Congrats to the entire team! It was cold and windy when I was riding in Tampa today...must have been colder and windier up there. I wonder if the slow transition times were due to people taking more time to ensure they were completely dry and properly dressed for starting a cold bike ride (at least the first hour).
I have been watching a small window of marginal video quality on the PC now for 5+ hours and there is one constant – a big smile on my face as I watch the story unfold for all on the course. I love this sport and the Ironman distance.
Just now checking in (combination of West Coast time and my rehab keeping me busy). I've got two observations. First, why are the transition times so slow - I haven't seen the course since I did it in 2000, something must have changed to make it so long. Second, why is it so hard to run the first six miles slower than the next 7? I know the course is a pancacke, so it can't be hills. I bet we don't see that from Becky or Nathalie. I bet the colder temps are making people into feel really good out there on the run.
Al,
Ironman jammed in 400 more racers into the race starting last year, making the transitions much longer; I took a total of 5 more minutes more last year than the year before, and I'm studiously fast in transition.
I heart Team EN... hope you will see this ... can answer your nagging question re: the loooong transitions (I have to say that I feel tons better that it wasn't just me).
T1 was long. We ran up from the beach and under the showers, then to the right around the far side of the boardwalk and into the far side of transition where we got our bike gear bags (lined up on the back side of the transition square) and then the length of transition into the changing room. Once in there we (at least I) was a popsicle. Truly. The water temp was glorious (I wore my john, not a full) but the air temp was FREEZING... my hands were numb and I had trouble getting my shoes and helmet on (both have knobs to turn. Thank god I had a towel in my bag to wipe my face, feet, and arms, etc... but I needed a volunteer to help me tighten my shoes and helmet, I was physically incapable of doing it. Then of course the LONG run out of transition - back out straight, following the same path in, along the length of the transition area (same as run out) and around the box to pick up our bike and get to the mount line... seriously it was insanely long.
I didn't see Nathalie in the tent - which was odd, when we talked and discovered our swim times were the same. Bummer... had I not flatted (see below), we may have been neck and neck the whole race, which would have been amazingly fun).
Now, some of you (Cary) noticed my amazing bike split in the second half. Bow... thanks... Yes, the wind was in our favor for some of that, but, the real factor was that I had a flat in the starting chute just about the time I mounted my bike. Long story (will be in RR)... so that took some time on top of the 60' warm up in ZI.
As far as the temps: The first 30ish miles of the bike were painful because it was COLD. My teeth were chattering for at least that long. Even in the sun, I was wondering if I would ever warm up and fearing I'd hit the line in the first 3 hours of my race. I've ridden in the cold here, but always warmed up... with the wind in my face I never warmed up... it was really mentally tough...
It was chilly all day - kept arm warmers on just about the whole race. In RSN I added a layer under my EN jersey and gloves... felt fine as far as temps go during the run, but when it was over and I stopped... holy frigid. Even after putting on dry/warm clothes, the walk back to the Summit my teeth were chattering and I was physically shaking. So glad I had two sherpas to carry my stuff.
Thank you all for watching and tracking and cheering from afar. Knowing you were online helped get me through my first IM!
Comments
I just check the temp in Tampa - 47 with winds of 6 , feels like 44. COLD!
Lots of people are wearing long sleeves over their kits.
I have been watching a small window of marginal video quality on the PC now for 5+ hours and there is one constant – a big smile on my face as I watch the story unfold for all on the course. I love this sport and the Ironman distance.
That was Doc Martin for sure! Been watching this feed way too long today.
Al,
Ironman jammed in 400 more racers into the race starting last year, making the transitions much longer; I took a total of 5 more minutes more last year than the year before, and I'm studiously fast in transition.
Yup. Audio gone. :-(
I heart Team EN... hope you will see this ... can answer your nagging question re: the loooong transitions (I have to say that I feel tons better that it wasn't just me).
T1 was long. We ran up from the beach and under the showers, then to the right around the far side of the boardwalk and into the far side of transition where we got our bike gear bags (lined up on the back side of the transition square) and then the length of transition into the changing room. Once in there we (at least I) was a popsicle. Truly. The water temp was glorious (I wore my john, not a full) but the air temp was FREEZING... my hands were numb and I had trouble getting my shoes and helmet on (both have knobs to turn. Thank god I had a towel in my bag to wipe my face, feet, and arms, etc... but I needed a volunteer to help me tighten my shoes and helmet, I was physically incapable of doing it. Then of course the LONG run out of transition - back out straight, following the same path in, along the length of the transition area (same as run out) and around the box to pick up our bike and get to the mount line... seriously it was insanely long.
I didn't see Nathalie in the tent - which was odd, when we talked and discovered our swim times were the same. Bummer... had I not flatted (see below), we may have been neck and neck the whole race, which would have been amazingly fun).
Now, some of you (Cary) noticed my amazing bike split in the second half. Bow... thanks... Yes, the wind was in our favor for some of that, but, the real factor was that I had a flat in the starting chute just about the time I mounted my bike. Long story (will be in RR)... so that took some time on top of the 60' warm up in ZI.
As far as the temps: The first 30ish miles of the bike were painful because it was COLD. My teeth were chattering for at least that long. Even in the sun, I was wondering if I would ever warm up and fearing I'd hit the line in the first 3 hours of my race. I've ridden in the cold here, but always warmed up... with the wind in my face I never warmed up... it was really mentally tough...
It was chilly all day - kept arm warmers on just about the whole race. In RSN I added a layer under my EN jersey and gloves... felt fine as far as temps go during the run, but when it was over and I stopped... holy frigid. Even after putting on dry/warm clothes, the walk back to the Summit my teeth were chattering and I was physically shaking. So glad I had two sherpas to carry my stuff.
Thank you all for watching and tracking and cheering from afar. Knowing you were online helped get me through my first IM!