disturbed275's Mentor Group - Closed! (Page 15)

Turn on your TV and check out the news about Japan. It'll make your 'crazy busy, nervous and scared stuff" seem minimal. Remember why you chose to do the IM in the first place and enjoy the experience! It's a GOOD thing!

P.S. "Live everyday like your last and one day you'll be right."   -Anonymous  

Nice one! That really puts it into perspective, I will stop whinning and start training!

I keep a couple of past Kona events on the DVR whenever I need a pick me up.

As far as getting nervous, you have to trust in your training to this point.  Get in what you can when life allows and things will come together on race day.  I crashed on my bike 6 weeks out from IMWI.  I missed a lot of training, including being unable to run until about the week before.  I surprised myself on race day.  I'm hoping the same happens for you!  You'll be surprised how the adrenaline of race day will get you through.

Trust me, that will be money well spent!

I'm doing well had a 3200 swim this morning. Tomorrow I am heading to St. George Utah to ride the bike course in prep for next months IM.

That's a good plan.  I was really glad that I went and rode IMWI ahead of time.  It's nice to know what to expect

x2!!!

Definitely worth the $$$$.  Is this a new bike, or fitting an older one?

Went on my first open water swim with a wetsuit yesterday. I was really apprehensive about the low water temperature but it ended up being a non-factor. Water temp was less than 60 degrees but with the wetsuit it was a piece of cake.  I did feel a bit dizzy getting out of the water, but it wore off fairly quickly. 

The main problems I had were sighting and cramps. I really had to sight often or I would end up swimming perpendicular to where I was supposed to!  As for the cramps, since the forecast was for strong winds this afternoon, I went for 40 mile ride that morning. I didn't ride particularly hard, but it still had a significant effect on my swim.  When I would do the occasional scissor kick to get going after I stopped to look for the buoy (since I couldn't see it because I was no longer facing it) my hamstrings would cramp up! They immediately released again but I had to be careful to stick with the flutter kicks. 

I'm loving the wetsuit.  The buoyancy is especially nice.  I did still manage to chaff my neck despite putting on body glide.  My mistake was I put it on around the collar area but I chaffed all the way up to the “top” of my neck.

The swim ended up being 1644 yards and I completed it in 30:19.  I know that is not fast, but I know I can go faster.  I intentionally went slow to ensure I could complete the distance without drowning. My first competition open water swim with be at the RAGE triathlon in Boulder City NV. I’m competing on a half-iron distance relay team.  I’m confident I can complete the 1.2 mile swim without difficulty.  Maybe not especially fast, but I can complete it. 

Great swim faster than I could have done, especially in the cold water. I lose my breath easily in cold water probably the huge breathe I take in after sticking my face in the freezing water. Wears me out.

that is great!  I got a wet suit on clearance this past winter, and am really looking forward to trying it out.  We still have ice on our lakes, but I will be in prior 60 degree water temp, now.

That's a great swim!  Aren't wetsuits just awesome?  It looks like you're in a good spot for the tri coming up.  And don't worry, you'll only get that neck burn once (It happened my first tri and I always grease up the neck real good now)

The sighting will get better with practice.  You may actually want to sight more often than you think.  I will typically sight every six strokes and will only sight less often if I feel I'm staying pretty straight.  The drag created by lifting your head so often will affect your time way less than zigzagging all over the course.

I participated in the RAGE Relay in Boulder City today.  My leg was the swim.  Here are some things I learned:

• Wetsuit is mandatory for 60 degree water.  I saw some poor dude without a wetsuit whose skin was red,  and he appeared crippled he was so cold.
• Earplugs have potential as well.  I didn't use them today, but wish I did.  The cold water in my ear canal is disorienting and seems to cause some dizziness.
• Watch for wetsuit strippers and take advantage of them.
• Make sure your timing chip is under your wetsuit for easy wetsuit removal.
• Flip flops would've been great for walking to the swim start and walking to T1 following the swim.
• Don't slack off on your swim training.
• The saying, "You can't out-train bad eating" is true. Eat right.
• Take two towels: one to stand on and one to dry off with.

I'll let you know our results once they are posted.

Jake

thank you for some good tips.  I just got a wet suit and have yet to practice in it or obviously race in it. 

Earplugs, i would have never thought of.

same thing with timing chip under suit.

Okay, results are in.  

Place.Team......................Swim......T1....,Bike.........Rate...T2......Run........Pace....Total

1...The Stream Team A......25:37...1:20...3:10:31...17.6...1:08...1:37:34...7:27...5:16:08

2...50 Speedy Cliffys.........36:40...1:20...3:08:34....17.8...1:26...1:30:38...6:56...5:18:37

3...The Fast and The Furi...32:39...1:30...3:32:09...15.8...1:26....2:17:05...10:28...6:24:46

4...Stream Team B............32:01...1:38...3:57:31....14.1...1:22...2:13:43...10:13...6:46:13

5...Stream Team C.............56:04...2:09...3:40:16...15.3...1:15...2:07:46...9:46......6:47:28

6...Love the Pain................35:06...1:55....3:32:54...15.8...5:24...2:43:10...12:28...6:58:28

We finished 2nd-no thanks to me! I lost 11 minutes on the swim! I'm not really that bummed out at my time, I just wish the other teams weren't so fast. It was a great experience.  I'm looking forward to completing my first tri.

Mike, how was the St. George bike course?  Are you ready for the Ironman?  The good news is Ironman St. George isn't the hardest Ironman...it is second.

http://www.runtri.com/2010/07/runtri-benchmarks-easiest-ironman.html

The St. George bike course is tough. The roads are rough and that is not fun. I did really well until I hit what is called "the wall" by the locals. It is a 3/4 mile hill that gets steeper as you climb. I think it hits a 12 to 16% grade depending on who you talk to. I am happy to say that I made it up the hill. I rode from Sand Hallow and then did one loop. Total miles was 74 miles in 4 1/2 hours. I felt good at the end of the ride. That is the longest ride I have ever done. There are some good hills on the course but again the big one is "the wall".

Also I am praying that there is no winds. I hit 30-35 mph winds the day I rode.  I am feeling ready for the race. Of course I am scared, nervous and excited for my 1st IM. I think I will be able to finish between 13 and 14 hours. I was sick the week after the St. George ride and missed a week of training and then this Sat I cracked my handlebars and so my bike is in the shop getting fixed. I am worried about missing training even though it is trapering. I can only do what I can do. So bring it on!