Fretting about IM cut off times if bike course is changed!!!

ploddinglady · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 17 Location: Manchester

Just wondered if I am only person stressing about these rumours of a 7000ft new bike course?? I entered as my first IM and will have to work very very hard to make cut off - if the bike course changes to 7000ft of climbing, I think my chances of making the cut off and pretty slim. I'm not sure if I want to do it if that's the case as I wanted to try and enjoy the experience and not be panicking about every minute.
I wonder if they will give refunds?
I feel as though I have entered a race thinking the bike course was one thing and now it looks like it's going to massively change?

I imagine there's other athletes who have also entered aiming for sub 10/sub 11 etc which might now be out the window.

Not wanting to sound miserable, just wondering if anyone else feels the same?

JeffB · Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 1406 Location: Middlesbrough

I'd wait and see the official announcement, and if possible ride the course.

7000ft is a fair amount of climbing (if you aren't used to it), and I always think it's a bit unfair when they change the (originally) advertised course after a lot of signups, but I suspect that's in the smallprint somewhere.

You can usually transfer to another race if they aren't full, but it would have to be a European one unless you fancied Wales, which is also lumpy.

Jeff

PCP · Joined: 13 Oct 2012 Posts: 2005 Location: Manchester

If you are based in Manchester you should be able to get out and train on the course.
Have you thought about joining Manchester Tri club? They are a great bunch and have so very good swim sessions which is the first point of making the bike cut-off.

Also just get out and ride your bike up as many hills as possible.

Get your swim to 1:30 which is very easy to do then even if you take 10 mins in transition you will have 8 hours 49 mins to do the bike. That is just over 12.5mph, leaving you 6.5 hours to walk a marathon.

It is LOADS of time if you get some training done. Just make sure you spend enough time swimming and biking. If you are worried about cut-off then you won't be running much anyway.

Do you enjoy spending time on your bike? Can you swim?

I'd rather they'd left the course (or made it easier Laughing

) but it is what it is and I'm just going to train as hard as I can to see what I can do.
Dream times are dream times whether 10, 11, 14 or 17 hours. Work as hard as you can for it. It isn't supposed to be easy.

Jorgan · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 12:45 pm Post subject:

This is Bolton? By my reckoning, you have over 7 months to prepare for it; that's a lot of time if you are committed and motivated to complete an Ironman event.

No matter how long an Ironman takes and how fast you are, the one thing that's common to everyone who makes it across the line, is that they committed to achieving their goal.

Today, you have 222 days of equal length until 14 July 19 - you can do it!
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Wheezy · Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 1889 Location: Sub 3 (elect)

It’s starting to sound a lot like Ironman Journey around here!

Ploddinglady, best of luck. As PCP and Jorgan say, you’ve got quite a bit of time before the fear sets in. Deffo join a bike or tri club to help get you out over the winter and spring. Let us know how things are going Smile

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Jorgan · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 2:43 pm Post subject:

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is there a link to this hill fest?
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