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Another course change at the IM World Championships

Back in 1981 when the Ironman changed islands, I'm sure there were some broken hearts. That original location and the original course had likely been "it" for some athletes who had left a piece of themselves on a particular hill, in tight corner, at the hottest spot. Athletes and courses often grow together, and for them change can be brutal.

Once the raced moved to Kona, some pieces of the course became undeniably classic moments of struggle or strategy. "The Pit" was one of those places; located in just the first mile of the marathon, athletes pried their legs off their bikes and were instantly challenged by a short steep climb that then turned down hill into a dead-end cul-de-sac that offered no relief from searing sun or radiating lava and blacktop. Running hills immediately after a 112 mile bike ride is brutal. Running hills on the broil setting with no other real purpose than to add mileage and to be given an instant look at your competition with the bit of out and back is epic.

The Pit got cut out of the course back in 2001. There were solid, justifiable reasons for making a change. The race organizers, World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), had located T2 in the parking lot of Kona Surf Hotel for many years. Even when the hotel was open, it was located nearly 5 miles from the Pier which stood as the race start, the race finish. In the early days it was a hike for spectators, press, and VIPs, and then with the hotel shut down there was no other reason to make the journey. WTC moved T2 to the old airport creating a more accessible - if not incredibly boring - location to start the run. This created big adjustments in the bike course that resulted in a far more difficult ride as it places the athletes deeper into the late day wind.

The 25th anniversary will fall in 2003, and for the fist time both transitions areas will be located in the same place. The athletes will exit the water at the small beach located in front of the King Kam Hotel and run across the hotel's grassy lawn into the large parking area used for the carbo & awards parties. This will allow WTC to expand the number of participants since the pier was nearly busting at it's seams with bikes.

To see the official course maps (with subtle changes in bike and run routes) check www.ironmanlive.com/vnews/997108968. Much of this article was inspired by the far wiser Dan Empfield, see his piece at http://www.slowtwitch.com/headings/ironman.html

Other articles in this series:
   » Triathlon, the Olympics, and the Evolution
   » Triathlon Keeps Inching Towards Mainstream
   » Slowtwitch's Kona Survey
   » Olympics in Athens and how athletes try and make the grade
   » Put your mind to work in your favor before and during the race with
     visualizations

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