@ Ellen - I would MUCH rather do an IM marathon than do an EN Long Run! You will be going easier on race day - none of that "push the pace in the first half" stuff like the training plans have. AND, having 2000+ people running with you, and cheering spectators and aid stations with crazy volunteers every mile goes a long way to ease the mental strain.
Finally, if you pace the bike and run per EN guidelines, you will find yourself passing many, many people in the last 8 miles who are walking or shuffling. That in itself helps immensely at the end, when the mental strain is the greatest.
@stacy - Holy cow!! I fear I may be joining you tomorrow. I have to leave early for my RR#2 becasue of potential rain in the afternoon. Probably going to start @0800, it going to be COLD!! I would love to train in my race shorts and top just to get a feel for everything, but with the cold, it's just not in the cards. As far as kids, Amy, my wife and I both agreed that it race day was just going to be way too long of a day for the kids. It's really unusual for us to go anywhere without them, especially a race. My daughter has crossed the finish line with me too many times to count. There is a IMAZ Family Guide around here in one of the AZ posts. Check that out.
I hit the pool pretty good this morning for my RR#2 swim. I pushed the pace just a bit and finished in 1:11. I really wanted sub 1:10 but I was close anyway. I will slow it down a bit for AZ, I am probably looking more for a 1:15ish finish. Have fun this weekend and please be careful!
Chuck: 1:11!!! i wish i was you. swim the same at IMAZ, as Al recommends. you'll have a wetsuit AND you have the ability!
Todd: Sounds like you are set. I wish I was you too!
Great job by all the others with getting in the long runs and swims, etc.
My RR is going to be tomorrow and may be partly in rain, but it shouldn't be cold. My last long run will have to be on Sunday and my swim test next week sometime. I'm off to hammer on the bike and sneak in a hard run before tomorrow's more steady effort.
@ Stacey and @Chuck - It's going to be cold here too. They say it might get int he 40s RR#2 should be interesting. It will startin in the 40s and when I get off the bike it should be in the 80s. Sounds like it is going to be a beautiful day.
@ Stacy, Chuck, John, etc. Yes, I am a wuss! The expected COLD front came through last night. I wasn't motivated to get out in the cold (i.e., anything below 60) so I slept in (9 1/2 hrs) and didn't start my ride until 8:30am when it was a chilly 65! It was great. I made up last Saturday's long ride workout. Thanks to a good night's rest, I feld very strong. Towards the end, I realized that 4.5 hrs was going to put me near 100, so I shifted the route and got home in 4hrs 49mins for 102 miles. Then 6 miles @ 8:25 with temperature about 83 but dry. Does that count as a combo Saturday hard ride and RR?
You guys are tough as nails getting it done in the cold. I used to be hard core that way, but I've gone soft living in Florida the past 8 years.
Alright everyone, the week is finally over, how did your peak week turn out? New FT's, how'd RR go??
My week went well, bike FT went up which met my goals. RR went fine, a few stomach issues which i think were due to an increase in calories i've been trying to test out(360/hr), so not gonna do that. Otherwise the numbers were as expected and felt great. Time to start winding down the training, don't get sick, and keep the weight were its at..
I rode the bull elephant on training volume and quality this week. 220 miles on the bike, 53 miles running (my plan high), 13000 yrds swimming and some core work. Now it's time to dismount and seriously taper. I will cut back at least 25% this week. As Todd says...watch the weight now!
had a good RR on the bike and run. I totally enjoyed myself. The weather coopereated up unitl I litterally pulled into my driveway and then it opened up pretty good. Decent numbers, for me anyway. I'll put up my results for everyone to see and critique. Time to taper!
@paul, wow, that is a huge week, nice work. I always look forward to the RR rides, they are so much easier than the long interval rides. On a different note, i've heard the water temp at tempe town lake is ~70.
70!! holy cow, it's going to be HOT! hopefully it will cool a bit before we race, not too much though. Don't think I'm crazy, i'm just used to swimming where it's cool.
@ Chuck - don't move to Tampa...water is still 80. We are having a cold snap into the 50s this weekend so that out to get it wetsuit legal for the 70.3 worlds. For IMAZ, 70 would be great for me! . I'm just hoping it won't cool below 65 in the next few weeks.
OK - here are the pro's I know of doing IMAZ: Chrissie Wellington, Matty Reed (first), and Leanda Cave. Leanda was 10th at Kona, just won the Miami 70.3, is racing the World 70.3 and then coming to IMAZ. How the heck do you do that? She must recover so fast. Wish I could watch them race, but they'll have finished dinner and their massage before I cross the line!
Last two years at the Tempe Town Puddle, it was quite remarkable to watch the water temp drop seemingly a degree a day in the week or two before the race. It MAY be different this year with the new water coming in, but the decreasing angle of the sun, the increasing shade from the buildings south of the lake, and the longer, cooler nights seem to accelerate the drop in water temp starting just about now. Don't assume water temp will be 70F on race day! But if it is, we're in for a treat.
... here are the pro's I know of doing IMAZ: Chrissie Wellington, Matty Reed (first), and Leanda Cave.
Paul - Keep your eyes open, all of them will pass you at some point on that three loop run course! I'm hoping I'll get to see Chrissie do something otherwordly like she did at (?) Roth, when she went 8:19! Let's see: :52, 4:26, 2:58 adds up to 8:16, with two lightnng transitions. How can anyone bike that fast? Bet's on her overall place? She's got some serious energy build up from missing Kona, I bet, and she has stated publically she wants to beat as many men as possible.
@ Al - totally concur. She's got something to prove and I wouldn't want to be competing against her. Speaking of biking fast, here's a little tidbit from the Miami 70.3:
Retired professional cyclist, Laurent Jalabert put on a display on how to time-trial on a bike in Miami, today. The 1997 World time-trial Champion, and a multiple stage winner in cycling’s grand events, recorded the fastest bike split of the day in the professional and age group divisions. The 42-year-old biked the 56 miles in a time of 2:05:47, won his age group and placed 17th overall in a time of 4:25:47.
She was diagnosed with West Nile Virus which was the source of her illness at Kona. She's been on antibiotics since, but says she's healthy enough now to train and race. See below on selecting IMAZ:
Triathlete.com: Tell me about your decision to race Ironman Arizona over other fall races?
Wellington: I chose Arizona for a number of reasons. (Ironman) Florida would have been too early because I still don’t feel 100 percent. I have to be 100 percent healthy. The second reason was the fact that I want to go back to the UK as soon as I can. Ironman Cozumel and Ironman Western Australia are a little too late for me. I’ve got my fitness. The field at Arizona is probably the strongest of the four. It’s not as strong as Kona, but it’s important for me to race as many fast girls as I can. Also, the crowd support sounds awesome. I’ve heard the three loops on the bike and the run are very spectator-friendly. For those reasons I chose Arizona. I’m also in Boulder right now, so that really limits the distance I have to travel.
Comments
Heading out RR#2, 29 degrees.....yikes!
@Chuck: not sure about my two year old making the trip, why I was wondering your plan......
@Paul: think training in humidity and heat is harder than cold, at least that is what I am trying to believe this morning
@Al: so happy to get to meet you and that you are making the trip, way cool.
@Julia: how is your training, injury free now I hope?
Safe and happy training to all!
Just did my long run, I felt ok - by the end (20 miles) I was definiately happy to be stopping....!
This is my first IM (and my first marathon) - how much worse does the run during the race feel than just running a long run...??!
@ Ellen - I would MUCH rather do an IM marathon than do an EN Long Run! You will be going easier on race day - none of that "push the pace in the first half" stuff like the training plans have. AND, having 2000+ people running with you, and cheering spectators and aid stations with crazy volunteers every mile goes a long way to ease the mental strain.
Finally, if you pace the bike and run per EN guidelines, you will find yourself passing many, many people in the last 8 miles who are walking or shuffling. That in itself helps immensely at the end, when the mental strain is the greatest.
@stacy - Holy cow!! I fear I may be joining you tomorrow. I have to leave early for my RR#2 becasue of potential rain in the afternoon. Probably going to start @0800, it going to be COLD!! I would love to train in my race shorts and top just to get a feel for everything, but with the cold, it's just not in the cards. As far as kids, Amy, my wife and I both agreed that it race day was just going to be way too long of a day for the kids. It's really unusual for us to go anywhere without them, especially a race. My daughter has crossed the finish line with me too many times to count. There is a IMAZ Family Guide around here in one of the AZ posts. Check that out.
I hit the pool pretty good this morning for my RR#2 swim. I pushed the pace just a bit and finished in 1:11. I really wanted sub 1:10 but I was close anyway. I will slow it down a bit for AZ, I am probably looking more for a 1:15ish finish. Have fun this weekend and please be careful!
Chuck: 1:11!!! i wish i was you. swim the same at IMAZ, as Al recommends. you'll have a wetsuit AND you have the ability!
Todd: Sounds like you are set. I wish I was you too!
Great job by all the others with getting in the long runs and swims, etc.
My RR is going to be tomorrow and may be partly in rain, but it shouldn't be cold. My last long run will have to be on Sunday and my swim test next week sometime. I'm off to hammer on the bike and sneak in a hard run before tomorrow's more steady effort.
GH
You guys are tough as nails getting it done in the cold. I used to be hard core that way, but I've gone soft living in Florida the past 8 years.
My week went well, bike FT went up which met my goals. RR went fine, a few stomach issues which i think were due to an increase in calories i've been trying to test out(360/hr), so not gonna do that. Otherwise the numbers were as expected and felt great. Time to start winding down the training, don't get sick, and keep the weight were its at..
Your turn to report out..
OK - here are the pro's I know of doing IMAZ: Chrissie Wellington, Matty Reed (first), and Leanda Cave. Leanda was 10th at Kona, just won the Miami 70.3, is racing the World 70.3 and then coming to IMAZ. How the heck do you do that? She must recover so fast. Wish I could watch them race, but they'll have finished dinner and their massage before I cross the line!
is 70 really true? That adjusts the type of wetsuit!!! that's not cold at all!
WARNING!!!
Last two years at the Tempe Town Puddle, it was quite remarkable to watch the water temp drop seemingly a degree a day in the week or two before the race. It MAY be different this year with the new water coming in, but the decreasing angle of the sun, the increasing shade from the buildings south of the lake, and the longer, cooler nights seem to accelerate the drop in water temp starting just about now. Don't assume water temp will be 70F on race day! But if it is, we're in for a treat.
Paul - Keep your eyes open, all of them will pass you at some point on that three loop run course! I'm hoping I'll get to see Chrissie do something otherwordly like she did at (?) Roth, when she went 8:19! Let's see: :52, 4:26, 2:58 adds up to 8:16, with two lightnng transitions. How can anyone bike that fast? Bet's on her overall place? She's got some serious energy build up from missing Kona, I bet, and she has stated publically she wants to beat as many men as possible.
Retired professional cyclist, Laurent Jalabert put on a display on how to time-trial on a bike in Miami, today. The 1997 World time-trial Champion, and a multiple stage winner in cycling’s grand events, recorded the fastest bike split of the day in the professional and age group divisions. The 42-year-old biked the 56 miles in a time of 2:05:47, won his age group and placed 17th overall in a time of 4:25:47.
I heard Chrissie W. has west nile virus... Haven't heard she's not doing the race... yet.
Triathlete.com: Tell me about your decision to race Ironman Arizona over other fall races?
Wellington: I chose Arizona for a number of reasons. (Ironman) Florida would have been too early because I still don’t feel 100 percent. I have to be 100 percent healthy. The second reason was the fact that I want to go back to the UK as soon as I can. Ironman Cozumel and Ironman Western Australia are a little too late for me. I’ve got my fitness. The field at Arizona is probably the strongest of the four. It’s not as strong as Kona, but it’s important for me to race as many fast girls as I can. Also, the crowd support sounds awesome. I’ve heard the three loops on the bike and the run are very spectator-friendly. For those reasons I chose Arizona. I’m also in Boulder right now, so that really limits the distance I have to travel.