Just signed up for this as my first IM after years of shorter course racing. Any slowtwitchers out there who have done and can impart sagely advice would be appreciated. Places to stay, things to be aware of etc. Thanks.
Did it in 2010. My family lives about 100km away, so it was convenient to have them come watch and all.
Regensburg is a beautiful old city and i wish I had spent some more time there. There were lot’s of people lining the bike course and inside the city during the run, which was awesome. There was about 3k of every 10k lap where you were pretty much on your own in the sun.
I don’t know if they’ve changed the course since but I really enjoyed it and plan on doing it again.
Chris
I can’t tell you anything about the race, but I grew up in Germany and I can tell you it’s a very charming little town - one of the oldest in Germany.
It’s very scenic and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city center, the cathedral and the stone bridge are not to be missed, and everyone will be really, really nice.
That area of Germany serves white sausages with sweet mustard. Forget your diet. Eat at least one. They’re really tasty.
Public transit is good, and an extended network of trains can get you to anywhere else in Germany that you’d like to see. Word about that, though… BE ON TIME. German trains and busses aren’t ever late, and if you are, you’re walking.
What’s your budget for the hotel? Are you looking for something in the city center?
I go there for work regularly. The run course is four loops. There is a video on youtube from a racer’s camera on the bike course. It fogs up part way through but is good. Hope that helps some.
Don’t be fazed by all the climbing at the start of the lap (from km10 - km30) it does go on for a long time, but after you get to Brennburg, there are a couple of rollers then the rest of the lap is flat! By the same token, make sure you don’t go too hard up the climb on lap 2 either, as many of the guys that got away from me on the second ascent, I reeled in at about 160km and never saw them again! The thank goodness for power meters.
I stayed at the Hansa Aparthotel which is about 3km from the town centre, as I had car (got a taxi to the start).
It’s a great race, and the cobbles on the run should give you some nice blisters =)
I did it this year, 2011, the bike is a fast and scenic course (The Walhalla is visible from much of the course). I also did Roth and I would say the bikes are comparable. The swim was a tight fit at the start but cleared up after the first turn for me… It rained the entire bike leg but cleared up for the run. Both races have great organization- I enjoyed the hurt.
Thanks guys, the more info’ the better!
Luvmycrappybike - i’d like to go self catering (apartment etc) if possible as i’d have a tendency to be quite regimented on the diet front close to races. Saying that though I’d be open to any recommendations on places and areas to stay/avoid. i’ve heard that downtown Regensburg can be loud at night due to bars etc so don’t know if you have any thoughts on that. Budget is relatively open within reason, in an ideal world I want to get the best place for the lowest price of course. Looking forward to the sausage and mustard already!
Anyone have an idea of why they changed the dates from august to june? also, what is the expected water temp on June 17?
Be aware off Aoife L during the run 
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haha, hopefully i won’t be falling apart like that again. I’m intent on holding off the Giraffe legs this time! We need to get you back out on the bike this winter for some chain ganging, you’re all about coaching these days!