Ironman 70.3 Miami : Official Thread (Page 3)

The one thing i am really frustrated with is that the last mandatory meeting on Friday is at 3 pm..and bike check in ends at 5.  Um, what do they expect people who work to do? I am sorry, but I am not closing down my business 3 hours early to go to a meeting and drop my bike off...

yeah i had to take the day off...and its near month end.  if you work with finance its a pain in the arse.

Does it seem to anybody that the cut-off times are shorter than other HIMs & 70.3s?  I've only done Eagleman, but I think the cut-offs were 1:10 for the swim, 5 hours for the bike (Starting from the start of the last swim wave start) & 8 1/2 hours for the race.  The only reason I noticed is that I suck on the bike and a 4 hour window does not leave me much leeway if I have to change a tire or have an otherwise bad riding day.  It is what it is.

Joe

all the other crap aside just pray it will be cool day...

not talking about the morning either... doing a rain dance right now.

It was nice to get an email from the race director telling me that another celebrity that I've never heard of is participating, and that Bike Tech is handling the bike transport even though the deadline had already passed.

When, if ever, are we going to get any useful updates? Website is pretty useless. Correspondence is non-existent.

I completely agree.  i have receieved emails over hte apst few months, but nothing that was informitive...what i would like is a response ot my email regarding the mandatory meeting and bike check in...

ok can someone verify....since there won't be an email.

Thu & Fri is expo and bike checkin - both days 10-5...

1st i go to this Hyatt place to get my packet
2nd i go to bayfront park and drop off the bike

it kind of sounds like they will have packet at bayfront park?

if you go to the race schedule page:

http://ironmanmiami.com/?p=106

triathlon int'l expo and packet pickup - is noted as the hyatt, 400 SE 2nd. that's thurs and fri 10-5.

mandatory bike check in is friday only and is at bayfront park (venue).


there is no suggestion that packet pick up is available at the park. by its nature, packet pickup can only be in one place because how would they know who is picking up where? if you look at the expo floor plan, it shows clearly where you have to go. http://ironmanmiami.com/?page_id=920


i am taking the day off, so i don't have a problem, but my bigger question is why they don't have packet pick up and bike drop off until, say, 6 or 7 on friday for local people who work. i don't know anyone who actually attends those "mandatory" meetings anyway (except for pros, but that's different)

and, well, i wish they'd stop changing the course. and clarify the run course, because that's going to be a crowded mess. it looks like large part of it is on sidewalks along the bayfront and through the park, this race is too big for that especially in two-loop format.

So how is the water temperature in Miami this week? Wetsuit legal or not?

I was wondering the same thing, I think it's going to be close, water temperature is at about 80-81. WTC rule is:

 

Wetsuits are permitted if the water temperature is up to (and including) 76.1 degrees Fahrenheit (24.5 degrees Celsius) or colder.

Wetsuits will be prohibited in water temperatures greater than 83.8 degrees Fahrenheit (28.8 degrees Celsius).

Athletes who choose to wear a wetsuit in water temperatures between 76.1 degrees Fahrenheit (24.5 degrees Celsius) and 83.8 degrees Fahrenheit (28.8 degrees Celsius)will not be eligible for awards, including World Championship slots.

I called Paramount Productions (organizers) and they basically said they had no clue, and wouldn't know until race moring. I don't know how hard it is to stick a thermometer in the water and read it seeing that it makes a huge difference to the participants, especially if you're traveling for the race, but I guess they have been lacking in pretty much everything (except letting us now that they have a new sponsor or the biggest loser is racing). I sure hope that the race day organization is better than their lead up to the race. 

Has anyone seen the bike course???  I hadn't noticed all the 90 degree turns!  Did they changed this recently?!?! 

Yeah I know!! ;-(

I believe they have changed the run and bike courses about 3xs..

it is such a big venue with bayfront park covering a large area.  with two hosting hotels and changes in course layout and so many athletes, im planning on arriving early friday to figure everything out.  water temp the other day was 81 degrees.  they wont make the official call till race morning, but i dont see how the water can drop much before then.  still plan on bringing the wetsuit as u never know (but its only 1.5 hr drive from boynton for me).  I am concerned about the organization up to this point.  seems there are too many people involved that dont know the necessary stuff....or arent getting back to racers with answers.  im hoping the race itself makes up for the seeming lack of organization up to this point.  still looking forward to a fun (exhausting) weekend.  FIVE MORE DAYS!

ughh... i hadnt seen the latest changes to the bike course til now.... i see what you mean about the 90 degree turns.... 

I heard from someome in the Miami LBS that the organizers were having difficulty getting the proper permits from the city and that is why the courses have changed several times. Personally, I think the race organizers are a bunch of idiots.

Regarding water temperature and wetsuits, I think that I will go without unless the water temperature is less than 76. Too much risk of overheating, especially considering the recent death of a champion open water swimmer in low 80's water temperature.

Despite the seemingly poor organization of this race, I have trained very hard for this event, and will make every effort to enjoy myself on race day despite the incompetence of others.

Official Race Guide (PDF) now available on the website...what a concept.

http://ironmanmiami.com/race-guide.pdf

Per Official Race Packet that came out on the website today, it says the cut-off time for swim is 1 hour from the start of your wave.

I'm pretty new at this, but does anybody know how they plan to keep track of each wave & when somebody in a particular wave has exceeded the 1 hour limit?

Since the waves start every four minutes from 6:52am to 7:44am, that seems like it might get a little chaotic for the volunteers who have to flag everybody down while keeping track of time for each wave...

Has anybody been in another race that was done like this?

Edited by lezihe 2010-10-27 7:31 PM

I must say I have been doing tri's for a very long time and I have never ever seen this!!! it is always very hectic at the end of a swim no matter the distance and I can't imagine how they can keep track of this.

These organizers are SCARING ME!!!!

I am just going to have fun ;-)

At Eagleman 70.3, racers complained because they missed the swim cut-off but did not find out until they racked their bikes after the ride.  There were notes in their rack spots telling them they were DQ'd, not to continue on the run, and to turn in their chips.  Kinda cold.
I assume the race officals just checked chip times on the computer.

Edited by jfdjrr 2010-10-28 6:35 AM

They should also know by our caps as you exit the water.  If they are paying attention ot start time and time you exit the water, then they should be able to stop people right then.

So, Friday is the Miami HEats opening game.  Its going to be a mess down by the race site with tons of fans.  I am a bit concerned about all those people milling around our bikes!  I hope security is tight!
So glad the weather is going to drop a few degrees on SAturday! 70 at swim start, partly cloudy and high of 82  Sweet!!!

Was at the Expo today and packet pick-up.  Did I miss something??  At the window for Goodie Bags all I got was a timing chip?????  No race swag???  No T-Shirt (They did hand me a hat.)?  The most expensive race I've ever done and the worst swag.

I do the race to test myself so the swag isn't the end of the world.  It's just kind of neat to see what kind of odds & ends you get.

38+ hours to the starting line.

Joe

The weather forecast isn't looking too good. I don't mind the rain so much...it's the 14 MPH wind that can potentially make for a long day on the bike.

I did a short run this morning around the Bayfront Park area.  At 7:00 it was still pretty dark.  I estimate that the sun finally rose at about the time I should be getting out of the water.  On the brightside (pardon the pun), the sun will be behind us as we sight for shore.  And the water was very calm this morning.
But that brings my other concern about the swim.  I haven't attended a briefing yet, but I do not see how or where we will get in & out of the water.  No boat ramps or other obvious access/egress points. 

Joe

Whats the word? Im reading nightmare stories on Ironman's facebook page about how bad the race was???

FM
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