bigjoe

I dont mind the stopping, what i do mind is the fact that the ref should look at the circumstrances before dishing out penalties. And then to not follow the correct procedure is even worse!

Bike was just crazy in my opinion! The route was fine, but then being stopped at the intersection just made it frustrating. Catching up the slower riders and then being stuck with 25 other guys at the robots is a recipe for disaster. Everyone then starts of at the same time, but now you within the draft zone. At the same time there are guys flying from behind at 50km an hr......so now you blocking! Raised it with the marshal/referee and he got p!ssed off. Sat up for the 2nd time, waiting for everyone to form their line. Once this happened, I hammered it and went pass about 10-12 guys in a minute or 2......then i got PULLED OFF the road for blocking. Ref took his time to take my details....eventually letting me go. Spent a total of 7:40 being pulled off and being stopped at the robot. He let me go with a blocking penalty. No showing of the card while on the bike....got PULLED off! Get to the penalty tent and there is nobody to report to. The grey haired guy stands there, explains the situation and couldnt event be bothered. Eventually the lady strolls up, and says oh, dont worry we will make it another 1:30 as you have been here for a while. Explain to her that it is blocking, stop and go, so i should have set off 2 mins ago. Then she looked confused....and I just left. Didn't sign the register! I have done a number of Tri's....never got a penalty....but yesterday was just ridiculous. Spoke to the head of referees afterwards, and he confirmed that the ref on the bike course was wrong.....but yet, nothing will happen! At the end it cost me atleast 10 mins......and put me in a bad mood for the rest of the race! Not sure if i will do it again until the bike leg gets sorted out!

I am not a morning person either, but with family and small kids....you need to adapt. If i dont train early then there is no time. it took a while but once you are in a routine it gets better. And no, i am not in bed by 8....when we swim we only get home at 8....then it is supper time for us (adults) and getting the kids to bed. not easy at all....but thats why it is a life style and not a once off thing

Nope, my kids get up at 6 latest. I run at 4, so that i am back in time so that my wife can run. 6 the kids wake up and i will help them get ready. when my wife gets back from her run, she gets ready and leave with the kids. then i finish of and set out for work. We need to leave at 7:15 to get to school and work. Hence the fact that we run so early. We make sure that we are quite, and even if they wake up earlier either me or my wife is awake to look after them

I dont think there is one solution for all. It also depends on your goals and what you expect. I have goals, but due to the fact that I have a young family....and an active wife....sacrifices have to be made in terms of goals. We both train for IronMan (wife only 70.3), and both work 8 - 5 jobs makes it very tough! But, we make plans to train early morning, before work while the kids are sleeping. Typical training week... Bike - One day a week i am out on the road (4AM) and my wife on the IDT. the next bike day i am on the IDT and she does a spinning class (cant let her cycle in the dark) Running - we run early in the morning (start 4AM, depending on distance), so that we can both fit in a run, at seperate times....as we cant leave the kids alone Swim - this is reserved for night time....if not too tired. Weekends - sat morning run early....seperate times before 8...when the kids activities start. Sat afternoon an open water swim....take the kids with. sunday mornings are our long cycle.....drop kids of at granny At the end of the day it is al about trying to be consistent....but work and family are part of our lives. Training is a byproduct to keep us active and healthy. will probable start pushing for bigger goals when the kids are bigger.

Hope that this Jill is not the same Jill from Race for Victory! Battled with reseeding....then they forgot to let Racetc know about the change.....DQ'd because of that. Took 3 weeks to get a time for RVF....and it is still incorrect! Good luck!

Kyle should take his Age category! Ronnie seems to be off the pace.... Kienle is also dropping of the lead....but he can run.

i am keen on doing a 2nd lap.....trying to get a few more friends together.....so far we are 5.

C for me, hoping i can get a 2:40 this year

How about your mean new bike as a prize?

Either way, think it is going to be exciting to watch. Planning to stream and watch on TV from beginning to end.... Hoping Ronnie can pull it off!

PM me as well....looking at new wheels

I think the 1st question that you should ask yourself is what is you intentions after IM. I agree with Svan that the tt bike will give you added benefits, but with a limited budget a road bike will give you more benefit in the long run, unless you are going to focus on triathlons. Some points to consider 1. You can not use a TT bike for road races. 2. If you cycle with a group, a TT bike is a no go in most instances. I love cycling, and do loads of cycle races. I train with a group of friends. But, I have also done Full IM and a few 70.3's. I didnt have cash to upgrade my road bike and buy a TT. So, my solution was to buy a decent road bike (Scott Foil) which i can use for road cycling as well as Triathlons. I change my seat and add tri-bars, and I am comfortable. Yes, i am not competing for podium so i dont need that extra benefit, but I still love the sport. Maybe in the future i will buy a TT bike, but i would rather 1st buy better wheels for my road bike..... Hope that this helps!!!

Imagine how many people are going to ask to be reseeded!!! Now, the A bunch will be 300 instead of 100 because of the stuff up! Will chat to Jill and see what happens!

My point exactly. Now she wants to know why I didnt do any of those events! Surely using your overall seeding is the better option!

Nope, will be Racetec this year again....

Same here, got a HL seeding. Spoke to the race office and they seed you on the last 4 events, Jock, Carousel, Sun city en EPR. Did non of those races, so I am unseeded and at the back. Dome to Dome start group - AL. Suppose it is going to be a long day in the wind!

Suppose to start in AL.....but battling with sinus after 5150 in BelaBela over the weekend.....hope to be better by Sunday

are you scared that I am going to beat you are you doing Full???

Will be there with my wife, both going for our 3rd year in a row. Hope to have a good time, need to go and improve my time on my way to a 2nd full IM

Don't do it the evening of the race! you never feel like doing it again. but the day after you are up for it again!

perfect, thanks! i am sold on the idea. best i fit my tri-bars and go for a ride

Ok, done. Thanks all. appreciate the input. Lets hope i can shave 10 mins off from last year (better bike fitness and tri-bars)

yip, set-up is a bit different but not something that i am not use to. change of seat and clip-ons. starting to think i should give it a go with the tri-bars. will put them on and go for a ride on sunday. any idea on time saving? did a 3hr bike last year without tri-bars

thanks for the responses, appreciate it. Yes, i have trained with them a couple of time, but not as much in recent months. Did lots of training with the tri-bars while training for full IM. think i will be ok using them on race day. just not sure if the benefit would be worth the extra weight. lots of uphills, which i prefer to sit up with an open chest. But if i can save a few minutes with the tri-bars then it might be worth it :-)