Nice read from eJC, and agree with his points about the race in general for anyone reading the thread in future wondering whether to enter. There’s a lot of negativity about Bolton as a location, and this years route, but yesterday it was a decent bike course because of the sheer support, and significantly the weather. Dry and still and it’s ok riding, theres just a couple of downhills with horrendous surfaces (Pickup Bank), that would need extreme caution in the rain. And yes no steep hills, just ones that accumulate by end of 180km.
I also did have an experience where cycling on a main A road on the right hand side (left lane open), only to have a car approach me head on while I was trying to lap someone.
I’m here putting that theory to the test.
Qualified here in 2015 and took my slot. Had an awesome race and experience in Kona. Hard to imagine I could better that. No way could I go back again without taking the whole family and that’d have me looking at having to fork out 10k and I can think of plenty other holidays the kids would prefer.
Gonna be hard to turn it down but I want to see the face of the guy who gets the roll down slot.
Gulp
Well done to everyone who had a crack at this whatever the result, I always think the hardest part of an Ironman is the few hours before the race starts, that dread feeling from when the alarm goes off until the GO. There seemed to be lots of negative around this race in the build up and plenty of reasons to give it a miss, so chapeau to you all.
Good luck if you are hoping for a roll down slot, great work if you have placed well enough to get it and also if you decide Kona is not right this year then good for you…it is only a hobby!
Again well done Young and Old, fast and slow… ish.
A full distance race was quite an experience…
Kona is a big undertaking, good luck with anyone having the opportunity to get in, people who have come 8th, 11th and even 12 th all going just in case …!
Just been on the finisher page and 601 DNS or DNF which is 30% of those who entered. Must be a lot of first timers disappointed which probably isn’t in IM or Bolton’s favour.
That’s 30 % of 1400… not 2000
I know they all still paid, but it’s not a good advert.
No pros
No Facebook live
No pasta party
No major gathering point for spectating, black dog was good
Major chance of bike cut offs
Reallly slow course for people wanting a fast full distance time, like me…!
I hope it continues but I don’t think it will
The race director came in for some stick about the bike course from the volunteers, many of them are athletes, some really good ones.
Anyway onwards…
I think that one’s a bit harsh. IMUK has never been somewhere you would go for a fast full distance time, so the fact it got a bit slower didnt really change that.
May be wrong but thought there were only 2 M25 Kona slots last year. With Eccleston winning and not taking his slot and Spraggins taking the roll down?
I thought the same to be honest, but then went on the IMUK Kona page, and it showed M25 having three from last year, so assumed I was misremembering. It was definitely my recollection that Joe finished third after his car crash incident, and only got the final slot when first place said he wouldnt be taking it.
The swims the swim
Run was flat… ish and a bit painful at the end
I practiced the old loop 18 times last year then they changed it…
Yes it’s hardly Roth or Barca but it was a lot faster, I guess the road surface in this country is never going to be euro standard and there’s levels of bad…!
They resurfaced one part 2-300 m”s and the pick up in speed with a drop in effort was immediate.
I take your point about fast courses, there’s only Lakesman full in this country I think…!
Yeah was hard to lap people on the bike. Said hello and encouraged as went past but could see they had zero chance of finishing the bike. That said it’s partly preparation to some degree. Many would have been timed out on the old course too, and many probably entered after the course was announced early in the year.
Blimey.
I have to be honest, if I ever was in the situation of it rolling to me, I’d take it. It would always be something to say you’ve done. 70.3 world’s are nothing like the same level of accomplishment or competitiveness, but I still take pride in the fact I’ve actually qualified for it rather than just entered.
Tbh I’d probably take it, grumble about the cost and the brutally monotonous course & heat/wind. But it’s a big box tick I suppose. Defo one & done if the chance arose though.
