IMLP and ramblings

I'm heading up to IMLP next weekend to watch etc. Won't be volunteering this year, but will be riding, swimming and running among the much better than I as prep for my own tris. So, if anyone's headed up let me know - either if you're competing or if you're not and interested in some rides etc.

onto the ramblings...
feeling frustrated because this summer has gone by with me focused on other things more than I expected. I just did my first OWS last weekend, am below normal bike mileage at this point in time... I dunno, after my half marathon in May I kinda checked out of everything for a while, I think the training since January had taken its toll on my mind. Yes, it did make me a better runner, but I lost some of my biking strength... and I still have a LONG ways to go running wise (not yet sniffing 10/mile pacing).

So, slowly I've been trying to get myself back in training, and I really hope that the IM enthusiasm rubs off on me as it has in the past. Well, my first entered sprint's one week later so, I won't have a lot of delay anyway... then I'm entertaining another sprint the 17th of Aug (not entered yet) and my "real" race of the season is an Oly end of August (entered). Probably another sprint a few weeks after that, and that's my season.... I don't know how it goes so fast here but I hope I can be ready for my races...

a quick question... the oly course supposedly features a bottle exchange on the bike. What does this mean? I am supposed to grab a bottle from someone while pedaling around hundreds of others? sounds like a disaster waiting to happen...

thanks for reading. At least in September we'll be getting free eggs (one of my farm-related distractions this spring).

I was worried about the bottle exchange, but it really wasn't that bad.

If you can make it the distance without exchanging bottles, that's option A. That'd let you observe how it works this time without getting caught in anything unexpected or uncomfortable. You could also try to catch the bottle exchange at IMLP to see how it's done there, at least it'd give you something for reference.

If you want or have to do the bottle exchange, just take it slowly. For the IM exchanges, there was a "bottle drop" zone at the beginning/end of each station, and people handing out bottles -- you just had to call out what you wanted and they'd run with/to you. I was nervous the first time, but it was really pretty simple. In my case, I was taking water, which I squeezed out into my aero bottle, and tossed the bottle at the end (a few times I made it IN to the can, woot woot). I can't fit those size bottles in my bike anyway, because I'm a shrimp :) I guess it's possible you have less experienced people at shorter distances that you'd have to watch out for, so I'd just make sure you are safe on your bike and take them slowly (another reason to bring your own stuff - you don't have to slow down!).