Hardman 2020

Kurt_Godel.

Who is in for this, many from these parts entered? Looks like it may be the only full distance for the year, with a doubt hanging over big IM events.

I'm just doing it to tick a box really, may as well get something concrete out of this year.

Bertje14

it is on the bucket list to do as long distance when god knows.

Marty Bird

I’m in for it wasn’t going to do it but signed up when IM Cork was going to be cancelled. Hopefully it goes ahead I haven’t trained much the last couple of weeks I’ve a calf issue that needs time to heal.

griffin100

I plan on being there. Will be my 6th time to do it (fingers crossed).

Will be interesting to see what the numbers are like and what the atmosphere will be like if it’s full of IM Cork orphans. It has always had a low key vibe but that might change.

Some of the more cosseted IM racers might be in for a shock if they’ve only ever done IM branded races

Marty Bird

griffin100 wrote: »

I plan on being there. Will be my 6th time to do it (fingers crossed).

Will be interesting to see what the numbers are like and what the atmosphere will be like if it’s full of IM Cork orphans. It has always had a low key vibe but that might change.

Some of the more cosseted IM racers might be in for a shock if they’ve only ever done IM branded races

What’s the run like ?

griffin100

Marty Bird wrote: »

What’s the run like ?

Mostly flat but has some ups and downs, nothing to worry about. I find it hard on my feet as it’s a mix of tar, footpath and gravel track. It’s 14km Laps x 3 and at the end of each lap you’re into transition where you can access your food bags and kit if you need it. If the weather’s good there can be quite a few walkers and jarveys about which is always a welcome distraction (and herds of deer). Plenty of water stations. It’s a lovely place to run with a coffee shop and a big playground on the route if that’s needed for your supporters. Just make sure you follow the signage, in 2016 I wandered off course on the last lap despite having run two laps already when I got tired and the concentration wandered.

woody1

griffin100 wrote: »

I plan on being there. Will be my 6th time to do it (fingers crossed).

Will be interesting to see what the numbers are like and what the atmosphere will be like if it’s full of IM Cork orphans. It has always had a low key vibe but that might change.

Some of the more cosseted IM racers might be in for a shock if they’ve only ever done IM branded races

since youve done it 6 times your definitely the one to ask
has the swim ever been very choppy, i can manage standard lake chop
but its when its bouncing about like being in the sea that i cant take .. ( yes i know , work on swimming etc ) i wont be there this year but id like to have it as a possibility for the future

Kurt_Godel.

With IM Wales being cancelled yesterday expect a lot will now signup for Hardman instead.

griffin100

woody1 wrote: »

since youve done it 6 times your definitely the one to ask
has the swim ever been very choppy, i can manage standard lake chop
but its when its bouncing about like being in the sea that i cant take .. ( yes i know , work on swimming etc ) i wont be there this year but id like to have it as a possibility for the future

In the 5 times I've done it it has always been choppy to some degree. It's a wide open lake and there's usually a wind blowing across the water. In some years it was brutal - 2016 was the hardest and roughest swim I've ever done but that was an unusually bad year. As it's a lake swim you sit lower than in the sea and the waves are not as regular or as rolling as the sea so it does impact on your swim. Don't let that put you off though, this is a fantastic race.

peter kern

griffin100 wrote: »

I plan on being there. Will be my 6th time to do it (fingers crossed).

Will be interesting to see what the numbers are like and what the atmosphere will be like if it’s full of IM Cork orphans. It has always had a low key vibe but that might change.

Some of the more cosseted IM racers might be in for a shock if they’ve only ever done IM branded races

at the same time ironman. will have to copy quite a few hardman things for it's races this year.

Kurt_Godel.

€1,000 announced for the first man to get under 9 hours, and the first woman under 10:30.

Griffin this should be all the incentive you need to start training now

griffin100

I’ve started training I’ll have you know (no swimming yet though). Don’t think I’ll be worrying Alan and his €1,000 somehow.

Looking forward to this and keeping fingers crossed it’ll definitely go ahead. Nice weather for once would also be a bonus but we won’t complain as long as we get to race. Based on his FB post earlier this week could be up to 300 competing. A far cry from what I think was less than 25 in 2011

RacoonQueen

Do they have entry limits on this? Was just thinking the other day I may be swayed to join a relay team then jackyback brought it up too. It'd have to be a very slow relay team though, the max outdoor cycling I've done is 60k...

Newtown90

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Do they have entry limits on this? Was just thinking the other day I may be swayed to join a relay team then jackyback brought it up too. It'd have to be a very slow relay team though, the max outdoor cycling I've done is 60k...

300 entries max he said on Facebook last week

rodneyr1981

What's peoples thoughts on the bike course?
Worth doing a reccie? Plenty of climbing but any major or technical descents to be mindful of? Cheers

mossym

did an irish man just ask what the ring of kerry was like?

rodneyr1981

mossym wrote: »

did an irish man just ask what the ring of kerry was like?

I know I'm embarrassed to say I've never been

griffin100

rodneyr1981 wrote: »

What's peoples thoughts on the bike course?
Worth doing a reccie? Plenty of climbing but any major or technical descents to be mindful of? Cheers

There's not a whole heap of serious climbing or descending.

You climb Molls Gap out of Killarney straight away and this is the longest climb. Nice non technical descent off that. The only other 'big' climb is Caherdaniel to the top of Coomikista Pass (approx 80km I think). That has a nice descent into Waterville.

It's not the climbing that I find a challenge, it's the long drags. Sneem to Caherdaniel and especially Waterville to Glenbeigh can be tough especially when there is a headwind. In the few times I've done this race I have always found the bit after Waterville as far as Kells to be the toughest part of the course.

zico10

griffin100 wrote: »

There's not a whole heap of serious climbing or descending.

You climb Molls Gap out of Killarney straight away and this is the longest climb. Nice non technical descent off that. The only other 'big' climb is Caherdaniel to the top of Coomikista Pass (approx 80km I think). That has a nice descent into Waterville.

It's not the climbing that I find a challenge, it's the long drags. Sneem to Caherdaniel and especially Waterville to Glenbeigh can be tough especially when there is a headwind. In the few times I've done this race I have always found the bit after Waterville as far as Kells to be the toughest part of the course.

Wish I’d read this before the weekend. I signed up for the Hardman full last week, and in prep for the race, I cycled the Ring of Kerry yesterday; only in the wrong direction

Anyway, what sort of support can I expect on the course? Is it necessary to have your own siognuer on both bike and run to hand you food and drinks?

peter kern

zico10 wrote: »

Wish I’d read this before the weekend. I signed up for the Hardman full last week, and in prep for the race, I cycled the Ring of Kerry yesterday; only in the wrong direction

Anyway, what sort of support can I expect on the course? Is it necessary to have your own siognuer on both bike and run to hand you food and drinks?

in the past there was an feed station half way mark in ironman it would be called a special needs station where you give them what you want and they bring it out there for you to collect
and then there was another aid station on the bike around 130ish k which worked well ( for both you have to stop but it worked well
aid station on every 5 k and run and you can get stuff you want that you leave in transition

so you do not need any support just space for 2 water bottles on the bike
and i would recommend to drink in t1 and should it be a very hot day have another bottle in your tri suit

griffin100

There used to be feed stations on the bike but there’s just water now. I don’t think there was much call for gels, etc. so they don’t bother any more.

There’s a water station at the top of Molls Gap, Sneem and Killorglan that I can remember. They’re very inconspicuous - think of a car with an open boot and a farmer worth lots of bottles of water Might be different this year with the extra numbers, but you need to keep an eye out as they’re easy to miss.

At about 90km in Waterville there’s a feed station where your food bag (special needs) can be picked up. So you only need food for 90km unless you don’t want to stop.

On the run there’s plenty of water stations with some food and a bigger feed station in transition at 14 and 28km.

It’s not like an IM branded race but it’s got what you need.

peter kern

If you are now called Cahill maybe you do need somebody to feed you for the swim

zico10

peter kern wrote: »

If you are now called Cahill maybe you do need somebody to feed you for the swim

LOL. That was me alright. There’s certainly some drastic measure required between now and 29th August.

rodneyr1981

Thoughts on disc for this course?

@peter think I seen you in a video with a disc. Assume you think it is?

peter kern

rodneyr1981 wrote: »

Thoughts on disc for this course?

@peter think I seen you in a video with a disc. Assume you think it is?

Of course disc if you have one

zico10

For any past participants, how did you find cycling through Killarney?

I’ve cycled the route twice in the last few weeks, and both times there were significant holdups due to traffic. The organisation at Hardman Bantry and Hardman Waterville was top class. I expect the same in Killarney, but it’s a much bigger town with huge numbers of tourists, and I think traffic management will be much harder control. Please tell me I’m worrying about nothing.

peter kern

kilarney is totally fine as early
its chaherseville and killorgan are the places where you are likely to have to stop at some stage or be prepared for it espcially in killorgan but its the same for everybody
will cost you maybe 90 sec and if you eat before those to towns its good for your digestion lol

niallo32

peter kern wrote: »

kilarney is totally fine as early
its chaherseville and killorgan are the places where you are likely to have to stop at some stage or be prepared for it espcially in killorgan but its the same for everybody
will cost you maybe 90 sec and if you eat before those to towns its good for your digestion lol

Do you mean Cahirsiveen Peter?

peter kern

niallo32 wrote: »

Do you mean Cahirsiveen Peter?

lol

yes

but i think zico got it anyway ...

griffin100

Long Distance could be at risk now if the Government implement an 'all sports behind closed doors' policy as being reported by RTE.

rodneyr1981

griffin100 wrote: »

Long Distance could be at risk now if the Government implement an 'all sports behind closed doors' policy as being reported by RTE.

I was wondering about this alright. Interesting to see TI's views but I suppose having a few people standing around over a few IM length course which is on open roads anyway is def the main factor with covid19.
Seems mad to be going after a low risk area imo. Tbh at this stage would nearly still do it solo anyway if didnt go ahead.

peter kern

griffin100 wrote: »

Long Distance could be at risk now if the Government implement an 'all sports behind closed doors' policy as being reported by RTE.

I don't think that will have any implication as spectors are not allowed at tri events already.

But if outdoor meetings limited to 15 as I see suggest somewhere that would have an impact ...

What I struggle with is to find good evidence based information what are the biggest spreaders of covid.ie how does the evidence based decision making if government works.

griffin100

Deffo happening according to Alan. Happy Days.

okane1

I'll be kayaking for it, look forward to seeing yee all there

griffin100

okane1 wrote: »

I'll be kayaking for it, look forward to seeing yee all there

You're gonna need a bigger boat

Kurt_Godel.

Very strong field at the top, all its missing is a Brownlee or it might be the strongest IM distance on Irish soil? You'd imagine BMcC for the win but I guess nothing is set in stone this year.

zico10

From studying the maps, it seems a very short run from collecting your bike to the mount line. Am I right?

griffin100

Yes, very short. Run over grass transition and onto a tar / gravel road. 50m maybe.

rodneyr1981

Maybe a dumb question but what's the reason behind changing at swim exit and not just leave all that until we get to our bike spot?
I know the briefing says your box will be at your bike when you return from bike. Cheers

griffin100

rodneyr1981 wrote: »

Maybe a dumb question but what's the reason behind changing at swim exit and not just leave all that until we get to our bike spot?
I know the briefing says your box will be at your bike when you return from bike. Cheers

I assume it's a space thing to stop people tripping over boxes in transition.

rodneyr1981

Went through briefing again. I'm over complicating it. Bike start and bike finish/run start are 2 diff spots so they will move your box over while your out on bike.

TheBazman

The run seems like a complicated route when reading the briefing but I presume it is (fairly) well signposted?

peter kern

its not so complicated, in 10 years i know of 1 runner that got lost ( of course i dont know everybody lol

griffin100

peter kern wrote: »

its not so complicated, in 10 years i know of 1 runner that got lost ( of course i dont know everybody lol

I got lost in the first year and ran a fair distance the wrong way as there was no signage at a junction. I've spoken to others who got lost at the traffic cone turnaround in recent years when they forgot to turn back

It's easier to follow the route on the ground, keep and eye out for and follow the signage. It's not too difficult and with 150 odd persons on the route there should always be someone to follow (if you're me that is). Don't over think it.

niallo32

Do we need to learn off the turns mentioned in the briefing (e.g right turn in Kenmare) or will there be a marshal there?

griffin100

niallo32 wrote: »

Do we need to learn off the turns mentioned in the briefing (e.g right turn in Kenmare) or will there be a marshal there?

First the first couple of years they gave us laminated maps /)

It’s hard to get lost.

Leave Killarney following the N71 and just before Kenmare turn right onto the N70 - it’s usually marshalled. If you pass a garage without turning you’ve gone too far.

N70 all the way to Kilorglin. It’s obvious, only tricky but is Waterville, but when going through the town keep the sea on your left. Special needs station on exit from town.

Can be tricky as you exit Kilorglin, follow the signs for Killarney and once over the bridge turn right onto N72 and back to Killarney. Pass T1 and keep going the same way you did at the start of the bike, turn right at the roundabout and you’ll see T2 easily on your right.

I use the big towns as waypoints - Killarney - Kenmare - Sneem - Waterville - Cahirsiveen - Kilorglin - Killarney.

niallo32

griffin100 wrote: »

First the first couple of years they gave us laminated maps /)

It’s hard to get lost.

Leave Killarney following the N71 and just before Kenmare turn right onto the N70 - it’s usually marshalled. If you pass a garage without turning you’ve gone too far.

N70 all the way to Kilorglin. It’s obvious, only tricky but is Waterville, but when going through the town keep the sea on your left. Special needs station on exit from town.

Can be tricky as you exit Kilorglin, follow the signs for Killarney and once over the bridge turn right onto N72 and back to Killarney. Pass T1 and keep going the same way you did at the start of the bike, turn right at the roundabout and you’ll see T2 easily on your right.

I use the big towns as waypoints - Killarney - Kenmare - Sneem - Waterville - Cahirsiveen - Kilorglin - Killarney.

Great cheers, can picture all the turns in my head, hope I'm not day dreaming Saturday!

peter kern

okane1 wrote: »

I'll be kayaking for it, look forward to seeing yee all there

you could swim ....

okane1

peter kern wrote: »

you could swim ....

Did for the first 4yrs now I rather sit on my ass and watch!!
Haven't done OW swimming in years, I'll be upset with my time compared to previous (51min).

rodneyr1981

Run course updated due to flooding. Any fears of getting lost as now removed

griffin100

rodneyr1981 wrote: »

Run course updated due to flooding. Any fears of getting lost as now removed

11 laps........