Ironman 2019 - PE

[Shebeen]

https://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Ben_Hoffman_Lucy_Charles-Barclay_win_IM_Africa_Championship_7211.html

 

wow seriously international event looking at the sharp end of the results. top ZAF james cunnama in only 15th. 

5th ZAF was annah watkinson in 27th place (3rd overall lady)

 

 

lucy charles barclay...ha that is funny, surely someone told her

This Throwback Thursday we honor the career of Charles Barkley, who saw his No. 34 Philadelphia 76ers jersey raised to the rafters on March 30, 2001.

Charles Barkley was one of the most dominant players of his generation during his 16-year NBA career.

Selected by Philadelphia with the fifth overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, Barkley averaged 23.3 points and 11.6 rebounds in eight seasons with the 76ers. He also played four seasons with Phoenix (1992-96) and spent the final three seasons of his career in Houston (1996-99).

[BlinkFan]

"Race" report:

Swim - After the initial disappointment of hearing it's a shortened swim, I realised it was probably a good decision. I'm a decent swimmer, and once I got about 50m in I realised it was a good call. Very choppy with big swell. Pushed a bit harder due to it being shortened, and came in after 39 min feeling good.

 

Bike - Started the bike feeling very good and pushed going out (this was a mistake). After the turn around at 50km it was into the head-wind. I was still feeling good, and the wind was not yet thAt bad. My back still felt good and I could stay in the tri-bars for most of the the return leg. Loop 1 - 3:18. Started loop 2 feeling okay-ish, but once we turned away from the coast up the first climb I realised I was in for a tough lap. Stopped at the 120km water point to fill up bottles. This was also where my wife caught me (we started the day together). We left the waterpoint together, but from there she just kept slipping away from me. When I turned at 140km it was about 13:30 and the wind was really pumping. At this point my back and neck was also killing me, which meant a lot less time in the tri-bars. Suffered up the heartbreak climb only to be met with a beasterly easterly on the "downhill". Limped back to transition. Loop 2 - 4:10. Total time 7:30

 

Run - This is always rough for a non-runner, but the efforts on the bike took it's toll and I would be in for a world of hurt. After 2km I was walking. I struggled to eat and drink initially. And I only later realised that I dehydrated a bit during the bike. With the wind you never feel hot and I neglected my nutrition. Rookie mistake. I had a strange and uncomfortable "I have to pee, but there is no pee, and if I try to pee it burns" sensation for the next couple of hours. Apparently this is a symptom of dehydration? My wife "caught" me at 30km (she was on 41km). After saying goodbye as she turned in for the red carpet I knew I would be in for a lonely last lap. Cramping had set in nicely by this time and the Ironman shuffle was all I could muster. The pavement looked very inviting during this last lap, and a couple of times I almost stopped (don't know what I would have done once I stopped, but stopping seemed like a good option at the time). Luckily I wasn't the only guy having a hard time and I made some friends. With 2km to go I found some reserves and manged to run/shuffle almost all the way. Limping home I came in with a shocker 6:37 marathon.

 

Total time - 14:58

 

Once again a humbling experience - more so that my first Ironman a couple of years ago. Huge respect for my wife smashing her first event in really tough condition. Super proud!

 

Will I be back...? Do I have a choice...

[IceCreamMan]

excellent report Blinkfan.... i once did a 7:39 marathon at Ironman due to injury so know that shuffle extremely well.

 

Awesome report. Ironman is humbling sometimes (all the time) 

[Dadbod Racing]

"Race" report:

Swim - After the initial disappointment of hearing it's a shortened swim, I realised it was probably a good decision. I'm a decent swimmer, and once I got about 50m in I realised it was a good call. Very choppy with big swell. Pushed a bit harder due to it being shortened, and came in after 39 min feeling good.

 

Bike - Started the bike feeling very good and pushed going out (this was a mistake). After the turn around at 50km it was into the head-wind. I was still feeling good, and the wind was not yet thAt bad. My back still felt good and I could stay in the tri-bars for most of the the return leg. Loop 1 - 3:18. Started loop 2 feeling okay-ish, but once we turned away from the coast up the first climb I realised I was in for a tough lap. Stopped at the 120km water point to fill up bottles. This was also where my wife caught me (we started the day together). We left the waterpoint together, but from there she just kept slipping away from me. When I turned at 140km it was about 13:30 and the wind was really pumping. At this point my back and neck was also killing me, which meant a lot less time in the tri-bars. Suffered up the heartbreak climb only to be met with a beasterly easterly on the "downhill". Limped back to transition. Loop 2 - 4:10. Total time 7:30

 

Run - This is always rough for a non-runner, but the efforts on the bike took it's toll and I would be in for a world of hurt. After 2km I was walking. I struggled to eat and drink initially. And I only later realised that I dehydrated a bit during the bike. With the wind you never feel hot and I neglected my nutrition. Rookie mistake. I had a strange and uncomfortable "I have to pee, but there is no pee, and if I try to pee it burns" sensation for the next couple of hours. Apparently this is a symptom of dehydration? My wife "caught" me at 30km (she was on 41km). After saying goodbye as she turned in for the red carpet I knew I would be in for a lonely last lap. Cramping had set in nicely by this time and the Ironman shuffle was all I could muster. The pavement looked very inviting during this last lap, and a couple of times I almost stopped (don't know what I would have done once I stopped, but stopping seemed like a good option at the time). Luckily I wasn't the only guy having a hard time and I made some friends. With 2km to go I found some reserves and manged to run/shuffle almost all the way. Limping home I came in with a shocker 6:37 marathon.

 

Total time - 14:58

 

Once again a humbling experience - more so that my first Ironman a couple of years ago. Huge respect for my wife smashing her first event in really tough condition. Super proud!

 

Will I be back...? Do I have a choice...

 

 

Massive respect for finishing dude!!! 

[Dadbod Racing]

Well done to everyone who entered and finished it. If you didn't finish for whatever reason I for one still respect you for getting to the start line. 

[Andymann]

https://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Ben_Hoffman_Lucy_Charles-Barclay_win_IM_Africa_Championship_7211.html

 

wow seriously international event looking at the sharp end of the results. top ZAF james cunnama in only 15th. 

5th ZAF was annah watkinson in 27th place (3rd overall lady)

 

 

lucy charles barclay...ha that is funny, surely someone told her

This Throwback Thursday we honor the career of Charles Barkley, who saw his No. 34 Philadelphia 76ers jersey raised to the rafters on March 30, 2001.

Charles Barkley was one of the most dominant players of his generation during his 16-year NBA career.

Selected by Philadelphia with the fifth overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, Barkley averaged 23.3 points and 11.6 rebounds in eight seasons with the 76ers. He also played four seasons with Phoenix (1992-96) and spent the final three seasons of his career in Houston (1996-99).

 

I couldn't help hearing this whenever he mentioned Charles Barkley....

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnarls_Barkley

[Dadbod Racing]

I couldn't help hearing this whenever he mentioned Charles Barkley....

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnarls_Barkley

 

         

[_David_]

Long day out! I had a good swim, semi decent bike but a terrible marathon - walked the last 20km. Onwards and upwards there is always next year... 

 

[IceCreamMan]

very cool medal this year i reckon. 

[KnavishStream]

My first Ironman experience:

I do not think it is possible to overestimate an event quite like the Ironman – this was the biggest lesson I had learnt throughout Sunday, 7 April.

 

Lining up on the start line at Hobie beach, I overheard 2 guys talking about a shortened swim, I must have missed the memo as I thought this was all a sick joke, until I heard Paul Kaye announce a ‘new swim course’. This news was met with disappointment, what do I tell my mates? Does this mean I haven’t officially completed a FULL Ironman?

A quick glance at the ocean post announcement, caused frustration and disappointment turn to reason, ‘there must be a valid reason for this’.

 

Enter the swim: nerves fall away, and excitement rolls over, excitement is then replaced with panic after what felt like I was swimming over buildings and dumped back into the ‘flat’ swells of the water. These conditions took some getting used to (approximately 500m) and excitement and focus returned once again. After completing the 2.1kms (NOT 1.6kms) I exited the water in a time of 37:06 thinking to myself that it was probably best that the swim was shortened – but still… have I completed a full Ironman?

 

Onto the bike we go – The first part of the bike was about getting my HR in check after the massive spike T1 always brings, it was a measured approach and I was grateful for the maturity I showed in this part of the race. The dreaded hills that I heard about pre-race were a breeze and only slight ‘ kickers, little did I know that these were not the hills that ‘they’ were talking about … heading to the 40-odd km mark I realised that we had entered hurt locker territory. Hills with gradients and distances that slowly sapped the valuable energy from the legs crept up on me like 4am alarm (it was more of a slap in the face). After surviving the turn around and cycling into a cone – I exited the valley of 1000 hills hoping to get some respite – no such thing happened. I was met with a headwind and stupid hill that never ended; this is apparently known as Heartbreak hill. 2^nd lap on the bike I at least knew what I was in for – same story, had an easy peddle up to the valley of 1000 hills (which I am now referring to that section as) and then tried to get as aero as possible, waiting to get to the last easy 15kms into PE. These last 15 ‘easy’ kms were carnage. The wind had picked up and it was a long battle with the bike to get me to the sanity of Marine Drive. Bike leg: 6hr 10min

 

Into transition, where I was prepared to cumulate an additional 10 minutes of a sanity check and a refuel session.

 

Run started off easier than expected, the headwind going university direction took a bit of a knock on my splits, but I was okay – I had already experienced hell, and what it had to offer, on the bike. 15kms into the run and breathing issues ensued – I prepared my girlfriend and family for a late night of spectating on the tv and on the side of the road and proceeded to waddle off to the next water point. It was here where I understood how Chuck (Tom Hanks) felt when he saw a container ship out at sea to rescue him in Castaway. Only, my container ship, was in the form of a quarter of a marmite sandwich and a boiled potato. My energy levels picked up and so I developed a walk the water tables approach and made my way onto the red carpet. Marathon time: 3hr 48 min

 

I was very chuffed with my 10 hr 49 min finish all things considered. My biggest goal to date was achieved, I am an Ironman!!

 

...

 

Or having a shortened swim, am I?

[shaper]

Congrats and well done, nice report Steve!!!.... and you are, even with a shortened swim....

[shawnvan]

My first Ironman experience:

 

 

I was very chuffed with my 10 hr 49 min finish all things considered. My biggest goal to date was achieved, I am an Ironman!!

 

...

 

Or having a shortened swim, am I?

 

Having done the last 7 full IMs in PE, I can tell you definitively, YES, you are an Ironman.  That was brutal and way tougher than any other full IMs I have done.

[HeyYou]

Well done, 10 odd hours is damn good.

[@ndy]

Race Report

 

I was a little disappointing to be starting the day with a shortened swim and it was probably a good call by the organisers. It wasn't the roughest swim I have ever done but it was choppy and I swallowed a fair bit of water when coming up to breathe only to find no air. It seems that most people I know clocked a distance of slightly over 2 km so it wasn't shortened as much as they said. I finished in a time of 31:22

 

I was familiar with the new bike route and although I am terrible at climbing I enjoyed the opportunity to get out of the tri bars and stretch my back out. I kept a pretty steady effort throughout the ride and I was probably fortunate to miss the worst of the headwind. I thought at the time I ate and drank enough and felt about as good as could be expected going into T2. My time for the ride was 5:51.

 

The run started of very well and a real highlight was seeing the pro's finishing off their efforts. Lucy Charles Barkley ran past me at about 3 km which was pretty cool and the other pro women all followed over the next lap. It got very difficult for me at km 16 as for the first time in a Triathlon I had a terrible stitch which had me intermittently walking. Although the worst of the pain subsided I never really felt great again and although I ran more than I walked I never really got back into a rhythm. I finished the run a fair bit slower than I expected so now I have some thinking to do. Maybe my nutrition on the bike was a bit forced, maybe all the saltwater upset my stomach, maybe I pushed a little too hard during the ride? My run time was 4:24 and as before the buzz of finishing was superb. Once again the crowds were excellent. My total time was 10:55:27. 

 

A little Rant;

This wasn't the first windy day in PE so why can't the organisers do a little more to stop all the litter blowing all over the place? some netting would surely help as the volunteers do a great job but there simply wasn't enough of them to stop all the plastic bags and cups blowing all over the route. I really felt bad to be part of something which is polluting the city in this way. As for the people blatantly littering they should be absolutely ashamed of themselves the litter zones are huge but I saw several people making no effort at all. That really sucked.

 

Another Rant;

It was impossible for me to self seed in the the timing pens. Everybody just pushed there way forward and disregards the system. If they want to continue with this I feel they should adding a letter to everybody's swim hat according to previous times so at least we can see who should be in front of who. The crazy thing is there are only about 100 competitors who are capable of completing the swim in under 1hr yet the holding pen is full from about an hour before the start. Surely it would be safer to have the less competent swimmers together as well.

 

But all in all I really enjoyed it and I'm hoping I can come back next year.

[Tripl3_S]

My first Ironman experience:

I do not think it is possible to overestimate an event quite like the Ironman – this was the biggest lesson I had learnt throughout Sunday, 7 April.

 

Lining up on the start line at Hobie beach, I overheard 2 guys talking about a shortened swim, I must have missed the memo as I thought this was all a sick joke, until I heard Paul Kaye announce a ‘new swim course’. This news was met with disappointment, what do I tell my mates? Does this mean I haven’t officially completed a FULL Ironman?

A quick glance at the ocean post announcement, caused frustration and disappointment turn to reason, ‘there must be a valid reason for this’.

 

Enter the swim: nerves fall away, and excitement rolls over, excitement is then replaced with panic after what felt like I was swimming over buildings and dumped back into the ‘flat’ swells of the water. These conditions took some getting used to (approximately 500m) and excitement and focus returned once again. After completing the 2.1kms (NOT 1.6kms) I exited the water in a time of 37:06 thinking to myself that it was probably best that the swim was shortened – but still… have I completed a full Ironman?

 

Onto the bike we go – The first part of the bike was about getting my HR in check after the massive spike T1 always brings, it was a measured approach and I was grateful for the maturity I showed in this part of the race. The dreaded hills that I heard about pre-race were a breeze and only slight ‘ kickers, little did I know that these were not the hills that ‘they’ were talking about … heading to the 40-odd km mark I realised that we had entered hurt locker territory. Hills with gradients and distances that slowly sapped the valuable energy from the legs crept up on me like 4am alarm (it was more of a slap in the face). After surviving the turn around and cycling into a cone – I exited the valley of 1000 hills hoping to get some respite – no such thing happened. I was met with a headwind and stupid hill that never ended; this is apparently known as Heartbreak hill. 2^nd lap on the bike I at least knew what I was in for – same story, had an easy peddle up to the valley of 1000 hills (which I am now referring to that section as) and then tried to get as aero as possible, waiting to get to the last easy 15kms into PE. These last 15 ‘easy’ kms were carnage. The wind had picked up and it was a long battle with the bike to get me to the sanity of Marine Drive. Bike leg: 6hr 10min

 

Into transition, where I was prepared to cumulate an additional 10 minutes of a sanity check and a refuel session.

 

Run started off easier than expected, the headwind going university direction took a bit of a knock on my splits, but I was okay – I had already experienced hell, and what it had to offer, on the bike. 15kms into the run and breathing issues ensued – I prepared my girlfriend and family for a late night of spectating on the tv and on the side of the road and proceeded to waddle off to the next water point. It was here where I understood how Chuck (Tom Hanks) felt when he saw a container ship out at sea to rescue him in Castaway. Only, my container ship, was in the form of a quarter of a marmite sandwich and a boiled potato. My energy levels picked up and so I developed a walk the water tables approach and made my way onto the red carpet. Marathon time: 3hr 48 min

 

I was very chuffed with my 10 hr 49 min finish all things considered. My biggest goal to date was achieved, I am an Ironman!!

 

...

 

Or having a shortened swim, am I?

 

I'm sure quarter of a marmite sandwich and a boiled potato did not get you to a 3:48 Marathon! LOL. Great race report! Well done on the achievement!

[hboli4]

Having done the last 7 full IMs in PE, I can tell you definitively, YES, you are an Ironman.  That was brutal and way tougher than any other full IMs I have done.

 

I know it is difficult to compare years but how would you compare this year to 2012 in terms of weather?