Modified Swim Starts at Certain Ironman Races

I'm interested in what 'modification to help start your race' is?

It bores me that too many people can't put the effort in to be prepared enough for an Ironman swim and they're just trying to find ways to make it easier.  The swim is already a tiny proportion of the race and for those of us who have it as a strong suit it just seems like they're pandering to the runners and cyclists.

I get what you are saying, but safety wise, do you want faster swimmers catching up and clogging things up, potentially leading to climbing, bumping = increased anxiety?

Devil's Advocate

My post is just stating what will happen.  Not all, but there will be many thinking this and executing this "strategy".  You are right, they will get mowed down.  Ideally, the faster would seed front and slower in the back.  In a perfect world, they would have a mat at the swim exit pulling people off if their time says anything over 2:20:00.

Interesting changes.  I like their ideas trying to enhance safety in the water.

Not sure I like the wave starts that they'll introduce at IMMT, but the new IMLP 'rolling' start is a good idea.  

So, 17 hours is not really 17 hours any more at IMMT and IMLP?  So, if you're in the first 6:25am wave at IMMT, you have 17:35 to finish, while someone in the last wave has 17:00 to finish?  That doesn't seem that fair.  Will you get a DNF if you start in the 6:25am and finish at 11:36pm?

I like idea of more buoys and that they will be numbered.

Everything eles...meh...whatever.

My email is going nuts this morning. At least 8-10 people in my tri club are doing LP, and it's my first IM event.

I cannot see how a bunch of lemmings pushing forward into the water is any safer. I was planning on hanging back and to the right of the start, and swimming the tangent towards the cable. 

I think it's chip time, you have to be in the water by 7am and done my midnight. Although how does all this work for Mike Reilly? Is 17 hours now 17:30 for LP, 17:25 for CdA, and 17:35 for IMMT?

I haven't done a full IM yet, just a HIM, and I have to say all these changes look good to me. Especially the numbered buoys and the rafts for other people to rest on. Just make those floats out of the way so I can swim by them

Oh that and shorter distances if the water is under 52 will probably save a few deaths a year.

I'm slow so I need help understanding. I'm doing IMFL this year as my first IM. Rolling start based on self seeding? What happens when the faster swimmers are coming through for the 2nd lap as the "slower" seeds are just getting started? I'm an MOP swimmer and wasn't really worried about a mass start but I think this will lead to more people being overly generous "self seeding".

It's a great idea but there should be some sort of proof for self seeding similar to marathons with qualifying times.

I think the idea of making the sport safer is not bad.

And somehow they need to experiment what works bet for the event.

Let's see what the final solution will be.

It's a solution to a problem that does not exist. 

Don't want to get in the 'scrum' of a mass start, then sit your butt on the shore for 1-2 minutes after the gun goes off and start swimming.  Problem fixed!  I have been more beat up at a local sprint triathlon that I have at any mass IM start. 

There will be a large majority of athletes that will be in the front because they want more time in the water to finish the swim.  Those around them will be strong swimmers who assume they are amongst other strong swimmers.  That's a recipe for disaster right there.  Look at IM Louisville, those that are in the front of the line and get there at 4 am are the ones that 'want more time' to finish the swim. 

The addition of numbered buoys is a good admin tool.  Floating rest stations?  Really....  Now you're staying:  No need to be able to swim the whole thing.  You can now go station to station!  I've seen people use the kayak to kayak method and it's dangerous for all.  Now it's going to be standardized.

I do like the temperature thing.  Mainly only because there would be no guessing as to what the race will do that day. 

Hot toddy's on cold days and margaritas on warm ones?

"The second phase of the initiative will feature a comprehensive effort to educate athletes 

about reducing anxiety associated with the swim portion of IRONMAN events, focusing on 

pre-race screening for potential health issues, pre-race training and race-week preparation"

I'm reading into this that they are identifying panic attacks as the root cause of some of the swim deaths

(versus lack of training) and are trying to take steps with the TT starts, rest floats, etc.

I'm all for the safety part of the changes, and it will be interesting to see how the changes affect the race.

I disagree with this completely. I have worked WTC events as an EMT before and they have plans. If it is going to be a USAT sanctioned even a medical plan needs to be placed for insurance purposes. 

But my favorite part of this is peoples distaste towards the floating rafts that are being installed. If people really have a gripe with this I would assume the have a gripe with any other aid station on course.