Disney Triathlon?

[bekagain]

I just looked over the posts and see lots about the Marathon but is anyone planning to do the triathlon?

Has anyone done this at Disney before? How was the swimming? I live in Michigan and am thinking that I would have to drive to get my bike there, which adds days to the trip length.

Just looking for some moral support and training buddies!

Bekah

 

[TiffJ]

The one in May is the Danskin Tri & I know at least 1 of our WISHers has done it. From what I've heard it is an awesome event & one to do. The other is a much longer one. I have been wanting to get into tri's but haven't been able to yet. Maybe next year. I cant get over swimming in that nasty lake

I know some people ship their bikes & have a LBS put it back together for them. Just an option to shipping. I'm hoping to try some local sprint tri's by next year.

 

[xterratri]

Beca, I raced the FL 70.3(half Ironman distance) race in May. I'm not at this time planning to do the International distance in September as my main race for this season is Ironman Wisconsin on Sept 10th. The swim for both events is in Bay Lake starting at Fort Wilderness. The water is warm enough to not be wetsuit legal. It's very dark w/ tannins as is typical of southern lakes. The area on Disney property and immediately surrounding it is pancake flat- very fast for cycling. We went further out into the next county which was hillier on our bike since it was a 56 mile loop but it was still very fast in my opinion. The run was again pancake flat but w/ very little shade and 93 degrees for 13.1 miles. Our run was 3 loops around Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge whereas my understanding of the Sept course is that you run to Epcot. The biggest hills on Disney property are on/off ramps so any course should be fairly flat.

I live in the northeast so I flew to the FL 70.3 and earlier in the year St Anthony's Triathlon in St Petersburg, FL. I will also fly to Wisconsin(Madison) in September so I bought a nice bike box off Ebay this winter. Many bike shops rent them though and that can be a more economical option if you aren't going to be flying fairly frequently w/ a bike. You can either fly w/ it or ship it to a local bike shop(Orange Cycles in Orlando I think) and pay them to re-assemble it for you. Another option for some races is a business called tribiketransport but I don't know if they are doing the international distance at Disney(they did the 70.3). It's a neat concept- they have special trucks that the bikes get loaded into fully assembled at a local(relatively- they only work w/ certain shops and not close to me) shop and then unloaded at the race site and then the return process to get it home.

Feel free to post triathlon questions on the main thread too. There are at least 5 others that I know of besides myself that have either done triathlons or are in training to. I ran the full at WDW last January, the Minnie in May and am going Goofy this January but I'm primarily a triathlete that is trying to work on a relatively weak run for the level I compete at. Wisconsin will be my third Ironman plus I'm doing a total of at least 4 and likely 5 half Ironman distance races this year.

 

[crzy4pooh]

I did the Danskin and it was amazing! I'm guessing you are talking about the one in September, though. It is an international distance tri. I believe it takes place mostly in Ft. Wilderness except for the biking. Lynne (xterratri) has done this one, I think. At the danskin, one of the LBS brought tons of bikes that people rented. I talked to a few of them who said the bikes were great, and it was so easy to have them waiting at the transition area for them. By renting a bike, you didn't have to worry about transporting it all around Disney property. Also, several people brought their bikes on the plane and reassembled them at Disney.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but look for Lynne - she is the tri queen!!!

I would love to hear about your experience at the Disney tri if you do it! That is one of my loooooong-term goals. (someday...)


ETA - Nevermind - there's Lynne. Great to see you!!

 

[TEK224]

Hi Bekah,

I competed in the 1/2 Ironman (now called 70.3) two years ago. Unfortunately, I didn't finish. I suffered from leg cramps on the hilly section Lynne mentioned.

I really enjoyed the event, though, and am working on getting myself better prepared so that I finish next time. That was my first tri ever and probably not a good idea to start with a 1/2 IM.

The lake swim freaked me out a little. Ir was dark and very disgusting when I got a mouthful . I almost made it to the 1/2 point on the bike when I got cramps in my calves. Apparently I overhydrated and didn't have enough salt in my system. It was very hot, too.

But I'm not discouraged. One of these days I'll be registering for that race again.

Terri

 

[lmogs]

Hey!

I'm originally from Michigan too. . .my sister and I are both doing the tri in September (my first). She raises money for Team in Training and goes down with a big group. They rent a semi, and ship all of their bikes together. It may be worth checking if they'd slip your bike in too! (I'm sure for a fee) But to put it on the plane, it's at least $100 more - and a few I checked with wouldn't guarantee it's safe arrival! Yikes. I believe the truck leaves from the Lansing area. You can PM me if you want more details!

 

[JimB.]

Ok, I'll bite.

Just what is an "international Distance"??

Color me confused...............

BTW, I'll be reprising my duties as a bike mounted paramedic during the triathlon (& the marathons in January, also)

See ya there!!

 

[lmogs]

International distance (or Olympic distance) is 1.5 KM swim, 40 K bike, and 10K run. There are also a sprint distance (not sure of the exact distances here) and of course the ironman. So glad there's a DISer watching out for us!!

 

[xterratri]

Hey were you one of the bike medics who gave me anti-sting stuff when I got stung by a bee on the neck coming out of Animal Kingdom around mile 17? It was actually somewhere between 18 and 19 before I finally found any medical people. Good thing I didn't have anaphylaxis but medical might have found me quicker if I had quit moving. As it was I just continued. Took almost a month for the mark on my neck to go away- my very own personal WDW marathon souvenir

I worked medical at the Marine Corps Marathon in DC in 2005 and may do it again this year. I let my paramedic card lapse when I started med school so the military run races are some of the few that I can actually work at my level of training rather than as a 'BLS' level provider.

Triathlon distances- sprints can vary with swims anywhere between 400 and 1000 meters, bikes in the 12-16 mile range, and runs usually right around 5 K plus or minus some. Half Ironman or 70.3 distance is standardized at 1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike, and 13.1 mi run and Ironman is double that. Of the three triathlons on Disney property, the May races are Danskin(sprint) and the FL 70.3 and Sept is an international/olympic distance and is actually a Disney Endurance event rather than an outside event held on Disney property like the other 2.

 

[JimB.]

Hey were you one of the bike medics who gave me anti-sting stuff when I got stung by a bee on the neck coming out of Animal Kingdom around mile 17?

Nope. Wasn't me.

I was going to ask if it was the marathon or the 1/2 until I , uh............ saw the "mile 17". D'oh!

It's easier to stay still if in need. There are 6 or 7 teams of 2 bikers on the course, so big gaps are there. Stay still & we'll find you. Keep moving, & well. ...............

 

[LErin26]

Just wanted to say hi and that I'll be doing the oly in September as well. I am shipping my bike from NH and have rented a bike box from my LBS. This is my second tri and I am more nervous about my bike getting there and put together than I am about the race itself!!