IMSG DNF Rate
The official resutls are finally in so let's sift through some the data. Nearly 2350 individuals registered but only 1890 started the actual race. So, thats nearly 450 who didn't even get to the starting line and bailed on the race for whatever reason. I can't complain as it made the swim lane a little less packed but then again it's ironman where you swim in a sea of schooling piranhas that have it in for each other. It's amazing any of us survive the swim.
In reviewing actual DNF's we had about 250 total, including top pros like Luke Bell and Paul Amey. Out of the 250 DNF's 150 ocurred during or shortly after the swim before leaving T1. And then 100 additional DNF's occurred on the bike or in T2 before the run. I wonder how these stats compare with other IM venues? It was a tough day for sure but I still stand behind the SG venue as a worthy host for IM. If you plan to do IMSG prepare for a cold-cold water swim and losts of hills on the bike & run.
Comments
Registration still open.
I have seen conflicting reports that put the water between 54 and 58 at IMSG. Unfortunately, there aren't any opportunities for cold water swimming in Tampa after March. I'm swimming Hurricane Man (2.4 mile open water race) on Saturday and the gulf is approaching 80 now. I can handle swimming in the low 60s but when you start talking 50s that's a whole new level of misery.
Lynne
I admire any and all that finished that swim!! I swam in 54 degree water in Lake Michigan for Spirit of Racine HIM a couple of years ago and felt every time I put my face in the water my brain froze or at least it felt like it! I did not have booties or a neoprene cap, but double capped and put vaseline all over my face, hoping it might protect it some from the cold. They shortened the course that year, so I was out of the water about 30 min.....can't imagine swimming 2.4 miles in that freezing water!! Tremendous effort IMSG peeps, you represent mental toughness to the extreme!
I did not enjoy that experience. To do 2.4 miles in water like that, is amazing!
At IMCDA 2008 the water was cold, but the outside air temp was warm. At IMCDA 2009, the water was warmer than 2008, but the outside air temp was colder. I DNF'd halfway through the bike thanks to hypothermia. I almost crashed several times and spent multiple hours at rest stops in the back of people's trucks trying to warm up - NOT my best day.
If you've got cold water temps AND cold air temps - it's almost impossible to warm up. It plain SUCKS!
So I give a VERY resounding "congrats to you" to anyone who made it out in one piece! Tough day.
Agree that IMSG is worth doing.... but I won't do it again!... The water was cold, no doubt, but the thing that got me was the air temp (about 44 or 45 with slight breeze) once out of the water. I was shivering and shaking so badly (and my hands were numb) that it took me 15 min in transition (YIKES!!). I just couldn't function. I also think there was some bug in the water as I had a lot of bloating and gas on the bike and heard of a lot of folks that had to drop due to stomach issues on the bike. You usually hear of stomach issues on the run. I have to admit my stomach didn't really feel right, or as right as one would expect, until about mile 15 on the run after I had been drinking broth for a few miles.
The only think that I did find annoying about the venue was the 2 transition areas. I felt like I spent all Thursday and Friday driving from swim to Dixie center to town square. It was way too much driving around. I like CDA where you just walk out the hotel and everything is there.
@ Stephen == > Where did you find the official results? I can only get the prelimnary results and it is really hard to do any analysis. In fact, it doesn't even show the DNF. Thanks
Try
here. On the left, the PDF version is the official results booklet they used to print and hand out on site.
And I just actually *looked* at it; it only shows results for finishers. 1600 AGers and 34 Pros.
I received the results under a PDF from an email entitled Ford Ironman St. George Post-Race Newsletter . I'll see if I can attach it from my other computer. By the way, it was great to be with you out on the course. It was a heck of journey to get there
Lynette:
I'm sorry to hear about the swim situation. I can't imagine being use to the beautiful warms waters of Hawaii and then coming to SG for a polar bear plunge. Do you have another A race for the season? Sheryl and Paul have cited sources with water temps being around 53 degrees. I'm glad I didn't know that before the race. Anything under 55 is always scary due to hypothermia.
By the way does anyone know if salt water feels different regarding the temperature than lake water? If so, what's the science behind it?
Getting accurate weather and course information out of WTC doesn't seem possible. The annual Journey to Hawaii/Clearwater publication gives only an indicator on what the real conditions are. Even race results in Tri Magazine rarely discuss the real conditions. I would like them to report actual water temperatures, the air temperature at race start, and +2, 4, & 6 hrs for 70.3s, and +4, 8, & 12 hrs for full IMs. Wind and humidity would be nice to know as well. Then you would have a better idea what the AGrs went through during the day. Typically down here in Florida, the wind is very calm when the pro's start. They swim in water like glass just before the sun is up. Then as the sun rises, the heat goes up and so do the winds. If you have a ~1 hr (or more) delay until your start ...which happens at St Anthony's or at IM70.3 Fl, you get choppy water, much greater wind on the ride, and then the honor of suffering through the 7th level of hell if you are out there running around noon.