Club Ironman 2010
Tue, 09/06/2009 - 10:09pm
Club Ironman 2010
Some of you may have only just got your 2009 IM out of the way, and some of us haven't even done that yet, but the shocking fact is that 2010 IMs are going to start selling out in the next few weeks. So now seems like a good time to find out which ones people want to do next year, prior to Monday's committee meeting so we can make an early decision on a club race.
So what are you planning/thinking? Do you have any feedback on IMs you've done?
Some dates:
IM Lanzarote 22nd May 2010.
IM France 27th June 2010.
ForestMan 27th June 2010
IM Germany 4th July 2010
IM Austria 4th July 2010.
Challenge Roth 18th July 2010.
IM Switzerland 1st August 2010.
IM UK ?
I gather the euro ironmen essentially fill up straight away so planning ahead seems sensible.
Having competed at Lanzarote this year I can say that having lots of other Oxford Tri folk around (both racing and spectating) was a great help, sharing accomodation, answering stupid questions, borrowing tools, laying the smack down, etc. etc. all helped me as a first timer and also having raced at Lanzarote this year a different style of course for next year might be nice. My vote goes for Germany or Roth.
There`s quite a lot of interest in going back to Nice ,next year,but i think quite a few people are open-minded of the venue as long as there`s a group of us going(myself included).Nice has the advantage that its less frantic to book than the others
I would be up for Nice again for sure - I know that course has a better time for me!
The single bike loop in the Alps is a good selling point (if you like "single loops in the Alps", of course). More conventional selling points would be that its easy to get in to, easy to get to, and easy to find good accomodation.
I've got my eye on Switzerland also (entries open 13th July).
Always good to go with a group though...
ive been looking into that tonight as well as i dont like having only one ironman race booked up
ironman germany opens for entries on 1 july and will be 415 euros whilst roth is open for entries on 16 july and is according to someone costing 300 euros (i couldnt see it on the website though)
ive emailed organisers of ironman switzerland, france and austria to check cost of those races
some things to bear in mind are that germany has the potential to be a non wetsuit swim which may worry some people and whilst roth is an iconic race and is former ironman europe its not actually ironman branded which could impact on those people who may wish to get a tattoo (ill count myself amongst that ;-) )
my vote would possibly go for germany or switzerland
I have a feeling for Germany as its a close by low costish option and could be fast to post a " time "
Non wetsuit would scare the hell out of me tho !
I did Switzerland last year- it was organised with usual Swiss efficiency. It is a 2 lap swim in Lake Zurich ( thankfully it was wetsuit though the water temperature was rising at an alarming rate a few days before the event) , followed by 2 laps around the hills of Zurich, then a 4 lap city centre run. The city of Zurich was not expensive as I feared.
I was thinking about Germany- though it is really expensive bearing in mind entries open on 1st July so we would need to stump up cash now. Nice also appeals as it does not seem to book up so soon.
Steve's Roth suggestion could be good- do we really need to be slaves to the brand of WTC?
There is an IM distance event in Italy at Lake Como- it is only about 200 euros (150 if you book up early!).
http://www.comolakeman.com/ I think Milan is the closest airport about 1 hour away by train.
As this is non branded I am not sure how Steve will feel about not getting a tattoo!
whats the run course like?
id like one that is pancake flat!!
The Como web site describes the run as ...It is completely flat, with a fast road ground -
no mention of pancakes but I am sure there will be pizzas to be found somewhere along the way.
You know it makes sense.
Purely rhetorical question........
Assuming some slow, old, fat traithlete was thinking of going for it next year. Which would be the Ironman you would recommend (flat bike, downhill swim etc)?
Sad case but M-dot is a must as this is likely to be the one and only.
Go on mate you known you want to
Its got to be Lanzarote,
I`m even tempted to keep you company myself,i`m sure we would make excellent examples of some FLT`s in a mid life crisis!!
I'm looking for something a bit different for next year, and the Como-man sounds like it could fit the bill for me as I'm looking for a non-branded race to save some money.
I'm also considering this race: http://www.alpetriathlon.com/
It looks absolutely amazing - you get to cycle up Alpe d'Huez. It is an unusual distance - 2.2km - 115km - 21km but seeing as it is all at altitude (2000m + for the whole of the half marathon) and what with the epic mountainous cycle leg, it looks to me to be the equal of an IM in terms of toughness.
Has anyone raced at altitude before? What is putting me off entering at the moment is I'm unsure of how much attention I'd need to pay to aclimatising to the altitude - any tips would be muchly appreciated.
I did IM Switzerland in 2006 and wholeheartedly recommend it by the way for those of you who are after a tatoo!
Of the official ones, Switzerland is prob my top. Does anyone know how quickly it sold out this year?
That Alp tri sounds pretty cool. The estimated first finish time is 5:45, so it's some way off IM but still a good days exercise ;)
I am also considering a return to Norseman in early August next year. Thought probably a bit too alternative for the club IM, it's still a great full Iron distance race and would be a lot of fun with an Oxford Tri team.
There is also scope for a tattoo
if you have enough space on your leg.
Switzerland sold out by around November this year ( I think) - though more spaces have just become available for this year due to all the Brits pulling out. I have heard on the grapevine ( ie the Slaymyster) that it will be 420 euros next year. WTC seems such a rip off- that is a heck of a lot of cash for a nice back pack.
Lake Como is awesome.
420 Euros for a race is just nuts.
Jerry, didnt't we agree to do Embrunman? 15th August this year, not sure about next. It's not quite full IM, but close.
I agree €420 is insane, that's over 4500 Kronor! What happened to the good old days (only 4 years ago) when they were about $400 wherever you went in the world?
Embrunman..........ouch.......
I'd recommend Ironman Brazil to anyone feeling like an adventure further afield. My 2009 race report here - http://nornironman.blogspot.com/.
I'm doing Ironman St. George (Utah) on 1st May. Hot and hilly through the Utah desert, but I've always fancied a US Ironman for the ra, ra, ra effect. And only one flight, Virgin from Heathrow to Vegas, and then a two hour drive north. It's on a bank holiday weekend too.
Another option is the newly announced Challenge Copenhagen in mid August. It's organised by the same group as Challenge Roth, Challenge Wanaka and Challenge Barcelona and they're out to be the new WTC.
Como-man is already on my Long Distance race schedule for 2010 as is Challenge Barcelona in October, unless you are seriously going for a Hawaii slot, want to collect more tattoos or Ironman finishers medals why pay all the extra money for a branded race unless it is a course or race you especially want to do?
http://www.challenge-barcelona.com/home/intro.html
What's wrong with Bolton?
The problem with Bolton is that it is too darn easy to get to. What is Ironman if it is not having a bit of adventure just to get to the start line? Be it having to pay excess baggage for the bike, forgetting that vital piece of kit you thought you could not do without followed by the subsequent last minute 'essential' purchases at the over-priced Expo?
Going overseas acts as an incentive whilst grinding out the winter miles. I am not sure the lure of Bolton would be as strong enough as comfort of the duvet as the rain lashes the window in January.
As this Forum topic seems to be going no-where I suggest as simple ballot is held, wherever event gets the most votes is 'the club event'- people can then make their mind up one way or another. One good thing going non WTC is that we will not have to pay for a while, and we will not have to pay as much for the event ( I realise financial concerns blow my Bolton critisms out of the water but I will gloss over that!).
Roth is 300 euros next year- but 280 euros if 10 or more people from 1 club do it.
http://www.challenge-roth.com/en/anmeldung/ausschreibung.php?navid=19
Wouldn't it be sensible to opt for the low cost option, afterall we are in a recession? We run the risk of keeping IM racing to a slect few.
As far as the 2010 Club Series is concerned, you could award points for any Ironman race based on a percentage of the winners time. This would allow members to race any IM in the world.
I don't mind which one as long as it is reasonably friendly for a first-timer and a few of us will be going.
Why not cover both bases by having 2 nominated (Like this year) and Go for IMUK, WTC Branded and Cheap(ish) and Roth, Non-WTC and something slighly different.
@Rob - I think that would work from a 'competition' point of view but slighlty dilute the focusing on a couple of events to get a race with more friendly faces.
I thought I would jump on and say I think Guy is spot on about an Ironman being an adventure. Bolton may be close and the cheaper option but I did Uk last year and to be honest I loved it but I dont think I got the full Iroman experience. Every one I have spoken to say go abroad!
I think it should be in europe but america could be an option but getting to france of germany can be quite cheap these day's
lets have a vote
Happy to set up a SurveyMonkey vote for the ones mentioned in this thread so far:
Any others?
To keep things simple I suggest one vote per person.
Good plan Yonadav, how about make it 2 votes each and nominate 2 IMs like this year?
I'm sure dropping an email to the club to point at said survey would get a decent response and then the credita card can take a hammering!
Nice Idea. We can have a poll right here, the function's been here for ages, just never used!
I can set that up. I reckon an approval vote would be most useful, where you can vote for whichever ones you would consider doing.
Try this for now but I am happy to do this on the OxfordTri site if somebody gives me access:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=84VvCtfHiAYQCp0ulY1tGA_3d_3d
OK I've put it on the front page, thanks Yonadav for collating the options!
Vote on the club Ironman 2010 here