Lots of talk over at my training place Endurance Nation (EN) about the cold lake waters at Coeur d'Alene. I heard a tip about keeping warm I want to pass on, and add a few of my own.
At past Ironman races, a few of the EN athletes used those chemical warmers in their neoprene caps, and in the toes of the swim booties to help keep warm. I'm not sure what happens when the warmers hit the water (I think they need air to work), but it might be a strategy to pre-warm before diving in.
This tip led me to thinking that you could also put a couple of warmers in your bike shoes in the early morning before the race begins. They'll heat for several hours, so you can just dump them out, and your shoes will be warm as you begin riding. I think I'd dump a handful into my transition bag, wrap my clothes around them, and change into dry, warmed togs before heading out. I notice they sell a large "body warmer" size! Might help stop the shivers a little sooner!
I think I need to buy some stock before the race...
