With a new route and strong winds predicted for the cycle leg of the Ironman South Africa event in Port Elizabeth on Sunday 6 April, a tough day in the field was expected by participants.
With a new route and strong winds predicted for the cycle leg of the Ironman South Africa event in Port Elizabeth on Sunday 6 April, a tough day in the field was expected by participants.
Sunday’s event celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Ironman South Africa event.
The event covers a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and a 42,2km run.
For the first time in the 10-year history of the South African event, entries were sold out weeks before the cut off day.
This meant that organisers had to make various changes for the safety of the athletes.
These included a one loop sea swim, compared to the two loops in the previous events.
The cycle route was also changed, from three, 60km loops to two, 90km loops. The 90km loop also included the steep Maitlands Hill climb (about 50km into the race), which makes it now one of the toughest Ironman events in the world.
Grahamstown athletes, Nolan Berriman, Megan Hobson, Willem Esterhuysen and Leslie van der Merwe all completed the event well before the 17 hour cut-off.
For van der Merwe and Esterhuysen, this was their first Ironman event, and their first triathlon.
Van der Merwe said the cycle leg was “amazing” adding that the training on Cradock Road (the road between Grahamstown and Cradock) made the Ironman route far easier. He said he “felt good” going from the bike to the run, adding that an energy bar towards the end of the cycle ride spurred his energy levels. “Anything is possible,” said van der Merwe, adding that it was well organised event.
Van der Merwe finished the course in 15:21:56.
Berriman finished his third Ironman event, in a row, and said the course was “much tougher,” especially the new bike route. He said the easterly wind made it even more challenging.
Berriman said he was happy with his finishing time, compared with his previous two. “When the bug bites, it bites”, he said, adding that he would like to do the event again.
Berriman finished in 12:34:14.
Esterhuysen was happy with his race, adding that he just “wanted to finish”, so he was happy with his sub 14 hour race.
A cyclist who enjoys the hills, Esterhuysen said he liked the route. While he felt good on the cycle and the first two loops of the run, he said he hung in there for the final loop. “The experience was fabulous,” adding that he plans to take part in next year’s event.
Esterhuysen finished in 13:49:29.
Hobson said she preferred the longer swim to using extra energy running along the beach in a two-loop event, “although the longer distance looked daunting”.
Hobson said she experienced first-hand “ why (PE) is called the windy city.”
For her, the run was a “special space” as the supporters pack the route and keep encouraging athletes “from the heat of the day to the cold and windy evening,” she said. "The atmosphere made the run go by so much quicker than in a normal marathon event," Hobson said.
It was also special for her, to have her two daughters, eight-year-old Jodi and five-year-old Nina supporting along the route. “I just love it,” said Hobson, adding that she hopes to compete in another Ironman event.
Hobson finished in 13:15:57.
Overall winner was Nils Frommhold of Germany in 8:26:06, followed by South Africa’s Kyle Buckingham in 8:32:38.
Women’s overall winner was Simone Braendli of Switzerland who won in 9:31:53.
