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Ironman 70.3 Germany 2009

I was just wondering if anybody is doing this next weekend? This will be my first triathlon, so my only aim is to finish and not be cut off by the time! We will see though.

Also has anybody done this before? How bad is the cycling course, as I have read that it is quite a difficult one?

Comments

  • ZacniciZacnici Posts: 1,385
    Sorry can't help other than to say good luck and enjoy.
  • okennyokenny Posts: 231
    Hey!

    Good luck this weekend - the profile of the bike leg looks mean!
    I want to do this 70.3 next year, I noticed that the registration will open this Friday!
    Do you know how fast it filled up last year??

    Thanks!
  • Hi Okenny

    I was one of the last few hundred to sign up, i think about 2400th out of the 3000 participants, and I didn't sign up until mid-december, so you should be fine.

    You are right about the bike leg - not looking forward to that one
  • diddsdidds Posts: 655
    have a chum who has raced it and who will be there this weekend - he lives about 40 Km away.

    I asked him and this is what he said...

    "Yes, it's a great event.

    The swim is a straight line out, turn around and back course in a harbour off the river Rhein - none of that fancy shit where you get out of the water for a quick jog, or swim elaborate patterns.

    The bike course starts gentle for a few km, then goes up hill......and down......and up.....and down....etc. It's quite a challenging ride with 1500 metres of climbing over the 90km (more than over 1980 Km in IMDE!). I rode the course on Saturday in a group of riders, one of the riders being the pro triathlete ( Sebastian Kienle ) who I think will probably win at the weekend! He obviously was taking it easy, but it was still a brisk ride for most of us. At the start there were around 14 riders, but several fell off the back on the first climb......followed by a few more on the next climb. At the end there were only 5 of us left, including me It was a good experience.

    The run is 4 loops round the casino, and through a park in Wiesbaden. The support is always very good, and apart from 50 metres of vertical every lap ( grrrr! ), it's a nice run.

    I don't really know what else I can tell you, except to bring appropriate gearing for your bicycle.

    I'll be there on Sunday morning, with a civilised 09:15 start time. "

    HTH and good luck! If you bump into Rupert Williams you can tell him what you think of his advice

    didds
  • Thanks for that (and to your friend)

    I live in Wiesbaden so know the running route and the swim, but have not been on any of the roads used for the bike route as they are main roads usually. I only started cycling in February, and swimming about the same time, so it will be interesting to see if I make the cut off time - that is my only aim really!
  • diddsdidds Posts: 655
    shaun... Rupert is only coming from Darmstadt (I lived there in a previous life) as it happens...

    didds
  • okennyokenny Posts: 231
    Sounds great, thanks for the tips!

    sounds like I have a year to drop a few kg and get REALLY strong legs!

    Good luck this weekend.
  • grant1974grant1974 Posts: 262
    I'm doing this race, I fly at 09:55 in the morning! Can't wait, think it will be a real experience doing a european rather than a UK event.

    I'm a bit worried about flying with my bike but hey hoo, nothing ventured nothing gained, right

    See you there fella's, i'll be the one at the back
  • penguinpenguin Posts: 37
    I start at 8am....arghhhh

    The ride is fun...relax on the first hill...die on the last (it stings).

    I have 100kg of 'low density muscle' to carry over those hills and I still had FUN last year!!!

    Looking forward to doing it again,

    Penguin
  • diddsdidds Posts: 655
    Good luck everyone that's racing - and lets see those race reports on Monday yeah? ;-)

    Viel spass jungs!

    didds
  • okennyokenny Posts: 231
    I just signed up for 2010 - looking forward to seeing race reports on Monday!!
    Viel Spaß und viel Erfolg wünsche ich euch.
  • penguinpenguin Posts: 37
    Race Report: It was hot, very hot.
  • okennyokenny Posts: 231
    I felt sorry for you guys yesterday, I tried to do a long training run myself and gave up after a few km, it was damn hot.
    I saw on the Live video feed some guy cross the line and immediately collapse!
    I hope that wasn't you Pengiun!

    How was the Hammer?
  • penguinpenguin Posts: 37
    nope, my only injury was on the massage table....strangely enough. I was chuffed with a sub three hour ride (in that heat) but paid for it severely in the “run”. The hills were great fun!

    It might have been just me, but it seemed the riding track had less supporters this year and the running track had more than last year. (maybe because the running track was shorter?)

    The event was great and it was nice having the digital scales at the end of the race to show that the fluid intake was about right.

    The running track was nicer this year (in my opinion) and the second aid station had an almost party atmosphere….very nice!

    25 minutes slower than last years time, but still gave my best and finished a happy man.
    Perhaps next year treat myself and do the Monaco 70.3
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