Eagleman 2010 (70.3)
Hi. I'm not sure how to start a new goup... and none of my A races have groups yet (Eagleman, Timberman, IMFL). Since this is my first A race of the season and it's in the not too distant future I thought I'd start a thread - in part to see who else is in for this one and in part b/c I'm new to EN and could use all the help and info I can get re: how to get ready.
By way of background, I'm a relatively new marathoner - running distance about 3.5 years (running 5 marathons in 2 years) turned triathlete. This will be my second full season of tris (with 2 HIMs and 1 IM on on my race calendar for 2010). I did 1 HIM (my 3rd ever tri) early last year and had a better than expected experience (breaking 6 hours, I think I got a 5:50:45) - I winged it as far as nutrition and all that goes pretty much banking on my experience as a marathoner to get through. I think it went okay. My swim was what I hoped for. My bike was better than I dreamed possible. My run was about 10-15 minutes slower than my target, but it was hot as heck and well I just swam a mile and biked 56... I did what I could. I was elated overall.
So, long story short, advice and direction (i.e., where to look on the web page for info) would be great,,, I am a sponge and would love some mentoring and good mojo!
All of this is assuming I can race (as those of you familiar with the injured athlete's thread know)... so far I'm planning to, 3 months is a long time for my hand to mend. Per a wiki/coaches' advice I read, I'm planning to cut out of OS and do the last 4 weeks of the HIM plan. I'm currently in the pool once a week on top of OS, but that's only because I had a bike crash in Sept that messed up my ACJ... followed by surgery on my hand in January -- so I haven't swam since the last week in August and right now I can only go 250m before switching to a kickboard to rest my hand...
I'm optimistic I can race. I'm comfortable that the OS with 4 weeks of HIM will get me ready... and need to really get my head around race day planning (this is new to me).
Let me know if you'll be at EM (I hope my kit comes so I'll be sporting the team "uniform")! Happy training.
Comments
I'll be at Eaglerman. I know Tucker McKeever has this on his schedule as well. I think there were about five EN people that made it public that they'll be there, i'm sure there'll be more.
I'll have a huge contingent from my local tri club, so I don't know how available I'll be to do a big hang. But I definitely want to get face to face with as many EN peeps as possible.
I did Eagleman and Timberman last year and they're both well run races. You should have a good experience at both of them. Please let me know if you've got questions about either one.
So I was checking out the first couple weeks of my plan, three weeks to be exact, and there wasn't a single day off. That has to be a typo right? Right?
I also can't believe I have to start swimming. Dreading that so much.
Why is that soo funny!
First swim is 2700m! Ha! As if I can do that. No idea what a T pace is but Iam quite certain it will be slow for me!
Hey, gang.
I'll be at Eagleman this year. Did it for the first time last year. Nemo and I passed each other somewhere out on the course but we never managed to meet up (this was before I had my EN race kit).
Becky, the big key for me was really focusing on the EN HIM bike power/pacing strategy -- using the spreadsheet to calculate my wattage "gears" and really focusing on staying within those zones (had them taped to my bike stem). I had a really good bike split but my legs weren't fried heading into the run. I also followed the HIM 3-7-3 run pacing strategy which really helped. I would definitely read/watch/consume all the HIM race execution info you an find on the EN site and also read lots of race reports from others doing HIMs this spring. Always a lot great lessons to be learned from those.
I think Eagleman is a great A race. The course is pancake flat (but there are some notorious sections on the bike where you can hit some nasty headwinds). It can also get pretty hot on the run because there's really no shade and it's all on asphalt/concrete. But if you focus on your pacing and nutrition you should have a great race (race rehearsals are key).
I'm looking forward to meeting as many EN peeps as possible this year. I'll have family in tow so I won't have a lot of extra hang time but at the very least we can do shout-outs and flash the gang sign!
Becky, I hope your hand heals up quickly. Happy training, everyone!
-Chris
Get a hotel room now if you haven't already. This race is big and the Eastern Shore towns are small.
You'll hear a lot about the swim; jellyfish, chop, etc. Don't sweat it. It's one big loop and you'll have the current one way or the other, it's pretty shallow- you can walk about half of it if you want to.
All flat and can be a really hot day with wind so big time hydration. What Chris said.
A fun fast race.
Good luck!
Otherwise, what everyone else said. It's FLAT. Alot of the bike course is through the Blackwater Nature Preserve. Yes, you should be concentrating on your watts,pacing, nutrition during the race...but if you happen to look up around mile 40 of the bike course, there are osprey nests on platforms on the right over the swampy area with the bridge. In June, there will be osprey chicks in them.
If no hotels are available, search for a rental on vrbo.com. I rented a house right on the bike course one year--about 15 miles from the start.
Heal up quick!
new group is live...get in there and get linked up!!!
Eagleman 2010 Race Group
Thanks P!!