Ironman Wisconsin : Official Thread (Page 3)

That would be great - maybe they can add a shoulder/bike lane for Hwy 92??  Worst drivers on that road!

I don't know the answer, but I can do some digging to find potential plans.   I would not count on any kind of shoulder being part of the process unless the State is flush with cash (which it isn't!).  A group lobbied hard for a shoulder/bike lane on Old Sauk Road up by Timber since so many people use it to get on the course.  We were told if we wanted one, the IM participants could pay the $1MM to build it.  Same dorks that drive their 150s to close to us on Hwy 92 no doubt!

Just something to think about, but I've road my bike several times up there during training and I find that if I veer off the course you get smoother roads, less traffic and less ticked off drivers.  In addition some of the routes I randomly take while up there are significantly more hilly and tougher than the actual course.  Makes for great training.  Something to think about rather than riding loops all day long on the course.  

Matt you are right on here! Dane County has some of the best routes to ride on anywhere and going off course is always good. Taking HWY J??? out past Mt. Horeb and riding a loop around Blue Mounds is a fantastic way to get in some miles and much more challenging. Of course there is also bike rides such as Horribly Hilly Hundred, Daiyland Dare, and Centurion to name a few that take these roads elsewhere. I think I will post some other good routes online here when I can get them together.

I will be working on my running too.  that and losing weight.  I worked hard on the bike over the past year and took 12 minutes off my half IM bike time (same course, slightly poorer conditions).  Part of my plan to do this is to lose 20-40 pounds.  20 will put me back to where I was a couple of years ago, 40 would put me on the cusp of not being an athena anymore. I think this should also really help for the wisconsin bike course too.  Most people I've talked to are like "Wisconsin? that should be flat right?"  Um.  No.

I heard that the run course changed in the last few years.  I have a few friends that did it in 09 and said that the run course was pretty flat with no real hills, and there is a girl I know that did it this year and she said it was a lot hillier than she was expecting.  Can anyone comment?  did they change the course?

I'll be working on swimming and, hopefully, running.  Trying to maintain on the bike.  My swimming work will be primarily technique related.

My friend is doing IMWI 2012 and is part of EN.  He did the no-swimming thing last winter in prep for IMKY.  It definitely didn't hurt - his swim time dropped from 63 to 60 minutes.

I don't know if they changed the course or not since 2009 (I'd be interested to know too).  The current course only has one real climb (Observatory Hill), and it's a doozy. You hit that climb on both loops of the run course, and by the time I got to it on the second loop I didn't see anyone really running it.  There were a couple people trotting up it, but I was walking just about as fast as they were going.  Big fun.  

I did IMOO in '09 and '11 and the run course was the same.  In '10, they removed Observatory Hill from the run due to construction and kept the run back to State Street on the trail which resulted in a flatter run that year.  I would guess that we will see the same run next year with Obs. hill included... 

Winter plan:  swim a lot and run a lot to prepare for a March marathon.  Bike will have to be put in maintenance mode.

I think that the 'no swim' plan works OK for people with a lot of swim experience and talent.  I've got neither, and I really really need to get my swim times down!

But 'offseason' hasn't started for me yet -- my 'A' race is in a month.

Yup I believe that '10 was the only year that observatory has not been included. It returned this year and I do not see why they would keep it out again. Plan to run that b*tch twice in 2012, although walking briskly is usually the better option.

Agree - they should keep it in, gives the run course some teeth.  And I have a similar goal -- run it twice next year.

Winter plan: After IMFL, we will focus on my running as I need to become more efficient, continue to swim 2-3x a week, and work to increase my bike average by 1-2mph, which means lots of time on my Computrainer when it is unsafe to ride outside.  I plan to do some snowshoe racing, indoor TT's, and enjoy the winter wonderland in Madison again.  You can tell it is 'off season' as the pool is pretty empty where I swim.

Name:  Gretchen


What is your Ironman resume? Did WI twice, 09 and 10 took 11 off

Why did you choose Ironman Wisconsin? I love WI and the people...can't get any better and it is closer to my home, and family.... but Really WI is so fun!!!
What are your goals for IMWI 2012?  Goal is to FINISH...but I really want to take a big amount of time off....and number one thing is to have fun!!! It was just fun to volunteer and that got me ready to race again!!

What are you most looking forward to? I am looking forward to meeting new people, seeing what I can do different...and how far I can push my body in a healthy way!! But I just love meeting people in our sport!

Love the idea of training weekends!!!  Longer trip for me...but thats ok!! Still like it..

Good luck Gretchen, I'm guessing there can't be to many others from Sioux Falls, so I'm thinking your probably the same one I met volunteering on the bike course!

Ryan G.

Brandon, SD

good news... it appears that i'm in...  bad news...  thats the first thing that i've seen that has my age listed as 40...  ugh...

Looks like I am on this list as well.  However, all of this just made me realize I chose my first IM to be on the "old" side of my AG at 44 (40-44).....ooops.  In addition I also see this fast 40 year old entering my AG....uuuuuuuuuugh!

My name is on the list!! So exciting!!

Hey! The 40s aren't bad at all...I've been living with them for a while now!

Ha, my name wasn't on the list.  I forgot to complete the online registration after the onsite!  After a few minutes of high HR, active took my info and sent me a confirmation email.  Hope that means I'll be on the updated participant list.