Ironman Sweden??

[Deleted User]

Hi EN Peeps:

Anyone do the race this year?  I'm considering it for 2013 and would love to hear your thoughts while the race is still fresh in your mind.

Thanks,

Joanna

Paul Hough

Joanna - I posed the question on the dashboard and it appears that no one did it this year. Bo was entered but was injured after Challenge Roth and could not compete. I anticipate racing there next year.

[Deleted User]

Sorry to hear that Bo had to drop because of injury.

Looking forward to seeing one other EN jersey there. Race registration opens at 6AM on August 25th for us East Coasters!

Paul Hough

It didn't sell out this year until about late June and there were only 1391 finishers (which is a real plus!). I'm debating whether to enter right away or wait until I finish IMCOZ. I want to stay at the race hotel so that is the real limiter on when I'll sign up. I'll probably book through Nirvana Europe (traveled with them to Regensburg last year). So when they put up their 2013 pricing, I'll send them a note to see if they will let me know when they are almost out of rooms.

robin sarner

 If kona trying, only 40 slots i believe.   Flat and fast bike course.

Paul Hough

@ Robin - 30, 40 or 50 slots still = only 1 in the M55-59. I'll be trying at Cozumel, but frankly, I sweat too much to do well in a really hot race. Sweden will be like Regensburg -- regardless of the outcome, I will be in Europe and enjoying the hell out of it, as well as earning nearly unlimited SAUs! FYI - from what I've read about yesterday's race, the bike course was probably about 177KM - 2 miles short.

[Deleted User]

My plans have dramatically changed so I have to forego Sweden this year and push off to 2014. I have to stay in NA for my race so signed up for Texas. Yee-haa!

Paul Hough

I registered for Sweden tonight. I've got other plans for 2014. I hope I'm not the only EN member going to Sweden but I will provide a full report. Sweden will be my 3rd consecutive IM out of country ... big SAUs! I would like to do Texas some year, but the family groans if I even mention it.

Bomber

@Paul and others - let me know (on boengel1@yahoo.com) if you will be in Copenhagen around the event and I'll show you around... I'm slowly recovering and might just be racing IM Sweden myself, though ;-)

Paul Hough

Bo - I'm registered, and I think I'm the only EN dude coming (with my wife and daughter). I's a good thing I didn't wait cause it sold out in about 3 days compared to about 10 months for this year's edition. Even the rooms in Kalmar are going fast, but I've booked 4 nights with Nirvana Europe (I used them for IM Regensburg last year). I'll spend 2 or 3 nights in Copenhagen before going on to Kalmar, then one night again before I catch my flight back. I still have to decide whether to take the train or rent a car. That's down the road though...have to get through Cozumel first.

I would love to meet you. I'll send you an e-mail after I finalize my flight arrangements next year. Any improvement since Roth?

ironfinn

Did the race back in 2006, when it was a smaller gig. The course changed a bit this year. The swim is normally quite fast. Earlier on it was a three loop swim in the Kalmar strait. Now it`s a two-looper. The bike is fairly flat. The long bridge over to Øland is spectacular. The run was rural and flat, but the new course is located closer to the centre of Kalmar (and the old castle). Still fast and flat.

Paul Hough

Hallgeir - this will be my 3rd trip to Europe for a triathlon (Norway 70.3 maybe some year). Flat course will be nice cause it's flat here, and the weather will most likely be much better than Florida for an IM. But no matter what happens, my attitude will be that I'm in Sweden so enjoy the day and the experience.

Massebasse

Hi,
I'm new to the EN team and a native Swede (although living in Norway). I raced in Kalmar this year and it was a fantastic experience. As you already know the course is flat and fast and the weather is usually good that time of year. Although this was the inaugural IM here, they have had an iron-distance race here yearly since 1994, which means that they've got lots of experience in organizing races. I'll definitely do the race again some day but in 2013 I have my eyes set on Norseman in Norway or Challenge Copenhagen in Denmark. I'll be happy to answer any questions though if it can be of any help.

robin sarner

Maybe the Norseman one of these years.

 

 

Paul Hough

My wife says no to the Norseman but yes to the new 70.3 in Norway. That is on the to do list for another year.

[Deleted User]

@paul. I will be there in kalmar to race in my first ironman. Have you heard any reports about the race? Any advice/ info would be appreciated.

Paul Hough

Awesome! Two ENrs from Florida going to Sweden. Last year they had perfect conditions and the race times were so fast that trirating.com has it as the easiest of any IM they rate although that was based on only one year. There were reports of serious drafting on a stretch on the island of Oland were some of the roads were too narrow for refs. I have read that the course has been altered to use roads the refs can get to and they intend to crack down this year ... Good! The run course has apparently changed to take out some of the turns which is good, but the bad news is we won't be running by Kalmar castle as a result.

I figure since conditions were perfect last year, we will get rain and wind. Whatever! At least it won't be hot. This will be IM#6 for me. If you are following your training schedule and execute according to the 4 keys you will have a great first IM. I did Regensburg 2 years ago and my motto there was ... No matter what happens, I will be in Germany. Same for Sweden!

I will be staying with my wife and daughter at the Clarion Collection Packhuset hotel which is right by the train station.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the report! I hope for no rain or wind though but I hope to be ready for whatever conditions are thrown our way. The cooler weather will be nice and I hope training in this heat will help. I live in Miami and the heat has been horrible.

Ill be arriving in kalmar the Wednesday the week of the race. Ill be staying at a hotel across the bridge that we cross on the bike course. Ill be doing the workouts in our plan weds and Thursday. Hoping to get an open water swim for sure.

This being your 6th ironman you should kill it!

Thanks again!

Paul Hough

I will be in Copenhagen on Mon and Tue then taking the train to Kalmar Wed. I will wear an EN t shirt at the athlete briefing (English version). Look for an old guy with buzzed off hair and a moustache.

[Deleted User]

Haha. Right on. Ill be on the look out. See you in Sweden!