Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum: IM MOO Aid Stations

Calendar Coaches Fitters Retailers Triathlon Clubs Stack & Reach Custom Geometry Calculator Training Log
		MAIN INDEX	RULES & LEGEND	LOG IN

Search for (options)

Newsletter Signup

Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
IM MOO Aid Stations

ckkeyes

Jul 3, 09 14:14

Post #1 of 16 (459 views)

IM MOO Aid Stations	Can't Post

Getting ready 4 IM MOO. This is my first IM, so I'm a little sutpid when it comes to the flow of the day.

How do the aid stations work? How often are they? In regard to the special needs bag, when and how do you get it?

I'm trying to plan how many bottles I need to carry on board my bike. 1 Aero Bottle, 1 on seat tube and then 2 on the hydro tail. I don' want to carry more than the aero and seat tube if I can help it...

Thanks in advance,

spot

Jul 3, 09 14:33

Post #2 of 16 (446 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [ckkeyes] [In reply to]	Can't Post

There are plenty of aid stations on the bike...I think they are generally about 10-15 miles apart. They are usually about 50 yards long or so, so you have plenty of opportunity to grab what you need while on the fly. I usually slow down to about 10-15 mph and yell what I want, then thank the volunteer for being there and giving me what I need. Special needs is at the half-way point on the bike...similar situation...they've got all the bags laid out in order. You can yell out your number, and by the time you've stopped, usually a volunteer is there to hand your bag to you. I carried one aerodrink and two bottles on my bike last year with Infinit, and 3 bottles pre-mixed and ready to go in my special needs bag...worked like a champ. I supplemented with on-course gatorade as needed. You will have plenty of liquid with the aero and seat tube, and ditch the hydro tail.

Spot
"Are you Finman enough?"

My blogs: www.georgeraihalaphotography.blogspot.com
wwww.eatdrinkandbemerrywithspot.blogspot.com

Record10Carbon

Jul 3, 09 14:41

Post #3 of 16 (438 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [ckkeyes] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Did you consider reading the race information at ironmanwisconsin.com?

----------------------------------------------------------

Mediocre is just that...When did it start becoming a life goal?

(This post was edited by Record10Carbon on Jul 3, 09 14:42)

ckkeyes

Jul 3, 09 14:43

Post #4 of 16 (432 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [spot] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks! I'm glad to hear I can ditch the hydro tail.... Why do the pros ride with Hydro tails in Kona? Is the support not as often there??? Or does a hydro tail, just not effect overall drag enough to matter for them?

ckkeyes

Jul 3, 09 14:44

Post #5 of 16 (430 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [Record10Carbon] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I did and I have, but I wanted to hear actual racer thoughts and strategies...

Record10Carbon

Jul 3, 09 14:48

Post #6 of 16 (424 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [ckkeyes] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

I did and I have, but I wanted to hear actual racer thoughts and strategies...

Plan to race your own race and bring your own fuel. Count on them for nothing more than water...anything short, you are going into the event unprepared. If you have not trained on GatEndurance then do you really want to take it off the course? If you cant carry 4-5 gels on the bike you may need to pick one of those up....but on the bike course what more would you possibly need?

It is sorta funny watching folks get a gel at every "Ten Mile Buffet" on the bike and the "Mile Buffet" on the "run"....so so so many folks over eat and over sugar at NAS/WTC races in a buffet feeding frenzy...eat it cause it is there...(this does NOT work at IM).

----------------------------------------------------------

Mediocre is just that...When did it start becoming a life goal?

ckkeyes

Jul 3, 09 14:54

Post #7 of 16 (417 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [Record10Carbon] [In reply to]	Can't Post

See that is NOT posted on ironmanwisconsin! Thanks! I plan on carrying my own fuel, food, salt tabs, etc, but just don;t want to be a camel with water and Gatorade. I am using GatEndurance in training.

Everything else is coming from home....

Thanks

Record10Carbon

Jul 3, 09 14:58

Post #8 of 16 (412 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [ckkeyes] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Water - never ever will I leave transition with water on the bike. Why carry the weight when you can pick one up at mile 10?

----------------------------------------------------------

Mediocre is just that...When did it start becoming a life goal?

ttx_tri

Jul 3, 09 17:10

Post #9 of 16 (365 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [ckkeyes] [In reply to]	Can't Post

If it is not that hot outside, the areo bottle and the one in the frame will be enough. the hydrotail is overkill. You only have to budget 10-15 miles for the aid stations. Remember go light on carry-ons on the bike. You are not a pack mule. I saw a lot of people out there with 4-5 cages full of water and Gatorade dumping them before each aid station. Why carry the extra weight?
Back in the game, IMWI 2010!

slowhokie

Jul 3, 09 18:12

Post #10 of 16 (348 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [Record10Carbon] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Curious, is Gatorade Endurance so different from regular Gatorade that it'll mess you up if you're not used to it? Looking at the nutrition info, the only obvious difference is more sodium/potassium than the regular stuff...

sentania

Jul 3, 09 18:45

Post #11 of 16 (329 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [ckkeyes] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Opposite of chip - last year I went with on course only (sort of) and had a good race - it depends on what works for you.

I started out with a bottle of water on my bike, and 8 or so gels in my pocket. Each aid station I picked up a new water and 1/2 gels, with the ones in my jersey as a reserve in case I missed. worked out fine for me.

Team Gear Grinder | scottbowe.com

"Suffering is mandatory,choosing to enjoy your suffering is optional." - Al Boelk

Record10Carbon

Jul 3, 09 19:49

Post #12 of 16 (308 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [sentania] [In reply to]	Can't Post

No no no...I live on the course as well. I have no bottles on the bike when I get out of the water. I just now (after so many years of messing up) time when I take a gel, food, or salt...water...no time just take it as I take it.

----------------------------------------------------------

Mediocre is just that...When did it start becoming a life goal?

linhardt

Jul 4, 09 15:08

Post #13 of 16 (232 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [slowhokie] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

GE is a bit different. You can taste the salt more than the sweet.

I have to water down regular gatorade because it is too cloying.

As for the general discussion of this thread. No matter what the race I always leave T1 with a full bottle. I like to drink shortly out of the water and sometimes aid station 1 is in a bad location and I have missed the bottle.

j-hud

Jul 4, 09 15:21

Post #14 of 16 (224 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [ckkeyes] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I trained with Cytomax last year so for Madison I went with the aero drink and 1 down tube water bottle. Left with the aero drink full of regular strength cytomax and the bottle full of double strength concentrate. Had a spare double strength concentrate bottle in my special needs bag. After the first aero drink was gone I just grabbed water at aid stations and mixed half a bottle of my concentrate in the aero drink. Had my preffered stuff all day (5 bottles worth was the perfect amount for me under last year's conditions) and never had more than my aero drink and one bottle on the bike. I wouldn't change a thing if I were doing it again this year.

Rahzel

Jul 4, 09 17:04

Post #15 of 16 (184 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [Record10Carbon] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To:

Plan to race your own race and bring your own fuel. Count on them for nothing more than water...anything short, you are going into the event unprepared.

Now, for most races I would definitely agree with you on this one. However, for Ironman branded races, they seem to do a good job of having adequately stocked aid stations.

Now, if it's a particularly hot day, some aid stations WILL have difficulties, Ironman branded race or not, but generally speaking I'd wager that asking for a Gel, Gatorade or bar at an Ironman aid station is a pretty safe bet.
-----------------------------------------------
Pointy Helmet Coaching - currently accepting new athletes

Kaka

Jul 4, 09 17:55

Post #16 of 16 (162 views)

Re: IM MOO Aid Stations [ckkeyes] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Something else to consider...

In 2007 at CdA, they handed me bottles of orange Gatorade Endurance. Last year I volunteered in T2 and the bikes that came in had bottles of orange as well. In photos from CdA this year it looked like orange was the flavor of the day on the bike course, too.

I bring this up because I can't stand the taste of anything orange. I don't drink orange juice for breakfast, when I played soccer as a kid I skipped the orange slices, and the orange Skittles get taken out of the bag and redistributed. So at CdA in 2007 I was fucked because after I finished the bottle of lemon/lime I brought with me, I came up short on electrolytes because I could barely choke down even a sip of the orange stuff.

Point being, either you like orange, or you tolerate it, or you bring a couple bottles of your own flavor (which is my plan for Wisconsin) to start and then a couple extras in special needs.

Good luck and train smart!
-------------------------------------------
"The hero is someone in continual opposition to the status quo. The hero is always becoming himself." Jos� Ortega y Gasset.

It's a bloggy blog world