Live coverage of Lotto Ironman Malaysia! (Pt 1)

The wonders of technology. I'm currently tracking my brother's race progress live on the internet while trying to get some drawing out for my archi presentation on Tue! How cool is that?! So far, he is on time for his target - under 15 hours, and he is in the 216th position which I reckon is a mighty credible position! Let's hope he can maintain his pace and go under 200! Wow! what a blast!

Some screen shots from the live coverage site...
(Click to enlarge)



Here's some more information about the race if you happen to be one of those sports junkies. It's taken off the Ironman Langkawi website. Also to give you a better idea what my bro is going through.

Lotto Ironman Malaysia takes place on Langkawi, a popular island resort destination in Malaysia. It's tough not because of the course, which consists of a very warm swim, a rolling bike and a relatively flat run course. It's tough because it can get really hot, especially during the run. How hot? In 2001 temperatures that reached 43 degrees Celsius (which is very close to 110 degrees Fahrenheit for anyone who thinks in those terms).

The day begins with a two-loop swim in Kuah Bay which starts and finishes alongside a giant eagle statue that dominates the Jetty Point port area.

Once they're out of the water, the athletes run up a short jetty to T1, grab their bikes, and get started on the three-loop bike course. The "loops" are actually out and back stretches that take the athletes from Kuah to the other side of the island before they turn around and come back. The turnaround at the end of each bike loop is right outside the Seaview Hotel, which serves as the race headquarters.

It is the run that makes the race in Langkawi so tough. The terrain isn't that challenging - it's the heat that the athletes face as they go through the marathon that makes things difficult. After the fourth loop is complete, they run one kilometer back to the jetty, and end the day at the beautiful finish line which is just meters short of the spectacular eagle statue, a welcome beacon at the end of what will no-doubt be a tough day of racing.