade available.

2009-05-23 9:55 PM

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jsnowash

2009-05-24 9:50 AM

in reply to: #2169904

Pro

4353

Wallingford, PA

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

dodgersmom - 2009-05-23 4:55 PM

Crap...I am in the next to last freakin wave. I race Athena but was going to switch to AG to start earlier but guess what...45-49 start with the Athena's so I am stuck in wave 10.

Doughboy switched from Clyde to AG and starts an hour and 3 minutes ahead of me.

Stupid USAT age rules. I AM NOT 45 YET damnit

Guess I have lots of rabbits to chase down now.

I'm right there with ya, Dodgersmom..... 46 year old female/Athena.... not starting 'til after 8:00!!! Man, that sux. I just hope it's not too hot on race day, or I'm gonna completely die on the run!

2009-05-24 10:23 AM

in reply to: #1869406

Pro

4174

Keller, Texas

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

Hey Jenny! Glad you will be there with me. We have to find each other before the start.

ras26

2009-05-24 12:08 PM

in reply to: #1869406

Extreme Veteran

622

Fulton

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

Yesterday I rode the course for the first time, and wow it is certainly flat. I bought aerobars on friday and used them for the first time. I'd definitely recommend them for this course because, even as a novice, I was able to use them almost the entire ride.

After my ride, I was riding around to get some extra time and found a little beach along the beginning of the run course. To cool down, I waded out quite a ways into the water and it barely got waist deep (I could see back to the car in the park, so it had to be close to where we swim. Is the entire swim really that shallow?? It just seemed odd. Need a break? Just stand up and walk a bit!

Daremo

2009-05-24 1:33 PM

in reply to: #2170300

Cycling Guru

15134

Fulton, MD

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

bachorb - 2009-05-23 10:55 PM Can anyone who's done this race in the past comment on the current in the Choptank River? Are you mainly fighting the current or is it helping you? Or is there not much of a current? I only ask because I swam in the Hudson River this morning and I am curious how much that prepared me for this race.

I've done 4 ows in the river (3 Eagleman, 1 Chessieman). Each one has been different. First E-Man and Chessieman were heavy chop with current. My fastest E-Man swim was pretty mild with light current on the outbound leg and tail current on the return.

Every year the course has been different and this year because of the construction on the boat ramp, the course will be swam the opposite direction and we will be exiting where we usually start. Gonna throw me off a little bit ....

2009-05-24 5:05 PM

in reply to: #1869406

Member

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

Maybe I'm missing something but I have a question.
What's so bad about starting in the later waves? I don't see how the temperature difference over an hour is really going to matter that much. Or does the Chesapeake throw off wind that gets worse as the morning progresses?

Daremo

2009-05-24 5:26 PM

in reply to: #2170875

Cycling Guru

15134

Fulton, MD

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

Guess you've never tried to filter through 2,000 other people on the bike course ........

And if you go off early, you don't get the heat of the day so much. If you go off at 7:15 and have say a 40 minute swim and a 3 hour bike, you are out running at 11. If you don't get to go off until 8:15, you are out there after noon for the run, and it gets significantly hotter as the morning rolls on. If it is not hot, then it is not so bad. But if it is anything like last year where it was 90 at 10, then it sucks to be out there later.

2009-05-24 6:03 PM

in reply to: #1869406

Pro

4174

Keller, Texas

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

For me with the later waves, it is that I am one of the slower racers and will be alone most of the time. In the earlier waves there are usually people around. Especially with a 1 loop run I will be very lonely

2009-05-24 6:42 PM

in reply to: #2170896

Member

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

As far as the temperature goes that's kind of my point. If its going to be 90 degrees at 10, and humid as the Mid Atlantic always is, I don't see what the stress is for. Its going to be hot, or its not going to be hot, regardless of when we start.
As far as filtering through people on the bike course, I think my ego will appreciate starting in one of the last waves.

2009-05-24 7:28 PM

in reply to: #2170988

Member

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

What I'm getting at is more an excercise in sport psychology than anything else.
Speaking from experience motivating athletes (rowers, not triathletes) wishing that something uncontrollable was different sets us up to under perform. We should be thinking, by being in a later wave we'll have an advantage because we'll get the adrenaline from passing people, or we'll be on our own and be able to hold our pace and not blow up form getting caught up in trying to go with someone.
Or if its going to get hotter for your age group, because of the start time, you'll be able to use your awesome planning and self discipline in nutrition to get a leg up.
Mentally the discussion should always be about why whatever is thrown at you is an advantage for you, not what you wish would be different.

eyeofthetiger2007

2009-05-24 7:51 PM

in reply to: #2171063

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

Its not that I am complaining (heck I am glad and thrilled that I got in the race in the first place, am able to race next to pro's, and just to be able to compete in good health), but being in a later wave is annoying. As a somewhat strong swimmer I usually get tied up with slower swimmers from earlier waves, which slows me down and throws off my rhythm. Later waves, also means my stomache has more time to hatch more butterflies.

On the flip side, I do see your point. No matter what wave we are in, the course and the distances are the same for everyone. The timer begins when you cross that first pad and does not stop until the finish line, so it does not matter when you start as long as you do. Moreover, a later swim means we have more time to digest a larger breakfast or let the meager Clif bar that we crammed into our mouths as we rush to the transition area before it closes because we over slept our alarm (actually happened to a person who was standing next to me at Columbia) get to our glycogen stores.

eyeofthetiger2007

2009-05-24 7:55 PM

in reply to: #1869406

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

What is everyone's plans for taper? Two weeks? One week+race week prep? or just one week? Training through and not slowing down at all?

2009-05-24 8:06 PM

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2009-05-24 8:08 PM

in reply to: #2171100

Member

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

Exactly, its a frame of mind (and I hope I didn't sound accusatory, I catch my self doing it sometimes too).
Sometimes it comes down to syntax, rather than, it is hot which will slow me down, it becomes, it is hot so I need to focus on my hydration plan more. Even if its sort of a phrasing thing in your head, never, never, never, never give yourself an excuse to not perform. The man who says he can't and the man who says he can are both right.

Dream Chaser

2009-05-24 9:34 PM

in reply to: #2171111

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

eyeofthetiger2007 - 2009-05-24 8:55 PM What is everyone's plans for taper? Two weeks? One week+race week prep? or just one week? Training through and not slowing down at all?

My plan has me doing a 2 week taper. I'm going be going out of my mind, I just know it I may sneak in a few super slow and EZ swims during my taper to keep some sanity.

Daremo

2009-05-24 10:06 PM

in reply to: #1869406

Cycling Guru

15134

Fulton, MD

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

What is this taper thing that you speak of??

To taper would imply that I actually had a training plan and schedule for this race.

2009-05-25 6:29 AM

in reply to: #2171297

Subject: ...

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jsnowash

2009-05-25 7:35 AM

in reply to: #2171436

Pro

4353

Wallingford, PA

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

PennState - 2009-05-25 7:29 AM

Daremo - 2009-05-24 11:06 PM What is this taper thing that you speak of??

To taper would imply that I actually had a training plan and schedule for this race.

yup same here, no training plan... will be relying on wits and will

phew!! Glad I'm not the only one!!

hooslisa

2009-05-25 10:29 AM

in reply to: #2169517

Master

1524

Reston, VA

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

Daremo - 2009-05-23 10:09 AM This will be different! They have been doing all men, then all women the last few years. Better news for the ladies for sure. But it means I'll have a lot of people to work through on the ride. Oh well. At least I'll get to pass Traci and see how she's doing since she starts ahead of me!

ugh, I HATE the wave switch. my husband (35-39) usually goes off well before me and then i can just do my thing. NOW, I have to worry about him passing me. well, not so much worry about if, but when he passes me. i hate it.

2009-05-25 10:51 AM

in reply to: #2171477

Pro

4174

Keller, Texas

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

jsnowash - 2009-05-25 7:35 AM

PennState - 2009-05-25 7:29 AM

Daremo - 2009-05-24 11:06 PM What is this taper thing that you speak of??

To taper would imply that I actually had a training plan and schedule for this race.

yup same here, no training plan... will be relying on wits and will

phew!! Glad I'm not the only one!!

Seems to be a trend!

phillybarb

2009-05-25 10:54 AM

in reply to: #2171681

Expert

1288

Hatboro, PA

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

dodgersmom - 2009-05-25 11:51 AM

jsnowash - 2009-05-25 7:35 AM

PennState - 2009-05-25 7:29 AM

Daremo - 2009-05-24 11:06 PM What is this taper thing that you speak of??

To taper would imply that I actually had a training plan and schedule for this race.

yup same here, no training plan... will be relying on wits and will

phew!! Glad I'm not the only one!!

Seems to be a trend!

Well, I have a plan. Following it seems to be the problem.

2009-05-25 11:13 AM

in reply to: #1869406

Pro

4174

Keller, Texas

Subject: RE: EagleMan Ironman 70.3 Triathlon : Official Thread

It's almost time to start obsessing about the weather. Accuweather.com does a 15 day extended forcast (not like they even know what the weather will be like tomorrow). But once the 14th shows up, I will be checking it multiple times each day!