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Transition Plan for IMWI

gene_pish@hotmail.comgene_pish@hotmail.com
in Group Discussion-Ironman Wisconsin 2012

So looking forward to IMWI.  My FIRST Ironman distance, and I am so excited to utilize my EN knowledge to accomplish my goals!! 

Can anyone share their T1 & T2 plans / past history for those of us that my be doing IMWI for the first time?

 

Comments

  • CarlCarl
    Gene -
    Well this is my first one also but for me I just can't find a pair of shorts to wear on the back that don't kill the boys. I am therefore changing after the swim into a pair of bibs and then after the bike into a pair of running shorts. Anyway that is what I am telling myself at this time.
  • gene_pish@hotmail.comgene_pish@hotmail.com
    Carl.
    I am going to take the same approach also. I'm not concerned about an extra 3-4 minutes in T1 & T2. I heard from others in another post that the T1 & T2 areas are like a locker room (i.e. you are free to strip down and change into whatever you want).
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    That is correct. You can change in there all you want. There is a men's room and a women's room. They are just big meeting rooms that are set up to make life possible for this sort of thing.
  • gene_pish@hotmail.comgene_pish@hotmail.com
    Another "basic" question....do you put your helmet in your T1 bag, or can you leave it on your bike?
  • mtlarsonmtlarson
    Helmuts and Shoes MUST go into the athlete's bike gear bag. Lots of good information in the Athlete's guide for us first timers.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Keep it very simple with very few moving parts = faster and less opportunity for friction. My T1 bag will have in it:

    • Bike shoes
    • Helmet
    • Sunglasses will be on the bike, one less thing to manage in the tent.
    • That's it. Nothing is going in the pocket of my singlet so one less thing to manage in the tent.

    After using the services of the wetsuit strippers (volunteers who help you get your wetsuit off) I'll haul ass up the helix to the bag room and get my bag.

    Run into the changing room go to the exit (less crowded there). Without sitting down, dump out my stuff, put on helmet, grab shoes, drop my wetsuit with the volunteer and the bag and sprint out to my bike, carrying shoes. . Bonus if volunteer is there with the bike to hand it to me. Grab bike, sprint to mount line, lean bike against wall, put on shoes and go.

    Caveat is that I'll be top 35 out of the water so transition is relatively empty for me. But nearly everything applies to you except (maybe)

    • May not have a volunteer to help you in the T1 tent/room
    • You may have to get your bike off the rack. Just like any other race, know where your bike is racked.
    • May not be room for you to do the shoe change thing near the mount line. I would recommend putting your shoes on at your bike. I'm basically minimizing the running I do in my bike shoes.
  • gene_pish@hotmail.comgene_pish@hotmail.com
    @Rich. Thanks!! No worry about ME getting help...... I will be towards the back.... but I am fine and excited about that. My GOAL is to finish like a 11 minute rock star!

    Had another question during my ride this morning. I am planning on walking the 20 steps each aid station. Regarding impact on pace/mile goal..... if your goal is; let say 10:00/mile (I have my garmin set up just like yours I think). When you start the mile and you are walking it is going to show approx. 15:00/mile and then you start running after 20 steps and your pace begins to go back down toward 10:00/mile. Should you run "faster" in order to get your pace down to 10:00/mile by the end of the mile, or do you just start running at 10:00/mile which would result in an overall mile at a little over 10:00/mile? Thanks.
  • Brian Quarton [OLD]Brian Quarton [OLD]

    Gene, somewhere there is a spreadsheet/calculator that helps you calculate the effect of the walk on your pace. This will help you plan. If you know your goal pace, walk pace and walk time/distance then you will need to run at X pace. The short walk will not hurt as much as you think. Someone will help us out with a link. I will await others response, but I think you will get in a rhythm and it will be easier than you think. I have to admit I have not been practicing walk breaks like I should then it would be second nature. LINK to a Gallowalker calculator if it helps.

  • Beth_SBeth_S

    p.s. especially to men -- put your name and race number on anything you care about it -- like your wetsuit. My sister volunteered in the women's changing tent and has horror stories about how chaotic and messy the men's changing tent got. Gear everywhere.

    Other gear tips:

    1) Don't put extra stuff in your bag. Make the decisions about what you are wearing the day before. With maybe a set of arm warmers/rain jacket.

    2) If your stuff is in your bag in the order you want it out, be prepared to tell your helper not to dump out your bag -- that's their usual default.

    3) Getting wet, stretchy clothes on your body after the swim totally sucks. If you can avoid this, your transition will be way faster and smoother.

     

    I had a) ziploc bag of stuff for back of jersey pocket (arm warmers, mentos box of s-caps and drugs, extra gels) and sunglasses in my helmet. I grabbed that and arranged while volunteers put on my socks. I ran out with shoes in hand, grabbed my bike, and put shoes on at the mount line. I got a pink speedo men escort for mojo, but most bike handlers aren't that cool.

  • Sue ChapmanSue Chapman
    I volunteered last year in the women's change area at T1 - think there were enough volunteers there. One thing they told us to let the athletes know was that the parking deck where the bikes are can be slick - so carry your bike shoes - don't put them on in the changing area.
  • JustMikeJustMike
    Where do you guys put your running watch, and how do you manage that? Do you turn it on in T2? Do you wear it the whole day, in the case of the 310xt?

    I'm stuck between wearing it all day in triathlete mode, or just using it on the run. Leaning towards just using it on the run.

    Thanks! Taper Sucks. Off to do my "long" run.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    I race with a 305. I'll turn it on in the AM, outside on the upper deck of the parking garage to let it get the satellites, then turn it off and put it in the T2 bag. In transition I'll grab it and turn it on, put it on while running. It may or may not get the satellites before I get to the run exit. I'll probably walk from the changing room to the run exit, at least until it gets the signal. Only takes a couple seconds and I don't mind running a 100m on the course before starting my watch

  • manconamancona
    In 2009 i let my 305 acquire prior to the race from the bike racks. I then shut it off and put it in my t2 bag that morning. In t2 I turned it on as soon as I left the building and it fully acquire the satellites until about mile marker 2, however I was still able to use it to get a time split at mile 1 and 2, so it was fine. not ideal though.

    Since then I have used a 310XT and worn it all day and had zero issues. perfect signal from start to finish.

    I know many people that put the 310 or 305 on in t1 or leave it on their bike... then they turn it on at some point during the bike ride so that it is fully acquired and ready to go before you hit t2. If i was going to do this approach I would probably turn it on when you hit Whalen on the way back to Madison, this way it has 13ish miles to lock on the satellites (since it talks significantly longer if you are moving than standing still).
  • DanielaDaniela
    I will have my 310xt on my bike set to go off every 20min to remind me to take in calories. I just have to remember to take it off my bike in t2...
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    My experience with the 305 is mixed. I have had times where it behaved like Rich reports (picks up very quickly) and others where more like Mancona (not picking up for a couple miles!) I agree that if you are doing a 305, you should put it on for the bike and power it up during the "stick" back if you want to be sure it's on.

    For a 310, no worries...wear it all day.

  • JustMikeJustMike
    Ok, will wear it all day. I know this is stupid, when I was thinking about that the thing that bugged me was having it sticking out in the wind on my wrist unnecessarily. Using it for a reminder to eat is a great idea though, and it's a backup to my edge 500 I suppose.
  • DanielaDaniela
    I have the quick release kit, so it's attached to my bike. I feel like it has less drag there (it may not, but as long as I think it does, then I'm happy with where it is). I can also see it much better then when I used to wear it on my wrist. I'm debating on wearing the wrist strap all day, or having it in my T2 bag. I'll probably go with the later as it can annoy me when I wear it with my wetsuit.

    Also, having the timer go off every 20min creates my 'box'.
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