Ford Ironman 70.3 California: Official Thread (Page 10)

toddg - 2009-04-06 11:28 AM Great race everyone and extra thanks to all the volunteers!

Interesting reading through at least one race log the comments that the 'draft police' were out in force.  I thought this was just the opposite. I had no less than a dozen draft groups blow by me on the bike.  And these weren't just casually close or passing, the were staying inches away wheel to wheel as far as I could see them ride ahead.

Also, several comments on the sunlight for the way back into the harbor. Not sure if was the pre 7am wave start, but I didn't have any problems seeing people or the buoys. I did laugh as one guy swam right into the second buoy of the course on the outbound leg. Almost choked on water as I watched his arms flailing away into it. I think he ended up going underneath. I happened to be looking ahead sighting at the time and had to slow to and watch.

Interesting reading through at least one race log the comments that the 'draft police' were out in force.

TheWolf - 2009-04-06 2:08 PM

Todd...I think it was I that stated that.  All I can state is that I was buzzed no less than twenty times by a race official on the motorcycle, particularly while I was on the outbound (West) side of the bike course.  Definitely not as much presence on the East side.  I guess what I should have added was that I saw a lot of them, but didn't see a lot of people in the penalty tents.  Then again, I didn't see a whole lot of drafting going on - certainly nothing on the order of what some people in the later waves described, which seems perfectly plausible given the sheer number of people that would have been out on the course by that time.  It would have peeved me off to no end to see any of it going on, expecially since I'm usually an FOP'er on the bike and I HATE cheating of any kind.  I don't mind it on the weekend when I'm hammering down PCH and I get the odd roadie sucking off my rear wheel, but its a totally different ball game on race day.  Then again, I'm also amazed that I saw at least four different dudes running shirtless, people with iPods on, Oakley Thumps....don't any of these people even bother to skim the rules?

Actually, the biggest issue I had on the bike was trying to get around packs of 3 or four people who were riding shoulder to shoulder, taking up the entire lane.  Then again, maybe they were paranoid about getting a yellow card for drafting so they decided to stay lateral to at least avoid any chance of a drafting call.  I honestly don't know.

On a different note, my wave started at 7:10AM and the return wave of the swim was IMPOSSIBLE to navigate.  The sun was burning the retinas out of my head and that was with a very darkly shaded set of goggles on.  The only navigational aid I had coming back in was the West shore of the harbor and the multi floor condo complex just to the East of the boat jetty...

devouahy - 2009-04-06 2:15 PM

I saw a little bit of this pack mentality going on too.  I would sometimes be passed in big packs, but no officials to be found.  I didn't see officials penalize anyone and I never saw anyone in one of the penalty tents.

enginerd - 2009-04-06 5:12 PM

I concur with that. Penalty tent were all empty when I was out there. Guess when official results are posted we will notice how many penalties they really gave out!!