Ironman 70.3 New Orleans : Official Thread (Page 9)

Good luck all!

First time in several years I am not doing NOLA.  As for water temp, expect it to be cold.  Did a sprint up in False river (1.5 hrs north of NOLA).  65 at best, cold as anything.  I would venture to guess that Lake P isn't any warmer.  Bring your wetsuit and earplugs (if you get dizzy in cold swim, evidently I do).

the old swim area

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT3_ut13mgw&feature=youtu.be

the new swim area

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA7O6QkcGoY&feature=youtu.be

Well here I am again in 2013. NOLA Last year was to be my first 70.3......didn't go when they cancelled the swim and shortened the bike......signed up for Muncie (HA!) which was shortened due to extreme heat. So I shut it down for the year and prepped for the NYC Marathon.....HA! Cancelled due to Sandy! So I ran RnR Savannah instead and in the past 6 months...4 Marathons and 13 Halfs with my wife and friends......so Here I am.....totally not prepared for this thing even though I had all the time in the world. My swim and run are good, but I virtually have nada miles on the bike (say 150....ugh). So my 3 foray and my first 70.3 will be a death slog to the finish.....I apologize to everyone in advance for whatever I amy do out there.....Hoping for wetsuit.....hoping the wind isnt too bad.....

Accuweather says it will be the hottest day of the year to date (2013) with highs of 86 and 70+ at the start......it figures....I am involved which means everyone expect the worst conditions! I am 100% cursed! RUN AWAY!

As scary as the heat sounds, I think it's good news for me. Racing IM Texas on 5/18 and we've had the coldest "spring" ever in Memphis. I'm using NO as a training day to test out my plan for Texas, since it's my first 140.6 (and likely last!). Good luck to everyone racing. Looks like the weather will be nice for one last set of workouts prior to New Orleans.

Accuweather has changed over night....went from 86 high and sunny/humid & windy to considerable cloudy with light winds and 75 high......

in other words....I hate accuweather and I should not even look at the thing until we are about 5-6 days out because it will change about 10 times in 10 days.

My nice new shiny high end carbon tri bike will be staying home......will be bringing my back up bike.......I won't get into it, but I broke a pretty expensive and hard to replace/install piece of the bike and I just stood there looking at it when it happened......and shook my head.....the curse is alive...(I am a Red Sox fan and I truly believe in curses).

Just get me through this before they shut the finish line down and I will be happy and lesson learned.

There's a shop on Bourbon (or at least there used to be) called Marie Leavou's (sp) House of Voodoo. Maybe you should stop there first for preventive measures? Don't bring that bad juju into transition with you. JK

As for weather reports... I never bother looking for race day weather until 3-4 days out. No sense worrying about that which is subject to change. Especially for spring in the south.

yeah....you would think I would know better living in Alabama, but I am a creature of curiosity.....I just had to know!

I know that Place!!! I have run the RNR marathon in NOLA and the Crescent City 10K a few years back.......I know Esplanade Drive/Street well....I hope it is better shape than it was in 2010...it was like running in a battlefield full of artillery holes

Finally starting to feel good about my training. Last ten days have included a 14 mile run, a 60 mile ride, a 70 mile ride and a two mile swim. And on Sunday I did the Rebelman Sprint Triathlon in Oxford and was trained up enough that I was able to really pound it the whole way - 8:51 on the swim, 21 mph bike and 24 minute 5K - a PR for me by a wide margin. If I didn't screw up in the transition, I would have placed as my transition time was a full minute behind the third place in the 45-49 age group and I was only 9 seconds back in the total time. Lesson learned. But glad I had a chance to rehearse the transitions as that is always a problem for me.

I think my weather watching aka obsessive compulsive disorder comes from last years weather issues......NOLA 70.3 (wind/storm), A Half in Alabama (Tornado Warnings), a 5K canceled at mile 2 or wherever you were due to lightning and storms, Muncie 70.3 (HEAT - 105 at 2pm...lake was 90 degrees), NYC Marathon.....we all know that story. I am really gunshy about the weather now.....It cost me vacation days and a lot of wasted entry money......hotel money.....etc etc.

Im not bitter

Absolutely can't wait for NOLA :D so do we leave all of our gear in transition with our bikes or just our bikes?

Do you mean at bike check-in? Or for the race itself? At every race I've done with a bike check-in the previous day, I've only left my bike. Will wrap the saddle and cockpit with a grocery bag if its super sunny or rainy. Bring your other stuff [shoes, hydration, food, etc] the morning of the race.

We should be so lucky. Fingers crossed!

This ^^^^.  Don't leave your other gear in transition. you need to check your tires in the morning anyway, then setup your transition.  

There is no information about the finish line and getting back to transition. I assume shuttles buses? But does anyone know?

My first 70.3 and I can't wait to bring it!

3 3 day window weather forecast "currently"  most likely subject to change.

4/20

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/new-orleans-la/70112/daily-weather-forecast/348585?day=10

4/21

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/new-orleans-la/70112/daily-weather-forecast/348585?day=11

4/22

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/new-orleans-la/70112/daily-weather-forecast/348585?day=12

Does anyone know if there is athlete tracking available at this race?  My wife is not traveling with but would like to know how things are going.  I also have a few training buddies that asked about live tracking.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.

PS - 1 week until I leave for NOLA!!! Can't wait!!!