Seems some people didn’t have any problems last year signing up for '09’s race.
If I remember correctly it took a little less than a week to fill up online.
Travis
dumb blog
I was extremely nervous about this as I knew this was the race I wanted and planned for. I was online the second it opened. I got nervous because there was some technical difficulties. I think a lot of people had the same idea I did. But I got in with a little persistence.
I think you just need to really decide on your IM race a year in advance, and be online right when it opens up.