Hi @baggiebird. Of the two I’ve only done Chattanooga. Great race, great support, great town, several things for family to do.
Easy/peasy swim, especially if you get a stronger river flow (depends on TVA controlling the dam). My 1:20 wetsuit swim in IM Boulder translated into a :57 non-wetsuit swim in Chattanooga.
Beautiful bike course with a few rollers, 4800 feet of climbing but a surprisingly fast course. 116 vs. the standard 112 miles, so you’d add about 10-12 minutes to a normal course.
The run…ugh that run. Two loops, and on the backside there are a couple of serious hills. 1,150 feet of elevation…doesn’t sound much but if it’s hot (around 90 degrees the year I did it), it’s gonna hurt. Ugh.
From what I’ve heard of Louisville (a few buddies have done it)…pretty fast swim once you get out in the current, but the Ohio River…blech. Tougher bike with 5500 feet of climbing, rollers. Flat run with one the best finishing chutes of any Ironman. Move to October date has lessened heat issues.
Hello all,
Looking forward to hanging out here. Just signed up for my third Ironman Wisconsin. My last was in 2015 then took a little break and got in to ultra running while still doing shorter tri’s. Gonna be a little harder this time around as we will have our 4th kiddo in March. Last time I did this we were having our 2nd. I’m a stay at home dad and trainerroad is perfect while kiddos are at school/napping. Looking forward to following this thread. Thanks in advance.
Did IM CHOO in 2018. Was really looking forward to a fast swim, but the course was underwater due to flooding, current was at 100,000 cfs and the e-coli count was 40x above legal, so I wasn’t too disappointed. Time trial start for the bike by bib numbers, mine was 2400-something w/ rain at the start. Dried out after 5 or 6 miles and turned into a blast (other than getting stuck behind occassional packs). Really only one moderately significant climb w/ a fun/fast/easy descent. The run is certainly tough, but doable. South of the river flat to rolling, exposed/no shade and a lot of concrete (if I did it again, I would wear a Hoka or something spongy); north half has a couple of tough climbs but scenic neighborhoods. Community support is outstanding. Found a good deal on a VRBO rental pretty close to IM Village. I would definitely consider doing it again
After now two years of half-distance races, I have decided to take the step to full distance. @JoeX put me down for IM Nice, June 14! happy to hear from anybody with prior experience who has something to share about the race.
the early race means I am starting a very short post-season and progress with FD (+ some vacation weeks etc) already 2 weeks after Kona. very excited. probably going to try Tower 26 subscription for 3 months for the season start.
Being brand new to the sport this year I started off with a used Trek FX3 hybrid bike which has flat handle bars. I got more and more into triathlon and structured training this year and found some deals on trainers (started with a used dumb trainer and power match and then found a used Tacx Vortex Smart for ~$120).
I blew well through my tri - “budget” already this year, and I registered for 70.3 Wisconsin in June. My first goal for the race is to finish, but I think my real goal is a sub 6.5 hour race.
If I can only squeak out max ~$600 more to spend on gear before the race, would you recommend I spend that on some power pedals to have better race pacing and improve training accuracy (expecting to go Assioma single or dual), buy the “best” used road bike I can find to try and get myself more aero, or do something totally different?
A goal - see 11 on the clock for Ironman Copenhagen.
Last time out at Outlaw I did 14.33. I had a major mechanical, because of that rode like a fool for half the bike course, took no where near enough calories in and had under-trained.
Subsidiary goals for 2020
FTP of 300 for race day. Currently at close to 270 so think that should be achievable.
PB marathon. My open marathon is 4.34.
Top 3 in my age group at a race. (top 5 twice this year)
Swim a sub 6.30 400m (at 6.48 at the minute)
Learn to tumble turn.
Get as close to a 20 minute 5k as possible
That’s a tough one…if you had an entry level road bike already, I would say that the assioma pedals were definitely the way to go. However, I can’t help but feel that moving to an entry level road bike from your hybrid would be a big step up in the positive direction for your riding experience overall.
Any chance you can wait until thanksgiving time frame and either pick up some used pedals cheap or on sale during black Friday, leaving you with more money saved up for an eventual road bike purchase?
The racing season is almost over so it might just be best to get the power meter so you can train better throughout the winter and have money saved up for a bike come next spring…
I have no real timeline on buying anything other than getting used to any position change before the HIM in June. Just generally trying to think about a plan earlier than later so I don’t miss a prime time to grab a deal that works best.
The black Friday pedal sale seems like a great idea. I’d really like to get a non used power measurement source so I can feel more confident on the numbers I am reading.
IM Copenhagen for me. First full distance after a year of working out the other disciplines and a few Olys which have been very enjoyable. (And a quad which threw a kayak in for a giggle.)
Aspirations of going sub 10 which will be a push but doabale on a paper. Just need to string it all together.
Planning on SSB 1 and 2 from next week with 2 runs and 2 swims a week to keep them ticking over before starting with full distance base build speciality. All low volume to fit around work and family life.
Have a swimsmooth strike correction session booked to hone technique before the tri plans kick in and a wind tunnel session to optimise the bike (lucky enough to live near the boardman centre in the UK and a generous birthday gift from the wife ).
Will follow the bike plans slavishly as these have taken me into up above 360FTP I’m the past, yet to decide what to do with the swim and run sessions!
This has been my first year of properly structured training for triathlon after almost a decade of powerlifting. Had my first marathon and half distance tri this year Manchester marathon at 3:22:56 and UK Ultimate Half at 4:56:15.
Have a rough plan for next year but it will all be built around the full distance plans as the half distance worked well for me this year. Will be running Manchester marathon again but mainly as a pacer for my girlfriend and also have the Outlaw Half as part of the build up. If I can make half the progress I did last year it should be a good year.
Likely Sprints only. After two years of very inconsistent training (work, life, death,…) tryingt o just get back in shape. Doing sprint build LV now, then will switch to Oly LV base/build ust to remember why this is fun, plus avoid injury in one sport only.
It was great. Well organised. Got lucky with the weather. Swim was a bit murky but was comfortably warm. Bike course was great; no dead turns, well managed junctions and not much traffic. Run was a little hilly and roasting hot but there was a bit of shade and frequent drink stations.
Would go back in 2020 but it clashes with a bucket list race
)
).