One thing during an IronMan is to watch the racers in areo position and analyse how they get free speed.
Another is to look at their struggles in the uphills and see how efficiently they can advance.
It’s in the legs and mind, and not in the aero-lab.
I believe the difference is the way they build a
good endurance base and eventually train power.
I was out at the race course at a long climb at mile-point 87 with my camera.
Below are a few shots from the steepest climb in Kona, to see them all click here.
To see another 40 or so shots with names, click here.
Enjoy your strength training during the winter, and try to get a head start in spring.
Nice shots, thanks for sharing. Now we just have to drop all the science and do it like Faris: junk food, German beer and power training. Seems like the Euros are taking over the szene - and they have the training grounds and right philosophy over there. Anyone with recommendation where to go to prepare for the next season?
Octoberfest actually happens in September, so that opportunity is gone for this year. But if you are interested, we run cycling and triathlon camps in Spain. For more details see www.eurocycler.com. You will meet English-Speaking German coaches who are professional triathletes, and drink German beer in the Biergarten of the sportsresort, and train alongside many Europeans.
Reid and Widoff have motorbikes around them, where is the one for Faris?
Where I was positioned, Faris did not have a motorbike around him, neither did Torbjorn or Rutger. They were all spread out with about a minute or two between them. The first marshall bike came a bit later.
The US racers as well as Peter Reid had several Press-Motorcycles around them. Faris, however, had the police car and an official car driving about half a mile ahead of him - they made sure there was no drafting possible behind these cars. These lead cars are typical (known from the Tour de France) to alert the spectators that the race is coming through. It should also help the aid-stations to get ready.
I spoke to Faris the day after the race and he mentioned that some of the aid stations did not expect him yet when he actually raced by - as a result, he ended up not getting enough food and water (handing it out at 40 miles per hour takes some skills and preparation) but he was glad to to wake them up to make sure his fellow competitors got what they needed.
Conclusion: when you’re that fast, carry some back-up nutrition.
Hey, dude, where do you live ?
Well, I live everywhere - or where I can make or have friends. Actually, I am Swiss, my tax-base is in Philadelphia which I guess I can say is were I live spending about 8 months per year. 2 months during spring I am in Spain running the training camps, July I am at the Tour de France with guests riding along the course and the rest of the year I do some travel to tri-races and for coaching - and of course I spend some time in Switzerland and Germany, learning about multisports and other things.
Great pics but that climb is at 77 not 87 miles starts right at 77.4 miles and is a mile long and 240 feet ascent(about 4.5% grade and hot) then you turn right on QK and climb a little more but less steep. Always nice to come up that hill and have the crowds lineing the road but this year I was too slow and was pretty desolate when I got there.
Great shots.
Philly is the best of all, you are living in the right spot, I need to get back there myself. Good job on the photos, It is nice to have a different point of view. Have you been to see the guys at Elite bicycles yet, if nothing else it is a very interesting place to see.
Great pics but that climb is at 77 not 87 miles starts right at 77.4 miles and is a mile long and 240 feet ascent(about 4.5% grade and hot) then you turn right on QK and climb a little more but less steep. Always nice to come up that hill and have the crowds lineing the road but this year I was too slow and was pretty desolate when I got there.
Great shots.
Thanks
Yes, you are correct. It’s mile pointer 77. You know, I am European and grew up with the metric system. After ten years in the States I still have problems converting. And then - how many inches is your pedal-crank again…, 172.5 millimeter, right?
Conclusion: when you’re that fast, carry some back-up nutrition.
What do you recommend for back-up?
I will let you know our well kept secret when you lead an IM-race.
