Irontwit

Image used with permission of Martin Harrison

I’ve just come off the phone after a long phonecall with Alison from IMUK about my previous blog post. She rang me, apparently, as someone with a “voice of reason”. In the context of what must have been an absolutely exhausting weekend for the organisation team I’m not surprised that she sounded quite emotional about some of the criticism that has been directed at IMUK on the Tritalk forum and elsewhere not just this year, but also for previous editions of the race in Dorset.

Here are her responses to the criticisms that I made:

1. The run course should have had distance markers. Run course markers were put out by the organisers during the night prior to the race. These were removed systematically by the group opposing the race, and the organisers would like them back.
2. There should have been buses running from transition to the Reebok all day. The buses ran up until 7 o’clock in the morning and recommenced from 1 0′clock in the afternoon. This was communicated to all competitors just after midnight via text on race day. (My wife, who was spectating, didn’t have access to my phone to receive the text message as I was staying at a friend’s, went on the website to check the bus situation but could find no new spectator information on there. I received the text about 4:20 in the morning. How do I know, because I was walking up a dark country lane with 50 other idiots in trisuits whose mobile phones all started beeping at the same time – a surreal experience. A Twitter feed would have helped immensely in communicating bus info to spectators, but apparently organisers are hamstrung by WTC rules about live feeds at races i.e. Ironmanlive is the only accredited source of live info. Hopefully this will change in the future.)
3. The food concessions should have been open until midnight at transition. Alison was surprised that they were shut as they had done a good trade until gone 11pm the night before and it’s something they will be aware of for next time. There were showers at the campsite.
4. The feedstation at the top of Rivington Pike ran out of water. This was due to so many athletes deciding not to carry water on the ascents of Rivington Pike to save weight and assuming they could stock up at the top. (As an athlete this is not my problem and we shouldn’t be blamed.)
5. The swim course was too long and there was no mount/dismount line on the bike course. Maybe the swim course was up to .1 of a mile too long but the main reason for the slow times was probably down to the strong headwind. The dismount line was a huge inflatable Powerbar arch. (The trouble is at every other triathlon I’ve ever done I approach transition with my eyes on the floor looking for a line – it’s a habit. I’m sure it’s great for the sponsors and spectators to have a big arch, and I have no problem with that either, but can we have a line too, please? As for the swim distance, my own opinion is that for every headwind there is a tailwind so that couldn’t account for the slow times. But then again, I’m a useless swimmer)

Most people are surprised to find out that IMUK is a not-for-profit organisation and I can understand why Alison gets so upset by some of the untrue, unwarranted and unjustified criticisms of the race. Ironman racing in the UK faces a unique set of challenges and we only have to look at the experience of the Etape Caledonia to see the consequences when a determined set of protestors decide to take against an event. The great British public can easily take affront at any minor inconvenience such as being held up by a traffic cop to let a bunch of lunatics in lycra race around their streets. That’s one of the reasons why I was encouraged to see so many people outside their houses cheering us all on. I think this race could become a real local phenomenon.

Having said that, I do feel that IMUK finds that saying sorry really is the hardest word. I don’t want to read forum posts about people formally retracting comments made about a race(just as I don’t want to read about abusive and unwarranted criticism), nor do I want to read about athletes being banned from races because of criticisms made. It’s difficult for organisers when so much emotion and energy has been invested in putting on such a great event, especially under the circumstances of last weekend. But, the old saying that the customer is always right might not be true all the time, but they do need listening to.

I hope I have struck the right balance here, I really am trying hard to. On Sunday I had a brilliant experience and a proud achievement; my family and relatives loved supporting me but found the logistics of doing so difficult and wearing. I hope this can be improved. If I’m not on the start line next year I will be volunteering my help.