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If you need "tips" the week before a race....
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R10C
Nov 1, 09 21:56
Post #1 of 82 (3176 views)
If you need "tips" the week before a race....
Can't Post
Dont go.
The course is the course, it is what it is and no "tips" can change this. If you are going to IM, of the WTC brand, Silverman, GFT or any other race you can count on a few things - the swim will be 2.4 miles, the bike 112 miles and the run 26.2 miles...there will be more aid stations that just about anyone could ever need. If you are PREPARED for your 'race' you will know what it takes to go the distance of each - oddly, I presume that in this course of being prepared you have already swam and ridden your bike these distances with out a baby sitter nor constant aid stations. I also presume that you have a long run or two that did not have a mile to mile buffet to keep you over laden with sugar calories, caffeine and orange slices.
If you are PREPARED you will know how to change a tire and where to put your bib number. You will know what wheels are and are not a good option (and to that, ONLY at Kona is this a worry as disks are a no go - any other race that Kona...
run what you brung
as the car racing scene would say). If you are PREPARED you are not a week out going to ask about how many gels and of what brand to use - and how often. If you are PREPARED you will not ask what shirt to wear, what shoes to wear, how to get your socks on or what to do if the swim is not wetsuit legal.
These questions only prove day to day what I have known. Far too many folks are going out and playing "
I hope I can finish
" Ironman and are obviously NOT prepared...because if they were prepared they would not have such idiotic questions just days out....days out, one should KNOW they can finish - how fast should be the only question.
----------------------------------------------------------
f.k.a - Record9, Record9ti Record10, Record10ti, Record10Carbon, but not SuperRecord11 as there are no bar ends.
(This post was
edited
by Record10Carbon on Nov 1, 09 22:01)
UrsusAdiposimus
Nov 1, 09 22:01
Post #2 of 82 (3161 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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Thank you for the thoughtful and informative post.
R10C
Nov 1, 09 22:05
Post #3 of 82 (3147 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [UrsusAdiposimus]
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]
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In Reply To:
Thank you for the thoughtful and informative post.
Please tell me I am wrong - and if so, dont wonder why it is that the Avg USA AG time is HOURS slower than that of the times of IM distance in other countries. Past few years there are far too many folks who are in WAY WAY WAY over their heads - and we saw it this year with deaths on courses, be it Tri or Marathon...
Only an idiot goes into an IM race wondering what freaking shirt they should wear or asking a week out what to eat...USAT should ban these folks for not being prepared nor training properly - as if they had they would not ask such stupid questions a week away from '
the biggest day of their life
' - and that in and of it self is even more pathetic.
Shit...who wants a tattoo?
----------------------------------------------------------
f.k.a - Record9, Record9ti Record10, Record10ti, Record10Carbon, but not SuperRecord11 as there are no bar ends.
thetodd
Nov 2, 09 2:27
Post #4 of 82 (3070 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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Couldn't agree more. I've raced many sprint and Oly distance races and have yet to do anything longer for various reasons. At no point did I ever think that based upon those experiences was I ever prepared for full of half IM distance. I am planning to do, and have started training for my first 70.3 in Nov. 2010, I am giving myself one full year to prepare for it, trying to do it smart and safe.
___________________________________________________
People say crazy shit during sex. One time I called this girl "Mom." - Randal Graves
bos615
Nov 2, 09 3:19
Post #5 of 82 (3044 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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Why do you give a shit. If the "less elite than you" bother you so, start at the front of the swim, and don't worry about what's going on behind you.
(This post was
edited
by bos615 on Nov 2, 09 3:23)
kdw
Nov 2, 09 3:57
Post #6 of 82 (2996 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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I dunno...at my first ever triathlon I was racked next to an obvious veteran. I asked him if he had any tips and after a long pause he said something I'll never forget:
"Don't crap your pants and finish with a smile."
I shudder to think where my triathlon career might have gone without that encounter.
jackmott
Nov 2, 09 4:07
Post #7 of 82 (2982 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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but how will I know whether to use a "tri" bike or a "road" bike and whether to use a disc wheel?
----
What is good in life? - To crush your enemie's dreams, see them dropped behind you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!
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WildSide
Nov 2, 09 4:43
Post #8 of 82 (2933 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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I just attribute it to that week out, "I can't think of anything but my race" mindset that people get. I have it for IMFL and I live alone, but I don't really seek approval like a lot of people seem to. I do go back and forth on a few things like arm warmers versus socks with the toes cut out that I can ditch at the second aid station. You know the stupid sh!t that you over think.
However, I agree that if you don't know your drink mixture or how to deal with temp swings it is going to be a long day. I do like learning from others though so I'll read most posts about a race I am doing, for grins.
R10C
Nov 2, 09 5:48
Post #9 of 82 (2859 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [bos615]
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In Reply To:
Why do you give a shit. If the "less elite than you" bother you so, start at the front of the swim, and don't worry about what's going on behind you.
Ahh....see, it is only behind us who are prepared for the first lap - from there...sometimes all I can see is purple. Not so bad on the walk, but on the swim and bike shit can get messy on lap two....so - they are in front.
----------------------------------------------------------
f.k.a - Record9, Record9ti Record10, Record10ti, Record10Carbon, but not SuperRecord11 as there are no bar ends.
redtdi
Nov 2, 09 6:04
Post #10 of 82 (2823 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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]
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In Reply To:
These questions only prove day to day what I have known. Far too many folks are going out and playing "
I hope I can finish
" Ironman and are obviously NOT prepared...because if they were prepared they would not have such idiotic questions just days out....days out, one should KNOW they can finish - how fast should be the only question.
Where was this post a couple of days before Ironman Lake Placid! It might have snapped me out of my doom and gloom pre race nerves.
I was completely prepared for the race, but my nervous energy and fear of the unknown made me second guess everything I'd been training with over the past 10 months (and multiple years of tri prior to that). I had friends asking what to take for nutrition right up to the day before the race and while I knew they were fit enough to finish (and finish well) it was pretty annoying hearing them yap about it. I'm sure it was annoying for them to hear me cry that I was doomed and would crash on Keene hill twice and wouldn't make it through the swim due to contact.
Ken
"the trick is to keep losing weight until your friends and family ask you if you've been sick. then you know you're within 10 pounds. if they start whispering to each other, wondering if you've got cancer or aids, you're within 5. when they actually do an intervention, you're at race weight." - Slowman
Fleck
Nov 2, 09 6:11
Post #11 of 82 (2800 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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]
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Only an idiot goes into an IM race wondering what freaking shirt they should wear or asking a week out what to eat...USAT should ban these folks for not being prepared nor training properly - as if they had they would not ask such stupid questions a week away from '
the biggest day of their life
' - and that in and of it self is even more pathetic.
Chip may come across as being harsh, but it reminds me of the conversation I had with a woman on the beach three years ago at IMFL 2 days before the race. I have posted this before, so to be brief: The woman had never swum in open water before. She had never swum in a wetsuit before. Her longest swim in a pool, had been about 30 minutes( with a number of stops). This was her first triathlon . . etc. And here she was about to do a 2.5 mile open water ocean swim in a wetsuit, with 2,500 people for the first time! This is what gives RD's sleepless nights and receding hair-lines.
When I raise this issue, I get accused of being a harsh, elitest a-hole. However, anyone with a shred of common-sense would say, this woman, and many like her, are in
way
over their heads. I keep having to ask - Why Ironman? Why not some other more realistic challenge? I think this "Anything is possible" and other like slogans and promotions have gone too far. People
really do believe
that anything is possible, which at a high level is a good thing, but on the ground and in the trenches, it's a bit more sketchy
and can cause some big problems.
Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck
Fleck
Nov 2, 09 6:17
Post #12 of 82 (2776 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [redtdi]
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]
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I was completely prepared for the race, but my nervous energy and fear of the unknown made me second guess everything I'd been training with over the past 10 months (and multiple years of tri prior to that). I had friends asking what to take for nutrition right up to the day before the race and while I knew they were fit enough to finish (and finish well) it was pretty annoying hearing them yap about it
Ken,
You know it and you figure it out by doing things like I did yesterday - a 144K almost completely unsupported ride on a hard and challenging route that you are pretty much on your own to finish and get around. No bailing. No pick-ups. Minimal support/help. If you can do that, an IM length ride with
an aid station every 10 miles
and lots' of other on-course support help, is not that big a deal.
Funny how 12 fit guys got all the way around with no bonking, no mechanicals, no issues and no drama other than the ride itself, yesterday.
Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck
(This post was
edited
by Fleck on Nov 2, 09 6:32)
ivansie
Nov 2, 09 6:24
Post #13 of 82 (2748 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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]
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Calm down, take a deep breath....
Hey, I think "tips" is a too general term. If you need course specific local knowledge in the form of "tips" on how to execute your race or maybe some important things to do or not do specific to the course or maybe conditions that can change with weather for instance, I dont see the harm. You can see a lot of courses on paper or with general descriptions that might be far from what you are going to encounter.
More so if you dont have the time to preview the course, etc. I think its perfectly fine, NOW if you need general tips on racing then thats a whole other story...
Peace
______________________________________
"Bros b4 Hos, man" House MD
Team Aquaphor 06-08
chrisjones
Nov 2, 09 6:25
Post #14 of 82 (2747 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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]
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Quote:
Past few years there are far too many folks who are in WAY WAY WAY over their heads - and we saw it this year with deaths on courses, be it Tri or Marathon...
If you're referring to the deaths in this year's Detroit Marathon, this is completely false. The three men who died were all believed to be adequately trained. A slowtwitcher reported that one of them was on target for a ~3:00 race or better.
jyeager
Nov 2, 09 6:25
Post #15 of 82 (2746 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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But nothing says HTFU like doing an ironman without prep! Preparing takes the challenge out of it!
hgrong
Nov 2, 09 6:33
Post #16 of 82 (2728 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Fleck]
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In reply to
]
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In Reply To:
Only an idiot goes into an IM race wondering what freaking shirt they should wear or asking a week out what to eat...USAT should ban these folks for not being prepared nor training properly - as if they had they would not ask such stupid questions a week away from '
the biggest day of their life
' - and that in and of it self is even more pathetic.
Chip may come across as being harsh, but it reminds me of the conversation I had with a woman on the beach three years ago at IMFL 2 days before the race. I have posted this before, so to be brief: The woman had never swum in open water before. She had never swum in a wetsuit before. Her longest swim in a pool, had been about 30 minutes( with a number of stops). This was her first triathlon . . etc. And here she was about to do a 2.5 mile open water ocean swim in a wetsuit, with 2,500 people for the first time! This is what gives RD's sleepless nights and receding hair-lines.
When I raise this issue, I get accused of being a harsh, elitest a-hole. However, anyone with a shred of common-sense would say, this woman, and many like her, are in
way
over their heads. I keep having to ask - Why Ironman? Why not some other more realistic challenge? I think this "Anything is possible" and other like slogans and promotions have gone too far. People
really do believe
that anything is possible, which at a high level is a good thing, but on the ground and in the trenches, it's a bit more sketchy
and can cause some big problems.
Did she finish?
R10C
Nov 2, 09 6:36
Post #17 of 82 (2713 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [jyeager]
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In reply to
]
Can't Post
In Reply To:
But nothing says HTFU like doing an ironman without prep! Preparing takes the challenge out of it!
LOL....then at least they should show up hung over from a three day acid binge :-)
----------------------------------------------------------
f.k.a - Record9, Record9ti Record10, Record10ti, Record10Carbon, but not SuperRecord11 as there are no bar ends.
desert dude
Nov 2, 09 6:37
Post #18 of 82 (2712 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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Amen Brother Chip.
Brian Stover
Accelerate3 Coaching
,
Blog
Save at TriSports.com - use code BSTOV-S when placing your order
desert dude
Nov 2, 09 6:38
Post #19 of 82 (2706 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [bos615]
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Why do you give a shit. If the "less elite than you" bother you so, start at the front of the swim, and don't worry about what's going on behind you
In Reply To:
Got up on the wrong side of the bed eh? It appears to me that you missed his point completely.
Brian Stover
Accelerate3 Coaching
,
Blog
Save at TriSports.com - use code BSTOV-S when placing your order
M~
Nov 2, 09 6:44
Post #20 of 82 (2690 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [jyeager]
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But nothing says HTFU like doing an ironman without prep! Preparing takes the challenge out of it!
That's what I will be doing this weekend at B2B!! ;)
*****----------------------------------------*****
Interviewer: What's your prediction for the fight?
Clubber Lang: My prediction?
Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.
Clubber Lang: Pain!
Fleck
Nov 2, 09 7:05
Post #21 of 82 (2643 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [M~]
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That's what I will be doing this weekend at B2B!!
Mark,
You are far better prepared than the average person in most IM and I-distance events.
Good luck this weekend.
Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck
tkonecny
Nov 2, 09 7:19
Post #22 of 82 (2612 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Record10Carbon]
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Dont go.
This is some kind of paradox situation, with 'Don't go.' as the event horizon. Owww, my head hurts.
As far as causing RD's sleepless nights, they deserve all that and worse when they allow anyone with a check book to sign up for an IM w/out proof of competency. imo These and other endurance events should be treated as races, not hail marys.
______________________________________________
Hope you can success.
M~
Nov 2, 09 7:21
Post #23 of 82 (2602 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [Fleck]
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That's what I will be doing this weekend at B2B!!
Mark,
You are far better prepared than the average person in most IM and I-distance events.
Good luck this weekend.
Thanks for the vote of confidence Steve. But if you saw my training log for the past 2 months.... ;)
It will be a fun day nonetheless. Looking forward to it.
*****----------------------------------------*****
Interviewer: What's your prediction for the fight?
Clubber Lang: My prediction?
Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.
Clubber Lang: Pain!
R10C
Nov 2, 09 7:26
Post #24 of 82 (2591 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [tkonecny]
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Quote:
As far as causing RD's sleepless nights, they deserve all that and worse when they allow anyone with a check book to sign up for an IM w/out proof of competency. imo These and other endurance events should be treated as races, not hail marys.
Why do you hate fat people you are an elitist jerk who hates mediocre goals.
----------------------------------------------------------
f.k.a - Record9, Record9ti Record10, Record10ti, Record10Carbon, but not SuperRecord11 as there are no bar ends.
Devlin
Nov 2, 09 7:30
Post #25 of 82 (2571 views)
Re: If you need "tips" the week before a race.... [tkonecny]
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In reply to
]
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In Reply To:
In Reply To:
Dont go.
This is some kind of paradox situation, with 'Don't go.' as the event horizon. Owww, my head hurts.
As far as causing RD's sleepless nights, they deserve all that and worse when they allow
anyone with a check book to sign up for an IM w/out proof of competency
. imo These and other endurance events should be treated as races, not hail marys.
you want to see a ****storm, just put a post out there daring to suggest that people should have to do a 70.3 before a full, and an Olympic before a 1/2. These people have the right, by god, to enter that race regardless of the danger it poses to others, and they will exercise that right! No matter what these namby-pamby elitest a-holes say!!
Whenever this comes up, I do notice one thing. The people saying "Hey, we should have minimum standards and qualifications", are not the bucket listers. They are the people who have been doing this a long time, and are fully aware of how hard it really is to do an IM. It's not elitism, it's reality.
John
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