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Ironman Australia Course Review – 2012 – Ryan Sargent

May 10, 2012 By Denis Oakley Leave a Comment

Ironman Australia has Flats, Undulations and Hills - an honest bike course Photo - Phil Murray via http://www.westernadvocate.com.au

Ryan Sargent from Bathurst reviews the Ironman Australia course at Port Macquarie with great tips on the swim, bike and run

Triathlon Name

Ironman Australia

Triathlon Date

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Who Are you?

Age group athlete aspiring to be an elite in the future. Competing for 3 seasons now, love to race, love the Triathlon family.

Race Category

Male 25-29

Country

Port Macquarie, Australia

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Why did I do this race?

I’ve done it twice before and it broke me, i wanted to come back and break it ! However Ironman is still 3 zip i did get a couple of punches in this time though.

The Swim

2 loop swim, perfect conditions on race morning, tide was with us one way. It was a fairly hectic swim particularly when it narrowed to go between lines of boats. Very easy swim to navigate clear and easy sighting, big bright turn buoys.

The Bike

Flat, undulating, hills, all of the above its a great course keeps athletes honest I think ! Parts of it was pretty rough however looks like they are doing some road to fix it up, bumpy in parts however with all the rain they’ve had its no wonder the roads are shot to pieces.
I think it was the most honest bike I’ve raced in from what I saw there was no down right draft cheats. 2 loops really helps split it up, I really like this course; coming from a hilly town it suits me. Fully stocked aid stations volunteers were “AWESOME” to say the least.

The Run

4 loop run course, people cheering you on basically all the way, aid stations you couldn’t of wanted any more except for maybe a second pair of legs at the mark !! Once again volunteers were amazing. Love to see the young ones helping, would be great to see them get inspired by the athletes !

Transition

I’ll repeat it “awesome and amazing” didn’t have to worry about a thing. All I did was strip down, they put it out and I put it on. What more could you ask for? Then at the end of the day it’s all back in the bag, all I have to do is take it home and wash it. Hhhmm maybe a laundry service afterwards would be cool, nah I guess we have to do something ourselves.

Race Organisation

Its WTC there the best at it !!!! That is all…

Top Ironman Australia Race Tips

Do it because you want to do it.. At the end of the day you wanted to be there. Enjoy the whole lead up race day goes so fast !!

How did you do?

Not the result I went into the race wanting for, however il take the positives out of it. It was a course and distance PB both by over half an hour, top 10 in age. So I achieved a couple of little goals within a hard day so I gotta be happy with that.

Verdict

Love Ironman Oz there is something about it that I love.
I’ll be back there in the future but for now its back to basics time to get the skills and speed I skipped when I jumped into this amazing sport. Need to learn how to swim a little bit better too.

You can follow Ryan on twitter as @sargyy

If you have done a triathlon and want to post a triathlon review then send it through. Every review you do for BeyondTransition helps us write better race guides and other triathletes enjoy their races more.

Filed Under: Triathlon Reviews Tagged With: 2012, Australia, Course Review, ironman, Ironman Triathlon, Port Macquarie, Ryan Sargent, Triathlon

Ironman Melbourne 2012 – Course Review – Melissa Urie

April 6, 2012 By Denis Oakley Leave a Comment

Anything is possible at Ironman Melbourne (C) Mel Urie

Triathlon Name

Ironman Melbourne (3.8Km swim, 180Km bike, 42.2Km run)

Country

Australia

Triathlon Date

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Who Are you?

Four time Iron distance finisher and 8 time long course distance race finisher.Middle of the pack age grouper who loves to get out there and give it a go!

Race Category

Female 25-29

Why did I do this race?

First time Ironman was run in my home city so of course I had to do it!!

The Swim

The swim is one lap in the ocean. You swim out from Frankston pier in a rectangle direction. You had to stand under the arch for the pros to start before we were allowed onto the beach. Only issue was, there was spectators as well athletes so it made it really squishy! Once we were allowed onto the beach, it was a lot better. The current was such that it was slowly pushing everyone forward as well as people swimming forward too so the swim start was further forward than meant to be so many people didn’t feel they had a fair start. There was a current pushing into you on the long straight which slowed you down. The bouys were hard to spot but this also was confounded by the issue of starting in the dark. Overall, the swim was straight forward but more bouys were needed for sighting.

The Bike

The bike is two loops on the Eastlink freeway. It is unique in the way that you are riding on the smoothest roads around and there is a lot of room on the road for passing people as well as vehicles to pass when needed.
The wind picked up on the second lap which made the ride harder. In the inital pitch, everyone thought the ride was going to be flat but there is some false flats and gentle climbs. The tunnel near the turn around is only 5.5% average, not the 12% as everyone thought it was. The turn around seems to be further away than expected but the bike course measured accurately. There is a potential for a lot more wind on this course due to the way the road is, but luckily we didn’t have too much wind this time. Aid stations are every 15k and they are well stocked. Coke available from 105k onwards.

The Run

The run is a point to point course. You do a little out and back in Frankston to make up the distance. This first part is somewhat frustrating because you don’t feel as thought you are heading in the right direction, but then there is a beautiful little forrest section that some of the locals didn’t even know existed! The first half of the run is on a cambered course. Tip – run towards the middle of the road but beware of traffic. This is the flattest section of the road. The run then goes onto the running path at the half way point in Mordialloc. The path is beautiful, as you run along the beach.

Aid stations are every 2k and they are run by local triathlon clubs so each one is fun as they promote their clubs and want to put back into the sport. They provide gels, powerbar lollies, gatorade, water and coke. Many people found it hard to get along the course due to the traffic but there is live sights every 10k with video of the race and commentators to announce as you run through these points.

Transition

It is a short run from the beach into transition. You hang up your bags the day before and collect them on the way through into the change tent. The process if very straight forward and works well. Gives it a Kona feel to the race. There are volunteers in the tent with sunscreen. Water and gatorade are available in the transition from bike to run.

Race Organisation

This race is very professionally run and well worth going to the welcome show and awards functions. The food is better than I have had at any other race, especially at melt down. Race briefing is a 15min video that you are expected to watch. Much better than sitting through a long race briefing. Atmosphere was fantastic through the race and especially the finish line. Lots of energy to get you through.

Top Ironman Melbourne Race Tips

Run next to the cones in the first 20k on the road, it is the flattest place with the camber. The bike is not flat. But the tunnel is flatter than inital rumours. Train on hills as well as flat. A lot of time is spent in aero so make sure you work on your core strength. Get into the water as soon as you can and go to the starting bouys, a lot of people were caught off guard at the start because they did not realise the time and were still swimming to the start.

How did you do?

I had an average race. It all fell apart due to nutrition mistakes and meant I had a 15k walk to finish. But overall, I loved the race and the experience. It was amazing not to have to pack my own bike and travel anywhere. There is nothing like sleeping in your own bed after a race!!

Verdict

This was the first race in Melbourne and therefore there was a few teething problems that will be easily sorted out in the race debrief and next year it will continue to grow. It is fantastic to have a local race to do, but you have to be quick on the internet to gain an entry because it is the fastest selling race in Ironman history. I will do this race again, but not for a few years. I want to see how it grows and do other races elsewhere in the meantime. For me, it’s about seeing different parts of the world and then racing at the same time is the best way to do it.

You can follow Melissa on Twitter @rangamel She’s worth it!

If you have done a triathlon and want to post a triathlon review then send it through. Every review you do for BeyondTransition helps us write better race guides and other triathletes enjoy their races more.

Ironman Melbourne: a spectator’s view (tri247.com)
Ironman Melbourne: Swim & Bike Course Preview (triathlon.competitor.com)
Ironman Melbourne 2012 Results Analysis (beyondtransition.com)
Ironman Melbourne Course Review – 25th March 2012 – Arif Sidek (beyondtransition.com)
Ironman Melbourne, Asia Pacific Championships – Race Report (tritwins.blogspot.com)

Filed Under: Triathlon Reviews Tagged With: 2012, Australia, Course Review, Ironman Melbourne, Melissa Urie

Ironman Melbourne Course Review – 2012 – Peter McLean

April 4, 2012 By Denis Oakley 2 Comments

Peter McLean on the run at Ironman Melbourne

Peter McLean at Ironman Melbourne

Triathlon Name

Ironman Melbourne (3.8Km swim, 180Km bike, 42.2Km run)

Country

Australia

Triathlon Date

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Who Are you?

I am an age group racer. I live in Sydney, Australia. I am married with two kids (aged 6 & 9) and I work a busy corporate job. I have raced Ironman for over 10 years, qualifying for my first Hawaii Ironman in 2010.

Race Category

Male 40-44

Peter McLean on the bike at Ironman Melbourne

Why did I do this race?

After a year off long distance racing, Ironman Melbourne looked like the perfect race to make a comeback. The timing of the race was right and the course looked interesting.

The Swim

Ironman Melbourne swim course is located in Frankston, which is 42km south of the finish line in St.Kilda. This is unique as Melbourne presents the only “point to point” run course on the Ironman circuit.

The course is not without a few logistical challenges as bike check in on Saturday afternoon in Frankston requires a return trip of approx 80kms for the majority of competitors who based themselves in St. Kilda.

Buses to Frankston were arranged by the race organisers for Saturday bike check in and Sunday race morning. We jumped on a bus 4:45am Sunday morning and arrived in Frankston approx 40min later.

Race morning check in went smoothly, I spent less than 10min setting up my bike before taking the weight off my legs to prepare for the day ahead.

The Swim start was out of the ordinary as a large number of swimmers decided they were good to go before the gun fired! I was swimming to the start line when I saw the field take off so hit the start button on my watch and got amongst it.

The swim course starts in front of the Frankston pier and is rectangular with 1.6kms to the first turning buoy. Compared to other Ironman swims I had minimal contact except for a rogue kick to the side of my head, which came out of nowhere. A bit more than half way through the swim I noticed my hands then arms go numb. This has not happened before but lesson learnt re wearing a sleeveless wetsuit in Port Phillip Bay!

Exiting the water I saw 1:01 on the race clock which was a few minutes slower than planned but my heart rate was under control for the hour in The Bay so all good!

The Bike

As usual it was frantic stripping off the wetsuit and putting on helmet etc for the ride. I had packed arm warmers and a vest to wear over my race singlet but decide against putting them on, as I wanted to get on the bike ASAP. BIG mistake! I spent the next 90min the coldest I’ve been in a race. My fingers were next to useless so I was changing gears with the back of my hand.

Ironman Melbourne bike course takes place on the Eastlink Freeway, which is a mostly flat road with a few undulations and a 2km hill going into a tunnel at the turn around. There’s a 12% grade in the tunnel but I would not describe this section as steep. [Ed. Ironman videos have described it as a 12% grade but the Eastlink operators say its 5.5%). You can stay in the big chain ring climbing both sides. The road surface is excellent and with slight winds on Sunday, times were fast.

20min into the ride I spotted my good friend Pete Short and gave him the thumbs up! I trained for and did Kona with Pete so hooking up with him on the bike was something I really enjoyed on Sunday. We got to work on the bike and set a fairly high pace with speeds in excess of 40km/h on the flats for the first 2 hours, completing the first 90km lap in 2:20.

Of the group that were with us at the 45km turn around, not many were present at 90km mark but others had joined as we passed by. I watched my SRM hit some pretty high numbers but didn’t feel I was stepping into the abyss so kept it rolling.

Jumping off the bike at the end of the 180kms I see my ride split is sub 4:50, which brought a small smile to my face for a few seconds.

The Run

Peter McLean on the run at Ironman Melbourne

The first 2kms of the run course is an out and back section, which is the only time during the marathon where you see other competitors running towards you. After the first 2kms the course follows The Bay north to St.Kilda. The number of spectators on the course was great with plenty of encouragement and funny comments along the way.

My good mates Scotty and Trav had bikes and rode the marathon course, which meant every 5, or 10kms I had them giving it to me as only mates can! My wife was in a car, which meant I was also receiving some loving support. The other option for supporters to follow their triathlete was via a bus that could drop you off at ‘live’ sites at approx every 10km.

The run course is flat for the first 23kms. From 23kms to 34kms there are a series of long undulations that feel anything but easy to run in a fatigued state. I ran the first 21kms in 1:35 feeling good. At the 25km mark, running up a short hill from The Bay to the road it was as though someone dropped a small car on my back. Two runners that I had passed went by during the next kilometer and I felt like I was going backwards. We like to tell ourselves to “Eat the Pain” but every step was agony and I still had 17 bloody kms to run!

I had to block the thought of another 90mins of tortured running out of my head so I focused on staying relaxed with good form and running 6 feet in front of me over and over and over.

Getting through to 35kms the wheels were starting to fall off. I set myself a goal every km to run sub 5mins, which was ridiculously difficult but I worked out would be approx 9:20 finish.

Coming to the 40km mark I saw two competitors ahead of me, and from the look of them they were in my crusty age group! Having previously missed going to Hawaii Ironman by one finish place

I didn’t want it to happen again so dug in and passed them with one running behind me for a few hundred meters until I didn’t hear his laboured breathing any longer. Fortunately they were more stuffed than me so I managed to shuffle by.

Then at last… I was in the final 500m. The crowd was massive, music pumping, people screaming and I heard my name a few times but I wasn’t going to relax and enjoy it as I sensed another competitor was approaching so I did a final burst to get across the line. Mates who were at the finish line told me later I was imagining the afore mentioned runner but I checked the results and some dude was 6 seconds behind me!

The race was not easy but I managed a 30min PB, which qualified me for a start in the Hawaii Ironman this October in Kona.

Massive thanks to my lovely wife Lisa for her awesome support last Sunday and every day!

Anything is possible at Ironman Melbourne

Verdict

As a first event in an urban setting this race was bound to offer some strategic challenges for the organisers. We loved it being in Melbourne, which is renowned for it’s great cafes and shops. The expo was in a huge circus like tent that sat right next to the bay. The finish line was positioned between the beach and restaurants. These restaurants hosted the carbo and award dinners and they converted the expo tent into a huge theatre for the awards night, which worked well.

The weather was changing by the day (note to bring layers of clothes including warm jacket) with an 80km hour northerly (headwind for entire marathon) on the Thursday. However, the weather gods smiled on us on race day with light winds on the bike and run.

Looking back at all the other Ironman events we have attended this one was a cut-above anything we have experienced – apart from Hawaii. We will definitely be back for more. Well done to the organisers!

If you have done a triathlon and want to post a triathlon review then send it through. Every review you do for BeyondTransition helps us write better race guides and other triathletes enjoy their races more.

Ironman Melbourne: a spectator’s view (tri247.com)
Ironman Melbourne: Swim & Bike Course Preview (triathlon.competitor.com)
Ironman Melbourne 2012 Results Analysis (beyondtransition.com)
Ironman Melbourne Course Review – 25th March 2012 – Arif Sidek (beyondtransition.com)
Ironman Melbourne, Asia Pacific Championships – Race Report (tritwins.blogspot.com)

Filed Under: Triathlon Reviews Tagged With: 2012, Australia, Course Review, ironman, Ironman Melbourne

Ironman Melbourne Course Review – 25th March 2012 – Arif Sidek

April 3, 2012 By Denis Oakley 2 Comments

: Arif Sidek Racing at Ironman Melbourne

Triathlon Name

Ironman Melbourne (3.8Km swim, 180Km bike, 42.2Km run)

Country

Australia

Triathlon Date

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Who Are you?

I’m a mid to back of the pack triathlete who’s finished six Ironman races and a host of other shorter distance races. Not looking to win age group awards or qualify for Kona, just out there to do the best I can while having fun

Race Category

Male 40-44

Why did I do this race?

After a year off long distance racing, Ironman Melbourne looked like the perfect race to make a comeback. The timing of the race was right and the course looked interesting.

The Swim

The swim was held on a single-loop course in Port Phillip Bay. It was a saltwater swim and water temp was about 18 degrees. It was on a rectangular counterclockwise course marked by yellow buoys at the turns.

The Bike

The bike was a two-lap affair up and down the Eastlink Tollway. It’s on an out and back course with an elevation gain on the out. We go through a tunnel just before the far end turnaround with a steep descent in and a steep climb out. There were four aid stations: 1 at each turnaround and two more along the way. Draft zone was 12meters.

The Run

Run was a point-to-point starting from Frankston and ending at St Kilda. Part of the run course was on the road while the rest was on a concrete bike path. There were some stretches that took us off-road too. Aid stations were every 2km and there were live sites with entertainment every 10km. Spectators were everywhere.

Transition

Transitions were generally quite well organized. The change tent was less than 100 meters from the swim exit. Plenty of volunteers helping you take off your wetsuit but you still had to pack your bags by yourself.

Race Organisation

Race organization was superb. Being a point-to-point race would have been a logistical nightmare but the organizers handled it well. All our bikes and bags were transported from transition in Frankston to the finish at St Kilda in a timely order. Briefing was done via video at the expo so that helped save everyone’s time. The atmosphere was excellent, being an early season race and having world champs in attendance, everyone was excited.

Top Tips

Dress warm and prepare for any eventuality with the weather. Melbourne weather has been known to be fickle so a windbreaker in your transition bags would be a good idea.

Have a proper nutrition and hydration strategy. The cold, dry climate makes it easy to forget that you’re sweating and therefore you may be dehydrating without even knowing it.

Have fun. It’s a great course, especially the run, with lots of volunteers and spectators cheering you on. It’s going to be a long day and the only way to get through it is if you have fun and soak in the atmosphere.

How did you do?

I did great! Not too pleased about the swim and bike but totally nailed the run for a personal best. Swim course was poorly marked which meant I, in all likelihood, swam more than I should have. I struggled on the second lap of the bike, just couldn’t put the power down. Looking at the athlete tracker after, almost everyone was slower on the second loop, so the wind must have picked up or something then. The run was where I got my PB, managing, for the first time in any of my IM races, to run the entire way. So pretty happy with that.

Verdict

Overall definitely a great race and I would definitely want to do it again. A little costly but worth it. The course, the atmosphere the pre-race and post-race dinners and show made this race the best I’ve ever been too. There were a few things that could be improved though: The swim course needs to be better marked. It was hard to see where the turn buoys were and there were no buoys in between, so the buoys were at least 1km apart, making sighting difficult. Also the finisher’s area could be better organized, I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to go, where to get a drink, where to get my stuff, where to get the finisher t-shirt, etc. It doesn’t help that most finishers are in a daze after the race, so better directions would be good.

You can read Arif’s triathlon blog at http://tryathlete1403.blogspot.com

If you have done a triathlon and want to post a triathlon review then send it through. Every review you do for BeyondTransition helps us write better race guides and other triathletes enjoy their races more.

Race Report: Alexander And Steffen Take Ironman Melbourne (triathlete-europe.competitor.com)

Filed Under: Triathlon Reviews Tagged With: 2012, Australia, Course Review, Ironman Melbourne, Ironman Triathlon, Melbourne, Triathlon