Mum will hold your hand through it!

Hey everyone

Do we get to pampered at Iron distance races with all the support at aid stations. Should we have to be more self sufficient?

Kia Kaha

Bevan and John

Comments

[Daniel (Germany)]

I think the aid stations are fine. In fact they are part of the game. The race is hard enough and the gels, drinks, ice,... help you to keep going strong.

In fact, I carry my own gels because I like them better than the ones that are being offere at the aid stations. But I don't really see it as an extra effort to carry them with me.

[Nik Cook]

I think that aid stations are all part of Ironman races where the distances/conditions should be the challenge rather than personal logistics. Too much training time and money is invested in that one day for it to be ruined by not having enough food/fluid. However, its important not to rely on the race organisers totally and to have planned and tested your nutrition thoroughly in training. If you want the whole self-sufficiency thing, give Adventure Racing a go.

[Kat]

Oh god no, those aid stations are great, where and when do you ever have the chance to run around and yell 'waaaaaater, waaaaaater, coooooke' on the top of your voice and get given what you want without being called rude and impolite - I love it! I need every help I can get, that's why I chose Triathlon and not multisport, cheez, I get lost running in Hagley Park without anyone holding my hand....

[Chris]

The aid stations are absolutely essential for Ironman distance races!

Not only do they provide a psychologically important breakup of the distances to be covered, they provide the food drink and support that the vast majority of athletes NEED in order to be able to survive.

Think of how dangerous it would be if everyone had to be completely self sufficient? We've all gone off for a training ride with not enough fluids, or gels, or whatever in the past, and we do forget things.

Whilst you should never rely totally on aid stations, you do know they're there and can get what you need to survive if you have to, and it'd make the sport way too dangerous for all but the most experienced triathletes.

Imagine a really hot race without Aid Stations? That's not being pampered, that's being kept alive!

And don't forget how many people who can't compete in races, for whatever reason, are able to do their bit by working on the aid stations; a lot of them i've seen will have kids handing out food and drink, and thats important as it gets younger kids involved in a sport that, certainly in Europe, just isn't something that normally gets a lot of attention in the press.

Pampered indeed?! not all of us have a hair dresser in T2 waiting to 'ruffle the mullet' before we set out on the run, Bevan!! ;)

Chris

[Jono]

I think the aid stations are just fine. They are now an intrinsic part of the Ironman product so I cant see them going anywhere.

I think they are particularly useful for back of the pack athletes who need to consume a lot of food to get them through!

[Scott Horns]

I think they need to stay. If I wanted to be more self sufficient I would save $500 and do the race in my neighborhood. The IM distance is hard enough w/ out adding in extra logistics issues. Although they could do away with the dinners. I can not remember the last time I went to any of the IM buffet dinners.

Scott

[Rofster]

roffydflw@hotmail.com

Hell yeah, I'm coming up to my first IM (Lanza '09). I don't use the sponsors product generally, but, I have been taking some on training rides/runs as anything can happen on the day. My gel bottle could fall off my bike or out of my run belt. I plan on feeling pooped to not notice this if it happens, erm, sorry, too focussed to not notice :0)

Secondly there is a responsiblity from the organisers to provide water and such things.

Third, how can you carry all of that stuff on you, especially the run. I'll have enough problems dragging my 6' 3" butt round, without having to feel like I'm doing Royal Marine Training and carting a back pack full of water/coke/gels etc etc.

Forth, do you not pay enough not to have to worry about these things? I know it's all advertising for the sponsors but you'd feel a lbit agreived spending £300 on race entry, £300 on flights, £500 on villa and then HAVING to fork out another £100 on all your nutrition. At least if you want to use something else it's your choice?!

Finally, If you didn't have aid stations, when on earth would it be "acceptable" to have a little walk?

[Craig M]

I wouldn't really call it pampering with the aid stations! Although the occasional foot rub and leg massage on the course might help some of the more gentle participants (myself included)!

I think they are to a degree necessary in Ironman distance races, and with sponsors keen to be associated with the races how would they otherwise get this great opportunity to promote themselves and their products?

What I don't really get is aid stations for Sprint and Standard distance races?!?! Surely, you can manage a couple of bottles of drink on your bike for the hour or so you are on it, and can then manage a smooth 10km without aid stations every 2.5 km or so?

[Glen Newbold]

I think the aid stations are bloody perfect the way they are. But if we could have beer at the stations in the final 10 miles of the run, I might be able to finsh a little faster if I'm half drunk by then.

[Chris (edlcsre)]

For the longer distance races, Aid Stations are an absolute must. For us slower age groupers, who are looking at a 7-8 hour cycle, and a 5-6 hour run, there is no way we'd be able to complete the race without them.

I have done an IM where i took all my own Gels (1l bottle on the bike) but its so much easier to know you're going to be able to get nutrition on the way around. There is also something to be said for the fact they are at regular spaces on the course, which also encourage you to, at the very least, eat and drink at each aid station.

IM is still a tough day out, even if someone is there to offer you a drink and a banana every couple of miles!!

Do we depend on them? Yes, I think we do, would be really dangerous doing a race of this sort of time and distance without having that level of support available.