It has been chilly and raining here (in Michigan) all day. For 2 days actually. This is the weather they had in Madison about three days *ago. *
Now, I wonder…
Are these hurricanes influencing our weather patterns this far north? Is that possible? On a day like today a replay of the conditions from 2006 seem highly likely.
Then again, I am reminded the conditions they had inn 2006 were not accurately predicted even the day before the race…
Let the fun begin.
There has actually been quite a bit of flooding in the SW part of the state. Hope to get over to ride the course Thursday.
chris
Someone told me today that the road section formerly covered in gravel is now washed clean by the rain.
Tom - relax! You’ve trained, biked, and ran in crazier weather than what you’re going to get on race day, no matter what mother nature gives us, so why worry? Just remember what Zig Zigler likes to say about his “workout” routine when - he would get up at 5:30am and run, no matter if it was rain, sleet, snow, etc. Why? Because that’s just the weather OUTSIDE. It’s the weather INSIDE that counts. HTFU!
HTFU Sally 
.
Yes Tom, I rode the course on Saturday (in rain, 2 small bouts of small hail) and a lot of the loose gravel before old sauk is washed away - granted heading down the other big hills meant I was constantly on my brakes since I’m really not interested in crashing a few weeks before my a-race.
1 idea - can we just have 1 immoo thread? it seems like there are 5-7 going right now?
**Then again, I am reminded the conditions they had inn 2006 were not accurately predicted even the day before the race… **
Tom,
From what I recall, we knew that it was going to be rainy, wet and cool/cold on race day in '06 - at least that’s what the forecasts that I was following were saying. What shocked me was the people that seemed to be completely unprepared for what unfolded on race day.
Come on, Tom - you are an army-man, you should be ready for anything mentally and physically.
Tom, Tom, Tom… this reminds me of your post a month or so ago in regards to the Race for Recovery Half Iron. The water temps in Lake Erie were so low that you speculated about the event being canceled. As it turned out the water was barely wetsuit legal. Weather is the on thing I have stopped worrying about… I have SO many other things to make me a nervous wreck as big events get close that I leave worrying about the weather to others. That being said… I wonder if will rain at IM LOU, I wonder of the water temps will be too warm for wetsuits, I hope it really doesn’t get close to 100 degrees by the time the run starts, I sure hope that… 
Yeah, come on Tom. Everyone will be racing is the same conditions. Just bring clothing, equipment and nutrition to cover the options. I always prefer tougher conditions. Sufferfest while much less enjoyable during seem to bring on more satisfaction at the end.
What Fleck said.
I packed for IMoo the Wednesday before the race last year. The forecast (Weather.com - most excellent I must say) called for a couple of warm days followed by a cold, wet snap with a 20 degree drop in high temperatures. I packed my arm warmers and a skull cap just in case. A medium thickness cap would have been even better, but I did okay for the day.
More importantly, you are three weeks out from the race still. The weather can race back up to 100, drop right back down and repeat a couple of times between now and then. Even worse, it could stay this way up until a couple of days before race day and then pop up into the mid 90s, right after you have become acclimated to the cooler temps and with no time to adjust to much higher temps.
Get back to the mantra of dealing with things that you can control, and stop worrying about the things you can’t. You’re just wasting energy and being far too much of a wuss considering your career background. Although it is fun to relive the days of being an IM virgin and newbie, you no longer qualify for that status by miles.
HTFU princess.
P.s. Have a great day on race day.
I dunno- it might help. I did my last long brick Sunday in a 65 degree downpour. Even with 3-4 inches of water flowing over the roads in a few places here in northern IL, my avg speed was my best ever on a long ride. I consumed less liquid and felt better/went faster on my run after. Perhaps I have a bit of a problem shedding heat?
You’ll be fine- pack extra food, because it takes calories to stay warm!
I’m already amped up- I think I prefer the fugue of build weeks to the mental clarity (neurosois) of taper…
Quit it. You’re a climber - you take the hill as it comes and worrying about it is a waste of time. The weather is just part of the race and you take the day and deal with it as it comes. It’s part of the allure of a full distance tri.
There’s only 2 types of weather in Madison…shovel and swat. Good luck to everyone and think of the aromas of recently spread manure, lots of rain, and hot weather later this week…hmmm. By girlfriend couldn’t understand how I lived with a barn behind me outside of Madison when growing up.
Well, I told you guys it was neurotic…
You know, on second thought, I take it all back. It sounds like you are more into week two of the taper than week one. This could be a very good thing. I may have to revise my time estimate for your finish downward.
Tom, you’re thinking about IMMoo way toooooo much. Too many threads. Go back to training.
Last years weather ruled!! You can run real fast in that weather.
Don’t worry. I am not doing the race for the first time in 5 years. So the only obvious conclusion and forecast you should have is that the weather is going to be friggin perfect with absolutely no wind. Just know that if the weather is perfect, I will be at home going ballistic and crying like a child as I beat up my tri bike with a bat because I will then be really tempted to give up triathlon at that point.
Updated forcast for race week, as of 8/22/2007
9/5/07 Wed: High76/ low 49 chance of rain in the evening
9/6/07 Thur: High 78/ low53 sunny
9/7/07 Fri: High 74/ low 54 partly cloudy
9/8/07 Sat: High 69/ low 56 partly/mostly cloudy
9/9/07 Sun: High 32/ low 17 snow/sleet/ ice
Sounds like it should be a great day for a race.
This forcast is brought to you by www.drivetomdemerlynuts.com
No really Tom I spent a lot of time on the road yesterday and I was thinking about the race and this thread and how crazy you are getting. You know we used to see all those great pics. of your wife and the cool trips you take. I think you are losing it, I have a good therapist if you need one ;-). No really I am looking forward to meeting you in Madison. Just relax, if I am not mistaken this is not your first IM.
Mike
omg, I just about lost it. I’m actually lol’ing