Posted on another board. I love rumours gossip, etc.
Just back from my fav LBS, and picked up some info that is beyond just rumors. The swim will happen and is in no way in jeopardy, plus the water is already testing better than last summer when it was a stagnant TTL. The RD is working hard on the bike segment, trying hard to layout a venue that avoids a 3 loop scenario. Hats off to him for his efforts!
Hard to take your hat off to someone “for his efforts” when he is only trying to fix what seems like a screw-up in the first place. It would be nice to know what the background of the bike course melt-down is. Were there not written agreements with the relevant jurisdictions (Indian Reservation, or whoever)? Not having a back-up, is, in itself, a screw-up. Same on the swim.
Give’m a break, in my opinion anyway. The bike backup is 3 loops. Pretty hard to have a swim backup when the nearest significant body of water is 40 miles away, so the backup is “duathlon” (just like the other IM). Putting on a race in an urban environment at the intersection of 4 different cities is obviously challenging. Hopefully it will be worth it.
If someone told me that virtually all of our lakes would be filled this winter after a 9 years drought and that Roosevelt Lake will be higher than ever before I would tell then I have some beach front property in Yuma! The lake is calm today and with a few exceptions fairly clean. If the dirt settles then thats a bonus, expect a great swim! However I had my concerns about the other cities for the bike course, but Tempe is dedicated and I think that we will have a great course to ride on as well. The desert is green and blooming with wildflowers… can you feel it!!!
-nice disclaimer 
Isn’t Paul Huddle the RD for the race?
I had the pleasure of meeting him a few times at IM Wisconsin and some camps a few times and I think as much as a goof as he comes off, he really has his stuff together and I’m sure it’ll go off without a hitch.
There’s been speculation that IM Wisconsin would cancel the swim, the roads would be closed and protestors would overrun the course every year…and every year, it’s just been more and more fun.
Relax people…stay healthy, train and trust that you’ll have a good day to race!!!
“I have some beach front property in Yuma!” Drock all of Yuma is a beach…just no water.
Well, I guess I was just getting a little bitchy today. It just seems like there are a lot of rumours flying, and that generally means things are not under control.
I don’t have a back-up for my “knee pain issues”. I guess I didn’t plan very well
Don’t know anything about the rumours and don’t know much about the scene down at the IMAZ site. I do know this:
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Roch Frey aand Paul Huddle who are working on this are the best in the business.
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It seems to be coming true again that staging a race such as an Ironman triathkon in a moderatly lareg urban area, such as Phoenix/Tempe presents some serious challenges.
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It’s no coincidence that historically the best IM races have been in smaller towns and more rural areas.
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That’s not to say that it can’t happen elsewhere, it’s just that it’s a real challenge to pull it off the more built up the population is.
Fleck
Monk - Stop with this rumor stuff. Whare are you getting this, btw?
Here’s the deal…train for a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run in the worst imaginable conditions. Anything less will be a cakewalk for you.
No swim = no problem…that’s just a teaser warm-up anyways. Can we sleep in longer if they cancel it?
1 loop, 2 loops, 3 loops, 10 loops…does it really matter? The special needs will be at 56, just like always. What was the problem with the 1st course? Too easy?
There are things you can control (i.e. - your training) and many things you can’t (condition/course).
D´accord on all 4!
Axel
Rumors and gossip are always going to fly about any event, especially a new one. Plotting a new race course is very difficult and that can be multiplied the longer the course. What may have seemed like a great course a month ago, suddenly has a property owner, fence , potholes, traffic, logistic and permit problems and it goes on and on. If you’re hearing rumors at your bike shop, take it as bored mechanic gossip unless they are close and personal friends with the race director and are on the race committee helping lay out the new course. Keep checking the race website for updates and have faith in Roch and Paul to providei a safe (#1 priority) course.
First time race courses always go through a tweaking process. I Have been told that when IM first went to Kona, the bike course was changed during the weeks before the race. Apprently, some of the bike course issues were determined over several bottles of red wine. This is neither art nor science.