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Since it's the New Year and we're fast approaching TI v 3.0, I thought I'd start a thread on how people are training as well as what people plan to eat along the way on a self-supported 300+ mile race.

There are just so many options...

 

[bd.sahib]

lacto ovo

And camelback-able.

 

[KERKOVEJ]

Meat.
Lots, and lots of meat.
Canned right here in Iowa for your pleasure.

 

[PaddyH]

thanks....

Meat.
Lots, and lots of meat.
Canned right here in Iowa for your pleasure.

...I just lost my appetite...one less thing to think about, I guess....

 

[Guitar Ted]

Hey! It's no joke....

You guys are going to really have to strategize this time around. I don't have the breakdown of how the covenience store stops fall just yet, but let's just say that there will be times when loooong stretches of course will have to be traversed before replenishing can occur. Probably nothing in the 100 mile or more range but getting close to that!

Some times the intervals will be less than 30 miles between stops. It's going to be a logistical challenge this time!

I'm not going to release pass through towns, but I will post up the intervals between the longest two points, just so you all will be able to prepare.

 

[NonConformist]

You guys are going to really have to strategize this time around. I don't have the breakdown of how the covenience store stops fall just yet, but let's just say that there will be times when loooong stretches of course will have to be traversed before replenishing can occur. Probably nothing in the 100 mile or more range but getting close to that!

QUOTE]

I was afraid of this, but I had a hunch that would be the case. Guess i'll have to purchase that Miox purifier a little sooner than I was expecting. Good thing I'm already a pack horse too.

DG

 

[PaddyH]

You guys are going to really have to strategize this time around. I don't have the breakdown of how the covenience store stops fall just yet, but let's just say that there will be times when loooong stretches of course will have to be traversed before replenishing can occur. Probably nothing in the 100 mile or more range but getting close to that!

Sweet!!

 

[ionsmuse]

Sweet!!

Ditto.

Looking forward to the scenic tour. Out here in AZ, there often is not any water to filter, so hauling 7-8 liters and lots of food is nbd. Food is pretty low on the list of stuff I am worried about right now.

To actually answer the question, I figure on having a small pack with my usual 6 liter dromedary, which I do not plan to fill all the way. Straight water there, two bottles on the bike with high tech performance beverage (tang). Reckon on starting with the usual long ride food, dried mango, macaroons, clif bars, etc. Then stock up on oatmeal cream pies, snickers, and cheeseburgers along the way. Dilute some gatorade to replace the tang, and all shall be well.

Skiing today reminded me that my nutrition "strategy" will need to adapt to the weather; I eat much differently when its 30 as opposed to 75. Regardless, Kum n Go will hook me up. :thumbsup:

 

[dmsigurdur]

classic endurance math

Since the body can only absorb 300/400 calories an hour all I have to do is divided the calories in a whopper by the 7-8 hours it will take to cover the longest stretch of 100 miles. Keeping in mind that I'm underestimating how bad that long stretch will be ( and when) I'll chuck in a few cans of rockstar and all will be well.
Dallas " definitely flawed math" Sigurdur

Oh and as for my training , all I've done is a few 1.5 hour runs and 1 two hour. Anything under that isn't even note worthy.

 

[Guitar Ted]

On Water

An interesting point to note about water. Filtering water is not recommended in Iowa!! Too many things in the water that even the best filtering systems will not filter out! Please do not filter water for your consumption in this state.

I do not wish to imply that all the streams, rivers, and lakes in the state are bad, but I have it on certain authority that at least one if not more than one of the streams on course is not fit to drink from. It's Russian roulette that we don't have to play, so let's not do it.

Iowans are a pretty friendly lot and gettin water from most any farm house would be far easier, and safer than filtering. Just plan accordingly and there shouldn't even be a need for any of this.

Perhaps some of the veterans could chime in with their water begging stories from the first T.I. The road to Emmetsburg was a long and windy one that year!

 

[KERKOVEJ]

Fact.

Yeah, filtering water is NOT a great idea in Iowa. Infact, it is against the law for mail/web order companies to sell/ship water filter devices to Iowa customers. See special note here.

And I will chime in and let it be told that I was one of those who dehydrated on the first TI. The worst was the long....flat....and WINDY section between Emmetsburg and Algona :madman: .
I learned a lesson, that's for sure! Carry more water than you think.

 

[grazhopper]

got a ? about how the race is run.
guitar jed, i believe, gave the impression that we will be going through towns in some points of the race. this is my first transiowa and would like to know if this was true and approx. distance so i can practice with a weighted bike. (100ish?)
also a LED head lamp is my normal night vision, do i need to up grade.

 

[Guitar Ted]

Answers

got a ? about how the race is run.
guitar jed, i believe, gave the impression that we will be going through towns in some points of the race. this is my first transiowa and would like to know if this was true and approx. distance so i can practice with a weighted bike. (100ish?)

I just completed the recon of the course, (necessary because we change the course every year and I have to verify that the roads exist) so I do not have an interval between stops yet, but yes: you will be routed past convenience stores so that you can resupply. When I say "routed past" I mean right by their front doors, which makes for some wonky route directions in some cases.

I can tell you that the furthest distance between convenience store stops will be in the neighborhood of 80 miles. Some will be 30 miles apart. Which they are and when I will not be saying. You'll find out the day of the event when you ride it.

also a LED head lamp is my normal night vision, do i need to up grade.

This depends on if you want to bomb the downhills or crawl down them. I can say that there is no way I would use a piddly little commuter light on this events downhills. We're talking 30-40mph + descents that will be anywhere from a quarter to a half mile or more in length. You won't have light enough to go fast after 10 yards into one of these downhils. They are steep! And they are on gravel. Maybe loose gravel. You don't want to hit the deck on this stuff!

 

[fxdwhl]

Any chance we might be passing an actual grocery store? It would be nice to get some food that doesn't have a 4 year shelf life. I'm getting the feeling I'll be carrying a bunch of food from the start. Being vegan isn't easy while traveling. Guess I'll just carbo load on High Life.

 

[Morlahach]

Don't forget the moon

There will be a full moon over that weekend, so that should help. It won't do wonders, but it should help. That is, unless the sky is ripped open and the rain pours through a gaping wound, pelting the women and children, pelting the women and children.

 

[Squirrely1]

Thats what

Any chance we might be passing an actual grocery store? It would be nice to get some food that doesn't have a 4 year shelf life. I'm getting the feeling I'll be carrying a bunch of food from the start. Being vegan isn't easy while traveling. Guess I'll just carbo load on High Life.

I'm talking about

Peace

 

[Pivvay]

Will be know how long to each of the stops or just how long the longest and shortest are? Either way I'll be packing plenty of known good food and just let the junk food take over for motivation further on down the line Pizza and snickers taste real good after that 10th Ensure

 

[Guitar Ted]

Ahhh.......I think you meant.......

Will be know how long to each of the stops or just how long the longest and shortest are? Either way I'll be packing plenty of known good food and just let the junk food take over for motivation further on down the line Pizza and snickers taste real good after that 10th Ensure

How long between the shortest and longest convenience stop intervals?

I will only publish a figure for the longest. That way anybody can be prepared. I won't give you an exact mileage but an expected time to traverse that section based on our two years of running this slog-fest. Time on course is more meaningful than mileage anyway.

 

[Pivvay]

Probably needed more words to make that clear. I meant will we know:

"There are 30 miles to the first stop, 60 more to the next stop, 80 to the next stop, 30 to the next stop...70 to the finish"

or...

"The longest distance between any two stops is 80 miles, the shortest distance between any two stops is 30 miles. Any other stops will be somewhere in between."

 

[grazhopper]

thanx
let the training burn o so nice