Ironman Australia (Port Macquarie) 2011 Race Report - Sarah Walker
Race Report
It wasn't an easy race thats for sure. But it was a challenge in more ways than one!
The race felt like a predominantly Australian male, age group and club race. (Only approx 220 female entrants out of 1440 and smattering of international entrants.) Lots of guys giving it smack talk and discussing war stories in the week before the race and even at the start of the swim!
The swim was like a washing machine and I got rather thumped, kicked, pummeled and elbowed many times all the way round. The course buoys weren't out till race morning so you had no idea what markers you were aiming for. Sighting any buoys from the swim start was pretty impossible, because there were about 20 boats in the way. After the start it was bottle neck after bottle neck, either round boats, buoys and paddle boarders. I suppose the funniest thing was the fact that swim takes place in a shallow estuary and pretty much any where round the course you could stand up to sight the buoys - and in fact plenty of people were doing just that. Imagine a few 100 people saying "Oh - can't see, stand up, walk a bit, get my bearings, off we go again". Can you imagine the ripple effect that has on the swimmers behind?
The bike was Ok considering the road. There was a technical hilly bit out of town and then a straightish bit out to the turn around, which was narrow and twisty. Plenty of big groups on the first lap which were more dispersed on the 2nd lap - the draft busters did a good job. There were some screaming down hills on the bike - but you'd have to be super confident to ride them in your bars. It was so bumpy - if your equipment wasn't nailed to the bike it came off. There were road cones, pot holes, speed bumps, sand, and uneven surfaces all the way. There were bottles shooting out of rear cages like missiles and on the second lap there was bike detritus all over - tubes, food, gas canisters, and even rear bottle cages.
The run - multiple surfaces, which included the dreaded concrete, grass, sand, tarmac, twisty and very narrow in places. I had horrid bouts of cramp which greatly amused my husband. Whenever I went past him (either walking, hopping or clutching my cramped legs) he's shout - "Come on dear, 4 laps, 3 laps (etc) to go", "You were silly enough to pay the entry fee", "Are you having fun..." followed by hoots of laughter.
Overall - I would not rush back to do the race but the volunteers were great, good support from them all the way through. The aid stations were well placed with good food, plenty of porta-loos.
The town of Port Mcquarie is lovely, nice beaches, great for kids, great welcoming and chatty locals.
The race felt like a predominantly Australian male, age group and club race. (Only approx 220 female entrants out of 1440 and smattering of international entrants.) Lots of guys giving it smack talk and discussing war stories in the week before the race and even at the start of the swim!
The swim was like a washing machine and I got rather thumped, kicked, pummeled and elbowed many times all the way round. The course buoys weren't out till race morning so you had no idea what markers you were aiming for. Sighting any buoys from the swim start was pretty impossible, because there were about 20 boats in the way. After the start it was bottle neck after bottle neck, either round boats, buoys and paddle boarders. I suppose the funniest thing was the fact that swim takes place in a shallow estuary and pretty much any where round the course you could stand up to sight the buoys - and in fact plenty of people were doing just that. Imagine a few 100 people saying "Oh - can't see, stand up, walk a bit, get my bearings, off we go again". Can you imagine the ripple effect that has on the swimmers behind?
The bike was Ok considering the road. There was a technical hilly bit out of town and then a straightish bit out to the turn around, which was narrow and twisty. Plenty of big groups on the first lap which were more dispersed on the 2nd lap - the draft busters did a good job. There were some screaming down hills on the bike - but you'd have to be super confident to ride them in your bars. It was so bumpy - if your equipment wasn't nailed to the bike it came off. There were road cones, pot holes, speed bumps, sand, and uneven surfaces all the way. There were bottles shooting out of rear cages like missiles and on the second lap there was bike detritus all over - tubes, food, gas canisters, and even rear bottle cages.
The run - multiple surfaces, which included the dreaded concrete, grass, sand, tarmac, twisty and very narrow in places. I had horrid bouts of cramp which greatly amused my husband. Whenever I went past him (either walking, hopping or clutching my cramped legs) he's shout - "Come on dear, 4 laps, 3 laps (etc) to go", "You were silly enough to pay the entry fee", "Are you having fun..." followed by hoots of laughter.
Overall - I would not rush back to do the race but the volunteers were great, good support from them all the way through. The aid stations were well placed with good food, plenty of porta-loos.
The town of Port Mcquarie is lovely, nice beaches, great for kids, great welcoming and chatty locals.
Mere Mortal Coaching
Sarah Walker - Tri NZ Accredited Coach
Triathlon Coaching | Triathlon Training
Sarah Walker - Tri NZ Accredited Coach
Triathlon Coaching | Triathlon Training