Ironman and DVC

[xterratri]

It seems to me that there is likely considerable overlap in the demographic between Ironman/ 1/2 Ironman distance triathletes and DVC members. Did anyone do the 2004 Florida 1/2 Ironman at WDW or is planning on doing this year's race? I'm considering doing the 2006 race as a warm up for the 2006 Ironman USA in Lake Placid(2002,2003 finisher, school interfered 2004, 2005) and gosh its just tragic that the race is at WDW I might have to do my taper at the World in July too. Oh no!
I'm trying to figure out how many points we are going to have to add on since we are an August use year and will have burned all our points by December 2005 so trying to decide about the race now. I'm assuming that IronmanNA has at least a 3 year and likely a 5 year contract with Disney. So, is it a wetsuit swim or not(hey, I'm just a weeny Northerner and have only not raced in a wetsuit 4 times total) and how are the DVC resorts about having a bike in your room/villa(I could definitely see needing a 1 bedroom with jacuzzi tub and it's just awful the SSR with the spa is my home resort)? I know that I could just rent points but frankly we are likely to need extra points EVERY year so better to just add on. Thanks for any thoughts on the race, course, doing it at WDW, etc.

 

[floridafam]

Dh did the race last year.

We stayed at WL even though we are DVC members. We stayed at VWL the previous October for the Great Floridian and we had an awful stay that included the power going out and DH missing his race.

There were bikes everywhere and nobody said anything. DH would never trust his bike to be stored by Disney.

He used the trail that goes between WL and FW quite frequently to check his bike, pick up his bike, etc.

I'm not sure how long of a contract IMNA has with Disney. We almost thought this year's race wouldn't happen. We assumed they would open up registration the following day for the next year's race and that obviously didn't happen. It seemed to take them forever to set a date.

DH doesn't remember if he wore his wetsuit or not.

Here is what he thought about the race. He really enjoyed it, the water was a little full of gunk. We had a nice time because our whole family was there and we would just hop the boat over to FW if we needed to do something race related. The only thing that got on his nerves was the food/water at the end. There were so many spectators and they were all taking food and water. There wasn't really a good set up to make sure the athletes got what they needed when the race was done. Hopefully, it will be different this year.

IMO, I'd use your points to book VWL. We already have our reservations for the May race and we are staying at WL CL.

Good luck!!!!!!

 

[RobDoc]

It seems the 2004 1/2 Ironman had a late entrant named Jeanne, who raised such a "storm" of controversy that WDW was forced to cancel the event.

September temperatures are pretty warm, so a wet-suit may not be indicated for this event.

Bikes can certainly be kept in the room (and should have no effect on occupancy).

Enjoy the competition!

 

[floridafam]

The 2004 1/2 Ironman was last May.

I think there was another triathlon (maybe the Danskin series) that was cancelled due to Jeanne.

xterratri,

What events have you done so far?

 

[xterratri]

In addition to Ironman USA Lake Placid in 2002,2003, also have done:
National Capitol/Ottawa 1/2 Ironman 2001, 2002
Peterborough 1/2 Ironman 2003
Muskoka Long Course 2002
Memphis in May 2002(International distance and off road)
Xterra West Championship Big Bear 2003
Xterra East Championship Richmond 2002,2003,2004
Lots of shorter distance races plus virtually all of the NE Xterra points series races. I've raced alot in Canada due to the favorable exchange rate, great race series, and the relatively short drive time to get to races. I only did Xterra East in 2004 and will likely not race at all in 2005(maybe Lobsterman here in ME but it was the day before an anatomy/histo exam combo in 2004). This year's season is being pre-empted by a visit to Camp OBC(officer basic course) at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. While I'm sure I'll do alot of running, I won't have much time to bike or swim. On the other hand, the Army is also what allows me to be able to do DVC while in med school when I've got classmates taking out 50K/yr in loans. Yes, I'll owe the Army but I consider the job of treating our soldiers and their families a priviledge.
I'm hoping the 2006 Florida 1/2 will fall during my time "off" to study for boards but depending on how the prep is going I may race and then lock myself in the room to study while I send my family off to the parks. Lake Placid 2006 will occur just before I start clinical rotations. Planning trips and races will get more complicated for me after Aug 2006 and probably won't get any better until I retire. The flexibility of DVC will be quite nice, I suspect.

 

[TEK224]

I Started the 1/2 last May, but unfortunately didn't finish. It was my 1st ever tri. I figured it's in WDW, why not? Will be better prepared this year. No wetsuits. I'm signed up for this year's race and already have ressies at WL. Stayed CL last year, but have woodsvire this year. Also staying at Poly for 3 nights before switching to WL.

Terri

 

[floridafam]

FYI-It was HOT last year.

We lived in Michigan at the time so DH couldn't get in a lot of training in the heat. We now live in Florida so he will be better prepared. You may want to consider that and arrive a few days early.

 

[TandyR]

The 2004 1/2 Ironman was last May.

I think there was another triathlon (maybe the Danskin series) that was cancelled due to Jeanne.

The Danskin triathlon in Disney was in July or August last year....I remember finding out about it shortly after it was done and it got me interested in trying a tri this year so it wasn't the one that was canceled last year do to Jeanne.....I am thinking about doing the Danskin one in Disney this year which is May 15. Either that or I am doing one up here in Maine that same weekend.....I rather do the one in Disney.

 

[floridafam]

I've always heard great things about the Danskin events.

It looks like there are quite a few people signed up for the Florida 1/2 Ironman. It should be a great time.

 

[ironz]

Hi, xterratri!
(and hello again to floridafam and TEK)

The Florida 1/2 IM last May was not wetsuit legal. The water temp was over 80 degrees...very warm!! In fact, it was warm enough that they didn't let people swim with wetsuits at all (by USAT rules, you can swim with a wetsuit in water 78-84 degrees, but can't be eligible for awards). There were actually people who did only the bike and run (also obviously not eligible for awards) because they were not comfortable swimming without their wetsuits.

The swim had some "weedy" stuff in part, but not too bad. The bike was relatively fast, has some rollers (nothing like IMLP!) and a couple of sections of rough road. If you can drive the course ahead of time, you're good to go.
The run was on the golf course last year and was quite warm. It's supposed to be a different run course this year. Being on a road would be way better than the concrete golf cart path. We did run on the beach for a ways, as well. I didn't mind that part, but some did. To each his/her own.

I stayed at WL last year, too. And probably will this year as well (guess I need to get to making reservations). Everyone had bikes in their rooms as far as I could tell. No problem.

The race that was cancelled due to the hurricane was an Olympic distance race that Disney was putting on. It was not rescheduled, and so far I have not seen it pop up on the calendar for 2005.
The Danskin at WDW is in May. This year (and last year) it is the weekend before the 1/2 IM. If I can swing it, I may just do both.

I did IMLP last year. Such a great course and awesome crowd support!! I'm training for IMAZ now (less than 10 weeks to go! eeek!)

Cheers,
betsy

 

[ironz]

Oh, and I'm a doc, too. small world, eh? I'm pretty amazed someone can train for IM and go to Med School...but then, I didn't do any of this til after I was out of school/residency.

 

[xterratri]

I'm actually a perfectly competent swimmer but have mostly raced where it was wetsuit legal and it made sense body temp wise to do so(on occasion I've worn my sister's long john rather than a fullsuit though). I've actually raced more wetsuit mandatory races than ones where it wasn't allowed.
It's good to know about pre-driving the course- guess I'll be doing a car rental or bumming a ride with someone else doing it. I hope that there's some shade on the run course- Petersborough 1/2 2 years ago was brutal at 90+ degrees, hilly bike, and no shade on the run or bike so I know I can survive those conditions, I just prefer not to.
Med school and training- I guess it's a viewpoint of how can you not? While I study alot and am doing rather well academically, I know I have to take time for myself also. Some people choose to go out to bars, etc. while I'm studying(or sleeping) but then I'll spend time biking, swimming, skiing, running, when they are studying or napping. I guess it is about priorities and triathlon and being fit and healthy are on my list. I also figure that I better do it while I can because clinical rotations and residency with long hours and on call schedules will likely not allow much training time(or any at all?).
What's your specialty? Also good luck at AZ- Ironman is never easy but is almost as addictive as Disney.

 

[DVCconvert]

(the following post is completely in jest)

You guys all make me sick. What you need to do is to stopping worrying about your next ego contest and pull thur the Mickey D's drive thru and make their sign change!

Start your day with a healthy dose of cripsy creams and grande lattes for once will ya!!!!!

Did I mention I've run the Idtarod in my sponge bob boxer shorts after eating wonder bread deep fried and spread with lard and still beat the dogs to the finish line? (Can YOU say that???)

Oh, and that's all while I had to use my sat phone to submit (what would turn out to be) my paper on the unification theory that won the Noble prize!!

Your next compedition should be to join "the rest of the world"!!!

 

[xterratri]

DVCConvert:

I actually get quite a few comments like yours. On the other hand, many people get questioned about why they are going to WDW AGAIN and all my friends already know that I'm crazy so they just accept it. Just shows that they are the loco ones, right?

By the way, people who do one Ironman aren't necessarily insane because they don't know what they are getting into. It's those of us who keep doing them that are slighty 'different.'

 

[IsAreWasWereAm]

I sure wish I could get my man to do the ironing. I can barely get him to take out the trash!

 

[ironz]

Doing Ironman triathlon is WAY more fun than ironing clothes!! lol!!

xterratri....actually, I think med school would have been fun if I had been bitten by the tri bug at that time. I played intramural volleyball and softball with my class teams and ran occasionally. Back then, I really didn't like to run! I'm a radiologist, but that unfortunately doesn't mean totally cushy hours (at least not in my previous practice).

Let's stay in contact esp. closer to the race...I'm sure I'll be renting a car and we can drive the course. If it stays the same as last year, it's really easy to break into sections: flat fast out, hills and turns, flat fast back. You'll be fine for the swim.

IMAZ will be my 3rd IM, so I guess I'm one of those weirdos. And I went to WDW 5 times in 2005, so I'm one of those weirdos, too!
So it's fun to combine the two and get some racing in while in the World! I've done the 1/2 marathon and marathon there (and probably will again!).

Cheers!!

P.S. DVCConvert...I had Krispy Kremes for breakfast on Sunday.

 

[ironz]

...on the race website. Just so ya know.