As I get ready for the Ironman CDA, I have a question regarding the swim rules & regs with respect to Ironman/WTC events. I have completed 5 HIMs, 1 IM (Louisville) and a number of Olys. With that said, all have been wave starts, other than Louisville (time trial). As an average swimmer (1:15-ish), I am thinking through my strategy for the mass swim start (other than getting faster, of course). The bike & run are my strengths, so I don’t want to get too beat up on the swim. I always thought you could swim on the inside of the buoys as long as you go outside of the buoys on the turn. Nothing in the Ironman CDA rules address this, but the Ironman Kona rules say: “8) Swimmers are required to stay on course, swim clockwise and keep course markers to the right. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.” Further, the Ironman US Championship rules say: “Athletes will swim in a straight line, keeping buoys to the left, … Violation of this prohibition will result in immediate disqualification.”
Was I wrong to begin with or did the rules change? Does anyone know if I can swim on the inside of the buoys during CDA? Thanks.
Simple, hold your ground. You will hit people, they will hit you. Hold your line. Let them go around you. In reality you need to worry about four people. One in front, one behind, one on either side. Find four folks you are comfortable with, go point to point (not way wide) and have a great day.
BTW, if the Hokey Pokey really IS what is all about, then we are going to hell in a hand basket. Per Urban Dictionary, the hokey pokey is:
A satanic ritual which requires one to put the right foot in and then the right foot out. Put the right foot in and shake it all about. Do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around. And that’s what its all about.
Teachers in schools perform satanic rituals by making students do the hokey pokey.
Probably best to just stay on the correct side of the buoys. Just because people aren’t getting pinged at one particular race doesn’t mean they won’t do it at another.
I’m pretty sure I have seen this addressed in the IMWI athlete guide - for that race, at least, I believe it says you can swim to the inside of the buoy line as long as you go outside on the turns. I know that people start on the inside of the buoy line every year. But the rules could be different from race to race. Ask the RD.
, but the Ironman Kona rules say: “8) Swimmers are required to stay on course, swim clockwise and keep course markers to the right. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.” Further, the Ironman US Championship rules say: “Athletes will swim in a straight line, keeping buoys to the left, … Violation of this prohibition will result in immediate disqualification.”
The swim at Kona is one long out and back, and the course markers seperate the inbound swimmers from those still outbound, hence this particular rule. Unless specifically stated (generally for safety reasons) I don’t think it matters. Best option if in doubt is to find the race director and ask him.
However, if you can swim a 1:15, I think you’re a little better than your average AG swimmer, and won’t have to deal with too much traffic. You’ll quickly find clear water, or better yet a set of feet to draft on, and then you’re all set.
Saw some folks swim to the inside of the course markers (not turn buoys) at IMCDA 2011 - did not see any DQs afterwards.
Doesn’t mean it’s OK, just my observation…
same at LP.
to the OP:
if you’re a 1:15 swimmer, don’t worry about that. that inside line is better for the FOP swimmers. if you’re MOP, you’re gonna get crushed when you try to swim out to the buoys and then around. or you’ll be forced to stay inside and cut. and then the DQ would be legit. i’d tell you to start a little back, but a little more wide. don’t burn up energy in the scrum at the start.
now CdA is a two loop swim. you could give the inside line a go on the second loop. it may work. i’ve heard CdA can have a wind-driven current. i’d pay attention to that too.
This is an age old argument. Either hold your line, start with the front and go…or wait (meaning lose time). I have spoken to a number of folks who at IMLP for instance decided to start right at the dock as opposed to wait for it to “clear up” - it never will. Each person reported to having a no worse for the wear swim than they did when waiting, each one also cut over 10 minutes from their swim time. Again, you just let people beat up your feet and go around. By the time you get to the end of the first lap it will all be for not. You will be catching laggers from their first, you will have guys blazing past you getting out to head to the bike.
My experience has been that swimming inside the buoys is discouraged and will result in you getting yelled at. You may also get a kayak heading your way to “encourage” you back toward the outside. But beyond that, I’ve never actually seen anyone DQ’d over it. The water safety team has way too much to worry about then trying to determine what your number is and writing it down.
That’s probably one of the best posts I’ve seen on this forum!
Try to stay outside, make the corners everyone is happy otherwise half the people want to swim inside and half outside and everyone funnels together at turn1 and the safety support can’t get their boats etc. to the people who are acually swimming the course.
again, Try to stay outside, make the corners everyone is happy
and the swim at IMNYC is in the Hudson. At NYC tri (put on by same people as IMNYC) they kept people inside the buoys because they didn’t want anyone to get too far in the middle of the river. Same for Louisville.
I’ve done 3 IMs. All three, I have seen lots people swim inside of the buoys with no issues. I’ve done it myself twice without anyone cautioning me. I think your assessment is correct. You can swim inside as long as you make the turnaround buoys and don’t go so off course that you hinder the folks coming the other way, if there are any.
All of the WTC HIMs races that I’ve done seem to follow the same pattern.
They were very strict about staying outside the buoy line at IMTX due to the out and back nature of the swim course (similar to what someone previously mentioned about Kona). I did IMFL the year before and they could care less if you were inside the buoy line as long as you made the turns on the proper side of the line.
otherwise half the people want to swim inside and half outside and everyone funnels together at turn1 and the safety support can’t get their boats etc. to the people who are acually swimming the course.