I loved UK this year, my first IM, the course was great and the support was more than I could have expected. Everyone goes on about the hills .... Sheep House Lane is a bit nasty, but it's not that long, and I didn't find the bike course too much of a problem. But then I am from Wales.
Anyone umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether to enter, I'd say go for it. An amazing day, and finish in Bolton town centre if wonderful.
Am getting very hyper about entering now. I loved IMUK this year. It was my first ever IM distance race and I thought the support was incredible.
Can't wait for entries to open. Really hope I get in. Planning my day around the entry open time. Good luck to everyone else. Hope you get in. You won't regret it! The feel good factor is something I'd not expected from doing this event and is what has hooked me in to another IM.
I would back what others have said, ie its all about the bike and get on the hills. Also nutrition is a massive one. I need to crack that as suffered after 8 miles on the run. I would also say of you are a not so good swimmer like me, make sure you have a plan for coping with the swim nerves in a big mass start. I did and it worked a treat. Never swam so well in a triathlon (NB - I was still very slow, but not by my rubbish standards).
Hi Mandy, can I ask, what was your plan for coping with nerves at the start? So far I've never taken part in a mass start like this and, as a very weak swimmer, I'm naturally apprehensive about it.
P&P if I may ... if you are at all nervous and especially if it is your first mass start then I would advise waiting for a minute or two once the claxon has sounded and then swim in relatively quiet water, it is so very difficult to recover your breathing once you are in distress Keep to the sides also works for me ...
Hey M...eldy, I'll certainly be taking that advise! My swimming is...well, terrible, lets not sugar coat it! I've swam open water before but I've never had a mass start like that. My style of swimming, arms and legs thrashing everywhere, usually means others keep their distance too, haha
Hi Mandy, can I ask, what was your plan for coping with nerves at the start? So far I've never taken part in a mass start like this and, as a very weak swimmer, I'm naturally apprehensive about it.
Hi Pots and Pans. Well rather than just rock up and dread the swim I worked out all the things I was worried about and then what I would do to cope. And went through these things over and again. I also made sure I had something in my head that would help me push out the negative thoughts. For me that was ELOs "Mr Blue Sky". It sounds bonkers, but literally I just had that song in my head constantly and if I had a moment when I thought I didn't like it and negative thoughts started to creep in I just mentally turned up the volume and they went away. I do think you just have to recognise you will have nerves and stuff and then just work out what you do when they turn up, rather than just think "I hate the swim, oh my god ...." which was my usual approach. I have to own up and say I pinched this idea of chasing away the nerves from one of the email blogs that Simon Ward of Triathlon Coaches mails out. Worked a treat though!
It did last year Dave in October and limited charity places by early November. 6,000 preregistered and it being 10th anniversary every chance it will sell out sooner for next year.
And yes M...eldy is spot on. Did that too! Stayed well out of the biff. Although managed to get an elbow in the head despite being at the back. It's weird how despite having loads of room you end up bumping in to people. Or maybe its not and I should swim straight!
Hi Mandy, that's brilliant, thank you! I already do a similar thing when I'm on my bike going up a nasty hill, I get a song in my head and concentrate on that and not the pain in my legs..voice had some funny looks from others as I often don't realise I'm singing random lines from the song, probably best I don't do that in the swim though, haha
my codes arrived in my email box, just a nervous wait for midday now!
I have a code but aftering looking at both its def going to be outlaw for me next year - would love to do IMUK but the difference in price is just to great.
Figure better idea to spend the difference on another event or two beforehand as build up
Ha ha, yes actually singing while swimming probably not a good idea, although quite impressive if you pulled off 3.8k whilst singing a nice song at top volume!
Got the code. I know what you mean Budjude, but Bolton has hooked me in by virtue of how much fun sheephouse lane was.
I'm in. Swim start is 1 mile from my house..... so I have no other expense apart from the entry fee. Still.... nearly £400 spent, I'll have to stop going to the pub and train to recoup the costs
Comments
I like the advise - Bolton is all a out the bike
OK 11 months of hill training on the bike for me.
I'll be doing the ironman double - ironman70.3 Exmoor & ironmanUK Bolton In 2014. Just a tad further than Mo's double !
First full distance for me, hopefully second half assuming I nail Henley in a fortnight.
I loved UK this year, my first IM, the course was great and the support was more than I could have expected. Everyone goes on about the hills .... Sheep House Lane is a bit nasty, but it's not that long, and I didn't find the bike course too much of a problem. But then I am from Wales.
Anyone umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether to enter, I'd say go for it. An amazing day, and finish in Bolton town centre if wonderful.
It's been a long time since I've been on here. I live local. Very local to the swim ( errr 1 mile ). I'm not sure if the bike leg will go up Parbold Hill, It's a busy road and leads directly to Jct 27 of the M6. If they decide to route the bike leg around Croston area like the first year in Bolton I have a sneaky feeling that they may route the bike up Hunters Hill ( Hilldale... a bit inland from Parbold ) and then down Tunley Lane like 2009. Her's a linky :- https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=hunters+hill+hilldale+map&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x487b119ebce08943:0xc1a1546c641041e8,Hunter+Hill+Cottage,+Whittle+Ln,+Wrightington,+Wigan+WN6+9QB&gl=uk&ei=OyUVUu-2HLKP7AaQ7ICoCA&ved=0CC8Q8gEwAA If anything, Hunters is a little bit steeper ! Don't sweat it though. The North West Duathlon used to be there a few years ago. 18 mile bike leg with 3 x climbs of Parbold and 3 x descents of Hunters.
Am getting very hyper about entering now. I loved IMUK this year. It was my first ever IM distance race and I thought the support was incredible.
Can't wait for entries to open. Really hope I get in. Planning my day around the entry open time. Good luck to everyone else. Hope you get in. You won't regret it! The feel good factor is something I'd not expected from doing this event and is what has hooked me in to another IM.
I would back what others have said, ie its all about the bike and get on the hills. Also nutrition is a massive one. I need to crack that as suffered after 8 miles on the run. I would also say of you are a not so good swimmer like me, make sure you have a plan for coping with the swim nerves in a big mass start. I did and it worked a treat. Never swam so well in a triathlon (NB - I was still very slow, but not by my rubbish standards).
I'm in Cyprus and hoping the iPad and local wifi will allow me to sign up!! I'll be logging on at 2pm local time...
I'm sure it'll take a few days at least to sell out, but no harm getting in early. Good luck to everyone looking to enter!
Has IMUK ever sold out ?
Hi Mandy, can I ask, what was your plan for coping with nerves at the start? So far I've never taken part in a mass start like this and, as a very weak swimmer, I'm naturally apprehensive about it.
P&P if I may ... if you are at all nervous and especially if it is your first mass start then I would advise waiting for a minute or two once the claxon has sounded and then swim in relatively quiet water, it is so very difficult to recover your breathing once you are in distress
Keep to the sides also works for me ...
Hey M...eldy, I'll certainly be taking that advise! My swimming is...well, terrible, lets not sugar coat it! I've swam open water before but I've never had a mass start like that. My style of swimming, arms and legs thrashing everywhere, usually means others keep their distance too, haha
Hi Pots and Pans. Well rather than just rock up and dread the swim I worked out all the things I was worried about and then what I would do to cope. And went through these things over and again. I also made sure I had something in my head that would help me push out the negative thoughts. For me that was ELOs "Mr Blue Sky". It sounds bonkers, but literally I just had that song in my head constantly and if I had a moment when I thought I didn't like it and negative thoughts started to creep in I just mentally turned up the volume and they went away. I do think you just have to recognise you will have nerves and stuff and then just work out what you do when they turn up, rather than just think "I hate the swim, oh my god ...." which was my usual approach. I have to own up and say I pinched this idea of chasing away the nerves from one of the email blogs that Simon Ward of Triathlon Coaches mails out. Worked a treat though!
It did last year Dave in October and limited charity places by early November. 6,000 preregistered and it being 10th anniversary every chance it will sell out sooner for next year.
My unique code has arived
And yes M...eldy is spot on. Did that too! Stayed well out of the biff. Although managed to get an elbow in the head despite being at the back. It's weird how despite having loads of room you end up bumping in to people. Or maybe its not and I should swim straight!
My code has arrived!! Will be trying at 12pm UK time!!
Hi Mandy, that's brilliant, thank you! I already do a similar thing when I'm on my bike going up a nasty hill, I get a song in my head and concentrate on that and not the pain in my legs..voice had some funny looks from others as I often don't realise I'm singing random lines from the song, probably best I don't do that in the swim though, haha
my codes arrived in my email box, just a nervous wait for midday now!
I have a code but aftering looking at both its def going to be outlaw for me next year - would love to do IMUK but the difference in price is just to great.
Figure better idea to spend the difference on another event or two beforehand as build up
Got my code
Ha ha, yes actually singing while swimming probably not a good idea, although quite impressive if you pulled off 3.8k whilst singing a nice song at top volume!
Got the code. I know what you mean Budjude, but Bolton has hooked me in by virtue of how much fun sheephouse lane was.
Got my code last night.
Hope my super slow rural pole & line broadband doesnt fail me.
Are we really expecting this to sell out in minutes or even a day?
I haven't decided what I want to do next year yet but IMUK was on the list of possibles and I hoped to have a few weeks to decide.
Who knows but I doubt it I'm just not taking any chances this year.
do i or dont i ???
I doubt you would regret it. Yes.
my bank account would.
only went through the process out of interest. Credit card back in wallet - step away from the screen and wait till outlaw opens
Nice new pic BJ!
Done
WTC IM events are silly expensive to be sure.
i got bundles of them from the weekend
Looking good in the black n yella!
I'm in. Swim start is 1 mile from my house..... so I have no other expense apart from the entry fee. Still.... nearly £400 spent, I'll have to stop going to the pub and train to recoup the costs