I’m doing the Triple T in May in Ohio and I’ve never done this format before. 20 years in the sport and I’ve raced at a high level from 1994-2002. I’m now back in good shape (not like then) and gearing up for IMLP and then hopefully Kona. The Triple T is a tune up but I’d like to be as ready for it as I possibily can be. Any help would be great.
find some cool water and hills.
and maybe a little bear repellent.
Double day workouts. 
Couple times leading up the TTT I do both Saturday courses on the CT with a slow 10k run after each. One in the morning and then one in the evening. Then a long bike on Sunday with another 10k run.
Rich…I don’t think this format is that far off training for an Ironman. Same distance only over 3 days. And super bike stud like youself will tear it up.
Nice
.
sorry.
but there was something big and dark thrashing around in the forest that one year…
Mark I know I have asked you this before but how hilly is it?
We have a lot of hills in Hockley how does it compare? Or compare to Muskoka?
Maybe once I’m back from Tucson we should plan a training weekend. I was looking at the weekend of April 26.
There is a 1/2 Marathon that is hilly in Midland. I was thinking of the following format.
Friday night - Pool swim (April) CT ride 5mile / 1 mile - then go out for dinner and have a few beers
Saturday - Bike 180km ride Orangeville to Midland / 5-7km run
Sunday - 50-70km ride (7:30-9:30) right in to the 1/2 Marathon at 10am
Thoughts
We’d have to have support
Run hills. Preferably steep rocky trail type hills with some washout and loose gravel. But only do so after taking a mallet to your legs for an hour or two. Oh, and stick your face, hands and feet into the freezer for 20 minutes before you ride some hills on your bike. Will get you used to them being numb after the swim. And for the 2nd race on saturday go to your gym or local Y, get in the steam room to get all sweaty/sticky then come out and practice putting your wetsuit on. (Hint-plastic bags are key). Finally, in preparation for the second race saturday keep salt sticks handy in response to massive cramps that may be caused when tired legs hit 55 degree water. Last year me and another guy were about crippled in transition and had to almost crawl to a guy at the end of the rack to bum some salt tabs. Also heard stories about some really good and fast swimmers almost having to quit that second swim due to cramps.
Seriously fun event though, even though my stomach shut down after the first saturday race and I couldn’t eat for the 2nd race or the half on sunday I wish I was doing it this year.
Mark I know I have asked you this before but how hilly is it?
We have a lot of hills in Hockley how does it compare? Or compare to Muskoka?
Maybe once I’m back from Tucson we should plan a training weekend. I was looking at the weekend of April 26.
There is a 1/2 Marathon that is hilly in Midland. I was thinking of the following format.
Friday night - Pool swim (April) CT ride 5mile / 1 mile - then go out for dinner and have a few beers
Saturday - Bike 180km ride Orangeville to Midland / 5-7km run
Sunday - 50-70km ride (7:30-9:30) right in to the 1/2 Marathon at 10am
Thoughts
We’d have to have support
I am all over that. That sounds great(ish). 
I think the hills are steeper and longer than anything in Muskoka but close. Especially the hill on Saturday aftenoon and the never ender on the Sunday race.
I bet the hills in Hockley, if I am thinking of the same one you are, would likely be a longer climb but not as steep as anything in Ohio.
have you done the CT courses yet? They are tough but pretty fair. You will be faster on the road than on the CT. I think my time was about 5 minutes off my real time at the race.
Yeah, I gave up even attempting to kick in the water on the second race on Saturday. It’s brutal.
This is a video of one of the climbs on the second half of the bike on Oly # 2 Saturday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_1Z6wV4itI
I found the run course more challenging since there are long climbs/descents and the footing is always changing.
By the second run loop Sunday you are mentally pissed since it is your fourth time doing that course.
I used Triple T as a benchmark for my first IM at IMLP, Triple T hills are harder than IMLP
Some extra hill running with fried legs is my plan to do a little better this year
Andrew
I’m really concerned about this cold water thing- it’s all I hear about and I HATE the cold. I heard last year was sort of a fluke because they had some runoff or soemthing. How has the water temp been previous years?
First year I did it the water was quite warm. Last year was really cold all spring.
Last year for the half on Sunday a portion of the swim was quite warm - - another portion had alternating currents of ice cold and warm (weirdest sensation) and a bit of it was quite cold.
You mentioned earlier that you are gunning for Kona - - great. You can probably ignore what I say. I did TTT last year for a long training weekend (IM Canada being my “A” race). I barely completed the amount I would do to toe the starting line for a half iron…and I finished solidly in the MOP…O.K. I exaggerate. Maybe a little closer to the bottom than the middle but hours ahead of some folks (and hours behind others!). It’s hard but I wouldn’t treat it like an “A” race if you are gunning to qualify for Kona at IMLP. I would look at it as some darn good training an a great way to mess around with your nutrition and pacing.
Last year there was a large dog that def resembled a bear. He was cute except he was waddling toward me on one of the climbs with his tongue lolling out of one side of his mouth and his tail wagging. I thought he was going to push me off my bike and then have a good laugh.
I will agree with what others have posted. Baxnelly was spot on! Ha, ha.
It is the hilliest half IM bike course I’ve ever raced, and doing it after having done two Oly’s the prior day and a super-sprint the day before that made it that much more “fun”. Train hills on the bike and run every day!
I’ve only done the race 1x - last year. It was awesome. While the entire distance covered over the 3 day period is IM+ distance, the racing/epic training is done at a higher intensity due to shorter individual race distances. The key learnings for me:
1)More higher intensity training to prepare for more higher intensity racing
2)Ride steep hills in training, doing so on tired legs if possible
3)Keep thinking “Energy management” throughout the weekend, which to me meant: keeping the effort in check (higher intensity than IM distance, but lower intensity than an open Oly) getting normal calories in during the races, but getting calories in immediately after the races
4)Soaking the body in the creek (very cold) near the finish line immediately after Race 2 and Race 3 on Saturday
The series of races doesn’t feel like normal races, people are more relaxed and generally treat it like an epic training weekend more than being hardcore into the racing.
Have tons of fun!
Not to hijack your thread - I think this can be for all stresses Triple-T related.
I’m planning on doing the event as a big training weekend - not bringing the race wheels or aero helmet, will just use my power-tap training wheels, maybe use road bike instead of tri-bike, run tempo-ish, but not race pace, take my damn time to put on my wetsuit for the bike-swim-run day, etc.
I’m I going to be the weird one? Does everyone else do this in full race geek?
I don’t be that guy that runs next to you during your A race saying, “I’m just going to run this at my 50K ultramarathon pace, this isn’t a priority for me”
If everyone is going to race it race it, I’ll start re-gluing my tubulars and taping the vents on my aero helmet now. If there are other low-key “competitors,” I’ll feel better.
Thanks
Andy
If everyone is going to race it race it, I’ll start re-gluing my tubulars and taping the vents on my aero helmet now. If there are other low-key “competitors,” I’ll feel better.
Thanks
Andy
Tell me on sunday how many people are still ‘racing’ into the water.
Last year for the final race people were wading out 50 yards to the first turn and still walking in neck deep water.
i wouldn’t count on much over 65. but heck that’s balmy.
now if Shannon could figure out how to get some breakers going on that little pond…
I just go do it on my road bike and have fun for the weekend. It’s an eating contest, after all
The climbing figures I have from last year (elev. gain from WKO+) are:
Race 1 (sprint): 318 ft
Race 2 (oly): 1775 ft
Race 3 (oly): 1781 ft
Race 4 (HIM): 4281 ft
Total: 8155 ft