By Jay Prasuhn
Nov. 4, 2006 -- Closing your season in style is something we're finding to be a good way for athlete to reward family. Which is why Triathlete is in Australia this weekend for the inaugural Snap Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie.
After a successful April debut of the Ironman Australia Port Macquarie (after changing venues from Forster-Tuncurry last year), the new 70.3 debut here has drawn immense interest by virtue of a start list of over 900 starters, hosting in a town with more amenities and outside activities than Forster-Tuncurry offered years ago.
Which is what we've experienced while here. The area is teeming with outdoor activity. If ever there was a great season-ending blowout whether alone or with family for a holiday, Port Maquarie is that spot. Idyllic weather paired with a full slate of activities for the family are available within minutes of downtown Port Maquarie, from a visit to a donation-sustained Koala Hospital (koalahospital.org.au) that rehabs area koalas struck by cars or caught in forest fires, to seeing massive fruit bats hanging from mangroves over the river while sea kayaking, to a lazy nature walk in protected rainforest, to a trike tour of the coast (where we saw both koalas napping in the eucalyptus, a family of kangaroos lazing under a shady tree and whales breaching off shore-all in a one and a half our expanse).
Plus, with a full season of training in your legs, you might be able to escape North America's fall, jump into Australia's spring/summer season and claim a Hawaii Ironman spot from Southern Hemisphere athletes who are just starting of their seasons. Not a bad way to get your '07 Kona slot secured early.
As for the race Sunday, (Saturday afternoon/evening in North America) the elite athlete list has grown substantially, headed by a home country favorite, Belinda Granger. Initially planning on recovering from her eighth-place finish at the Hawaii Ironman, Granger will be joining her husband and fellow pro Justin Granger in taking a last-minute start in the Hastings River. Granger's competition includes Charlotte Paul, last year's Ironman Western Australia runner-up and Marilyn MacDonald.
The men's field sees more depth, with fleet Aussie run specialist Jason Shortis leading the list after finishing third at the Ironman Port Macquarie race a year ago. He's go up against a field that includes Granger (who was diligently training for this race in Kona two weeks ago) and Aussie Chris MacDonald.
Add to the mix a trio of key Danes in town prepping for the ITU Long Course World Championships in Canberra. Torbjorn Sindballe, last year's Hawaii Ironman bike split record holder leads that group. Also taking the start is Ole Stougaard, who won the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon in early August, as well as Jens Koefoed.
The course is a uniquely challenging course in that with flats, rollers, steep climbs and technical cornering, it offers no one style of athlete an advantage; after a swim in the Hastings River, athletes mount their bikes take some tight turns out of town and encounter a few rollers and one short, sharp grade before heading onto Ocean Drive, where athletes can put their heads down and power along straight, flat roadways-all the while keeping eyes out for Koalas crossing. After two laps of the bike, athletes get about five miles of flat running along Settlement Point Road before hitting leg-sapping rollers along Pacific Drive before returning for the finish.
The challenge is compounded by a high chance of rain, with the area being consistently doused for the last two days by steady downpours.
Saturday (Friday in North America) plays host to the carbo dinner, with newly crowned Hawaii Ironman World Champion Michellie Jones speaking during the dinner to the athletes.
Stay tuned to triathletemag.com for a post-race report.