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Race Reports for Ironman Arizona 2008

[26]
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: Wow, what a great day! I have to thank my coach most of all Mike Ricci of D3! He had me so well trained that I hit almost every time goal on the nose! Thanks Mike, you rock!!!! Stuck around with Richard and Julia, and Trixie to watch others come in. Had a few beers in my cooler so I shared those as well. Nice to meet some other Bt'ers as well. What a great day! I think this is my last IM for a while. A long while. Thanks for reading.
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[27]
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: I hadn't wanted to do a 15:30 Ironman, partly because of ego, but also because I didn't really want to be on my feet for that long. To say that it hurt at the end doesn't really encompass it. That was, by far, one of the most painful experiences I've ever had. I think back on the race and I can pin point specific moments where I could have shaved literally hours off my time. And maybe someday I'll go back and do just that. I think I do myself a disservice by being friends with so many accomplished athletes. I've watched these "mere mortals" train for and race Ironmans for the past three years, and I think the extent of how ... I don't know, hard, amazing, challenging, awesome, it all is has...lessened, to an extent. When I first heard of Ironman, and learned what the distances were, I was overwhelmed. Over time, that feeling went away. I came to believe -- and I still kind of believe this -- that anyone can finish an ironman, provided they want to train for it. But, it's more than
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[28]
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: Great race, and will do it again in another few years. Need to concentrate on shorter distances for right now, and build my fitness level. So doing Olympics and HIM for the next two years.
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[29]
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 "borrowed" a photo from cactus steve for this report - but his is a race that photo buying is high on my list! :) Many thanks to my freinds and peeps on BT. Without them I would not have come this far in the last 1.5 years. Also, a special shout out ot all of my ESCKTC pals - especially those at the race - that kept me going and saw me finish. Thanks to all of you - I AM AN IRONMAN!!!!!!!
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[30]
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 top notch event. They actually had too many volunteers over 3500 and had to turn some away. The community fully supported the race and the extras (Welcome and award banquets) we well done. The expo was a bit sparse but I rarely spend much time at the expo. We actually got Mike RIley to lose his voice by the awards banquet,
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[31]
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: Race was amazing! Great first IM. Lot's of places for family and friends to see you and cheer you on. Only disappointment was the nutrition after the race. Pizza, French fries, some feeble looking grapes, bananas and orange slices.
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[32]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
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[33]
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: Closing credits: THANK YOU TO: Zac – my husband, for understanding and helping me through what turned into a 2 year endeavor. And for supporting my crazy goals now that this IM is over. :) I love you! Mom & Dad – for support and being there at the finish and taking care of our poochies Mom & Dad in law – for being there 2 years in a row and cheering on the course Shari – for helping me put the wheels back on and encouraging me through training Johnny – for those long training rides Jenn – for the wonderful posters and e-mails throughout the training Tammy (Zilla) & Julie – for making me smile each time I saw you and for being out there ALL day cheering All my friends that followed the blog – Thanks! The Tucson Tri Girls – Everyone that e-mailed throughout the training, followed my blog, and offered words of encouragement. Thank you all! Beginner Triathlete.com (the BTers) – Thanks to everyone that responded on my original melt-down thread in 2007, that followed my blog and “inspired
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[34]
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: I have to thank two people above all for making this week happen. Scott King and my brother John. Without those two i'm not sure where i'd be. I also want to thank all the BT support out there. From Bolton on the run course, to Chip, Jess, Marcy, Steve, Aaron on the run, and numerous others. That race was the hardest thing ive done to date. A LOT OF people were broken down by that race. I.. for one was NOT. I held strong and NEVER lost faith that I had it in me. That is why I'm going to Kona in October. Im excited to see what I can do there... Thanks again to everyone that made this race possible.
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[35]
Reported by:
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: It's an IronMan with all the hype and big scene, but the closer you get to midnight, the less there is; of everything. It could be debated that the BOP needs good treatment too, but it's just not always going to happen, and that's the way it is. I had a good experience and glad I finished, but I'm still wrestling with whether it was "worth it".
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[36]
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: In my day dreams I had imagined this day. It turned out even better than I had dreamed about.
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[37]
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: My first attempt at IM distance, there will be another but not until 2010 per the MRS, I have a 1 year old son and 3 year old daughter that lost some time with daddy. Now if i get a lottery spot next year, the wife said ok. :)
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[38]
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: IMAZ was very well organized. The multi loop course is very spectator friendly. My supporters were out there all day and were able to move around the course easily. They even found some great viewing spots with shade! Thanks go to them and especially my wife, Michele. She's already asked which race I'm doing in '09! The climate is hot and dry. But I'll take hot and dry over hot and humid any day. I love the Southwest US, so for me this is a race I'll do again some day. The volunteers were awesome. Thanks go out to all the volunteers. You guys made this a great race experience. And thanks to all the BT'ers both at the race and online who supported us. You guys are great.
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[39]
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:

  • Comments: Just THANK YOU....TO EVERYONE and especially my family. They are the ones that got me thru it. They are the ones that kept me going. They are the ones that sacrificed their time so I can train. They are the ones that allowed me to become an Ironman.
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[40]
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: Great Volunteers - Have I mentioned that??? Over all an Incredible experience! Life changing! I think anyone can do this if they prepare and believe! I think I'll come back in Nov and Volunteer.
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[41]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
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 April IMAZ will probably live in infamy. 3 of the 4 races these past years were in bad conditions, and this year's race ranked in the top 3 most DNFs of all time. It was a fitting end of an era. I'm kinda happy to be a part of it, in that sick twisted way that only an endurance athlete can understand. I'll be back again. The Ironman and I have unfinished business. Only, the next race report will start, "It all began back in aught eight..."
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[42]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

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

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

  • Comments: I put not enough drink stations only because the first bike station had run out of water on the third loop, and when we asked them if the race organizers knew they said yes, but they weren't going to bring anymore out because there were not enough racers left to worry about.
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[43]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: Although this sounds like a miserable experience, I actually had a lot of fun. I don't remember once thinking to myself "why am I doing this?". Since prior to April 13 I had never swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 nor ran a marathon much less all at the same time, I think I learned a lot. I'm really looking forward to IMAZ November. I've got 7 months to train and do more experimenting with nutrition, etc. There's no way it's going to be this hot in November and I'll actually be able to train outside. Plus with the long summer days hopefully I can increase the training time without impacting family time. While yes, I wish I had finished, that's not really what this whole thing is about for me. I enjoy the training, anticipation, the race experience and weirdly I think even the suffering is a net positive experience. I learned a lot about the IM distance and about myself. I was under-trained and I suffered the consequences. No regrets, in fact I think I'm more hooked on this stuff than
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[44]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: Is there anything left to say??? I AM AN IRONMAN!!!!
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[45]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: My first thoughts after this Ironman were that I was completely done with triathlon and Ironman. I had no desire to ride a bike or run again. I think I had feelings of those going into the race and it might have effected my inability to find that gear to run on the marathon when things got rough. Afterwards, when I realized that 17.7% of the field DNF'd (Did Not Finish), I changed my mind and came to the conclusion that I had pushed through some brutal conditions and did what I could at my age and fitness level to complete one of the hardest single day endurance races in the world. I have a new respect for the Ironman distance and much better appreciation for the level of training and dedication that the Pro athletes put into it. Without a doubt I am disappointed that I missed my time goals but extremely proud of the fact that I finished the race on a difficult day and the fact that I am now a multiple Ironman finisher. Who knows, maybe I'll keep my bike and running shoes after a
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[46]
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: On the way home from Ironman Arizona, I met the Sponsorship Director for the Janus Funds, who told me that this race had a 17.4% attrition rate, which is the third highest in Ironman history. The conditions really were absolutely brutal, and if this race was underestimated, competitors could easily find themselves in a world of trouble. For Men 45-49 for example, there were 291 original entrants. Of those, 250 appear to have been listed as final entrants with perhaps 206 going off with the gun. 167 finished in under 17 hours, while 183 managed finishing times, even if it was after the cut-off (good for them!). 23 started, but did not finish. My thoughts are with the folks who didn't finish, and hope that they are aware of how unusually brutal this race was. Anyway, I made it out of this race with another Ironman personal best, beating Kona by about 13 minutes. Really happy with that, and pleased to have four Ironman races down toward my goal of five. I was also happy to keep
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[47]
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: This was one phenomenal race. From the pre-race events to the post-race excitement, it was very organized and made me feel as if I was really doing something I'd never forget. The volunteers were fantastic! I can't believe how many people stayed out to run the aid stations in that heat! I can't believe how many spectators stayed out there, too! There were people throughout the course well into the night. I have to say thanks again to the medical volunteer who helped me cool off, to the volunteers who took care of me during T2, and to every single person who was out there to help that day! Big thanks to the spectators for making me feel so special during this race. They really made the atmosphere exciting and kept me in a positive mood throughout the race. There were parts when I didn't want to take another step, but then a spectator or volunteer would say "you can do it! You're going to be an Ironman!" and I would have a renewed energy! I also want to give a huge hug to everyone
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[48]
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: I think the hardest thing about this day was leaving medical and walking back to see everyone that had traveled to watch the race. I was terribly disappointed - and I wanted to crawl into a hole...but, Matt was still out there racing. Susan was still racing. Tony was still out there...Judy was still pushing through the wind..The people I've been training with - talking to about this day for months - they were still out there battling. I hurt. Yes. I couldn't see, but, I couldn't go back to the hotel and leave them out there. I couldn't leave my parents out in the sun to cheer for everyone else and not do the same...So, I sucked it up. I got to the parking deck - and walked down to the water with my dad...He told me he was proud of me no matter what I was going through...and then he told me that his brother passed away Friday. My dad...he spent Friday night at dinner with us, Saturday and then all day Sunday in the sun and hadn't mentioned a thing. He didn't want me to worry..I
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[49]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
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 race did not go at all how I planned. The wind really tore me up on the bike leg and the marathon was a walk-a-thon. That said, overall this was an incredible experience, from the energy of the race to the fantastic volunteers I'm so glad I entered and finished this race even if it was many hours longer than planned. A special thanks to the AZ Tri Club and ESCKTC people who were out there all day and night and helped motivate me to finish.
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[50]
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 knock me out everytime. Standing around in the sun like that so that other folks can do a race? They are awesome.
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