hi there,

my hubby and I are thinking of the Noosa tri this year.......we are not serious competitors. Can anyone tell us more about the race.....in particular the cycle leg........it states a technical downhill, but what do they mean by this??

Also, what are the other events like in this festival? I was thinking of doing the Endura Swim/Run/Swim or the 1km Eyeline Ocean swim.

Any info is much appreciated. We have a 3 year old son and if you know of good family budget places to stay please mention them too!!

thanks everyone,

It is the most popular tri in Australia...many many competitors. You need to get in early as the field does reach it's limit and close to entries. The downhill is quite a steep section on the return part of the bike..but I who hate downhill have negotiated it without mishap...though there have been falls. Apart from that and the uphill on the way out the course is good but crowded,especially out on the run...also gets hot. Accomodation is notoriously expensive and difficult. You need to book early. Don't know about budget family...this is Noosa after all. Not trying to put you off as it's a must do event for most triathletes from elite down.

Hey downunder runner

It has been a few years since I have done this one, but is certainly a well run event that always features on my would like to do list. Usually lack of finances keeps me away

It is quite a busy event (triathlon) with plenty of people with different abilities, which is great, but keep your wits about you on the course. The technical downhill that you mention is pretty much a steep decent about 3/4 through the bike leg. I have been up to 80km/hr, but have heard of others reaching 100km/hr. There are probably many speed stories on that one. However, the biggest factor for my mind is just who exactly is within crashing range of you. Some years I have had to ride the breaks heavily all the way down because I got stuck close to a group who was not as quick as I wanted to be. Instead of trying to negotiate my way through them, it is far better to be a little more cautious and finish the leg on your bike and not courtesy of the ambos. From memory, I think there is also a sweeping left hander towards the bottom and a couple times I noticed some significant potholes. Thankfully, they weren't on my line at the time, because I doubt I could have dodged them in time.

I'm not really up on the budget accommodation as I haven't been there for a few years, but it is well worth sourcing.

Also not done any of the other events you mentioned.

Hope your training is going well and you enjoy the event.

thanks coolrunners/triathletes for such a quick response....

I was afaird I would read the word 'crash' .......I was wondering just how steep and long this hill on the cycle leg was and it sounds a bit too much for me.......History is, I had a terrible cycling accident just 3.5 months ago...landed on my face, plastic surgery...blah, blah.

My goal was to complete an olympic distance triathlon...I was only 4 weeks away from that before I crashed. I have the fitness, just need the right, (safer and smaller field) course.........maybe Noosa is not the right one. Any ideas of a smaller triathlon BEFORE Christmas time? Does not really matter where it is (apart from WA)...

Hi DR - hope you're recovering well from that mother of all crashes

There's not too many OD races around the traps up this way. Coffs used to have a good one (that featured as part of the St George, and then Accenture race series) but has been missing for the last couple of years. We here in Port are trying to organise one in the Camden Haven - but it won't likely be scheduled until February of 2007 (lots of great budget family accommodation though!). There are some races in and around Kurnell at the southern side of Botany Bay that vary between sprint and OD in length.

If you're not too worried about waiting till January, I am personally looking at entering the Canberra Capital OD Triathlon - one of the oldest in the country by all accounts. Haven't seen many details of the race so far, but I believe it's scheduled for the 28th January 2007.

Keeping to the theme, the country's oldest race is the Nepean Triathlon on 29th October, and is *almost* OD. 1km swim, 30km bike and 10km run. The sydney siders will go to great lengths to tell you how popular this race is!

Hi DownUnder Runner
I did Noosa in 1999 and it was a tremendous experience. If you want to do an Olympic event before Christmas I recommend you ignore the negatives (eg costs, accomodation, downhill cycling, etc) and do Noosa, else wait for Geelong (it couldn't be that cold two years in a row!) at Easter. Or even Canberra or similar.
The atmosphere at Noosa was great and you spend 3-5 days living/eating/talking Triathlon. And the Saturday afternoon elite races (bike crit and 5K run) are great to watch.
In defence of the bike course, most of the 'technical' stuff is on the narrow climb up to the turn and the the downhill is generally on a fairly open road. Just be a bit safe on the downhill and you should be OK.
If you are Victorian, you might find the temperature on the run a bit warm as we are coming out of winter. I jumped in the lake around 7K in to the run.
NOTE. Because they have such a huge field, if the organisers nominate a cut-off time (eg. bike racking), they MEAN IT!
Be safe but DO IT. You'll always count it as one of your favourite events.
OldnTired

thanks miners - it was a scary experience and still lives on in my mind everyday...particularly if I ever see anyone riding WITHOUT a helmet (it really did save my life).

I have just looked at the Nepean Tri.... and have also noticed a support event with the Shepparton Half Ironman - certainly NOT a OD event but might be an option.

thanks for trying to convince me about Noosa Oldntired....I hope one day I can shake my phobia - in the meantime if I can just ride my bike on a flat and safe piece of road, I would be happy.....doing an event again is the ultimate goal..

In the meantime I am improving my swim leg, and my running is my strength.

Hi DownUnder runner,

I've done the last two Noosa Tri's and we've just booked to go again this year.

It's fun but pretty crowded, especially on the bike course. We make a family trip out of it each year, and as long as you don't stay too close to Hastings St, it's not too dear. The kids have loved it each time, and this year we're dragging nanny and pop along for assistance.

The "big hill" is as fast or slow as you want it, and not that steep, just quite long. By "technical", they mean the uphill bit first, which is winding and very lump, due to all the potholes. Most of the bike course is great.

The place we've booked is called CoralBeach(.com.au) at Noosaville. Haven't been there before but it looks great. Make sure you stay the week after the tri, not before(like I did the first time - hard to relax!).


Hope to see you there!

I have done the bike leg twice in this race.

I would not call it a technical downhill at all. On the way up there are twists and turns. The way down is straight down.

Pedal until you cant pedal any faster, then duck down and hang on. And I mean HANG ON!!!!!!

I only weigh 60kg, and I got to 83km/hr. Some of my mates who are bigger got to 87km/hr.

Good luck finding budget places. It is the cost of this event that has put me off doing it more often. The entry fees are nothing short of ridiculous. Accommodation in the area generally isnt cheap either.

Last time I stayed in a caravan park a bit out of town (but on the bike course anyway).

Paul

That scares the hell out of me. 83km/hr??? I only recently got a bike and havent tried going overly fast as i'm still getting used to it. But 52km/hr is my fastest and it scared me a fair bit. Let alone having people around me. As having never done a triathlon before im a little unsure whether to enter it as my first one.

If it's going to be your first triathlon, I'd be more scared of exiting the bike compound at T2 than the hill. Biggest competitor field in Australia - lots of first-timers and inexperienced team-cyclists doing their one and only tri - and a narrow T2 exiting chute

Try and watch a copy of any year's TV coverage if you can get access to it

Miners ... don't you mean T1 ?

Then there's the right hander around the roundabout towards Noosaville ... that's always a bit hairy, especially if there's been a sprinkle of rain

Don't get me wrong DR, it is a great event and well worth the effort. But there are a few things to be aware of and be willing to adjust your race accordingly.

Enjoy whichever event you choose for the first ... it's the one you will remember always.

Agree with Ironbee. Noosa was my first tri. The main thing I'll suggest is to put your shoes on your feet, not your pedals. Clip on when you're on the bike .
So many beginners try this and it causes absolute mayhem in the mounting area, as people zig zag and stack into eachother.

... how embarrassment ...

I have done noosa a number of times and it is quite an extraordinary place to be. My first ever tri (as a pretend cyclist, before I even started running) I was in a team and thought that there must be someone famous cycoling behind me because of all the cheers and applause. I kept looking behind me but it seemed to be for me. Thats when I got hooked on tri's.

The ride is really nothing to be scared of. The ride out to 'the hill' is fine. The hill itself is a great place for posuers to pretend they are in 'Le Tour'. The first time I did it, I had done one 60km ride two weeks before and literally no other ride over 20km. I got stuck half way up the hill because I had never done anything like hills before. There were some people off and pushing their bikes, but I never resorted to that. The downhill is really nothing to worry about, its about 500 meters long and you can go as fast as you would like. The ettiquite is to stick left if you are not fanging it, and it does all sort itself out. Sure some people have crashed on the hill, but there are heaps more that don't. If you want to worry about stuff, let me tell you the story of my run leg there in 2005, thats the year a man died in the run, he colapsed and died right in front of me. I am much more scared of the noosa run leg than the bike leg.

Cheers,
Peter.

P.S. The person who passed away that year, was a family friend of a friend of mine and it was a very sad and tragic event. I do not intend to bring up any pain and suffering to anyone on this board who may have known the person in question.

gee guys........I don't know!! Remember my recent history.....I have had a terrifying crash on the road just under 4 months ago, so you can understand that the words 'techinical' 'steep downhill' and 'crowded' scare me...

I have no worries about the swim (although do they go in waves or all together??? and DO I NEED A WETSUIT ??) and I am an experienced runner. It is all about the bike leg for me........to put it into perspective, I went for my first bike ride (apart from using a windtrainer) for the first time today since my crash...just 10kms easy......

Just how long is this down hill? Do you have to do it just once, twice or more?

and thanks for the advice about the shoes podrunner - I usually get in and out of my shoes through transitions as I like to run barefoot, but maybe not for this event - as you say, it sounds VERY crowded.

Any one done the Shepparton Half Ironman ??????- a bit of a jump for me (have not done one before) - but the bike leg sounds safe...

Oh, I do not know what to do......I want to have a goal, as it is very important that I get back on that bike and start riding again on the road...

Just once down the hill & its a bit less than a kilometre. Good advice to stay left & take it easy, esp if you're lacking confidence. Last year it was raining & most accidents probably happened negotiating Noosa's ubiquitous roundabouts. Despite the rain it was very humid & hot on the run. Difficult to train for that in Melb. But an iconic event nevertheless, definitely worth aiming for.

Hi DR! Haven't seen you post on here for a while? I hope your recovery has been going well. Good to have you back.

I am already entered to do Noosa this year so there's no going back now. I've only ever done the run as part of a team about 16 years ago.

If you do the race, will you be hiring a car? Will you be flying into Brisbane airport, or Maroochydore? Most of the accommodation within walking distance to the race is pretty expensive. Probably good idea to compare accommodation close by and walking vs cheaper accommodation that is not-so-near and car hire. Most towns on the Sunshine Coast are a close enough drive to Noosa ie 45 mins. Try doing a search for Best Western type motels in Tewantin, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Coolum, Caloundra, Eumundi.

How long are you planning on being there? A week before? or couple of days either side of race? My folks are in Maleny - we will allow 60 mins drive - you are welcome to pm me if you want to stay too. Plenty of room.

Good luck with your training whatever race you decide to do.

This race has become my big goal for the next four months

Any tips on good places too stay? - close and cheap?

thanks Jo for your concern. (have you moved again???)......I am fine physically, just some nasty scars on my face that will one day fade i hope......emotionally it is harder, and I don't think I will EVER become a very good cyclist, simply because I am TOO scared of what can happen. Hubby and I are thinking of gettting a wind trainer which we will use during the colder/darker/wet mornings and during other times I am not yet ready to travel beyond my safe neighbourhood roads - races do not bother me normally, but big DOWNHILLS do.

I am still in both minds as whether we will go to Noosa.....probably a smaller (crowd wise that is) triathlon event is best for now....still looking for one in either Oct/Nov/Dec....

any suggestions are welcome.....

I've done this Tri for the last 2 years. Do it. I had never done an OD before and was a total novice on my bike (I had never riden in the rain until then!) The downhill is fine, I got up to about 65kms (which I'd never done before) Stay to the left, there is plenty of room as the fast guys stay right (no uphill traffic to worry about) The sobering sight of the ambulance at the bottom of the hill slows a few idiots down. If you are fit, the uphill is no problem, my husband did it on a mountain bike!
The buzz in Noosa that weekend is great. If you are flying up on the Friday or Saturday be warned... some bikes missed the plane (they were delivered to our hotel in time but was pretty stressful trying to put the damn thing together) Make sure you have accommodation before you enter, it's hard to find.
Worst thing I had to deal with in 2004 was the guy on a board scooping poo out of the water just before my start! Made the rest of the race easy.
The transition is crowded, let the competitive people through and do your own thing. Just stay to the left, they should let some of us put big yellow "L" plates on our back.
Runners are definitely the most supportive and friendliest, don't care much for the yelling from cyclists or the swimming over other competitors.
Give me a marathon any day

I did this tri two years ago - and while it was fun NOW looking back - i do recall telling myself i wouldn't do it again. It basically was the "city to surf" of triathlons. Soooooo many people which made it a bit hairy in bits! I am a very strong swimmer and love ocean swims yet i just remember i kept looking to the shore wondering if i could just pull out as it was the roughest/scariest swim i've ever experienced (and i've swam in pretty big surf). I found it shallow and crowded, so the only way to stop touching the bottom was to move deeper in, into the crowd. I was also very worried about the dreaded downhill, but made it thru, so you should be fine DR. The transitions are crowded as well so just really prepare your dismount in advance of coming into T2. Once on the run tho, i felt good and safe, and enjoyed running past the crowds . Having said all that - when i hear others planning the noosa tri weekend i do get tempted a little to give it another go - as the spectators are awesome, the atmosphere electric and all the other events just made it a great weekend of racing. Everyone should experience the noosa triathlon at least once! ps - wetsuits not required!

thanks again.........I have decided NOT to do Noosa.........mainly because my husband cannot really get enough time off work without making it too much of a rush. And I don't like big crowds at all - particularly in triathlons as I have only done 1 season. I also do not like the idea of being constantly swam over by others in the ocean!!

So now what? well, my hubby things I should give the shepparton half ironman a go. I have the base fittness, but have 5 months to build up my long rides, start regular swim sessions, and build more strength.

The bike leg states it is flat....and the lake temperature looks warm...anyone done this half ironman??? Please, please I would LOVE your stories.

Maybe I will start a new thread to ask..

Thank SO much for everyone's stories and advice........as always, coolrunning has been such a fantastic place for me to come to for running and triathlon.

Before you give up on this totally, the swim is IN THE CANAL!! A big bonus for the ones scared of deep water ocean swims. Piece of cake if you know the course. The good guys last year even ran along the sides for a while (something that I believe should be ILLEGAL!!) Maybe I'll be smart enough to follow the runners on a swim leg...