The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint

[kritter86]

Hi All,

Wanted to gauge feedback on IM distance events in the UK. I have had my eyes firmly on IMUK 2015 for some time now. Entries open next week, long story short recently married and kids shortly around the corner I'm having trouble justifying the 400 notes for entry. Thinking of doing a non branded event which will be much less, seem to be leaning towards Outlaw. I'm interested in anyones feedback or if they have been in a similar position?

Good luck to those racing IMUK this weekend. I have a middle distance at Marlow on sunday all being well hoping to commit to an full sooner rather than later as I know they sell out rather quickly!

Cheers

[TheGriffter]

Hi,

I did the Outlaw back in 2010 and it was brilliantly organised and the venue could not have worked better. I personally wasn't bothered about the official Ironman status, just wanted to do the distance. The reviews year after year seem to support the fact that the Outlaw is still a very good, popular iron distance race.

However, this year I am doing IM Wales in September - again this wasn't the lure of an official brand - more it is meant to be one hell of a tough course.

Cheers, Griff

[drgav2005]

baxb said:

Thanks Gav, £126 on tyres I'll have a think ! (I've probably spent over £300 in the last 3 years on repairs & new tyres though) Greg, tub changing skillz are much better than tube changing skillz, I did the Swashbuckler last year using my Turbo trainer rear wheel as usual one was being rebuilt & a puncture cost me almost 15 mins of pissing and farting about trying to get the flipping tyre on & off the rim. Tub puncture ? 2-3 mins & i'm sorted. I carry 2 spares on raceday, one in saddlebag & one in jersey pocket.

Hahaha - yep, they're not cheap... but like car tyres, they're the only thing in contact between your bike and the ground.

Greg, like Brendan I can probably rip off a tub and change it faster than a clincher. I've heard a lot of the deep clincher wheels these days are a pig to get the tyres on and off, even with tyre levers. I was initially skeptical of buying tubs but bit the bullet about 18 months ago (prior to Austria). The tubs offer a brilliant ride quality and are (in general) much more puncture resistant (i.e. no pinch flats) than clinchers. The only real downside is that they take up a bit more space than an inner tube, so I've got a couple of big cage mount bottles behind my seat where I store enough stuff to build a second bike

[drgav2005]

Gatsby said:

Thanks for the advice DrGav, much appreciated!

I'll probably buy the book first then and see how I get along. I can always add a TP plan later if I need to but a manageable plan sounds ideal for me! Did the book also have 70.3 plans in place?

No worries! I've just checked, his book only covers full distance. You could probably very easily adjust the volume of the workouts to suit 70.3 and if nothing else use it to structure your training weeks.

[drgav2005]

Greg66 said:

Tubs? <sucks teeth> Brave man! What are your tub-changing skillz like, and where are you carrying a spare tub?

Interesting to read about the Zipp adjustment. I was getting an ache over the top/front of my deltoids and right down the core of my bicep. I might try elbows out a bit to see whether it relieves it, and if so I'll be on the 90 day waiting list!

Good to hear that it is all coming together though. My hyper sensitivity / hypercondria means I've just had another MRI. Good news all round: (a) I've nipped this one in the bud; (b) I've now cracked the cause (very tight adductors); and (c) my pre-MRI self diagnosis (tendonitis and v minor oedema on the pubic bone) was absolutey bang on right, making me a human MRI machine! WOO HOO!

Next targets this year are road captain of a somewhat green cycle team from work for a Surrey Hills organised century in Oct, and if I can get back running in the next 10-14 days, the Eindhoven marathon the week after.

Good luck Doc - keep those taper mind demons at bay!

Hi Greg, or should I say Human MRI machine?! Great to hear you have nipped that one in the bud and now know how to fix the issue!

Yep, I'd thoroughly recommend the elbow extensions, it's already made a big difference: 2.5 hour session with no issues afterwards.

You've hit the nail on the head! Those taper mind demons are working overtime at present - noticing every slight twinge or muscle ache at present but paying them no heed

Good luck with your century cycling team and I hope the running goes well!

[Stylus]

Anyone else in for IMUK this weekend?

I signed up after spectating last year. Have since done a single sprint triathlon and I'm now realizing I'm in well over my head!

Main issue regarding training has been a move to Dubai in February. The heat/humidity combination has led me indoors or nocturnal the past 2 months. I'm looking forward to the event just so that I can see some scenery again as I cycle/run round. Not looking forward to the water temperature as much.

Not going to set any records, just finishing is the aim!

[Ben Jk]

Good luck Stylus!

You are a ballsy guy going straight from sprint to IM!!

[dangerousB]

944fan said:

So with the cardiac drift do I ignore it for now, or try and keep my HR lower earlier on so when it does drift it stays in zone 2

Not sure if anyone answered this, but if you're training in HR zones, stick to them - if your HR strays at any time, slow down. This is a complete pain if you're training on a very hot day, or are running a hilly course, because you'll feel like you're running WAAYYY slower than you're capable of, but that's kinda the point - you are, but you're forcing the adaptations you need to be able to run quicker and more efficiently down the line.

drgav2005 said:

2 weeks to go - taper baby!

Nice job DrGav - done all the hard work now, you can't get any fitter - enjoy a few pies

Stylus said:

I signed up after spectating last year. Have since done a single sprint triathlon and I'm now realizing I'm in well over my head!!

Excellent work - let us know how you get on


My training has actually started to gain a bit of structure at last - had an injury that put me out for 6 weeks in Feb, had a virus that put me out for a week or so at the back end of April and our new baby on 3rd May entailed little or no sleep for 2 weeks . . . since Mid May though, it's been rather good - bike numbers are now pretty much the best they've ever been, my running's going OK - weekend LSD's are comfortable at 25 - 30k. Swimming has taken 3rd place, but have managed to get 3 sessions a week in for the last 3 weeks, so that's feeling a bit better now too.

I was supposed to be travelling down to the Pyrenees tomorrow for the Etape ride, but my riding buddy has managed to contract a virus which means it'll be far too expensive/too much faff for me to get down on my own, but I thought sod it, may as well get my first century ride in this weekend anyway. That could go one of two ways though 80% of my bike training has been on my Fortius and the longest road ride I've done so far this year was 80ish k 2 months ago, so it'll be interesting to see how it feels!!

Anyway, a fair way to go with everything, but I'm still 11 weeks out from IM Mallorca, so have a reasonable amount of time to work on things and our 2½ month old may hopefully, fingers crossed, just continue the fragile trend of not being quite so much hard work as she was in the first month!

[esuuv]

i'm doing it Stylus - i'm 349..........i'm hoping to go under 12 hours but that seems a pretty big ask at the moment -we'll see...........

[kritter86]

TheGriffter said:

Hi,

I did the Outlaw back in 2010 and it was brilliantly organised and the venue could not have worked better. I personally wasn't bothered about the official Ironman status, just wanted to do the distance. The reviews year after year seem to support the fact that the Outlaw is still a very good, popular iron distance race.

However, this year I am doing IM Wales in September - again this wasn't the lure of an official brand - more it is meant to be one hell of a tough course.

Cheers, Griff

That seems to be the conclusion that I am being drawn to. Cheers Griff and good luck to you for IM Wales!

[kritter86]

Good luck to you Stylus.

[drgav2005]

Stylus said:

Anyone else in for IMUK this weekend?

I signed up after spectating last year. Have since done a single sprint triathlon and I'm now realizing I'm in well over my head!

Main issue regarding training has been a move to Dubai in February. The heat/humidity combination has led me indoors or nocturnal the past 2 months. I'm looking forward to the event just so that I can see some scenery again as I cycle/run round. Not looking forward to the water temperature as much.

Not going to set any records, just finishing is the aim!

Good Luck this weekend Stylus and esuuv!

I'd only done one super sprint (Stirling) and one sprint (Virgin London tri) before IM Austria - you'll be fine! Remember, if the bike feels easy, you're pushing too hard

Have a blast - you'll love it I'm sure

Edited by drgav2005 on Thursday 17th July 12:15

[drgav2005]

dangerousB said:

Excellent work - let us know how you get on


My training has actually started to gain a bit of structure at last - had an injury that put me out for 6 weeks in Feb, had a virus that put me out for a week or so at the back end of April and our new baby on 3rd May entailed little or no sleep for 2 weeks . . . since Mid May though, it's been rather good - bike numbers are now pretty much the best they've ever been, my running's going OK - weekend LSD's are comfortable at 25 - 30k. Swimming has taken 3rd place, but have managed to get 3 sessions a week in for the last 3 weeks, so that's feeling a bit better now too.

I was supposed to be travelling down to the Pyrenees tomorrow for the Etape ride, but my riding buddy has managed to contract a virus which means it'll be far too expensive/too much faff for me to get down on my own, but I thought sod it, may as well get my first century ride in this weekend anyway. That could go one of two ways though 80% of my bike training has been on my Fortius and the longest road ride I've done so far this year was 80ish k 2 months ago, so it'll be interesting to see how it feels!!

Anyway, a fair way to go with everything, but I'm still 11 weeks out from IM Mallorca, so have a reasonable amount of time to work on things and our 2½ month old may hopefully, fingers crossed, just continue the fragile trend of not being quite so much hard work as she was in the first month!

Cheers! There's been plenty of pies and cake... I'd better calm down until after the race is finished otherwise I'll need a new wetsuit!

Good luck with the century ride and the remaining training - get a basket on the front of the bike for the wee one - plenty of fresh air for them and strength training for you... it's a win-win all round!

[whatleytom]

esuuv said:

i'm doing it Stylus - i'm 349..........i'm hoping to go under 12 hours but that seems a pretty big ask at the moment -we'll see...........

Also doing again this year, number 136. Say hi if you see me. May well be found in the foetal position 10k into the run. We'll see!

[drgav2005]

whatleytom said:

esuuv said:

i'm doing it Stylus - i'm 349..........i'm hoping to go under 12 hours but that seems a pretty big ask at the moment -we'll see...........

Also doing again this year, number 136. Say hi if you see me. May well be found in the foetal position 10k into the run. We'll see!

Good Luck Tom - have a great race!!!

[kritter86]

whatleytom said:

esuuv said:

i'm doing it Stylus - i'm 349..........i'm hoping to go under 12 hours but that seems a pretty big ask at the moment -we'll see...........

Also doing again this year, number 136. Say hi if you see me. May well be found in the foetal position 10k into the run. We'll see!

Good luck lads. Smash it up. I'm strangely jealous, next year..

[dangerousB]

Stylus, esuuv, Tom . . . best of luck!
Have a great weekend, a fab trouble free race and tell us all about it once you've recovered!

[dangerousB]

drgav2005 said:

Good luck with the century ride and the remaining training - get a basket on the front of the bike for the wee one - plenty of fresh air for them and strength training for you... it's a win-win all round!

Cheers DrGav - may have to see if riding on the tri bars has the same soporific effect on the young 'un as going for a drive - could get an extra 100k a week in if it does

[944fan]

dangerousB said:

944fan said:

So with the cardiac drift do I ignore it for now, or try and keep my HR lower earlier on so when it does drift it stays in zone 2

Not sure if anyone answered this, but if you're training in HR zones, stick to them - if your HR strays at any time, slow down. This is a complete pain if you're training on a very hot day, or are running a hilly course, because you'll feel like you're running WAAYYY slower than you're capable of, but that's kinda the point - you are, but you're forcing the adaptations you need to be able to run quicker and more efficiently down

Thanks. I did some tests to find my LT as described in the Joel Friel book and have now set my zones based on that rather than the 220-age max. The zones are now higher making it much easier to stay in zone particularly when it starts to drift.

[944fan]

Had some coaching to get over my fear of OW. Last event ended early with a panic attack. Within 10 minutes of my coaching session I was swimming out to the buoys in the middle of the lake and by the end I was swimming the length turning at the buoys and sighting. Best 45 notes I have spent in a long time. Going to get some regular visits to Shepperton in top really get used to it.