So the race is less than two weeks away and conditions are not improving.  I did the run loop of the course on Sunday and there were white caps on the lake (not quite like last year's Ironman but white caps none the less).  I chatted with a couple brave souls taking a dip and they had nothing but grumbling.  :)

Temperature on the lake Coeur d'Alene is about 50 degrees.  Not exactly balmy. 

To top it all off, the current weather forecast (I am heading out to do the bike loop shortly) is for Snow!

Hmm... says me, I am struggling to see how water temperatures are going to rise with this kinda weather.

To accommodate the temperature, as posted on the website:

Special Information regarding the Swim at the 2008 Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene
June 6, 2008

As many of you are already aware there has been great deal of speculation regarding the swim at this year’s event focusing on cold water temperatures. Due to a record snowpack in the Bitteroot Mountains, which is the source for Lake Coeur d’Alene, we anticipate that the water on race day will be colder than normally encountered. In order to ensure the safety of our athletes, NA Sports is going to make the following changes to the standard Ironman swim rules for this event only:
1.     At temperatures below 60°F wetsuits are MANDATORY.
2.     Neoprene booties (aqua sox, swim sox etc) will be allowed below 60 F°. ABSOLUTELY NO FINS.
3.     We encourage athletes to consider a neoprene hood worn under the issued swim cap for additional warmth. NA Sports will continue to closely monitor the water conditions and always reserves the right to make changes as we deem appropriate with athlete safety the primary factor in our decisions.

Well..., I don't see 60°F happening any time this month. :(

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 10:38:51 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)      Comments [0]  Headlines | Personal | My Sports