FTC - Ironman Training Weekend

Ironman Training Weekend

Taking place over a weekend normally at the beginning of April, there will be opportunity to try either the full distances (3.8kS, 180kB, 42kR) or half distances (1.9kS, 90kB, 21kR) in each discipline. You may also mix distances (e.g. full distance swim and cycle with half distance run) or miss disciplines out (e.g. half distance swim with half distance run).

Please let us know in advance that you wish to participate and what distances/disciplines you want to do.

From 2009 a £6-00 fee will be required from anyone wishing to take part in the weekend, irrespective of which disciplines/distances you decide to do.

Swim

Location: Farnham Leisure Centre, Dogflud Way, Farnham.

Date: Friday

Time: 9:00pm

Distance: 3.8km or 1.9km

All BTF competition and technical rules apply.

Please arrive early. Full distance swimmers will be started promptly at 9:00pm in order for them to benefit from the full 75 minute pool time. Half distance swimmers will be started once all the full distance competitors are swimming.

Full distance swimmers will complete 152 lengths of the Farnham 25m pool. Half distance swimmers will complete 76 lengths of the 25m pool. Please swim in the normal direction of the lane or as indicated by the ‘lap counter’ for your lane.

Please bring a swim cap and be prepared to use it as there may be a need for ‘lap counters’ to be able to identify different swimmers in a lane.

Please bring your own food and drink. As usual, no food on poolside but drinks bottles are OK.

Cycle (2012)

Location: Preston Candover Village Hall.

Date: Saturday

Time: 09:00am

Distance: 180km or 90km

All BTF competition and technical rules apply on the bike course, in particular use of an approved cycle helmet (Please note No helmet = no cycle!)

Come dressed appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions. Be prepared to leave some warm clothing at the start/finish in case conditions change.

Details of parking arrangements will be made available but parking will be limited so please try to share transport (or cycle over!).

Please arrive early. Full distance cyclists will be started at 10:00am. Half distance cyclists will be started after all the full distance cyclists have gone. Cyclists will be started at one-minute intervals.

A food/aid station will be set up at the start/finish. Hence, there will be opportunity to take on food and drink every 20 miles. We can supply water but cyclists will need to bring their own food and/or energy drinks, packaged and labelled accordingly, so that they can be handed out at the food/aid station.

Course Map:3 x 30K laps for the half distance, 6 x 30K laps for the full distance.

Some Safety Notes on the Ironman Weekend Bike Course from Mark Richardson

There will be a few flints around (I punctured my Schwalbe Stelvio pluses for the first time in 2 years on the route – flint like a medieval axe-head) – not a route for your lightest tyres if it’s recently rained! Or at least make sure you have puncture repair kit with you.

A few of the corners are tight – the left turn after Swarraton – the right to climb up to Bentworth and the left as you enter Bentworth spring to mind – take care on these corners

Some of the lanes are “tight” approaching Bentworth and leaving Bentworth folks will HAVE TO SLOW DOWN so as not to spook any oncoming cars – likewise the cars should (theoretically at least) do the same.

There’s mud on the road in places due to farm traffic – expect it! and be extra careful in the wet.

There will be large numbers going round the course - the onus is on you to keep car drivers happy with our behaviour on the road.

Run

Location: Public Car Park opposite Barley Mow PH the Basingstoke Canal, Winchfield.

Date: Sunday

Time: 10:00am

Distance: 42km or 21km

All BTF competition and technical rules apply.

Please arrive early to allow for a warm-up etc.

Parking is in the large car park just past the pub. Please do not park the pub car park.

The turn around points at either end of the run course will be marshalled. There will be other marshals on the course in case of emergencies.

The run will be a mass start. Please be aware that the canal is in use by members of the public. Take care when passing people. The path is wide enough in most places to allow passing without any problems. Please also be aware that it is a canal… don’t fall in!

Water will be provided at the start/finish and turn around points along the course, hence there will be approximately 3.5 miles between water stops. Athletes will need to bring their own food and energy drinks packaged and labelled accordingly if they want these handed out at the start/finish area.

Course description: Start/finish will be on the canal towpath at the ‘Barley Mow’ pub near Winchfield. Ironman runners will complete two laps of a two-looped out and back course following the route of the canal towpath at all times. Half Ironman competitors will complete one lap of the same course. The first loop will take the runners west to Odiham. The turn around point will be on the canal near to the public car park in Odiham village. Runners will then retrace their steps to the Barley Mow start/finish point. The second loop takes the runners east to Crookham. The turn around point will be on the canal near to the Exchequer pub in Crookham Village.

2012 Event - 30/31 March/01 April

The cost will be three tokens as per last year for the whole weekend (or part of).

Please email Ali Wigg if you would like to take part (indicating which days you wish to take part in, and which distance) or if you can spare some time over the weekend to marshal.

Please note that the membership year starts on 1 April and you need to have re-joined in order to be covered by our insurance so please ensure you do so in plenty of time.

Cycle (2004-2011)

Location: A31 lay-by, 1km south-west of 'The Bull' PH, near Farnham.

Date: Saturday

Time: 09:00am

Distance: 180km or 90km

All BTF competition and technical rules apply on the bike course, in particular use of an approved cycle helmet (Please note No helmet = no cycle!)

Come dressed appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions. Be prepared to leave some warm clothing at the start/finish lay-by in case conditions change.

Please park in the lay-by on the eastbound carriageway of the A31, 200 metres east of ‘The Bull’ pub. Avoid parking in the start/finish lay-by as there will not be enough room for everyone.

A food/aid station will be set up at the start/finish lay-by. Hence, there will be opportunity to take on food and drink every 20 miles. We can supply water but cyclists will need to bring their own food and/or energy drinks, packaged and labelled accordingly, so that they can be handed out at the food/aid station.

Course Description (20-mile loop): The start is from the start/finish lay-by on westbound carriageway of the A31, 200 metres past ‘The Bull’ pub. The route leaves the start/finish lay-by heading west passing the Alton roundabout (R2 on map) to the Chawton roundabout (R1 on map). Turn here and retrace the route heading east over R2 and past ‘The Bull’ pub to the Coxbridge roundabout (R3 on the map). Turn here and retrace the route westbound to the start/finish lay-by.

Course Description (16-mile loop): The start is from the start/finish lay-by to the Alton roundabout (R2 on map). Turn here and retrace the route heading east and past ‘The Bull’ pub to the Coxbridge roundabout (R3 on the map). Turn here and retrace the route westbound to the start/finish lay-by.

The half Ironman route will be 2 x 20-mile loop and 1 x 16 mile loop. The full Ironman route will be 2 x 20-mile loop, 1 x 16 mile loop, 2 x 20 mile loop and 1 x 16 mile loop.