General Discussion Triathlon Talk » IMLOU time trial swim start Rss Feed  
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2010-01-25 4:30 PM

Regular
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chicagoland, northwest indiana
Subject: IMLOU time trial swim start
i'm a slow swimmer so i need as much of the allotted time possible so i can give myself extra time for the cutoff.  my question is.... since it is a time trial start and the cutoff is 2hr 20 minutes after the last swimmer, what time should i be there so i can be one of the 1st swimmers???


2010-01-25 4:37 PM
in reply to: #2634029

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Pro
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Bartlett, TN
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start

If I understand your question, you want to be at the front of swim at IMLOU so you can use the whole 2 hours to finish the swim???

 

 

If so, don't go!  You will be miserable at the front!

2010-01-25 6:44 PM
in reply to: #2634029

Regular
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chicagoland, northwest indiana
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start

My goal would be to be at the front of the line in order to get a few extra minutes.  I am aware of the crowd coming behind me so i would be staying on the outside.
what time do they start lining up???

2010-01-25 6:49 PM
in reply to: #2634029

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Elite
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Whispering Pines, North Carolina
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
According to some RR, i've heard 4AM...but that's just guesses on behalf of the participants...
2010-01-25 7:54 PM
in reply to: #2634029

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Bob
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Binghamton, NY
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
I believe the time is 2:20:00 from the 1 st swimmer entering the water. The first year I believe it was different but the cutoff is midnight which is 17 hrs after the first swimmer enters.

I did the race in 2008 and there were people down there 2 to 3 hours before the start. I wanted to get off early and I rushed right down after they opened transition and there were probably 500 people already in line. When I do the race again I will take my time and start towards the end.

My advice would be to work on the swim so you won't have to worry about making the cutoff. Just remember, swim near the shore on the way out to the turn and in the middle heading for home. That's how you take advantage of the current.
2010-01-25 7:59 PM
in reply to: #2634029

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Expert
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Lake in the Hills, IL
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
I got there pretty early and I was waaaaaayyyyyy back in line. Took me 40 minutes to get to the start line after the gun went off. Alot of people had family waiting in line for them while they got their bike ready. I think they got there at about 5.


2010-01-25 8:08 PM
in reply to: #2634302

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Columbia, South Carolina
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
rstocks3 - 2010-01-25 8:54 PM I believe the time is 2:20:00 from the 1 st swimmer entering the water. The first year I believe it was different but the cutoff is midnight which is 17 hrs after the first swimmer enters.


No, and yes. The cutoff (in 2009) was 2:20 after the LAST swimmer entered the water.  (See Athletes Guide, here.)  The cutoff for the entire event was indeed midnight.

So if you are a slow simmer but OK at B/R, then it doesn't matter when you enter the water, unless you need more than 2:20 to do the swim, in which case, get there at 4am. Frown

If you aren't worried about cutoffs in light of this info (assuming it stays the same for 2010), my advice is to NOT get in the line.  Just hang around at the swim start until the line comes to you.  It is a LONG line, and starting your day with a long stint standing in line just doesn't make sense.

2010-01-25 10:11 PM
in reply to: #2634029

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Columbus, IN
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
No, and yes. The cutoff (in 2009) was 2:20 after the LAST swimmer entered the water.  (See Athletes Guide, here.)  The cutoff for the entire event was indeed midnight.

So if you are a slow simmer but OK at B/R, then it doesn't matter when you enter the water, unless you need more than 2:20 to do the swim, in which case, get there at 4am. Frown

If you aren't worried about cutoffs in light of this info (assuming it stays the same for 2010), my advice is to NOT get in the line.  Just hang around at the swim start until the line comes to you.  It is a LONG line, and starting your day with a long stint standing in line just doesn't make sense.


-----
Michael


Yes to the above.  My brother and his friend participated.  I volunteered.  I was there at 4:30 and people were already at the swim start.  This year I am in and this is my first.  I'm slow on the swim too but trying to improve now. 
2010-01-26 5:44 AM
in reply to: #2634302

Regular
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chicagoland, northwest indiana
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start

swim near the shore of tow island??? and then towards the middle of the river where the kayaks are???

2010-01-26 8:00 AM
in reply to: #2634029

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Fort Worth, TX
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
Plan to be at the swim start at least 2 hours earl if you want to be anywhere near the front...
2010-01-26 8:16 AM
in reply to: #2634606

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Columbia, South Carolina
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
mycarguy - 2010-01-26 6:44 AM

swim near the shore of tow island??? and then towards the middle of the river where the kayaks are???



That was my plan, and what I did.  I don't think the current was strong enough to merit the detour to the middle of the river, however.  If I do it again, I'll just swim the shortest line.  YMMV.


2010-01-26 1:24 PM
in reply to: #2634029

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Master
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Midlothian, VA
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
????

Don't they use timing chips?

So, why isn't the cutoff 2:20 after YOU enter the water. It makes no sense whatsoever to base a cutoff time on one swimmer when everyone is timed individually anyway.

And if you are in the last group of swimmers to hit the river, you don't get the full 17 hours to finish? You hit the line at 1 minute past midnight, but you still DNF even if your total time is only like 15 hours? Or someone else that was the first in the water gets 19 hours and ISN'T DNF?

Seriously, WTF?

There is some information missing here. (I hope.)

2010-01-26 2:12 PM
in reply to: #2634029

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Master
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Lexington, KY
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
The first AGer in the water in 2009 got in line at the swim start at 4:30 am.
2010-01-26 2:28 PM
in reply to: #2635560

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Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
faded_memories - 2010-01-26 2:24 PM ????

Don't they use timing chips?

So, why isn't the cutoff 2:20 after YOU enter the water. It makes no sense whatsoever to base a cutoff time on one swimmer when everyone is timed individually anyway.

And if you are in the last group of swimmers to hit the river, you don't get the full 17 hours to finish? You hit the line at 1 minute past midnight, but you still DNF even if your total time is only like 15 hours? Or someone else that was the first in the water gets 19 hours and ISN'T DNF?

Seriously, WTF?

There is some information missing here. (I hope.)



They want to be able to "close" portions of the course so things can be taken down and volunteers can be released so they set the time limits.  It would be impossible to look at you in the water and know when YOU are approaching the time limit so they set a global one that they can keep track of.  Unfortunately, there is a much bigger difference in this case.....it sucks but it is the only way they can do it.

I thought the whole TT start thing was cool but if it is "first come, first served" and you are lining up hours beforehand, then, definitely not cool.

2010-01-26 2:51 PM
in reply to: #2634307

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Philly 'burbs
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
moabrunner - 2010-01-25 8:59 PM

.Alot of people had family waiting in line for them while they got their bike ready.



[hijack]

I hate spot holding!!!!

 Don't leave grandma and a bunch of coats to hold an entire row at the kids school concert. Don't leave a blanket at the front of the fireworks and then come back hours later. Don't leave your coat on the chair at Chipotle and then go get your food.

Just. Don't. Do. It.

[/hijack]
2010-01-26 7:47 PM
in reply to: #2635560

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Champion
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Butler
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start

faded_memories - 2010-01-26 1:24 PM ????

Don't they use timing chips?

So, why isn't the cutoff 2:20 after YOU enter the water. It makes no sense whatsoever to base a cutoff time on one swimmer when everyone is timed individually anyway.

And if you are in the last group of swimmers to hit the river, you don't get the full 17 hours to finish? You hit the line at 1 minute past midnight, but you still DNF even if your total time is only like 15 hours? Or someone else that was the first in the water gets 19 hours and ISN'T DNF?

Seriously, WTF?

There is some information missing here. (I hope.)

They do use chips but I would only imagine the difficulty of trying to figure out who was at the cutoff time.

I do agree that the midnight cutoff ends but from what I hear they get everyone in the water pretty quickly (30-40minutes) not 2 hours..



2010-01-26 10:11 PM
in reply to: #2636280

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Columbia, South Carolina
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start
kproudfoot - 2010-01-26 8:47 PM

faded_memories - 2010-01-26 1:24 PM ????

Don't they use timing chips?

So, why isn't the cutoff 2:20 after YOU enter the water. It makes no sense whatsoever to base a cutoff time on one swimmer when everyone is timed individually anyway.

And if you are in the last group of swimmers to hit the river, you don't get the full 17 hours to finish? You hit the line at 1 minute past midnight, but you still DNF even if your total time is only like 15 hours? Or someone else that was the first in the water gets 19 hours and ISN'T DNF?

Seriously, WTF?

There is some information missing here. (I hope.)

They do use chips but I would only imagine the difficulty of trying to figure out who was at the cutoff time.

I do agree that the midnight cutoff ends but from what I hear they get everyone in the water pretty quickly (30-40minutes) not 2 hours..



Correct.   Individualized cutoffs would be a logistical nightmare, and not serve any real purpose, since the cutoff is really just so that they can close the course.

And yes, around 45 minutes and everyone was in.  I was nearly the last person in, so I'm confident about that.

As I've said here many times before, better systems are clearly possible.  At the very least, assigned blocks of times would eliminate a lot of problems.
2010-01-27 3:00 PM
in reply to: #2634029

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Elite
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Whispering Pines, North Carolina
Subject: RE: IMLOU time trial swim start

unless the course is really, really crowded, i don't see a problem starting in the back...a 30-40 minute difference isn't going to make that much of a difference in tempertatures...and, you don't have to roll out of bed at 3AM to get in line (taht's assuming you sleep at all that night due to nerves). sleeping that extra few hours could be a HUGE advantage, as you might be better rested.

i'm a slow swimmer (2.2x /100 m), but 2hr and 20 mins is A LONG TIME for that distance. if you need that much time, you should make swimming a priority leading up to IMKY. not trying to be ugly here, so save it if you are going to complain about that comment...

i think i'll start in the latter part of the wave, now that i think about it...

good luck at IMKY! see you there!

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