I'm looking at doing my first half-ironman in a few months time. I've done a couple of Olympic distance races and a bunch of sprint tris and I am seriously hooked!

I'm just trying to work out whether I'll go for the Gold Coast or the Port Macquarie Half Ironman. Looks like they're about 6 weeks apart and I don't think I'll be in any state to do both, so I have to make a choice.

Can anyone who has done both recommend one over the other? Good points or bad points of either?

Hi RaceMikeRace,

I am doing Gold Coast HIM simply because I have two kids and we are making a family holiday of the whole experience, race a great race then have some laughs in all the worlds.

Good luck in your choice.

Cheers,

Danny

I have chosen Gold Coast as my first HIM because the timing is better with a view to my first full - Busso in December.

I have heard great things about GC, and also I know that the course is slightly easier than Port - never done Port but I know the area very well and can vouch that it's tough.

What Danny says about a holiday is also true - I don't do any landmark event without making a big adventure of it , and Port is just too close to home to feel like a "sporting safari".

Whichever you choose, I'm sure it will be rewarding and hopefully a spur to do a Full someday.

Cheers

Hi Muzman,

I will keep an eye out for you! We seem to follow the same race schedule!

Cheers,

Danny

RaceMikeRace

I've done both and they are great courses. Port Mac has lots of hills on the ride and run whereas GC is mostly flat. Choosing a course will depend on your strength in each area and what you are looking for...eg. somewhere close to home or a holiday / challenging course vs easier course.

If you choose GC you'll need to drive about 25mins from Surfers to Coomera Waters whereas if you stay in Port the course is right there.

GC was my first HIM and I'd recommend it as a great one to start with. I'll be heading up to give it another go this year!

Hey Danny

Yeah, we have good taste in events, eh?

The other races I have booked in as definites this year are Nepean Tri at Penrith, Newcastle Foreshore, and Maitland Tri. I would also love to do that race they do in the Sydney CBD if they still have it - anyone know what it's called now?

Missed you at State - how did you fare? I had an average race because the poor old bod is running down after a huuuuge season.

We'll have to lure Runitloveit north for a few of these blue-ribbon events!

I might see you at GC - I am still planning out the rest of my year and working out what other races I want to fit in before for Busselton. If not GC then I might come up for Nepean.

Danny - are you coming over to Busselton for the ironman?? I thought one of your postings might have mentioned it.

I'm just not sure if I can fit in another half (and holiday!) before Busselton in December but working on buttering up the boss for a bit of time off!!

Plus escaping the Canberra winter (yep, it is still cold here in September) would be so good!

I have also heard good things about GC, but also the warning that you can't stay close to the course which means organising a car or a lift to the start.

Hope to see you there.

Hi runitloveit,

Brusselton is definitely on the wish list it depends on whether I can get the family motivated but Port is a certainty next year.

Muzman I am doing the Newcastle OD and Maitland Tri later in the year so I will probably see you at those too!

Cheers,

Danny

Hey Muzzman,

I know of no Tri in Sydney CBD anymore...The closest one is the BRW Corporate Tri held in April in the Domain. It is really well run but a bit of a joke as there are over 4000 competitors. Dont even think of getting down for very long on your Tri Bars...It is just too crowded/dangerous...lots of $100 MTB's and very bad riding skills...but if work springs for it I will do it again. (besides a chance for 'semi serious' working triathletes to perform wel against the average joe...I came 46th out of 4200 but rarely crack a top 5 as an age grouper so the standard is not really that high..apart from the top 30 or so.

The only other Sydney based Tri's are the Kurnell Series (sprint). They just added an Olympic distance tri at Cronulla in March...It was o.k...no timing chips, quite expensive...but plenty of room for improvement.

Aaaaah thanks, Beatlloydy, but BRW doesn't quite do it for me!

If you're not a corporate type and you're a semi-serious tri-geek, then it's really just an ego stroke to beat all the part-timers and once-a year-people. Besides, the courses are notoriously short-measured. I don't have tickets on myself, I did one once, but they are a bit of fun for corp types and good luck to them.

But - they DO have the cleanest and nicest portaloos in the sport of triathlon! (According to RadioActiveman!)

No, I seem to remember it being called City Cyclery Triathlon and it was 750/20/5 in length. It started near the casino and the bike and run leg went round and round Star City. Anyone recall it?

I am showing my age I remember it. PLU should also remember it.

Don't know when it stopped. I was there probaly at least 8 years ago.

Back then there was a few around the harbour. There was one starting at Pier 1. Met Dave Scott around then, he had come to Sydney for something can't remember. I was so in awe!!!

thomo

HI RaceMikeRace,

Aunty K has done both. From what I can see it is hills vs no hills, fast course vs slower course. If you compare the age based times for the same triathletes you can see faster times and lower cut off times for the Gold Coast.

Thomo I was too busy with young kids for the Star City tris.

I too remember in the 1980s the 2Day FM tri from Pier one and the swim across to Luna Park a ride through the lower north shore and then a run back over the bridge. I have no idea how we managed the bike logistics and then getting back for the start of the swim.

I am not sure if I did it or watched it but I remember it.

cheers PLu

personally, I would always recommend Port of course - most scenic course on the HIM series. However, GC does usually provide you with a nifty tri-top as part of your entry fee as opposed to the t-shirts you get everywhere else (these are the important facts you need to know about

Probably the other main comparison is that GC has traditionally been hotter, particularly on the run leg which doesn't get much wind. Port is much more exposed to wind - which conversely also be an issue for the bike leg ...

No-one's recommended Canberra HIM to Racemike though - it's back in the series this year and closer to Sydney (in mid-December). Hilly bike course, but it is probably my favourite of the HIMs

Formely JOREX - I've chosen to the the Gold Coast half this year as my first half. Have watched both races and feel the GC will be the 'easier' course of the two. Need to build confidence over the distance, so decided the easier course would be the way to go. Plus as other replies have said, plan to turn it into a bit of a holiday with my son as well. Will be training the Port Mac course before doing the IM in April, so I am under no false illusions of how hard it will really be.

As I said previously, GC fits better with my schedule this year.

I would like to do Port Mac Half, as I would like to be challenged by it, but not this year.

Besides, I still miss the HIM and IM not being in my town.

Yes, sure did Plu. As well as going to Rockhampton for the Yeppoon HIM before GC.

I enjoyed both courses for different reasons. GC has you swimming in the canal which I found great for a newby like myself. I didn't feel so exposed out in the open water if that makes sense. I also found the bike leg flat. The run was fairly flat except for one little hill on the way out from transition and you did this a couple of times.

As for Port... well it has all those hills . I have to say that the hills do make it more interesting and I think the views at Port are spectacular. The reason for going to Port was because my Coach wanted me to see the course before IM in April.

Did I have a favourite?? Nope, I'm happy with whatever is dished up on the day. That is the fun of racing

Cheers! K

Wow, thank you to everybody for your detailed replies! I appreciate you all taking the time to help me out. It's great to have some personal info from people who have done both races to base my decision on.

Saying that, I still haven't decided! Right now it's looking like I won't be able to take the leave to have a Gold Coast holiday, so it might have to be Port. Hell at least I can drive it instead of fly, and if I do a hard hilly course for my first Half, then the next ones I do will seem (relatively) easy by comparison. Not that I can imagine it's ever easy...

Actually Canberra might be a good call miners. Ah so many decisions!

Thanks again guys.

We will look after you if you choose Canberra!!

There are some nice hills in the bike course. If you decide on Canberra and wanted to come down and have a practice ride beforehand I would be happy to join you and show you around. The swim is in the lake (no ocean swell or waves to deal with - or sharks!) and a great run course around the lake. There is a short (200m) sharp hill in the run (hospital hill) but the rest is flat.

Unfortunately it is only a few weeks after Busselton ironman so I won't be doing this one - but no doubt I will be volunteering at a drinks station somewhere.

Not intending to hijack this thread but I guess I may as well publicly commit myself to GC as my first HIM.

I hope to back up with another HIM later in the season but am undecided whether it will be Port (is 5-6 weeks too short for adequate recovery?) or Canberra. I'm open to advice / suggestions from the more experienced triathletes out there.

GC might be easier but generally you're looking for what you find easier than other people, not what everyone finds easier, right?

I found a lot of problems with Gold Coast last time I did it, like having volunteers who weren't briefed on what to do and therefore didn't hand out ice, didn't tell you what drink they were offering you, couldn't tell you the distance, etc. If you want to test out the swim course before race day you will have to climb over sharp rocks, because of their insurance policy relating to the ramp. I found it a really negative experience compared to the Cairns HIM I'd done the year before and so did the tech officials.

Also, as has been brought up, it says 'Gold Coast' but that's used very liberally, unlike the GC Marathon where you run along the beachfront most of the way, you're at Coomera Waters, Pimpama, paralleling the pacific motorway... If you do it, have a great time, rise above the taxi drivers who were allowed onto the course by incompetent marshalls, and do us proud!

Thanks for your feedback tank girl.

I think I will still do the race despite these potential problems. I just hope they (the organisers) have learnt from past attempts and improved the logistics of managing an event of this size.

Regardless of what happens on the day, my goal will be to soak up the atmosphere, aim for a reasonable time (not prepared to share the goal time yet ) and then go crazy doing the theme parks for the rest of the week!

Yay! Theme Parks!!

Its Wiggle World all the way for me!

Thanks again to everyone who contributed from their fonts of wisdom to my initial question. I'm sure you've all be waiting with baited breath to hear my decision... drumroll please! Well maybe not, but since I asked the question to begin with, I had better follow through.

I'm skipping Goldy and going for Port Macquarie. The rationale is twofold:

1) Too expensive with flights, hire cars, accommodation etc when I can just drive to Port Mac. And unfortunately I don't have any annual leave to be able to make a holiday of it at Dreamworld etc!

2) The more important factor - an extra 6 weeks of training! I have enough fear about the race anyway, at least now I can start a full 18-20 week program and hopefully be well-trained by the time it rolls around.

Although a third factor was Tank Girl's comment:



Goldy might be flat, but I'm a skinny bugger anyway so I go a bit better up hills...

Hi RaceMikeRace,

Great stuff - good luck with the race!

Cheers,

Danny

I hope it all works out well - else I might be in trouble!

May your training be long and torturous and without injury, leading you to the perfect taper and the perfect race

bump

Do we have a confirmed start list for the Gold Coast HIM yet?

I'm heading up there with a couple of mates and will tackle one of the 2 races (but in truth, am really only mainly interested in going to Wet'n'Wild without the kids).

We could start a list of CRs for the following:

* GC HIM;
* GC Quarterman;
* Cheering duties;
* Monday Wet'n'Wild mayhem

Hey Miners

I'm in for the Half - staying at Surfers from Thurs - will get back to you on Wet'n'Wild

Muzman

How exciting! I'm really looking forward to this weekend.

Count me in for cheering duties please Miners. No Wild'n'Wild though - I'll be at Dreamworld

Count me in for the HIM Miners (my first and yes, I am scared ).

You might want to reconsider your Monday theme park options though. It looks like the beautiful people (myself included) are gathering at Dreamworld

hmmmm....really really want to but way too little preparation. supposed to be away camping with the kids from saturday arvo or sunday... but can't stop myself clicking back on the web site. this quarterman thing - could bluff my way through that i reckon call me a maybe for now

In for the half.

Have busted my arse for 12 months for this one. Went 5.57 last year and really really want sub 5 hours this time.

.32 2.40 1.40 plus transition.

(just had to put it i the public domain for accountability )

I'm in for my first crack at a half.

I'd looooooove to do 5:30, but I'd be happy with 5:45.

--Toby

Hi Miners,

Count me in for the Gold Coast Half Ironman.

I have the whole tribe coming up and we are staying on the Gold Coast.

Cheers,

Danny

I am jealous - wish I was coming up for this one. Particularly to see Plazbot do the swim in 32 seconds

Best of luck everyone - let me know how you all go!!

Hi runitloveit,

This will be a fun race (if you think 6+hours of hard work is fun - ha!) don't forget you have the big one later in the year in WA.

Cheers,

Danny

Well I HAVE been working on my swim after all.

I know Danny but I don't want to miss out on the 6+ hours of fun (or torture, depending how you view it!)

BTW here's another American website for you - I ordered some stuff from the because they sell Clif Bars and Gu's by the box - delivery was a little xxxie, but it got here quick (only took a week).
http://www.trivillage.com/

Hi runitloveit,

Thanks for the tip! I found a new one too (god now my secret addiction is out there!) Its:

http://www.onetri.com/

Just bought some 2XU stuff and it was a good price and delivered really fast!

Good luck with your training for WA.

Cheers,

Danny

I'll be there for cheering duties provided this baby stays in and behaves itself.

My sister will be racing her first HIM and I am keen to be there to support her.