IMWC Men Nice France 2023 - With ice or no ice at the stations?

Hi, I’m from Netherlands. I have a second house in Côte d’Azur, as it is strategically well connected with a few hours of cars. I have been there (area of Nice) countless times, in all seasons.
Wunderground.com and https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/france/nice/historic?month=9&year=2022 are absolutely correct: expect 90F = 32C in the first half of September, at least 11am-4pm. The temperatures and humidity have a good improvement for athletes only past Sept. 20, under global warming. 32C in June (regular IM Nice) are easier than in September, as after August the ground has absorbed UV, heat and carbons all the summer, whereas in June it has not, after previous winter’s refresh.
I have not competed in IM Nice or 70.3 Nice and I couldn’t say if cooling beverages are offered. I know that in IM Copenhagen there are not, in spite of the heat, while in Frankfurt there are.
A light marathon scarf or a cap with shield for neck dumped with warm water will not cool down the body. On the bike?
The risk of hyperthermia is absolutely real, “Jet lag West to East, close proximity of the sea on the marathon, many miles in airport area, lack of refreshes on the 180km of the hilly bike with bib belt, hot winds, humidity and lack of shade are all factors contributing to hyperthermia.” is well expressed, I would add carbon emissions by vehicles passing and idle on bike and run course will exacerbate hyperthermia.
The added disturb to hips from the bib belt on the bike split, not required on full-distances in the U.S., as per personal experience, will further add on. I had the chance to talk to Police on European IMs and they don’t care/don’t look to bibs. Well tagged bikes and helmets, temporary tattoos on the arms and IM chip at the ankle are what matters.
Legal note, useful to everybody: imperative of verbs/modal verbs have legal value.
I don’t want on race course anybody using imperative to other people, becoming physically aggressive. If you misuse imperative/modal verbs imposing something to the others without absolutely any prerogative online, you are likely to do worse in person, on course. Public Authority in all countries should step in.
Asking questions and saying what you want/wish and have right to is clearly correct. Several professionals have issues with hyperthermia. Sarah True in Frankfurt is not the only example. IM Arizona and Chattanooga 70.3 have been moved months on calendar to avoid further episodes of hyperthermia.
Therefore, “give your slot to someone tougher” of Sub17Project on Mar 1, 23 and “stay home” of Sindre on Feb 26, 23 are legal violations. “tougher” proves that the risk of hyperthermia when racing in heat is not understood. Sub17Project is unaware of the issue affecting all athletes from pro to slowest age grouper and he may be on course, unaware and inconsiderate because of the imperative. Local organizers, supporters on course, hosting community, Police, media etc., want to see fast and considerate athletes.

I honestly suspect 50% of this and the other ice thread are AI generated. Following.

The risk of hyperthermia is absolutely real
…
Legal note, useful to everybody: imperative of verbs/modal verbs have legal value.
….
Therefore, “give your slot to someone tougher” of Sub17Project on Mar 1, 23 and “stay home” of Sindre on Feb 26, 23 are legal violations.

Hi rinz,

I don’t think anyone is suggesting that there is no risk for overheating when racing in hot conditions. However, this is a known risk to everyone participating and this risk does not prevent race organizers to put on races in much worse conditions than Nice.

I am not a lawyer and frankly I don’t care what counts as a legal violation in a court room. But to point out that the OP has the CHOICE not to participate in a sports activity if he does not like the risk involved can not be a very grave violation regardless of what verb is used.

Different race courses have different challenges. Some are hilly, some are flat, some are hot, some are hot and humid, others are cold. As an athlete you need to prepare for the challenges at hand. Some courses suit you better. You may be at a disadvantage without ice, but you CAN practice drinking fluids that are not chilled in your race prep.

If you qualify for Hawaii from a northern climate you have two choices: practice in artificial heat as best as you can, or don’t go to Hawaii.

If you weigh 90 kg and qualify for WC Nice you have two choices: practice hills as best as you can, or don’t go to Nice.

If you are dependent of chilled drinks in IM races you have two choices: practice warm hydration as best as you can, or don’t race in Europe.

This really is the best comment in this thread. If you’re that worried about it, practice without ice. Trust me, it works. When I go on a long run, I don’t have ice with me or stop somewhere to get it. By the time I’m a couple hours into a long ride, all my bottles are warm anyways. My guess is that’s the training experience most people have. I really don’t get this whole “OMG, NO ICE!?!?!” thing that some people seem scandalized by. Would it be nice to have ice and cooled drinks and water misters every quarter mile and an air conditioned bus tailing you in case you get hot? Yeah, it would be. Alternatively, it’s the IMWC and if you haven’t learned how to manage a race in adverse conditions like heat and can’t be bothered to put in the time to learn before then, I can’t really help you there.

When I first read the OP’s post I thought WHAT?!?! no ice

Then realized from your post I’ve never had ice in any training run, bike or swim and most of the time the liquid was actually warm

Makes sense to me

Hi, I’m from Netherlands. I have a second house in Côte d’Azur, as it is strategically well connected with a few hours of cars. I have been there (area of Nice) countless times, in all seasons.
Wunderground.com and https://www.timeanddate.com/...onth=9&year=2022 are absolutely correct: expect 90F = 32C in the first half of September, at least 11am-4pm. The temperatures and humidity have a good improvement for athletes only past Sept. 20, under global warming. 32C in June (regular IM Nice) are easier than in September, as after August the ground has absorbed UV, heat and carbons all the summer, whereas in June it has not, after previous winter’s refresh.
I have not competed in IM Nice or 70.3 Nice and I couldn’t say if cooling beverages are offered. I know that in IM Copenhagen there are not, in spite of the heat, while in Frankfurt there are.
A light marathon scarf or a cap with shield for neck dumped with warm water will not cool down the body. On the bike?
The risk of hyperthermia is absolutely real, “Jet lag West to East, close proximity of the sea on the marathon, many miles in airport area, lack of refreshes on the 180km of the hilly bike with bib belt, hot winds, humidity and lack of shade are all factors contributing to hyperthermia.” is well expressed, I would add carbon emissions by vehicles passing and idle on bike and run course will exacerbate hyperthermia.
The added disturb to hips from the bib belt on the bike split, not required on full-distances in the U.S., as per personal experience, will further add on. I had the chance to talk to Police on European IMs and they don’t care/don’t look to bibs. Well tagged bikes and helmets, temporary tattoos on the arms and IM chip at the ankle are what matters.
Legal note, useful to everybody: imperative of verbs/modal verbs have legal value.
I don’t want on race course anybody using imperative to other people, becoming physically aggressive. If you misuse imperative/modal verbs imposing something to the others without absolutely any prerogative online, you are likely to do worse in person, on course. Public Authority in all countries should step in.
Asking questions and saying what you want/wish and have right to is clearly correct. Several professionals have issues with hyperthermia. Sarah True in Frankfurt is not the only example. IM Arizona and Chattanooga 70.3 have been moved months on calendar to avoid further episodes of hyperthermia.
Therefore, “give your slot to someone tougher” of Sub17Project on Mar 1, 23 and “stay home” of Sindre on Feb 26, 23 are legal violations. “tougher” proves that the risk of hyperthermia when racing in heat is not understood. Sub17Project is unaware of the issue affecting all athletes from pro to slowest age grouper and he may be on course, unaware and inconsiderate because of the imperative. Local organizers, supporters on course, hosting community, Police, media etc., want to see fast and considerate athletes.

I’ve done IM 70.3’s with the heat index over 100F. I’d recommend sauna going into these races and pouring water over a white reflective cap. If needed ease off the efforts as others will be doing. Race to HR and of they start creeping up, peel it back. Optimize body composition. When you’re 20lbs lighter hot actually feels good. It’s common sense. No need to be drama queens. I’ve suffered serious heat illness and have overcome it over a period of years. There are ways to deal with heat, just like cold. Ice is one small component.

I honestly suspect 50% of this and the other ice thread are AI generated. Following.

Just for fun, I gave ChatGPT a crack at this and it did not disappoint:

As an athlete who is looking forward to participating in the Ironman World Championship in Nice, France, I am concerned about the potential lack of ice on the course, which could lead to hyperthermia. Based on previous experiences shared by other athletes, extreme heat and a lack of ice have been an issue in the past, making it difficult for athletes to compete to the best of their ability.
Hyperthermia is a serious medical condition that can occur when the body temperature rises above the normal range. Without access to ice, the risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion increases significantly, making it difficult for athletes to regulate their body temperature during the race.
In addition to the risk of hyperthermia, the lack of ice can also make it challenging to consume the necessary nutrients to keep going. Energy gels and sports drinks can become thick and unpalatable in the heat, making it difficult for athletes to consume the required calories and fluids to sustain their energy levels.
As an athlete, I urge the organizers of the Ironman World Championship to take immediate action to ensure that ice is readily available at all future events. The well-being and safety of athletes should always be the top priority in any competition.
In conclusion, while the Ironman World Championship in Nice, France, offers a fantastic opportunity for athletes to showcase their abilities, the potential lack of ice on the course is a cause for concern. It is my hope that the organizers will take the necessary steps to ensure that this does not become an issue in the future, allowing athletes to compete at their best while prioritizing their health and safety and reducing the risk of hyperthermia.

Nailed it
.

Awesome! Chat forums will never be the same😉

What happens if you ask it to pretend to be Dutch?

What happens if you ask it to pretend to be Dutch?

Q:

What does a Dutch person think about there being no ice at the Ironman World Championships in Nice?

A:

It’s difficult to make a generalization about what all Dutch people might think about the absence of ice at the Ironman World Championships in Nice, as opinions can vary greatly depending on the individual. However, it’s possible that some Dutch people who are familiar with endurance sports and the importance of proper hydration and cooling during exercise might have concerns about the impact of the heat on the athletes’ performance and health. Others may view the absence of ice as a natural part of the race conditions and not give it much thought. Ultimately, it would depend on the perspective and experience of the individual Dutch person

ChatGPT’s end game must be a political career…

End up finding out if they had ice?
The same for IM Nice 2025?

Raced IMWC Nice in 2023 - there was no ice at aid stations on the run. Things started to get warm and almost all fluids offered were warm. A few water sprayers offered on course to help out a little that would be hit a couple times on each lap going each direction.
Was surprising that fluids were not coldish or the availability of ice.
Keep an eye on what you are picking up in the cups at aid stations because warm mineral water was unexpected and frankly did not taste good.
I would not say Nice is particularly hot, but that is all relative as I live in Tucson, Arizona where current daily high temp has been above 101d or 37c.
Training in the heat and heat adaptation is a game changer. Ice does help but if you are adapted you do not have to rely on ice but can use it more as a booster when it is available.