IM rookie here. I’m going to be a middle of the pack age grouper, but my question is how does T1 and T2 work?
I read a post today, where a guy said that when he got in to T2, he noticed a lot of women and thought twice about changing into his running clothes. But dropped trow anyway…
Are there men and women’s areas in transition?
112 miles is a long ride for tri shorts and I think a better chamois would benefit me and running attire would make for a much better run.
What is the normally transition area like for an IM?
IMWI has Monona Terrace as it’s “homebase” for all your transitions. The “changing” areas are big conference rooms like you would find at any conference center. They are divided by gender. Many people do change shorts. You will come into a very large open room that has tons of chairs lined up. There will be volunteers to assist you with changes if you need it. I found it to be extremely easy and well put together. Make sure you scout it all out the day before.
I would say for a MOP and back person it is not uncommon. I personally stayed with a trisuit for the day, but to each his own. If a few minutes changing doesn’t bother you then go for it.
I did IMMoo this year, and changed into bike shorts and run shorts. Made the long day much more enjoyable. If you find yourself with the womens, you’ll likely not find your transition bag with your clothes.
If your MOP and 1st timer, I’d change… Good luck, it’s a great race for a 1st timer.
I’m not sure if they have it at other IM’s as well, but Madison typically has so many volunteers that they have people who are in transition specifically to help you out. Someone ran in front of me to lead me into the right room. I even had a guy offer to put my socks on/tie my shoes. You just about can’t go wrong.
Good luck, though! I’ll be there too; it’s the only IM I’ve done(hoping to change that soon), but it’s a hell of a course.
I think the crux of your question is ‘are there separate areas for men and women?’ And unless they changed things from a few years ago when I raced there, yes there are separate areas.
Thanks for the input… How many athletes change complete kits at each transition? Is that a normal thing?
Just so we are clear, I’m not opposed to having same sex transitions, in fact it might help me get to TI and T2 a little bit faster…
My first year at IMWI - 2006 - I wore cyling bibs and did a complete change. There are completely separate changing areas for men and women. Nice, carpeted conference rooms. It is great.
In 2007 and 2008, I wore the same clothing for the entire race, but, again, completely separate changing areas. Much better than IMLP, which was a complete mud-fest in the changing tent and the bike rack area due to all the rain.
Thanks for the tips. What is a good race day strategy for IM MOO?? I hear so many different things. From the far left (being difficult) to the far right (no as bad as ome of the other IM courses).
I have no idea what to expect, as this is my first IM. I do need to learn to hold back a little on the bike leg, so I can run better.
Of the 3, the bike leg is where I feel the strongest, so my natural thought is to pick up some time there, but my run is the weakest, so I need to learn to pace it a wee bit.
I can only compare it to IMLP (although I am doing CDA this year, so, more later). I live close to Madison, so, I train on the course regularly. I found it to be much more difficult that IMLP and overall to be a very difficult course. The reason I say that is that IMLP gives you a good “return on your investiment.” Yes, there are tough climbs, but, their are long, fast decents. At IMWI, there is no return on your investment b/c it is a technical course with constant rollers. You never feel like you are ever going downhill. It can also be windy and that wind can be a bitch. Finally, weather in WI in Sept is a crap shoot. 2006 was nightmarishly cold and rainy. It was absolutely horrible. 2007 was ideal and 2008 was almost as nice. In 2005 it was in the 90s and people were dropping left and right. You just do not know.
It is hard. Very hard. But, it is so heavily populated by spectators that it pushes you the entire way. Especially on the run. Their are people all over the run course. You are constantly be cheered by someone. It is an extremely fan-friendly site. You really do feel like a rock star in that race. It is amazing having people cheering for you all day long.
It is hard. Don’t kid yourself. But ANY Ironman is hard. The course is tough, but, it has its rewards with the spectators. Plus, Madison is a pretty cool place. You will enjoy it.
I am envious every time I talk to a first-timer. It is an incredible feeling the first time. I’m jealous that I will never experience it again (the first time, I mean).
Swim is contained between buoy line on left and shore on right. At the gun, those on the right tend to swim the diagonal towards the first turn buoy–despite this being a long way away this leads to a lof of compression in the first 400 meters. If you want to avoid this you can either swim really fast, start way right and about 30 feet behind the start line–let the pack get 20-30 seconds ahead of you and swim close to shore for the first 500+ meters before you cut left in prep for th first turn, or start way left and swim inside the buoy line (sometimes over zealous kayakers will discourage this).
The bike course is a lot harder than it looks at first glance. There are a lof of elevation changes but also a lot of turns that require you to slow down, pick a good line and then reaccelerate. My advice is to closly monitor your power output–don’t overcook the climbs or sprint out of the turns–try to even things out. Make sure you push the downhills in the rollers as your mo will carry you through a lot of the hills. If it’s raining like 2006 when I did it, be very careful of turning on the white lines at bottoms of the hills as many folks wen’t down. I also wouldn’t even think about “making up time” until you come through Verona to start the second lap–it’s almost impossible to go too easy on this course and it’s very easy to go too hard.
With respect to the run–your body will tend to dciate what pace makese sense–be prepared to walk the big hill–while short, it’s pretty steep that late in the race…
It’s a good race–definitely a challenge for a first IM! Fans are great!
I’ve done IMOO the last 2 years.
Some things I"ve noticed:
Swim: Year 1 I did a 1:03. I started right of center in the front row. Got the shit beat out of me the whole swim. Second year I started closer to the inside lane, the first lap was a slug fest again, finally at the start of the second lap I said screw the draft and swam wide away from the buoys with 1-2 ohter swimmers in much cleaner/less congested water. Swam a 1:02 and it felt easy. The swim is slow, I think, because it has 7 left hand 90degree turns. That results in a lot of congestion.
Also, Manona Terrace is a big building and as you are swimming it never seems to move.
T:1. It’s a little bit of a run along the bike path to the base of the parking garage ramp/helix. Try to not gas yourself here as you run up 3 flights of this helix and it’s lined with screaming fans. The first year I hit my highest HR of the day by far running up that helix. You will enter the Manona Terrace and go into the mens (or womens) bag room. There they have all the swim to bike bags lined up by your #. When you drop your bag off pay attention to where it is vs what door you are coming in so you can go right to that row and head for the bag. They try to have volunteers getting them for you ahead of time but don’t count on them so just in case know where your bag is. After you get your bag you run out the opposite door of the bag room into a changing room. There you can change or just get your helmet/shoes and go. I just handed my wetsuit to the nearest volunteer after dumping my swim-bike bag out and they stuffed the wetsuit in there for me. You then head out of the changing room onto the parking level where all the bikes are. If it’s sunny make sure and hit the sunscreen volunteers on your way out. Another tip I learned is that it can be a long run across the parking level to your bike or once you get your bike you may still have to run a hundred yards or more to the bike mount. The second time around I made this much easier by carrying my shoes right to the bike mount area then putting them on real quick off to the side instead of running cross-counrty in bike shoes. Then you go down the opposite helix you ran up 3 flights and are on the bike course.
Bike: Take it easy! Lots of little hills and rollers that just keep coming. I think there’s about 6,500 feet of climbing but there are a ton of little hills and they add up. The two bigger climbs that you will do on the lollipop part of the loop will be lined with screaming spectators and it’s easy to go all Lance Armstrong on the Apl Duez up them and hammer. Like others have said, it’s a very demanding and technical (lots of 90 degree turns) bike course and it’s hard to get into a rythm for more than 10 minutes at a time. But there are some spots where the crowd support is great such as on the big hills and in Verona. It was also pretty windy last year which made for a miserable return into town. I haven’t done other IM"s but I have riddent the IM Louisville course and I thought IMWI was much harder.
T2: You get to ride up the helix and head to the dismount line. Don’t do like I did my first year and forget about they bike catchers. They are there to take your bike back to your rack. I forgot and could see my rack just behind the dismount line and fought with the guy for 2-3 seconds that was trying to take my bike. You run back into the bag room, again try to remember where your bag is in case the volunteers are busy, then head into the changing room. Again, take your helmet and shoes and stuff them or have a volunteer stuff them into your Bike to run bag after you get your run stuff out of it. Then you head out to the run course.
Run: Much like the bike it’s very ‘choppy’ with lots of turns everywhere. It’s hillier than I expected the first time, and as someone else posted the one hill through campus seems huge the second time around. Also, it sounds neat to run through the stadium but I thought running on the astroturf sucked as it is spongy. The crowd support is incredible however. State St at the start of each loop and then again about the halfway point will be lined with tons of people and you can hear them cheering a long ways away. The one good thing about the run having lots of turns is that it seemed to go quicker than a run with a ton of straight stretches. The finish is also great right in front of the capital.
Thanks for all the great info on IMWI! I’m racing there this year (my 4th IM) and am really looking forward to it. I volunteered at IMWI last year and was really impressed with the venue, the spectator support (and support of spectators! Bus rides to Verona rock!).
Swim is contained between buoy line on left and shore on right. At the gun, those on the right tend to swim the diagonal towards the first turn buoy–despite this being a long way away this leads to a lof of compression in the first 400 meters.
It is 800 meter until the first swim turn. If you do the math / trig and swim from near the shore to that first buoy, you’d be surprised how little extra you actually have to swim. IIRC it’s less than 10m since it’s a rather small angle.
Great post. Thanks for the info. I’m really excited and nervous about the race. There is so much to experince. I’m not sure if I am going to do it for a time or just for the experience of the race. I’m a competitive guy, so doing all the training and then doing the race, for just doing it, could be really hard. I’m not going to challenge anyone for a spot to Kona, but I want to do my best, but I also don’t want to bonk on the run.
My PB for a half is 5:30, with limited training on a hilly bike and run course. I feel I could break or come really close to 5 hrs for the half right now and will find out in June. But the big unknown for me is the 26.2 or the other half of it. I’m just not sure what that is going to be like… running is my weakest sport…
I agree with the trig comment below–unfortunately the gang seems to try to cut the diagonal in the first 100 meters, not the full 800 so you have the whole base of the triangle squeezing together soon after the start–that is one of the reasons Wisconsin is such a washing machine (that and the 7 90 degree turns)
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Swim is contained between buoy line on left and shore on right. At the gun, those on the right tend to swim the diagonal towards the first turn buoy–despite this being a long way away this leads to a lof of compression in the first 400 meters.
It is 800 meter until the first swim turn. If you do the math / trig and swim from near the shore to that first buoy, you’d be surprised how little extra you actually have to swim. IIRC it’s less than 10m since it’s a rather small angle.
