![Age Group Line-Up]()
Age Group Line-Up
Yesterday's Ironman WA saw around 1300 entrants front up to start the 226km race. Amongst them, were some 44 members of the North Coast tri club, many doing it for the first time, others for the 8th time or more. As a member of North Coast I was there to cheer, encourage and support those that I've watched commit endless hours of training for the past 18 weeks and I wanted to be there to share their moments of exhilaration when they cross the finish line to the words "You are an Ironman".
This was the first time I've watched an ironman race and I tell you it's a BIG day for everyone. No amount of words can tell you how much preparation needs to go into the endurance training for this event. Even as a spectator, the day is long, hot and tiring. But the excitement and ironman fever gives you strength to endure to the end.
I can describe race day from my perspective. I didn't have anyone in my family racing but I knew the stories and struggles of many that had made it there today. Some had very specific time goals, others had only the goal to get to the finish. I was particuarly keen to see the races of TriathlonOz Members Jenny A and Fiona L.
3.8km Swim
![Age Group Mass Start]()
Age Group Mass Start
Race day started at 5.30am with the pro field heading out along the
Busselton Jetty in their red caps. The leaders were just starting to approach the end of the jetty when 15 minutes later the mass age group start in the white caps took off at 5.45am precisely.
Water conditions were not bad, with just a slight breeze and a small amount of chop but pleasant enough. No one really knew what the weather was going to do - it was a very pleasant start to the day but rain was forecast and high temps were expected.
T1 Transition from Swim to Bike
Coming out of the water, we noticed that swim times were generally slightly slower than for previous years. The course cut-off time for the swim is 2 hours 20 minutes and I stayed for nearly 2 hours and saw all the North Coast competitors come through. After running through the swim exit showers competitors ran about 400m on flat terrain covered with red carpet then a long grassed straight into the change tents in transition. Many competitors dropped items on the run to the tent - googles, swim caps, and many Garmins, which of course they had to run back for!#%&* People dropping Garmins did so because they unstrapped them from their wrist to enable pulling their arms out of their long sleeved wetsuits... something to practise perhaps?
![Lisa Todd (North Coast)]()
Lisa Todd (North Coast)
![Lee Scott (North Coast)]()
Lee Scott (North Coast)
![Tracey Edwards (North Coast)]()
Tracey Edwards (North Coast)
![Anna Woodhouse (North Coast)]()
Anna Woodhouse (North Coast)
![Bike Transition]()
Bike Transition
![TriathlonOz Member - Fiona L]()
TriathlonOz Member - Fiona L
180km Bike
The 3 lap bike course comprises a part of the 70.3 bike course from town out to the turnaround, but instead of returning to town, the Ironman course then nips out on Tuart Drive for another out and back loop before coming back to town via Layman Road. The cutoff time for the bike course is 10.5 hours and some competitors took every second of that. The day became very hot, and the breeze picked up to make it even more challenging. Technical officers on motor scooters were out to enforce the 12 metre no-draft zone and littering.
After all the age groupers had set off on their first lap, myself and the group of spectators I shared the day with had breakfast at the Esplanade Hotel overlooking Marine Terrace so we watched the pros return from their first lap and because breakfast took so long, we also saw a good few of the age groupers make their return lap also. At 10am we then went for a swim from the south side of the jetty and made a triangle course. The water felt beautifully refreshing, and I was glad of my wetsuit. We were then in the perfect position to watch the first pros start on the run course so stayed put to watch the runners from a fantastic
vantage point.
42.2km Marathon Run
We had scorching heat, rain drizzles, and fast moving clouds throughout the late morning and as the spectators huddled for shade or shelter, the ironmen and women held fast to their goals. As the day dragged on, it got hotter and as the runners got to the pointy end of the marathon, it was apparent that it was taking its toll. For some all the preparation paid out. For others, niggles tried to beat them. For most, they fought against the pain and focussed on the finish and the words "you are an Ironman".
The only cut-off for the marathon is the overall race time of 17 hours. The sooner you can get on the run course, the more time you have to complete it. But the run is where it either all comes together or falls totally apart. Despite the conditions some great run times were made.
I tried to make it to the very end but by 6pm I was suffering from heat stroke, lack of food and water! Pathetic effort from moi, in comparison to those ironmen and women - very impressed with all those finishers.
Congratulations to all the competitors. Whether your goal was a PB or to finish, you have all shown enormous courage and should be proud of your achievement. My personal viewpoint is that Ironman has knobs on it, so you will not see me signing up on December 9 for IMWA 2012.
Here's a small sample of the zillions of pics I took on the marathon. I'll try to upload more when I get more time.
![Troubled skies as the marathon begins]()
Troubled skies as the marathon begins
![Nimal]()
Nimal
![Dave Norton]()
Dave Norton
![Helen Vagnoni]()
Helen Vagnoni
![Alistar Press]()
Alistar Press
![Lisa Todd]()
Lisa Todd
![Dennis Tan]()
Dennis Tan
![Lisa Hitchcok]()
Lisa Hitchcok
![Sarah-Jane Brummage]()
Sarah-Jane Brummage
![Fiona Longden]()
Fiona Longden
![Courtney Ogden]()
Courtney Ogden
![Dennis Tan]()
Dennis Tan
![Nick Crane]()
Nick Crane
![Norm Black]()
Norm Black
![Roger Steinkrug]()
Roger Steinkrug
![Kate Bevilaqua (2010 IMWA winner)]()
Kate Bevilaqua (2010 IMWA winner)
![Jenny Alexander]()
Jenny Alexander
![Natalie Grundy]()
Natalie Grundy
![Anna Woodhouse]()
Anna Woodhouse
![Lindsay Richards]()
Lindsay Richards
![John Cooke]()
John Cooke
![Armband Station]()
Armband Station
![SJ - coming into wrist-band station]()
SJ - coming into wrist-band station
![SJ - finishing 3rd lap]()
SJ - finishing 3rd lap
![Tracey Edwards]()
Tracey Edwards
![??]()
??
![Carrie Prosser]()
Carrie Prosser
![Paul Mercer]()
Paul Mercer
![Sarah Cairns]()
Sarah Cairns
More Start Photos
![David Norton - will this be his last IM?]()
David Norton - will this be his last IM?
![Imagine this...]()
Imagine this...
![The start atmosphere is caos]()
The start atmosphere is caos
![Pro Start]()
Pro Start
![Paul]()
Paul
![Lisa Todd]()
Lisa Todd
![Tracey & Brad Hosking]()
Tracey & Brad Hosking
![Lisa was all smiles... all day]()
Lisa was all smiles... all day
![Maren and the great team of TO's]()
Maren and the great team of TO's
![Adrianne, Maren, Deb Kirkham, Wilson]()
Adrianne, Maren, Deb Kirkham, Wilson
![Official Helicopter]()
Official Helicopter
![Spectators line the jetty]()
Spectators line the jetty
More Swim Exit Photos
![Do you know this person?]()
Do you know this person?
![Do you know this person?]()
Do you know this person?
![Do you know these people?]()
Do you know these people?
![Name?]()
Name?
![Name?]()
Name?
![Name?]()
Name?
![Name?]()
Name?
![Name?]()
Name?
![Name?]()
Name?
![Name?]()
Name?
![Sam Goh?]()
Sam Goh?
![Name?]()
Name?
![PIS team]()
PIS team
![Helen Vagnoni]()
Helen Vagnoni
![Field of men... names?]()
Field of men... names?
![Helen Vagnoni]()
Helen Vagnoni
![Sarah-Jane Brummage]()
Sarah-Jane Brummage
![Norm Black]()
Norm Black
![Namil]()
Namil
![Field of men... names?]()
Field of men... names?
![Nick Crane]()
Nick Crane
![Fiona Longden]()
Fiona Longden
![Roger Pegoraro]()
Roger Pegoraro
![Fiona Longden]()
Fiona Longden
![David Norton]()
David Norton
![Heading for T1]()
Heading for T1
![Dennis Tan heading for T1]()
Dennis Tan heading for T1
![Steve Smith heading for T1]()
Steve Smith heading for T1
![Anna Woodhouse]()
Anna Woodhouse
More Run Photos
![Cowan]()
Cowan
![Rigg and Harris]()
Rigg and Harris
![Ford]()
Ford
![Team Abu Dhabi]()
Team Abu Dhabi
![Murray Cameron]()
Murray Cameron
![Men's Winner - Tim Bracht]()
Men's Winner - Tim Bracht
![Justin Zachan]()
Justin Zachan
![Phil Smith]()
Phil Smith
![Jenny Alexander]()
Jenny Alexander
![Clive Bingwa]()
Clive Bingwa
![Melina Townsend]()
Melina Townsend
![Geoiff Large & Jason McNamara]()
Geoiff Large & Jason McNamara
![Caitlin Brigland]()
Caitlin Brigland
![John Hill, Eoin Reville]()
John Hill, Eoin Reville
![Name?]()
Name?
![Men's 2nd Place - Clayton Fettel]()
Men's 2nd Place - Clayton Fettel
![Name?]()
Name?
![Gustavo Cardenas]()
Gustavo Cardenas
![Kate Bevilaqua]()
Kate Bevilaqua
![Kim Michelle]()
Kim Michelle
![Women's 4th Place - Elly Franks]()
Women's 4th Place - Elly Franks
![Name?]()
Name?
![Helen KIng]()
Helen KIng
![Name?]()
Name?
![Name?]()
Name?
![Spectators: Mike Wren & Arron Robertson]()
Spectators: Mike Wren & Arron Robertson
![Spectators: Chris Nobes (new North Coaster)]()
Spectators: Chris Nobes (new North Coaster)
![Luke McKenzie - pro favourite]()
Luke McKenzie - pro favourite
![Go North Coast!]()
Go North Coast!
![Susan Parora]()
Susan Parora
![Steve Smith]()
Steve Smith
![Alistar Press]()
Alistar Press
![Gary Couanis]()
Gary Couanis
![Alistar Press]()
Alistar Press
![Lee Scott]()
Lee Scott
![Helen Vagnoni]()
Helen Vagnoni
![Hlen - all smiles again!]()
Hlen - all smiles again!
![Fiona Longden]()
Fiona Longden
![Courtney Ogden - previous IMWA winner]()
Courtney Ogden - previous IMWA winner
![Stacy Hadac (USA)]()
Stacy Hadac (USA)
![Annette Eastwood]()
Annette Eastwood
![Sarah-Jane Brummage]()
Sarah-Jane Brummage
![Sarah-Jane Brummage (singing I think?!)]()
Sarah-Jane Brummage (singing I think?!)
![Kate Bevilaqua]()
Kate Bevilaqua
![Lisa Todd]()
Lisa Todd
![Spectators walk towards the finish chute]()
Spectators walk towards the finish chute
![Rod Marton cheering Alistar Press to finish]()
Rod Marton cheering Alistar Press to finish
![Alistar Press in finish chute]()
Alistar Press in finish chute
![Alistar Press taking the corner to the finish 9:55]()
Alistar Press taking the corner to the finish 9:55
![Alistar Press Finish]()
Alistar Press Finish
![The backend of the Finish Line]()
The backend of the Finish Line
![You are an Ironman!]()
You are an Ironman!
![Finishers receiving their towels and medals]()
Finishers receiving their towels and medals
![Kate Bevilaqua]()
Kate Bevilaqua