Galway70.3 or Lost Sheep?

Izoard

Just plotting what I might get up to in late season and both of these are on the wish list.

Heart says Lost Sheep, head says Galway, for some reason.

Opinions?

eoglyn

What does the pocket say?

Having a similar dilemma myself - there is the buzz around the official ironman branded event - with probably 1500 people taking part, it would be more like a festival.

The lost sheep is supposed to be a trickier course with steep sections for the bike - this appeals to me to a certain extent - i like the idea of a more hardcore event.

decisions, decisions...

Izoard

eoglyn wrote: »

What does the pocket say?

Having a similar dilemma myself - there is the buzz around the official ironman branded event - with probably 1500 people taking part, it would be more like a festival.

The lost sheep is supposed to be a trickier course with steep sections for the bike - this appeals to me to a certain extent - i like the idea of a more hardcore event.

decisions, decisions...

Very true...

I've done a full IM elsewhere, so the brand is less of a pull, but I kinda feel it is on the doorstep and if there is another swim debacle this year that might be the end of it...

griffin100

Izoard wrote: »

Just plotting what I might get up to in late season and both of these are on the wish list.

Heart says Lost Sheep, head says Galway, for some reason.

Opinions?

Hardman

Seriously , I haven't done either but The Lost Sheep has a great reputation but it takes days to get to west Kerry whilst Galway is expensive but is easier to get to and may have some z list celebs taking part, but has wave starts which is a pain ( or at least it did last year). I suppose it's heavily weather dependent, good weather in either would make the event, bad weather could ruin it.

You not doing Tri An Mhi HIM this year?

Izoard

griffin100 wrote: »

Hardman

Seriously , I haven't done either but The Lost Sheep has a great reputation but it takes days to get to west Kerry whilst Galway is expensive but is easier to get to and may have some z list celebs taking part, but has wave starts which is a pain ( or at least it did last year). I suppose it's heavily weather dependent, good weather in either would make the event, bad weather could ruin it.

You not doing Tri An Mhi HIM this year?

I was thinking of passing on Hardman and topping your title by going straight to Embrunman or Norseman, or not...

Speaking of cat weather Tri an Mhi - I'll take a couple of months off after Conn, with a view to one of the HIM's above.

griffin100

Izoard wrote: »

I was thinking of passing on Hardman and topping your title by going straight to Embrunman or Norseman, or not...

Speaking of cat weather Tri an Mhi - I'll take a couple of months off after Conn, with a view to one of the HIM's above.

I'd love to do Norseman,, it's on my bucket list of races with a couple of others.........swimming in the dark.......killer hills.......only problem is the need for a support person / team. Can't see the missis stepping up to that role!

Bambaata

Lost Sheep for me this year. Have heard great things and wouldnt mind a nice long weekend/holier to coincide with it without costing the earth

Izoard

griffin100 wrote: »

I'd love to do Norseman,, it's on my bucket list of races with a couple of others.........swimming in the dark.......killer hills.......only problem is the need for a support person / team. Can't see the missis stepping up to that role!

I think they ran it over 2 days this year - might allow for 2 punters to share race/support duties on alternate days...

griffin100

Izoard wrote: »

I think they ran it over 2 days this year - might allow for 2 punters to share race/support duties on alternate days...

Is that a proposition?

Fazz

It's Galway for me with the attraction of IM, top entry field with Pro's and the whole atmosphere.
And location.

shotgunmcos

Isn't Lost Sheep half the price of Galway or has it drastically inflated in the last few years Galway razzmatazz vs the beauty of Kenmare and the 2 climbs.. Kenmare for me. Having done Kenmare alreasy though I may venture for Galway if I could only convince myself to pay that much for a HIM.

Izoard

griffin100 wrote: »

Is that a proposition?

I'm wondering would it be better to crew on Day 1 or Day 2.

Probably not much help after race day though...:)

pgibbo

Personally, I reckon that unless you are a Galway native and have accommodation in Galway it's a damn expensive weekend. Granted it's a branded event and the support on the course is excellent, but that doesn't justify the expense IMO. Kenmare has it's issues too but the bike is really special and a great race. I'd be more inclined to do Kenmare.

tunney

pgibbo wrote: »

Personally, I reckon that unless you are a Galway native and have accommodation in Galway it's a damn expensive weekend. Granted it's a branded event and the support on the course is excellent, but that doesn't justify the expense IMO. Kenmare has it's issues too but the bike is really special and a great race. I'd be more inclined to do Kenmare.

A branded event means nothing. Look at IMUK and compare that to IMDE or IMAT. Its not the brand that matters its the organisers.

Expensive.
50/50 chance of cancelled or shortened swim
Expensive accomodation.
Galway is no Kerry.
Jam Bakery in Kenmare.
Kenmare pubs.

No brainer. Rumour has it twonpelota is thinking of it this year.

interested

tunney wrote: »

No brainer. Rumour has it twonpelota is thinking of it this year.

A trip to Jam or the HIM ? I'm definitely doing a trip to Jam this year myself - thankfully the cost of this and dinner at Prego are significantly less than most HIM entries

BTH

Can people please stop talking about Jam and Prego. Making me want to go to Kenmare again this year. Fantastic race, without the entry fee premium, nor the premium on the accommodation costs.

tunney

interested wrote: »

A trip to Jam or the HIM ? I'm definitely doing a trip to Jam this year myself - thankfully the cost of this and dinner at Prego are significantly less than most HIM entries

I would not have seen the HIM and Jam as being mutally exclusive

sconhome

pgibbo wrote: »

Personally, I reckon that unless you are a Galway native and have accommodation in Galway it's a damn expensive weekend. Granted it's a branded event and the support on the course is excellent, but that doesn't justify the expense IMO. Kenmare has it's issues too but the bike is really special and a great race. I'd be more inclined to do Kenmare.

How do the costs compare when accomodation etc is factored into Kenmare?

I had the same question in my head over Kenamare / Galway and went with a repeat of Galway simply cos it beat me last year and I want revenge!

tunney

amphkingwest wrote: »

How do the costs compare when accomodation etc is factored into Kenmare?

I had the same question in my head over Kenamare / Galway and went with a repeat of Galway simply cos it beat me last year and I want revenge!

Rent a house in Kenmare, get 3x double rooms. Split the bill. Have own kitchen bathroom etc. I know if I go it will be with 2 kids and the wife so would be nice to have a home away from home. Works out quite cheap.

BTH

amphkingwest wrote: »

How do the costs compare when accomodation etc is factored into Kenmare?

I had the same question in my head over Kenamare / Galway and went with a repeat of Galway simply cos it beat me last year and I want revenge!

As Tunney says, rent a house. http://www.kenmarebayhotel.com/ have very nice holiday homes at very reasonable prices. 4/5/6 people sharing the bill and its a great deal.

catweazle

amphkingwest wrote: »

How do the costs compare when accomodation etc is factored into Kenmare?

I had the same question in my head over Kenamare / Galway and went with a repeat of Galway simply cos it beat me last year and I want revenge!

How come you don't do Humbert with the rest of us? No high cost and accommodation needed at all there

pgibbo

My trip to Kenmare 3 years ago was cheaper than Galway last year. That was paying for a night in a B&B in Kenmare too. I only had race entry to pay for in Galway as I live in Gawlay.

sconhome

catweazle wrote: »

How come you don't do Humbert with the rest of us? No high cost and accommodation needed at all there

Sounds like a plan. End of July taken care of. Cheers!

longshank

Did both last year and both very different. Definitely better buzz and atmosphere around galway but lost sheep a better challenge. Thinking of doing both again this year but with only 6 days between I'm not sure. It is a pity they couldn't space them out more so people could do both. Will be an intersting challenge!!

pgibbo

longshank wrote: »

Did both last year and both very different. Definitely better buzz and atmosphere around galway but lost sheep a better challenge. Thinking of doing both again this year but with only 6 days between I'm not sure. It is a pity they couldn't space them out more so people could do both. Will be an intersting challenge!!

How did your bike and run times compare over the 2 courses?

longshank

pgibbo wrote: »

How did your bike and run times compare over the 2 courses?

bike timw was much the same but weather was horrendous in Galway, Kenmare much tougher course but a bit shorter so not much difference in time. Run was 7 mins slower in Kenmare again tougher course but think I was a bit flat after the other race and the hilly cycle

Clum

I did Lost Sheep last year in a very similar way to what Tunney mentioned above (rented house with wife and 2 kids and made a holiday of it). Where we stayed only about 4 of the 20 houses were in use and we got in at a knockdown price. Very nice houses too.

The race is great. Two fantastic climbs on the bike and very tough run course. It's also well organised. I'd encourage everybody to do this race.

Haven't done Galway so I won't discourage anybody from doing it.

Bambaata

Would be interested to hear about what houses they were Clum? Maybe some might be interested here to do a group booking?

El Director

tunney wrote: »

.....
Galway is no Kerry...

.....and Kerry is no Galway

Clum

Bambaata wrote: »

Would be interested to hear about what houses they were Clum? Maybe some might be interested here to do a group booking?

Think it was called Pairc na Gloine. On the Sneem road about 1k to town centre, 2k to transition.

It's nearly all down hill to town so I freewheeled to transition with my gear on race morning. Cycling back after the race wasn't quite as easy tho...

Bambaata

Did part of the Galway course again today and remembered why I also said I wont be rushing back to do it. That area before moycullen should have whoever looks after roads in Galway in jail. Crazy bad. Nevermind the oughterard to maam area!

Fazz

Bambaata wrote: »

Did part of the Galway course again today and remembered why I also said I wont be rushing back to do it. That area before moycullen should have whoever looks after roads in Galway in jail. Crazy bad. Nevermind the oughterard to maam area!

Damn you and your Mallorca 70.3 roads!!

Who knows maybe the roads will be in a better condition come September...

pgibbo

Fazz wrote: »

Who knows maybe the roads will be in a better condition come September...

LOL...thanks for the good laugh

longshank

Bambaata wrote: »

Did part of the Galway course again today and remembered why I also said I wont be rushing back to do it. That area before moycullen should have whoever looks after roads in Galway in jail. Crazy bad. Nevermind the oughterard to maam area!

I was so cold I didn't notice the road surface, anywaybest of luck in finding 50+ miles of good road to race on in Ireland!!

Bambaata

Most of the routes i use are fine. There's always a few potholes but not so many that you cant avoid them.

longshank

Bambaata wrote: »

Most of the routes i use are fine. There's always a few potholes but not so many that you cant avoid them.

problem is would the gardai/coco allow you to close off 50+ miles of those routes to race on?

Bambaata

Im not saying anything in relation to the race, im just stating why i wont be rushing back. There are other options and im going with them for this year. The route was dangerous out towards Maam cross last year. There were too many people for such a narrow stretch. The roads were in such bad condition in areas that people have to weave to avoid potholes. This made it very dangerous when people are trying to pass one another. I saw at least 4 or 5 pairs of people that obviously had just collided due to these conditions. there were plenty of notices and shouts to keep left but people just couldnt at times or they would have gone over the bars themselves after hitting those potholes

griffin100

I was so cold I didn't notice the road surface, anywaybest of luck in finding 50+ miles of good road to race on in Ireland!!

I seem to remember a closed motorway for Eireman.........................

tunney

longshank wrote: »

problem is would the gardai/coco allow you to close off 50+ miles of those routes to race on?

Klagenfurt, IM Austria. They shut down a town.
Frankfurt, IM Frankfurt. They shut down 90km of roads in a major city.

This is Galway. On a Sunday. In September. The CoCo won't in case Biddie or Myley want to get to the shops for a pint of milk. Ignoring the impact a supported case can have on the local economy.

I remember when I was hauled off in an ambulance in Klagenfurt, the doctor and the drivers all knew exactly the average spend per IM competitor, the average stay, the number of people that normally accompany a competitor. Total average spend per travelling party and the total economic impact on the area. As a result they gave their time for free for the race. And didn't b!tch about closed roads.

longshank

griffin100 wrote: »

I seem to remember a closed motorway for Eireman.........................

was it not a - yet to be opened motorway??

griffin100

was it not a - yet to be opened motorway??

Nope it was a fully open motorway - the southbound carriageway had traffic running on it. Don't know how they ever persuaded the powers that be to shut it for a triathlon........

tunney

griffin100 wrote: »

Nope it was a fully open motorway - the southbound carriageway had traffic running on it. Don't know how they ever persuaded the powers that be to shut it for a triathlon........

Eoin did a lot of things badly for that race. However one thing he did excellently was conveying to the local powers to be the impact that a large, well run IM would have on the local area. They understood and got behind it. If year one had gone well we would have a huge locally supported IM there now.

mloc123

tunney wrote: »

Eoin did a lot of things badly for that race. However one thing he did excellently was conveying to the local powers to be the impact that a large, well run IM would have on the local area. They understood and got behind it. If year one had gone well we would have a huge locally supported IM there now.

I think if the sun was shining that day it could have been a great race.

catweazle

tunney wrote: »

If year one had gone well we would have a huge locally supported IM there now.

What would be your opinion on the Hardman Tunny - have you heard any feedback from that one. Certainly as a location it would be hard to beat. I did hear a rumour that the Challenge organisers were looking at it as a potential Irish venue. Certainly the natives down that direction know the value of sports tourism although closing off the ring of Kerry for a day might be one step too far

griffin100

tunney wrote: »

Eoin did a lot of things badly for that race. However one thing he did excellently was conveying to the local powers to be the impact that a large, well run IM would have on the local area. They understood and got behind it. If year one had gone well we would have a huge locally supported IM there now.

Agree 100% with this. I think that's been shown by his success in running other events elsewhere on an annual basis which need cooperation from local bureaucrats. As Mloc said, if it had been sunny and the swim not cancelled it would have been a completely different day (notwithstanding the fact that there were some other issues that could have been resolved by year 2).

mloc123

griffin100 wrote: »

notwithstanding the fact that there were some other issues that could have been resolved by year 2

I even think some of the issues may not have cropped up had it been sunny.
It rained all day, the marshals more than likely didn't want to be there as a result and lost interest.
It was one depressing day and I only raced the sprint.

El Director

mloc123 wrote: »

I think if the sun was shining that day it could have been a great race.

IMO the weather was the least of all the problems that particular day. I have never seen such a badly run event, haven't seen the likes since either thank god. But lets not re-visit that discussion again