Ironman 70.3 New Orleans : Official Thread (Page 9)

First off, the triaathlon you chose to race involves a lake that has had "all sorts of nastiness" for fifty years. IIRC it was closed to all swimming for a long period of time. HTFU and rely on your double goggles to protect you. Hahahahahahahahahaha

Second, if you don't like the Louisiana weather, wait a few minutes and it will change for you.

Third, long range forecasts are nothing to hang your hat on, but accuewather shows a low of 63, high of 85, and "Breezy and warmer with periods of clouds and sunshine" Not ideal, but no thunderstorms in that forecast.

Not debatable, since everytime they wash down Bourbon Street it runs off straight to the lake.

One of our club members went to the "Hometown Advantage" clinic at the race site and posted his notes on our message board:

* Swim course is expected to be in the upper 60's or lower 70's
* The swim course follows a beach
* You can practice the swim with someone walking the course in
case you need help
* There is a group that swims in that area (not the actual course)
weekly (didn't get the date / time)
* There will be some people at the swim exit to help you strip
your swim suit if needed
* If the water is too rough, it will be replaced with a 4-5 mile run
* If the water is questionable you will have an option to skip the swim
* If you skip the swim you will wait in the transition area until
the last swimmer exits the water, then you can do the bike and run
legs (will not qualify for awards)
* The bike route will have 3 "Bottle Exchanges" at 15, 30 and 45 Miles.
* The first (and only bridge I believe) will be covered with carpet
* You can throw away a bottle there and pickup Gatorade bottle with water
* I believe there will be power bars and gels their as well
* A few yards after that will be bottles of Gatorade you can pickup
* The bottles will be pre-opened so you don't have to fight with that
* There will be portable bathrooms at the bottle swaps (with bike racks)
* All roads will have at least 2 lanes closed for the race with
some local traffic allowed on the outside lanes in some areas
* The run will have a water station every 1.5 miles
* Every other water station will also have power bars and gels
* The 8 hour cut off for the race starts after the last swim wave starts
* You will have at least until 7 PM to remove your bike. The 5 PM
time printed was wrong
* There is a lot of free parking right at the transition area
* The city of New Orleans was very cooperative about shutting down
roads for the event

20% chance of rain around here is just noise. They can throw that out there on almost any day.

Of greater concern for you guys might be the wind. Every forecast I see for Sunday says "Breezy," "Windy," even "Very Windy." Might be rough going. especially since it looks like they changed the bike course to include more of Haynes Boulevard along the lake.

If all the race officials, who are just the absolute best people by the way, would sort of forget to go out on the bike course, then it would be easier.

Eh.. it's just a little wind.  So it might take me a little longer than I originally thought.  The beer will still be cold when I get there.

What's your bib number again?

20% chance of rain around here is just noise. They can throw that out there on almost any day.

Of greater concern for you guys might be the wind. Every forecast I see for Sunday says "Breezy," "Windy," even "Very Windy." Might be rough going. especially since it looks like they changed the bike course to include more of Haynes Boulevard along the lake.