Muncie Endurathon Review

Triathlon Forum
1

Raced at Muncie for the first time yesterday. After hearing a lot about it, I finally made the trip to Indiana from Chicago and I am glad I did. What a great race. I can’t give it a better review. Very well run and organized, lots of support/volunteers and a great venue. Parking was easy and close to transition.

Parking was very easy and close to transition. Assigned spaces for your transition – no stress, space issues, nobody throwing their bike on top of yours or a fight for space at the rack. The start of the race had to be the most “quiet”, stress-free of any race I have done. Nobody yelling at you to get out of transition or blaring music. Swim waves were very well spaced and I had almost no contact on the swim at any point. After the swim, the run from the lake to transition was completely carpeted (about 200 yards over grass and gravel) Talk about being pampered!!

Bike course was awesome – fairly flat out and back with lots of aid, volunteers that knew how to hand up bottles and the course was CLOSED to vehicles (what a great idea!), the course was very clean – no loose gravel on the corners, etc… All of the busy intersections/turns had police and the course was very well marked.

Run had a few rollers, again lots of aid stations (every mile) with cold, wet towels at each station – very nice touch. All the drinks on course were COLD! (both bike and run) – not sure how they kept all the drinks so cold, it was an 80 deg day. The aid stations were well stocked with everything – gels, ice, gatorade endurance, water, lots of people who knew what they were doing. None of those instances where you arrive at an aid station only to find that all the volunteers only have water in hand and you want gatorade… I couldn’t believe how many smart volunteers there out were, it was like an IM race.

At the finish they had more cold, wet towels and a cold, misting tent to cool off in. Post race meal was very good with bbq and lots of fruit, pretzels, cookies, soft drinks, etc…

This race was run so smooth, it was all up to you to perform – if you didn’t set a PR at this race it was all on you. I would highly recommend this race.

2

I’ll 2nd the above kudos - great race. I DID set a PR for HIM (although my only previous HIM’s were last years Muncie race with a broken toe, and the TTT in May). Although that very bumpy section of the road around mile 50 on the bike was pretty bad, did anyone else feel it was much better than last year? And yes - the start was very un-ceremonial, so much so that I heard more than a few folks saying they almost missed it.

3

Ditto, verrrrrrry well organized race! Had a great time even though I didn’t pace myself so well. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to do a Half IM. Road was actually CLOSED, what a concept! No dodging cars or anything. Ice cold towels on the run were perfect, wipe yourself off with cold water and squeeze it over your head. Misting water tent at the finish, ice water and gatorade all over the course.

Pretty darn close to being perfect!!!

4

I thought a 23-yr old male broke 4:00 (3:59) for the Half, but I don’t see him in the official results?

5

He ended up getting 2nd after a 4 minute transition penalty. This is the 2nd straight year that the winner was given a penalty which cost them the race win.

6

Whats a transition penalty?

7

A penalty that takes place in the transition area. This year, Daniel (the kid that won) was #2 and #1 didn’t show up to the race. Daniel had some of his stuff by the end of the rack in the athlete #1’s space (who didn’t show up) and was issued a 4-minute penalty for this.

8

That is total bullshit.

Did you race Matt?

9

No, I’m in Boulder right now. I would have liked to–the course seemed pretty fast this year for some (weather wasn’t as brutle).

10

The same violation was handed to BigZach last year. The kid is 23 yo, only a year and a half in competition and this was his first HIM with a 3:59 and change. He was first out of the water by about 6 min and was 8 min ahead coming off of the bike. The next two were within 30 sec of each other which had the announcers attention. He failed to realize the leader was so far ahead. There were the last of the sprint people coming in so it would have been easy to miss. He ended up 2 min ahead of number 2.

Everyone looked pretty good yesterday. The wind was tough on the bike, but it was a lot cooler than last year.

11

How is your transition space defined? Is their a USAT rule on this?

The spaces were marked on the racks with labels on each side, so #1 would be on one side and #2 on the other etc…

12

The overall winner, Dave Irion, is almost 50 years old as well…Putting a hurtin’ on the young guns…

Eric

13

How about Michael Smith coming in 3rd at 4:05. Impressive. He’s 46 isn’t he?

Dan

14

I did the bike portion for a relay team so I had ample opportunity to observe the race management and volunteers during the swim and run portions. All I can say – “Great job and thank you.”

The race was very well organized. The swim waves looked pretty self contained and not too big. The bike course was cool. I can not say it was hilly but it was not exactly flat either - slight upwards or downwards cant to the road at many spots. The big factor was the wind. It paid to be aero and stay aero. I was worried that the trailway would be congested or crowded - it wasn’t when I was on it. The closed road for the bike course was great. I felt very safe. I know little about the run except my relay partner said it was hillier than he expected. He really like the cold towels.

This is a underrated race. It is professionally managed and staffed with very friendly and able volunteers.

David K.

15

I raced in the Sprint and had a blast! I’ll probably shoot for the HIM next year. I live in Muncie so I have plenty of chances to train on the actual race course! It was a very well run event. Many of the local companies help recruite volunteers. So many of the volunteers have been helping at the race for years and they help the new folks out as well. Just a top notch event!!!

16

Yes - there were a few excellent “veteran” racers at Muncie yesterday. Irion (late 40’s & 1st overall), Michael Smith (46ish & 3rd) and Jim Bruskewitz (55 and 7th). Scary fast performances - but not surprising since they’ve all been racing at a top level for many years. Just hoping that my age co-horts aren’t that fast when we hit 45+

I’ve never heard anything negative about Muncie & had a great experience my only time there. Top notch production.

17

Thanks for the comments guys and gals. We thought we had a great race! Weather was awesome, although some of you asked me to turn off the wind! Thanks for being kind to my volunteers as well. As you all saw, they make the race what it is. I heard nothing but great comments from everyone.

Also, as Matt mentioned, the penalty on Danial was not exactly the same as for Zach last year. Zach was in the wrong spot, Dan was in the correct spot, but also in the one to his immediate right (which was empty) and in the center isle. Just want to make sure that is clear. Next year, I will check every spot myself. I think they should be responsible for themselves, but I am tired of the conversations with the winners where I tell them they got a four minute penalty and lost time. But it is wierd that the age groupers seem to figure it out…

Thanks again, it was an awesome day. I am exhausted! The drive back to Wisconsin was longer than normal! And for those of you who stuck around for the kids race, how awesome was it to see the 8 and under kids start from the water slide!

18

Thanks it was a great event.

19

I’ll second everyone else’s compliments. Everything was done incredibly well and it was a great day. I was also cursing the bumpy roads around mile 50 as someone else mentioned, but I have a sensitive ass since I do all my training on the trainer. First time I’ve ever raced in the open division as well, so it was crazy to do a course and have so few people on it and have to pay attention to traffic directions instead of just following the people in front of me. Everyone along the course was very helpful and friendly. Only suggestion on the run I would have is to have a little more variety available at the aid stations. At a few aid stations I felt like there was a secret passcode I needed to know to get people to let me have the hammergel. It did get easier to access on the way back on the run so maybe the elite’s in front of me just weren’t asking for it.

20

I told you guys Muncie ruled!