Mtn Man Oly & HIM - Aug 14 - Flagstaff

I'm i for the Oly.  I never really looked at the run course before I did it last year and it was an unpleasant surprise.  It was definitely a challenge, but I'm looking forward to doing much better than I did last year.

Wade

Tim,

Do you remember the turnaround at the sprint last weekend?  Did you see the uphill road?  That is it.  For the Oly and HIM, we run up that about a mile +, turnaround and come back down. 

Here's the garmin output from my race last year.  Please don't mock my lack of speed. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43708330

I'm signed up for the Olympic.  I did a couple sprints a few years ago (08/09 Rocky Point) with not very serious training; mtn bike the first one, and preggo the second/last one.  I just started riding my bike in April for real and seriously started training mid-May, though I don't have much opportunity to swim.  I'm just an eensy weensy bit nervous for this one.

??? on the hill.  I have heard about it from a few people who have done it before, comments like "It's like running up to the sky!" and "everybody walks up and down". I mapped it on mapmyrun.com and then found a comparable hill in my area and drive there 2-3 times/week to run.  I'm not fast by any means but I am pretty determined to not walk that hill! 

So, do you have a downhill running strategy?  I agree definitely almost as hard as going uphill!

I'm a bit nervous about not having a wetsuit for the swim, but have been advised to warm up before getting into the water so when veins constrict they do so from an expanded place and it will have less of an impact.  I'll get up there on Friday and test it out.  Do you think this was good advice?

In for the half. Went up there to train the weekend of July 9-10. It was awesome but also an eye opener as I am a flatlander (Yuma). Hope to make it up once more before the race. I "ran" all the way to the observatory. Holy Moly, Does the course run go all the way to the top? It doesn't seem so. I hope not.

I saw a number of people walking up and/or down Marshall Lake hill last year.  No embarrassment in walking, especially on a tough hill like that one.  Personally, my strategy for going downhill on a hig grade like that is to take longer strides, but keep my body more upright to minimize the pounding on the knees and the back.  It is definitely a heel strike hill coming down.

I liked the bike hills.  They were tall enough to be a good challenge, yet not never-ending like those at Bartlett Lake tend to be.  Once you get up them, it is flat for awhile, and coming back down the hill hit 42mph and was holding my breath to not hit a rock or lose control with the vibrations.

The run takes you up the switchback of the hill, then towards the top where the paved road veers right to the lake, we continue on the dirt road through the campground for about .3-.4 miles, then turnaround and come down the hill.

Tim, it is different than Pleasant, as those hills are a bit more rolling than this one.  This is one hill, one switchback, and at a higher grade than the roads at Pleasant.  But having done Pleasant's hills you should be prepared for this one.

Sorry if the hill talk scares anyone, it is not intended that way.  It is a high grade hill, but it is only a mile + up then a mile + down (the run through the campground at the top is relatively flat as I recall).  Everyone does it, so we all just have fun with it.  Do not let it make you think twice about the race, it really is not unbeatable.

Won't be racing but I'm actually headed up to Flag this weekend for some R&R.  Planning on some swimming in the lake as well as some riding if anyone else is around.  

Speaking of, where's swim out at in Lake Mary?

SunshineEstrella - 2011-07-30 6:51 PM HOORAH! I am doing the Olympic!

NICE! Looking forward to this race

Enjoy the weather!  I am usually up there mid-day Friday, but this go-round I am short-timing the trip, going up Saturday and coming back Sunday afternoon.

Current weather forecast shows 40% chance of thunderstorms over the weekend.

same here..unfortunately, I won't be up until lte afternoon on Saturday

I'll be driving up some time Friday night after work.

As long as it doesn't rain during the bike portion of the race than I'm fine with whatever else happens. I hope we get a nice weekend with some great racing!