Catching Up... T Minus 32 days to IMCdA

[Wahine]

Colby!! I'm so glad you stopped in. Wow, it's been a saga for you alright. glad you're feeling better. I'm looking forward to hearing more about how things are going and checking in on you on IM Day.

Good Luck!!

[Tri Girl]

Glad to see you checking in, Colby!
Woweee, it's getting close now! How cool that you went in for new aero bars and came out with one smokin' hot tri bike! Very sweet ride! I got my tri bike 3 weeks out from my half last year and you're right- the difference was amazing! I don't feel things on that bike (i.e. pain) like I did on the road bike with a tri setup. I can't wait to race my IM on my tri bike (it's bound to be more comfy than the last IM on my road bike). I guess they really do make those bikes for a reason.
I'm so excited for your race, and can't wait to hear more details as it gets closer.

[colby]

Thanks, Ladies!

I'm dialing in on stuff like what to wear, for my HIM I wore tri shorts and pulled up regular bike shorts over for the ride (then pulled them off for the run), which was SUPER comfortable. I think it was actually more comfortable than just wearing bike shorts. I don't know if I can make it 112 miles in tri shorts alone. My current tri top is out, it marks up my neck (rubbing, even with bodyglide) where the zipper fabric ends are, I guess my chest is too womanly for any significant running time (great for sprints, could probably go oly, HIM too far). None of them really seem to be made with a zipper guard to protect precious skin, so I'll probably just have to settle on something and smear on the bodyglide.

Sunblock is going to be an issue... I burned through a couple layers of skin (as painful as it sounds) on accident last weekend (in the upper 80s) using SPF45. I have SPF70 and will switch to that, but need to be sure to slather that stuff on like my life depends on it. Need to pick up some extra to put in gear bags, have husband hold, carry with me, whatever. I do not want to be a rock lobster! Sunburn steals precious energy.

I think I may have an issue with consuming calories in the ride. Toward the end of the ride, I feel like my muscles could go, but I just don't wanna. My heart rate is low, it's not like I'm overloaded, I just don't wanna. I think it's a sign of not enough calories. The question is... how the hell do you carry that many liquid calories? I was (am) carrying Accelerade, but one serving is mixed in to 12 oz of water, which is crazy. Even if I mix more concentrated, I still don't know if I can carry enough. I hate gatorade and notice a significant difference with the protein vs. just gels. I do take in one serving of normal gels every 30 minutes, which is fine for about 3 hours of activity, after that I have to have the protein. I am taking "sips" (unmeasured) of accelerade every 30 minutes (on the off 15 from my gels - :15 protein, :30 gel, :45 protein, :00 gel).

For the run, I missed the protein on my HIM so I want to find a way to get it in. Maybe I should try the Accel Gels, which have protein in them? Just regular gels don't seem to be enough.

I do have an aero bottle, but that's what, 20oz? That and two water bottles still doesn't seem like enough, and if I don't carry a Camelbak, I need the aero bottle for water.

Or... am I missing something ELSE? Maybe it's electrolytes? Maybe it's what I'm eating beforehand? I dunno. My muscles say yes and my brain says no. I did great on the HIM short of not having the protein on my run (well, relatively great, it was about 6:30 or so total... 3:32 ride). Maybe that's just my distance... but they don't call it Ironman for nothin.

30 days, 13 hours.

[Veronica]

It's not exactly aerodynamic, but could you put a Bento Box or something like that on your bike that you could carry solid food in?

V.

[colby]

Oh, I'm a tard, I do have a little bento box. I put my little gel flask thingy in it and it's nearly full. Supposedly it's a "large" bento box but it sure doesn't seem large (maybe in the world of triathlon large isn't what you'd think ). When I carry the flask in my jersey and try to take it out during races, I drop it (this has happened to me several times, only on races, never in training, go figure). I could probably carry regular gels instead, then if I drop it, I only lose one serving, not 8! (I'd have to carry 16 of them to be safe, though...) As it is, I will have to carry one on my person and one in my bento if I use the flask.

The bento doesn't seem too un-aerodynamic. It sits kind of in an area that's covered by my massive squishy self anyway.

Maybe I need a freakin' large bento instead of the mini-large.

[Veronica]

I haven't done any tris yet, but on my double centuries, I know I need some solid food. I dump whatever I'm going to eat, right into the Bento Box, so I don't have to worry about the packaging.

It doesn't answer what to do with your flask though. I know some people put them between their b00bs.

V.

[colby]

I haven't done any tris yet, but on my double centuries, I know I need some solid food. I dump whatever I'm going to eat, right into the Bento Box, so I don't have to worry about the packaging.

It doesn't answer what to do with your flask though. I know some people put them between their b00bs.

V.

Now that is awesome. I guess you use what you've got!!