I enjoyed the day immensely and there are definitely some good things about moving it to Port Macquarie.

1. The swim, bike, run and transition area are all located in the same park. That means minimal moving around to see aspects of the race. With Forster the swim start was quite a way from the bike and run and parking was horrendeous.
2. Parking was good. There was a lot available and all fairly close to the facilities.
3. There was good visibility to see athletes coming up on the bike. For years we�ve had problems with missing getting photos of Dad on the bike and we end up getting either just his foot or the back of his wheel.

Now the not so fine and dandy things. I was always going to be a bit bias, a lot of person were, because Forster was the home of Ironman in Australia. It was the be all and end all and they snatched it away.

1. What is wrong with the Hastings River? A lot of ladies came out of the water with what appeared to be a full beard and moustache. Even after running through the showers and washing themselves down, some of it still remained. If it was just silt stirred up by everyone�s feet it should have come off. As one of our group said, �What would that be doing to their lungs?�
2. More organisation needed with keeping the course structured. Lots of people were wandering all over bits of the course and not knowing they were on the course. The marshalling presence was great, but you can�t have thousands of people patrolling every single inch, use more barriers.
3. Why the heck were there cheerleaders/dancers in the finishers chute? It�s the finishers chute, it�s their space to have all the attention heaped on them by the adoring crowd and not to have to run (or limp) around scantily clad teenagers flailing about to the music and generally getting in the way. Bad choice organisers, very bad choice. It was tacky and many people were upset.
4. Why do the Legends (10 years +) now have to do a Half-Ironman to qualify? Are you just trying to make more money out of them? Or do you think it necessary?
5. To the announcers: You have all the facts on each competitor at your finger tips. My family did not appreciate you saying "Congratulations Robert on your 19th finish". His number even has 19-005 on it. Meaning that he's finished 19 times before. You know this, the system was designed by IMG.

I�ll come again next year, but only because my Dad will be in it.

Congratulations to Chris McCormack and Lisa Bentley on their fifth straight overall wins.

Tyd

3 April 2006 - 8:14 am

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