What a day - on Race Day.

OK, race day was very hot! And I mean hot! By the time the bike transition came, participants starting to cramp up on both legs. Some just couldn't walk. But my iron-wife finished the 1/2 ironman race in 7 hours and 35 minutes. Waiting for an official time.

For the swimming evening, the water current was very strong. After the Ironman participants had completed the swim, the race official changed the course layout for the half Ironman participants. Short swim, about 1500M. Good! The current was pushing people totally away from the finishing line. Sighting of the markings was tough as well. There were two people missed the time cut for the Ironman swim. Bummer.

Quite interesting to see all the participants racing in and out of the transition area between swim, biking and running. I have to say though, not the participants were athletes. The kids (volunteers) at the bike's transition area, they were awesome. Felt sorry for them. Under high heat, they were instructed to catch the bikes as participants arriving. And then take each bikes back to the proper numbered parking spot about 400M plus away. And there were only about 8 kids doing this. Now, 800 participants, 800 bikes, 400M going down to park the bike (at the correct numbered parking spot) and then coming back up for another set of wheels continuously for hours. Under 36C with over 80% humidity, you can do the math the conditions these kids were in. O yeah, no one actually remember to give them water!!!! Until one of the local volunteers passed them bottled water and Gatorade from the athlete's desk. That volunteer was another kid. The more senior adult so called "staff", just stood there with the umbrellas shading from the sun. I also notice, there was no medical staff right at the bike transition. These poor kids with no medical training, had to try to handle medical problems too like severe cramping and dehydration. The medical staff were sitting back over 200M away chatting, smoking (although continuously being told not to at times).

I am telling you, this Ironman event really sucks money from people; you need money this, and money that - for equipments, Gels, protein bars, Areo bars, photos at the finishing line... It's just milking money. Saw the guy that created the Ironman brand. A tiny mustache 50-ish skinny guy. Not sure why he was there, maybe just to be there.

The logistics behind this event was poorly organized. Not worthed my money, maybe to the participants. Shuttle bus to the finishing line from the Sheraton, due to traffic gridlock, we didn't have regular shuttle going; some guys finished the 1/2 Ironman before the first shuttle arrived. Not sure how the organizer arrange transportation; there are back roads that could have been used. And trying to take a taxi there; good luck as there was no taxi outside the hotel or even couple KMs down; all blocked off for the race. And we did not know the name of the park where the finishing line was! In Chinese that was. I hopped on the second bus to the Finish Line after sending iron-wife off to the run. You know how fun that was when the driver asked us where the park was? People's Park. That was a bit ridiculous! We made the driver called his boss, after 30 minutes or so we got there! U know what, no signs saying the location was for the Ironman race. I spotted a red air filled giant arch with the Chinese words about the Ironman race. Ah, the right place, finally. One good thing about the commie always make fanfare events with bold red arches! Didn't know who the fu*K planned the layout of the finishing line; probably some commie party committee members in conjunction with local commie party chief with the no brain Ironman organizers. First off everything was fenced off including trying to access the toilet or even a walking path. Then, the toilets was over 500M from the finishing line up on a hilling walkway with stairs. What? The participants didn't have to use the bathroom when they arrive? Granted most would have collapsed into the available wheelchairs to the medical tents; but still! Then, the massage tent; if the athletes could have self propel up the long grandiose commie built stairs to a landing in the middle of the park for a massage, they would NOT need one! Stupid. The 1/2 Ironman Post race BBQ was closer to the finishing line than the massage tent and the toilets! While I was waiting for Audrey, I spotted some portable toilets setup between the 1/2 and full Ironman finishing lines. I "created" openings in order to get to it. After all, this is China. You acted as if you know what you were doing, people don't ask questions. Specially me, a Chinese looking like a foreigner. When my iron-wife arrived at the finishing line 7 hours and 35 minutes after the start, I took her there first. People followed afterward. Those two toilets on the ground level, I suspected the organizers put there for their own use. Tough. I cared less.

When we tried to catch the Official shuttle back to the hotel with iron-wife Audrey after the race, the bus driver refused to drive claiming no more gas in the tank. There were people finished way ahead had been stood at the stop for over an hour waiting for a shuttle. Taxi, yeah right at rush hours in the middle of a bloody chaotic downtown Haikou. Well, we started walking with another couple; the husband just finished the race. We walked, I repeated walked!!!! 22KM walk back to the hotel if we wanted to do it. That was after a "fun day out at the park". Jumped into a taxi not far from the finishing line. "Pretty much pleading with him to take us all back. After some 5 minute discussion, he drove; but still under protest. He rather not trying to drive to the other side of the city thru rush hour traffic. Turned out; taxi drivers were stupid that; they don't use their heads to think about which road to take. When we came upon the road block from the race, the taxi driver told us to ask the cops which road to take. Well, it turned out, there was back road virtually with NO car on the road; 3 lanes, bi-directional!!!! By the time we arrived at the hotel, I gave a bit more then the negotiated price. At that point, I didn't care; we were all in the sun from 7am till 730pm at night. 35C with high humidity; I had the luxury taking two showers during that time, but we were all beat. Hurray, we finally "home". As to those people taking that bus with the driver on strike - 2 hours! Fun, fun, fun.

BTW, there were plenty of vehicles for "officials", "vips", "official organizer used only" all over the place; empty with engine running....