I am considering heading up to the Gold Coast for this years Half Ironman. It is on the October long weekend (5th). Anyone else heading up and want to share some accomodation/hire car costs etc?

Yes it is Hamburglar .

Plenty of friends from both my clubs heading up for this race. They can out themselves when they are ready to .

I loved this race last year, but won't be along this year due to other race plans.

Enjoy!

AK

Interested.

I did this race last year as my IM validation event.

Is this your intention as well Hamburglar / Spud ?

Have fun,

I won't be going this year due to other commitments - last year was very very VERY hot so make sure you look at your hydration strategies just incase its the same this year!

Good luck.

Danny

OK I'm outing myself.

I've posted my intentions for the year elsewhere but this is officially my target race. We have already booked accommodation at Broadwater but I am yet to enter.

After me being on cheering duties at Port Helmet is banned from racing and will be there to do my bidding

I am deep in training, shedding the kgs, and will be looking for a qualifying finish

wt

Yeah I'm in. Particularly keen to see how the organisers have responded to the logistical problems of last year - especially the change in location.

Mind you, after totally enjoying the Quarterman last year, I'm torn between which one to enter. The HIM distance will be my focus for the season. But the quarterman was great fun, was over early, and gave you time to shower, change and then spectate for your mates in the HIM. Much like the early start for the Half Marathon at the GC Marathon weekend. I'd highly recommend the Quarterman for anyone possibly considering it

I have recollections of reading a press release from the organisers which said that they had reduced the distance of the Quarterman race. Can't remember by how much though...

Hi Jen_runs,

Its now called the Sprint Man: 1km swim • 33km cycle • 7km run

http://www.usmevents.com.au/gchim/index.html

Cheers,

Danny

I recall Blue Dog and Tim talking about this race. I can't wait to see the GBH/Mellum war ona triathlon course...

yep.

I suppose I better get on my bike. I'll take the basket off the front but the tassels are staying!

One down, one to go.

Leave the basket on. that way you can have all your special needs with you during the bike leg.

BTW Tim are the tassels on the bike

What about the cards in the spokes?

keep the tassels and add some spokey dokes to the wheels you won't get noticed at all

K

Thanks for clarifying that Danny. I had a fun (albeit fn hot) day cheering at last year's race. Unfortunately I won't be there this year.

whats all this tri talk?
mellum is morphing man!

oh damn - that's hardly worth the travel then. Looks like it's back to the HIM.

and actually, on thinking about it a bit more it's a damn shame too. It was a unique set-up with the early starting quarterman, and the unique distance. Thought there were a lot of attractions to that option. Suppose this makes it a little more reachable though, which would probably make it a better supporters' distance ... mmm

sorry, just thinking aloud.

btw UCB - get with the program

Sound like there will be a good CR crew - kooool.

UCB - GH, GCHIM, GNW and C2K. 4 events in 4 months! It is the new grandslam

BTW, a question for the QLDers - would it be easier to get to Calypso Bay from Gold Coast airport or Brisbane?

OK - I am officially outing myself. I am in for GC, have found myself a coach and am looking to finish whilst still smiling. Yet to enter but I have many eyes watching me to make sure it happens!! Bit scared but pretty excited and motivated right now

It's nice to have you on board Mouse

Way to go Mouse

Good work Mouse. And yes, there are still many eyes watching to get you to the start line in September

Great debut location for a half. Holiday for the family and work and play for you.

Make sure you keep your eyes on the cheese and don't get trapped into doing what others do, okay Mouse.

I am all booked in for this one as part of my build for Busso IM. Flying up and staying at Broadbeach.

WT, Mouse, hope we get to meet face to face finally - very excited - you will both do great!!

Oohhh extra motivation to be there!

Ok, I'm off to the pool! Besides the fact that I am meant to be tapering for TNF100 and need an "outlet" that doesn't involve much running for the next 2 weeks, it'll take me this long to get back into some kind of swim form

Hamburglar, it's about half way between the two. 40mins from either direction on the freeway.

Oops, forgot to say the important bit.... i am planning to do this one again this year. i did the HIM in 06 which was my first triathlon. with no swim training and 8 weeks of bike that one was a bit of challenge. did the quaterman last year with Miners already on his second cappucino as i finished... since they reduced the short one further this year, i just have to step up and re-visit the demons of 06. i copped enough ribbing doing an even called quarter man and couldn't face them into for doing the 3/16ths man - i think it's a great idea for entry level and finishing and supporting friends though as Miners said.
See you there....might even do some proper training for it this time
PH

I was forgetting the only problem with the GCHIM......it means swimming training through winter Yes the water was a lovely 25 degrees and the sun is shining, but it hurts to get in and out! I'll toughen up again eventually, I hope!

I like to stay soft and squishy myself. i only like to run on sunny winter days and only ride my bike when there is no wind. i am not sure what to do about swimming. I wonder how little training I can actually do a HIM on? Come on how hard can it be you are sitting for most of it

I bet that statement is going to come back to haunt me

I'll do my best

Great to hear Mr.Horse. Will be all the better having you there toe-ing the line. Definitely the HIM for me too

Mind you, having just gone through some hurt in the Club Champs last Saturday, I'm thinking that offering the 3/16thMan isn't perhaps that bad an idea after all. It's a distance that approximately matches a few races around here, which are seen as a great first-timers distance. Being so close to 2 population bases, the race is probably a great idea for race supporters. Suppose it would be even better being held the day before (ala Husky) seeing as bike check-in occurs then anyway. But that's a big ask for drumming up support for volunteering, road closures etc.. 2 days in a row.

btw Pete, I suspect Tim would benefit from a glance at your 2006 HIM training plan!

I'm turning a little green reading this thread but with "my" final set of HSC exams only 10 days later, I've decided to stay home and keep Micro company, pandering to his every whim in order to keep him in a happy studying mood. Boy, he'd better pass.

Good training to all. I will certainly be interested in your journeys.

I'm seriously thinking about the SprintMan for that very reason. I'm tempted to have a go at that as my first Tri.
I'm trying to convince my GF that it would be a good idea for her as she's doing Noosa about a month later.

hehe... yes Tim, with zero swimming and 8 weeks after purchasing my first bike, my mindset was "hey, i ran a marathon a few months ago, how hard can this be"?..."i'll just get through the swim, and steady on the bike, and bring it home with a nice strong run". i thought the run splits from the previous year's results looked pretty easy to achieve....
swim was ok thanks to wet suit assistance, on the bike i attempted to av. 30kph which would be about 50% of the way in the field and did so for 68k (that's the last turn for home), but with only one over 65k by that stage, well... couldn't stay sitting on even the gentle hills coming back to T2. then my training partner passed me a lap up on the run leg giggling as i used that good old Eddie Murphy line "my legs, my legs i can't....etc" ...the first 8k of the run was a culture shock, at least now i know what a brick session is for...
oh, and this year i'll study up on nutrition plans as well... might skip the three course main meal with entree and dessert on the bike and try to save 9 minutes in T2.

having said that... you ultra guys? well, seem like you can do unbelievable things so perhaps turn up with the boardshorts, Malvern Star, German army helmut, and Dunlop Volleys and you'll probably still split the field.

i reckon it will be a huge event this year, judging by growing support for tris and running in SEQ at present.

cheers

PH

After I said I was looking at the Sprintman as my first tri, a friend mentioned that he thought last years GCHIM wasn't very well organised. He was part of a team for the HIM. He basically said that he would pick a different debut event.
If anyone competed last year, what did you think of the organisation/transitions etc?

With only a smidge over 7 weeks to go I think it's time to resurrect this thread.

I am getting a tad excited. My training is going well while weight loss continues to be an issue and will probably slow me up on the day.

While I may not make the 7:30 ironman qualifier I plan to finish with a big smile on my face.

How are the others going:

Half Ironman
Hamburgular
Wildthing
Miners
Mouse
Littleblackpug
Peterhorse

Sprintman
Tynomite
Runitloveit

wt

Good one Wildthing!

As I have only swam 1k this year and haven't ridden for a while, I am no longer planning to do GC and may target Port M instead.

That's a shame Hamburglar

But good luck for Port!

wt

Thanks WT- but unfortunately, my groin/hip issues have likely ruled me out at the moment too. Am still hopeful though.

And Tyno - I think last year was an aberration. USM events usually do a great job with all other events in SE QLD. Last year there were some major problems - from the inconvenient (lack of toilets and parking), to the dangerous (running out of water at the aid stations).

However, there was a lot of heat put on them after last year's race. I'd confidently predict they won't have anywhere near the troubles they did last year if they listened to just half the feedback they received. The new venue should clear up quite a few logistical issues to begin with.

Another one bites the dust!

Thanks for the info Miners. I went to Mooloolaba and a few Gatorade series events, as a spectator, they all seemed pretty well organised. I was a bit surprised when my mate said he didn't rate last years event.
There's plenty of spare ground at Calypso Bay at the moment, so parking shouldn't be a hassle this year.

As far as preparation goes, I'll be happier with a few more weeks swimming under my belt, but otherwise feeling good.
I have set myself a preliminary target of :
:25 swim (hopefully this will come down)
1:10 bike
:38 run
So 2:15 seems like a reasonable target.
I can do the bike and run faster individually, but suspect I might be slower on the day.

I will be there but I am dropping down to the Sprintman distance because I am racing at the Forster Tri festival two weeks later.

No idea of my goal time! Will just see how I go I guess. But training has been going well.

See you all there - is it really only 7 weeks away?

WT this is your first HIM isn't it? Looking forward to seeing you finish, it will be great. All the best with the rest of the training.

Runitloveit

Yes it is my first HIM and I can't wait.

If you are wanting to see me finish I suggest you pack a picnic lunch - I might be out there for a while.

wt

I will be there for certain. Not racing but spectating. I don't have a CR hat but will yell out if I see any. Of note, I have recently seen a few CR hats around Brisbane out running and have said gday but every example except one, the wearer has had an iPod type device on and not heard/ignored me. Oh well

I'll have to rev up Tess about her iPod. I reckon she'd be one of the worst offenders up there

Why you missing GC Plaz? Thought your Cycos training was spot on timing-wise for a good crack there

Back from Almere 2 weeks before. 12 weeks to Busso. I was going to do it but it seems to take me a full month to recover properly from a decent race effort. I don't need a validator as I get that in WA and am not racing Port anyway next year due new bub.

I am actually interested to watch a race for once to see what people are up to.

BUPMP!!

I am entered and as ready as I can be. I have a cold at the moment so have been laying off the swimming but with 30 days to go, I am starting to get excited.

Time for a roll call.....

rode the course last weekend...mostly the same as previous but should be faster with nice hotmix section into Calypso bay.
run could be hot...not much shade?? (hopefully not as hot as last year !!)
hope to dip under 5hrs this time..bit more running this year and had a good run off the bike in Yeppoon.
would like to race Foster LC as well if the old bones will let me ( No not my wife )

anyone doing their 1st HIM just remember to plan to eat and drink on the bike and keep your fluids up for the run...sounds easy but plenty get caught up and forget...until too late. have fun !!

Thanks for the heads up Kandingo.

I did a 80km ride this morning with a 10km run off the bike. It hurt lots.

But I did get to test out my nutrition plan which seems to be tickety boo. I just need to tweak my intake on the run as I started to get pretty hungry towards the end. Why are there no aid stations at Sydney Olympic Park - didn't they know I was coming

My poor legs are a bit trashed right now so I am going to have a nice soak in the tub and agood stretch.

I would love to go sub 7:30 on the day but to be totally honest I will be happy to finish in under 8 hours.

Cheers

wt/kb