Does Ironman UK still deserve its bad reputation?

I've done IM Wales and Outlaw. Lanza doesn't fit my lifestyle and I plain don't fancy Henley. So I keep on coming back to IM UK for 2013. It's just an hour's drive from home, has an interesting course and M-Dot cachet.

But practically nobody from here enters IM UK! It's a pirate-free zone with a reputation as positive as syphillis, Nick Clegg and shit sandwiches.

So does IMUK deserve the mucky PR, or is it a better race than commonly made out?

I'm sure there are lots of people who do it who aren't Pirates.

All I can say is that I did IMUK in 2010 and loved it.  I much preferred it to the Outlaw as it had a bigger event feel and I enjoyed running around Bolton....( well someone's got to!!)  But I accept that it was my first one and maybe everyone feels good about the first 

From what I can gather Barley and FB may be good candidates for some background info

Thanks Slim. That's reassuring. I expect FB will be along sooner or later, Schmunks, and I know Barley has "history" there. I guess AndyB would be another one with a view, given that he lives in a caravan half way up Sheep House Lane. To your point, KK..... if you ever take a look at that other tri forum.... ... the one on the dark side....  they appear to have a more positive opinion.

Without wishing to re-open the floodgates, there was a bit of a falling out between certain forumites and the race organisers 'back in the day' which rather took the gloss off it.  There were also some logistical problems when the race first relocated to Bolton.  Certainly there have been Pirates who have competed in recent years and (steepness of hill on bike course not withstanding) I've not seen anything bad reported.

Different set of race organisers now, so perhaps one day there may be a mass outing?

I too did IM UK in 2010, my first, and couldn't really fault it.  Split transition was a bit of a pain, not so much during racking, or the race, but just collecting kit after the finish, as it had to be done that evening.

Organisation was excellent, and felt looked after, all things worked well.

Only downside, and I only have Wales to compare it against, is that with the swim/T1, T2 and the finish all being in differing locations, then there wasn't the buzz, as there wasn't a central focalpoint.  In Wales, everything goes on in the same locaiton, and Tenby just feels alive during IM weekend, I didn't get that feeling on Bolton.

However, I'll probably be back in 2013 for another go

slowerthanilook wrote (see)

Thanks Slim. That's reassuring. I expect FB will be along sooner or later, Schmunks, and I know Barley has "history" there. I guess AndyB would be another one with a view, given that he lives in a caravan half way up Sheep House Lane. To your point, KK..... if you ever take a look at that other tri forum.... ... the one on the dark side....  they appear to have a more positive opinion.

I think what tends to happen is that things can get a bit distorted on forums. The Pirates are a large and differing group, it's easy to get the impression that the opinion of a couple is the general consensus. That's no criticism at all to anyone, just what happens on forums in general. As to what IM UK is like... I have no idea.

I did it in 2010... Have to say I really enjoyed the bike course.... and I liked the fact the run was short !!!

Dave The Ex- Spartan wrote (see)

I did it in 2010... Have to say I really enjoyed the bike course.... and I liked the fact the run was short !!!

Gotta love those 5k marafuns.

M..TRIumphant wrote (see)

 Tenby just feels alive during IM weekend.

Amen to that. The whole town went nuts. I thought I was going to get linched on the mara when I dropped into a walk outside one of the pubs .

kittenkat wrote (see)

Dave The Ex- Spartan wrote (see)

I did it in 2010... Have to say I really enjoyed the bike course.... and I liked the fact the run was short !!!

Gotta love those 5k marafuns.

It wasn't that short you ........................................ !

I also think that given the nature of IM distances, individuals are going to have very different experiences, depending on how it was for them on the day.

Unless an event is really badly organised, I think it's subjective.

I had a really bad day at the office for IMUK 2010, So I didn't really notice anything about the run... Other than Rosie letting me have a gulp of his guinness and the explosion in the portaloo that cured all my ills

I haven't been up to IMUK.but you never seem to get the idea its well supported by reading all the reports.......sounds like one man and his dog compared to other IM races..................when you pay the big bucks.its nice to get a big feel event...IMW support is brilliant.....

if you are not fussed by the support then why not do one on the the ither 10 or so Ironman distance races in the UK which are much cheaper

I had a go in 2009, the first Bolton one. I tried not to be prejudiced in any way. Swim was alright, if 400M too long cos the buoys moved, bike was quite nice and a half decent course. transition was a fecking nightmare, well, the bit that wasn't invisible under water. I never made the run, I think I was stuck in the mud...

I'd have a go in principle again, no it wasn't buttery smooth and I think there was a bit too much trading on the Mdot label. It was no better than an average club one with transition in a field, just a lot longer and overpriced tradesmen with a captive audience.

The people of Bolton were great though and there was a lot of support as long as you were "in the pack". They pulled the marshalls and some signs early on the last lap of the bike and a few back markers got lost.

I suppose at that money, you expect more. EG one thing I liked about Outlaw were the bike signs. One coming up to the junction to tell you where to go, one at the junction to confirm it and one after the junction so you know you were still going the right way. After X miles I need that repetition coz the brain has addled.   

oi - don't drag me into this!!   I've not done IMUK and not even been to the one 'oop Narth. 

to expand a little on what Ferret said, I went to support the first IMUK when it was at Sherborne and frankly that was a bloody shambles with poor run course choice, poor organisation, and no light at some parts of the run when night fell which was downright dangerous.   the team that organised IMUK in it's earlier days (and before IM Europe took over the franchise) were pretty poor and couldn't take criticism - constructive or not - and would threaten legal action against anyone who openly criticised them.  as happened to a few Pirates who did the first IMUK which led to a general "ban" on supporting the race - a gesture of solidarity you could argue.  

for many, that early episode led to a general downer on the event although I think most would recognise that it's improved a lot since it's now run by IM Europe and it hasn't stopped quite a few pirates doing it and enjoying it.

fat buddha wrote (see)

oi - don't drag me into this!!   I've not done IMUK and not even been to the one 'oop Narth. 

to expand a little on what Ferret said, I went to support the first IMUK when it was at Sherborne and frankly that was a bloody shambles with poor run course choice, poor organisation, and no light at some parts of the run when night fell which was downright dangerous.   the team that organised IMUK in it's earlier days (and before IM Europe took over the franchise) were pretty poor and couldn't take criticism - constructive or not - and would threaten legal action against anyone who openly criticised them.  as happened to a few Pirates who did the first IMUK which led to a general "ban" on supporting the race - a gesture of solidarity you could argue.  

for many, that early episode led to a general downer on the event although I think most would recognise that it's improved a lot since it's now run by IM Europe and it hasn't stopped quite a few pirates doing it and enjoying it.

 

Being 'slightly' competitive in my own races, I raced in this little bubble of everything needing to be perfect to facilitate the entrants. Nam, Pebble and Welsh Alex were all there in the Oly I lost my temper at a marshal at, although Nam was the only one to witness it. I apologised afterwards...

Now I'm organising and directing races myself I can see what a bitch it is to get right, I'm more nervous that the events I'm responsible for go well for everyone, than I am about my own racing, and that's saying something. Seeing both sides has opened my eyes really wide.

And I have a very new found respect for people who facilitate our sport (unless they are just greedy profit making shit holes who have no idea)

slowerthanilook wrote (see)

he lives in a caravan half way up Sheep House Lane. 

lol....thanks for that....proper made me laugh.

i do have an opinion...and its a good on...i've done it twice and mrsB has done it this year (i only finished once btw as if you dont know)

i know it had its problems in 2009 with the mud at T1 which they complained to United Utilities about who promptly told them to 'feck off then'...which led to split transition....which can be a pain but i think actually adds to the drama of the whole thing.

The swim is at Pennington flash and they now have monday night and saturday morning swims there so thats a bonus

they got it wrong once (though i wont admit this helped me and DONT believe it was short...it wasnt right...WASNT!!!! basically the run is exactly the same course except you turn to the left instead of towards the finish when you hit the loop section...so you go clockwise instead of AC

for my money its a brilliant race...incredibly well supported and a tough bike ride (past my caravan 3 times)

I'm doing wales this year though