Hey folks,
I posted a week ago about my experience DNFing IMMoo. I just bumped it to give people my update. Basically I had heat stroke, passed out on bike at mile 110 and just tipped over, but still finished bike and got taken to hospital.
Anyway, given my work, I will not be able to train for next couple of years, so I wanted to get this first IM under my belt (and out of my system) and claimed a community slot at IMFL in 7 weeks. Since I have been preparing for IMMoo for a whole year, I know nothing about IMFL and wanted to ask for people's advice. thanks in advance for any help, especially from previous IMFL finishers.
1. logistics -- I assume most of the IMNA events are very similar, so I should know what to expect.
-- this is Saturday race, and race meeting, unlike Moo is night before instead of two nights before;
-- temperature -- I see the website's statement; how was the weather last few years; nothing like 90F, I hope
-- wind -- they said this is a factor?
2. swim -- I have only swum in ocean once, and won't have chance to do it before that weekend
-- water temp -- I'm assuming low 70s; will go with sleeveless again;
-- wavy -- is this going to be too much of a problem? is there a special approach to this type of swimming? should I expect to swim faster on the way back to beach than going out?
-- mass start -- there was much talk about mass start being a night mare before IMMoo; is this any different at IMFL? I did 1:21 at Moo, did okay by starting right of ski jump;
-- salt -- I see there are showers after the suit strippers; how careful do I need to be to get off salt; I mean is this going to be really bothersome later on?
-- sand -- I assume we can rinse off sand somewhere and don't have to carry personal tubs in T1
3. bike
-- profile-- I know it's not completely flat; I assume 12-23 gear is fine =)
-- wheels -- I am going with hed3 front and rear again; website mention wind may be a factor; I am 5'7", 133 pounds; I thought I handled the IMMoo last weekend okay (I hear it was 15mph with gust to 30mph);
-- how fast do you think I should bike? In my confused state, I actually finished IMMoo bike portion, time was 6:10:00; corresponding time, similarly placed in 2004 IMFL is around 5:20; since my goal this time is to ensure I finish, maybe I can aim for a 20mph pace (5:36), if weather is good; what do you think?
4. run
-- transition -- people say after a whole bike course in aero position, it's tough to start the run; any particular advice to ward off this? I've heard I should get out of saddle a bit last mile or two of bike; or is this not a problem at all?
thanks for reading! sorry for the long post; this is kind of like a whole year of research for one race condense into one post; good luck, folks!
-lewis
I posted a week ago about my experience DNFing IMMoo. I just bumped it to give people my update. Basically I had heat stroke, passed out on bike at mile 110 and just tipped over, but still finished bike and got taken to hospital.
Anyway, given my work, I will not be able to train for next couple of years, so I wanted to get this first IM under my belt (and out of my system) and claimed a community slot at IMFL in 7 weeks. Since I have been preparing for IMMoo for a whole year, I know nothing about IMFL and wanted to ask for people's advice. thanks in advance for any help, especially from previous IMFL finishers.
1. logistics -- I assume most of the IMNA events are very similar, so I should know what to expect.
-- this is Saturday race, and race meeting, unlike Moo is night before instead of two nights before;
-- temperature -- I see the website's statement; how was the weather last few years; nothing like 90F, I hope
-- wind -- they said this is a factor?
2. swim -- I have only swum in ocean once, and won't have chance to do it before that weekend
-- water temp -- I'm assuming low 70s; will go with sleeveless again;
-- wavy -- is this going to be too much of a problem? is there a special approach to this type of swimming? should I expect to swim faster on the way back to beach than going out?
-- mass start -- there was much talk about mass start being a night mare before IMMoo; is this any different at IMFL? I did 1:21 at Moo, did okay by starting right of ski jump;
-- salt -- I see there are showers after the suit strippers; how careful do I need to be to get off salt; I mean is this going to be really bothersome later on?
-- sand -- I assume we can rinse off sand somewhere and don't have to carry personal tubs in T1
3. bike
-- profile-- I know it's not completely flat; I assume 12-23 gear is fine =)
-- wheels -- I am going with hed3 front and rear again; website mention wind may be a factor; I am 5'7", 133 pounds; I thought I handled the IMMoo last weekend okay (I hear it was 15mph with gust to 30mph);
-- how fast do you think I should bike? In my confused state, I actually finished IMMoo bike portion, time was 6:10:00; corresponding time, similarly placed in 2004 IMFL is around 5:20; since my goal this time is to ensure I finish, maybe I can aim for a 20mph pace (5:36), if weather is good; what do you think?
4. run
-- transition -- people say after a whole bike course in aero position, it's tough to start the run; any particular advice to ward off this? I've heard I should get out of saddle a bit last mile or two of bike; or is this not a problem at all?
thanks for reading! sorry for the long post; this is kind of like a whole year of research for one race condense into one post; good luck, folks!
-lewis