I bet you’re like me and you love visiting new areas to compete in a race. You arrive in the town, settle into your accommodation, go for a ride, trot out on the course for a run, have a swim and wander around town a bit. A few days out from the race, it seems everyone else is doing the same thing. We’re all having a great time! That is, except for the locals.

Sure, we fill up the accommodation, keep the restaurants busy and the baristas don’t know what has hit them! But how about locals who don’t feel an immediate positive effect from having 1,500 athletes plus their family and friends plonk themselves down in “their” town?
The recent announcement of the Ironman Australia course changes at Port Macquarie brought about what is a regular issue with big races held in regional towns. The effective “shutting down” of the roads and town centre for a weekend stir a response that is part frustration, part anger. Understandably, we as athletes are part to blame. I reckon the event organisers shoulder a good part of it too. Check out this article from the Port Macquarie News and read some of the comments – you’ll get the idea.


