Pursuit of excellence. At least that was the slogan offered by Ben Fertic, president of WTC at the prerace carbo load. Morning met clear skies which remained that way all day. Last year's long lines for body marking and panic push to get into the water, all 1600 age groupers entering only after the pros went off and the forced through a narrow archway was more that adequately corrected! The swim start reamins very narrow and dangerously crowded with four and five deep shoulder to shoulder. My repeated yearly pleas to the swim director are met with, " It's wider than it was before", which it actually is not considering the entire width of the basy used to be the start. This leads to a very physical 500 meters or so. Swim exit was moved to tha same side as the start with excellent stairway and volunteer support. Transition i completely fair with ALL athletes travelling the same distance to get on the bike or start the run.
The loop through town lead to a mile or so long hill with a FAST descent requiring more that average skill BUT it does allow very good spectator participatioon and cheering. Once out on the Queen K the wind were simply absent or at your back for 30 miles. Her is wherre IM fails year after year. Despite a big emphasis on how Ford used wind tunnel testing to determine the appropriate distance for rider separation to negate any drafting effect, pack of up to 15 riders ruled the course. I personally witnessed a draft marshal as he called out, " Spread out guys. Spread out." to a group of 12 to 15 riders BUT took no action to penalize the riders. I know of three age group victories tha went to drafting riders. I especially liike thos who wear mirrors on theri helmets to keep an eye out for draft marshalls. This year they did not even need to do that as the marshals were completely ineffective.
The run was hot but not thermonuclear as it often is. Volunteers are, as always, fabulous. If you are going to place in or win your age group you had beter decide on you feeling toward cheating. Unfortunately drafting is rampant and often determines the overall victors. I suppose the attitude could be that since the rules are not enforced then breaking them is not in fact cheating. Perhaps this could also apply to drug usage. I personally see no difference. Cheating is cheating. If , however, you simply wish to finish and experience the biggest race our sport has to offer then start training now.