Claudio's first IM 70.3 in Cascais

Cascais IM 70.3 -September 30th 2018 (L)

Race Reporter: ClaudioGetting to Cascais

Race registration  The Ironman registration stand is right in front of the bay, at "Hotel Baía", can't miss it. It's also the start of the swim and the finish line. The transition area it's uphill, a 600 meters run from the exit of the swim. The organization gives you the choice of whether you want to run it barefoot or with shoes. Whatever you decide, there is a red carpet that takes you all the way to transition, so it shouldn't make too much of a difference on your time whether you use shoes or not. Next to the registration desk, you'll find the bike repair area. The number one tip that I have for anyone new to the race is to turn in your bike for a check-up. You'll have to pay for it, but the peace of mind of knowing your bike is OK makes it worth it. In my case, the flight had damaged the carbon disks, so I didn't have much of a choice. Of the 335 people in my age group, 60 didn't finish the bike leg, and it wouldn't surprise me if some of them regretted not spending the 25 or so euros for the bike check-up. FYI - the bike service is free on race day, and it's in the transition area. Race start and swim That moment in the morning when you wait with hundreds of others in wetsuit on the shore, the sun raising from the water at the horizon, the multitude of drones staring at you in perfect mid-air stillness, that moment is worth coming for. The start of Kona is signaled by a cannon, the Barkley marathons are initiated by a cigarette lit by the race director, and Cascais 70.3 IM begins at the ringing of a bell. The swimmers decide where to start, according to four time groups, listed here verbatim from the race speaker: the "dolphins" (<25 mins), the "good swimmers" (<35 mins), the "humans" (<45 mins) and the "bricks" (>45 mins). I'd recommend you choose your group or the one faster-up if you are at the boundary of two time groups. The fighting in the water isn't too bad but it's still 2,600 people getting in the Ocean at the same time. Out of the water and on your way to transition, that's the ideal spot for your support team and their phone cameras, as you'll pass this road twice in fast sequence, at the end of the swim and at the beginning of the bike. After that, your folks can go for breakfast and come back to the same spot in whatever time it takes you to do the 90km. Then again, they'll cheer you up as you finish your bike ride and start your run. Smile! It's going to be as long of a day for them as for you.

Race registration  The Ironman registration stand is right in front of the bay, at "Hotel Baía", can't miss it. It's also the start of the swim and the finish line. The transition area it's uphill, a 600 meters run from the exit of the swim. The organization gives you the choice of whether you want to run it barefoot or with shoes. Whatever you decide, there is a red carpet that takes you all the way to transition, so it shouldn't make too much of a difference on your time whether you use shoes or not. Next to the registration desk, you'll find the bike repair area. The number one tip that I have for anyone new to the race is to turn in your bike for a check-up. You'll have to pay for it, but the peace of mind of knowing your bike is OK makes it worth it. In my case, the flight had damaged the carbon disks, so I didn't have much of a choice. Of the 335 people in my age group, 60 didn't finish the bike leg, and it wouldn't surprise me if some of them regretted not spending the 25 or so euros for the bike check-up. FYI - the bike service is free on race day, and it's in the transition area. Race start and swim That moment in the morning when you wait with hundreds of others in wetsuit on the shore, the sun raising from the water at the horizon, the multitude of drones staring at you in perfect mid-air stillness, that moment is worth coming for. The start of Kona is signaled by a cannon, the Barkley marathons are initiated by a cigarette lit by the race director, and Cascais 70.3 IM begins at the ringing of a bell. The swimmers decide where to start, according to four time groups, listed here verbatim from the race speaker: the "dolphins" (<25 mins), the "good swimmers" (<35 mins), the "humans" (<45 mins) and the "bricks" (>45 mins). I'd recommend you choose your group or the one faster-up if you are at the boundary of two time groups. The fighting in the water isn't too bad but it's still 2,600 people getting in the Ocean at the same time. Out of the water and on your way to transition, that's the ideal spot for your support team and their phone cameras, as you'll pass this road twice in fast sequence, at the end of the swim and at the beginning of the bike. After that, your folks can go for breakfast and come back to the same spot in whatever time it takes you to do the 90km. Then again, they'll cheer you up as you finish your bike ride and start your run. Smile! It's going to be as long of a day for them as for you.

Finish At the arrival, you run on a red carpet (you deserve it) but your support team can't access the finish line (sad). They can wait for you at the entrance of the last 50 meters on red carpet, and if they have a good camera they can film you all the way to the end. Race finish picture, pasta stand, pictures with family and friends. Congratulations, you are an ironm....ehm not really right? that was just half. Well it already felt pretty hard. Go have a restoring nap, the night will be full of happy triathletes dancing and drinking in the bars of the city center. Tips on food. I loooooved the food in Cascais. My absolute favorite was "O Cantinho da Belinha". Fish restaurant, ideal for lunch, cheap and excellent, serves the catch of the day and fills up very fast, so try to get there when they open (noon). "Pizzeria Il Siciliano" is where I recommend you go the night before the race to get your carbs. Again, it fills up quick, so try to be there when they open (6:30pm). "Empório Cascais" is where I had my breakfast every day, for the whole week I was there. The owner is French, has been in Portugal for 40 years, is lovely and more than once I asked her if the check was right because it seemed too cheap. If you are into octopus, "Polvo Vadio" is the place to go. The restaurant is quite small so make sure you reserve in advance. Yes all the good places get full pretty fast, that's what happens when you have 2,600 hungry triathletes in a small town. Tips on getting around At the time of this writing (2018), Uber is legal in Portugal and still quite cheap (for European Uber standards). You can get a taxi or Uber from the airport to Cascais (and vice versa) for about 35-45 EUR (30-45 mins). The train is the best way to get in and out of Lisbon, with regular service between the two cities. Getting to and from the airport in Cascais by public transportation is not ideal, as it requires to get in Lisbon first, for a total travel time of approx. 1h30.

Finish At the arrival, you run on a red carpet (you deserve it) but your support team can't access the finish line (sad). They can wait for you at the entrance of the last 50 meters on red carpet, and if they have a good camera they can film you all the way to the end. Race finish picture, pasta stand, pictures with family and friends. Congratulations, you are an ironm....ehm not really right? that was just half. Well it already felt pretty hard. Go have a restoring nap, the night will be full of happy triathletes dancing and drinking in the bars of the city center. Tips on food. I loooooved the food in Cascais. My absolute favorite was "O Cantinho da Belinha". Fish restaurant, ideal for lunch, cheap and excellent, serves the catch of the day and fills up very fast, so try to get there when they open (noon). "Pizzeria Il Siciliano" is where I recommend you go the night before the race to get your carbs. Again, it fills up quick, so try to be there when they open (6:30pm). "Empório Cascais" is where I had my breakfast every day, for the whole week I was there. The owner is French, has been in Portugal for 40 years, is lovely and more than once I asked her if the check was right because it seemed too cheap. If you are into octopus, "Polvo Vadio" is the place to go. The restaurant is quite small so make sure you reserve in advance. Yes all the good places get full pretty fast, that's what happens when you have 2,600 hungry triathletes in a small town. Tips on getting around At the time of this writing (2018), Uber is legal in Portugal and still quite cheap (for European Uber standards). You can get a taxi or Uber from the airport to Cascais (and vice versa) for about 35-45 EUR (30-45 mins). The train is the best way to get in and out of Lisbon, with regular service between the two cities. Getting to and from the airport in Cascais by public transportation is not ideal, as it requires to get in Lisbon first, for a total travel time of approx. 1h30.

Finish At the arrival, you run on a red carpet (you deserve it) but your support team can't access the finish line (sad). They can wait for you at the entrance of the last 50 meters on red carpet, and if they have a good camera they can film you all the way to the end. Race finish picture, pasta stand, pictures with family and friends. Congratulations, you are an ironm....ehm not really right? that was just half. Well it already felt pretty hard. Go have a restoring nap, the night will be full of happy triathletes dancing and drinking in the bars of the city center. Tips on food. I loooooved the food in Cascais. My absolute favorite was "O Cantinho da Belinha". Fish restaurant, ideal for lunch, cheap and excellent, serves the catch of the day and fills up very fast, so try to get there when they open (noon). "Pizzeria Il Siciliano" is where I recommend you go the night before the race to get your carbs. Again, it fills up quick, so try to be there when they open (6:30pm). "Empório Cascais" is where I had my breakfast every day, for the whole week I was there. The owner is French, has been in Portugal for 40 years, is lovely and more than once I asked her if the check was right because it seemed too cheap. If you are into octopus, "Polvo Vadio" is the place to go. The restaurant is quite small so make sure you reserve in advance. Yes all the good places get full pretty fast, that's what happens when you have 2,600 hungry triathletes in a small town. Tips on getting around At the time of this writing (2018), Uber is legal in Portugal and still quite cheap (for European Uber standards). You can get a taxi or Uber from the airport to Cascais (and vice versa) for about 35-45 EUR (30-45 mins). The train is the best way to get in and out of Lisbon, with regular service between the two cities. Getting to and from the airport in Cascais by public transportation is not ideal, as it requires to get in Lisbon first, for a total travel time of approx. 1h30.

Finish At the arrival, you run on a red carpet (you deserve it) but your support team can't access the finish line (sad). They can wait for you at the entrance of the last 50 meters on red carpet, and if they have a good camera they can film you all the way to the end. Race finish picture, pasta stand, pictures with family and friends. Congratulations, you are an ironm....ehm not really right? that was just half. Well it already felt pretty hard. Go have a restoring nap, the night will be full of happy triathletes dancing and drinking in the bars of the city center. Tips on food. I loooooved the food in Cascais. My absolute favorite was "O Cantinho da Belinha". Fish restaurant, ideal for lunch, cheap and excellent, serves the catch of the day and fills up very fast, so try to get there when they open (noon). "Pizzeria Il Siciliano" is where I recommend you go the night before the race to get your carbs. Again, it fills up quick, so try to be there when they open (6:30pm). "Empório Cascais" is where I had my breakfast every day, for the whole week I was there. The owner is French, has been in Portugal for 40 years, is lovely and more than once I asked her if the check was right because it seemed too cheap. If you are into octopus, "Polvo Vadio" is the place to go. The restaurant is quite small so make sure you reserve in advance. Yes all the good places get full pretty fast, that's what happens when you have 2,600 hungry triathletes in a small town. Tips on getting around At the time of this writing (2018), Uber is legal in Portugal and still quite cheap (for European Uber standards). You can get a taxi or Uber from the airport to Cascais (and vice versa) for about 35-45 EUR (30-45 mins). The train is the best way to get in and out of Lisbon, with regular service between the two cities. Getting to and from the airport in Cascais by public transportation is not ideal, as it requires to get in Lisbon first, for a total travel time of approx. 1h30.