Race report: Ironman 70.3 Vichy
One of my athletes raced Ironman 70.3 Vichy last summer. It was her first half-Ironman, and she agreed to write up her experience. Vichy is one of the more demanding 70.3 courses on the calendar, known for its heat, 1,000-plus metres of elevation on the bike, and a run that rewards anyone who has done the pacing work in training. Her account follows in her own words.
01 | The Swim
When you hear "the race starts at 7 AM," you're likely thinking of an Ironman. In Vichy, you get the chance to enjoy the sunrise alongside over 2,000 athletes before the 7 AM gun goes off for a 70.3. The early start is well worth it. There's something surreal about watching fireworks light up the sky just as the sun begins to rise, marking the start of the race. Vichy is infamous for its heat, with temperatures often soaring above 30°C, so that early kick-off and early finish is a welcome relief.
The swim uses a rolling start, with athletes positioning themselves according to their expected finish time. That's the idea, at least. In practice, it felt more like a first-come, first-served situation. The sub-25-minute section was packed, which was surprising for a non-wetsuit swim. I opted for the 30-minute section and waited my turn.
Once in the water, it became clear that many had (possibly intentionally) misjudged their pace. I spent most of the swim overtaking people and couldn't find any fast feet to follow, which made it feel more like a solo mission. I adjusted my race plan and focused on swimming strong, drawing on the sessions I'd done to build that confidence. I was also relieved it was a non-wetsuit swim, less hassle in transition. The canal is lined with plenty of buoys, so staying on course is straightforward even for someone who doesn't consider navigation a strength. I finished the swim feeling satisfied with where I was.
02 | The Bike
Vichy's bike course is phenomenal. It's tough, with over 1,000 metres of elevation gain, but the landscape makes it worthwhile. The views from the top of the climbs are something else, and one of the descents takes you through a forest with crowds lining the streets on both sides. It was my best experience on the bike to that point.
Coming off the swim, I felt strong. My previous race had left me a little uncertain, but on this day my legs were ready to work and I was able to hit my target watts. The first climb comes up fast, around 6 kilometres long, and getting through it well gave me the confidence that this was a good day. I was overtaking athletes throughout while still keeping something back for the run.
The descents are fast but manageable as long as you stay focused. After a bit more climbing, the final 60km is mostly downhill, which gave me a chance to recover before the run. On the approach to Vichy, it started raining. The last few kilometres turned into a challenge with slippery roads and sharp turns, and I dialled back to stay safe.
I nailed my nutrition on the bike. I ate and drank every 15 minutes on cue, and with the forecasted heat in mind, I grabbed extra water at every aid station.
03 | The Run
The run is two loops of just over 10km along the canal, with part of the course on a hard sandy path. I started running before the worst of the heat arrived, though it was still raining lightly at that point.
The first kilometre felt rough, as it always does, but I settled into a rhythm quickly. My pace was a little faster than planned, but it felt controlled so I stayed with it. When the rain stopped, the temperature held at around 25°C, which meant I could push the pace without worrying about overheating. I grabbed water at each aid station but didn't need to pour it over myself as I would in proper heat.
My pacing was consistent throughout, with only a slight slowdown on the off-road sections. Around kilometre 17 things got hard, my legs were tired and the fatigue was settling in, but I reminded myself of the long sessions that had built to this moment. I knew I had it in me to finish strong. Crossing the line, with the crowd carrying me through those final metres, was unlike anything I'd felt in racing before. My first half-Ironman done, and I was proud of how I raced.
There are things I would do differently. But leaving Vichy with a finish I could be satisfied with felt like exactly the right way to start.
Racing well at a 70.3 comes down to preparation that was built around the race, not bolted onto it at the last minute. If you want to work with a coach who plans your season with that kind of intent from the start, Sense Endurance Coaching is where to begin.
If you are preparing independently, the structure still needs to be there. My training plans are built around these principles, with the work sequenced and the race week already accounted for. You can find the full range on the training plans page. The preparation is what makes the race report worth writing.