Brief synopsis:

- Cost a lot, worth it

- First timer friendly - don't be intimidated

- Split transition - plan ahead!

- Nice swim venue, good cycle and decent run

- Excellent local support and marshals

- Nice medal, nice t-shirt and good bag (hopefully it'll hold up)

I registered for this event in September last year and it cost me a whopping 297 quid (after the company you book through has added on a load of fees). I knew cheaper events were available - many perceived to be better but decided that in the event I only ever did this once (not going to happen) that I wanted to do the original, possibly a little vain but meh - who cares. Booking on the ‘active’ website was painless enough but I do find it annoying that it costs so much more than the advertised fee. I got a confirmation e-mail shortly after the booking and literally no correspondence until a few weeks before the actual event, luckily I’d gone digging myself beforehand (including on racecheck) to check out decent accommodation, tips etc…This is something which could be improved, even if its just a monthly countdown e-mail with a single tip on it. 

If you are entering this event the key is definitely to set aside some time and prepare. I secured an early reservation at the Premier Inn in Rugeley which is equidistant to Chasewater (swim venue/T1) and Stafford town centre (Registration/T2/Finish line). It’s about 25 minutes to each, has ample parking, friendly staff, you can keep your bike in your room and a nice pub/restaurant next door - give actual Rugeley a miss though - not much going on. They released an Athlete pack a few weeks before the event which was helpful although the maps could have been better and the ACTUAL address of the registration would have been helpful. That being said the race director did a Q & A live on Facebook before the race which was reasonably helpful although for some reason they insisted on directing you to parking areas with massively high rates - Asda is free for 2 hours (so long enough to register and sort T2) and about a 5 minute walk from registration. 

I highly recommend registering on the Friday as it was practically empty when I went and dropping you run kit off at T2 at that point helps as its only 5 minutes walk away and saves a lot of back and forth which I think a lot of other people ended up doing. Exactly where registration was seemed to confuse everyone - the guide just said ‘Riverway’ which was a pretty long road, we ended up walking in the vague direction the map suggested then asking someone walking the other way with an IM bag. Registration was painless and they gave me what I think it a pretty decent IM branded bag which looks to be reasonably sturdy but we shall see; some people got ones with upside down logo’s or from the wrong race which doesn’t bode well. The 10 minute rolling race briefing video was a little impersonal, it would have been nice to have had some staff on hand to ask questions of and to perhaps speak a little rather than all stand watching a video regurgitating the content of the athlete pack. 

Getting kit into T2 was painless but T1 didn’t open for bike racking until Saturday in Chasewater. Finding the allocated parking there was easy and the shuttle buses allowed bikes which saves pushing it for a mile. It was practically dead early in the morning as most people were having to register and rack on the same day; having registered on Friday meant I was able to stick my bike and kit in and then go on the practice swim. I had been quite intimidated at the quality of athletes (and bikes!) I saw about but everyone was very friendly at the practice swim and in/around all the venues which served to alleviate the first timer nerves. 

The day itself was long - they recommend being there 90 minutes before the start (5.30) and it is necessary - not enough loo’s as always plus you need time to faff with your bike - pump tyres, add nutrition etc We were delayed by fog but they kept us updated and made the reasons for the delay (safety) clear, which was fair. 

The swim was rough; I have done a fair few mass starts but this was truly brutal at points. It was meant to be self seeded but where we had been delayed getting us into the swim start was almost rushed so about 2000 people all just filtered into the water and I think some people had just decided they wanted to crack on so re-seeded themselves accordingly. I was punched, kicked elbowed and generally molested the entire race which served as a distraction so was fine for me but I’d say a health warning for anyone a little wary of mass starts to stay right at the back would have been good. The water quality was good and the venue itself nice, the swim course could have done with a few larger buoys as I found myself just following blue hats because they were barely visible at points. Swim exit to transition was a long-ish trot but was well carpeted and not too arduous. 

The bike start was a calamity - who puts multiple and practically hidden speed bumps at the start of a triathlon cycle course!? They were vaguely marked but clearly not very well as I cycles passed what looked a pretty bad accident and I heard of at least one other. I would say that needed a prominent health warning or they need to re-direct the start somehow. The rest of the bike course was nice, a fair few people have commented on poor road conditions but I personally thought they were ok; any large potholes etc had been sprayed to alert you to them and I didn’t think there were too many - although perhaps thats more of a damning indictment of the cycle ways in Essex where I ordinarily cycle than anything else. Tonnes of local people were out supporting which was so so welcome. The course had the exact amount of ascent it said it would so I’m not sure why people are complaining about that, it had a nice mixture of hills and flats with the opportunity to get some nice speeds up. There was a point where cyclists were coming both ways which was a little unnerving but it was highlighted with signs and the organisers can’t help ‘athletes’ being fools and crossing the centre line or getting onto their top tube - all of which I saw but have come to expect in any event - there is always one, or several…

Bike to run was fine, loo’s in transition - woo. The run course was ok, nothing particularly special but very well supported right the way through the town. Having to do 3 laps was soul destroying, although when you get your last lap band its literally amazing. The feed stations were really well stocked - water, electrolyte, red bull, coke, bananas and gels and the marshals staffing them were amazing - so encouraging and positive, the resident up at the feed station where the lap bands were epitomised the support from the locals on the day - stood all day with his hose for people people to run through and cool off - life saver! 

The finish - incredible, running up that little carpet and through the arch was just wow…worth all the training and pain. The medal is smart, fair size and nice design. I love the t-shirt but I just wish they had put something on the back, I really don’t understand why companies don’t use it - advertising anyone? At the end I got given a chicken and stuffing burger which was ok but after all that I could barely eat, there were some welcome options of fruit, cake, coke, coffee and tonnes of water also. The finish area had space for a sit and chill, some makeshift changing rooms and some toilets only athletes could access which was welcome. I have heard a lot of people say the selection was poor compared to other IM 70.3 events but being new to it I didn’t know any better and thought it was fairly reasonable to be honest. 

The finish area was set out pretty poorly and the ‘shop’ had relocated from the registration area to and abandoned shop in the finish area in the centre of town but with no signs or anything - we happened across it by chance. The stock was pretty poor which was a shame, I had purposefully not bought anything during registration in case I hand’t managed to finish! Again, a money making opportunity lost there I think. The finish line was about a 30 minute walk to where we had left our bikes and kit which was a bit of a killer after 70.3 but probably a good way of forcing me to stretch my legs a bit and not seize up - whats a few more miles I suppose. 

In summary for my 297 quid I got slight logistical nightmare requiring some serious pre-planning and time investment, an exciting swim, a nice and at times hairy closed road countryside cycle, a well supported run, an amazing finish, loads of people cheering us on and a huge sense of achievement that I can be reminded of when I look at my awesome medal and potter around with my t-shirt and bag that I am never taking off on - oh, and two arm tattoo’s I cant seem to get rid of. Money well spent.