A bunch of gear questions-first HIM

[smithcyn42]

Thank you for the great advice! I've really likes Sugoi running gear, so I'm glad to hear that their tri stuff is excellent, too. For running, I've been using a Moving Comfort bra and a bra called "Answers" that I found on a website called X-Chrom. Neither of them seem well-suited to the swim portion of the triathlon.

Anyone heard anything about the Blcakwell Flow saddle?

Antone else going to the Florida HIM in May?

[JmcG]

Antone else going to the Florida HIM in May?

You're going to love the Florida HIM - I did it both in 2005 and 2006. The water is nice and warm so you don't need a wetsuit (they never allowed it either year I was there). The bike course is one loop and mostly flat, with a few rollers, but very fast and very fun. The run was different each year and I'm not sure how they're doing it this year. 2005 it was 2 loops, 2006 it was 3 and more on grass and dirt than 2005's course. I always stayed at the Wilderness Lodge and walked to the start. Just be prepared for the heat. The first year got up into the high 80s, low 90s. Last year, by the time I started running, it was 95 degrees out. I hadn't trained in hot weather at all before racing down there (had been up in NH for work most of the winter/spring) so it hurt my performance some.

This year I'm doing Mooseman Half Ironman in New Hampshire b/c I can drive there and have a free place to stay - to save up for my trip down to Florida for the FL IM in November. I'm going to miss not doing Disney again this year though....

Onto your other questions -

Shorts - I wear Pearl Izumi tri shorts - have 2 pairs and love them. I don't particularly like the Sugoi's fit so well. I haven't tried any others.

Saddles - Terry Butterfly rips me apart - saddle sores, chafing, you name it. I've tried the regular and the tri saddles on both road and tri bikes respectively. Like someone else mentioned, check out your fit again. But try out other saddles too. Many shops will let you try out a saddle for a deposit that you'll at least buy some saddle there, maybe not that specific one. On my road bike, I have a Specialized Womens Body Geometry Jett that I love. On my tri bike, I have a Selle Italia SLR Gel Flow that I also love. It took me lots of saddles to figure out what worked best for me.

Finally - I can't address the subject of tops for the well endowed. I am poorly endowed, so I can easily race with almost no support. But there are definitely other threads on this topic that I've seen.

Good luck! Keep us updated on your training and the race!!

[colby]

Link: http://www.floridahalfironman.com/course.php

Wow, this sounds awesome! I just don't think I could be half-iron by May 19th, or I would SO be there. Good luck!!