TriSports.com Halfmax Naitonal Championship : Official Thread (Page 4)

Well since I haven't been swimming for the last couple months at least I don't have to worry about getting cold with the water temps---it'll be like a bath!!

I'm not real sure what to expect for this race---was real excited when I first found out about it, then wondering why I signed up, now just wondering how the body's going to hold up (few odd aches and pains this summer...)....

So who's looking to qualify and RACE world's in '11???  I know that was my first thought but now don't think I'd take the spot even if I qualified.......hmmmmm

OK, I'll admit:  I'm harboring that hope.  If I qualify, I will probably go.  (I haven't looked into how much it would cost, and finances are an issue right now...  That would be the only deal-breaker for me.)  I'm relatively new to this, so it's a bit of a brash hope, but my season has been good on short-course races (not so much for my spring HIM, however), so if I can put it together for this race, I think there's a decent chance.

My swim training also has been, um, not great.  And I'm slow to boot.  So finishing well is really about biking smart and running hard for me right now.

If by some miracle I manage a decent run and qualify, I would take the spot. Less travel since worlds are in Vegas next year.
I am hoping to go sub 5, but I don't think that will make the team in my AG.
Wish they were having the clydes compete in their own division. That is how I qualified to qualify. 

I'd take a spot if I qualified, I worked too hard to get my qualifying time not to go. 

I figure I have a decent shot, just need a strong run.  I'd like to go 5:24 but we'll see.

Yeah my original plan was to take a spot if I made it since it was in Vegas but finances and distance of the race itself most likely dictate that I'd pass on it now---really not interested in training for what is basically a late season IM next year....  Of course that's today...........of course qualifing is a whole different issue

I suspect that the MB course is going to be similar speed to the Redman course (last year's qualifier race), which I haven't seen, but have heard is fast.  Of course, you never know what happens on race day, but looking at the results from that race, it looks like 4:50 or so would be a relatively safe qualifying time (in my division -- M40-44), with no roll-downs.  (Do they do roll-downs for this?)

So let's see, assuming 2:30 transitions, that's got to pan out something like this for me:

Swim:  35 minutes (yeah, I'm slow...)
Bike:  2:30
Run:  1:40

Very doable.  Let's get it on!

Yes there is roll down for this BUT I think it's only a few spots---as in the top 20 in each age group qualify with roll down limited to 25 or something like that...

I just qualified for this one at Patriots, so I am signed up and getting excited!  I hadn't really thought about the fact that it is a qualifier for Worlds.  What does it take to do that?

According to the USAT website---it says top 20 in each age group qualify for the US world champ team---I guess since it's being held here in the US we got  A LOT of spots.....

Edit to add:  Qualification: Top 20 in each age group rolling down to 25th place after applying the age-up rule----from here:

http://www.usatriathlon.org/resources/about-events/team-usa-qualifying-events/2011-qualifying


Edited by Skippy74 2010-09-17 6:41 PM

OK so the REAL question is---WHERE is the BT meet going to be for this race?!?!?!  I'm going to be getting into Myrtle probably after lunch on Thursday...not sure how much "race" stuff I'm going to be doing since this is the first time that my wife and kids have traveled to a race with me but would still like to put some names with faces before the race.

I'm not getting there until Friday late morning.  Meeting up would be a lot of fun -- my family is not coming this time, so I'm unattached, so to speak.  I'm thinking I'll do an easy 10-15 miles or so on the bike early afternoon Friday before bike check-in -- if anyone wants to join (very easy pace, just getting blood moving), let me know!

As far as 'what does it take to qualify', I'm guessing (and it is sort of a guess) that you can compare times with last year's race (Redman).  That is also reputed to be flat and fast, so times should be ballpark-similar, emphasis on 'ballpark'.  I'm figuring (guessing) it'll take 4:50 in my age group (M40-44), maybe faster if the swim is really fast and the wind isn't an issue.

So, I looked at the results from last year, and it looks like my Patriots time of 5:22:29 would put me in the running for Worlds for the 35-39 age group.  That had never occurred to me as a possibility.  Interesting!

My husband is coming to MB with me.  We plan to arrive sometime Thursday afternoon.  We'd love to meet some of you guys.

Hello

The swim start times are now posted.

Kevin

Ok so things I just learned by looking at the website for wave start times......

-The water is very warm still....(79*)
-Only ONE bottle exchange on the bike course....
-Gatorade is the sports drink (I had checked months ago with RD and was told Heed)....

At least mens 30-39 is 7:30 (1st wave) start....

Wow, thanks for pointing out only 1 water bottle hand-off. Good to know.

I am surprised that they mixed up the ages like that. There will be alot of younger males passing me in the swim. Yikes, males are much more aggressive swimmers than us 'midlife crisis' females, and I am worried about getting kicked or crawled over.

I won't mind them passing me in the bike, tho, as I'll get to look at their butts.

Well, I just looked at your swim time from B2B last year, and I can assure you that I won't be one of those 'young' males passing you on the swim.  You will probably see my butt on the bike, but I'm not promising anything...

I also was expecting Heed.  But I can handle G-ade (though I prefer Heed).  BTW, Heed's website still says that they are providing the drink for this race....

I still think there's a 50-50 chance of wetsuit legal.  A lot changes in the last two weeks of Sept.

I look forward to seeing your butt pass me on the bike! As for my B2B swim time. Thank you Also: #1) that swim was with a current, and #2) I was in the best shape of my life for that race. No true any more.

I always carry my own nutrition for races. Kind of a pain, esp on the run, but at least I don't have to worry about something agreeing with my stomach. Or, worry about the race director changing from heed to gatorade at the last minute. That would suck if you trained for heed!

Good luck to all. Taper time!





Edited by keyone 2010-09-20 5:55 PM

Carol---you're killin me  You won't have much time to check out butts as you fly by them...

As for those B2B swim times---yeah that current last year sure made for fast swims---even without much training---or course my NO swim training for this race is a bad thing...this should be an interesting "race"

I'll be rolling in Friday as well.
I am keen for a ride and/or meetup.
Staying at the marina something or other. 

I'm coming in on Thursday afternoon, and interested in a gathering. Staying at the Sands Ocean Club.

How's everyone's training? I have been waking up famished in the middle of the night alot. For example tonight. Put in 120 miles over the weekend. Didn't mean to, but misjudged Sat bike route and got lost on Sunday's. lol. I'm feeling ready, and time to taper.

Worried about the swim. I did White Lake Oly, and the water was choppy and that swim really beat me up and I felt it the rest of the race. The Halfmax course is out and back, meaning we will fight a current one way, right? At Beach 2 Battleship last year, the current was so strong (to our favor), that when I stopped at the end, I had a hard time grabbing onto the dock. I can't imagine swimming half way against THAT!

Edited by keyone 2010-09-21 1:13 AM

The swim course looks like a J---my understanding is that the short little part of the "hook" is against the current and the main part will be with the current...not sure how strong it is though...

So since we are getting to taper time---what wheels are people running for this race?  If not wetsuit legal--anyone going with a swim skin?

I'm getting in on Fri. I would love to ride, but with bike check in ending at 7, I doubt I would have time. I may get in a short swim. I'm bringing the whole flock; wife who is doing the Olympic, son and daughter, and a babysitter. Plan on hanging around until Tues.

I have IM Cozumel in about 7 weeks. I have no idea how much of a taper I should do for this race. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

FWIW Deep wheel on front, disc on rear. No swimskin but still hoping wetsuit legal

Considering powertap on rear but probably not

The waterway usually is pretty smooth, I'll take some pics and email them to you of the Sunset area waterway.   And in comparison to B2B where there is an inlet of the Atlantic pretty close to the swim at the Halfmax there doesn't appear to be one in the vicinity.   I may try to scope it out this weekend and get some pics of where the water conditions at the swim start area and shoot those to you too. 

I'm going in for packet pickup on Thurs - what time are you getting to town.  I'm picking up an Aquaphor teammate at the airport ~2:00 then over to the site.

My current plan is to go to the bike check-in area after lunch (at around 2:00, i.e., lunch has digested) then ride a bit from there and then check in the bike.  If anyone wants to join that plan (or propose a different one), let me know.

Wheels: same as always (I have only one racing option):  Bontrager deep rim on the front, old Zipp 404 with wheel cover on the back.

Swim skin:  Nope.  Wetsuit:  absolutely if legal.

Taper:  I try to keep pretty much the same frequency and intensity of my workouts, and just reduce time.  But I did take a day off yesterday and I will take the Friday before off apart from a very easy ride.  My original plan was to taper to 80% of volume this week, and 50% next week.  However, I felt terrible on my run today (could be because of the day off yesterday -- sometimes that happens to me), so I'm rethinking that plan to maybe more like 75% and 40%.  We'll see.  Either way, I've got to get back on the horse the week after Myrtle Beach! -- like Peter, I've still got an IM to come (B2B on Nov 13).