I have been toying with the idea of trying to do the 70.3 Ironman in Rapperswil for a few years now, but laziness always got the better of me. The seeds of a thought are still there and I thought if I got a group of like minded people together we could help to motivate each other through the cold winter months.

Are there any forum members in the Zurich area who would be interested in forming a training group over the Winter?

Of course you don't need to want to take part in the event to join the group. Anyone interested in trying to do some aerobic endurance type training through the winter could also join.

We could use Dakman's Thursday night rides to get together and work out details etc until it gets too dark for the road riding in the evenings.

As the evenings get darker, we could meet to do some running a couple of evenings a week, and maybe try to squeeze in a pool session too.

If anyone is interested, post here and we can try to discuss the details.

I am super interested in getting a group together. Of course, I am never at the Thursday night rides, so can't help plan there. If you meet some night at Nooba after your ride I can probably join... as it is close to work(depending on time).

What happens to cycling as the sun starts setting earlier?

Well the road ride is tonight this week (Wednesday)!

As for biking when the sun starts to set earlier... that depends on the people in the group. Its theoretically still possible with good lights and a safe route... but dark evenings are probably more suited to running and swimming training.

I'm open to any suggestions.

MEEEE!!!!

I'm doing the Rapperswil 70.3 next year and probably the Zug & Zuri tri's as well.

Once the weather turns cold and the evenings get shorter I won't ride outside during the week, but would love to do some weekend rides through the winter as long as the roads are OK.

And running.. definitely, all year anytime.

Despite my poor show at the Tues night events this summer, I would be very interested in some night riding later in the season. (if only to show off my 1000 lumen light setup!!)

Hmmmm..... that suddenly gets some ideas going in my head. I'm a little hesitant to organise night mountain biking.... but if there are enough people with the necessary equipment and who would be doing it anyway...

Alright, I am thinking of signing up for the Rapperswil 70.3 Ironman too... Motivation to continue to train thru the cold, dark winter months could be very useful - Especially some days more than others!

I did a 70.3 distance a few years ago in California and really enjoyed it. If this one goes well we can sign up for the full Zurich Ironman the following year (too bad it's already full for 2009). And we should also really consider the Inferno race for 2009 - You'd especially like it, Eire, since it includes mountain biking too.

Since you live on the opposite side of the lake as me, I don't know how feasible it might be to workout together during the week, but we could at least decide on a training plan and hold each other accountable for following through with it - That could be very helpful to me at least (plus maybe a competitive note here and there to provide even more motivation!).

Crikey! The full Inferno race looks er... chewy! Good luck with that!

The team event looks alright though - if there's some others up for it I could be persuaded to volunteer for the road or mountain bike section.

Aw c'mon, Herr Hillseeker did the full Inferno last year - and that was right after living in flat-as-a-pancake Amsterdam!

But I agree the team version looks like a fun (and more sane) idea. I would fight for the road bike section though Or I'll just do the whole thing and beat your team myself (yeah right!)

Hmmm... is this the makings of team EF for next years Inferno?

Hillseeker for the Road Bike, Nick for the MTB, Kate or Herr Hillseeker for the Run and I'll hand ye out bottles on the route. :-)

As for the winter training Hillseeker, I might take you up on holding me accountable. I get far too lazy, far too easily.

You can hand out the bottles to us once you've finished doing the swim section at the start.....

I might be up for this, got an email yesterday reminding me that my old Tough Guy team back in Yorkshire are starting training for the Winter 09 Tough Guy event, and I was toying with going back for it...

So with that in mind I'd be in for the running side of things, and possibly for short swims, but count me out for bike rides as I have no bike and cannot ride one

How long is the swim?

Only an extra 1.2km on what you'll be doing in the Rapperswil 70.3....

Jaysus... 3km. That's an hour in the water.

I haven't said I was going to do the 70.3 yet... Its still in the thought stage. There is still the chance for me to get sense and just spend the winter sitting on the couch like last year!

[quote I haven't said I was going to do the 70.3 yet... Its still in the thought stage. [/quote]

Sounds like it's been in the thought stage for far too long, you're not getting any younger you know, which translates to it's not going to get any easier.

Commit now. Then the training will follow nicely.

Yes, totally agree, just sign up for it and then you will force yourself to train. If I could swim or run, I would be right there with you.

I never said I could run, and the swim is the shortest part.

You in?

It's like walking, only faster - you'll be fine! Just get on with it and put your name down ....

.... and before you ask, no I'm not going to do it!

What is this... Peer pressure!