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Race Reports for Ironman Arizona 2011

[1]
Reported by:
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  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

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

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

  • Comments: the most disappointing aspect of the race is that there are zero pictures of me at the end. they extra had me get in front of the sign to show my medal, but no picture. sad. my first IM ever and nothing to commemorate. on the full course itself, there were maybe three pictures, and only far off glimpses. double sad. lesson learned -- if you want pictures from on course photographers, you better move a little faster so you aren't out there when they are sick of taking pics and/or moved to get the fast people in the pics. bugger. the race was surreal, although I did not feel victorious finishing. maybe my brain was frozen from a day of freezing?
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[2]
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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: I learned a lot about my ability to work at a consistently strong pace at this distance, where in the past I was more concerned with taking in the whole experience and making sure I had the strength to finish. I’m sure my time will drop again at IMLP next year as I head back to the hills, but I’m hoping that my effort here has shown me I don’t need to pace myself quite so much. I can and should go out strong from the beginning. With a few finishes behind me I have more to lose by holding back than by taking a chance on going out too strong and blowing up.
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[3]
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: Awesome organization and superb volunteers
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[4]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?

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

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

  • Comments: My first year of triathlon and only started running march of 2010. I raced two olys one 70.3 and IMAZ. I wouldn't necessarily advocate for that plan but it worked out. I improved all year long never had an injury and had a blast along the way. Looking at 2013 for my return to IMAZ. Lots to learn along the way. I'm HOOKED
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[5]
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  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

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

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

  • Comments: Once upon a time, in 1982, a young man watched Wide World of Sports and saw a woman named Julie Moss lose control of her faculties on a road in Hawaii just a few yards from the finish line of the Ironman World Championships. She finished, she staggered, fell, walked, crawled, cried, refused help and she finished. The young man wondered why anyone would want to do that - no matter how cool it seemed. How unbelievable it was that a human could do all that in one day - a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and then a 26.2 mile run - and live to tell about it. Once a year, from that time, that young man watched the Ironman World Championships and was awed by the athletes that conquered "the toughest day in endurance sports." And then one day it happened, the offhand comment by a stranger in a locker room planted a seed, that germinated and was harvested at a micro sprint triathlon a few months later. One thing led to another and then in 2009, I completed my first Ironman in Arizona. It has
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[6]
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.
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[7]
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?
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[8]
Reported by:
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  • 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.
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[9]
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!!
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[10]
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.
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[11]
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.
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[12]
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!
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[13]
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.
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[14]
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
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[15]
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.
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[16]
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..."
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[17]
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!
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[18]
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!!!!
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[19]
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!!
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[20]
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
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[21]
Reported by:
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  • 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.
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[22]
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.
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[23]
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.
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[24]
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
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[25]
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!
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