Hello,
Anyone have any info on 2005 North American non IMNA irondistance races. It looks like both ultramax and the pineman are no more.
Styrrell
No more Ultramax? That is a shame. I heard consistently good things about it. I say Tom Ziebart and his crew add two laps to Steelehad and make it a full Ironman distance event. That is a fantastic race.
Failing that- do Ironman Western Australia. Nov. 28 '05 I think.
http://www.trifind.net/iron/iron-05.html
Anything in the US before August is closed.
You get your choice …
California (Vineman) 8/13
Washington 9/17
Maryland 10/1
California 10/15
Florida 10/22
Texas 10/22
Florida 11/5
Where the hell are the MidWest Iron-distance Races? The only one I see now is IMWI … and why would I want to go there? … Packers Fans are there. (It sold out in 13 hours or somehting like that).
Frustrating
There is usually one in Ohio called the Pineman but it looks as if it may only be a half this year!
BLUE DEVIL!
It will be in October, near Raleigh, NC. You can even ride over to Pilot Mountain (Mount Pilot, near fictitious Mayberry) and say howdy to the Darlings…that banjo and guitar pickin’ family that frequents the area. AND, you’ll be sending your money to a worthy charity…almost all of your registration fee goes to cancer treatment/research/support. OR, you can have your registration fee almost 100% waived (I think you only have to pay $25.00, or something like that) if you choose to raise money for the event that at least equals the registration fee. PLUS, it’s limited to 500 people (at least, it has been in the past), so, you aren’t quite as likely to get beat up during the swim.
One more plus: although the course is tough, there is excellent support…especially on the run. Please consider this fine race.
Ultramax was my A race for next year. Quick look at the above iron calendar looks like True Texan Triathlon will take the place of Ultramax. Mostly because I have family in the area and will be able to logde for free. Anyone else looking at this race?
Clermonts Great Floridian in late October! You can get in cheap right now and it is a quality event.
I thought it was great how they had a contest for the best aid station on the run which meant you got some “mighty fine” treatment out there. Fred and his staff do a great job!
The Grand Columibian came of extremely well in 2004, only going to be better in 2005. But it is a ways from the midwest. Same time of year
UltraMax was going to be my A race for next year also since I have family in KC which made it a no-brainer.
Now I really have to figure out if I want to do this IM-distance thing or not since I’d have to travel to any event I entered and have to pay for lodging and all that jazz with a lot fewer friends to cheer me on that I would have had in KC. Maybe its a sign to just bag the whole idea. Sorry, I’m a little disgruntled still, even though I understand the business behind the race couldn’t hold up.
Josh
I’m the same way. I could afford KC. I could drive there without taking off work. I’m a teacher, so taking 2-3 days to fly to FL, CA, WA, or other event is not likely going to fly too well with administration.
Then, the extra cost of flying instead of driving, staying in a hotel instead of best friend. Maybe I will just do a soloman. Maybe I should just scrap it and get into the men’s softball/basketball cycle like everyone else.
This really is a shame. I have yet to read one bad thing about the UltraMax race or it’s race director outside of “it’s not an IM race” … then for the IM races, I hear/read constantly the bitching and complaining about how crowded it is, how everyone drafts because they’re mashed togther, the “dangerous” mass swim starts, etc.
The solutions seem obvious, but there’s no pressure to force change … just a bunch of running of the mouth. Man, am I in a mood. I need to kick my own butt with a swim workout today.
HFP just announced their schedule the 15th. Didn’t notice till I rechecked after seeing your post that Pineman was only a half iron or international distance this year. Too bad. He’s only been getting about 100 or so entries for the iron distance race, so it makes business sense to drop it.
Chuck
Where did you find the info on the Ultramax? I have not seen anything posted about the race being cancelled.
Here is the scoop on Ultramax, this was just emailed today.
**The Ultramax Triathlon premiered in 2002 at Lake ****of the Ozarks, Missouri and moved to Smithville, MO (just outside of Kansas City) in 2004. The race has always been popular with those that traveled to test themselves against the iron-distance course, ranking 20th among US triathlons in its first year, and 11th in 2003. **
**The small number of Ultramax finishers made the event very personal and extremely inspiring. However, that small number of racers just does not justify the logistics, costs and amount of work required to produce a full iron-distance event. **
Ultramax (like each of Ultramax Events’ seven races) is very unique in the fact that it is 100% charity focused. This factor is one of the primary reasons behind the decision not to host the full iron-distance event in 2005. “We would hold the event for a few racers if we could, but our primary job is to raise money for the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation. We simply can’t host races that don’t contribute to making the Foundation’s sight saving programs successful,” said Ultramax Events Race Director, Mark Livesay.
“Unfortunately, the launch of the Ultramax Triathlon came in 2002, the very same year that Ironman™ Wisconsin was introduced to the triathlon world,” explained Livesay. “We set out to serve our racers by offering an iron-distance event in their backyard…as it turned out we were not the only ones that set out to fill the long course void in the Midwest.”
Most long course triathletes today realize that Ironman™ has created an outstanding phenomenon and has secured a tremendous hold on the iron-distance market. “I’ve raced in Ironman events and been to Kona, so I fully understand the Ironman draw,” offers Livesay. “Although almost unreachable for all but a small number of age-group athletes, the dream to go to the World Championships is one all age-groupers have in common. It is a very compelling and driving force.”
With an Ironman™ race now easily accessed by Midwest athletes, and the only place to qualify for Kona, Livesay and his team have decided to focus on filling another need within the sport of triathlon…a “true qualifying half iron-distance championship”.
**
**Hosting the Ultramax triathlon for the past three years allowed Ultramax Events to build a strong race organization and gain the national respect needed to launch a national Half Championship event. In 2005, the organization will concentrate efforts on producing its seven established multi-sport events.
The US Half Triathlon Championship was introduced as a new concept in 2004. The event has been expanded for 2005. In addition, the U.S. Half Championship has increased the number of qualifying events at which athletes can qualify (by finishing in the top 25% of their age-group), and has reinstated the time qualification aspect (which allows athletes to qualify at any half or full iron-distance event using Boston Marathon-like time standards). In 2005, the event will again feature a very limited 250 general entry category (non-qualifying slots).
“The U.S. Half Championship in its first year attracted athletes from 34 states and received tremendous feedback,” Livesay said, “we have every reason to believe this event will be even bigger and better in 2005.”
Livesay concluded, “We are very excited about the upcoming 2005 season. Ultramax Events is extremely focused on becoming triathlon’s next generation, and we are planning to produce seven of the very best triathlons in the nation. We are committed to the highest level of event production. I feel that shows in all we do.”
New race in OK City next year, Redman Triathlon, iron distance.
Looks like only IM distance race within 800 miles or so of where I live…
http://www.trifind.net/iron/iron-05.html
Anything in the US before August is closed.
You get your choice …
California (Vineman) 8/13
Washington 9/17
Maryland 10/1
California 10/15
Florida 10/22
Texas 10/22
Florida 11/5
Where the hell are the MidWest Iron-distance Races? The only one I see now is IMWI … and why would I want to go there? … Packers Fans are there. (It sold out in 13 hours or somehting like that).
Frustrating
You are my new best friend!
Same weekend as I figured the UltraMax would be, so all that crap I entered into my excel training plan (ATP–weekly workouts, etc) can stay.
We have really good friends in Tulsa. We’ll visit them also. Nothing like spending 3-4 days listening to nothing but Sooner football. Weeeee.
I don’t know if theTexas race (the True Texan ironman distance race) will be around next year.
Looks like they had a whoppin’ 23 people compete this year. Ouch.
The website for the texas race is updated for 2005 entries:
http://www.brittonbikes.com/texan-tri-series/true-texan-tri/true-texan-tri-main.htm
.
Looks like they had a whoppin’ 23 people compete this year. Ouch.
Where are all these people that seem to complain about “drafting, mass swim starts, crowding, race fees, travel expenses, etc” all the time? The races that are leaving are your inexpensive alternatives.
Maybe I am missing something due to be new to this sport, but is having the IMNA sponsoring the event worth all that comes with that? (double race fee, etc) From what I have seen from websites, boards, etc is that at the smaller races you actually get more stuff for less money … you just don’t get the “Ironman” label or the M-Dot apparel/tattoo. That can’t be the deciding difference. If true, that would still be something I would choose not to believe. People can’t be like that.
It also is confusing to me to hear someone who finishes in over 12 hours talk about the “competition factor at IMNA races”. I must be using the word “competition” inncorrectly or in the wrong context. Really.
Maybe, the “squeeky wheels” don’t really want “the grease” (an alternative), maybe they just wanna “be squeeky”. Certainly that could not be it, could it? =)
I should just shuddup about it. Money talks and everything else does you know what. Until people support the non-IMNA races, they’ll disapear. Seems strange since IMWI is the only “Ironman” race in the MidWest. The races for the actual “MidWest” (Tri-State, Great Plains, etc) are disappearing like tumbleweeds in the wind.
I’ll likely do the HalfMax also.
Nope people really are like that. I guarantee you that any of the races that are going away for lack of participation would fill up with M dot sanction. It makes me wonder how much a race director pays for the sanction. I heard that each IMH spot costs about $500, but i suspect that you also have to pay a pretty big fee in addition.
Styrrell