Can I please go on the public record as stating that this is important and relivant advice

milov

To be a real Ironman you have to have done the 4th leg before midnight of race day!!!!

Train safe

PS Aunty K see you at the Cold rock

Good advice.

I guess if I do have the drip hopefully I will feel restored enough to still partake of the icecream at the end and at Cold Rock the next day.

Should we get a list of bib numbers here to make it a bit easier for the supporters to spot us and cheer us on.

Diane I would love to have you "catch" me at the end.

I can't help but think of the people who are already heading up there and getting into the mood.

4 sleeps now.

I'm sure you'll be fine ERB, they usually only IV people who are incoherant / vomiting / unable to walk etc etc, and you will be fine. There was a real trend of people wanting them for a few years there, but it's best left to those who really need it.

Diane was my "catcher" at my first ever Ironman in 2002!!

Also ERB, get the Ironman Wetsuits people to put the wetsuit on properly for you, or go visit their expo stall on Friday/Saturday and get them to show you (or Milov) how to put it on properly, it makes a world of difference, prevents chaffing etc.

although I don't really like the idea of Milov putting on my wetty, I meant for him to be shown how to help you put it on right

Oh no what 4th leg ??

It is bad enough with 3 disciplines. Chances of equipment failure and incidentals like losing goggles or getting stuck in the wetsuit, bike punctures, crashes and sunburn on the bike, transitions, run bags, bike bags and special needs bags.

Deep Breath............................

Little Black Pug thanks so much. I will take your advice re the wetsuit. I am still laboring to get it on. When I was trying to get it on at Shelly the week before last I must have looked like a flailing seal as some guy kindly offered to help me.

It's very easy to feel overwhelmed!! But I would tell myself just to break everything down into small bits, and deal with one thing at a time, not thinking about the 'big picture'. If something goes wrong, I would tell myself to just take a deep breath, deal with it, then get on with the next thing.



There certainly is a nack to getting the stupid things on!!

Hey LBP,

ERB looks great in your wetsuit.... I am pretty sure that I would look good in it too

milov

Hmm on that note it might be best to get the ironman wetsuit people to help me.

I don't want to get involved in a scuffle over who ends up wearing the wetsuit as I suspect I could lose.

Milov if you want to look the look, get involved in tri's. You know you want to.

Or maybe it's just the neoprene !!

I love the way you think Mouse Mango tells me both pre & post race packs are packed. And I can assure you both packs (but particularly the post) will be put to good use!

Mango & the Mini Mango left for Port Mac this morning. My mum (otherwise known as Mother-in-law Mango) & myself are leaving tomorrow, as are the rest of Team Mango. Oh so very excited

I'm going crazy. Everyone's leaving early, I won't be there before Friday...

Tomorrow is going to be a very long day at work..

no offence Pug, but that is a hilarious, albeit unintentional response to the original question as to what the 4th leg is

I'm not sure if B+ will have picked himself up off the floor yet if he's read your reply

Oh - we are so excited for you!!!!! Keep us updated on progress during the race and try and pace the cheering. You don't want to blow up during the run leg and have no voice left.... Then again I am sure you have a cheering strategy all worked out!

Hehe. This is my third year as a cheerleader at IM. And although this year it's personal I intend to stick to my tried & tested routine - which, of course, includes coffee before the athletes arrive back at T1 and second breakfast while they are on the bike. It is, after all, a long day. Di's comment above:


is equally applicable to the cheersquad

ERB- my advice- pack into cycling and run bags enough gear for every weather. Saturday might be nice but if Sunday will turn up cold and rainy this jacket in the bike bag will be priceless!

OK now that I've picked myself back up off the floor ERB

The 4th leg?!?!? Well you will need your partner and try not to cramp......................


Train safe

Oh.

And I thought the 4th discipline was shopping!

Or is that eating ...

I'm here already mate. Done MFD a couple of times, the drag race out to Cathie, Town beach back to the Green and spied the Tents and the 'other' expo area. Sweeeeet

this is Transitions-talk infiltrating CR isn't it!!

OK,

I am still coming to grips with not heading up this weekend

I am planning however to keep an eye on Ironmanlive throughout the day. I have a list below of CR's competing. Any more race numbers?

Mango (881)
Will (1429)
EverReadyBunny (836)
Jason M (978)
SeanP (1152?)
Paul Every (472)
Aunty K (751)
Hymie
Plazbot
Helmet
Coolbannas
Casie
Kandingo
Lezan
Runster
Goodcatch

Spoke to Mango earlier. After two days off work, pacing the halls at home, he is very excited to be in Port. He said he went for a run with the Mini Mango from our hotel at Flynn's Beach to the breakwall & back; he commented that the hills will be interesting on the third lap. He hasn't seen Matthew Flinders Drive yet

Good luck to everyone competing - just getting to the start line is amazing achievement and you should be proud to have dared to dream and to have got this far. Best of luck at the race itself, and remember to HAVE FUN!

I will be there cheering you on, as my wife is competing. For the record, she is called Jocie and is bib number 473.

See you there!

TallGeoff

That will be REAL interesting on the third lap!

I'll be sitting at the top of the Davis Crescent "bonus" hill hounding him up it each lap

I have a couple more numbers.

Lezan - 833
Nihao's other half Nick - 1361
Helmet - 856

Oh dear re the 4th leg
I think I was a bit heavy handed with the equipment requirements, I could lose at least the goggles.

Will I am also going up on the friday and I am glad. I think I would have a heart attack if I went up any sooner and saw all the athletes.

Good luck to everyone.

B+ - i think i qualify as a real IM too funny!!

No problem having you with us at Cold Rock also.

ERB - looking forward to seeing you here at Port.

I've done the organised swim this morning, ridden on the course & done a run. I'm feeling very good at the moment. I should add that the weather is pretty good so far, although it has been pretty windy last night and this morning.

Not long to go now

AK

I'am leaving work in 1hr, finish packing the bags and putting everything in the car tonight and leaving Sydney at 5am tomorrow morning!

Can't wait!!!

Update from Port:

The place is buzzing with alot of athletes arriving today.

I've done another swim this morning & still feeling very good.

The weather is warm and sunny. Apparently, this is going to change

Thanks to my favourite CR's who are sending PM's, emails & SMS you are great buddies to have.

BG - big hug to you & thanks for the beautiful message.

Cheers,
AK

Good luck and best wishes to everybody!!

You are all legends in my book.

I remember last year was glued to the computer monitor, watching the race unfold during the day (and night) on the live webcast. It was a very emotional moment watching Aunty K coming across the finish line. Very inspiring.

Just back from one of the better Carbo Parties I've been to. The talk by Ben Darwin was hilarious (ex Wallaby, and 105kg Ironman-to-be), and Kate Major's chat about her sister Emma who has been on a 5-year recovery from a car/bike accident was very moving.

And how was the talks from the multi-IM finishers? Get this - one of the Pro's, named Peter from Checkoslovakia, only begun competing in Ironman in 1999. And yet he has completed 65 of them! When asked about his goals for this year, he indicated he may step back a little from the previous season, in which he had completed 14 IMs in the one year

Good luck to all you starters on Sunday.

Special thoughts to Pam Green - lots of love to you.

Big BIG kudos to Rob Davidson on his 22nd OzIM!

Updated CR list... anyone else???

Mango (881)
Will (1429)
EverReadyBunny (836)
Jason M (978)
SeanP (1152?)
Paul Every (472)
Aunty K (751)
Mrs TallGeoff (473)
Mr Nihao (1361)
Helmet (856)
Lezan (833)
Plazbot (1182)
Hymie
Coolbannas
Casie
Kandingo
Runster
Goodcatch

Just remember that in Paul Every's case - sorry, I don't know about any other CRs - he will be wearing his LEGEND number in the actual race.

It will be something like 19-15 or 20-25, where the first number is the number of IMOZ's finished and the second is whether you're the 1st, 5th or 25th Legend created, etc.

Not being pedantic or anything, but would hate Paul to miss a GCR or two from people (are there any?) who don't know him by sight.

M

Hey all,

exciting atmosphere here... kind of wish I could join in the fun. I will have to be content with yelling my lungs out to support the bunny and all the other crs who are participating in this very special event

milov

Hi all,

I guess the competitors should be in bed. So sending you vibes to have a great day tomorrow.

cheers PLu

Well, um, Mango isn't in bed yet; still sorting his special needs stuff. Of course he is relying on the fact that daylight savings ends so it's really only 8.24pm

Is anyone watching this at the moment? You can view updates here.

However, in previous years there was an athlete tracker, where you could type in a bib number and follow an athletes progress. Can't seem to find it this year. Any tips?

Unc

Heard on the grapevine that Aunty K is out of the water in 1.27ish.

The list of "live" events on the Ironman website has one omission - IMOZ - this may explain why the athlete tracker is not working.

Unc,

I was trying but I've had no luck at all. No tips here, but I'll keep peeking in....hopefully a quiet day in the fire station for me!

Prof

The current results are available on the MultiSport Australia website, click this link and then select "Ironman Australia" 2008 from the drop-down list. You can then enter a competitor's race number or name, for their latest splits.

Frustrating, i've got heaps of friends and clients competing, i was gonna sit on my fat arse and follow their progress all day. For the record i'll tip Vernay and Major. Edit: Thanks Tux. Looks like all are well and out of the water, conditions must've been tough, times appear slow.

Here are the swim times and positions for the CR's whose I have race numbers I have.

# Name Swim Position
472 Paul Every 01:22:45 1191
978 Jason M 01:11:08 715
751 Aunty K 01:27:13 1276
836 EverReadyBunny 01:35:28 1383
881 Mango 01:13:58 847
1152 SeanP 01:05:31 405
1429 Will 01:10:55 700
833 Lezan 01:25:11 1238
1182 Plazbot 01:02:14 251
473 Mrs TallGeoff 01:03:19 305
856 Helmet 01:21:21 1147
1361 Mr Nihao 01:20:56 1139

Athlete tracking is now working on the IronMan Live website, here is the link.

Edited, as I solved my own problem

I don't think the video is working until 2pm.

Tux - you da man! Thanks for that...

Thanks Hamburglar, I have a habit of asking before looking for myself. Now using the Live Athlete tracker to watch everyone.

I'm torn between going for run and keeping in touch with the race

Charlie Low is flying through the field, still could be a chance of winning 30-34 yrs, only 10min behind leader at 120km into bike with a very strong run leg to come. I'll tip him for 2nd. Richard High also in the overtaking lane with a strong run to come, possible top 10 and chance of Kona.