Based on the results from the first ever IM UK, it looks like the bike course must be quite hard (Francois Chabaud and Olaf Sabatschus biking in the 5:15-5:16 range). Any slowtwitchers out there do the race who can give feedback about the course, venue, experience (I’m thinking that it might be in my plans sometime not too far in the future)?
Wow, what a great race by Rhodsey!!! And yet another one of my clubmates qualified for Kona. Pictures look great–looks like a beautiful course.
clm
Several pros said after the race it might be the toughest Ironman course.
The roads were very bumpy (something like chipseal here in the states). Secondly, the hills were endless-actually there is only one small stretch of flats-and some of the hills were long and steep.
Also, the swim was delayed for two hours because of fog, so those who took medication were in a spot of bother and I was hungry by the time the swim started.
The swim was the weakest part of the race, organizationally. It was held in a muck pond that was really too small, IMHO, for the number of athletes. I’m not fond of horse and cow manure runoff, but some may have found it a mooooving experience.
The run was almost as hard as the bike. Add 15-60 minutes to your flat run time.
The volunteers were the best of any race I’ve ever done and the venue is stunningly beautiful. The English people are so polite and intelligent one is tempted to emigrate. 
The organizers should be given a B+ for their efforts for a first time IM and I’m sure the race will be much improved next year.
If you want a wonderful venue and area your family might enjoy, then IM UK has strong appeal. If you want an IM PR, fahgettaboutit. I haven’t seen the results online yet, but I know quite a few racers bailed after the bike leg. Some didn’t make the bike cutoff.
On a somewhat unrelated note, the Finisher’s Shirt was given to anyone who had done any part of the race and asked for one. I heard a woman issuing shirts say that if you finished any part of the race you could have one. Generous approach, if controversial.
-Robert
Whoa. I considered this race in passing. Sounds like a very tough event. It is one thing to scale grand mountain passes but quite another to just deal with tough weather, rough pavement and a boggy swim.
Good job to everyone who pulled it of! It was a first!
This one just made it to my to-do soon list. It looks awesome.
M~
yay for rhodsey!!!
hmm maybe i should go with his coach!
This is my race report on IMUK - it was first ever IM (pretty much my first ever tri!) and I’m glad everyone reckons the bike was tough because I found it really hard. Still an awesome race though - are there any on-line photos kicking around?
SOrry Cathy I put the same q in the previous post but re-reading the thread I noticed you’d said the photos looked awesome - are these on-line?
Cheers,
Ben