Reading some of the horror stories form past races, I was wondering if anybody has any good advice on how not to get hypothermia.
I bought a neoprene swim cap today, but haven’t seen booties or gloves. Are these necessary?
Apart from hurry the F up in the water, any other good advice?
I’m avoiding the cold by doing the Florida 70.3 instead this year. Warm and flat vs. cold and hilly. Seriously, Its the coldest race I’ve been in. I’ve heard, get in the cold water before hand and try to assimilate, but it was damn cold last year. There is also a long hill at the end of each loop on the bike.
Good luck.
hmmmm.
Thanks for the vote of luck. I’m hoping to be able to break the ice in a few local laces btw now and then and try and condition myself a bit.
Perhaps I’m the only person that is entered! Somehow I’ll still not manage to win my AG.
I think booties are totally necessary. It is actually really painful when you first hit the water. The other bit of advice is to start your swim very slowly. I went out fast last year (in the Olympic) and the combo of fast start and freezing water caused me to hyperventilate. 200 yards into the race, I spent about 2-3 minutes doing doggy paddle trying to catch my breath and very seriously considered swimming back to shore (but the 200 yards seemed too far) and bagging the race. I ended up winning my age group anyway, so the fast start would not have mattered anyway. The year before, I avoided the cold water freak-out by very consciously walking into the water and starting my swim slowly and smoothly. You may also want to try some practice swims where you get your heart rate jacked way up and then settle in. The best advice, however, is to do the Olympic distance race instead - its a long season; there will be plenty of opportunities to do a 1/2 IM - why do one in mid-May in the NE?
Jayzers.
Did anybody else actually enter this race…?
I’m sure it will sell-out. It really is an awesome race and a very rewarding experience. I could not imagine missing it. You’ll have good stories to tell about racing in the cold!
Last year it was actually not that cold. Certainly did not need booties. Neoprene cap is likely a good idea. The year before it was really cold but only cause it was raining during the entire bike. Here is my 07 RR and my 08 RR. It is a great guage of early season fitness. Bike is hard. The new and improved run last year was also difficult. Lots of hills. Well run. Cool setting. Have not decided if I am racing this year or not.
Jayzers.
Did anybody else actually enter this race…?
Yep. Did it two years in in 07. Enter this race with open eyes! In 2007 it was cold, really cold…and wet and windy too. The Swim: drink a lot beforehand and just let nature take its course before you get in the water. The more you drink the better. Be prepared for 60 degree water, possibly as low as 58 or 59. Wear neoprene booties if permitted but swim socks at a minimum. A neoprene swim cap underneath your race cap is an absolute must; otherwise, your swim will feel like drinking a slurpie. If I were the R.D., I would insist on this point and make neoprene caps mandatory for participation in this race. On exiting the swim there’s a long run up to T1. Don’t try to run up the beach. If you do, your leg and groin muscles may lock up. Upon emerging from the cold water, your legs are going to take a little time to get their blood flow going again. During the swim, try kicking a little harder as you approach the beach exit to get this process started beginning about 300 yards before you exit the water. (While not related to the cold, note that this is a clockwise swim course for you lefty breathers…you don’t want to be in this water long than necessary; therefore, good sighting technique is important to minimize distance.) T1: remember to weather proof your gear! Bring a small plastic tarp or Hefty trash can liners. In 2007 it rained cats and dogs during the swim. Air temp was in the low 50’s and it was overcast. Don’t count on the sun to warm you up. Your hands and fingers will be numb if these conditions persist during your race. Be prepared to spend significantly longer in Transition to accomplish very simple tasks like putting on bike shoes and fastening your helmet strap. On the bike, you may want to dress in layers. I don’t think booties are necessary, but a pair of long fingered gloves and arm/leg warmers are very sensible wardrobe items. An inexpensive extra layer on top is also a good idea. When it warms up – if it warms up – you can dispose of it at an aid station. In addition, you could experience driving cold rain and hail during the bike. Note that much of the bike course is exposed to the elements. The most difficult thing in T2 may be tying your sneakers if your hands are still frozen from the bike. The run will be fine…your core will finally be warm, and – even if it rains – the end will be be sight. The 2007 Harryman was my first triathlon…first ever. In the twenty-one months since then I have done five more HIMs and two IMs. In retrospect, after my frigid experience at Harriman on that cold, cold day nearly two years ago, I am truly amazed that I ever raced again. I wound up finishing 3rd in my age group (probably because – at my advanced age – everyone else in my age group had the good sense to stay home). Good luck!
Great RR Chipster . 2007 was, I’d say, pretty much as bad as it can get without amending the course somehow. I never saw so many hypothermic people in my life. They were dropping like flies. There were 91 DNF/DNS and only 109 finishers. It was a grueling day but I learned a lot that I could later apply to other races. It is a gorgeous, challenging roller coaster of a course and I would totally do it again.
Since you were there in 07, did you enjoy Steve Tarpinian and his TTU guys as much as I did? They had a van open with music and cheering section on top of the huge hill. It was a great pick me up in an otherwise remote course.
Some pluses: easy parking, easy same day packet pick-up, pizza at the finish, semi-closed course. The course may have even been closed, I don’t recall seeing any cars out there. Gimberloid, do it!! 
Great RR Chipster . 2007 was, I’d say, pretty much as bad as it can get without amending the course somehow. I never saw so many hypothermic people in my life. They were dropping like flies. There were 91 DNF/DNS and only 109 finishers. It was a grueling day but I learned a lot that I could later apply to other races. It is a gorgeous, challenging roller coaster of a course and I would totally do it again.
Since you were there in 07, did you enjoy Steve Tarpinian and his TTU guys as much as I did? They had a van open with music and cheering section on top of the huge hill. It was a great pick me up in an otherwise remote course.
Some pluses: easy parking, easy same day packet pick-up, pizza at the finish, semi-closed course. The course may have even been closed, I don’t recall seeing any cars out there. Gimberloid, do it!!
Sorry. I didn’t notice a thing but the cold…it was my first race so I was in the “newbie” zone. At the end, I sort thought that all races were that intense! It wasn’t until I thawed out that I realized how twisted my thought process was. That said, I did enjoy the pizza.
I did it w/ a sleeveless w/s last year. To compound that, the course was long. It was brutal. An offeseason puchase of a full will take care of the former hopefully the RD takes care of the course length.
Seriously, a neoprene cap and a full w/s is all you need.
But 07 did teach me to come prepared for the bike. Bring your layers and plastic bags and take what the day gives you.
It’s local for me but Harriman is a true grass roots race and it can’t be beat. Even in May.
I did it w/ a sleeveless w/s last year. To compound that, the course was long. It was brutal. An offeseason puchase of a full will take care of the former hopefully the RD takes care of the course length.
Seriously, a neoprene cap and a full w/s is all you need.
But 07 did teach me to come prepared for the bike. Bring your layers and plastic bags and take what the day gives you.
It’s local for me but Harriman is a true grass roots race and it can’t be beat. Even in May.
I don’t understand your point regarding course length. I heard elsewhere in this thread that the run course changed from 07 to 08. Is that what you are referring to above? Or is the bike course now not the same 3 loops that it was in 07? Please explain. I’ve registered again for 09 (but this time it will be “weather permitting” for me) so I am curious if there are substantive changes that I should be anticipating. Thanks.
No, sorry for the confusion I was referring to the swim. Apparantly the buoy’s got blown about a bit causing the swim to be long. We all swam the same length so no harm except no one needed to be in that water longer than necssary.
As to the run, they moved it from the fire road to the main roads last year so I think it’s actually better now (no trails).
The bike has ALWAYS been 4 loops. Unless your the guy from 2007 that set the course record by doing 3.Think he cut the run short too. As I recall hypothermia was to blame 
No, sorry for the confusion I was referring to the swim. Apparantly the buoy’s got blown about a bit causing the swim to be long. We all swam the same length so no harm except no one needed to be in that water longer than necssary.
As to the run, they moved it from the fire road to the main roads last year so I think it’s actually better now (no trails).
The bike has ALWAYS been 4 loops. Unless your the guy from 2007 that set course record by doing 3.Think he cut the run short too. As I recall hpthermia was to blame
Thanks. Somehow I remember only 3 loops on the bike course but who knows. I did have a fast bike split in 07 but it was for 56 miles! Anyway, thanks again for the update.