IM Boulder is looming! I'm not as worried about the actual race as the logistics of getting my crud there. Need to pack the bike asap so I make sure that's done and the finer details are tied up so I have a complete and unaltered bike in Colorado.
Here are my goals for the race:
- Make sure everything I need for the race makes it into my luggage for the trip! I'm working with PUSH Endurance for this HIM and it would be a wretched abomination to leave it at home and not race with the nutrition that I trained with! (EMT's newest partner along with Man Versus Triathlon - review coming post race!)
- Get my bike to Colorado in one piece using Scicon's AeroComfort Plus travel bag (review coming on how a soft bike bag holds up in a plane cargo bay). This will be nerve wracking as I'm not sure my carbon fiber tri bike is ready for the challenge!
- Swim - I think it's realistic to expect a sub 34 minute swim like IM KS 70.3 in 2010. It's wetsuit legal since Wendy Mader reported the reservoir usually stays at 60 degrees and it's on a nice and calm reservoir as opposed to a lake open to boats.
- Bike - I think a 3:00 is doable. Again, Wendy Mader reported a FAST bike course and I'm definitely ready to break out and get away from hills of Kansas! It's not flat as a pancake like you would be lead to believe.
- Run - the wild card. My best half marathon time is 1:42. I'm pretty sure I won't meet that after 1.2 miles of swimming and 56 miles of biking, especially at altitude. I'm confident a 1:55 or a little better is possible. course is advertised as relatively flat, however there is no shade and again it's at altitude. Heat shouldn't be a problem since Colorado in general has a much lower humidity factor than Kansas City (it's not the heat, it's the humidity!)
- Add all of that up and you have a 5:29 HIM. My best HIM was IM KS this past June at 5:49.
That's a tall order to shave off 20 minutes from a half Ironman in a month and a half. But, you have to factor in that IM KS swim was BRUTAL with nasty wind and monster waves. The bike course was no friendlier with a stiff headwind at the turn-around and hills everywhere. As long as I can swim to my abilities I know I have and be patient on the bike, the run will make or break the day.
I think it's doable. Now, all I have to do it get all my gear there in one piece!
6 comments:
Kick some butt out there.
Hmm why do I keep hearing it's fast when I SEE HILLS??????? I'll be there. I'm TERRIFED to say the least.
Tri-Living - did you check out the profile? Looks a little rough coming out but that looks like a SWEET downhill for a long time once past the initial hills!
I think 20 minutes is completely doable. I am gunning to shave close to that in my next HIM in October. Now of course I have the luxury of 6 months of training as well, but I still think you can do it because you learn so much from one to the next.
Go Get 'Em!!!
That water temp data is incorrect. It was 76-77 this past weekend...borderline wetsuit legal for WTC event. Good luck!
Steve... now your starting to scare me! No way do I want to swim 1.2 miles sans wetsuit! Please through some shade on the lake and a few ice cubes.
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