Last year was wetsuit legal, year before was not. I checked bike in day of race. Goes very quickly and smoothly. You in 40-44AG?

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http://www.sfuelsgolonger.com

Thanks good to know.

I'm in 30-34.

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Good, was hoping you weren't in my AG. No idea on water temp but I will keep my ears open. This will be my third time.

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http://www.sfuelsgolonger.com

I'm in Central Florida and current lake temps are in upper 60s.

Haines City is a bit further south, but not far.

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just your average age grouper . no one special . no scientific knowledge . just having fun.

What's your gut feeling on wetsuit legal? And I'm gonna hold you to it. :)

I did it in 2013 & last year. No wet suits in '13, wetsuits were allowed last year. But it was held in May in 2013. My guess is its likely to be wet suit legal...but that's just a guess. But the time I gained wearing a wet suit was deleted by the big staple I managed to get in my rear tire around mile 35....still its a pretty good race, enjoy!

For IM 70.3 races, many details are left up to the RD. I believe TomZ is involved in FL 70.3 as well as Steelhead 70.3. Saturday bike check in is optional at Steelhead 70.3 as well.

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Pink? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide.

Good to know. I should do more TomZ races.

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If I had to guess, being early April, I'd say it'll still be under 78. But who knows. We've been having pretty warm weather all winter, and the water temps haven't been bad at all.

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just your average age grouper . no one special . no scientific knowledge . just having fun.

That particular lake is very very shallow. Air temperatures the week prior to the race will determine whether or not the swim is wetsuit legal.

I am Sebring fl about 45 min. south. Warm winter been swimming in lake Denton without a wetsuit for a couple weeks. Denton is much deeper than Hanes city. If the weather cools down maybe wetsuit.

I'm in. Though, I only started training in earnest last week, so I doubt it will be much of a performance.

Wetsuit legal, right now I'd say no, but it's all speculation. One cool aspect of the race is that there's a 25-yard pool right next to transition that they allow us to use for warm-up.

Good luck!

Didn't you just have a kid recently? I'm sure that's taking up most of your time.

I've read a few RR mentioning the pool. That's very convenient.

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Dumb question - you can use it morning of the race to warm up?

I knew you could use it the day before, which was a hilarious experience having the pool goers go back and forth across the pool (sans lane lines) - great practice for mass starts.

SteveJ,

Congrats on a great race in Miami. Originally from Jupiter area, and heard your name before from Kurt Barnhill and Mark Swart - will have to try and find you before the race (because god knows I won't see you during).

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IG: NCGregory8778

Thank you for the kind words. I don't know Kurt and Mark personally, but have heard/seen their names before.

I'm bib #169. Stop by and say hello before/after..... hopefully there is beer waiting for us after we finish. It's always fun meeting other ST'ers.

I'm probably going to try to do the practice swim on Saturday just as an FYI.

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I did the race last year, and the pool was open for warmups. Surprisingly few people used it, though! I guess swimming with gators and snakes didn't need a warmup.

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Blog: http://262toboylstonstreet.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/NateThomasTri
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I'm bib # 33. Now, if I can only get over this nasty cold I brought home from my recent travels.

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What I do: http://app.strava.com/athletes/345699

I'm in too! AG 30-34 definitely not a contender for top spots though!

75 degrees.
https://www.watertemperature.net/...eva-haines-city.html

There will be a gigantic wetsuit wave at the end of the swim start if temperatures stay where they are now!

Muncie is optional day before the race as well. however they say that 70-80% still rack the day before.

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Proud Member of Chris McDonald's 2018 Big Sexy Race Team "That which doesn't kill me, will only make me stronger"
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I saw that website but it does not look like a legit website that is actively measuring the water temperature. Seems to me it's just an assumption based off the weather.

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Well ran. Lots of corners on a rolling course. The run can get a little warm but it is Florida. What nobody is going to talk about the alligators and crocodiles ?

Me too. And probably well behind as well. Should be a fun race.

How prevalent are gators there? I can never tell if people are being sarcastic or not. I've never had an issue with open water swimming but that might be a reason for me to start having issues...

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MS: Exercise Science
Your speed matters a lot, sometimes you need to be very fast, where sometimes you need to breakdown your speed.

Don't vary from the course in the practice swim and you wil be fine. They are going to be as far away as they can with all of that commotion. Worst case, it pays to be MOP in this situation :)

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IG: NCGregory8778

Swimming at the race will be fine. Swimming with a group is fine. Swimming on your own, choose your lake wisely. Gators are everywhere in Florida. Some lakes aren't too far out of control, some are.

I do OW lake swims year round with little concern other than water moccasins. IMO the ocean is far more sketchy.

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just your average age grouper . no one special . no scientific knowledge . just having fun.

I swim in lake Denton Sebring , Avon park Florida area. No gators. Lake is small, very deep, very clean. Not good alligator habitat. Houses all around. Of course it helps that they teach suba diving here. Snakes yes just stay away from the couple saw grass areas.

Water was 72 this morning in Central Florida.

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just your average age grouper . no one special . no scientific knowledge . just having fun.

Sorry I couldn't resist on the gator comment. We traveled to do this race last year and there were a few comments about gators. The big take away is there are a lot of people in a body of water. No animal will want anything to o with that! Have a great race and have fun!

3 months of consistent winter training lost to 5 days with the flu. Man, do I feel like crap.

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What I do: http://app.strava.com/athletes/345699

Im in, M35-39 but far from a contender...

Was cool with the gators... "don't be first (got that covered) and don't be last (I might have to work on my swim a bit) but snakes!?

:/

Temp dropping this week, low forties at nite high low 70's daytime. Lake wales , Hanes city has been getting lots of rain to. So who knows in 3 weeks. First wave is at 6:50. Last year you could not see the turn buoys. That sucks!

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/...ge.php?station=pcbf1

This is data from the bouy from Panama City beach. It will give you current water temps (refreshes every hour).
I watched this way too much last year since the temp was teetering between legal and non-legal.

That's great and all except this race is in Haines City outside Orlando. :-)

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

There is a big difference between the gulf of mexico and Lake Eva.

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So what's the story, is this thing going to be wetsuit legal, or not? If the latter, I need to know so I can begin swim training.

Getting pretty warm the last few weeks, even after the cool down we had a few weeks ago.

The lake is small and shallow, so it reacts quickly to temperatures as well as rain fall.

If I remember correctly, TomZ has come on and provided a water temp update leading into the race a week or two out., Hopefully he hooks us up this year as well!

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IG: NCGregory8778

Messing with google maps.....how come lake eva is green, unlike the rest of the surrounding lakes?? Gross....

I live in Florida, we had a late cold front and I will say 99 % chance it's wetsuit legal. Practice in the suit and you have to drop the bike off the night before. Bring something to cover it so it's not saturated in dew. Good Luck.

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Strava:https://www.strava.com/athletes/20890878

I hope the latter. Bought a new wetsuit last year around this time. Have yet to swim in it.

But it has been rather cold here.

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SpeedOfCourse wrote:

I live in Florida, we had a late cold front and I will say 99 % chance it's wetsuit legal. Practice in the suit and you have to drop the bike off the night before. Bring something to cover it so it's not saturated in dew. Good Luck.

FYI - Bike check-in is optional

http://www.ironman.com/~/media/707db17ec7134de88b19dd2e5de9c643/2017%2070%203%20florida%20event%20schedule%202.pdf

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IG: NCGregory8778

I would say it's 99% NOT wetsuit legal and bike drop off is optional. I also live in Florida and I would say it's been hot here. hmmmmmm

For instance, today in Haines City, high of 90, tomorrow is 90, Fri is maybe rain and 85, sat 86, sun 90, mon 90, tue 90, wed 85, thur 85, fri 78 if it rains, sat ?, sun race.

That can all change though.

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http://www.sfuelsgolonger.com

Lot of phosphorus (amongst other thing in urban runoff) drains into the lake feeding the algea.
http://www.theledger.com/news/20170321/haines-city-receives-grant-to-clean-lake-eva

Yeb I agree not wetsuit legal but there will a big wetsuit wave at the of the end of the swim start. Last year at Steelhead the wave was so big they had to do a rolling start.

Yeah I'm going with non-wetsuit swim now. This past week and this week should be hot enough to warm that puppy up.

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+1. I'd be willing to be on an 80f+ race day temperature at this point. Note to those racing: still bring your wetsuit! Two or three days of cloud cover and rain can cool that lake right back down. Worst case scenario you leave the wetsuit in the car.

It's going to be close, so hopefully they don't opt to make us cook in our wetsuits. At this point, I'd wager that they will find a spot in the mud and it will be wetsuit-legal. But, barely-legal. Normally how I like it, but not in this case.

Weather is looking beautiful, should be a great day.

https://www.watertemperature.net/united-states/lake-eva-haines-city.html


Is this possible or a mistake? Seems it should be warmer, it is going to be in the 75-77 range I'd be willing to bet.

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

Race looks like weather in the 70's some 50 degree nights before. Bring wetsuit for sure.

Live just south of Haines City and the wife is running it, so we have been watching pretty hard. Lakes similar size and depth are running 75-77 here now (Sebring/Lake Placid area) and with a slight front moving thru tomorrow and a better one coming thru Thursday, if we can stay overcast and cool (predicted 50s race morning, highs in the upper 70s) it should be wetsuit legal. I'll be up there Friday for packet pickup and see if I can get a real temp.

Any practice swim on sat.

Today and tomorrow are supposed to be in the 90s. Rain and "cool" front coming Thursday. Its going to be close.

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Water was 77 in South Orlando this morning.

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just your average age grouper . no one special . no scientific knowledge . just having fun.

I saw this posting on facebook this morning: https://www.watertemperature.net/...eva-haines-city.html

It claims water temp is 70 but no clue who is actually maintaining this site. I guess I will just come prepared for anything......

athlete guide say there is a practice swim from 11am-2pm

Thank you

Flying down from Ottawa tomorrow. Luggage space is at a premium. Anyone know if it will be wetsuits, no wetsuits or too close to call. Following a website that says 70 degrees, but that can't be right. Thanks.

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

with the cold front coming in, it's too close to call IMO

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Agreed... Race morning is forecast to be 50deg for a low. And with the cold front, Friday and Saturday morning lows will be upper 40s.

Last year was similar, maybe warmer.

Likely, they will keep testing till they find a cold spot to make it wetsuit legal.

Thanks to you and stevej. Barry

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Barry Dmitruk
2017: Florida 70.3 (done); Mont Tremblant 70.3 & Ironman

I'm packing the car up and heading down there after work tonight. Wishing everyone safe travels and a great race.

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What I do: http://app.strava.com/athletes/345699

They got a decent dose of rain, so with the dropping temps these next few days, I have to believe it will be wetsuit legal.

Maybe it's my improved swim that HS me hoping it's not wetsuit legal, but wish there was a clear answer. Oh well. Packed the wetsuit just to be safe. See you all there!

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___________________________________
MS: Exercise Science
Your speed matters a lot, sometimes you need to be very fast, where sometimes you need to breakdown your speed.

Sorry, I can post tomorrow evening after I pick up packet, but water temps here (south 50 miles) are below 78. Only issue is Eva is darker, may have warmed up slightly more than local lakes.

Any updates on the lake temperature? Rain and some "cold" nights...hoping for a cooler lake (I am not a strong swimming).

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Jamie

Just reported at Athlete meeting....
Water Temp on Thursday morning--78
Water Temp on Friday morning (today)--75.1
With a cool similarly cool day all day Friday and Saturday.... My expectation is wetsuit legal.
The cool front has cooled the lake.

73.1 water temp this morning! Bring your wetsuits! Z

I thought we were in Florida. If it gets any colder I'm staying in bed. :)

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What I do: http://app.strava.com/athletes/345699

Hi im curious if youre not after any WC spots or award you can still wear a wetsuit right? And what is the max temp that u can wear a wetsuit?

78 is dividing point, but temps for this will be lower than 78.

The practice swim was wonderful. Looking forward to a nice day tomorrow. Thanks Tom Z.

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What I do: http://app.strava.com/athletes/345699

My bad, learn something every day! 76.1 and below for Ironman, 78 is USAT. Was cool enough today, 99% sure wetsuit legal.

Looks like times were a bit faster this year compared to last year (at least at the very pointy end of the field). Anyone who raced both years notice this? Was the swim still that horrible M-Shaped atrocity?

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M Shape was the same.

I raced both. Was 4:18 last year and just Sub 4:20 this year. Last year that put me 7th(I think) and this year(18th). The group today was WAY faster this year. A lot of good athletes. Really cool to see the competitors!

From my middling vantage point, this was a very deep and strong field out here today. I am sufficiently humbled.

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What I do: http://app.strava.com/athletes/345699

The m is still there. But I kind enjoy swimming it. But that ski jet they were using for water safety was making it way more rough than it should be. Bike was alittle cooler this year but the winds were harder. The run turned hot.

Fun day out there yesterday. I noticed some big waves during certain sections of the swim. I figured the jet ski was making them. We were fortunate with cooler temps for most of the day but it did turn really hot for those later in the day. I was truly impressed with all those people who toughed it out on that course in that heat in the afternoon. There was zero shade out there. My hat is off to those who suffered through.

First time doing this race for me. That course is no joke. Majority seems to think all courses in Florida are easy. This was definitely the hardest race I've personally done in Florida. That was a fun bike and run course although challenging. All the turns on the bike/run and varying undulation made for keeping momentum absolutely critical on that course. Congrats to everyone out there who raced yesterday.

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