Hammerhead Olympic Triathlon

I'm registered, I'm pretty certain Kendallf is also in. If you add this as one of your races it should list other BTers participating.

This is a great course, closed since it is in the military base. The challenge will be dealing with the heat in August in FL.

I still don't have this one settled.  I had made a list of pros/cons doing HOT vs. Disney. 

turns out my parents, who called last night, may be coming here the weekend of HOT.  I"m about 3 hrs south of Jacksonville or so.   I read somewhere the closest hotel is a good 35-40 minute drive from the HOT site?   Disney rooms were 79/nite last time I checked.   Plus Tom's surgery coming up soon and he'll be off his feet for at least 6-8 weeks totally, and don't know how he's going to be getting around after that.   Too many variables for me right now.  I basically don't have anythign planned in stone after MPM-other than IMFL- but I do have a wish list, though.

I'm in and I signed up for on base lodging.   woot!! 

NOw, how do I cram Oly training in four weeks when I've been doing itty bitty sprint training?   This is gonna be hell but also gonna be a great, fun trip!! 

tbctbc - 2006-07-26 2:08 AM I had originally planned to do this back in early June when I started training...but I'm so scared...the farthest I've run is 4 miles...I have a sprint on August 6...so maybe I'll see how I feel after that?? How are the hills on the bike portion...I'm SO afraid of hills...does anyone know anything about them? If its all downhill, I'm so there

As I've said in other posts, this is a great event...closed course, very nice lake swim & not overrun with participants however, it will be HOT. They have plenty of aid stations on the run...you can do it!

As for the bike, I would classify the hills as rollers & nothing drastic. It's a great cycling course & most of it will be flat.

Come on out & do the race, just be sure to prepare well for heat & loss of fluids due to temps.

Glad you'll be joining us! 

My suggestions for the training: Start now, building your distances each week up to a week prior to the race. If you're running 3 miles now, for your weekly long run, move it up to 4 then 5 & 6 over the next few weeks. Same with the swim & bike...ideally you want to eventually train beyond the race distances but don't add too much volume too soon. Try to include some shorter, higher intensity (build each week) workouts in each discipline that push your cardio system i.e. intervals.

I would also suggest a BRICK of say a 20 or 30 mile bike/2 or 3 mile run at the least 2 weeks out but no closer to the race day to start to get the feel of the Olympic distance.

You don't have enough time to really train to "tear it up" but you have time to train to make it through that distance...Oh, don't forget to have a good hydration plan to deal with the hot & humid conditions...best of luck!

tbctbc - 2006-07-27 4:26 PM LOL...I can't yet "tear up" a sprint, so I have no delusions of tearing it up...I just want to finish...though I might let myself walk a bit on the run Do you need to have a nutrition/hydration plan for the Olympic? Do you have any suggestions... On the sprint that I have done, I just ate/drank afterward...so might need to revise that... I have been doing the actual sprint distances...will start to ramp up after my sprint next week, thanks!

Stay hydrated the night before & hydrate well pre-race with an energy type drink. For me, it's a 2 bottle bike ride...1 bottle water w/electrolytes, 1 bottle Hammer Gel w/water. Most likely I'll also down 2 gels, 1 around mile 5 & another around mile 20 or so. That's 44-48 ozs of fluid & more will be needed during the run...drink at every aid station.

They will have a bottle exchange after lap 1 & I'm guessing I'll take that too. Drink during the ride but don't overdue it near the end or your belly will be solshing around w/fluids on the run...not real comfortable.

One thing I'm doing this year is keeping a bottle of ice water at transition for T2...I want to a cold shot to cool the core & control the heart rate before the run (pour over the head b4 going out feels great).  I cramped near the end of the run last year & obviously want to avoid that again.  HTH

tbctbc - 2006-07-29 12:38 PM LOL, so I guess this means that I'm going to need to practice how to get the bottle out of the bottle holder on my bike while riding, huh Wow, I didn't realize it would take so much fluid, I definitely will need to work on that this next month!! PS-What are these electrolytes that everyone is talking about?

That's how my body works under these conditions, others work differently. I just want you to be prepared & enjoy the race because it really is a great event. Not many triathlons are this well run & not overrun with athletes...the closed course is very nice, not something you often find in a tri.

Does anyone have accomodations for this yet?  Not sure where I'm staying but if anyone is willing to split a hotel room, lemme know.  Thanks!

website says 19 buck rooms still available on base.  According to it, closest hotel is 40 minutes away.  

(well, I looked the other day, may have changed.....)