Who's in ?
I hope other EN peeps are doing this race !
This will be my third IM and I'm excited about this race. My two other IM's we're IMLP and it will be nice to do something different yet offering other challenges. I hope to PR this race and I'm sure with EN plans and mojo I will. I have my one thing chosen and I have it posted eveywhere. I am currently in Jan OS group and have seen some nice improvements in both my run and bike. I'm taking a nice break from swimming and will start swimming in April. It will also be nice to have all summer to start my IM plan. Lots of open water swimming, nice long bike rides in the fall. It feels good to feel like I have time to really work on my training and I"m not feeling as rushed as I did for IMLP. I also live up north so I coudn't really bike till April outside and then by May was working on my long bikes already. What a nice change this will be especially having EN as my guide !
Please post if you are registered for this race or if you have done it please share your thoughts. I would love to hear more about this race. Thanks !
Nathalie
Comments
Hi Nathalie,
I'm in, too! This will be my second IM, with the first being IM Louisville in 2007. My goal is to have a big PR and finish under 12 hours, even if it's 11:59. During IM Lou I was too conservative on the hilly bike and ended up walking almost the entire marathon because of a bad migraine that hit at the end of the bike, and I still finished in just under 14 hours, so I think my goal is within reach.
I was in the October OS because a "B+/A-" race for me this season is the Lonestar 70.3 at the end of April. Then, a nice vacation in May, a few months of basic month, and it will be time to buckle down and train, EN style, for IMFL!
Thanks for being the first to post! I'm excited about getting to know you and any other teammates who are headed to Florida.
Who else is in?
Awesome goal !! Your goal sounds like it's within reach. You got your one thing , believe in it and go for it ! You must have had a great bike at IMLou to finish under 14 and walking the marathon. Wow. Imagine if you would have run it..and you are used to the heat of IMLOU. You will do great !
I'm excited for this race. Last year I was with EN and was scheduled to do IM Canada but got injured late spring and never recovered in time and had to bail on the race. Looking back now I should have went anyway and at least attempt it. Now this year I will have full training with EN and a race plan which for IMLP I really didn't . I had a coach who believe in the long and slow way of training, so no surprise that i was slow at IMLP. My best time in an IM was 14:31. I planned to crushed that. The bike should be interesting..flat, but windy..I have a good ride around here for that, now ocean, very far away and I never swam in an ocean before. The only thing that i feel a bit aprehensive about and the heat. Hopefully we will be lucky like the folks in 09. They got perfect weather. Now for the run..I plan to run this marathon !!! I hope we have a big group that are doing Florida. Thanks for writing to this group Kristen. Now who else is in ?????
Nathalie
I'm in, too! I'm also a Jan OS'er although I got a late start and am a few weeks behind them (and will exit a few weeks early to prep for a race)..
This will be my 1st IM and right now I'm hoping for a 13-14 hour finish, which I think is do-able.
I did my first HIM last season at Eagleman - which is a lot like FL - flat and windy. I sort of had a training plan for that (I did fundraising and we had a training plan that I tweaked a lot). My goal was 6-7 hours, thinking realistically I'd be in the 6:15-6:30 range and I finished in 5:50 having a great bike but zippo left on the run. I'd like to improve on that time when I go back to EM this June, I think I can... but I had surgery on my hand in January and can only ride on my trainer and can't swim more than 250m without needing a break.
I'm doing Timberman HIM in August before entering the IM training full time...
This is also my first year in EN, so I'm very excited to see how it all translates... never having a set training plan or a race plan...
I am in. It will be my second IM. I did IMAZ last November.
See you all in Florida.....
See you all in Fl!
Happy training to all !
Nathalie
I've certainly wondered what might happen... haven't heard anything or really looked it up...not that I'm jumping for joy about an ocean swim, but I DO want to swim (that's my better leg). Keep us posted if you hear/read anything!
Lurking here. I would think they could move the swim to St. Andrews Bay if necessary. Time will tell. Hoping for the best for all!!
I'm doing WI this year after doing IMFL twice. I think there's always a special place in your heart for your "first." I love that race, and have nothing but wonderful memories, and good experiences both times. I LOVE the Gulf swim, and the wind on the bike can be a challenge depending on the day, have no doubt about that. The first year I did it, I could have stood up to pedal like I was climbing some big-a$$ hill on a completely flat road, the wind was so strong. The 2nd time, it was windy, but not as bad.
PCB is, well, it's hard to say what it is. I think I'm on the moon when I'm there! The view of the Gulf out one side of the condo is beautiful, the other way, you're staring at liquor stores and strip malls.
There are billboards all over about who to call if you're arrested--I kid you not. 
Spring break paradise. But you're there for a reason, so it never bothered me.
I stayed at the Gulfcrest condos both times, and was very happy there. It's a short drive or walk from the race venue, but nice and quiet. You're in the thick of it, but not at the Boardwalk.
A piece of me very much wishes I was doing FL again, although I know the WI experience will be wonderful in its own way.
I'm in also. We're about 5 months out -- I'm starting to feel that " I need to really start training now feeling". It will be my 5th Ironman and 3rd IMFL. I've also done the Gulf Coast Half there 4 time so I feel like its my "home court".
Looking forward to training and racing with all the EN peeps.
Mark
Do yall think it would better for me to stay in the outseason plan and then go into the 12wk IM plan or do the 20 week IM plan?
A few details:
If I stay in the outseason I would still do 2 swims a week, but just drills w/o any pressure. I'm not a strong swimmer, but not worried about missing the time cutoff.
Bike is my strongest leg if I have to pick.
IMFL is my 1st full
Did (3) 70.3's last year all around 6:30
All advice would be appreciated! I'm already getting that I need to do more feeling(12 others from my local tri club all seem to be using the LSD training method)
Thanks!!!
Lynda Stewart
San Antonio, TX
I think the recommended idea is to stay in the OutSeason as long as possible because that's going to get you faster, and then take a week or two transition before starting the 12-week IM plan. 12 weeks should be enough time to for you to adapt to the longer bikes and runs (not really that long compared to the LSD plans) and be ready to go for race day. I'm kind of in the same boat because IMFL is my first IM too so I've been thinking about the 20 vs 12 week plans, but I trust the EN philosophy because I was able to go from OutSeason right into a 12-week HIM training plan earlier this year and the longer bikes and runs were no problem at all. Intensity has hidden benefits!
Anyway, hope this helps
-Marc
I'm excited to see everyone pumped up for the race!
I will add that right now that is about all they can do from a "decision" standpoint. I do trust they are considering a backup swim location as well. This situation is changing daily. We vacation in the area known as Perdido Key. They have oil on beaches on both sides of them but as yet have only closed their beach for one day. The next day it was open and people were swimming.
I know of some who have pulled out of FL to go to Cozumel and maybe that is something to consider but that is an expensive step. Personnally I can't wait to race IMFL. Now I need to pimp my signature.
Hey Lynda, I am in SA as well. Maybe we can do some rides together....
Bryan
Hi Marc~
Thank you for the reply. My biggest problem seems to be burnout so I will really focus on doing only what the plan says. Counting on that intensity to do some magic! Guess that means I will be enjoying a few more weeks of off season. Leaving for Italy on Sunday for two weeks so I'll get to focus on riding/running and not have to feel guilty for not swimming!
Hey Bryan~
I feel like our paths must have crossed somewhere out there! San Antonio/Triathletes = pretty small group for a big city. I'll look you up on FB.
Lynda~
Yesterday, though, I heard that the bay may be closed off to save their oyster beds, and the transition area will be at a local naval base. Sounds like a nice option, plus the water will probably be calmer.
At least it sounds like they are thinking.....my thought, they have 20 weeks, this is not going to sneak up on them, they certainly can come up with a backup plan in that period of time.....(naive? - maybe - we will see)....I think there would be a serious uproar if there wasn't an alternate plan with this much lead time.....
Also, I am closely monitoring the situation personally as our family vacation is in the Florida panhandle in 3 weeks - I have spoken to the resort weekly and they assure me the issue is MUCH bigger in the media than in reality. I have known these people for years and do not believe they would lie to me (naive? - again - we will see). I won't be in PCB but will at least get a chance to take a look for myself.
Lynda - have fun in Italy - see you when you return to SA
I am in. This is my second IM. I did IM Louisville last August. I am excited to be a part of EN.
I am on a HIM training plan for 3 more wks then will switch over to our IM training.
Happy training everyone.
I'm in. This will be my first full. Done a few HIM, most recently HIM Florida this past May. Im doing this race with one of my best friends. He wanted to do a full ironman at 40 and I promised to do it with him and here we are, we can hardly believe how fast time goes by. My friend and I live and train in El Salvador, hot and humiid all year round which makes good training for performing at races with milder weather.
This is also my first year with EN. I'm super excited and looking forward to sharing with you all in the following training weeks and hopefully meeting you all in November. Hope the oil stays away!!
Happy training.