Is AG Nationals something that people generally (or I specifically) want to do? I’m still new to this, but it doesn’t seem that hard to qualify. Looking at the stuff, it appears to be just another race. I qualified at Columbia and was just wondering about it.
Just lookin’ for insight/comments/critiques.
I’d like to know too
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Well, you have to be at least Twenty to go (I’ve figured that much out anyway.).
Is AG Nationals something that people generally (or I specifically) want to do?
It really depends on your goals. We are talking of the short course AG Nationals (olympic distance) here, right? Ok so if you are aiming for an Ironman finish or “career”, the AG Nationals won’t “do” you anything other than some fun racing.
If you are a short course guy and really perfom well in that distance, the AG Nationals will bring you some respect and maybe some sponsors
It is the deepest and most competitive Age Group field of any race in the US. USAT has dropped the ball on this race since moving it to Shreveport, and then awarding it to Kansas City and then switching the dates a few weeks later. Slowman raised a stink about this race when he was on the board (rightfully so) and hopefully it will once again be elevated to the status that it deserves.
USAT actually made the qualifying for this race more difficult a year or so ago. Not difficult if you are an FOP’er, but definitely not easy for an MOP’er and damn near impossible for a BOP’er.
I don’t race IM distance so I’ve been waiting to make it my ‘A’ race and really gun for it, but they keep putting it in undesirable places. (IMHO) Give me clean water, a bike course with some elevation change, and a descent locale and I’m there next year. (It will prolly be KC again as it’s a 2 year contract)
Oh yea…I really want to fly all the way to Kansas City and race in a steam bath in the middle of the summer. Maybe if they held it in a nice location it would be worth it.
My sentiments exactly…
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My colleague in the next door office has qualified and I keep threatening to buy my way in which just kills him
Went to half iron US championship in KC last year which is the site of this year’s AG Nationals. Great venue; open roads, great race organization, KC area was very clean, plenty of volunteers. The race is actually out in the country north of KC. It was top notch. It is centrally located and you don’t have to drop a month’s earnings to travel there.
Not really following the locale gripe? You prefer more congested roads, smog, traffic, bigger airports, etc…
I drove 8 hours last year to go down there and will do it again this year for 1/2 championship.
Bike course, hilly, flat?
I haven’t seen the course but have friends who have raced in that part of the country and they always comment on how they weren’t ready for how hilly it is. The profile on the USAT website looks plenty hilly tho no big climbs.
I don’t really get all the animous about the location etc either. I think KC has a lot going for it. Central location, hilly course, rural so little traffic, affordable hotels. It probably won’t have big crowds but already lots of fast people are signed up. I’m going and am really looking forward to it.
Pat
I am not sure how the AG Nationals course is set up, but the 1/2 IM was rolling hills. Nothing to really get out of your seat. The run had some long hills on it. I thought it was pretty challenging and it was very hot last year.