Various IMC Questions

A. Staging Area

1. Are the bike spots assigned?
[ yes ]

2. Are your bike/run equipment bags with your bike or on hooks at a separate location?
[ they're in a separate grassy field near the transition area on hooks ]

3. Do you have access to your bike during the morning of the race?
[ yes ]

4. Are pumps available for inflating tires, or do we show up with 1600 pumps on the day of the race?
[ compressed gas is available, but you would be wise to have a pump ]

5. Is there a bike inspection?
[ yes, saturday ]

6. Best place to put your helmet? (On bike, with equipment bag,???)
[ either or, but you are allowed to leave it with the bike ]

7. Are there enough porta-pottys?
[ yes, in my opinion. some are hidden well, so look around ]

8. Are water, Allsport, bananas, Powerbars, etc. available before the start of the race?
[there was plenty of allsport before the race the last two years (and Gatorade in 1999 - gordo)]

9. Is the transition area grass, pavement, cement, or ????
[ the bag area is grass, the transition lot is pavement ]

10. How fast do the for everything (toilets, body markings, bike check,etc.) move?
[ most move fast, except registration tends to be slow ]

11. How good/bad is parking?
[ my parents have said it's not too bad if you arrive early (gordo got a spot fifty feet away last year but arrived REAL early ]

12. Best point for spectators to watch the swim?
[ they can get really close on the beach if they're early ]

B. The Swim

1. Shape of the swim course (Rectangle, triangle, out and back,???)
[ triangle, about 1.1mi, 0.2mi, and 1.1mi on the sides

2. Number of loops of the swim course?
[ one ]

3. Approximate water temperature?
[ oh, a guess would be around 70? wetsuit needed, longjohn has been okay ]

4. Wetsuits allowed?
[ everyone wears one ]

5. Suggestions as to which type of wetsuit is the best for this race (Full, longjohn, shortie, etc.)?
[ I've been ok in full the last two yrs. Lots of people wear long too, depends on water temp ]

6. Number of waves? (one right?)
[ one ]

7. Does everyone have the same color swim cap?
[ yes, except I believe pros get a different colour ]

8. Are there waves?
[ no, but there was a fair chop last year ]

9. How well marked is the course?
[ 12 bouys on each long side of the triangle...I counted last year ;-) ]

10. How physical is the swim? (rough, medium, never touched a soul?)
[ the beginning can be rough, but that's it. start far back if you can ]

11. How clear is the water?
[ not crystal clear, but pretty darn good! ]

12. How much in the way of weeds, dirt, old tires, etc. are in the water?
[ a little seaweed, and one large sea monster named Ogopogo ]

13. Is there a ramp when you come out, or do you run up the beach?
[ run up the beach with Steve King hollering your name ]

14. Is the sun in your eyes on the swim course?
[ it will be on the return leg, unless the sun hides like last year ]

15. Are showers available to wash off after the swim?
[ no ]

C. First Transition

1. When running out of the water, what are you running on? (Grass,macadam, cement, carpet?)
[ sand ]

2. Does this change as you go through the transition?
[ run up the sand beach (20 meters) through about 100 meters of grass where you get your wetsuit ripped off and pick up your bag, into the change tent (still grass) and into the paved car park ]

3. Are there people available to take your wetsuit off? (Do you really get to use them, or is it more of a potluck thing?
[ available? they practically molest you ;-) Everyone gets one. I cramped BADLY in 96 when they yanked if off, so last year, I shouted "gently, gently please!" and they were great! ]

4. Does anyone use the hot tubs? If so, for how long?
[ I never have, but I have my own, um, internal thermal regulation ;-) ]

5. Does someone give you your bike gear bag, or do you get it yourself?
[ if you're slow and away from the crowd, they will help you find it ]

6. In the changing tent, is someone assigned to you or are you on your own?
[ I've always had volunteers offering to help me ]

7. In the changing tent, is there water, Allsport, bananas, etc.
[ yep, and for the men, the world's largest urinal ]

8. In the changing tent, is there sunscreen?
[ just outside the tent ]

9. In the changing tent, is there Vaseline?
[ yep ]

10. In the changing tent, are there chairs for you to sit on?
[ at least 100 in the mens tent ]

11. How far from the exit at the water to the changing tent?
[ about 100 meters ]

12. Is there a table for people to put their glasses?
[ yep, and they mark your nose with orange mark so they can spot you coming out of the water ]

13. Do you get your own bike?
[ yes ]

14. How far from the changing tent to your bike?
[ 50 meters or so ]

15. What is the ground surface in this area?
[ grass until you get to the actual transition area, which is paved ]

16. What do you do with your wetsuit?
[ leave it in the tent, volunteers will help make sure it gets in your bag]

17. What do you do with your suit, goggles, cap, etc.?
[ ditto to #16 above ]

D. The Bike

1. How often are the aid stations?
[ approx every 8km ]

2. What do the aid stations have?
[ allsport, water, coke, bananas, grapes, figs, misc cookies, other various stuff from time to time ]

3. Where is the bike special needs bag?
[ approx 120km in or so ]

4. What did you put in your bike special needs bag?
[ for me, six pocket rockets, a vegemite sandwich, and a handful of peanuts ]

5. What are the road conditions? (Smooth macadam, rough concrete, grassy trail, etc.)
[ mostly smooth, except a 10km or so out and back to the bike special needs station which is pretty rough pavement ]

6. Is the bike course windy?
[ can be, but I haven't felt the last two years were too bad ]

7. Is there shade on the bike course? What percentage?
[ oh, hoh, hoh, that's a good one. Maybe 1%? ;-) ]

8. Is the bike course marked? Turns, etc.
[ I honestly don't remember ]

9. Are the distances marked on the bike course?
[ there are signs at the aid stations. Learn the metric system ]

10. If yes, how often?
[ every aid station]

11. If yes, are the bike course distances marked in miles or kilometers?
[ bike is in km, run is in miles ]

12. Are there people directing the racers on the course (as it turns)?
[ I think so, but don't remember. There are very few turns ]

13. We have been told of Richter Pass and Yellow Lake, how bad are they?
[ personally, I enjoy them. Seriously. ]

14. Where is Richter Pass located?
[ about 65km into the bike course ]

15. Where is Yellow Lake located?
[ about 150km into the bike course ]

16. Are there other hills?
[ nothing to worry about, except a few rollers after Richter ]

17. Would the rest of the bike be considered "Rolling", "Flat", "Vertical", etc.?
[ flat, little hill, flat, Richter, rollers, flat/windy, Yellow Lake, flat, downhill ]

18. (For the gear heads) What size rear grouping do you recommend?
[ 12x25 if you want to run. I've done 12x23 the last too years, and it wasn't enough for me, and I like tomash big gears ]

19. Is the course closed to traffic?
[ yes, unless you consider Winnebagos, motorhomes, and crazed canucks traffic. ie, no, it's not closed ;-) ]

20. If not, how much traffic is there?
[ a fair amound in some places, I don't remember much on Richter though ]

21. Two or four lane road?
[ two ]

22. Size of shoulder?
[ 1.23124m...just kidding, it's decent in most spots ]

23. Is there any mechanical help on the course? (Flats, broken cables, etc.)
[ there are like two trucks from the Bike Barn that patrol the course. Bring your own stuff, but they're there for emergencies, but expect at least a 30 minute wait ]

24. Are there any Porta-Pottys on the bike course?
[ there might be, but most people use the side of the road ]

25. How often?
[ At least every other aid station - gordo ]

26. What liquid supplement did you use on the bike, that worked?
[ allsport works fine for me (it is now gatorade for 2000 and 2001 at least) ]

27. What liquid supplement did you use on the bike, that did NOT work?
[ trying to drink the rain last year. I don't suspect beer would work too well either, and coke makes me burp too much ;-) ]

28. What food supplement did you use on the bike, that worked?
[ clif bars, vegemite (hey, I like the stuff!), pop tarts, peanuts, pretzels... ]

29. What food supplement did you use on the bike, that did NOT work?
[ I can eat just about anything ]

30. Where is the best place for spectators to view the bike?
[ at the start and finish? Honestly, there's lots of traffic out there, so please, if they can, ask them to carpool ]

E. Second Transition

1. Do volunteers take your bike, or are you responsible for racking it?
[ yes, they take it wearing latex gloves ]

2. Do volunteers give you your run equipment bag, or do have to get it?
[ they help you find it ]

3. Are there any changes to the changing tent between the beginning and end of the bike?
[ the naked conga line...wait, that was a mirage I think... ]

4. In the changing tent, is someone assigned to you or are you on your own?
[ same as before, someone usually is there to help ya ]

5. What do you do with your bike equipment? (Shoes, Helmet, shorts, etc.)
[ they help you get it back into your bag ]

F. Run Course

1. How often are the aid stations?
[ every mile ]

2. What do the aid stations have?
[ same as the bike, as well as some have chicken soup, lots of cookies, and miscellaneous other stuff ]

3. Where is the run special needs bag?
[ the halfway turnaround ]

4. What did you put in your run special needs bag?
[ pop tarts, and about a billion other things I couldn't stand the sight of by that point. Tribaby suggested having someone put a surprise in there for you. I think it's a great idea. ]

5. What are the road conditions? (Smooth macadam, rough concrete, grassy trail, etc.)
[ smooth ]

6. Is the run course windy?
[ nah, but it can be REALLY hot (Note: in 1999 it was really windy and cold when the sun went down - gordo) ]

7. Is there shade on the run course? What percentage?
[ excuse me while I laugh... ;-) maybe 10%? ]

8. Is the run course marked? Turns, etc.
[ straight out and back, no turns really ]

9. Are the distances marked on the run course?
[ yes, the m-dot logo and a number on the road every mile ]

10. If yes, how often?
[ see above ]

11. If yes, are the run course distances marked in miles or kilometers?
[ miles ]

12. Are there people directing the racers on the course (as it turns)?
[ no turns, no worries ]

13. Is the run course open to traffic?
[ just ambulances and course marshals ]

14. Is the run course on a two or four lane road?
[ two with a wide shoulder ]

15. How crowded is the run course?
[ depends how fast you are...never seemed crowded to me ]

16. Are there crowds cheering on the run course?
[ yep, and they call you out by name ]

17. Are there hills on the run course?
[ not really. some flatlanders think so, but it's really not bad except one or three little rises (gordo begs to differ, the climb to the turnaround seemed to go for a long while. best to do some recon before the race) ]

18. Is the run course considered "rolling", "Flat", "vertical", etc.,
[ flat to very slightly rolling ]

19. Which part of the run is harder, going out, or coming back?
[ this is a trick question, right? does your car run better after 10,000 miles or 100,000 miles? ;-) ]

20. When does it start to get dark?
[ long before I finish? ;-) Seriously though, around the 13-hour point. It's totally dark about 13:30-13:45 into the race ]

21. How cold does it get when the sun goes down?
[ not too bad the last two years, but witnessing my fashion statement last year you might wonder about my ability to judge by that point ;-) ]

22. Size of shoulder?
[ good...at least 1 meter ]

23. When the sun goes down, is the run course lit?
[ no, but you get really cool glow sticks if you beg. Skippy's still upset I gave mine to some little kid and not her ]

24. Are there any Porta-Pottys on the run course?
[ I seem to remember them every mile ]

26. What liquid supplement did you use on the run, that worked?
[ allsport and chicken soup ]

27. What liquid supplement did you use on the run, that did NOT work?
[ coke...works for some, but TRY IT IN ADVANCE ]

28. What food supplement did you use on the run, that worked?
[ nothing last year, I was sick to my stomach most of the run ]

29. What food supplement did you use on the run, that did NOT work?
[ (every race is different, if you are feeling good then stick with what is working. If you are dying then you might need to experiment - gordo) ]

30. Where is the best place for spectators to view the run?
[ start and finish only. :( ]

G. After The Race

1. What food/drink is available after the race?
[ everything, including Tim Hortons. Mmmm..... ]

2. Are massages available?
[ they have a tent with about 50 tables in it ]

3. If yes, how long of a wait? Cost?
[ no wait if you're slow like me ;-) May be a wait earlier? (not much - gordo) It's free, just be sure to say thank you a million times ]

4. Do you have access to your bike after the race?
[ yes, you must pick it up day of race ]

5. How far is the finish line from the transition area/bike area?
[ 50 meters ? ]

6. How easy/hard is it to find family/friends/other racers?
[ pretty easy ]

7. Are results posted anywhere?
[ trust me, you won't care unless you're really fast ;-) ]

8. Are there stands to sit on?
[ yeah ]

9. What type of medical help is available?
[ just about anything. I found out two years ago passing out really gets their attention too ;-) seriously though, it's a VERY complete medical tent with about 20-30 cots and several chairs ]

10. Are showers available after the race?
[ I don't remember any (gordo "cleaned off" in the hot tubs. bring a towel and leave it in your post race strip bag) ]

11. Where is the closest open ice cream store?
[ at midnight? I don't think any are open, although Dominos was in the park last year >:) (I think there was a stall selling ice cream in the park in 1999) ]

12. What time do the fireworks go off?
[ midnight ]

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