I’m attempting my first full distance at IMAZ next week. What tips, tricks or any info do veterans have for first timers for this race?
See IMFL drafting thread, install a camera which shoots rearward and capture all the drafters 
.
The bike course is crowded. Lots of cyclist with poor bike handling skills. Be awake and aware. You are always passing and being passed.
I’m attempting my first full distance at IMAZ next week. What tips, tricks or any info do veterans have for first timers for this race?
Watch out for the rumble strips on the beeline, off the right edge of the road. There is a false flat as you get near to Shea. You will be heading directly into the sun for the outbound leg of the swim, but you can sight off the wall to the right. There is a map that shows the not straight swim path on here from Bryancd somewhere.
John
- Make sure you are always drafting in the swim. Never swim totally on your own. Lots of open water at AZ, may look inviting but it is slow.
- Do not wear booties in the swim. It is not that cold and they create drag.
- Bike: I agree with earlier post, be very alert and aware at all times on the Beeline. There is constant two way bike traffic. Poor bike handlers can cause a pile up.
- Make sure you are equipped for flats…thorns get blown all over the road. Also stay out of the gutters.
- Know your power and HR zones on the bike…it is easy to get carried away and exceed your target zones.
- The run course is deceptively energy sapping relative to what you might think…the bridge crossings, sidewalks, gravel and terrain changes eventually became a nuisance to me, anyway.
- It gets dark early, so be prepared to run some in the dark .
Some people really like AZ, I found it kind of wore me down in unexpected ways.
The tougher courses are less sneaky maybe.
Tempe has a good vibe though.
Swim sighting is key. Sun in your face on the way out does not help.
Watch out for the changing wind patterns on the bike. What was into the wind during loop 1 may not be so for loop 2. Wind gusts can be a factor in the desert, but still bring your fastest wheels.
Leave some in the tank for the 2nd climb up the Curry road hill! It is a minor hill all in all but this late in the race - it can chew you up.
Lots of good info from here from last year.
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=4851021;search_string=ironhoya;#4851021
.
Cool, thanks everyone. I have a question about bike course.
I see that going out, we go up a gradual incline and have a climb towards the turnaround, then we return going down hill. In the absence of wind what is the difference in average speeds?
Having done the race three times, I disagree with your premise. There will be wind. It will likely change directions. But to try try to answer your question, I think it is 2 to 3 miles per hour different. There is a little more up on the way out, but it is slight and there are level areas.
Do not worry about up and down. Just watch the winds and pace yourself.
Having done the race three times, I disagree with your premise. There will be wind. It will likely change directions. But to try try to answer your question, I think it is 2 to 3 miles per hour different. There is a little more up on the way out, but it is slight and there are level areas.
Do not worry about up and down. Just watch the winds and pace yourself.
More than that. I’m not an uber biker by any stretch, and for me it’s a 10ish mph difference without a lot of difference in effort. I go up at 18-21 depending, and come back at 28-31 easily.
John
With winds and in a few spots on the course, I agree. Without the winds, the hills just aren’t that tough. And 28-31 for half the course is an über biker.
I’m attempting my first full distance at IMAZ next week. What tips, tricks or any info do veterans have for first timers for this race?
The most important thing to remember is if you can’t smile at any part of the race you are going too hard.
Expect a few dark moments on the run but these dark moments will pass, just stay positive when the dark moments come.
And don’t worry nothing bad will happen to you; you will pass out beforehand ;0)
If you are from a non dry climate then drink and hydrate based on the temp number not based on how you feel
Otherwise yes that water is darn cold and yes give easier effort first loop of bike especially going outbound it is a false flat and you will think something is wrong. Go look at split times.
Best ironman ever great for spectators and for racers a like
Lastly thank you for being in the army pm me for anything more
Every Ironman is special, but IMAZ is by far my favorite race and the most special race in the world to me. This will be my 7th time racing in Tempe, and I think if there ever was a race that I could describe as “my” race, I think IMAZ would be it. The multi-loop course can be hectic, but it’s also an amazing expression of the camaraderie that underscores what Ironman racing is all about. You’re in for a treat. It’s certainly what keeps bringing me back to Tempe year after year.
Some quick tips that I’ve picked up over the years:
-
AVOID swimming in Tempe Town Lake before the race. The lake is clean enough, but it’s definitely not “potable.” I know of quite a few people - veteran racers where I don’t expect a pacing problem - who have had some GI issues and the common element has always been practicing in the lake on Saturday. It’s just not worth it, in my opinion.
-
the water will be cold, but it’s not bad once you get in and over the shock of jumping in when it’s cold out in the morning. It’s perfect, in my opinion, for a wetsuit swim.
-
the weather in the morning is COLD. Bring a warm hat, long pants/tights, and a warm-ish sweat top or jacket. It’s cool - but very dry. Staying warm in transition is important.
-
bring some old socks that you can throw away. Keep your feet warm once you put your wetsuit on but are waiting to get in the water.
-
bring a flashlight/headlamp. It’s REALLY dark until basically right when you get in the lake. Makes race morning much easier with a light of your own. They have the big gas-powered lights, but for setting up your bike, a good headlamp is a great addition.
-
the Beeline is NOT flat. That outbound leg is way harder than you think. It also tends to be at least slightly into a headwind. The wind is usually quartering - coming across, but you get more headwind outbound and more tailwind inbound. So be conservative on the way out. On that third lap, that subtle gradient can seem like a mountain. If you can ride the last lap well, you’ll set yourself up for a very good ride. You can - and should - stay aero the whole way, something that’s much easier to do if you don’t tax yourself too much on the early laps, especially the first.
-
the traffic on the course means you need to ride head up. Be aware. You’ll be passing someone while someone passes you and there are just a lot of people. I almost lose my voice calling out to folks during the race. But people are really great. Just make sure you don’t put your head down and hammer. Some courses you can, but not here.
-
be aware of the rumble strips. They are BIG. Tire eaters for sure. Part of riding head up. Just don’t get pushed onto the shoulder into the rumble strips.
-
Special needs is a bit crazy. I don’t take it at this race, but if you plan to, just be aware it’s a bit of a madhouse.
-
the run is hard. The new two loop course is better (fewer really hard corners), but still quite a few U-turns and hard turns and LOTS of concrete. Wear shoes that you know have a bit of extra give. It’s just a bulletproof course, and Ironman is hard enough on the legs without the extra punishment of all that concrete. Being a bit more conservative with footwear here is a great idea. Something a bit “spongy” is probably not a bad idea. And while there are no real hills (except the Papago Park climb), it’s a lot of undulating terrain that stacks up. There’s a lot that’s just slightly up - or down - hill.
-
there is NO shade. It’s cooler in November, but the Phoenix sun is still brutal. Sunblock, coverage, etc. are all advised. More than getting burned, it’s really a lot about just keeping from getting “dried out.” With low humidity, sun, wind, it’s a recipe for massive dehydration. Salt and fluids. Maybe more than you think you need. True before the race as well.
Thanks guys for all the tips.
In pictures, the bike looks so crowded. I’m sure I’ll be passing some people, do you have to weave in out every person you pass? For example, if I pass one person, do I immediately have to move to the right after the pass or can I keep my line as long as I keep passing people?
You can keep your line on the left as long as there isn’t someone faster than you that wants to pass YOU at the same time. Ideally, you want to slip back in to the right after each pass as that will give you a sort of “slingshot” effect getting a “legal draft” as you approach the next passee in front of you. Just be sure you let the person you are passing know that you are passing. At IMs with a lot of newbies, they sometimes will unexpectedly swerve left as they are reaching for their bottle, looking over their shoulder, avoiding debris in the road, etc., so you always have to have an escape strategy when you are passing someone that looks like they could be unpredictable.
Thanks. Hmm, I guess I’ll just make it a point to yell out every pass I make.
In a crowded race, stay to the right unless you are passing, if you are passing multiple people and they are close together (i.e. less than th legal draft limit) then keep your line, but go right as soon as feasible. Unless you are winning the race or AG, there will be a lot of people passing you. There will be 2 passing lines occuring, one in the middle of the line for MOP passing BOP people. Then one on the left of FOP passing the MOP who is passing BOP. Whn you pass, do not go all the way left unless you are passing someone who is passing somone. Expect to be passed while passing and make sure there is adequate room on the left.
Also to reiterate, announcing that you are passing someone is important. If Rapp does it, us AG should do it also.