Post by the eel on May 24, 2009 10:40:00 GMT
IM Lanza – a fantastic spectacle. the organization and efficiency of the race was 1st class.
Friday….bike racking
I went to soak up the atmos on the Friday pm it was very smooth and painless for the athletes. There were lots of mad fools trying to beast me up some of the hills on the way to the transition!!! There were even some in the water swimming 1 lap of the course. They must know something I don’t! or how best to tire themselves out before the event. The highlight of the day was seeing Bella and Steven Baylis flowing into bike racking 1 hr before it closed with no fuss or bother. They both looked very determined and very fit for the event.
Saturday the race
I went to the start for 6am to see the final prep of the athletes – I met up with Trev to wish him all the best. He was nervous at what he had let himself in for. He had done the swim training and some biking but it was going to be a long run!!!! All the other athletes were pumping up tyre’s and donning their wetsuits. It was remarkably calm. There was no music blearing out like at Germany just the dawn chorus. It was magical watching the sun rise across the beach with the palms swaying in the background and 1,400 athletes warming up in the water. I got a great spot on the bandstand and waited for the off.
7:00 As usual the pro’s were off first and then the age groupers. It was certainly not the mad dash I am used to, with lots of people walking calmly into the water. It was going to be a long day and they were going to get their moneys worth! I saw the first loop on the swim then made my way to a good spot to see all the athletes run from the beach to T1. I knew if I got a few of them there then I could run to watch them getting on their bikes. I managed to get out of the resort to watch the riders about 10k into the bike and there were masses of them piling through! The roads were all open so the cars had to come right on to the other side of the road. I did not realize that in Spanish law if there is a motorist involved in an accident with a cyclist then he is at fault until he can prove his innocents. That’s why the Spanish drivers are so courteous to cyclists.
After this I went back to the hotel to pickup Katharine and we had both had signed up to help out as ‘sun creamers’ so we were looking forward to our tasks and more importantly me to go ‘back stage’ and ‘schmooze’ about in my volunteers ‘technical’ T shirt and access all areas wrist band. What a great way to see the race wow you get up close and personal with all the athletes you know and more! By 12:45 the pro’s started to arrive back into T2 and looked relatively fresh after their bike. They came in and out in a matter of seconds. A quick change of shoes and they were off. I wished Steve, Scott and Bella all the best for the run! I have some great photos of them coming into T2. Then it was time for Kath and I to earn our T-shirt and we got stuck into slapping cream on to anybody that came our way. This was great fun as we were able to chat to the athletes to see how they had got on and what they wanted to do. I loved this part and you got a great deal of thanks for helping them out as lots of them their brains had gone to custard. We were able to go for lots of breaks where we took full advantage of our IM bracelets and went to the food tent to stock up on all it had to offer. I got told off a few times for helping them put their kit back in the bags as this was classed as outside assistance!!!! Towards the end the ref’s were less strict and the athletes were even more grateful for your assistance as they had been out for longer and their run would be a real feat of endurance. I chatted to one bloke and this was his first triathlon – he had not even done a sprint tri before – what an into triathlon -
At 17:30 we were let off for good behavior and went to feast from the food tent – refreshed we went to support the runners. As usual if was a 4 lapper out and back. We stuck to the turnaround as we had the added benefit of the music and the extra atmos of the crowds. Our friends were very grateful for our support and there were lots of tears by all the athletes on their final run into the Finish. By 19:00 we were shattered and went back to the hotel – now I can say I fully appreciate the extremely long day the supporters have to contend with. Just to prove how tired we were we had an unbroken 10 hours sleep! I had planned to do a 6hr bike but have decided to swap this around as I was too tired. I will do this tomorrow and go out for a 4hr ride instead in the pm!!
In summary – an inspirational race, where ‘normal limits don’t apply’ the names of Harria, ‘Mirrador del Rio’ el Golfo and Timanfaya (Fire Mountain) will stay with you forever!
Entries for 2010 are now open - you decide if you want to enter!
Friday….bike racking
I went to soak up the atmos on the Friday pm it was very smooth and painless for the athletes. There were lots of mad fools trying to beast me up some of the hills on the way to the transition!!! There were even some in the water swimming 1 lap of the course. They must know something I don’t! or how best to tire themselves out before the event. The highlight of the day was seeing Bella and Steven Baylis flowing into bike racking 1 hr before it closed with no fuss or bother. They both looked very determined and very fit for the event.
Saturday the race
I went to the start for 6am to see the final prep of the athletes – I met up with Trev to wish him all the best. He was nervous at what he had let himself in for. He had done the swim training and some biking but it was going to be a long run!!!! All the other athletes were pumping up tyre’s and donning their wetsuits. It was remarkably calm. There was no music blearing out like at Germany just the dawn chorus. It was magical watching the sun rise across the beach with the palms swaying in the background and 1,400 athletes warming up in the water. I got a great spot on the bandstand and waited for the off.
7:00 As usual the pro’s were off first and then the age groupers. It was certainly not the mad dash I am used to, with lots of people walking calmly into the water. It was going to be a long day and they were going to get their moneys worth! I saw the first loop on the swim then made my way to a good spot to see all the athletes run from the beach to T1. I knew if I got a few of them there then I could run to watch them getting on their bikes. I managed to get out of the resort to watch the riders about 10k into the bike and there were masses of them piling through! The roads were all open so the cars had to come right on to the other side of the road. I did not realize that in Spanish law if there is a motorist involved in an accident with a cyclist then he is at fault until he can prove his innocents. That’s why the Spanish drivers are so courteous to cyclists.
After this I went back to the hotel to pickup Katharine and we had both had signed up to help out as ‘sun creamers’ so we were looking forward to our tasks and more importantly me to go ‘back stage’ and ‘schmooze’ about in my volunteers ‘technical’ T shirt and access all areas wrist band. What a great way to see the race wow you get up close and personal with all the athletes you know and more! By 12:45 the pro’s started to arrive back into T2 and looked relatively fresh after their bike. They came in and out in a matter of seconds. A quick change of shoes and they were off. I wished Steve, Scott and Bella all the best for the run! I have some great photos of them coming into T2. Then it was time for Kath and I to earn our T-shirt and we got stuck into slapping cream on to anybody that came our way. This was great fun as we were able to chat to the athletes to see how they had got on and what they wanted to do. I loved this part and you got a great deal of thanks for helping them out as lots of them their brains had gone to custard. We were able to go for lots of breaks where we took full advantage of our IM bracelets and went to the food tent to stock up on all it had to offer. I got told off a few times for helping them put their kit back in the bags as this was classed as outside assistance!!!! Towards the end the ref’s were less strict and the athletes were even more grateful for your assistance as they had been out for longer and their run would be a real feat of endurance. I chatted to one bloke and this was his first triathlon – he had not even done a sprint tri before – what an into triathlon -
At 17:30 we were let off for good behavior and went to feast from the food tent – refreshed we went to support the runners. As usual if was a 4 lapper out and back. We stuck to the turnaround as we had the added benefit of the music and the extra atmos of the crowds. Our friends were very grateful for our support and there were lots of tears by all the athletes on their final run into the Finish. By 19:00 we were shattered and went back to the hotel – now I can say I fully appreciate the extremely long day the supporters have to contend with. Just to prove how tired we were we had an unbroken 10 hours sleep! I had planned to do a 6hr bike but have decided to swap this around as I was too tired. I will do this tomorrow and go out for a 4hr ride instead in the pm!!
In summary – an inspirational race, where ‘normal limits don’t apply’ the names of Harria, ‘Mirrador del Rio’ el Golfo and Timanfaya (Fire Mountain) will stay with you forever!
Entries for 2010 are now open - you decide if you want to enter!
