ESI Ironman 70.3 Augusta : Official Thread (Page 8)

Here's an interesting article written by an old high school friend of mine, who's also doing the race:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-22/triathletes-outnumber-golfers-in-augusta-at-world-s-largest-half-ironman.html

We got to town about noon today.  I am all registered and left a big chunk of change at the ironman store!  Checked out the swim course and transition.  The transition area looks huge compared to what I am used to!  Tomorrow we are driving the bike course.  If anyone comes up with a great idea for Sunday parking please share it!!  I have no idea what to do.  We are not staying right down town, so will need to park somewhere.  I can't believe in 2 days the race will be over!!!  Yes, I am SO excited!!

Karen

There should be plenty of parking at Reynolds St and 5th St if you get there early.  Getting out can be a little bit of a pain because they are directing traffic.  Unless they changed something for this year you are going to have to find a way back to the bike transition to get your bike. 

I'll be on the bike course on my motorcycle with a USAT official on the back so watch the drafting

Have a great race.

Parking has never been a big issue in the past. We always use the Renoylds lot. Its a short walk from the finish and about a mile from transition. Unless you are showing up last minute and leaving right away it has always been easy enough. Spectators can see the swim from the levee or one of the bridges. If they are fit they can trek down to swim exit and see ya leave on the bike. They then have a couple hours while you ride. Hang out in the finish line area and they can see ya up to 4 times per run loop if the cut through the blocks. No need for them to come to transition in the am. They cant get in and just add to the confusion down there. Meet them at the swim start. Good luck everyone.

Ride your bike back from T2 to hotel.  It's 2 miles, flat.

My bike is officially out of my control now - I dropped it off at transition right at about 2:00.  By the time I was leaving, it was crazy there!  I also got bodymarked already because there was no line and I figured there would be in the morning.  Wow, seeing all those people makes the race more real!  Tomorrow at this time it will all be over.  That is so hard to believe!  Also, it is really hot out!  Hopefully not a sign of things for tomorrow - but I am afraid it is!!  Good luck everyone.  Have a safe race!

Karen

Glad you had a great race.  Last October that was an unfortunate accident that killed a fellow cyclist and there was a lot of controversey over the driver not being charged because he was in the "good o' boy" network.  Every since then it seems like things have gotten worse with cars versus cyclist.  I can somewhat understand the frustration of residents in that area towards cyclist.  Every time I rode with a group in that area they ride 3 wide, are all over the road, run red lights, you name it.  I've yelled out "car back" to have them just completely ignore it and keep chit chatting with the person beside them.  With the hostility towards cyclist and the disrespect for the road that the cyclist have I rarely ride on that side of town.  I'll jump off my soap box now.

On another note, this was the first race I was a volunteer at and it was interesting.  I was on the bike course on my motorcycle until the pros finished then I was a "run cop" on the run course.  It was hot and humid yesterday and I'm glad I wasn't running in it so congrats to all. 

Good race for me yesterday up until the run (as always).  Maiden voyage of my wetsuit went very well with no neck constriction, and navigation was not difficult (no zig zagging).  I thought the bike course was really nice, except for a few stretches of bumpy roads.  I too was annoyed by the dude with the "go home" sign.  Just glad there weren't any tacks littering the road in front of his house.  Felt like there were several "pelotons" that kept wizzing past me.  I saw the referee maybe once.  Also saw two guys blatantly littering which sucks. 

Run course was very spectator friendly and provided good motivation to "keep running."  I also thought the run course was very well stocked with water/perform/coke.  Finish area needed to be about twice the size it was and have a couple more food and massage tents.  I think I was #75 in line for a massage and just gave up.  Never got any food, because line stretched to the awards table.

Feel confident about bike/swim skills going into florida, but run needs more work.  PR'd this distance here by 35 minutes, though so very happy.  Just wish I could run better.  Six weeks to get it in gear (5 with taper).  Yikes.  Overall a nice race, would do it again.

Back home today licking my wounds (feel awful beat up haha) but still on cloud 9 that I broke my goal of sub 5 hours by 15 minutes! I'm seriously considering Augusta again next year, it was a great race!

Hope everyone else had a great day!

The hills were mountains for a Floridian, and I didn't notice much of that blistering current 

The athlete guide mentioned aid stations every 10 miles on the bike, not even close. First was at 18? I found a lot of the bike course to be teeth-chatteringly rough. 

Enjoyed the course but it was tough for me. The river wasn't foul at all, and was a comfortable temp with a wetsuit on. Liked the run course, just wish it hadn't been loops.

I had an awesome race and crushed my time goal.  This was my first HIM and wasn't sure what to expect.  My swim time was far faster than I am able to swim so I must have found a good place in the river with a good current.  To someone from PA, the hills on the bike course were non-existent (isn't it funny how where you come from gives you a different perspective on things!)  Some of the roads I also found to rattle my brains!  I also saw the guy with the "go home" sign and at first thought it was some kind of joke that I didn't get.  But then I heard him saying "just get off our roads, you are disrupting the neighborhood, we don't want you here"  I was kinda surprised, but thought it was nice that the people sitting at the next driveway were apologizing for him and saying how much they were glad we were in town!  I didn't much care for the 2 loops on the run, because I knew just how far I had to go on the second loop before it was over!  That second loop seemed like an eternity!  Overall, I loved the race and the venue.  It so far exceeded my expectations.  I loved the distance and doing my first HIM at Augusta was perfect.  I hope everyone had a great race!!  Off to work on my race report now!

Karen

I will post a report as soon as I get a chance.  Overall a good race.  Great support. 

Swim didn't turn out like I wanted.  Long story short I got blindsided by some guys coming back onto the course.  After I regrouped it was a good swim but it took a while to get my composure.   Even with a few minutes of "composure" I still pulled a 30 min swim.  Love the current. 

Bike was fine.  And yes, some of those hills just kept going and going.  Another Floridian here.  Tried to pace and did pretty good.  And yea, some pretty big "packs" passing me. Loved the last 5 miles, they were pretty fast.

Started out too fast on the run.  Got tired real quick.  I was seriously doubting my ability for a while as my stomach felt terrible.  I think the first few water stations were a lot more than a mile apart.  Really needed a drink at this point.  They all seem to be well stocked though.  By the time we got to the second loop I was feeling pretty good.  I don't mind the loops because you get to see the spectators more often.

Agree that the finish area needs to be a LOT bigger.  I could barely move when I finished let alone get any food. 

Had a good time, might do it again next year.

enjoy,

Duane

Is there such thing as post Ironman depression?

I can't believe it is all over. I had an incredible time. I, too, saw the 'Go Home' good ol' boy sign. It was great.

I also heard of the controversy in regards to the cycling accident, mainly because of an article in the Augusta Chronicle.

In regards to the hills, also being from Jacksonville, Florida, I was quite surprised by the hills, mainly due to my inexperience in gearing to tackle the hills.

All in all, I had a great time at my first HIM. As expected my nutrition was my weakpoint, and lead to a horrible run. I ended up finishing 5:38. Given that my I knew I wanted to get really close to sub 5:30, but I knew it would be a delicate balance.

Here's several hundred great photo's of the race that my good friend Arnold Barrett took: 

http://spotted.augusta.com/galleries/index.php?id=439

Congratulations everyone!!

I really liked this event.  The swim waves were perfect in that I never felt crowded, the bike course was just challenging enough without being too hard, and the run was blissfully flat.  My only blip was when the sun was out on the run course--I couldn't get to the next water station fast enough.  I walked a lot the first 3 miles, though oddly enough my 2nd loop was slower even though I ran that one. Oh and I saw the marshals out a LOT.  I've never been in a race where I actually saw someone get red carded. One of my team members got dinged for blocking, even though she was all alone on the road at the time.  Definitely made me stay on my toes!

My team is already talking about the possibility of doing this race again next year--especially if the rumor's I heard about them flip flopping who starts first is true (meaning the women go first next year). I thought the community was just so nice--despite the angry sign dude who I just laughed off.

My only complaint, they ran out of toilet paper in the port-a-potties pretty early on.

Heather

Hi All,

here is the link to my race report.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=269999&posts=1&start=1

Duane

http://vimeo.com/31161268

A creative view of the 2011 race.

I have just entered first HIM so looking forward to it, just ran London Marathon now need to do a 70.3 will be coming traverling from England to do it, can some recommend a good hotel Ive just check the Marriott is full. 

Thanks