Just back from Kalmar, but having travelled home via Copenhagen this thread feels like the appropriate place to put this (and there was a married couple from the UK doing the “Scandi Double”)
Curious to hear how the Kona rolldown went in Copenhagen… in Kalmar it was carnage. 95 slots available and they literally couldn’t give them away. Case in point - my AG M45-49, 11 slots available… they got to the end of the top 10 and only 3 were takers. So then they asked if there was “anyone in the room in the AG who finished” and wanted a slot, if so… just come on stage and take one! 5 did (I did not), so 3 slots went begging. And this was repeated in multiple AGs (both male and female).
I realise that these were the last two European qualifying races for this year, but the expansion to 2 days made Kalmar (and I guess Copenhagen?) a “slot dumping ground” and a proper free-for-all. Feel very sorry for those at the top end of the AGs who put in amazing races and then realise that basically anyone can have a place if you are willing to pay the money.
PS: Loved Kalmar… (great city, great course/support, top local organisation) and hit my target to be out of town onto the first run loop before AB finished
Once you’re there the location is fab - everything is walkable if you’re staying within shooting distance of the city centre. It’s a lovely little city, plenty of food/drink options - it’s Sweden so it isn’t cheap, but what is these days?
Not the easiest to get to… smoothest public transport route is fly in/out of Copenhagen and take one train direct to Kalmar (3.5h) or hire a car. From Stockholm it’s 3 trains (which I had to do on the way out due to lack of flight options), an internal flight or a much more expensive hire car.
Course was as advertised: Single loop swim - Baltic Sea was calm (if a little “Jellyfishy”), easy to sight and made for a fast swim. Bike is super flat - the Oland Bridge is the highest point on the course, and other than that I only remember one long false flat around halfway. We got fairly lucky with the wind on Saturday - much of the longer island loop is very exposed, so would be tough(er) on a blustery day. Road surfaces were fine. Run also 99% flat and very well supported (although my ankles didn’t like the cobbles in the city centre ). Short transitions… it’s a PB course if the wind is down.
Good work @elliott89 , did you not cry? I was in floods after my first one . Even having put all the training in the whole distance seemed overwhelming…I may also have been energy depleted.
They maybe need to move the age-group cut off to earlier in the year and let people take a slot for the next year at the summer races. Sure more people would sign up and worry about the cost / logistics later if they had a year to plan.
How many age-groupers can physically put together 2 IMs 6 weeks apart anyway?
Great report, thanks, and well done! Looks a cracking place and the crowd support seems great. Although the word “jellyfish” has immediately put me off…
Great report and fantastic result. From what i have heard you could have probably gone to kona in 6 weeks ! Also, feel i must point out that you failed miserably at executing your race strategy of finishing just under 12 hours by managing 11.21
@Doonhamer I didn’t cry but definitely felt emotional when finishing, and I saw a few tears in the finishers area afterwards so it must be quite common!
@FatPom I hadn’t noticed the similarity to bowling shoes before not sure I’ll be able to forget that now haha
Congrats @honestrobbo on Kalmar sounds like a great race
Well done Smashed your target. 10:30 target for 2023?
As an aside, I remember my first IM (Austria). I had some lad following me around in the finish area. I was momentarily confused until I realised he was my assigned “catcher” in case I passed out. No chance of that I wanted a beer and pizza. Which leads me to my question… how would you rate the finish area? Was there a cold pool, beer and pizza?
Also did you fly with your bike or get it transported over by a company? I’m already thinking logistics in my head in an effort to persuade myself to enter!
% look the part - which is far more important than any training 
. Even having put all the training in the whole distance seemed overwhelming…I may also have been energy depleted.
sounds like a great race
Smashed your target. 10:30 target for 2023?