When it gets really hard later in the run, don't be your username and keep running. It really is more mental than physical at that point. Keep running past the point when you can no longer run and you will do fine.

For a newbie Ironman swimmer I would probably start near the back. IMC's swim can get a little crowded.

If you are not worried about your time, start on the left side closer to the back, wait 10-15 seconds and then go. You will swim a little further but it should be relatively anxiety free.

Depends on what kind of swimmer you are. the IMC swim is very fast so if you are a good swimmer (like sub hour) get up front and and find some toes to follow, you'll be at the first turn before you know it.

I practiced all summer without a wetsuit and had the fastest swim of my life in a brand new suit so don't worry about that.

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This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time. - Fight Club
Industry Brat.

Last year, I stood on the beach for about 90 secs - 2 min watching the swimmers churn away - before I got in the water, and I had a great swim. I was feeling a little under-prepared for the swim, and it worked really well. Things do bunch up at the turns, but not that bad. My swim was ~ 1:20, with the 2 min. wait...

Transition tent was a little crowded, but I still found a spot no problem, and it felt really, really good to pass alot of people on the bike!

Good luck, have fun!

I started the swim front-center; figured I'd just roll with the punches (literally and figuratively) as I'd done open-water mass starts before and am an above-avg swimmer, but it was definitely worse than I bargained for. It was just orders of magnitude more crowded than any other race I've done where the scrum would usually thin out pretty fast, but there I only got very brief, isolated pockets of free water and then more pummeling. Not trying to freak you out as I eventually settled down and only swam about ~4mins off what I expected (1:03+ vs sub-60, so not a major loss in the grand scheme), but if I had it to do over again I'd line up way to the outside/left as it seemed to be crammed worse towards the buoy line (right). Once you get around the turns, the ride in is surprisingly fast as the massive string of bodies going in the same direction definitely creates kind of a chute of current.

As for the weather... it's pretty much a high desert climate, so you should be well accustomed. Last year was definitely an aberration; the year before when I did it it was pretty hot (low 90's) and I only recall reading about one other cold/wet year in the past decade or so when I tried to figure out what to expect.

You could start about 100 yards or so left and just swim straight toward the first houseboat. This is what I did as it was my first IM and I was worried that I wouldn't survive. I had clean water the whole way to first houseboat(IMC turn buoys) and basically used the massive pack on my right swimming the buoy line to sight from and get a little side draft from. Once around the first houseboat I stayed probably 25 yards off the line all the way home again with no real scrum anytime at all.

Good luck.

some newbies are fast and comfortable with all the contact and for them closer to the bouys is fine, some newbies are slower and the contact freaks them out and for them farther to the left and waiting a minute before starting is better. You have not said much about your speed or comfort level in the scrum but the faster and more confident you are in contact, the closer to the front and the line of bouys you start. If the contact really bugs you, starting a little late and to the outside is definitely ok. You give up very little time and greatly increase your chances of staying positive throughout the swim.

very important piece of good advice, which serves almost everyone well, find a pair of feet travelling about the right speed and follow them. It is a long swim followed by a long ride and run and any chance to conserve energy is to be taken. If you think the person you are drafting is too slow, wait for faster feet to come along and then jump on them, but always be following, never leading. It often takes a while for the swim to settle down and staying on a pair of feet can be really hard in the first 15 miutes, but after that... find those feet.

drafting in open water can be a hassle, but it is really really worth it.

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Grant

The only thing I'd add is to avoid finishing the swim too far to the left. There are lots of larger stones near the shore that make very uncomfortable footing out that way.

Thanks for posting this. I am in the same position as you with regard to this being my first Ironman. I was hit by a car about 6 weeks ago and my fiancee and parents are a little anxious about all the "combat" during the swim. I sustained a minor concussion and still have slight symptoms so if I can reduce/nullify my chances of getting kicked in the head, it would be preferred. I'm trying to figure out where to start and I'd like to get out around 1:15 or better, which I think is pretty doable even if I stay outside. (Thanks for those who have suggested that).

This is all such great advice. Thank you very much. I am an average swimmer and want to hit the bike feeling good not all beat up. I enjoy passing lots of people on the bike. I am a climber so this race course should suite me well.
Keep it coming. I am grateful for all your help.

Thanks.

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No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
Laura

You definately should wait a few mins and watch for frog kickers.

At IM-France there were a few broken noses for sure. The guys who had already done IMC said France was worse but not by much.

I'm fine with the contact (male 37) but I don't actually want to get damaged, or have my garmin kicked (in my swim-cap). So just under 2/100m I'm not sure where I'm going to start yet either.

Keep your eyes out for the "Algae Snakes"

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Lar Dog

If your just looking to finish, stay in the back a bit so you have less of a chance of getting beaten up. I started at the front during IMLP this year and it was a wrestling match for 2.4 miles, not fun...

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I got nothing.

(First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! You picked a great one for your first!)
Get there early, relax, line up for the port a potties (huge lines, long wait). Keep calm, try to soak in the atmosphere of Ironman morning. Hear the comforting voice of Steve King, providing last minute announcements, and reminding athletes how much time until start. Get off your feet, don't expend much engery, do some easy stretching, think about where you are, all the training it took to get here, and pat yourself on the back. Congratulate yourself. In a few minutes you'll be squishng your toes in the sandy shallows of Lake Okanagan, with 2500 of your closest friends, anxiously awaiting the cannon blast announcing the start of IMC 2011.

An epic course awaits you, with some of the highest highs you've ever experienced, and possibly some of the lowest lows. Though we're in this together, you must go it alone. But you'll have an IronArmy of volunteers helping you to the finish line. So keep smiling, you chose to do this, and it's all up to you now. This is the day you dared dream about, and it's all about to happen.... right.....before.....your....eyes!

Funnel through the timing mats, an endless cacophony of beeps announcing "You are here, and you're really going to do this thing". The powerful play continues, and you get to contribute a verse. You're not nervous, just excited, and anxious to start. You see the flashes, and turn to look at the mob pushing up against the fences. Some fans are more nervous than the athletes. This is in contrast to where you are, standing in soft sand, a peaceful calm over the beach. Note also where people are lining up. Have a plan B. If you intended to start far left, but they're packed over there like sardines, look elsewhere. Maybe hang back a bit, soak it in, so you can observe the washing machine that is the Ironman swim start, and pick your own cycle.

But first come the bagpipes, and the Canadian anthem. The sun rising over the hills. The countdown, the choppers, the cheers..... You might have to raise your voice to wish you're neighbor "Good Luck". It's going to be a Beautiful Day! *BOOM*

Walk a ways before you get horizontal. Expect rough spots, getting run into, run over, kicked, and bumped. Relax. Breathe. FInd another line if needed. Just keep swimming. If you're a mid pack swimmer, don't waste alot of energy in the congested start by zig zagging and stopping and starting, or speeding up and slowing down. Try to get into the Zen of long strokes, easy breathing, efficient swimming.

Triangle course, 2 right turns. Turn at the Houseboats. Orange buoys inbetween. Wave to the scuba divers. Coming back in, aim for the Peach, but stay to the right, less rocks over there.
You did it! You just swam 2.4 miles! Go to the wetsuit strippers, grab your gear, and get ready for a great bike ride. Beauty and beast... You hear the call of the Okanagan and Similkameen echoing in the Valley. They're calling your name. Before your date with the finish line, Richter Pass and the rollers would like a word with you. So does the out and back and Yellow Lake. Don't fight them, embrace them, and they'll gladly allow you to pass. Then it's just a jog along a lake!

Best of luck to you. I hope you have a historic day!

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http://noel-ironman.blogspot.com/

IM Canada is a terrific venue for a race. If you are a decent swimmer, position yourself on one of the sides, but near to if not in the front. Be sure to warm up well first. Looks like you are in the mix with your bike/run preparation. I raced there in 1991 and have completed other IM courses. The secret to a good run is not to spend all your energy on the bike. Simple formula. Stay focused, stay strong and race within yourself. You will have a great time out there. Good luck!

Swim-wise, if you don't want crowds, start at the very left. The first mark is nearly a mile away. So, a few (100) yards one way or another away from the straight line ends up being a very small distance difference along that leg. By the time you'll get to the mark everything will be clear.

Have fun! That lake is fantastic, and the rest of the course is beautiful too. I loved last year's cold (but then I train around "sunny" Seattle) but it was apparently abnormal.

Also, the key to success is wine tasting before as well as after the event. You heard it here first. Most people only do the after part.

PS: It's "biatch," beeotch!

Epic - good post :)

Brent

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DFRU - Detta Family Racing Unit...the kids like it and we all get out and after it...gotta keep the fam involved!

Ahh, excellent, that's the info I was looking for. This will be my third IMC, and each of the two previous times I've finished with 1+ min of stumbling over large rocks in knee deep water trying to get to shore. I just assumed that they were everywhere. I swam 58:09 last year and thought I really had a chance of sub 57 without the rocks. How far inside should you go to avoid them? I'll definitely go check it out before the race last year. As I said, I never did before because I figured they were everywhere!

-Colin

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Any run that doesn't include pooping in someone's front yard is a win.

Careful here on this! I did IMC and I too am a climber (and thought the same thing), but it didnt work out well for me on this course, beacuse......I climbed strongly up the three climbs, passed lots of people, but wound up shuffling the run affter 6 miles. Passing people was fun on the bike was fun, watching them all go running back by sucked. I now know that I made the classic IM mistake.

It was my first IM and I learned a valuable lesson: If you want to run strongly you cant blast the hills on the bike. Have to keep it smooth and steady (low variability index) on the Bike without huge power or HR spikes. Dont make the same mistake I did!

I also held back for 2 mins at the swim start and had it pretty clear water the whole way!

Good luck and remember to have fun! When they call your name a the finish line you will then really undertstand why IM is sooooo addictive!

TT

Guess it's time to dredge up Hurricane Bob's IMC psych up! Have fun!

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...icane%20bob;#2962950

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My business-eBodyboarding.com

 Ah, IMC my favorite race - excellent choice !

Have done it four times and hope to get in for 2012 again.
I'm a MOP swimmer and started more to the right side ( precisely because everybody seems to tend to the left :-)
and it always worked really well for me.
There were the usual hits and kicks, which is unavoidable in a race with over 2,500 athletes, but nothing
worse.
As written a few postings before, last year I made the mistake to exit the water too far to the left and
almost ruined my pb, as I could hardly walk over all those rocks there. Just watch out for the buoys leaving to the shore and you will be fine.
The bike course is absolutely stunning, so great to just ride one single loop, I'm sure as a climber you will love it.
What I always notice about IMC, is everyone talks about the bike course.
But what about the run ? I think the IMC run course is often underestimated. In fact it is pretty hilly in some parts by the lake.

Anyway, Good luck and enjoy the race !

This is excellent advice. That is probably exactly what I would have done. Just scaled up the mountains but blown up on the run. I will heed your advice and hold back. My coach told me to hold back 80% on the bike and then give it a good go the last 20%, which I think is mostly downhill and flat anyways :)

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all this good advice. I feel so much better about the swim and will go practice in the area a few days before to check out where the big rocks are. I am glad that this post is helping others too.

I want this to be a positive experience I don't care about my time as I just want to finish and know how far I have come in 4 years. So excited, but a little bit terrified still.

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No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
Laura

It really is an awesome race, the bike course in particular... The descent from Richter overlooking the Similkameen valley with the Cathedral peaks in the distance and the TdF-style crowds lining both sides at the base of the Yellow Lake climb are 2 of my favorite moments in over 25 years of swimming, biking & running. The gal belting out O, Canada! right before the start was a major case of goosebumps, too.

As for the run, meh... being my weakest discipline of the 3 anyway, it was just a long, hot grind, but I do remember after making it past the turnaround and beginning to feel pretty confident I was going to finish OK, that was deeply satisfying (even more so than the finish itself, by which time I was definitely ready to be done).

In hindsight, I've come to view the actual race as a bit anti-climactic; even though it was and still is a big deal, looking back now I tend to think more about the whole training build-up and the entire process of getting better week after week after week... For me at least, the time & $$$ investment for IMs isn't sustainable to do more than once every few years, so it leaves kind of a vacuum afterwards just going back to shorter/smaller local events and a less ambitious training load.

I'm envious you're still on the way up... good luck!