I'm rooting for 4. Postponed full 2-4 weeks later. There's a marathon and half marathon coming up mid-November that perhaps IM could tie in with to be mutual supporting from a resource perspective.

Edit: If it *is* postponed, I have no idea how I'm going to train even two more weeks, I'm SO ready to taper!

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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

just playing along because I have no clue what will be decided today...…….

my vote, a combo of 3 & 4...… delayed 2 weeks and shortened (bike most likely shortened). This is sorta like Maryland from a few years ago.
gives area more time for recovery of services, cleanup.... means WTC doesn't have to refund over $2 million USD (3000 people @ $800), gives people time to find new accommodations if needed and adjust flights (potential huge costs, but that's all back to athletes), and IM get the race in, sell us all the 2018 finisher gear already made and helps locals by brining in business. from posts I've read many locals and business owners want the race and what it brings... but honestly they'll be more welcoming of this event the more that things get restored, cleaned up, and further away from the worst of the hurricane.

Nov 17th, shortened bike, no deferrals or cancellations.

A good additional possibility! If they shortened the bike course, couldn’t they just do 2-3 laps and make it a full, or close to full IM?

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Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com

Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.

Eric: I feel your pain. I have my last Century tomorrow and the major thing that sets my mind at ease is that it will be the last. (Or maybe not, ugh)

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Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com

Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.

I think #1 - cancellation with deeply discounted registration for an IM next year.

1... I'm not in as good shape as I'd hoped. Second pass at training would be fine :-)

My inkling is 1.

They're talking about not having rentals to tourists until December on the official PCB Facebook page. You have hotels and condos with significant damage. You have cancellations to non-residents happening via VRBO/Air BNB. There's simply no resources to dedicate, and I feel like it'd certainly be the wrong kind of press to host a race down there right now.

I foresee a bunch of service projects going on, significantly more than the $50K already pledged going toward recovery, and a bigger race / party to celebrate PCB and the area being "back" next year.

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

I've heard that as well, but my VRBO owner (who is association president for one of the largest condos there) called me.... didn't tell me I was getting cancelled... kinda left it open ended.... got the idea he might let me move my reservation if the race moves... if not... I get the impression i'm SOL.... take a vacation to PCB as scheduled, or lose cost of 9 days. Insurance won't cover if the building is open which he says it will be.....

I don’t think WTC has to refund money in this case. Act of god and all that.

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--Chris

Yeah - I mean it really depends. Our condo is at Shores of Panama and is fine, whereas we have two athletes that were supposed to be at Sunbird which got hit hard.

I just can't fathom them putting on an event when you're still talking about food drop zones, mandatory boil water notices, and communication being as spotty as it is.

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

1 - This Ironman is going to be cancelled, any talk of a shorter course or a short time deferral is not going to happen. This issue is not the course itself but the hotels and condos that are available will be used for cleanup/rebuilding crews. The permitting to reschedule this in a couple of weeks is not possible.

I am expecting #1. Don't care about any of the others. I've already pulled the plug on IM training and will be going to PC this weekend to help family with their homes and bring anything they need. And I have hernia surgery scheduled for 8 Nov that I should not postpone any longer. So my season is over. It sucks, but not as much as it does for the people who lost their homes. Looking forward to 2019!

based on what I've seen in the news, I don't know how they can have the race. the devastation is massive and given how people are cut off from resources, I'm sure the bananas, pretzels, Gatorade, bottled water, etc could be used to help the locals. volunteers, were they impacted? can they not make it there now?

remember when NYC had to cancel the marathon due to Hurricane Sandy? they used the generators and supplies to help the thousands of people who were devastated and cut off from help.

maybe Ironman offers a discount for another race, maybe they partially refund the entry fee (they will have costs to cover too). not sure if this race offers insurance. but if so, that will help anyone that lost money for fees and travel.

it sucks for everyone that spent so much time, effort, etc in training for this. it really sucks for the people who live there and have seen their lives washed away.

Let's not forgot the volunteer base. Yes, it could serve as a temporary distraction for them, but is IM going to get full support from the local community when they have other, more pressing, concerns and needs?

I’m sure volunteers would be better served cleaning streets than handing bottles of water to athletes

''2. Same as 1 but with a lottery for all entered for Kona slots ''

Ha, not in your wildest dreams!

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Of course, except that they are volunteers, not conscript labor. They get to decide what they want to volunteer for, and the County/City will decide what they can do. E.g,. local Scout troops are probably not who you ask to clean streets. It's probably a moot point now, but some of these volunteer groups were looking for a check to fund their operation via WTC volunteer grants, etc.

Dare to dream, that's what happened when they cancelled Tahoe.

I was about to start a Virtual Behavioral Health Project with the Navy Clinic at Panama City this Friday. The email I received from NH Pensacola stated that all service members are under mandatory evacuation orders until at least November 16. They have very limited communication means, and NO Cell Service. The positive aspect is the clinic took very little damage.

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All I Wanted Was A Pepsi, Just One Pepsi

Team Zoot, Team Zoot Mid-Atlantic

^^^This

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

Have a buddy dealing with the same thing. I'm supposed to stay there with him to cheer him on. I think they can be a bit more flexible in an instance like this... but it's a minor bitch considering what residents down there are going through.

#1 surely to God they just cancel it and let us defer to 2019.

Too much to do down there. Even if they tried to pull something off later this year...who has the time to train again or prolong this training? I don't know about most of you, but I booked my condo a year in advance and time off from work. Do you think most of us have the luxury just to reschedule this and go down there later??? No! I certainly can't and I want to venture to guess most of who signed up does not.

I feel even worse for those who scheduled flights from around the country and other countries only to lose that $ all together.

Having said that, there will be a formal announcement from Ironman AT the end of the day today either way. I'm going, but I don't even know if I can get into that condo. I can only go on those days that I booked..likely i'm expecting my condo to cancel any minute from SOP as well.

Sucks for everyone involved in this.

Peace!

1.

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Pink? Maybe. Maybe not. You decide.

#7. WTC gives free entry to any 2019 race for anyone that volunteers to cleanup. The PR would be great and would also be great leverage in negotiating with municipalities over future race venues.

#7. WTC gives free entry to any 2019 race for anyone that volunteers to cleanup. The PR would be great and would also be great leverage in negotiating with municipalities over future race venues.

Got one step further: Kona slots awarded, by AG, on most volunteer hours served race week!

Theres no way this is happening regardless of what we on the forum want. This is a disaster zone.

You are thinking too small. If I am Messick, I want pics of guys and gals picking stuff up on the news. I do not care if they are actually doing anything. Politicians do it all the time. I just saw the mayor of tallahassee on national news cutting shit up with a chain saw. He was probably in front of a green screen in Burbank

I want to go cut "shit" up with a chainsaw too :) I'll be there either way!!!

What about ability to transfer into Arizona or Cozumel? I looked yesterday, and I believe that both are still open.

It's a logical pain but it'd be great if they'd move it to Pensacola Beach. There's a few great races here already, nice clean Gulf to swim, and a protected inshore as an alternative. A number of perfect long ride routes, and it's 9 miles running to downtown Pensacola over two long bridges. It would be a great race. And there's a great community here.
I'm not racing long, but if they go this way I'll volunteer.
(Saying "here", I'm an hour west on the coast)

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NO

Arizona isn’t really open. I think it’s just Foundation slots to which there are very few.

I have never seen any of the Mexican races available as an option for transfers for any reason. I believe it’s because WTC doesn’t actually own those races.

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

We have a winner!

They're generally only going to allow transfers/deferrals to wholly owned and operated events.

My underlying guess as to the delay in announcement is just trying to get all the staff back in place from Kona/Louisville to be able to answer phones and emails from whatever decision gets made.

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

Which North American races are owned by IM versus licensed?

The 140.6s that are not in Mexico - Mont-Tremblant was an exception, I am not sure if it still is. I've seen it available as an option for transfer in the past, but that conflicts with other info. Anyways.

The 70.3s...that's a whole other can of worms. Although the acquisition of the former Rev3 events eliminates one of the former licenses.

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

1 and 2.
Offer option for those who's lodging was ok and the owners won't let them out of the deposit so use it or lose it for lodging with modified course, still full IM.
Offer deferment for those that don't have lodging or don't want to go.

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Ryan
http://www.SetThePaceTriathlon.com
http://www.TriathlonTrainingDaddy.com
I got plans - https://www.trainingpeaks.com/...dotcom#trainingplans

Ironman site now shows race date as November 4th.... that's Sunday (race was originally scheduled Saturday 3rd). Still no email yet from WTC, but maybe this is the new plan. (btw - not my find... someone on FB noticed this on IM site)

http://www.ironman.com/....aspx#/axzz5U8EMc0ri

Tremblant is WTC owned and operated.

Here are the races that don't allow transfers in North America, and probably the exact same list of races not owned by WTC (exception to Kona):

IRONMAN 70.3 Los Cabos

IRONMAN 70.3 Campeche

Ford IRONMAN Cozumel

IRONMAN 70.3 Monterrey

IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Rico

Ochsner IRONMAN 70.3 New Orleans

IRONMAN 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake

IRONMAN 70.3 Calgary

Metlife IRONMAN 70.3 Cozumel

IRONMAN 70.3 Atlantic City

IRONMAN 70.3 Muskoka

IRONMAN 70.3 Maine

IRONMAN World Championship

Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/...m.aspx#ixzz5U8G95mzF

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

Likely a website coding error of some kind. What does moving the race 24 hours do for anyone?

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

They own Maine now. :)

Just think of all the mental power we have harnessed towards this one goal...

I wonder if that could be used to solve world hunger or end wars...

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Ryan
http://www.SetThePaceTriathlon.com
http://www.TriathlonTrainingDaddy.com
I got plans - https://www.trainingpeaks.com/...dotcom#trainingplans

we could probably say that about slowtwitch in general ;-)

The facebook page is about to explode because Boardwalk emailed out stating Ironman informed them it cancelled. Everyone is apparently shocked by this news

Yeah, this is what I get for posting from the work network where the IM site is blocked...

As somebody else mentioned, Maine will move off this list for 2019. Interesting as I thought they'd move toward more licensing, especially for the 70.3 distance...

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

so much conflicting info, WTC just needs to send a clear email. It's obvious event can't take place at Boardwalk because they made it clear they have damage and not back in business..... but if you're on FB you might have seen someone publish an email, sent by the head of an IM partner / sponsor telling members of that sponsors triclub to get ready to race.... then the website now shows race moved to Sunday.... I agree... people getting nuts.

http://www.ironman.com/....aspx#/axzz5U8EMc0ri

Is this what it was like back in the day of dial up when IMFL sold out in seconds online? People just constantly hitting refresh, waiting impatiently, ready to burst?

It's not like they are sitting on something. Once there is clear information to be communicated, it gets sent. Honestly, if I were running PR/comms on this, I would have probably given myself an extra 24 hours to send something out rather than impose the deadline of today - just to give staff and other key stakeholders the extra time to get in place following Kona/Louisville and getting things in order with whatever needed to happen on the ground.

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

I’m not racing, so this is getting humorous at this point. Website now says nov 4th in Haines City. Watch the ledge getting out of that lake on both loops

Haines city nov 4 th... it’s on!

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Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com

Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.

Wow. I'm stunned.

This is going to be...interesting.

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

Unbelievable, move a race 7 hours away with no hotels after people have already spent thousands on travel/lodging... and no mention of deferring ... just that we’re all automatically registered ... boo WTC.

http://m.ironman.com/...ironman/florida.aspx

"Please be mindful that our work is happening in real time so it will take a number of days for us to be able to answer many of your more detailed questions.

Originally from: http://www.ironman.com/...a.aspx#ixzz5U8eqflET"


I would put down the pitch fork for a couple of days. They have a pretty good history of making things right in these cases.

any details?

This is an amazing reaction. They’ve bent over backwards to pull this off on short notice, and it’s still not enough haha. A lot of people fly into Orlando for IMFL when it’s in PCB. They’ve given another day for added travel. Accommodations in that area are easy (it’s 25 minutes from Disney). I’m all for bashing Ironman but have to give them kudos here. Everyone who trained for a race is getting one

Hey, no offense meant but why try to be so negative?

I think its fantastic what IM did here. Yes I'm going to be out some $ but I more think about the 7 months I put into this.

My hats off to the IM team! I think this is absolutely fantastic in almost every way. They bent over backwards. They are helping out the PCB community. They are helping Haines City. they are certainly helping us athletes who have trained so hard for this.

I see nothing but positives and I think its a question of whether or not you see it as glass 90% full or 10% empty!

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Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com

Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.

Pretend someone else wrote that and imagine what you'd be thinking about their post.

You're way out of line, IMO.

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

I agree. Haines City sucks and I would rather wait a year or choose another venue.

I don't disagree. Haines City is not my ideal vacation nor racing locale.
And the 70.3 run and swim courses there are at the rock bottom of my Ironman experiences.
I would have rather had a deferral to another race, or even better to have the choice.
But on the spectrum of possible scenarios, this seems much closer to the best than the worst case.

Folks coming in from overseas and elsewhere will be overjoyed.
FL participants will be pacified.
PCB residents will be happy we're not in their face, Orlando>Tampa tourism and residents will benefit.
Our buddies at WTC salvage a classic race on it's anniversary, and avoids the $ lost via deferrals to other races, not to mention sponsorships and already purchased equipment and food.

I am the master of my ship. I control everything in my world.
My reality is largely a construct of my own imagination anyways.
Everything around me on raceday- participants, spectators, pot holes- is peripheral and superfluous.
According to Elon Musk, it might even be a computer simulation.
All that I pay attention to is what's about 10 ft in front of me for 10 hours (ok, maybe 11 or 12).
I suspect pros would say the same thing.
So I don't care if it's an ocean, mountain or a ghetto (in the case of Haines City).
Dudes were getting drunk on 40s at 10:30 AM in the HUD housing on the back half of the run when I competed in 2013. The water was brown and hot.

It's all in your mind.
I would recommend watching the Matrix tonight and then complain about how this race isn't going on in the middle of a disaster relief area or outright cancelled.
Or pick up Jocko Wilink's Extreme Ownership, so you can control the only thing you can control.

Every year of training is a blessing and may be my last.
I don't know if I have another one in me, or will be granted to me.
All I know is I have today. And IMFL is in three weeks. And I missed my workout tonight booking $2K in travel accommodations as it was doubling in front of my eyes.

Tonight was the real race, I hope you secured your flight and lodging already- AirBnB said there "are [535] people looking at my property..." :-)

This is a good outcome ... for some. But it stinks to high heaven for those who have no choice. Some had already dropped out and registered for IMCOZ. Some cannot add another 6 or 7 hours to their drive. Some cannot change their vacation days and MUST be back at work on Monday. Some cannot get refunds for their prepaid lodging at PCB. The DNS rate for the new venue will be very high...I would be surprised if it were any less than a 1/4 of the field.

A win-win would be offering the race at Haines City and a deferral option for those who cannot make the new date/venue.

The mayor of the city and governor of the state have asked that people not living in the area, or helping with cleanup/restoration, not come to the area. I'd think condo owners would have to refund, but those pesky fine prints. I agree though, I think the DNS rate will be pretty high. I'd think people would be able to sneak an extra day off work, but I also try to limit my races to those I can drive to. I've read that people have had no issues switching flights at no cost, but don't know the truth to that. I'm 4 hours away contemplating what kinda time I'd have to pull off to get to a KQ off the training I've put in for a half a month later.

whats the water temp?

All true my friend!

The greatest gift is to be able to deliver against what you have worked so hard to do. I wish the folks in the panhandle didn’t get crushed. I wish those in PCB wouldn’t lose this great boon to their economy. I wish those that paid much expense to get there that they can’t get back would have avoided this. I wish everyone got/gets what they ultimately signed up for.

I don’t envy Ironman trying to navigate all of this. As an executive in some complex ecosystems I can really relate to the damned if you do and damned if you don’t issues.

That said, in my view, IRONMAN (really the leaders in it) gets a 10 on this. They are still the most important and finest organization supporting this great sport and I’m supper grateful for their stewardship generally and their wisdom with respect to IMFL18...Haines style!

I can’t wait to race what will most likely my last IM.....thanks for the chance!

rc

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Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com

Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.

You've got one more IM to do after this one sir!

p.s., first Slowtwitch post in ~10 years

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Anders

LOL WTF do these people do when IM gets tough during a race. Whine and walk off the course? Or figure out how to get the job done. Yeah it’s not easy, may be a PITA, but so what?

Lol...welcome back!

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Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com

Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.