33 / 132
Ironman Nice will this year
take place after the one-year
anniversary of the terrorist attacks
for the 70.3 race. It had sold out but one of our
teammembers decided not to race well in
advance of the race date. He contacted Ironman
to ask if they could transfer his entry to another
teammate who wanted to race but missed the
entry. They said no. The athlete offered to pay
another full entry fee, they said no.
Their withdrawal and transfer processes are
poor at best and I don’t agree with athletes
funding these changes when Ironman could have
placed a holding page for Nice registration
following those tragic events. I now unfortunately
can’t afford to book accommodation or change the
flights and I have family commitments on 23 July.
I’m now left with no long-distance race for
2017 and a significant cost. I do hope Nice is
strongly supported to show terrorism will never
be the winner, but I will personally not take part in
another Ironman-branded event. I hope the
Challenge family, Outlaw and those smaller
iron-distance events go from strength to strength.
IAN CATLOW, EMAIL
Ironman replies re: Nice:
“IRONMAN was not
made aware of the City of Nice’s plan for a
moratorium until October but we understand,
respect and fully support their decision. We stand
with the City of Nice united against terror and are
determined for this race to take place in 2017.
Athletes were offered a full refund, a transfer to
another open IRONMAN race in our region or to
race on the new date.”
Re: 70.3Mallorca:
“It is our standing policy that
we do not allow transfers or walk-up registrations
for sold-out races. This would be unfair to all other
athletes who committed early to race in such a
popular event as IRONMAN 70.3 Mallorca.”
THEFIFTHDISCIPLINE
As triathletes we often focus on the three
disciplines of our sport. Many of us don’t spend
much time on the fourth – transition. But there’s a
fifth discipline, which, for some, is almost as
important as the event itself – The Race Report.
The Race Report is the final part in every event,
although for most it doesn’t get written. Think of
the tales of training and strange goings on that us
triathletes go through. I completed Ironman UK
last year and for me completing the story was the
final chapter of the whole event. It gave me the
opportunity to share the training I had (or hadn’t)
done with others and it enabled others to
understand the efforts both leading up to and
during the event. It became an emotional
experience just as it was on the day.
I did it to make others aware that normal
people with everyday stresses of life can do this.
I also used it as an opportunity to put down in
writing my thanks to loved ones, who’ve put up
with my training, and club-mates and coaches for
their support. Hopefully it will inspire someone
that didn’t think it was possible to do something
– not necessarily IMUK, just something.
So next time you’re thinking about that
race you just did, put it in writing and share it.
I promise it will make you take a second look
at what you achieved or things you can do
differently in your next race.
STUART JAY, EMAIL
“I do hope IronmanNice is strongly
supported, but I personallywill not take
part in another Ironman-branded event”