Last week I posted a set of spectator instructions for Ironman Wisconsin 2010. I have some new information, so I’m writing an update to my original post.
Overview
The race begins at 7am Sunday morning with the swim in front of the Monona terrace. From there, we do a two loop bike course (Verona, Mt. Horeb, Cross Plains), with an out and back section from Madison to Verona. We then finish with a two loop run around downtown Madison. This Bing Map shows some places where you can watch the race. If you have general questions about Ironman Wisconsin, you can visit the official website at http://www.ironmanwisconsin.com.
My bib number is 532. I will be wearing grey tri shorts and a white/grey Craft tri top. My helmet is probably more noticeable, as it looks like a giant golf ball from the front (see here for a picture, although mine is in grey/white). I also have an integrated smoke colored visor that sets me apart from most others as well. You can check out my post from last year about my Argon 18 to see what my bike looks like. I will be wearing the same cloths on the run.
It should come as no surprise to those of you that know me, that I will be sporting an array of gadgets and technology on the bike and run (and the swim too I guess). Most important to all of you cheering me on, is the MyAthlete GPS tracker I rented for the race. This device sports a GPS receiver as well as a transmitter which updates a website with my position in near real-time (every 30 seconds or so). You can access my position using one of the two links below.
- Mobile Web: http://www.trackmyathlete.com/pdatrak.aspx?name=041199&gpasswd
- Desktop Browser Version: http://www.trackmyathlete.com/vemap.aspx?name=041199&gpasswd=
For the desktop version, make sure to click on September 12th on the calendar to make sure you are viewing the correct data.
Pre-Race and Swim
The swim starts at 7am in front of the Monona Terrace. I anticipate I’ll be walking down towards the water no later then 6:45am. So you have too choices for watching the swim. The first would be to pick a spot near the swim entrance/exit and see me walking down to the water, and then coming out of the water. The other option would be to get there really early and get a spot facing the lake up on the terrace. There is not much to see in the water during the swim, so I’m recommending the swim enter/exit view. I’m hoping to be out of the water by 8:05 am.
T1
After exiting the water we get to run up the helix (parking ramp) to the 4th floor I believe. Where we will change and then run out to get our bikes. If you decided to wait to see me exit the water, then you’ll need to run up to the 4th or 5th level to have a chance seeing me come out of transition or get on my bike. With the lake at your back, the bikes are racked according to our bib numbers with #1 (pros) on the far left and the 2000’s on the far right. We run out of a doorway on the right and then run from right to left to pick up our bike and head to the mount point at the far left, and then ride down the helix to John Nolan Drive, which is another good place to watch from. You will have to pick one transition vantage point, as I don’t think you could hit up more then one.
Bike
You can get the official course cue sheet from the Ironman Wisconsin Website, or take a look at the bike course on MapMyRide.com. The key to navigating the bike course is knowing how to avoid the bikers, as there are several intersections that will be shutdown or controlled causing traffic problems. I drove around last night and came up with 7 vantage points for checking out the bike course. Times are from seeing me come thru the last location, assume good weather and no mechanical issues. The times are also on the fast side of things to get you to the location in time to park and walk.
| Time | Location | Directions |
| Leaving Madison, John Nolen Dr south to the beltline will be open. Bikers cross under John Nolen Dr using the bike underpass and then head out of town via Rimrock rd. | ||
| +40 minutes | Locus and Bruce St (Verona) |
Take Hwy 18/151 south from Madison to the PB Verona exit (Exit 79). Take a left onto PB and go about a 1/4 mile to M. Turn right onto M and follow it around the curve, over 18/151 and take your first left onto Praire Heights Dr. You can either go straight until you reach locus and turn right, or take your first right which takes you to Locus as well. Bikers will be traveling south on Locus turning right onto Bruce St. Backtrack to Hwy M and PB to get back onto Hwy 18/151. |
| +40 minutes | Hwy 92/8th st Round-a-bout in Mt. Horeb | Take Hwy 18/151 south to the First Mt. Horeb Exit #69. You’ll take a right off the ramp and then go thru 4-5 round-a-bouts. You’ll need to park someplace before the Hwy 92/8th street round-a-bout as that is where we come thru. There is a stip mall on the right before the bridge, and a residential street on the left just after the bridge. |
| +45 minutes | Timber Lane and Midtown Rd | Leave Mt. Horeb and get back onto 18/151 heading north. Exit onto hwy PD and take a left. Stay on PD until you get to Timber lane, and take a left. You will want to start looking for parking when you see the sign for the school bus stop ahead. Bikers will be traveling south on timber lane, making a left onto Mid Town Road. Mid Town is the last of 3 tough climbs heading out of cross plains, and there should be a pretty big gathering of people lining the hill. I would cheer from the bottom of the hill so you can get back to your car ASAP and onto the next spot, cause it comes up fast. |
| +10 minutes | Downtown Verona. Main St and W. Verona Ave (Business 151) | Head south on Timber lane and take a left back onto PD. Take your first right onto Country View Rd (comes up fast). This will eventually turn into Epic Lane. Follow epic lane to W Verona Ave (business 151), turning left onto Verona Ave. Plan to park before the Main St. intersection and then walk. Bikers travel south on Main St and turn left onto Verona rd. This intersection, and Verona rd heading east is closed. |
| +50 minutes | Hwy 92/8th st Round-a-bout in Mt. Horeb | Take Verona Rd west and get back onto Hwy 18/151 heading south to Mt. Horeb. There is not enough time to hit up the Locus rd spot on the second loop. |
| +45 minutes | Timber Lane and Midtown Rd | Same as above |
| +50 minutes | Downtown Verona. Main St and W. Verona Ave (Business 151) | Same as above |
| +40 minutes | T2 – Monona Terrace | Take Verona Rd west and get back onto Hwy 18/151 heading north to Madison. Get on the beltline heading East and exit anywhere other then Rimrock rd. If you want to see me get off the bike, you’ll need to account for time to park and to get up to the Monona terrace. Once off the bike, it should take me 2 minutes to change and head out onto the run course. |
Run
The run is pretty easy. We head out from the Monona terrace on Mt. Luther King Blvd and run around the square. So you can catch me heading out onto the run, and then head down to state street and wait for me to hit the mile 6 turn around point which is at State and Gillman. You can then either catch me at the half way turn around on MLK and Wilson, or wait for me to come back down State Street to turn onto Henry. After seeing me at the turn around at State and Gillman for the second time, you’ll want to make your way up to the finishing chute on MLK.