In preparation for Ironman AZ, I went to Tempe, Arizona to observe the 2015 race. Here are my notes.
I stayed at the Embassy Suites which had a kitchen. The hotel was about one block away from the official hotel – Mission Palms. The hotel was full of triathletes and their support team. After arriving on Friday, I found the swim start, transition area, walked some of the run course, listened to the race director’s talk, and tried out all kinds of great restaurants.
On Saturday morning athletes practiced swimming in Tempe Reservoir. The volunteers checked that everyone had a swim cap and timing chip to enter the water. From the looks and sounds of people entering the water, the water was very cold. Wear a neopreme cap and neoprene booties if allowed. Maybe add some vaseline to the cheeks.)
Next, athletes checked in their bikes. There were long lines to check in. Every bike was photographed as athlete and bike entered the transition area. The transition area had one mechanic to check bikes. Each bike has an assigned location. Swim and run bags were dropped off as well. Resolve any mechanical issues before dropping off the bike.
On Sunday, athletes arrived with wet suit, sports drink bottles, and special needs bags. They dropped off their special needs bags (they are not returned) east of the start, entered the transition area to pump up their bike tires, and head to the water line up. The transition area was roped off preventing spectators from entering. Some triathletes had bike pumps which they gave to their family as the family stood near the roped off area. Figure out how to pump up tires the morning of the race.
People were queuing by finish time for the swim. Goal was for everyone to be in the water by 7:00 am. Each athlete had a 17 hour cut off from the time the athelete’s wave entered the water. A few had booties. I saw one neoprene cap. People came out the water cold. The last cut off was 9:00 am. After the swim, the athletes put their knees on the steps and were helped up and out of water. Strippers were at stairs.
Volunteers radioed athletes numbers so when the athletes ran from the shoot to the transition area, other volunteers could hand them their bags. Some people changed outside. Was tent heated? People put gels and other food items into their jersey pockets. People’s hands were so cold, they had a hard time getting sleeves on. Once out of tent, volunteers put sunscreen on the athletes. Next, the athletes ran to their bikes and out of transition area to bike mount on the left. It rained and people were cold. Have a rain jacket.
Then course is 3 loops. The turn around was wet and very slippery. People were told to slow way down which they did. The bike finish was back into the shoot to the bike finish Remember if Garmin is on the bike, to take it off the bike. Some athlete’s hands were cold and they had a hard time getting stuff off the bike. Final cut off was 5:00 PM.
Many people wore bike jerseys. A bra top while swimming made it easy to put a jersey over the bra top. I did not see people changing into bike shorts, but that would have happened inside the tents.
Some wore plastic bags to stay warm with the rain as not prepared. One person came into T2 with a space blanket flapping around herself. Runners wore shirts and running shorts or tri shorts.
Volunteers radio’d ahead as athletes came into T2 to give time for the bag volunteers to find bags. During the peak time, some people needed to go to the isles to pick up their bag as volunteers could not keep up. A tent was situated on the way out of T2 to smother sunscreen on people. Know your bag number and where it is.. Turn right to start the run for 2 loops.
Some of the stations were elaborate with a theme. The last hundred yards was slightly uphill. the course was 2 loops mostly on paths following the canal. The loop goes through parking lot. When done, instead of going into parking lot, go straight into finish shoot. After shoot, turn left into food area. Space blankets provided.
As people came into the finish, their name was called out. They came through the shoot and on the left was an area with refreshments. Straight ahead was the medical tent. The finish was well lite.
