EN Best Practices if an Ironman Swim is cancelled...??
For the record, I do NOT care either way. Part of me is hoping the fizzling Hurricane Gordon makes it all the way to Madison on Sunday because I KNOW EN Ninjas will simply execute better (vs the field) when others are panicking... And I "think" my bike handling skills as a bigger guy and veteran will be better in pouring down rain with 40mph winds (relative to the normal terrible bike handling skills and nervous triathletes), so Bring it Gordon!!!
There has been some talk/speculation that the Wisconsin swim might be changed or even Cancelled at IM Wisconsin (from all of the previous flooding and/or potential hurricane). Again, I don't care either way, but it got me thinking that we clearly have smart people in da Haus who have done past races where the swim has been cancelled in the past. Maryland, New Orleans, etc...
Any pointers on how to modify a "normal" 3-sport IM race plan? My guess is you can bike "slightly" harder given the TSS points that were saved by not swimming. The JRA segment might also be shortened, but will be replaced somewhat by a "Warm-up" period. I'd also guess that the bike course will be a lot more crowded/dangerous at least for the first ~20-40 miles as the TT field spreads out and finds their place in the pecking order...
Can anyone who's actually done this chime in? Do we have an EN best practices for a swim canceled IM (should this actually happen)?
Comments
Never in an IM, but had this happen for a 70.3. I thought this would allow me to bike harder but it didn't work out for me. My run was far below what I was capable of running. Perhaps it was nutrition related as it also involved a 3 hour delay.
There's something to be said by getting the juices flowing, so to speak, from a cardiovascular standpoint on the swim. My $0.02 would be to bike exactly how you initially planned and if anything let that lower TSS carry over to the run. I don't think it will be cancelled, but if it is there will be A LOT of people thinking they can bike harder. This is not the course to try that on as you know. I'd view the swim cancellation as another opportunity for your competitors to made bad decisions.
That said, the TT start, while a total cluster, could allow for a significant amount of legal drafting depending on where you are in the queue.
I did ITU Long Course Worlds in 2011 and the swim was cancelled. I overbiked the first half and my power numbers were a steady decline the last half of the bike. The 18mile run suffered as well so I agree with Jeremy - bike as if you did the swim and don't change a thing.
@John Withrow I went back and read my IMMD RR. I think my biggest issue was the delay, getting ready to swim, nutrition plan base on that swim, cancelled swim, waiting to bike, etc. I had even taken my gel and gatorade right before they cancelled the swim... With any luck , if they do cancel the IMWI swim it will be the night before and proper planning can be applied , or at the very least first thing in the am, so its not the get dressed, undressed, do I fuel now, wait for announcement, when to start etc.... They will more than likely go from lower bib #'s to higher like they did at IMMD to launch the bikes, lower would be better. The bike was cut to 100 miles, I did plan to ride hotter and I did by 5 watts or so , however reviewing my file , I was too hot for the first half, HR and Power both went from the upper left to lower right. My run file was much better... So I guess I'd plan to go a bit harder but its going to be a balancing act of just how hard , specially on the first half of the bike. Here is my RR.
https://endurancenation.vanillacommunities.com/discussion/21899/tim-cronk-2016-immd-125-0#latest
Great discussion here...I think you SHOULD NOT bike the whole bike harder. Or a large part of it harder. It's still 112 miles...and without swim fatiGue in your system you could do some real damage to your run.
Instead, I would expect a better than planned 2nd half of the run, or at least push myself there.
Take confidence in knowing others will go nucking futz on the bike...and explode!!!
~ Coach P
My IMFL swim was cancelled the morning of. I agree with everyone above. Ride as planned.
Reflecting back on my experience @ IM MD '16, when the swim was cancelled about 30-45' AFTER the scheduled start. I checked my bike files and note that my IF was on target for that race. I don't know that I had any better or worse a race than I would have with a swim, but my suspicion is that it flustered me a bit, but did not affect my time on the bike. The run was a little slow for me, and that was as much mental as physical. After 25-30 IMs, the day felt "off", not running to expected patterns, and I think that played subtle, unconscious games with me. The wait between cancelled swim and start of bike, even with my relatively low number, allowed me to overthink things.
So any advice? Basically, a contingency plan is needed about how you will manage keeping warm and mentally active, but focused away from the race, during what might be a 1+ hour wait for the TT start. If the swim is cancelled the night before (which is NOT how it usually works - I remember an IM Canada in Penticton which cancelled the swim the morning of due to first responders not being available due to a flare up in a local wildfire, etc) then making a plan for the next morning can be done on the spot. But better to have a good idea about questions like: will I have access to Morning Clothes bag? Should I keep my wet suit on to stay warm? What should I do about nutrition in the interim? now than trying to make it up @ 0730 in the midst of 2500 other anxious triathletes.
For nutrition, I would plan on just following my routine...gel and/or hydration just before the swim start time, then nothing for 1-1.5 hours, then starting bike nutrition per routine once you actually start pedaling. If there is even more time to kill, don't fill it with eating and drinking - you don't need it. Also, access to a smart phone or pad for amusement (again: what about morning clothes???) and distraction is a good idea IMO. and, I agree with not changing the plan for the bike - better to make it up when you KNOW you;ve got the juice, in the second half of the run, the squander it too early, as others have said.
@John Withrow I agree with Coach P. I looked back at the Age Group Results from IMMD. There was a year with a cancelled swim. Many of the athletes clearly over biked and ended up with a Bike & Run time that was equal. Running a 5 hour marathon can't be a great feeling.
Pack a Plan B Bag with enough stuff to survive a 3-hour delay. If it's longer, change back into comfortable clothes. Have a cushion or towel to lay down and/or stretch out. Have plenty of warm clothes. Bring music. Consider leaving the area to get away from the negative mojo of other athletes
For nutrition changes, I would think you'd still want to sip water or GE, and have another gel 15-minutes before the start if that's what you're used to. For a super long delay maybe something easy-to-digest like a stroopwafel
AS far as nutrition, I am planning on repeating my normal weekend nutrition if the swim is cancelled. I didn't always get up 3 hours before my long run. Sometimes it was wake up, quick snack and get on the bike. I hope we know about the swim by Saturday afternoon. The water is not going to drop that much over night, so we should know about it the night before. Shame on IM if they wait to cancel until race morning. The situation is already there as are the race directors. Hopefully we will know with plenty of time. @John Withrow with any luck the other CEO's are freaking out about the conditions and will kill themselves trying to keep up with you. Looking forward to getting up there.
It's tough to compare IM MD one year to the next (15-16). The bike the year of the cancelled swim was 12 miles shorter, and the run was made more difficult by the 11 lakes (not a euphemism) we had to "run" thru - knee-deep water for 1-200 meters or, most of us slow walking those parts.
having spectated IMMD in the shortened year, can go +1 on what @Al Truscott said about the flood zone at high tide that invaded the run course, additionally it was an incredibly humid day. Especially on the run when the sun was trying to break through.
I had swim canx at IMFL 2014 and IM70.3 Gulf Coast 2017. Same advice as above...ride the bike as planned, except I think you don't need the JRA part for more than 5 mins since you will not be winded at the start.