In 2012 after finishing the Middle Distance at AmZof, I made the statement, "I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER do the Long Course at AmZof, The Middle Distance was crazy as it is and I think you'd have to be clinically insane to even consider doing the Long Course... Mark my words, NEVER!"
In 2013 after finishing the Middle Distance in slightly better form I said, "I will NEVER EVER do that crazy azz Long Course"...
I signed up for the Middle Distance again for 2014 but am considering switching to the Long Course... Is anybody crazy enough to join me or wise enough to talk me down off the ledge...?
Posted By John Withrow on 03 Sep 2013 08:59 AM In 2012 after finishing the Middle Distance at AmZof, I made the statement, "I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER do the Long Course at AmZof, The Middle Distance was crazy as it is and I think you'd have to be clinically insane to even consider doing the Long Course... Mark my words, NEVER!"
In 2013 after finishing the Middle Distance in slightly better form I said, "I will NEVER EVER do that crazy azz Long Course"...
I signed up for the Middle Distance again for 2014 but am considering switching to the Long Course... Is anybody crazy enough to join me or wise enough to talk me down off the ledge...?
It's no crazier than an Ironman. Anything that can be finished in less than 17 hours is fair game, I say. Time to test your mettle and see how tough you REALLY are. I see it as part of the journey you are on to find out just how good a triathlete you can be.
BUT ... It's not something you just show up for. It's gotta be your A race for the first half of the season, and requires careful consideration to what the second half looks like. How's the rest of the year shape up for you?
As I did the HOH in 2013 I would never consider doing the Middle distance of the AmZof; look at me now I'm in too 2014.
The HOH was to me crazy and thought a road bike could do such a thing, let alone me, I will need some gears to bring to this event. What would be the best gears to put on my bike?
@David-- "Mo gears is Mo better" I recommend a compact and an 11-28 for AmZof.
@Al-- I'm doing IMMT (and IMCHOO) next yr, but that's not until mid-August, then end of September. So AmZof will be a full 3 months before IMMT, and I don't really intend to do a HIM next yr even though I am signed up for the Tremblant 70.3. "IF" I do the long course, I would treat it like a first IM and look to "just finish". If I stick with the Middle Distance I will plan to race it, so who knows which of those would cause a bigger impact to my legs as far as recovery goes. I think there is an outside shot that I could do the Middle distance with a 5-handle this yr if all went perfectly well. I think the Long Course would be more like 9:15-9:45 context. I have found that I have "recovered" from my last couple of IM's in about 1.5 weeks and I can't imagine this would be worse than that. I went very hard at the Middle Distance at AmZof last yr and I was back to full bore training 3 days later. Something's been eating at me since Lake Placid. The next morning after IMLP this yr I was speaking with one of the guys in the XC that blew past me on the run and he had done AmZof last yr. He said "This may sound crazy, but one of the things I did different this yr that MOST prepared me for IMLP, both physically and mentally was finishing the AmZof Long Course".
Now I know every person is different, but I also know how bad I want "it"... This isn't really about the AmZof course anymore. It's not crazy anymore and I'm sure I could do either and be just fine. I really just need to figure out if the Long Course will be "helpful" of "detrimental" to my overall Ironman training for Mt Tremblant and that will decide which I do. So, knowing what you know about me and about that course, which do you all think it is?
John ... I'll expand on what I said: " I see it as part of the journey you are on to find out just how good a triathlete you can be. "
Looking at my own progression from "good but not great" to multiple IM AG winner, I think a lot of stuff I did as I transitioned from weekend warrior to committed, serious IM competitor toughened me up and broadened my perspective. I'd include things like cycling across the country; bike commuting for over a decade year in year out in PAC NW weather and gloom; taking up mtn biking and racing Xterra, including the World Champs multiple times, etc.etc. it wasnt a plan, but looking back, I see the value in that stuff.
Point is, Ironman success is a multi year process, and anything you do endurance wise which seems "over the top " to you will help the process. It could be the Leadville 100 mtn bike race, Norseman, Cheasepeake Bay swim, whatever. Its like skiing ... Do a few double black diamonds, and the single blacks start to seem easy. Expand the envelope, widen your bandwidth, then IM starts to seem, if not easy, than at least manageable as a race.
@ JW---sounds somewhat intriguing this convoluted plan of yours....hummm.....I'm going to sit on this and see 2 things: 1. how consistent I can be in training 2. the race day weather forecast. As far as whether it will benefit a goal...who knows, but once you reach a goal another one pops up or just look at the journey which is never ending (and long course would be a loooonger journey).
From the race reports I've read there is a definite consensus about whether you can use a tri bike. The answer is yes. Go for it. However, some folks express a preference for a road bike. I guess that could be because of the long climb and descent on the bike course. I saw one of Chris G's race reports on ST and he showed a gnarly pic of his tri bike from one of the muddy years.
Yep Pete I saw the picture too. The Tri bike has a compact crank as well; not that my road bike will not have in the future but just putting it out there to see what others are doing. So what are you riding and what gears are you using?
After Mont Tremblant I am a solid believer in a 50x34 crank and an 11-28 cassette. I'd use that even if I was doing IM Florida- I don't think I'd spin out a 50x11 gear at my 200 watts goal on the flats. I plan on bringing Black Jack (my tri bike).
I'm rolling with my Tri bike (P5 with 808's) with an 11-28 on the back. Mo gears is Mo better is especially true on this course. There will be a higher % of road bikes at this race compared to a normal triathlon, but a tri bike is definitely faster. Even though there is a ton of climbing, you are on rollers or going downhill for over half of the distance so aero wins.
And I've decided to do the Long Course (Thanks Al for the wise words). I even turned it into a bet with my buddy. He's young (27) and dumb and happened to do a 7:40 to take 2nd overall in the Long Course last yr, so he needed to find a way to challenge himself as well. I agreed to do the LC and he agreed to run the last lap with me after he finishes and takes a 30-60 minute break before I even start my last lap since I'm thinking I'll be starting that lap around the 8:20-8:40 mark.
@Keith-- It's awesome that you and Peter are gonna join me for the long course! We can all suffer together.
Joining for LC is still yet to be determined...I'm still sitting on it and will be sitting until the end of April. Right now I'm Chris G registered, but another beauty of this race is that they let you change your mind about distance....and weather definitely will play a part!!!
How are you guys planning on training for this ride?
Does anyone have a race early in the season and plan on hacking it a bit or are you just treating one of our plans as guidance for the race?
My thoughts are taking a SC plan and hacking it on the weekends a few months before the race to incorporate a duathlon feel; run, bike, run, bike, run add some distance each weekend.
Thoughts?
How about the Hell of Hunterdon anyone thinking about this one?
How are you guys planning on training for this ride?
Does anyone have a race early in the season and plan on hacking it a bit or are you just treating one of our plans as guidance for the race?
My thoughts are taking a SC plan and hacking it on the weekends a few months before the race to incorporate a duathlon feel; run, bike, run, bike, run add some distance each weekend.
Thoughts?
How about the Hell of Hunterdon anyone thinking about this one?
I'm just following the OS, then maybe hitting a get faster plan. By that point in time I'll be someplace within the HIM plan given Quassy and another 70.3 in June. Given the course, it's hard to call the run an actual run. There are sections where you are running, but other than that, find the steepest hill you can find and try to run up it (then walk up it as quickly as possible---if running and walking take you the same amount of time, it's a CG race hill!!!!--not kidding).
I am thinking about the Hell of Hunterdon. It sounds very interesting. Is registration open yet? I haven't looked.
Comments
In 2013 after finishing the Middle Distance in slightly better form I said, "I will NEVER EVER do that crazy azz Long Course"...
I signed up for the Middle Distance again for 2014 but am considering switching to the Long Course... Is anybody crazy enough to join me or wise enough to talk me down off the ledge...?
BUT ... It's not something you just show up for. It's gotta be your A race for the first half of the season, and requires careful consideration to what the second half looks like. How's the rest of the year shape up for you?
The HOH was to me crazy and thought a road bike could do such a thing, let alone me, I will need some gears to bring to this event. What would be the best gears to put on my bike?
@Al-- I'm doing IMMT (and IMCHOO) next yr, but that's not until mid-August, then end of September. So AmZof will be a full 3 months before IMMT, and I don't really intend to do a HIM next yr even though I am signed up for the Tremblant 70.3. "IF" I do the long course, I would treat it like a first IM and look to "just finish". If I stick with the Middle Distance I will plan to race it, so who knows which of those would cause a bigger impact to my legs as far as recovery goes. I think there is an outside shot that I could do the Middle distance with a 5-handle this yr if all went perfectly well. I think the Long Course would be more like 9:15-9:45 context. I have found that I have "recovered" from my last couple of IM's in about 1.5 weeks and I can't imagine this would be worse than that. I went very hard at the Middle Distance at AmZof last yr and I was back to full bore training 3 days later. Something's been eating at me since Lake Placid. The next morning after IMLP this yr I was speaking with one of the guys in the XC that blew past me on the run and he had done AmZof last yr. He said "This may sound crazy, but one of the things I did different this yr that MOST prepared me for IMLP, both physically and mentally was finishing the AmZof Long Course".
Now I know every person is different, but I also know how bad I want "it"... This isn't really about the AmZof course anymore. It's not crazy anymore and I'm sure I could do either and be just fine. I really just need to figure out if the Long Course will be "helpful" of "detrimental" to my overall Ironman training for Mt Tremblant and that will decide which I do. So, knowing what you know about me and about that course, which do you all think it is?
Looking at my own progression from "good but not great" to multiple IM AG winner, I think a lot of stuff I did as I transitioned from weekend warrior to committed, serious IM competitor toughened me up and broadened my perspective. I'd include things like cycling across the country; bike commuting for over a decade year in year out in PAC NW weather and gloom; taking up mtn biking and racing Xterra, including the World Champs multiple times, etc.etc. it wasnt a plan, but looking back, I see the value in that stuff.
Point is, Ironman success is a multi year process, and anything you do endurance wise which seems "over the top " to you will help the process. It could be the Leadville 100 mtn bike race, Norseman, Cheasepeake Bay swim, whatever. Its like skiing ... Do a few double black diamonds, and the single blacks start to seem easy. Expand the envelope, widen your bandwidth, then IM starts to seem, if not easy, than at least manageable as a race.
And I've decided to do the Long Course (Thanks Al for the wise words). I even turned it into a bet with my buddy. He's young (27) and dumb and happened to do a 7:40 to take 2nd overall in the Long Course last yr, so he needed to find a way to challenge himself as well. I agreed to do the LC and he agreed to run the last lap with me after he finishes and takes a 30-60 minute break before I even start my last lap since I'm thinking I'll be starting that lap around the 8:20-8:40 mark.
Any suggestions for accommodation? The online reviews for motels in New Paltz are less than favorable...
Joining for LC is still yet to be determined...I'm still sitting on it and will be sitting until the end of April. Right now I'm Chris G registered, but another beauty of this race is that they let you change your mind about distance....and weather definitely will play a part!!!
Does anyone have a race early in the season and plan on hacking it a bit or are you just treating one of our plans as guidance for the race?
My thoughts are taking a SC plan and hacking it on the weekends a few months before the race to incorporate a duathlon feel; run, bike, run, bike, run add some distance each weekend.
Thoughts?
How about the Hell of Hunterdon anyone thinking about this one?
I'm just following the OS, then maybe hitting a get faster plan. By that point in time I'll be someplace within the HIM plan given Quassy and another 70.3 in June. Given the course, it's hard to call the run an actual run. There are sections where you are running, but other than that, find the steepest hill you can find and try to run up it (then walk up it as quickly as possible---if running and walking take you the same amount of time, it's a CG race hill!!!!--not kidding).
I am thinking about the Hell of Hunterdon. It sounds very interesting. Is registration open yet? I haven't looked.