Ironman 70.3 Durban

[shaper]

do you think the non starters majority would be because of rough seas ??

On the Friday it was storm force winds and a big swell, it may have been a factor that people might have thought the seas would be too rough, so did not bother travelling to Durbs

[skipperw]

The sea is the sea. After all, this is Ironman... not leadman or zincman.

 

I reckon a great, fast course, that just needs to be capped at 2000 athletes.

[shawnvan]

Awesome race, and think it was brilliant for a first time event.  Great venue.  A few teething problems (as expected), but organisation was top notch.  Well done Paul Woolf.

 

Only negatives were as follows:

 

1.  Drafting on the bike was a shame, don't think the rolling swim start helps as you just end up with one long string of people starting the bike each within a few seconds of each other.  There were just too many people on the bike course to split up, especially when we rejoined on the second loop.  From what I heard there was some blatant drafting by some guys at the front, but the refs were content to just give them "warnings" and didn't actually pull out thier cards for time penalties.

 

2.  Drinks at the last aid station on the bike (where we turned for the second loop) was a joke.  First time we went throught there I had finished my bottles and so grabbed a replacement GU bottle, only to find it was a tiny bottle (didn't fit into a cage) and had literally 2 swigs worth of drink in it.  20km til we go through there again with no drink.... second time round I grab another bottle and exactly the same... How can you expect guys to ride 20km on 100ml of GU? 

 

3. The open promenade run was cool, just not much "gees" and people seemed to be more annoyed at having to dodge runners than support them.  Also not ideal having to run round people on their beach cruisers and dodge kids - had a few close calls.  Flat run is harder than you think!  Hopefully next year the durbanites will embrace the event more.

[gurns]

I had a great day.

Swim conditions were challenging but manageable.

Bike course was Awesome, even with the drafting and slightly crowded conditions.

Run route was very scenic and crowds very supportive, with only a few spectators getting in the way.

 

The only negative for me, which I am sure will be sorted somehow for next years event, was the bridge and crowding at the finish area.

This is a great event at a great venue with first class organisation. SA needs this second Ironman 70.3 event.

 

I finished in 5.57, and will be entering next year aiming to better that time by some margin.

Thanks to the Organisers

[ScottCM]

3. The open promenade run was cool, just not much "gees" and people seemed to be more annoyed at having to dodge runners than support them.  Also not ideal having to run round people on their beach cruisers and dodge kids - had a few close calls.  Flat run is harder than you think!  Hopefully next year the durbanites will embrace the event more.

 

As I wasn't there I don't know how well it was publicized. Do yo think it was merely a fact of not letting enough of the public know about the event that drew such little support?

 

The reason I ask this is that my parents and brother live in Durbz and they didn't know about the event till I told them on Saturday which prompted them to go down and support the athletes.

 

I have noticed with events in Durban that the local radio station doesn't have a desire to get involved unless they are paid for advertising. However i do feel the municipality could get more involved, after all they are receiving hundreds if not thousands of people coming into their location from all over the country, then again they do close all the roads which is great in itself.

[shaper]

East Coast Radio had a fair bit of advertising on it with regard to the Event, well at least in the few days before when I was there

[IceCreamMan]

See there were only 2206 finishers out of 3000 entries. Hundreds of non starters and lots of non finishers. That must be highest attrition rate for any SA Ironman event.

 

Tell you, I completely under estimated this event. on paper it looked by far the easiest half distance I would do...in reality it was tougher than any other and today I am still far more sore than after ironman. Coming out of the ocean I suffered severe cramps which casued problems on the cycle and run. Am surprised by the high attrition rate though.

 

All in all a huge success, will be back in 2016...just need to figure out how to avoid the cramps in high seas....

 

I had the elevation at 949 metres which seems way too high ....anyone else have a different figure?

 

thanks

[WezGK]

On my way to the event Sunday morning, East Coast dj was requesting safety for cyclist TRAINING on the roads for the event... none the wiser that the event was actually that day...

 

also the Suncoast casino food court didn't seem to make provision for the busy weekend, very understaffed/undertrained, waited over an hour for drinks on Saturday at News cafe...

[SwissVan]

 

 

3. The open promenade run was cool, just not much "gees" and people seemed to be more annoyed at having to dodge runners than support them.  Also not ideal having to run round people on their beach cruisers and dodge kids - had a few close calls.  Flat run is harder than you think!  Hopefully next year the durbanites will embrace the event more.

 

Was it a lap run, surely they could have cordoned off a run "passage" in the more spectator congested areas?

[ScottCM]

East Coast Radio had a fair bit of advertising on it with regard to the Event, well at least in the few days before when I was there

 

That's really good news to hear, as they didn't whisper a single word for Tour Durban or the Dusi2C this year. Not sure about the Amashova or Tri-Rock as i haven't done those events before.

[mrhilux]

My best one yet, did a 5:44. Was caught out by the speed on the bike. Definitely need to train for speed on 90km. Using a Garmin Fenix 2 I had elevation gain of 784 on the bike and 62 on the run. I missed the timing mat when exiting the swim so only stop the swim leg when I entered transition, measuring a total of 2787m.

 

Biggest gripe I have is that they don't seem to encourage spectators/partners at the finish. So everybody bundled up at the bridge trying to get photo's. I will definitely be back, it is just tough to train for this one during the winter.

[fanievb]

Tell you, I completely under estimated this event. on paper it looked by far the easiest half distance I would do...in reality it was tougher than any other and today I am still far more sore than after ironman. Coming out of the ocean I suffered severe cramps which casued problems on the cycle and run. Am surprised by the high attrition rate though.

 

All in all a huge success, will be back in 2016...just need to figure out how to avoid the cramps in high seas....

 

I had the elevation at 949 metres which seems way too high ....anyone else have a different figure?

 

thanks

 

got 890

[fanievb]

Was it a lap run, surely they could have cordoned off a run "passage" in the more spectator congested areas?

 

 

laps yes, apparently the metro refused to allow IM to close the run route and prevent people from accessing the beach

[reteid]

sort of enjoyed my race.had an ok swim.realy liked the warmer than clifton sea temp.easy swim and came out of water just over 36 min.cramped a bit from kicking to hard to catch a wave coming out.(actualy difficult to body surf with zoggs).had a nice easy bike and did my utmost not to draft as I still believe it is up to myself not to draft even if there are many that do draft.came home in 3:06 on the bike.fell off the bike about 2 km from t2 due to my own stupidity and hurt my knee a bit but so be it.the run was ok and I did a 2:23 on the run or should I rather say run walk.

 

thought that race condition were perfect.ended up with a 6:21.spend some time in transition loo which gave me a transition time like I was camping,but that's part of the race so no complaints there.

 

I enjoyed the warm sea swim,the smooth tar and easy registration,the coffee at bike and bean,the eggs benedict at the surfshop near ushaka.

 

I did not enjoy the bridge crossing at the end,the little 20 km loop on the bike,the blatant drafting,the bike checkout,and the girl with the see through no underwear one piece trisuite that passed me on the bike.i never race other people but I had to pass her again as I was worried about that sight.some things one cannot unsee.i am still hurting from that sight.

[reteid]

I forgot to add that I had a true Durban lamb curry bunny chow.my wife told me I was looking hot.luckily not the day before the race.i just thought how can I be in Durban for the first time and not taste the curry.

[ScottCM]

I did not enjoy the bridge crossing at the end,the little 20 km loop on the bike,the blatant drafting,the bike checkout,and the girl with the see through no underwear one piece trisuite that passed me on the bike.i never race other people but I had to pass her again as I was worried about that sight.some things one cannot unsee.i am still hurting from that sight.

 

I take it she was no Gwen Jorgensen