Swim Course Changes!
This announcement just came across the Ironman web site this morning, "Due to significant rainfall upriver, resulting in an unseasonable increase in the Ohio River's current, Ironman has implemented its alternative swim course design. Therefore, to create the most equitable course for athletes of all abilities, the new design will include a swim in the protected waters adjacent to Towhead Island before athletes enter the river's main channel and swim downstream toward the finish at the Great Lawn."
"Details relating to the new Ford Ironman Louisville swim course are as follows:
On race morning, athletes will walk 3/4 mile from Waterfront Park to the swim start, located at the Brown Forman Amphitheater, just east of Tumbleweed Southwest Grill.
Athletes will self-seed themselves at the start based on their projected swim time.
A mass swim start will begin at 6:50 a.m. for nearly 40 professional athletes, and a time trial start will follow at 7 a.m. for age group athletes.
To reduce athlete congestion during the swim, the time trial start will consist of athletes entering the water every few seconds. Athletes will be required to cross a timing mat before entering the water, to record their official start time. Overall finish times will reflect the time at which each athlete enters the water, vs. the 7 a.m. start time.
The new swim course will encompass the traditional 2.4 miles. As a result of the increased river flow downstream, slightly faster swim times can be expected."
So, the good news is that the swim won't take as long! It will take awhile for everyone to get across the timing mats, but may mean less congestion and people crawling over each other. Maybe I'll be able to follow the swimmers from the shore until transition? We will see. Sunrise is around 7am, so it should be a neat morning.
"Details relating to the new Ford Ironman Louisville swim course are as follows:
On race morning, athletes will walk 3/4 mile from Waterfront Park to the swim start, located at the Brown Forman Amphitheater, just east of Tumbleweed Southwest Grill.
Athletes will self-seed themselves at the start based on their projected swim time.
A mass swim start will begin at 6:50 a.m. for nearly 40 professional athletes, and a time trial start will follow at 7 a.m. for age group athletes.
To reduce athlete congestion during the swim, the time trial start will consist of athletes entering the water every few seconds. Athletes will be required to cross a timing mat before entering the water, to record their official start time. Overall finish times will reflect the time at which each athlete enters the water, vs. the 7 a.m. start time.
The new swim course will encompass the traditional 2.4 miles. As a result of the increased river flow downstream, slightly faster swim times can be expected."
So, the good news is that the swim won't take as long! It will take awhile for everyone to get across the timing mats, but may mean less congestion and people crawling over each other. Maybe I'll be able to follow the swimmers from the shore until transition? We will see. Sunrise is around 7am, so it should be a neat morning.
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