Busselton has a very special place in my heart, it was my first ever Ironman back in 2016 and began my love of swim, bike and run. I was lucky enough to be in the years of a mass start and swimming around the jetty (absolutely incredible) before the course changed to make it a little less sharky and safer for everyone. I've been back there most years since then, supporting and coaching and am here to share hopefully some helpful advice
Getting to Busselton:
Step 1 is getting to Busselton - There are two options, 1) Direct flight 2) Flight to Perth and hire a car to drive 2.5 hours south. Direct flights are relatively new and at the time of writing this only Melbourne and Sydney go directly there. It is much of a muchness. The drive down from Perth is very easy and if you want to hire a car anyway (for the mandatory Margaret River wineries afterwards) there are many more options in Perth than in Busselton - flights to Perth are generally cheaper too. Flying directly into Busselton takes away the need for a 2.5 hour drive in the days before the race and may mean you don't need a car. I have always opted for flying to Perth however either option will work.
Where to stay
If you can, stay within Busselton. It is a small town and the accommodation gets filled pretty quickly so if you are thinking about racing jump onto booking it quickly. Normally I say staying a little out of town is fine however in the case of Busselton there really isn't much going on way from the centre. Dunsborough is the next town away and at a 25 minute drive its not all that convenient come pre-race logistics. There are multiple road closures in and around Busso on race morning and although they do let local traffic through it can hard. The best option is to stay within a 5 min drive either side of the Jetty.
Course overview
Swim: Although the course no longer goes around the jetty it is still one of the most beautiful courses you will ever do... clear calm water, fish swimming around you, going under the jetty and the good old Aussie Exit also known as a mid-way run up onto the sand and back in. It is easy to navigate and with a lack of turning buoys you can avoid some of the carnage that can come with open water swims.
In saying this, there have also been years which have been a complete washing machine of white water. The ocean is unpredictable - always prepare for white water, chop and waves.
This is the BEST course for your family and friends. Getting on to the jetty early and gaining prime position will allow them to see you swim under them before heading to the Aussie exit where again they will be able to see you.
Bike:
Three tips here
Work on your turning circle! There are 6 U-turns per lap and you do two laps. If you cannot turn back on yourself without slowing down to a near stop, make sure you practice this and master it before race day. Triathletes don't have the best bike handling skills and many neglect doing skills uplift in training. I can guarantee by spending a few minutes each week nailing this, come race day you will thank yourself!
Get Aero - Those disc wheels and TT helmets are useless if you are sitting up for half the race. Busso is a course that you want to dial in and nail your position. There are no hills but there can be a lot of wind, getting your position right can shave minutes off your time - and you will go faster will less effort. Have a hydration system in place where you don't have to sit up to drink.
Busso can get HOT! some years up around 40, some years 20 and raining. Think about your head heat and how your body reacts to the temperatures. For some people an aero helmet does not allow them to expel heat as there are no vents and therefore they are at a higher risk of overheating, for others having they are completely fine.
Run:
A four lap run course is great for supporters and allowing you to soak up the cheers! There is a lack of shade for most of the course and with the sun beaming down it can get really hot. For many it is beneficial to wear white arm skins which protect you from the sun and help with staying cool. The course doesn't have a hill in sight, getting into a pace and sticking to it is a lot easier than say a Port Mac where you have multiple pinches each lap.
If you are doing Busso in 2024 you will be deep in the last training block - Keep digging deep and I'll see you on the start line soon!
Loren
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