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Post by erinj on Jun 5, 2008 22:05:50 GMT -5
so i'll still be nursing for ironman louisville...did not think last year to look at the course and how i will work this...i emailed them to ask...but figure in the meantime i'll see if anyone here had any insight...would it be better to ask if i can have an "approved person" bring the baby into the transition area? or should i try to see if i can make use of the first aid tent?...i think i will need to nurse during or after the first bike loop, and then before the marathon... yikes...this is going to be interesting!!!  |
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Post by sarazim on Jun 9, 2008 8:01:37 GMT -5
Holy crap! Wow, I can't even imagine...you're a rock star. I never nursed while racing but I did nurse for 3 months so maybe someone with some nursing and racing experience could help you more than me. Is there any way you could pump ahead of time and just have someone give bottles? Or stop to pump once during? I don't know anything about you or your goals/abilities but I do know that for me I needed every second I could on that bike course due to some horrible weather that day. In case of a flat/bad weather/bike issues/stomach issues or anything else that might take up your time, do you have some kind of a backup plan? Best of luck to you--someday your little one will be proud!
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Post by JenCollister on Jun 9, 2008 11:40:09 GMT -5
I'm not a mother at all yet, but besides needing every minute I had, I can't imagine sparing or burning any extra calories either during the race. Erin, you have to let us know what the NA Sports people say. You are a rock star!
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Post by MarkD on Jun 9, 2008 20:57:03 GMT -5
WTC Rule 622.43b: Although involuntary evacuation (vomitting, spitting, urinating, #2) are all acceptable consequenses of Ironman racing, lactating during competition is strictly prohibited.  |
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Post by Eric on Jun 10, 2008 13:00:01 GMT -5
You are a marked man Mr. Durno. I don't want to be on the receiving end.
Erin, I'm impressed you posted this question on the board. Makes me stop and go hhhhhmmmmm? I'm interested to see how this pans out.
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Post by erinj on Jun 10, 2008 16:53:48 GMT -5
tee hee mark...you're funny...
well, no response from ironman yet...hmmm....
i guess i'll just have to call someone if they don't get back to me this week!
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Post by Eric on Jun 11, 2008 6:28:44 GMT -5
Please record that conversation. I hope you get a woman on the other end.
"Hello, Ironman"......"Um, yeah....let me transfer you to Suzy"
Seriously you may ask Mickey Rzymek since he is a RD and has lots of IM experience.
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Post by speerka on Jun 11, 2008 7:09:02 GMT -5
Hi Erin,
While I don't know too much about IM race rules and lactation scares me, I have had some correspondence with Ann Skerkoski at Ironman over email about IMKY. I don't know exactly what her role is there, but I had entered in the wrong date on my registration and she contacted me. She's from Cleveland originally and went to John Carroll. If I were you, I would contact her directly since she seems to have a soft spot for people from Cleveland and she seems cool. Here's her info -
Ann Skerkoski
Ironman
43309 US Hwy 19 N.
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
(727) 942-4767 ext. 210
ann@ironman.com
Good luck to you!
Katy
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Post by erinj on Jun 11, 2008 13:34:59 GMT -5
thanks guys...okay...i got a response today...they recommend i go off course and that i can "stop at a gas station or sit in a vehicle"...
i had no idea that was an option...i guess what i need now is a full set of rules for IM...i didn't think it would be a good idea to go getting in a car during the race...i can just see someone getting to an official and being like "i just saw number 100 getting out of a car and jumping on the run course"...yeah...so i thought that i should be trying to use an "official IM station"....you know...so i don't get busted or something...
i will say that i didn't expect a total accommodation or special privileges or anything but i found the response a little odd and slightly less than warm...at the very least i would have thought they would say "yes, erin johnson number 100 you have been documented as needing to step off course and should any questions arise due to this need, you are cleared and documented"...
whatever...
katy - thanks...if i have any further questions i'll definitely use your girl!...especially since i have to change my address from kentucky to ohio...
i probably should have just asked mickey before emailing them!...
so here's another question...has anyone found the bike and run courses online?...i saw them before last year's race but now i'm looking for them to find a place to park and "sit in my vehicle" and can't find them!
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Post by robreddy on Jun 11, 2008 13:46:15 GMT -5
my understanding is that the bike course is changing slightly due to a major bridge (?) project - final bike maps are ont out
was not aware that the run was changing
this topic has been discussed recently on slowtwitch so you might want to do a search there
r
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Post by robreddy on Jun 11, 2008 14:27:13 GMT -5
erin
one other thing - I really don't think you can go off course. when I was at IMCdA (yes NA Sports event - but still a WTC scantioned IM) I litterally 'stepped' off the road and onto the side walk during the run course to sit down (was super sick) - an official came over and made a comment that I needed to return to the run course or choose to exit the race and be disqualified.
I'd really pursue the 'cleared and documented' avenue
r
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Post by MattCollister on Jun 11, 2008 14:43:38 GMT -5
What about appealing to IMKY's PR people? The pitch: You're the Alpha Mom who's so dedicated to both your new baby and your crazy sport that you're going to stop in the middle of a 90-degree, day-long, 140-mile race all over Louisville to nurse. Yeah! You can do it all! The media is always looking for this kind of stuff around these races, and I bet they'd eat it up. (no pun intended)
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Post by erinj on Jun 11, 2008 18:22:34 GMT -5
thanks rob...i wasn't sure if i was being nuts and paranoid...glad to know my worries are validated!
and matt, i thought about that...but i am afraid of A) being a la leche league poster child, and B)pissing off ironman staff...
you know?...i'm really not looking for special attention, just trying to cover my behind...and especially since i'm only training for 3 months...if i didn't finish, i'd be mortified to be in the news!...
so this is the email reply i got:
*************************
Hi Erin,
We will not allow anyone excepts for athletes, staff and designated volunteers into the transition area. However, if you are on the course and need to step aside and nurse your child that is fine. You can stop at a gas station or sit in a vehicle. This would be the most efficient way.
Please let me know if you have additional questions!
Thank you,
*********************************88
i think i will ask for clarification on the "stepping aside" bit...see exactly what she means....
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Post by debbie on Jun 12, 2008 11:50:28 GMT -5
Erin - I applaud your efforts tremendously! I nursed for 1 year. Everyone seems to give it up when it wasn't convenient anymore. I would do just as they said. Step off course, get the business done, and continue from where you left off. From what I know they use a modified version of the USAT rules. (I think the strike system and drafting issues are the basic modifactions) and According to USAT rules 3.4 on page 4 www.usatriathlon.org/upload/pdfs/usatcrandpcmodifications.pdf"Re entry - upon leaving the course, a particpant shall re-enter the course and continue at the same point of departure. "I know I've seen alot of people at IM "stepping" off course on bike and run both. How many men do we see finding a bush to get rid of excess bodily fluid and then returning to the course?. Thats all your doing too... although your not peeing on someones flowers either. I think its great to get "clarification" but even with all the knowledge and clarification there are always the volunteers who have no idea what so ever of the rules and will lead you astray. I think if your husband meets you at the end of an aide station no one would even notice what was going on. Good luck with that and you have my vote for Supermom of the year. Debbie |
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jacqui
Olympic Member
Posts: 120
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Post by jacqui on Jun 12, 2008 11:55:51 GMT -5
If I were you I would definetly pursue this further. I did breast feed while racing but my longest races were olympic distance. My strategy was to nurse as much as possible before the start. You might find that your production will go down during the race, but if your baby is solely breastfeeding you are obviously going to have to stop. A hot car or gas station does not sound like a great option. What about the aid stations? Will they have tents to shade the volunteers? Could you sit at a shady aid station without being considered off course?
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