I want to register this year for my first Ironman next year. It has to be between july and mid-august so my wife can come with me.
I live a few hours away from Lake Placid but wanted to try something different. So why is it that UK does not get filled as fast as the rest?
Do a search. I’ve never done it, but it has a reputation for organizational problems and a rather ugly course. I’m sure lots of people will chip in with how great it is, but that’s my explanation.
It’s in the UK… nuff said.
why is it that if a race doesn’t sell out immediately there has to be something wrong with it?
It’s in the UK… nuff said.
X2.
What he said. It’s got a rep for being shit. Never been well-organised (aid stations running out last year was a big prob), and it’s in Bolton. I’ve never been to Bolton, and neither has anyone else who can help it. Typical cold, faceless, rundown northern town. There’ve been a couple of mudbaths in recent years.
UK now has a number of decent full-length events - Big Woody, Forestman, Ireman, Outlaw starts this year, Challenge are starting next year. They’re all good alternatives and without the WTC hoopla.
Also, Brits love to travel. There’s a big contingent at any Euro race and at most races further afield.
If they sort out their problems and get decent weather, it could be a good race - maybe by next year it’ll be a lot better. Maybe.
Volcano
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Dunno mate.
I certainly don’t have a problem with the UK. Lived there for a couple of years in my 20’s and loved every moment of it. Was basically a two year long countryside pub crawl back in the 1970’s.
Could be the area? Would rather have the race located in the southern part of England myself. The UK is now quite expensive compared to N.A. Is ITU more popular than IM in the UK? I wouldn’t let anything discourage from doing the race.
I didn’t do the full, but did the half, probably same course. Roads are super narrow (and roads are open to traffic so super sketchy) and pretty ridden with potholes…I got a double flat because of them. When I didn’t have the gear to fix the double flat, I found a marshal, found out there was no tech support, but asked to be picked up by the sweep vehicle and taken back to transition area, but waited…for over 2 hours. Marshal was nice and gave me his coat and called numerous times, but a spectator eventually saw me waiting and drove me back. Race director was not receptive to constructive criticism. Overall the location is pretty blah, quite a ways from civilization, and overpriced, of course. All things considered, If I had to rate my experiences, it would be (from high to low): IM Korea, IM Japan, IM Lake Placid, IM Wisconsin.
Best of luck with training,
Nah - the 70.3 is in the south-west, at Wimbleball. It’s reputedly the hardest 70.3, bike course-wise at least. Funnily enough, I know a lot of people who’ve done this and heard only good things about it, but sounds like your experience sucked a lot. Sorry to hear that.
You want to try something different? And you go to UK?
Why?
Where to start.
Did it last year, tough swim course ( about 400 mtrs to long ) now has a new swim course different pond.
Bike course is a twisty turny multilap affair. Some poor road surfaces ( same as everywhere else ).
Last years course record was set by Phil Graves at 4:57 .( he is no slouch on the bike ) expect to go 45 mins to 1 hr on the bike slower
than normal.
Run was a strange 2 lap but not quite a proper 2 lap course ( does that make sense ) no mile markers but those had been
stolen the night before.
NW of England threw a lot of money at the event ( this is what made it a success ) Local support was excellent especially on the run course.
Had been a lovely day so the pubs were busy and this was good support .
Poor organisation is the problem with the race .
Race team can take not critisim what so ever ( they know best ) have upset a lot of local support ( councils , police etc )
Potential is there for a good tough race if the right people ran it.
Bolton is not that bad a place , pretty close to Liverpool , Manchester , Leeds and Bradford airports, so easy to get to.
We do not have closed roads in the UK so expect some traffic while on the bike, all turns properly marshalled.
First aid station on the bike ran out of water for folk on their 3 rd lap ( this was very poor planning by race organisers ).
Hope this helps.
We’re going back to the UK to see family and wanted to do a long distance tri while there. Considered IMUK but put that away after hearing about some of the issues in the past. That, and the unsettled course, put us off. Instead, we’ve signed up for The Outlaw based in Nottingham. First time event, but the organisers have a good reputation and the location is good.
Hopefully we have made the right decision.
I had no idea it was in Bolton! Bolton! Damn that’s funny.