Ironman World Championship : Official Thread (Page 5)

On that note, I haven't done much reading yet in terms of what to expect the "waves" to be during the swim.  I know the majority is somewhat within the bay... and that the course direction puts us somewhat angled.  But how choppy will the water be?  Is it like a typical ocean where there are breakers at first near the shoreline, then it steadies out the further you get?

I realize this might be a stupid question, where the answer is: it's the ocean, idiot... the water conditions are about like what you see at any beach.

But have to ask before I go doing a ton of searching. 

The last few years what I've seen is calm wind days which results in a gently rolling swell once you get out as the water gets deeper. This all depends on wind, storms in the pacific and fronts as they pass through the area.  

With that being said it's the Ocean and the ocean can be a very unpredictable element.  Expect it to be close to the same as gently rolling but don't be shocked if there are 5 foot swell and lots of wind.  

Athlete guide is out!!!

And did anyone else notice the participants lists has BIB NUMBERS???  Somehow that makes it real.

#1788 baby!!!  That number sounds lucky.  I liked it the second I heard it.

I saw that part about the right ankle as well and I always wear it on the left for the same reason.  I guess I can put it on the right to get body marked and then move it to the left before the race starts!!

Strange!!!!

I know!  I think it will feel SO weird on the right!

Starting to cut back training as well.  Officially doing a 2 week taper but the really long stuff is done.

Ditto.  This week is recovery then a 13 hour week and a 10 hour week and then race week! :D

Okay, another question.

The athlete guide said food only in the special needs, nothing else will be accepted, and they will be thrown away after the race.  I'm fine with the whole "throwing away" aspect, but I wondered if I could still put a spare tube/CO2 into the bike special needs or will they literally turn it away?  Same with the run.  I would love to have an old throw away pair of gloves or goodwill shirt just in case I'm cold, but are they going to search the bags and make you take out any non-food items?  I also like to put spare TP and baby wipes and stuff in my run special needs in case I've gone through my stash from T2.

What say you, BT?

I've only done the one WTC IM (Louisville), and I put all sorts of non-food items in my bags (metatarsal pads for the run, extra socks, etc).  There's no way they search 2,000 bags...

Another question - worth buying a ticket to the welcome banquet for my wife?  Not sure it's worth $55 if it's just some videos, interviews, and buffet dinner (even though I/we get one free).  Although, it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so I'm game if it's at all worth the time/money vs. going to a nice dinner on our own.

Ha! I almost had a heart attack too!  That was the most stressful week I've had in a LONG time!  Part of me deep down was thinking, "There is no way they will tell me I can't go...I mean, it's KONA!"  But at the same time there was another part of me that said, "But they can tell me I can't go and there isn't anything I can do about it."  SO, yeah, I was FREAKING OUT.

I am going to go to the welcome banquet but probably without my jockstrappers...I want the experience but they don't need to spend $55 on it (IMHO...of course, I could ask them if they WANT to go....).

And the bike is the Pass Jen Party.  At IMFL in 2010 I was out of the water about 600 OA, by the time I got off the bike I had dropped to about 2100 OA...yes, I was passed by 1500 people on the bike....

My wife asked about any tips/tricks for spectators.  I've Googled for a while and haven't found anything.

Of course it'd be easy for her to sit around transition all day to see me come and go (especially durign the run), but does anyone know of any guides for spectators to get out on the course and see us throughout the day (up north, along the bike route, for example)?

Jen,

I am right there with you on American Airlines!!!!  I have no choice on airlines, To fly my family of 5 to Kona it took me $62.50 and 330,000 airline miles!!!  If they cancel my flight, I may just lose it, so far Xterra has let me down, may new Sugoi Tri shorts suck and can't be used!!! I really can't take any more bad news.  I am already not on training pace due to getting my lottery slot with only 5 1/2 month to train after 2 years of NOT training at all.

Their webpage says that they may be letting people fly standby for free in an effort to alleviate any potential issues...I'm seriously considering trying to get on an earlier flight just in case.  But I would have to convince my driver to bring me to the airport earlier...he likes to go to crossfit really early though so maybe I can talk him into taking me before he goes to that...

But I guess that's easy for one person...family of 5 probably can't really fly standby well!

I'm having issues nailing down what I plan to wear too.  I didn't want to buy new tri shorts because I had a TON of new shorts I'd never worn...because I gained too much weight after my surgery.  I expected to get down to a weight where they would fit sooner...they are BARELY fitting right now so I am trying to figure out which ones are best here at the last minute!

And I haven't been brave enough to try on my speed suit so it may be a race week decision whether I'm wearing that or a swim suit!  And I can't decide if I want to change into more comfortable clothes for the run either.

I'm a disaster!  The last thing I need is for AA to cancel my flight plans! :D  All the flights to Hawaii are probably really full that week so it would be awful if they cancel ANY of them...they'd never get all the people on the flight onto another flight in time!  I am hoping that by coming in Tuesday I have given myself enough leeway.

September is in the books!

 I was out of town one weekend so my bike number is a bit low.  The run is a smidge inflated...4-5 miles of that was really "hiking".

Another 13+ hour week this week then next to nothing next week and POOF...it will be time.  Holy crap that went fast!

Just trying to keep my sanity until I leave on Saturday!!!  I really don't want to work and I don't like taper.  It seems like I am just staring at the clock/calendar waiting to leave!!!

You leave Saturday?  I'm jealous!  I don't leave until Tuesday...but that gives me the three day weekend to get ready to leave.

If I wasn't so darn busy at work and with training (13+ hours last week and this week) I would probably be going crazy in the taper too.  I think I'm just at the point where I'm ready for it to be here....

But I still have SO much to do before I leave!!!!!  I haven't even thought about packing yet....

And how crazy is THIS....the highs here have been in the 80s mostly...Saturday for my last "long" ride?  52!!!  WTF????  So much for being acclimated for Kona by living in a hot place!  It's been unseasonably chilly here this fall!

I'm really looking forward to getting there late Tuesday night!  My wife, who is just over 7 months pregnant with our first child is coming too.  I am REALLY looking forward to relaxing a few days before the race because I've had a ton of stuff going on lately.  I have no time goals either, just planning to take it all in!

Crushed my PT test!  On to Kona!

I got a 91.8 (out of 100).  I blew my expectations away on the run.  I ran the 1.5 mile in 12:53...and considering I only really started running again in JULY...that's pretty darn fast (for a girl).  I realize in the grand scheme of life it isn't really fast (I've gone sub 11 before), but since I didn't specifically train for it I was excited.  I was worried I wouldn't get sub 13:15 (the time I needed to get over the 90 threshold)...and I was way faster than that!  Didn't know I had it in me!

I was gunning for that 90 SO bad!  If you score over a 90 you only have to take it once per year instead of in six months.

I'm ready.  Bring on the Ironman!