IMAZ Nov 08 'Official" Training-Discussion Blog till 11-23... (Page 32)

So I was doing my daily OCD weather check for Tempe and above the forecast today there was a "special weather alert".  This was in the same place that they usually put important storm warnings like "you are about to get pounded by a blizzard".  I thought this was interesting so I clicked on it.  I copied/pasted below, but if I read this correctly they are warning the Greater Phoenix area to expect...wait for it....rain and temps ONLY in the 60's and 70's for Thanksgiving.

I nearly spit out my coffee laughing.

Weather report

Issued by The National Weather Service
Phoenix, AZ
5:52 am MST, Fri., Nov. 21, 2008

... COOLER AND UNSETTLED WEATHER EXPECTED AROUND THANKSGIVING...

STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES THIS WEEKEND AND THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL RESULT IN CONTINUED UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER... AND DRY CONDITIONS.

HOWEVER... A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE OVERALL WEATHER PATTERN WILL TAKE PLACE THE LATTER HALF OF NEXT WEEK. A SERIES OF LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS WILL PUSH THE STRONG UPPER HIGH OFF TO OUR EAST... AND GIVE US AN INCREASING CHANCE OF RAINFALL.

ALTHOUGH THE EXACT TIMING OF THE MAIN PRECIPITATION EVENT IS UNCLEAR AT PRESENT... IT APPEARS LIKE LATE WEDNESDAY AND THANKSGIVING DAY APPEAR TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCES FOR SIGNIFICANT RAIN. IN ADDITION... IT WILL TURN QUITE A BIT COOLER... WITH MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES BY THANKSGIVING DAY EXPECTED TO BE ONLY IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S IN THE WARMEST DESERTS.

STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE LATEST FORECASTS BY LISTENING TO WEATHER RADIO ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE BAND. MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX ON THE INTERNET AT

That's funny... OH MY GOD IT'S GOING TO BE 60 DEGREES!!!!!!!!!   Bryan, you guy are so soft

Took a dip today, water temps are IMHO perfect, couldn't be more like California.  Announced as 63 or 64, that's about right.  A bit of an ice cream headache for the first minute or so and then very comfortable.  Loved it.  Also the wind today makes it very much like a so cal open water swim.  A little bumpy out there.  Going east into the wind wasn't as fun as coming back though.

I am thinking this year I am going to start on the right side, you have to curve for the river anyway, might be easier to sight the shore to stay on course than the buoys ahead.   TBD

It was funny, got out of the water and told Wendy it was fine, well except for the taste.   It's................ distinctive. 

Parking's been great for us, haven't had to pay yet with all the free lots around.  Tempe is missing a money maker here

Finally got here. 19 degrees and a blizzard last night on our drive to Chicago. Up at 2:30AM for the 5AM flight but got in before 8 and headed to the sight.

Great times down there today. Met Heather Fuhr and Michael Lovato, saw Chris Lieto and a couple of other pros. Need to get  a nap soon and head down to the prerace dinner.

Hopefully the wind will leave us soon.

I was at the swim this morning, that was not normal.  It was pretty flat in April as well as the other 4 races I've done in that lake.  I think the wind out of the east must have really kicked up the chop.  Probably nothing for the ocean swimmers among us, but I didn't like it much.

Sorry... parking sucks

Couple BT all stars at the athlete dinner.  gymgirlx was the youngest female.  Hans, devouhay was the biggest loser, and I was sitting right across the aisle from him.  Good to reconnect, we met once a while back, can't even remember where.  Dude is solid and is going to KILL the swim sunday

gymgirlx, you did great up there tonight, good job.  Prepare yourself for some attention if you go to the awards banquet, as they like to follow up on the pre-race stories.

Man that water was CHOPPY! :-)  And cold.  But I think I will still skip the neoprene cap.  Swimming across the Chesapeake Bay wasn't as tough as this morning's swim.

Just in case anyone was wondering...

   Today Sun, Nov 23 Mon, Nov 24 Tue, Nov 25 Wed, Nov 26 Thu, Nov 27 Fri, Nov 28 Sat, Nov 29 Sun, Nov 30 Mon, Dec 1

6am 57°F Feels Like 57°F

9am 62°F Feels Like 62°F

12pm 74°F Feels Like 74°F

3pm 79°F Feels Like 75°F

6pm 76°F Feels Like 73°F

9pm 68°F Feels Like 68°F

Day	Night
Partly Cloudy High 81°F Precip 0% Wind: SSE 3 mph Max. Humidity: 20% UV Index: 4 Moderate   Sunrise: 7:07 AM MT Avg. High: 74°F Record High: 85°F (1998)	Mostly Clear Overnight Low 55°F Precip 0% Wind: ENE 4 mph Max. Humidity: 31%       Sunset: 5:22 PM MT Avg. Low: 43°F Record Low: 28°F (1957)

I was wondering if that was you, congrats on the celebrity status!

Good luck tomorrow

Good luck and may God keep you all safe. I will be in the Kayak before some of you get to the venue. I will do my best to keep you all safe in the water. Good luck, you all inspire me so much to keep going to my dream of IMAZ 2010. Go get 'em.

 "This is Ironman"