Over the last 4 seasons I have competed in one 'half ironman like' distance race per year. In 2011, Geelong only had an Olympic Distance event so I raced in Torquay, but every other year I have entered the race in Geelong.
It has become our February holiday long weekend (we take Monday off work), something we look forward to each year. Eastern Beach is a beautiful foreshore filled with lovely cafes and restaurants on the waterfront and lots of well priced accommodation located less than 400m from the event site.
During the Geelong Multisport Festival this small (and probably best) area of the town is completely overrun by triathletes. An Event Village contains 50 or so stalls full of desirable tri-gear (and sometimes wine). This year Specialized were conducting free test rides of their bikes - I test rode a Venge whilst Elaine tried a Shiv. The cafes, restaurants and bars are all overflowing with athletes and you are constantly bumping into people you know throughout the whole weekend. There is a great vibe and we always get swept up in the atmosphere of the whole weekend.
Each year our friend Dave travels down to Geelong to watch Elaine and I race. Afterwards we have lunch at the pub before taking our beers to a table on the sidewalk to watch the Elites race in front of us. The transition is literally 2 metres away from our table and the races are designed to continually loop past. We'll then meet up with other athletes for dinner at a restaurant before taking our weary bodies back to the hotel or apartment (often only 200m away). Next morning, after a nice sleep-in, we'll head down for a relaxed breakfast before making plans for the rest of the day - maybe a quick trip across to Torquay before heading home.
Now our February tradition has been turned upside down with the announcement of Challenge Melbourne - a Half Ironman distance race situated at Sandringham. With the race being scheduled one week before the weekend usually occupied by Geelong, it is not feasible to consider doing both races. Personally I think this is dirty tactics by Supersprint (race organisers) and it is the local triathletes that loose out.
The beach at Sandringham is far less protected than Eastern Beach, meaning there is far more chance of rough water during the swim (most people will remember Ironman Melbourne). Also Sandringham has a 500 metre steep uphill run from the beach to transition - swim splits will certainly be significantly slower than Geelong. However the 3 lap bike course between Brighton and Mordialloc on high quality road surface will be much faster (somewhat depending upon the wind). Also the 3 lap run leg will be no where near as hilly as the Geelong course. Even with the more difficult swim, I think overall Sandringham will be a significantly easier and most likely faster course than Geelong.
The hours before and during the race will not be lacking in vibe. But it will be nowhere near the whole weekend experience of Geelong. Even is Saturday registration is compulsory, most people will pop in and out as quickly as possible. And after the race, most people are likely to simply head home. In reality it will be the same as a local Sprint or Olympic race, it will just last longer.
So which race will Elaine and I do ? Whilst not suited to my strengths, I like the Geelong course and enjoy comparing my results from year to year. Elaine and I absolutely love the long weekend away - it is the highlight of our season and the only race for the year our friend Dave comes to watch. However in the end it comes down to cost and when you subtract travel, accommodation, cafes, restaurants and bars - Sandringham will save us some where in the vicinity of $800 (and money is very tight at the moment).
The issue of money will be significant for most of our friends, so I suspect most will choose Melbourne. And having lots of friends doing the same race is a big factor in choosing races. To say the location is local to our Triathlon Club is an understatement, as our club rooms are effectively on the course and only 300m or so from transition.
See you at Challenge Melbourne
PS. Did I mention Challenge Melbourne will be Elaine's first Half Ironman. Geelong used to conduct an Olympic Distance and Half Ironman event at the same time, but not Challenge Melbourne - so Elaine is doing the Half (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run).
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