Doing the Florida IM-first timer
40
Member
109 days
Trilosopher posted 10 weeks ago.
Re. Lack of Swim Exerience: I have no idea where you live, but it might not be a terrible idea to do a shorter distance race if possible.
If you are new to Trifuel, or to the world of cyber triathlon resources in general, my best advice is just to put in the time looking through the wealth of articles, forums, and race reports available. You'll soak up the right information soon enough, and will probably end up coming back to ask more specific questions, to which plenty of more helpful answers will be given.
46
Member
431 days
IronAdge posted 10 weeks ago.
I just finished IM Madison in under 13 hours. Sunday was my first ever open water swim, my first ever 112 mile bike, my first ever marathon, my first ever race, and my first ever triathlon. When I signed up I never swam over 500 yards, never biked over 14 miles, and the longest I ran was a 6 miles once with a break at 3 miles.
Advice from a newbie...you got it. I let it all out there and I think I could have came in safely under 12 had I not gone so hard at the start, but I knew that....I just wanted 11 hours. Balance your risk and reward...it is a long race, if just finishing is your goal then dwell on that the last two weeks, you will have done everything you can, you just have to train the mind.
Now I came out of the water at 1:08 and my HR was at 184 and I was hardly breathing, I got on the bike and did the 1st 56 miles at over 20mph. I was on pace for a stellar time but I don't know if it was some of the swallowed water, too high HR, or what but I was having some serious problems and was hurting as I biked town to town to find a porta-potie. That took a lot of time away from my biking and the first 10 miles of my run. Plan for highs and lows in your day, but know as long as you keep going it gets better. Once I got all of whatever it was out of my system I continued with my nutrition and finished strong. I did not feel tired at all during the whole day, that night I was up until 2am and woke up at 7. Everyone else was dead. Stay hydrated and on top of your nutrition...it goes a long way, and is very easy if you have been doing it in training. And thinking back I should have kept my HR even lower and I may not have ran into some of the problems I did (however I was doing 150+).
Plan for different race day conditions. What you will need to do as far as dress, hydration, nutrition can all change with the wind, heat, cold, ext..
Swimming for me was not bad, I came out with a bloody ear, but I was loving the experience...that is what it is about, have a good attitude going in. If you are worried do not start up front or on the inside, people are pretty aggressive there. I did, I was shocked for about 2 minutes, then it settled down and was a blast. Ask around about where people are starting and what time they think they can swim, people are friendly and it can help to position yourself around people who are the same speed. If you have to take a break and grab on to a kayak or one of the buoys because you have a panic attack or just need a breather...so what. If you have to rub a cramp out or puke...embrace it, it's all about the experience and your attitude. That is your day, you are out there, millions are at home not even awake yet, your doing it, live it up.
Having done an Ironman with no base/experience/time in running/swimming/biking prior to 6 months into the event on 10-13 hours of training a week really makes me believe that anyone with a strong will and positive mindset can do it. Don't be a mental p@ssy and you will do fine. Take the final weeks in training and believe in what you want. Take up your goal and idea. Make that one idea your life for the remainder of your season - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.
Make a great day.
“I like a man who grins when he fights.”
143
Member
187 days
StephenPDennis posted 10 weeks ago.
I have no advice to give you athletically, having never done an Ironman myself, but as a fellow athlete I can only say - remember your goal(s), remember the people who have helped you get to where you are today, and come race day remember all the hard work and effort that has gone into bringing you from where you were last year to where you are on the starting line. Good luck!
194
Member
1148 days
Ultrarunner posted 10 weeks ago.
Your story sounds a lot like mine. Except for the running part. I come from an ultrarunning background. But when I signed up for my first IM, which happened to be Florida, I could not swim more than 50 yards at a time and I didn't have a bike. My best advice for you is just finish and enjoy the experience. Hydrate well and carb load the day before, nothing new. Don't kill yourself on the swim. Drink about 8 ounces of water or sports drink every 15 minutes on the bike and try to get in about 2000 calories. Start easy on the run because your legs will probably feel wobbly. They will loosen up after a little while, but don't force a pace from the beginning. Keep eating and hydrating and walk through the water stations. Stay positive and say positive things to others. Look forward to the "You are an Ironman!" That's the best part.
1190
Member
337 days
TriSooner posted 10 weeks ago.
Trilosopher wrote:
+1 You asked several questions that I know have been asked and answered in several discussion forums. Not that that is bad or anything, but you will get more if you read what has already been answered by several people. For example, you asked about shipping your bike. I asked the same question several months ago and got some good input:
put in the time looking through the wealth of articles, forums, and race reports available
http://www.trifuel.com/forum/13766/airlines-and-bike-boxes
Use the search tool for specific key word interests, too. Then, if you have a specific question, post again.
25
Member
129 days
snapdragon posted 10 weeks ago.
Hi there,
Good luck on your first Ironman. I also raced at IMFL, it was great! I'm not sure where you live and if you have swam in the ocean before? If you haven't, just keep in mind you may see creatures during the swim, or while swimming the course before the race.
Don't worry about the cannonball jellies, they don't sting. http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=347
Have a great time!
Sara Cox Landolt
www.ironmakeover.com
872
Member
873 days
tsilcyc posted 10 weeks ago.
yknot wrote:
I am nervous about shipping my bike
Are you using Tri Bike Transport? If so, I recommend going down to the local hardware store and purchasing pipe insulation (see image) and duct tape.
Wrap your tubes, forks, and anything else you can get it on and secure it with duct tape. This will keep your bike looking new.
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4
Member
73 days
yknot posted 9 weeks ago.
IronAdge wrote:
I just finished IM Madison in under 13 hours. Sunday was my first ever open water swim, my first ever 112 mile bike, my first ever marathon, my first ever race, and my first ever triathlon. When I signed up I never swam over 500 yards, never biked over 14 miles, and the longest I ran was a 6 miles once with a break at 3 miles.Advice from a newbie...you got it. I let it all out there and I think I could have came in safely under 12 had I not gone so hard at the start, but I knew that....I just wanted 11 hours. Balance your risk and reward...it is a long race, if just finishing is your goal then dwell on that the last two weeks, you will have done everything you can, you just have to train the mind.
Now I came out of the water at 1:08 and my HR was at 184 and I was hardly breathing, I got on the bike and did the 1st 56 miles at over 20mph. I was on pace for a stellar time but I don't know if it was some of the swallowed water, too high HR, or what but I was having some serious problems and was hurting as I biked town to town to find a porta-potie. That took a lot of time away from my biking and the first 10 miles of my run. Plan for highs and lows in your day, but know as long as you keep going it gets better. Once I got all of whatever it was out of my system I continued with my nutrition and finished strong. I did not feel tired at all during the whole day, that night I was up until 2am and woke up at 7. Everyone else was dead. Stay hydrated and on top of your nutrition...it goes a long way, and is very easy if you have been doing it in training. And thinking back I should have kept my HR even lower and I may not have ran into some of the problems I did (however I was doing 150+).
Plan for different race day conditions. What you will need to do as far as dress, hydration, nutrition can all change with the wind, heat, cold, ext..
Swimming for me was not bad, I came out with a bloody ear, but I was loving the experience...that is what it is about, have a good attitude going in. If you are worried do not start up front or on the inside, people are pretty aggressive there. I did, I was shocked for about 2 minutes, then it settled down and was a blast. Ask around about where people are starting and what time they think they can swim, people are friendly and it can help to position yourself around people who are the same speed. If you have to take a break and grab on to a kayak or one of the buoys because you have a panic attack or just need a breather...so what. If you have to rub a cramp out or puke...embrace it, it's all about the experience and your attitude. That is your day, you are out there, millions are at home not even awake yet, your doing it, live it up.
Having done an Ironman with no base/experience/time in running/swimming/biking prior to 6 months into the event on 10-13 hours of training a week really makes me believe that anyone with a strong will and positive mindset can do it. Don't be a mental p@ssy and you will do fine. Take the final weeks in training and believe in what you want. Take up your goal and idea. Make that one idea your life for the remainder of your season - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.
Make a great day.
4
Member
73 days
yknot posted 9 weeks ago.
Thanks Ironadge. You said everything I needed to hear.
202
Member
1181 days
ht001 posted 8 weeks ago.
Just a few things I'd offer:
1) +1 on TriBike Transport. Makes the transportation of the bike one less thing to obsess about during your final lead up to the race.
2) If you're not used to swimming in the salt water it will be a good thing to get in for some practice swimming so you know what that feels like.
3) Race your own race, don't get caught up in other folks' goals (or mistakes)
4) Remember daylight goes away a bit earlier in November. Depending on when you think you might finish you might consider putting a headlamp in your T2 bag or your run special needs bag. It is a lot easier to run when you can see what you're headed toward and there are a few dark spots that make the extra light worth the little extra weight it adds.
5) Smile at the finish!!!
A little over a year ago I decided to do an Ironman. When I made this decision I had previously done Zero triathlons. I thought, if I am going to do these tri's lets just jump right in. Oh boy! I had to learn to swim, I had to buy a bike, and I had to go to PT so I could run more then 3 miles. I feel okayish about my training (13 weeks to...) I haven't swam with a lot of people around me, I am nervous about shipping my bike and having all of that work out right, I am worried about nutrition/hydrating, and I am justlooking for some advice- it good be very broad advice or it could be very specific advice: I will take it all.