Ironman Maryland (try #2) Winds on Saturday

Triathlon Forum
21

This isn’t intended to be a dick measuring contest. Rather, I am wondering why such things are even in question. Is this the first time you will be riding in cooler weather? It just seems odd that there is concern over typical cooler fall temperatures. I certainly understand if there was a prediction of truly adverse weather conditions, but what they are calling for is, I would hope, something every cyclist has experienced in the past.

Sounded like one. Why was the question being asked? Because people are curious. People may not know what to wear. Why are such things being questioned? Because it could make a difference. What did you say? “I was at Tahoe 2013 when we dealt with literally freezing conditions…” Before you went on the rant about how tough you were by chipping ice off you seat and pedals, you almost talked about what might help people. How did you deal with the conditions? We are going to be at a race in a location many people have never been at before. Coming out of chilly water with the temperature in the low 50’s and climbing onto a windy bike could be something many people have not done before. They can’t just run back to the hotel/car/home and change. People are being bused in from parking lots. They may be getting there the night before. For some people this may be their first long distance race in the cold. They might like to have an idea of what they are facing and how to adapt. It is not just about HTFU and wearing a tri suit. There are considerations. Maybe not for you, because you would probably just chip the ice of your balls as you ride the course.

Is this my first time in the cold riding? No. I won’t go into all the places I had to chip ice from, but you can Google “the snake creek gap time trial.” And you know what, there was a lot of information exchanged before that series of races. There is every year. Most folks had never done a water crossing a mile into a very long, cold race. Information was exchanged before all my Ironmans, even the ones back in the late 90’s when most folk had no idea what was going on. Information was exchanged before Alcatraz. People always talk about the weather because it can have a huge affect on your race. More information should probably been exchanged before the inaugural Ironman Louisville. That race wasn’t cold, but the weather was really important.

If the information in a thread isn’t interesting to you, or you don’t need it, cool. Good for you. But there is no reason to crap on a thread when some people do seem interested in the information.

Edited to add: While I was typing this you posted an awesome response with great information! Thanks! That will probably help a lot of people! Now I almost feel sorry about all the ice chipping comments. Almost. :wink:

22

I ask bc this is my first ironman. And I have not done a 112 mile bike after an OW swim in high 40’s temp. There are definitely new factors. I am not even sure how changing works in T1 … the athlete guide just talks about your bags not the actual logistics. Lastly, shedding layers seems like a way to go but not sure if you are allowed to at the aid stations (and likely wont get them back). I get these are noob questions but just trying to make it to the finish line in one piece.

Was just having some fun with you. Understand it’s your first.

A couple points: Don’t let this stuff freak you out. You can’t control weather so you just have to roll with what comes at you.

I would say this: if it is high40s/ low 50ish… don’t plan on just wearing a tri-suit on the bike. First, put a towel in your T1 bag and dry off. Have an extra jersey and armbands in T1 bag. If you get too hot later on (doubtful if it stays in 50s)… you can always take off the layers and put in your special needs bag (have never used bike special needs…so check if you can get the bag back…pretty sure you do. If not, maybe you have a jersey you don’t mind losing?)

Also, if you are worried about cold bike shorts… put bike shorts in your T1 bag and put those on for the ride. You could always put tri shorts in T2 bag…and put those on before the run. It may take you a little bit of time to put extra layers on, shorts, etc. but very minimal - maybe a few minutes?

If you want to help yourself get to the finish line…dress as comfortably as you can for the bike, even if that means a couple minutes added to your time.

Good luck!

23

…whatever they say the winds are going to be in Cambridge…add 10 mph for the Refuge!

24

I ask bc this is my first ironman. And I have not done a 112 mile bike after an OW swim in high 40’s temp. There are definitely new factors. I am not even sure how changing works in T1 … the athlete guide just talks about your bags not the actual logistics. Lastly, shedding layers seems like a way to go but not sure if you are allowed to at the aid stations (and likely wont get them back). I get these are noob questions but just trying to make it to the finish line in one piece.

You drop your T1 and T2 bags the evening before the race. You drop your bike and run special needs the morning right before the race. You show up with what you need for the swim and your dry bag race morning. When you change for the swim, you put all your stuff in the dry bag and hand it in where they tell you to. (After the race, this will be the bag you get to change into warm clothes.) Then you walk to the swim start with only what you need for the swim.

After the swim you run out of the water, let a wetsuit puller remove your wetsuit, or do it yourself. You run past the T1 bags, grab yours or maybe have a volunteer hand it to you. You run into a changing tent. There will be more volunteers to help you, if it is not too crowded. You can change into your riding gear, or if you are wearing your riding gear under your wetsuit, you grab you helmet and stuff and run out. You may have to stuff everything from the swim into you T1 bag, or a volunteer may do that for you. You get on your bike and go.

About halfway through the bike course you will have an opportunity to grab your special needs bag, if you want. I usually put nutrition in this. You will never see this bag again if you choose not to stop for it. You cannot drop stuff off, unless you toss it in the trash.

From T2, bike to run, is similar to T1. You will hand your bike to a volunteer at the dismount line, run past the T2 bags, grab yours, or have a volunteer hand it to you. You change from bike to run clothes. Or drop off your helmet and shoes and grab your running shoes and whatever else you want from the bag. Again, a volunteer may be stuffing everything into your bag for you, or you may need to do it. I have had volunteers dump out my bags, help me with what I have needed, and then tell me to go while they put all my bike gear into my bag. I have also had to do this myself.

Mid run, you get your run special needs bag. Again, put whatever you want into this. I may have nutrition. I have also put a throw away long sleeve shirt in sometimes, just in case I am running late and it gets cold. You will never see this bag again. If you do not pick it up, it vanishes into the void.

When you finish, you can grab you dry bag and change. You get your T1 and T2 bags back. Hopefully your bike- usually a bracelet checkout from transition. Again, special needs bags are gone.

I will probably wear a bike kit with knickers and arm warmers. And socks. If it gets warm, I just pull down the arm warmers until they are only on my wrists. I can always trash them at an aid station if I really need to. Some people use old tube socks as arm warmers because they know they are going to toss them. Anything you peel off during the race is gone unless you hand it to family. I will probably take a page from cyclists and put some paper or plastic under my jersey to block the wind and keep me a bit warmer during the first part of the course. I am still debating how to handle the run.

25

I am not a great swimmer so I am wondering if that level of winds will make the bike course significantly more challenging to keep some of the good swimmers in check so they can be caught by the stronger cyclists?

In answer to the OP’s question, 15 mph is not very windy at all and will not change the race appreciably.

26

Yep it’s gonna be cold on Saturday(coldest so far this fall) from the weather. You definitely want to go with a plastic bag or newspaper under your jersey in T1 if you don’t go with a cycling vest. The good news is the run should be perfect for folks who like it cooler as the high is only in the upper 50s right now.

Since there are no hills to warm you up, be careful not to overcook that first lap trying to warm up.

Good luck…

27

Thank you guys. Especially GT and noofus’s posts. VERY helpful.

28

I appreciate all the comments and recommendations. This is an awesome forum and a great place to gain insight for a first time Ironman like myself. Thanks to all that have shared their experience and wisdom. It is much appreciated.

29

Just some more points about T1, if you’re going to put on a jersey I suggest full-zip as trying to get one over your head with a wet torso is a PITA. Depending on your hands, I find full finger gloves help me stay warmer after the swim if it’s cold out. They are an easy stuff as the temps warm up.

If you’re a mid pack swimmer, be prepared for a super crowded T1 tent especially with folks spending more time to put dry/warmer stuff on. Be careful of your feet when sitting at a chair as people moving by can easily step on you with their cycling shoes, etc.

A towel to dry your feet/arms will make socks/arm warmers go on faster easier if you decide to go that route.

If you burn easily, I’d still suggest some sunscreen as there’s really no shade on the bike or run and even though it’s only gonna be in the 50s you could still get cooked.

30

About half way through the ride the temps climbed to the mid-70s and I shed the jacket. I stuffed it up the back of my jersey (I am sure that was really aero, lol). I finished the ride still wearing my arm warmers though.
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Arm warmers in the mid-70’s? Weren’t you the one who was telling other people to HTFU?

31

Hope the predicted rain for friday goes away. It’s def a different feel to my prep for race week this week going the second time around. Doesn’t feel the same at all

32

About half way through the ride the temps climbed to the mid-70s and I shed the jacket. I stuffed it up the back of my jersey (I am sure that was really aero, lol). I finished the ride still wearing my arm warmers though.
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Arm warmers in the mid-70’s? Weren’t you the one who was telling other people to HTFU?

I was sweating into them but I didn’t feel like trying to take them off. I left them on for convenience, not cold :wink:

33

If you burn easily, I’d still suggest some sunscreen as there’s really no shade on the bike or run and even though it’s only gonna be in the 50s you could still get cooked.

Apply sunscreen night before as well as morning of. It gets soaked in and less chance of burning

34

Speaking of blocking the wind, I’ve taken plastic grocery store bags and cut the corners off to use as “toe covers” inside my cycling shoes. They add no warmth per se but they do a pretty good job of blocking the wind from getting in my otherwise very well ventilated tri shoes.

(so to be clear, don sock, plastic bag piece, shoe.) Aside from cold conditions, I wouldn’t normally wear socks in my tri shoes, but I also wouldn’t put plastic directly against my feet. If you find this stinks, no problem, take off and toss responsibly.

35

Sounds a bit like B2B a few years ago.

Just bring everything you own and decide at the last moment what to wear.

36

Wind. Yes. Spin. Don’t mash. Be patient. Don’t keep waiting for a big, direct tailwind. It doesn’t happen on that course. Save the legs. It’s flat but not fast.

37

The best of luck to you all. I am not sign up for Maryland, I have been tracking the facebook page because I would love to do Maryland someday. You all are tough and will make it and me and my family will be tracking you all and cheering.

38

I hate cold! Hoping arm warmers and tri suit do! Fingers crossed I don’t pull out from hypothermia.

39

I hate cold! Hoping arm warmers and tri suit do! Fingers crossed I don’t pull out from hypothermia.

Don’t try to outsmart the weather. If it is cold, layer up. You can always remove a jersey later, but you’ll be toast if you get too cold.

40

Vest = slow
Hoping arm warmers do the trick, hope they have some to buy at expo
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