What do you guys think?

tuckerm

So I have a bit of a dilemna about my season.  "A" race is obviously CDA, especially with it being my first IM.  Having said that I was thinking of doing Florida 70.3.  Problem being that it falls on the weekend of the first RR.  I guess that I could always move that to the next weekend.  The weekend before I have an open water race/practice which will be followed by the scheduled 4.5 hour ride. 

So I have a couple concerns about doing this race.  It seems like I will some good workouts due to tapering slightly and then recovering.  My other concern is family life.  I'll be away for a good portion of the Saturday before the 70.3.  Then I would be away from Friday to Monday the week of the 70.3.  The next Saturday would then be my RR so there goes 7+ hours.

I have two little girls, 4 and 19 months.  I'm thinking my wife may not appreciate this.  Do you guys agree?  I don't need to do Florida.  Not even registered.  

Do I register or bag it and stick to the IM plan with maybe a local tri thrown in there?

Bruce Thompson

@ Tucker - Being an IM noob, I'm sticking to the IM plan RnP have refined and polished over the years.  Since this is your 1st IM, I suggest you may want to follow the IM plan as is before you try experimenting with other variations.  Time for that on your 2nd IM.  Besides, looks like you'll burn up a lot SAUs.  My $.02 - bag Florida and stick with the plan.   

Patrick Hayden

I had looked at doing a HIM REV3 Knoxville and asked RnP and they told me to bag it (it looks like its the same weekend as HIM Florida), that it wasn't needed and would detract from the overall plan. They basically said once you get in the last 12 weeks to really focus there on IM and a HIM isn't going to buy you anything, and may in many regards be a hindrance.

thugbuster

If it was one month sooner, I'd say go for it, but that is too close. You'd be giving up a valuable RR and gaining some inevitable recovery time and perhaps a some taper time that isn't going to help you in June. I have done a marathon on the first week of May for the past few years, and RnP told me to give it up this year. And, as much as I don't want to, I am going to listen.

GregSVan

Agreed with above Tucker. Lots of SAUs to burn there if your not dying to do it. I also agree probably safer to play this first one by the book.

scottwstewart

I have to agree with everybody else. The RR's are key in practicing your pacing and nutrition. Chance's are, your first RR won't go exactly as planned and you'll want to refine things before the second RR. Wait until next year for Florida 70.3.

kurshing

It sounds like you know what you OUGHT to do...so, would encourage you to honor that gut feeling and avoid Flrodia this time around. When the kiddos can help themselves a little more, you can stack up some of these races...and, when you have a couple IMa under your belt, maybe then you can play with the build up. Right now, we are in Race Prep and it is time to dial in on CdA!

ghernand

yes, indeed.  stay on target with the CdA plan. 

get as much info from the RR1 as you can. 

70.3's are raced differently and faster.  at this point you need to practice what will bring you success at IMCdA, especially since it is your first one. 

GH

 

tuckerm

Thanks all! Guess it is settled. I had basically decided that was the best course of action but wanted some reassurances. Having said that I guess I need to find a little tri to do to practice a transition.

thugbuster

Practicing transitions is good, but keep in mind the transitions at Ironman are like no other. There are people to do most of the hard work for you. People to take your wetsuit off, people to give you your transition bag, people that will open your bag for you and help you organize all your gear when the bag is opened. I volunteered in the men's transition tent, so I was one of those people. Of course, you can do all of that stuff by yourself, but the guys who work the tent at IMCDA are very good and really want to help you get on your way as fast as possible. OR, leave you the hell alone if you just want to chill. One thing that I will be practicing is mounting and dismounting, so I don't get laughed at by RnP.

Coach Rich

I've guided myself and about a gillion other athletes through IMCDA. In my experience, your last opportunity to race a half is, for us in SoCal, Wildflower, which is always the first weekend in May. Races after this weekend just create too much friction with the IM-specific training you need to be doing. In short, all of May is very, very, very valuable and you don't want to mess with it.

tuckerm

Thanks Michael and Rich.
@Rich, I totally agree. There would be too much moving stuff around to do a flat, hot HIM that I would need to travel to and not have my TT bike for like 10 days for. So it's out.
@Michael, The whole mounting dismounting thing on the run has me petrified that I will screw it up and fall and get laughed at. Then I see these little delivery guys here in NYC do it all the time and wonder to myself why can't I do this.

Coach Rich

The flying (sorta) dismount is the only cool-triathlon-trick I can do. And I don't shoes clipped in the pedals either.

J.T. Thompson

Hey - good call Mate on the Florida trip. Hadn't thought about the bike issue, so makes sense... I'm also thinking that I'd like to do at least one race as a prep, so thinking about doing Jerseyman Half as an aqua vello. Not planning to hammer it, but use it more for training and just do a small brick run off he bike...