(Shhhh! Don’t mention that swim split!)
Yeah, it was a pretty good day – and it’ll be better if you can confirm that the run was a fair bit long!
Mostly, though, I’m exceedingly impressed with how well the race was organized. The iron-distance was sort of the “crown jewel” this year, a spot that had been reserved for the half the past four years (the half was new in '01, and this was the first year for the full). Along with the full, though, there was the half, a sprint, a try-a-tri, a 1/2 du and an iron du. All in all there were 1000 athletes competing on what had the potential to be a very “tight” course - a two-lane road which was closed to traffic, and a narrow two-lane recreational path that often services large numbers of people. But the organizers staggered the starts so well that there was never a time that I felt either course to be overly crowded.
Overall, the ironfolk were very well catered to. We each got a very fine fleece vest. We were given preferential racking spots. On a bike course of twelve out-and-backs, our progress was announced at each of the end of each o-and-b - “So-and-so has just completed lap 9!” The aid stations were manned enthusiastically and flawlessly, and moreover they were well-provisioned - water, gatorade, cola, pretzels, bananas, gels, and chicken broth. The two guys handling the finish line announcements were superb, and they brought everybody “home” in a very personal way. In fact, as the hours progressed they just got better and better in thier patter, and I’m very glad I hung around to the end - even though my main reason was to make sure that the final finisher, who I know well, actually finished! This morning we were treated to an awards breakfast that was superbly run, and made for a great way to culminate a cozy and “personal” race.
I did IMLP last year as my first iron, and the finish line rush was one of the highlights of my life. Yesterday, though, was even better, mostly because after you spend 16 out-and-backs (12 bike, 4 run) looking at your fellow sufferers, they almost become a short-term family. Watching them cross the finish line I was surprised by how many I distinctly recognized, because over the course of the race I had smiled at them, nodded to them, exchanged words with them. This was a welcome antidote to the cattle-drive crowds of one of the m-dot races!
People shouldn’t be thrown off by the repetitiveness of the course, and I actually found that the bike repeats went by pretty quickly. It’s kind of a sneaky-tough course, mostly flat but subject to winds. Yesterday they were annoyingly capricious, seeming to come from several different directions, and I found it tough to sit-back and take it easy for a bit. Plus, as it’s mostly flat it requires an effort to vary position and cadence to avoid some of the effects of neck-cramping and the monotony of same-stroke pedaling.
It was a great race at a beautiful venue in a city that is well worth visiting. (I’m a local, but I’ve “entertained” lots of people here.) It will probably be held again next Labor Day weekend, and I’d highly recommend it to anybody. Well done, Somersault Promotions! (www.somersault.ca)