If it is well supported in terms of organisation and with easy access and easy accomadation it could be a good 'alternative' pirate trip for those who want to do an IM distance more than they want to socialise!!!
We're doing long course... 4/120/30. But there are lots doing IM instead. Accomodation looks fairly reasonable (especially camping!) and it's an OK drive - some people are going from up North somewhere and claim to be driving 20 miles door to door!
Will definitely report back... but I kind of want to socialise so IMA07 sounds good if that's where the main pirate raiding party is going!
Also the bike course is supposed to be very flat and very straight (10km without a corner...) and the run course is also flat except one footbridge over the bike course. Not sure how salty the swim is yet - but since it's not far to the North Sea I doubt it will ever be a "no wetsuit" option!
I am not planning on doing an IM next year, I have other targets but almere fits in at a nice time for a bit of fun and it would be a nice indicator as to form for a proper bash at IM in 2008.
Its in the harbour of Almere... so its not in the sea, this is reclaimed water and land... so the land is as flat as a pancake for bike and run, difficult if windy... and the water is semi-salty whatever you'd call it in English.
Quick update from me - I'm definitely doing IMA next year - depending on what the long course feels like this year I might consider doing Almere as well, but I doubt I'll get the holiday sorted :-(
Madeleine - given your obvious strength and all the training you've already put in for TLD, then is it worth signing up for Almere this year or do you think your swim problem is too serious?
The swim problem I suspect isn't serious but has to be fixed by trial and error. I am not sure what the cause is yet. I might solve it first time - I might not.
It could be a too tight wetsuit, lack of flexibility and some people with similar problems have solved it with Magnesium supplements
First test next Wed - hour and a half OW swim sans wettie and probably with torpedo buoy just in case.
I have a potential new training partner to sort of persuade we were going to discuss the race for 2007 then I got all carried away after TLD and got suck on theidea of this one
Just come back from a bike ride. Had not been out on 'the beast' since April... 19k done in 44 minutes, not that fast, but hilly enough... 2 laps of Richmond Park...
On Tuesday I am going to try and swim... not done that for over 10 years, so that will be interesting :-)
Yes Andrew, it is hilly for the Flatlanders... especially with Flatland gearing on the bike :-) but nothing I could not handle! Actually, I never thought it was all THAT hilly until I heard others about it. I am tempted to do the TT informal time trial there one of those Thursdays, on the racer and on the commuter. I reckon I am not half slow on that foldup and it copes very well with slight elevations ;-)
It's the Black Mountains that are going to be hilly when I move there later in the year... I need a new casette, pronto!
As I already told Maddy - make sure you book accommodation early because all hotels, rooms, camp grounds etc. are booked out by Christmas. There's people who turn up year after year just to support (half a dozen from our club do that)
depends what you class as cheap? there's no YH as far as I know in the immediate area. Will you be there by car? Do you want a hotel, pension or private B&B? All places for 50km around are well used to catering for Roth athletes, some hotels even do a special pasta breakfast at 3am on race morning!
We stay in the Landgasthaus Boehm, about 5 mins drive from the race centre/finish area, or in Schwanstetten at the Hotel am Rathausplatz which is about 15 mins drive from the race centre but serves pasta breakky.
There's a camping ground on the Rothsee, right near the swim start at Hilpoltstein. Shuttle buses run between the swim and the finish area. One of the main hills (huge support there) on the bike, the Solarer Berg, is walking distance from the swim start. There's a spot in Roth just down from the finish area where supporters can see the runners passing in both directions on the marathon.
I've got a spare map TL, with the 3 course maps on the reverse side so if you email me your address I can send it to you, then you can get an idea of where everything is.
Don't do them at the moment - better start hadn't I
I forsee lots of falling into hedges and road verges over the next 10 months - would skater type padding save me some bruises?
Ironwolf you are one the list of potential pirate mentors - could you take on an overweight brummie who's biggest problems is self belief especially after going into TLD quite confidentally and having to pull out during the swim?
Comments
If it is well supported in terms of organisation and with easy access and easy accomadation it could be a good 'alternative' pirate trip for those who want to do an IM distance more than they want to socialise!!!
Will definitely report back... but I kind of want to socialise so IMA07 sounds good if that's where the main pirate raiding party is going!
We may end up in Austria for Jools anyway.
flat is boring....
Flat IS boring, why do you think I like living in the hills? But it does make for easy cycling :-)
The guru reckons it will be fine
I say guru basically she is a cracked as I am
Thanks for the reminder
Madeleine - given your obvious strength and all the training you've already put in for TLD, then is it worth signing up for Almere this year or do you think your swim problem is too serious?
The swim problem I suspect isn't serious but has to be fixed by trial and error. I am not sure what the cause is yet. I might solve it first time - I might not.
It could be a too tight wetsuit, lack of flexibility and some people with similar problems have solved it with Magnesium supplements
First test next Wed - hour and a half OW swim sans wettie and probably with torpedo buoy just in case.
I have a potential new training partner to sort of persuade we were going to discuss the race for 2007 then I got all carried away after TLD and got suck on theidea of this one
On Tuesday I am going to try and swim... not done that for over 10 years, so that will be interesting :-)
It's the Black Mountains that are going to be hilly when I move there later in the year... I need a new casette, pronto!
Was planning on doing this one anyway, at least until Candy convinved me to take a look at Austria!
Ok, I'm up for it!
SP
Apprently we may be alright for places for a little while - I hope so because I am definately skint at the moment
280 Euros entry until 31 Dec, then it goes up.
As I already told Maddy - make sure you book accommodation early because all hotels, rooms, camp grounds etc. are booked out by Christmas. There's people who turn up year after year just to support (half a dozen from our club do that)
We stay in the Landgasthaus Boehm, about 5 mins drive from the race centre/finish area, or in Schwanstetten at the Hotel am Rathausplatz which is about 15 mins drive from the race centre but serves pasta breakky.
Shuttle buses run between the swim and the finish area. One of the main hills (huge support there) on the bike, the Solarer Berg, is walking distance from the swim start.
There's a spot in Roth just down from the finish area where supporters can see the runners passing in both directions on the marathon.
I've got a spare map TL, with the 3 course maps on the reverse side so if you email me your address I can send it to you, then you can get an idea of where everything is.
Don't do them at the moment - better start hadn't I
I forsee lots of falling into hedges and road verges over the next 10 months - would skater type padding save me some bruises?
Ironwolf you are one the list of potential pirate mentors - could you take on an overweight brummie who's biggest problems is self belief especially after going into TLD quite confidentally and having to pull out during the swim?