Anyone with stories from yesterday. A mellow day weatherwise for us out there.
I sure do enjoy the Whistler venue; plenty of accommodations close by and many activities to keep the non racing friends and family entertained. I had a lackluster race but I did enjoy the little black bear that crossed the road and trail just in front of me on the run course.
Wife and I watched. Had a fabulous weekend of mountain hiking, fine dining, cheering Okanagan athletes and enjoying post race brew pub beers. We asked every server, Starbucks employee, concierge etc we could for their thoughts of ironman leaving. 100% thought the athletes are incredible and event great. 100% said its time for it to leave. Closing highway really shuts town off and these employees don’t live in village. There is only 1 road in/out. One waitstaff walked the 8km to work for their shift at Earl’s. I dont foresee a return of a 70.3 unless the weekend stays vacant from any event over next couple of seasons…which i cant see happening…its an incredible venue for all kinds of events that can remain within village.
And 100% we will visit Whistler every summer for extended weekend. Definitely our jam.
Disclaimer: we live in Penticton-
I just started doing a few Olympic tris this month after 4 years of rehab. I really enjoyed my trips to Whistler to race the full IM. I think I can build up to a half IM safely by next year, so its too bad Whistler won’t have a race. Any chance of an non Mdot race there?
Maybe we can put on a Slowtwitch inspired, semi organized, training day! It could be a fun, grass roots “event†at the most spectacular venue in North America! BYOTS (bring your own T- shirt)
That sounds like a fun idea. Hill repeats up Callahan. Ride thru Pemberton in loud colours just to terrorize the locals.
weather and venue were perfect
The only real issue was the highway closure
I am not sure why there is no Xterra race in Whistler? - this is the perfect venue for it?
I am surprised not to see a front page story about the race and the last time it will be held there. Covered every other race that weekend for the most part.
No love for TEAMWurtele
I did the half. It was my first time doing a race in whistler. My mom looked after my kids (wife was away on a work trip). Like others have said - its an amazing venue for family/friends waiting for you.
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Weather was perfect for the swim, one of the most peaceful swims i’ve ever been on. I think that might be why my time wasnt really up to where my pool swimming is? - I was just in such a chill mood that I didnt swim with any urgency
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I definitely was not ready for the hills on the bike, I was toast at the end of the climb back into town. Otherwise it was SUPER fun ripping down some of those hills at 70+ with such a huge lane width to play with. Bike was pretty crowded - but thats to be expected in a race with almost 3000 people
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The run was my favorite by far! I felt like I could have done another 10K. The aid stations were perfect and the volunteers were awesome. Running though the village and the finishing chute was a blast too.
I am surprised not to see a front page story about the race and the last time it will be held there. Covered every other race that weekend for the most part.
No love for TEAMWurtele
yeah! I thought the same thing - why no front page story? Heather looked like she was flying when she passed me going the other way near the start of her run.
This was my first time to Whistler, and wow, I love that place. I hope to go back again someday and do the mountain bike thing. I was definitely jealous seeing all the mtb’ers around the village.
I can see how this is tough for locals, or people traveling through, with the road closures. Seeing the cars ‘parked’ on the highway was rough.
As for the race, that was a legit course. I ended up with about 8,700ft on the bike and 1,200ft on the run. Conditions couldn’t have been much better on race day though. Great crowd support and awesome volunteers helped ease the suffering a bit.
I’ve now (unintentionally) raced the final races at Tahoe (2015), CdA (2017) and Whistler (2019). Which race should i kill next?
Oh, and others have said…no race recap on the front page? What’s up with that?
weather and venue were perfect
The only real issue was the highway closure
I am not sure why there is no Xterra race in Whistler? - this is the perfect venue for it?
There is a grassroots off-road tri there called Whistler X Tri. I haven’t done this but am eyeing it for next year.
yes - this looked like fun - i will do it next year if they have it - i ride those trails frequently with my 8 year old
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I just heard through the grapevine there will be a 70.3 next year at Whistler. Anyone else hear this or can confirm???
Raced the full yesterday, weather was best I have seen since race started in 2013 (yes I have been at all of them).
Big question mark going in was the new bike course. After our camp in June i was pretty sure the bike course would yield similar times to the past three “but†the run times would be slower.
I think this was dead on. Run was a death mans march across the board “well maybe not for 5-8 runners†but besides that times were slow on the marathon.
I finished 5th AG 40-44 and took my Kona slot as 1st had a spot (IM Florida) and 3/4 declined as well. The 10th place guy might have been the happiest I have ever seen to get a kona slot so that was so cool.
Again there was a ton of bike accidents as there is simply not enough space on the highway to have two races going on at the same time. We will miss Whistler but happy to be headed back to Penticton.
Wow I didnt know there were accidents. saw none. I enjoyed the bike even though beastly and the run was nice
Had a great race. I am a homeowner here
I really regret that it is ending
Perfect conditions.
Was there a crash on the Callaghan bridge closer towards the bottom? Officials were pointing people to the middle of the bridge and there was a ton of debris off to the side.
Also saw the aftermath of 2 crashes on Alta Lake rd.
I’ve been hearing too that the 70.3 is staying in Whistler.
I thought this was an amazing race with the most spectacular scenery! This course was the most difficult I’ve done so far and that includes Lake Placid. Thank you to everyone who made it possible! Awesome all around. Very sad to see this race leaving Whistler.
I was 3rd in the F45-49. Second place already had a Kona slot so my coach and everyone thought for sure I had my Kona slot. But there was only 1 slot unlike previous years for my AG. Extremely disappointed. Still grateful for everything else. I still get to race Worlds 70.3 in Nice this September and so lucky to be able to do that!
-Swim was my best IM swim so far. Most polite swim ever! I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed it. So pretty with the snow capped mountains. Almost magical. I’m a very late adult onset swimmer so it’s a minor miracle I’m even out there doing this. (learned to swim at age 42 from complete scratch)
-Bike course amazing and hilliest ever for me. I loved the hills since I live in Vermont and bike over mountains every weekend. Over 8K feet of climbing from most reports I’ve read. Had nutrition/stomach/cramping issues (my own darn fault) which put a dent in my bike time. But still did OK. Not stellar but not a gong show either.
-The run is usually my best, but I call this one Sufferfest 2019. Now I know I can run 26 miles with a badly cramped stomach. Had to switch to water and coke after 15 miles. Still somehow managed a sub 4 marathon. The run felt hot to me but I am from a cold climate. Loved the hilly trail portion up to Lost Lake. The part next to the turquoise lake was stunning but hard to appreciate when feeling so awful. Happy I kept it together even on last 10K. And so relieved I didn’t shit in my pants the last 5K. Things were brewing for sure!
-So happy to finish. I vomited after crossing the finish and getting my photo taken. Then I quickly got wheeled to the med tent. I felt better after puking out the nutrition my stomach wasn’t digesting.
All and all a successful day out there in spite of stomach issues. Just wish I hadn’t screwed up my nutrition (long story lol). And I’ll try again for my Kona spot. Looking forward to Ironman #5 and being 50 next year.
Sounds like you pulled of a great outcome despite how you felt. I’m lucky you won’t be in my AG next year. (Not that I have aspirations of KQ’ing - I know better)*
*Sentiment is based on my strength (weaknesses) as an athlete and is not a judgement of those who work hard for a goal.
Was there a crash on the Callaghan bridge closer towards the bottom? Officials were pointing people to the middle of the bridge and there was a ton of debris off to the side.
Also saw the aftermath of 2 crashes on Alta Lake rd.
I’ve been hearing too that the 70.3 is staying in Whistler.
I rode through all that debris on the bridge as well - an Official was frantically waving bikes around it.
Someone looked like they had a pretty bad crash right near the start on Alta Lake - volunteers were already there when I passed. Then an ambulance came up the road a few minutes later.
The only thing on the bike that bugged me was the coned lane back into town being over the centre of the highway and those indentations and reflectors being right in the middle of where you had to ride.