Just wondering how the event went as I’m considering adding it to next year’s race calendar. Any safety issues? Were the aid stations stocked? And, most importantly, how was the schwag???
Sorry, I didn’t do the race. I’m interested in race reports though so I thought I’d bump this up.
I did the Half Iron which shares the same swim course, a lot of the same bike course and the same run. I thought it was a great race. Nice clear water for the swim. Challenging bike course with one big climb (but not too big), tons of rollers and more than enough head/side/tail wind to go around. The run is pancake flat except for a steep half mile or so hill that you descend to start the course and ascend to end it.
I thought the bike route was very safe as there was hardly any vehicle traffic on the roads out there. I think the Iron distance folks spent a bit more time on the highway so they may have a different opinion. But driving in and out of town on the same road I only saw a couple other cars. The run is on a gravel multi-use path and is about as safe as safe gets.
The aid stations were well stocked, but they just had the mini water bottles for the bike. At one aid station I threw my empty nice water bottle and grabbed a water bottle from a volunteer and it was one the mini bottles that would have fallen out of the cage, so I had to carry it in my hands until I drank it all (no lid)and then put it in my jersey pocket. Not a big deal, and not a complaint as I was only doing the half anyway. The run aid stations were stocked well also, but again for water they had the little mini dixie cups that hold about a mouthful. No big deal really, you just had to slow down and take a couple extra. The volunteers were great I might add, especially considering most of them probably had never heard of a triathlon before this one came to town.
Overall it was a great race, especially for the first year. Good schwag I thought. Nice logoed mesh hat, dri-fit finishers shirt, water bottle, gift pack from the local casino, etc., etc. After all, it’s all about the t-shirt right? If my legs still feel good after IMC next year I’ll be back for sure.
Thanks for the info. I watched the start of the iron-distance race and some of T1. I thought it looked well organized for a first year event. I’m considering doing it next year and wanted the inside scoop. A friend I swim with did the iron race and was generally positive about it. The run was dark as hell for him, but a headlamp could’ve solved that for him. I hope they bump it sooner into Sept. to increase the odds of decent weather.
I did the 1/2 and overall it was a very good race especially for the first time. A few hiccups - small bottles, drink cups, no shuttle from finish to swim start, need for at least one more buoy on the swim (could anyone see the buoy after the first turn??) - that are easily corrected to make it a great race.
A very tough bike with nasty winds that seemed to follow us as we turned. Leave your disc wheel at home. Wheat fields are not effective is blocking the wind.
Good food, good swag, great volunteers/staff, very well run event.
Also, thanks to Speedy Reddy for the bike support. Although I did not need it, I saw them help out a few people.
Add it to your schedule.
“I am running away from myself just as fast as I can!”
Bob Dylan
I did it and did a writeup that’s here: http://xtri.com/article.asp?id=1293&offset=0
In general I’d give it 2 thumbs up. 
Add it to the calendar!
Cheers,
-Mag3
There were two themes throughout the evolution of the event. “An entire community celebrating your athletic achievement” and “There will be days when you know you could not meet the challenge, but a lifetime of knowing you have”. The former proved absolutely true – the community loved having the athletes. The latter saying was more prophetic than I would have liked. Most everybody locally was flabbergasted by the wind on the bike course. It just doesn’t happen in September and the temp high was 13 degrees below average. What is normally a “challenging” half course became "very very tough " Evidenced by the bike times on the website. The next day weather was fantastic as was Monday. Gdawg had a great bike split before his foot took him out. As to improvements…the whole town is suddenly going nuts for the event. We are having a “town meeting” in two weeks with the volunteers to discuss ways to improve the event and line up coordinators.
Some obvious things. The cups…the sponsor flaked out on us so we were scrambing Friday afternoon and got the best we could (and then cleaned out the two stores in town). The swim course counterclockwise next year so no sun in eyes. Find better more visable buoys. Bike course signs didn’t get set up …chaulk alone is not acceptable. The water was donated (3100 bottles). Have to work on size. Iron athletes will be provided headlamps or mini mag lights or some such thing for the desert night. Multiple glow sticks didn’t work as well as we would have liked.
This year was a great day, next year will be fantastic. The bike route is hoot in a challenging kind of way, the swim is probably the cleanest water you’ll ever know, and the run forgiving.
Scheduled for September 17, 2005. Iron, Half Iron, Half iron Relay,and possible Iron Relay. Working out the details and such over the next few weeks. (hoping Dan will include it in his Party tour… hint, hint). Registration will be announced soon. Size will always be limited to retain the small community feel and ensure a quality race.
Iron will be the USAT - PNW regional ultra distance championships.
I am envious. 3 weeks ago I did a 110 mile bike followed by a 20 mile run the next day. Due to work, I could not go do the event(I did CDA in June) I really wanted to be there. If I do not make Canada(the only IMNA event I am interested in)I will be there next year. I think its also at a great time. Living in Montana,I like an event at the end of summer. Where my training is not all in the cold spring here.