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Race Reports for Ironman Arizona

[76]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: A great race for my first IM. The spectator friendly nature of the race provided ample motivation from family and spectators. That aspect can't be overlooked considering that other than motivation from the sidelines - you are on your own. For next year I will focus on increasing my bike and run power. My next goal is to complete an 11 hour IM.
[77]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: by far the hardest physical day of my life, but yet the most rewarding. can't wait to see what 2012 brings. everything is sold out, any recommendations?
[78]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: This was a great race! I would love to do it again but the water temp was so hard on me that I don't see it in my future. It is very spectator friendly and my friends had a blast all day.
[79]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: The journey to First Ironman has been an amazing one-Would recommend this venue to others but be prepared for cold swim! I have gained & learned much from the training and the race experience. I am very very grateful to have the health, means , and support to have set & accomplished this goal.. My body & mind have served me well.has shown me that the only limits we really have-are those that WE place upon ourselves..that we are capable of much more than we know-if we believe. I am indebted to many friends and mentors, tickled at unexpected supporters,grateful for the encouragement of coworkers, friends, BT friends.. and most appreciative of my biggest fans & sherpas- Glen, Tos, Gwen, Jess, IRONMarianne, Beth at home.I am a very lucky girl. Happy Dance!!
[80]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Given the circumstances of a bike crash, which could have gone much worse, it was a fantastic race. I made a commitment that I would enjoy the race no matter what and that's exactly what I did. Dirk told me that racing an IM is all about how you handle midhaps and hiccups. I never thought that I was going to crash my bike but I made a mental note to prepare for anything that may happen. It was a great race and at the end of the day, I was still trying to figure out if this distance is my thing. I completely admire those people who can find that balance between family and racing this distance, but it's a struggle for me. I'm going to do another one, but not anytime soon. Hands down, volunteers rock man.
[81]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: The volunteers were amazing. The 1970s aid station, the cops-and-robbers, the pirates, I actually looked forward to the next lap each time and having my spirits lifted. Brilliant. It all added up to make a dream day.
[82]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Thanks to all the volunteers and to the entire BT community. You all made this an unbelievable day!
[83]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Say what you will about the evil corporate overlords at WTC, but they do put on a good event. I had a great week leading up to the race. Everything was well organized and the volunteers were OUTSTANDING.
[84]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was a fantastic race, I couldn't have chosen a better one for my first Ironman. The course suits my strengths and with the looped format it was great for my family from a spectator's perspective. I could not have done this race without the support of a ton of people. First and foremost my husband Sami. He gave me full permission this year to make this year of training "all about me." He was there day in and day out listening to my never-ending list of obsessions and worries related to training and racing. He was there on all my long bike rides either riding along side me, singing songs and telling jokes, or driving SAG making sure I had enough water and nutrition. Cheering me on when I was doing well and giving me tough love and telling me to suck it up at 5am when I didn't want to go to the pool. He was and is my IronSpouse extraordinaire. Next is my coach Dorette Franks of Trifiniti. Dorette gave me the support and accountability I needed along with a fantastic training plan
[85]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is by far the best course I have ever raced on. The volunteers and organization were second to none. The race itself was very spectator friendly. I would highly recommend this race. I did not end up getting a Kona slot. It made me pretty sick to my stomach going 9:35 and not getting a slot. Unfortunately my age group was extremely competitive. Any other age group and I am in easily. Next year I age up to 35-39. My goal is to go 9:15 and hopefully that will get me a spot next year. Thanks for reading and if you have any questions, shoot me a message.
[86]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Sitting here, about five days after, nursing a major sinus/ear infection, I have mixed thoughts about my performance. The superficial analysis and resultant thought is one of mild disappointment - the course was easier than MOO but my time was more than an hour slower. A more thorough evaluation (and being honest with myself) says I was under-trained (compared to MOO '09 and to the event itself) and paced poorly to (inconsistent with) the level of my training. So, I have about nine months of solid training time available prior to MOO '12. I have a great coach and a desire to get as much as possible out of her guidance and my physical abilities up to and through race day. "And that's all I got to say about that..."
[87]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: A great experience - a year of planning and 6 months of training - but I can say I am an Ironman!
[88]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Loved it. May be back!!!!
[89]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I really expected more space and more food at the end of the race. I've been to local Olympic distance races with better and more food. Also the dinner on Friday was disappointing, the food I mean. Terrible food; tasteless pasta and dry chicken. Mike was awesome though and the athletes meeting was worth it for a first timer. Next time, not worth going. But these are minor issues. The race was well organized. The energy level was high. The volunteers amazing. The spectators a god send. Thank you all for an amazing experience. I am an Ironman!!
[90]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I really like the AZ course a lot. It is a good course for me in it's layout. I'm not a climber, and while this isn't flat, it is close to being there. I can pedal ALL DAY LONG, literally, so I like that about this course. I like getting to pass spectators a lot. The run course is a bit confusing, but quite well marked. Tempe is also a very affordable place to stay for a race. It's desert scenery and urban, but I don't mind it at all. Not the most gorgeous course, but it is a fun course. It is getting a tad crowded though. I could tell a difference just from '09 to '11. The volunteers are always great at events, but the volunteers at this one were really top notch and helped my race so much--if you were out there doing that--thank you! I like WTC races and the hype, etc....but they are getting expensive. I didn't spend a dime on Finisher's Gear cause they've gone too generic. But really, I do enjoy this race. Will I be back? Maybe someday, we'll see. IMTX is next up. Not signing up for
[91]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Great race location, vounteer support and fan support. It was awesome having so many people so close to the course all day. Right after the finish, I thought "I'm one and done" with this. 12 hours later, Cindy and I are talking about doing IMFL 2013 together.
[92]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I'd highly recommend this course for anyone looking to PR an IM. The swim is chilly, but manageable. The bike is pretty flat and would be smoking fast if there is no wind. The run is pretty flat. Another well run IM.
[93]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I had a GOLDEN experience for my first Ironman and am planning on doing St. George in 2013.
[94]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Overall, a FANTASTIC race. Beat my previous IM time by 2.5 hours. I always wonder what I could do on a flat course and my times showed it. Did I move up in standings? Not sure, need to check on that. Did I go too hard? Was I undertained? Not enough fluids/calories. All are question marks. BUT, it's nice to know that I can't find any aspect that I can SPECIFICALLY say I screwed up. I good race, good exicution, good result. I checked the calories in a gel, and it's about 100. So I wast taking in about 125 calories per hour. Probably not enough? I should have tried to hit about 350. Next time it should be the gels, and half water and half energy drink. That COULD have been the reason I was spent with 10 miles left. BUT, at 10 miles left, maybe you are always tired??? Glad I signed up for next year! Side note. LOVED some of the aid stations! Here I was, hurting, can't think about anything but being done, then just laugh at the people in costumes and some pretty hot/sexy
[95]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Sub 11! Yes! However, once I finished I couldn't put one foot in front of the other. In fact, I still can't lift my own leg up to get in my car. My quads are dead. But man was it worth it! Being able to shut out the pain during the run and hang tough....This was a big mental toughness breakthrough for me!
[96]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?No

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: After not finishing St. George in 10 I was really down on myself. Not only did I let myself and other people down, but I focused on the few negative comments and not the hundreds of positives. I probably let it get to me to much, but it drove me to finish IMAZ and we are defined by our successes and failures. St. George is a hard course but now I feel like the monkey is off my back. There's a ton of people on this site I owe thanks to and its hard to mention them all. I will say the mentor groups, and the IMAZ thread really helped. Without this site doing the IM would be alot tougher as it was my support group.
[97]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: IMAZ 2010 - 12:50; IMAZ 2011 - 10:55; Training, Training, Training! I plan to take a break from IM racing next year, but I will continue to train. I need to set some new goals and I know a sub 10 is not in the cards for me until I have many more years of training under my belt. The demons of IMAZ 2010 have been with me since last year - with this race, those demons are no longer with me!
[98]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: WTC is the greatest, and Ironman races are like nothing else on earth. The whole place and environment is electric, the volunteers are totally awesome, and the spectators are as motivating as you could ever ask for. So much positive, I do not see how anyone could have a bad day without major medical problems. Just being here is incredible, and finishing is all the more memorable. For those who did not cross the finish line, I say get back in there and keep moving forward - you will do it, and you will be an Ironman. For those who crossed the line, YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!!!!!
[99]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Two notable things on course. Whoever the guy was rocking with the cow bell and drum stick had me laughing on the bike and run course. That guy has lots of stamina to be rocking out for hours on end as he dances/beats the bell. Also I believe it was Phoenix tri club who had the aid station on the north side marina. I was happy to hear the party music and people dressed up in costume. It takes my mind off the pain for a short bit and put a smile on my face. Honestly these guys should be at the finish line!
[100]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: As far as my performance, I am tough on myself. I expect to arrive prepared and have a great race. Despite less than perfect nutritional preparation and execution, my training was great and I PR'd each discipline en-route to a 28min overall PR. As far as the race, I liked this race a lot. It's prob my favorite IM course and the location/venue is only second to LP. Volunteers were great. The Town of Tempe was great. Most importantly, it's always great to get our gang together to race. So much fun to share the day with them all.
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