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2009-08-25 4:20 PM

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Subject: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
With about 10 weeks to go, is it too soon to start this thread...guess not ;-) This will be my first HIM. All ears about this venue.


2009-08-31 12:07 PM
in reply to: #2370286

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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
I did this race last year as my first HIM.  Great race, low key, lots of volunteers per racers.  The resort was under construction last year, so the transition and parking was kind of torn up, but the course is great.  Swim in Lake Conroe was smooth, started out a little cold without a wetsuit, but got comfortable after about half the swim.  I have one for this year.  Bike is on some rolling hills.  Nothing too steep.  Pavement is good to great, low traffic except for the first couple of miles in and out of transition.  Run was nice for about the first 8 miles thru some neighborhoods, lots of turns though.  About mile 9 it got hilly, which killed me.  Decent sized hill somewhere between mile 8 and 9 just took it out of me.  Rolling hills from mile 9-13.  Post-race was decent.  Small race last year and they limit it to 600, so it will never be big.  I like a smaller race.  Did New Orleans as my second HIM and definitely enjoyed Iron Star much more.  Going to Lonestar in Galveston next year instead of New Orleans, even though N.O. is only 55 miles down the road.
2009-09-01 8:22 PM
in reply to: #2370286

Master
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread

My first HIM as well.  I will do a sprint in 2 weeks just so I can say the HIM is not my first.  I live less than 10 miles from the start so I am familure with the course.  I can not wait.  I will be looking to rent a wetsuit so I do not get to cold and not be able to warm up after the swim.

2009-09-02 8:20 AM
in reply to: #2380542

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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
lsu_engr - 2009-08-31 12:07 PM I did this race last year as my first HIM.  Great race, low key, lots of volunteers per racers.  The resort was under construction last year, so the transition and parking was kind of torn up, but the course is great.  Swim in Lake Conroe was smooth, started out a little cold without a wetsuit, but got comfortable after about half the swim.  I have one for this year.  Bike is on some rolling hills.  Nothing too steep.  Pavement is good to great, low traffic except for the first couple of miles in and out of transition.  Run was nice for about the first 8 miles thru some neighborhoods, lots of turns though.  About mile 9 it got hilly, which killed me.  Decent sized hill somewhere between mile 8 and 9 just took it out of me.  Rolling hills from mile 9-13.  Post-race was decent.  Small race last year and they limit it to 600, so it will never be big.  I like a smaller race.  Did New Orleans as my second HIM and definitely enjoyed Iron Star much more.  Going to Lonestar in Galveston next year instead of New Orleans, even though N.O. is only 55 miles down the road.


Choosing Ironstar over a 70.3 speaks well for this race. I always believed Ironman series was the elite race venue. Thanks for the course overview. I plan to ride the course a couple times.

Edited by wakehr 2009-09-02 8:31 AM
2009-09-02 5:06 PM
in reply to: #2370286

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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
This will be my first HIM as well and my final race of the year.   I'll be stepping up my training over the next few weeks and will be there and ready.  I have my goal time in mind, but really I'd just like to not kill myself on the bike and have a strong, solid run.  I'm hoping we'll get some cooler weather on race day.  It'll surely be nothing like Clearlake, my worst run of the season.

I have a friend who did Ironstar 2 years ago when it rained for a good part of the race and though the times were still pretty fast, he was pretty miserable for most of it because of the rain.  Plus, he didn't train on hills, which made the bike, his strong suit, more difficult than anticipated.  I'm hoping to get out 290 or up I-45 to hit the hills a few times over the next two months. 
2009-09-02 5:09 PM
in reply to: #2370286

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Tyler,
Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread

Did this race last year as my first 70.3 defintely well run event and I turned down World's 70.3 for this race this year.

Whatever you do, do not be running behind "smilford" he'll be wearing a polka dot suit, he likes to take the detour route.



2009-09-02 7:28 PM
in reply to: #2370286

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Master
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
True statement. It was also my first HIM last year, and I'll be back there again this year.

Edited by smilford 2009-09-02 7:29 PM
2009-09-17 10:14 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
I just wanted to bump this thread. 

I am so ready for this race and I am loving the training
2009-09-18 9:17 AM
in reply to: #2370286

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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread

Looks like decent weather for weekend. Anyone riding the course anytime soon that may want company on a Saturday?

2009-09-18 10:52 AM
in reply to: #2370286

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Louisiana
Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread

If anyone rides the course, give us an update. My husband and I did this one last year. He finished. I DNF'd at mile 8 on the run. We're back.  Can't let it beat me. I like the smaller venue of this race and it was sooo well supported last year. The volunteers were the best.

We thought the ride was hilly. Not flat like N.O., and not hard climbs, just hilly. About mile 35 we hit a headwind that really sucked it out of us in addition to the hills.

Anyone else have any thoughts on the course?

2009-09-18 12:51 PM
in reply to: #2413491

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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
wakehr - 2009-09-18 9:17 AM

Looks like decent weather for weekend. Anyone riding the course anytime soon that may want company on a Saturday?



How early can you get out?  I think I can swing it.  My longest is 47 miles so far, but I am sure I can make it another 10. 


2009-09-28 12:38 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
How does water/gatorade hand ups on bike course work?  Website stated 3, anyone remember at what mileage? What are the sizes (20 oz, etc.) I assume they are disposable and there is a designated area to chuck them around the aid station without stopping...I'll be refilling aero bottle.
2009-10-05 12:00 AM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
Doing this as second HIM.  Did Lonestar this spring and have been out of the training loop for a bit but I figured this would be a good season finale before I reset and gear up for IMCDA next year!
2009-10-15 8:55 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
wakehr - 2009-09-28 12:38 PM How does water/gatorade hand ups on bike course work?  Website stated 3, anyone remember at what mileage? What are the sizes (20 oz, etc.) I assume they are disposable and there is a designated area to chuck them around the aid station without stopping...I'll be refilling aero bottle.


Anyone?  I do not have an aero bottle so I am using 1 infinite 3 hr concentrate and 1 water bottle.  I can not decide if I should by a aqua wing to attach to seat post or just be confident I can get to the handup.   The hand up locations are real important to my sleeping good at night for the next few weeks. LOL
2009-10-15 9:10 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
There was one station at mile 14, one at 28 and I can't remember about the third.  I want to say they were all evenly spaced but my memory escapes me on #3.  It was orange gatorade if I remember correctly and it was the taller thin bottle with the ridges and the green squeeze twist top.  Don't know the exact size, but at least 20-24 oz.
2009-10-15 9:39 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
I only remember one... but I tend to miss things. Anyway, if you miss the first bottle, just stop to grab the bottle. It will cost you 10s to get the bottle.


2009-10-18 10:16 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
Are there inexpensive motels within an hour of the race site?
2009-10-19 6:12 AM
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Tyler,
Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
kahne, i am staying at best western somewhere near there with my parents.
2009-10-19 8:41 AM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
I looked at the map for the bike course and it has the water stations marked.  They are at 15/28/43 mile points.

2009-10-19 2:44 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
triritter - 2009-10-19 6:12 AM kahne, i am staying at best western somewhere near there with my parents.


just booked a room there.  90 bucks which is a lot cheaper than the race rates at the resort.  looks like its ~4 miles away. 
2009-10-20 12:45 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
The best way to work the hands up water bottle exchange and an aerodrink is to dump whatever is left in your regular (frame mounted or behind the seat cage) bottle into the aerodrink well before the exchange. 

When you get to the exchange there is normally a place you can toss your empties without risking a penalty. Toss your old bottle and get a new one at the exchange. They are usually the 20-something ounce gatorade bottles that fit well in most cages. Put the bottle in cage. Don't try to fill your aerodrink anywhere near the exchange zone or you might end up on Youtube Monday. Wait until you're well down the road and back into your routine. After you put the new bottle into the aerodrink, put it back in in the cage and toss it at the next exchange. (Or throw it at a drafter)

I would suggest that in a November race (that you'll probably be starting the ride with arm warmers) that you won't have any worries on the bike. I'll probably leave my aerodrink at home and just go with two bottles behind the seat.

Quick question: Does anyone know how many are registered so far? I did the first Ironstar and it had a pretty large turnout. I have heard the numbers have slipped quite a bit in recent years. They say they are capping it at 600. 

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Mike
 


2009-10-20 2:19 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
Mike, thanks for info, I've  been training with aero bottle/water and feed bottle on down tube. Didn't want to change that up, was hoping to slow down carefully, ask volunteer to take off  bottle cap, hand it to me so I can refill aero without stopping and chucking empty. Maybe i should reconsider for safety reasons.
2009-10-20 4:07 PM
in reply to: #2469405

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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
Wayne,

Most of the time, they are giving out those gatorade bottles with the twist lids so you only need to turn the lid with your mouth and empty the fluid into the aerodrink. I'm assuming the top of your aerodrink is either the standard yellow mesh or you've replaced that with a shower sponge of some sort.

Either way, you should be able to do the whole process pretty quickly and safely (again, once you're well past the exchange zone) then just rack the empty in your cage until the next bottle exchange. 

Take a twist top gatorade bottle out on your ride this weekend and try it out.

Mike 
2009-10-20 7:21 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
I just looked at the new run course for ironstar.  It does not look like fun anymore. The finish will be at the resort so no logistical nitemare getting from the finish.   The Loop at 5-8 has 2 hills, but we will be climbing from mile 6-9 pretty good.  I went ahead and put the course in the route section so feel free to look at it.  Some of the roads are new so they do not show up on any maps right now.  I even think 1 small section is not paved yet or at least I did not notice Saturday when we drove by. I would go run it Thursday or Friday, but it goes through a gated community and they have the gates closed  everytime I drive by.  I live less than 10 miles from this section and I have ridden around it times, but not through the neighborhood.  The swim course change as well and it looks straight up hill.


Patrick

Edited by TriPatrick 2009-10-20 7:26 PM
2009-10-28 12:07 PM
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Subject: RE: Iron Star Triathlon : Official Thread
Swim course looks straight up hill??!?  What?
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