Triathlon Thread 2009

[ironz]

Liz...
If you go to Madison and volunteer....good jobs that will get done earlier in the day would be to work as a body marker, wetsuit stripper (somewhat physical work), bike handler for the first transition (much harder and longer shift if for the bike in/T2), or women's change tent.

Go to the ironman website and you can sign up. The good jobs fill up quickly! I was going to volunteer for one of those for Ironman CDA this weekend, but they're pretty much full except for aid stations.

 

[twoWDWfools]

Betsy - thanks for the info! Will sign up this weekend.

BTW, I've decided to do a half Ironman next year. Yep, I've gone right off the deep end....lol Just need to decide on which one. Didn't realize there were so many. Any suggestions?

 

[Todd and Toni]

Betsy - thanks for the info! Will sign up this weekend.

BTW, I've decided to do a half Ironman next year. Yep, I've gone right off the deep end....lol Just need to decide on which one. Didn't realize there were so many. Any suggestions?

Two that are not too far from home are Spirit of Racine HIM and Whirlpool Steelhead 70.3. I have been to Racine and enjoyed it (even placed once) and know a lot of people that have been doing Whirlpool Steelhead the past 2-3 years. They have good things to say.

 

[laxdef69]

I was out of town from Tuesday on in Colorado.

Todd is right on with the HIM in Racine...I did it last year, had a blast...no where NEAR placing though.

As far as jobs, I was a course marshall last year, and then worked an aid station...a lot of fun, a lot of work, and now I'm scheduled to be one of those idiots (whoops, endurance athletes) in September.

TOTALLY freaked out right now!!

P.S. I tried to sign up to work in the women's change tent, but they said nope...i guess they were full up!

 

[Todd and Toni]

I was out of town from Tuesday on in Colorado.

Todd is right on with the HIM in Racine...I did it last year, had a blast...no where NEAR placing though.

Don't give me too much credit for placing. It was insanely hot (90+) and the heat wiped out enough people in my division. It was such a surprise, we did not stick around for awards and they had to mail the award.

 

[laxdef69]

Don't give me too much credit for placing. It was insanely hot (90+) and the heat wiped out enough people in my division. It was such a surprise, we did not stick around for awards and they had to mail the award.

You have NO idea how many people I would have had to drown, run off the road on the bike, or shoot in the leg to place when I did the HIM (53...I was 56th in my Clydesdale group) I finished in 5:50 and change....

Good Lord Liz, did you say you finished your sprint in 48 and change?

I PRed my run in the Naperville sprint last year, and did it in 1:16:40 total!

Swim 08:43
T1 03:03
Bike 39:330
T 2 1:31
Run 23:50 SMOKING (For a fatty) 7:40 Pace

Total 1:16:40

 

[twoWDWfools]

Good Lord Liz, did you say you finished your sprint in 48 and change?

I love you Mike! If I had, I would've beat the elites.
No, total time 2:20 - not stellar but it's a PR none the less.

Took a look at the Racine race - definitely on the short list for next year.

We are signed up to volunteer while the morons, oh I'm sorry, athletes do the Ironman. I'm working early morning bag check and Patrick is going to be one of the motorcycle drivers for either course officials or vidcams. How is that for one cool job.

Oh and we're signed up for the Chicago Super Sprint end of August.

 

[laxdef69]

We are signed up to volunteer while the morons, oh I'm sorry, athletes do the Ironman. I'm working early morning bag check and Patrick is going to be one of the motorcycle drivers for either course officials or vidcams. How is that for one cool job.

Oh and we're signed up for the Chicago Super Sprint end of August.

That's a very cool job...I'll get you my bib number, or if you and/or Pat wear a WISH shirt, I'll wave/yell/collapse on you.

Are you guys doing Tinley on Sunday? I have a 80 mile ride in Madison on Saturday, so I'm going to be slow, but I'll be there on Sunday...

 

[twoWDWfools]

Definitely get me your bib number! I'll wear WISH shirt and promise to pick you up and drag across the line if you collapse near me. Not sure on Patrick's timing yet and if he's on motorcycle will be in gear.

Yep, we'll be there on Sunday - relay again (decided nice tradition). Will keep an eye out for you.

 

[wtpclc]

OK, crawling back to the surface for a bit. What a year! Hoping to do my first tri sprint of the eyar Sunday. I really needed it because my training has stunk this year. It's a half mile swim (why do people around her love that distance?), 12 mile bike and 5K, so, except for teh swim, pretty shohrt. SHoudl be fine. May be last, but should be fine.

COngrats to ghoulishgirl adn Liz for being triatheletes!

Betsy - I do hope you are feeling better. Must try to get to race report later.

Liz - Half Iron next year? :-O I'd love to do Steelhead with you, but if it's the same wekeend as this year we won't be able to. :-( Stephen (skulkers) will be doing it this year.

Chicago People - WHo's doing Chicago this year? IOm signed up for the Olympic Distace.

OMG, reconnected with my old collgeg roomie on Facebook. She's an Ironman. :-O Really starting to make me feel sucked in. Then, I realized that I would have to do teh race, inlcuding an entire marathon without dh. I just don't knwo that that's possible.

Missed you all! Good ot see the newer faces too!

 

[twoWDWfools]

Carrie - Hi! Missed you! Good luck this weekend! Is that the same on Maura is doing?
I'd love to do Steelhead with a friend so guess we'll watch for next years dates. I'm also looking at the New Orleans 70.3 as a possibility (flatter than flat).

Patrick is going to try his first tri at the Chicago one so we're doing the Super Sprint on Saturday but will be down there on Sunday to watch the other distances. Have to let me know your bib #!

 

[wtpclc]

Liz - No, Maura's is on the other side of the state. I'vve been there way too much lately. Thanks for the reminder that I forgot to wish her luck, though. I will definitely keep you posted with my bib info. I'll need all the help I can get. I think WDWFan9 will be there to scream team too.

Maura - Good luck Sunday!!! I'll send good vibes through the water. They must be connected.

 

[wtpclc]

OK, read the race reports. SO nice of Betsy and Liz to put them B2B for me.

Betsy - You rock! I rad that oyou had been sick and was worried. I should have known better. ;-) Way to go! ANy pix of teh rub shoes?

Liz - That was awesome! Way to hang inthere with the swim gone wrong and leg acting up! Just gives you more room ot PR next time. Hope tri #2 is much better for you like mine was!

 

[wtpclc]

ghoulishgirl - Jus tgot to your race reporrt. Way to go! Wow, to only really learn to swim in March and overcome your feer of open water, that is just amazing!!!!! You do Rock!

 

[jmasgat]

Carrie I was going to PM you just to say hi. Glad to "hear" your "voice". Thanks for the luck and back at you.

I went out to a local park to try out the borrowed wetsuit I have and to get a feel for a transition. Managed to fit my stuff in one backpack and head out. Watched a video online at lunch about transitioning and picked up a tip or two. Liked the one about rolling your sock down to make it easier to put on (hard to describe, but it worked).

Got to the park and felt a little self-conscious about being in my tri shorts/top and laying out all the gear. Got my wetsuit on without a problem. I'm not sure this suit fits as snug as it's supposed to, but it seemed fine in the water, and it will be fine for Sunday. If there is a "next" triathlon, I will order my own.

Didn't find the wetsuit to be distracting or anything--it's a sleeveless. So I had the opportunity to just swim back and forth a little. It was my first time really swimming like that in a lake and to say the obvious: It's not clear and I can't swim straight! How do people manage their swimming and sighting? I'm not sure if I can discern a tendency to veer in a particular direction. Tried to look up every few strokes, but it really threw off my (laughable) cadence/smoothness (insert BIG laugh here!) Plus, at one point my goggles got foggy/waterlogged (I heard that if you spit in them, it helps!)

Got out of the water and found it very easy to get out of the wetsuit (it seems to not have very tight leg openings). Here's another question: do you get into your socks/shoes standing up or sitting down?

Another thing--I normally wear glasses, but for this used contact lenses. I thought I would take them out at the tranisition and switch to my glasses, but I think it might be tricky to take my lenses out. Problem is, I don;t have non-prescription sunglasses. Will have to sort that out.

Anyway, overall it was fine. I feel a little better now about things, although the diectional swimming, goggles, and lenses need some work.

Maura

 

[mkymsehi]

Maura, spit works in a pinch.

Go to a local dive shop, or sporting goods shop that has snorkel gear. Aquaseal Sea Drops works best. About $3 a bottle, and only takes one drop on your goggles. One bottle lasts forever! Apply, rub, and rinse.

http://www.amazon.com/Aquaseal-Drops-Anti-Fog-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B001UZ26J2

You can also use Johnson & Johnson's No More Tears baby shampoo. Apply, rub, and rinse.

On another note. My tri letter arrived in the mail yesterday, indicating packet pickup, etc. What I found really funny was they printed the race course record times, and what the average times were for each leg of the race.

Average finishers time was 2 hours something. I'll double check it later (it's in my truck). I'm estimating a 3-3:15 hour finish. Just about 5 weeks left for me.

Heading to the ocean for a swim this afternoon with the keiki. Y'all want pictures?

 

[wtpclc]

Maura - Been a tough spring, but I'm hoping things get easier from here out and that our training becomes ummm somewhat consistent. SOunds like you need cheap sunglasses fro teh race. FOr the next one, you may want to look into Rx goggles. My niece wears though and I thought SIL said they weren't oo expensive (like fairly cheap IIRC)

Jeff - So glad I' don't get info like that on my confirmations. ;-O

OK, I'm gonna' be last in the sprint Sunday. On teh bright side there's adn olytmkpic +, so it won't look so bad. Hope I don't accidentla take their course.

 

[mkymsehi]

1,000 meter swim in a current, and south swell. Hawaiian roller coaster ride!

 

[wtpclc]

Very nice Jeff!

Question: Athena or not? Does it matter? In some races, they say if you do Athen, you don't compete with agfe group. Does that mean you don't start in that wave either? I guess I don't understand what it's there for. Plus, seriously. 150 pounds? OMG, I'll never be 150 pounds. That seems like a really low weight category. I'm torn between nedding every advantage I can get and knowing that it really doesn't matter and wondering if it even is an advantage.

 

[laxdef69]

Very nice Jeff!

Question: Athena or not? Does it matter? In some races, they say if you do Athen, you don't compete with agfe group. Does that mean you don't start in that wave either? I guess I don't understand what it's there for. Plus, seriously. 150 pounds? OMG, I'll never be 150 pounds. That seems like a really low weight category. I'm torn between nedding every advantage I can get and knowing that it really doesn't matter and wondering if it even is an advantage.

Athena/Clydesdale is a separate class, and in the 1/2 IM I did last year was a separate wave.

i wouldn't necessarily call it an advantage...Its just a different classification.

I've finished faster than many age groupers, and in fact have had a couple of races where I would have placed higher in the age group than I did in Clydesdale class.

I train with some skinny guys who used to make fun of me for being so slow. I gave the worst of them a backback with 15 lbs of rice in it one morning...keep in mind I am 40 lbs heavier than him. I smoked him on the run when he was carrying it. He's been pretty quiet since then.

You have to remember how skinny the pros and elites are. The heaviest EVER to win in Kona weighed in at something like 76 or 78 kilograms. Times 2.2 lbs/Kg, you get the heaviest EVER winner at 172 pounds...

Enjoy the training process and raceday...you are competing with yourself after all!