Ironman 70.3 East London 2016

[wanderwoman]

Well done guys and gals! If you can make it there; you can make it anywhere...  

[Beesrib]

nice one girls and guys.  could you give us a idea of the split times more or less, just so that us simple folk can get an idea.  again, well done.

[fanievb]

nice one girls and guys.  could you give us a idea of the split times more or less, just so that us simple folk can get an idea.  again, well done.

 

[Beesrib]

Hi Fanie,

 

Wow that is a great brake down, thank you very much for sharing, and well done.  This is really awesome.

[Snytjie]

Yet again another proper event. These IM guys really know how to stage something complicated and having been involved in other large-scale operations myself before I cannot compliment them enough. Organisation impeccable as always and the vibe terrific!

 

The race was testing but I enjoyed it. Great prep for April... Liked the swim, did 39 min and even caught a little wave coming out! The bike conditions were very nice with the cooling rain and all. Somehow I managed a poor outward climb and was surprised to see my time at 2:01 at the turn Gave it everything coming back and completed bike in 3:23 which was at least 10min slower than what I hoped for. The little rain coupled with the scorching sun made for greenhouse conditions on the run and I - liked everyone else I talked to - suffered. If it wasn't for the great aid station arrangements it would have been even worse. Managed to avoid walking and ran EL pb in 2:10 which was comforting. Race done in 6:25 which considering my prep was to be expected. I will see how I did relative to previous years as soon as we can sort the categories of the results.

 

Few remarks:

 

1. Regular short running sessions between the kitchen and the wine cellar did not have the positive effect on my fitness I was hoping for 

2. I'm not so sure about this rolling start business. Firstly you spend a long time on the beach waiting if you seed yourself towards the deep 30mins. Strangely I had the most collisions/contact during this swim of any of my previous 7 tri's. Secondly, the possibility to avoid drafting on the bike seems diminished: there is one constant line on the left being overtaken and a constant line on the right doing the overtaking. Going out I was in breach probably 75% of the time and short of actually stopping I couldn't help it. Coming back was much better with the huge field spread out better. Again it was the worst of all the races I've done.

3. Blocking was the only major problem I experienced. There are way too many athletes that simply ride on the right without any consideration of what they are doing. Inexplicably refs passed me 3 times and completely ignored the very obvious blocking going on.

4. This race and -weekend cost me R10k and with last year made me miss my daughter's first two athletic competitions of her school career. I really like the course and the around the race, but man it is a difficult time and place for it. Done three now, not so sure about any more.

 

Well done to all who completed this one. It was a good one 

[Ispeed_V]

Clearly the wind was blowing when you see the difference between  the bike out and back splits

[shaper]

First Ironman 70.3 done!!! Flip it one amazing event!

 

Really really really struggled on the swim which is completely surprising cause I'm a swimmer

But I finished it! Ran my first 21k ever today so all in all a good achievement I think!

Time 7:44 so I'm happy

Just got home and have had time to dissect the race, I think you should not be too concerned with the swim.. from what I gather and looking at all the comparable Strava swim times around me, there were probable only 2 out of 30 odd who actually swam 1.9km, all the rest were 2.1-2.3km, myself was 2.2km which I put down to a factor of the wind, the sea currents and also found it difficult to spot the turning buoys.

 

I was looking for a 35mins for the swim, but came out in 40mins so was also surprised... but now I see I swam an extra 300m 

 

So you may have swum more like everyone else!!

[Bianchi Baby]

nice one guys. Conditions were tough and its a tough event to commence with so finishing it is legendary.

 

Enjoy the rest and afterglow....

Thanks so much!

 

I'm so glad the finishers shirt is so cool because I have a feeling I will be wearing it indefinitely ????

[Rocket-Boy]

Clearly the wind was blowing when you see the difference between  the bike out and back splits

Naa not really, its pretty much 80% uphill on the way out, so heading back is mostly downhill.

[Simonpurdon]

Shot for the advice on the swim Rocket-Boy. Really helped. Walked slowly into the water and took it very relaxed and slowly eased into it. Started off breathing every stroke and then once I got passed the first buoy got into a nice rhythm. Started in 50+ batch and ended up swimming 32. Really enjoyed the whole event and my first triathlon!

[shaper]

Thanks so much!

 

I'm so glad the finishers shirt is so cool because I have a feeling I will be wearing it indefinitely

The medal is pretty good as well, much better than previous year and a lot better than the Durban one... be proud, it is an achievement!!

[Six13]

Fantastic event! Found the new yellow buoys helped a lot! My garmin had me at just under 1.9km, so very pleased.

 

Must say I was disappointed with the Ironman expo! Wanted a nice cap and they had none! Lots of old end of the line stock with limited sizes

[Rocket-Boy]

Shot for the advice on the swim Rocket-Boy. Really helped. Walked slowly into the water and took it very relaxed and slowly eased into it. Started off breathing every stroke and then once I got passed the first buoy got into a nice rhythm. Started in 50+ batch and ended up swimming 32. Really enjoyed the whole event and my first triathlon!

Well done! that sounds like a great swim. Doing a 70.3 for your first tri is pretty huge.

That bug bites hard though so good luck with that...

[dracs]

Yet again another proper event. These IM guys really know how to stage something complicated and having been involved in other large-scale operations myself before I cannot compliment them enough. Organisation impeccable as always and the vibe terrific!

 

The race was testing but I enjoyed it. Great prep for April... Liked the swim, did 39 min and even caught a little wave coming out! The bike conditions were very nice with the cooling rain and all. Somehow I managed a poor outward climb and was surprised to see my time at 2:01 at the turn Gave it everything coming back and completed bike in 3:23 which was at least 10min slower than what I hoped for. The little rain coupled with the scorching sun made for greenhouse conditions on the run and I - liked everyone else I talked to - suffered. If it wasn't for the great aid station arrangements it would have been even worse. Managed to avoid walking and ran EL pb in 2:10 which was comforting. Race done in 6:25 which considering my prep was to be expected. I will see how I did relative to previous years as soon as we can sort the categories of the results.

 

Few remarks:

 

1. Regular short running sessions between the kitchen and the wine cellar did not have the positive effect on my fitness I was hoping for 

2. I'm not so sure about this rolling start business. Firstly you spend a long time on the beach waiting if you seed yourself towards the deep 30mins. Strangely I had the most collisions/contact during this swim of any of my previous 7 tri's. Secondly, the possibility to avoid drafting on the bike seems diminished: there is one constant line on the left being overtaken and a constant line on the right doing the overtaking. Going out I was in breach probably 75% of the time and short of actually stopping I couldn't help it. Coming back was much better with the huge field spread out better. Again it was the worst of all the races I've done.

3. Blocking was the only major problem I experienced. There are way too many athletes that simply ride on the right without any consideration of what they are doing. Inexplicably refs passed me 3 times and completely ignored the very obvious blocking going on.

4. This race and -weekend cost me R10k and with last year made me miss my daughter's first two athletic competitions of her school career. I really like the course and the around the race, but man it is a difficult time and place for it. Done three now, not so sure about any more.

 

Well done to all who completed this one. It was a good one 

That was my observation from Durban as well.   I think the rolling start helps with the fulcrum at the first buoy, but other than that waves with some distance between them is better.  \

 

I would have preferred them moving to a seeding system - use 5150 / standard distance at minimum as most will have done one in the year leading up to a 70.3 or full, then start in smaller batches say 5 or 10 minutes apart - fast groups first slow groups later. 

 

Maths says this will spread the field far better than the current system.

[davem]

Sunday was a fun day out. It was brilliantly organised. I had no problems with the rolling start. Supporters were fantastic as usual.

 

Knew that wouldn't be setting any PBs so after giving the bike a good spanking (because its fun), settled into a gentle jog to the end for a respectable 6h18.

 

Medal is nice, T shirt is great (surprise).

 

What I think could be improved:

• Swim practice was stupid. Standing on the beach for 40 minutes to undergo an irrelevant briefing before swimming was not cool.
• No access to paddling pools after swim to rinse off. Only one little shower with a queue of 50 people. Fortunately I knew about the change rooms, was the only guy showering. 
• Also got told off for stepping through an open door at the change rooms and taking in the view of the beach and the finish line. Seems to be a very strict line taken and the desire to control absolutely everything. Don't forget we are tourists as well as athletes.
• Expo/Merchandise was disappointing/overpriced. Do not understand the business model of this. eg. Gu were selling there gels at R27.95 which you can buy at full retail price for R23.95 from Dischem. I use a lot and would buy a whole box, maybe even two if the price was tempting. As it looked like this was GU themselves not a retailer, they are also making the full retail margin. Their business I guess but a lost opportunity.. 

[davem]

Just looked at my pics from FinisherPix. R150 for one pic download  vs R71 from Jetline for same from 94.7

 

Are we triathletes seen as a bottomless moneypot?