Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas : Official Thread (Page 6)

Water te ps: http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/wgof.html

Sometimes I just have to laugh.  10% chance of rain today here in Austin.  It's been raining where I work since about 11am, and currently we're in a downpour!  ROFL!!

Who's ready for this weekend?

I am in race prep mode but stuck at the office all day today. Travel day tomorrow. Should be in Galveston around 2-3pm and staying at the host hotel. Get settled in the hotel and have a nice dinner. Planning on a ride and run on Saturday morning. If anyone is interested in joining in, PM me and we can set up a time to meet up .. probably do 20-30min out and back on the bike course then maybe an easy 3mile run

I'm not ready.  It hasn't hit me that I'm racing in 3 days.  Guess I need to get my sh*t together!

I think I'm ready....well...as ready as I'll ever be!  My saddle sore on my leg from 2 weeks ago is still a problem.  The lump is gone, but the skin still doesn't like my saddle pressing on it.  Spent 30 min on my bike on the trainer last night and it was quite uncomfortable, but the trainer typically is for me.  I picked up the Aquaphor recomended, just not much progress yet.  I'm not at all afraid to stop and reapply if I have to! 

I'd say I'm 50% packed, not coming in until after noon on Sat.  I'll probably leave Austin around 9am or so.

Thought I would be a lot more nervous at this point, but I'm not and I'm glad!  Thankfully I've been getting great sleep, which I don't normally do race week.  I have mixed feelings about race day, likely because it's my first 1/2.  Torn between "get it over with", and "wish it would slow down so I can savor the experience"!!  Either way, it's going to be one hell of an accomplishment for me!

Anyone up for posting some predictions? Assuming pretty good conditions, not massively windy, or an opposing current on the swim..... I'll stick my neck out with:

Dream: S/B/R/T(1+2) of 35 min, 2:50, 2.05, 5 min for a 5:35

Expect: 38m, 2:52, 2:10, 5 for a 5:45

There, now I'm accountable to the BTers!

It seems most people on here are talking about how they aren't ready - well guess what......I am ready like a MoFo!!!!! 

I've trained hard/smart, tapered smart and I plan to race that way as well.  I'm going to go moderate (aerobic) effort on the swim and bike.  When the run comes along I'm going to go out like it's the last half of the marathon.  I'll make sure there is some left in the tank until about mile 7-8, and then BAAAAAMM!!! I'm going to unload what I got left and pass all of the people I can who went out too fast!!! I'll be like that hungry alligator that has been waiting all day for the prey to wear itself out and I'll have a big dinner on the field ahead of me!

I wish everyone else has a great race as well and many enjoyable beers at the finish line - good luck everyone!

bzgl40 - 2012-03-29 11:09 PM I'm ready.  Just happy my bike made it to Texas in one piece.  I flew into Austin today and have the bike reassembled already.  Going to do a short ride/swim tomorrow and head to Galveston early Sat morning.  I would be happy with under 6:30 but my only goal is to give it all I got and yet not end up in an ambulance. 

Hey - What wave are you in?  Just wondering if you would happen to be in my wave.  I'm 30-34, don't know anyone racing in my age group.

This sounds like a great plan to me too!  I'm thinking I'll be closer to 7 hours, it's the best I can guage from my training times and I've padded on extra time to be conservative.  I've been training on a lot of hills around here with my run/rides so hoping the flat course gives me a slightly better advantage!  A 6:30 would be awesome and a huge accomplishment for me!  I'm just going to try to take it all in stride, do the best I can, and execute my race as close to the plan as possible.  I think I've been over my transitions in my head about 1,000 times already, where I'm going to seed myself at the swim start, how I'm getting out of my wetsuit, how I'm going to ride the bike, and my plan for the run, etc...feels like I've already done the race!  ROFL!!

Bottom line...I'm ready and so freakin' excited about my first 1/2!!!  I want to savor every minute of the next 3 days!!   

I wish everyone a safe journey to the finish line!  No trips to the first aid tent, hospital, or the like are allowed by any of us!  ;-)

12ozcurl - 2012-03-30 10:50 PM I'll bet they will find a spot in the water that makes it legal......unless Lance wants it the other way

I don't think the Pro's follow the same cutoffs.  I know when I raced the 5150 in Galveston the Pro's had to go san's wetsuits, but the AGers all got to wear them.

Mrs Bru - 2012-03-30 7:27 AM

bzgl40 - 2012-03-29 11:09 PM I'm ready.  Just happy my bike made it to Texas in one piece.  I flew into Austin today and have the bike reassembled already.  Going to do a short ride/swim tomorrow and head to Galveston early Sat morning.  I would be happy with under 6:30 but my only goal is to give it all I got and yet not end up in an ambulance. 

Hey - What wave are you in?  Just wondering if you would happen to be in my wave.  I'm 30-34, don't know anyone racing in my age group.

I am in the 40-45. 

NewClydesdale - 2012-03-30 9:08 PM

12ozcurl - 2012-03-30 10:50 PM I'll bet they will find a spot in the water that makes it legal......unless Lance wants it the other way

I don't think the Pro's follow the same cutoffs.  I know when I raced the 5150 in Galveston the Pro's had to go san's wetsuits, but the AGers all got to wear them.

 

Correct, they don't.  And for those freaking out (not that anyone in this thread would of course) that legal they are talking about is to get awards.  You still have an 83.8.  That being said, I can't decide if I am excited about this possibility or scared.  I know I can swim the distance, I have multiple times.  But you know, it's that comfort factor.  But, I pretty much hate my wetsuit.  I think I'd actually feel better without it. 

Actual: 37m, 2.59, 2.10, 5m trans for a 5.52. Windy & hot - have to revise expectations for IMTX. Good fun though.

I executed mine exactly according to the strategy I laid out here.  The only surprise was that I was able to go a lot faster on the bike at the same HR than I thought I would and had a lot of juice left to go in for the kill on the run.  I was hoping for 5:45ish and ended up right at 5:20.  I've done tons of marathons and several triathlons and I've never had any good race-day surprises like I saw yesterday.  I'm thrilled as can be and certainly won't take a surprise like this for granted....they don't come along very often, if ever!

The whole time I was thinking to myself "how the heck are we going to do twice this distance in hotter weather?"  Now if we can just figure out what the IMTX course actually will be (maybe they will make it a mystery and we just have to follow the clues....like a scavenger hunt).