I guess Ironman is really making sure they have a full field for Kona. It’s projected to go 17 slots deep in M35-39.
Historically that qualifies people in the 11+ hour range in even the fastest male age groups.
Not sure why I’m surprised…Ironman will fill the race one way or another.
They did the same for Ironman Tulsa. Not surprised they are doing this as they have to fill the field. It either expand the number of slots or expand the amount of Legacy athletes. I am just glad I earned my slot the right way!
Snap, tempting to just pack up and race with no full distance training. It seems like I could do around 11 hours on my current HM training & performance level… It would surely suck and feel like a painfully long day, though.
They’re all sold out though! at least CDA is. But I agree…
I kinda heard about it for other '21 IMs, but it didn’t hit me last time.
This kinda taints the goal of reaching for Kona slot at least for me. There is probably a lot of people who need to get from top-20 to top-3 in their AG and it requires A LOT of efforts and sacrifices. Or a lucky pandemic 
But well, vanity is a mortal sin after all, sport should be valuable even without it.
I qualified Nov 2019 zona. It will not be tainted as those that quailed at a slow pace will not make me adjust my race or training. I have 4 guys I know of I will be racing. I know what they can do and that they are going to be racing.
I am pretty sure the top 2-3 of each age group will be the same weather it was 3 or 17 slots, most athletes will be racing the same people anyways just a few slower kona qualifier taking the place of other areas of the world that will not be racing.
**So maybe not the fastest avg Kona finish times overall on an average , but the top 10 of each age group will be the same as usual. **
Also at this point I would race anyone for anything.
how many pro slots?
So maybe not the fastest avg Kona finish times overall on an average , but the top 10 of each age group will be the same as usual. //
Um, no. You seem to be forgetting one little thing, a lot of the rest of the world does not get to go to Kona this year, and I have heard that there are some pretty fast folks from many of those countries. In fact, if you look at top 5 of each AG, most will not be from the US, and often the US gets skunked from the podium in the AG races…
some will not be there and others will take there slots and put up that time, guys that had bad races last time will move into those slots it happens ever Ironman and even at the worlds.
I haven’t been there in 12 years so I will replace a time slot that is not there. I am talking time results not people.
The avg times at some races are slower then others (lots of first timers and slower racers). But the front racers are always x fast. 8:30-8:50
Guy x is not going to go slower at the front now because more slow people are behind him or her. Same with every ironman race.
But as a world championship some will miss out.
Just because not all the best in the world are there it isn’t a world championship? I don’t think we say Ali’s Rio gold doesn’t count because Gomez wasn’t able to race. It is still the Olympics you have to get there and be healthy.
They did the same for Ironman Tulsa. Not surprised they are doing this as they have to fill the field. It either expand the number of slots or expand the amount of Legacy athletes. I am just glad I earned my slot the right way!
What is this right way you speak of. Ironman has always had a varying number of slots from Olympic Distance to full IM at various races around the world. There is no right way. The right way is whatever the scenario is that is applied in a given year. Many of the folks that qualify on the conditions of this year will beat you anyway and you will beat many of them which will prove there is no right way. Whomever makes it to the start line played the game for the year at hand.
Placid has 150 too, according to the website.
I have no idea what your rant was about in your response to me, it had nothing to do with my comment to you in answer of the statement you posted. You said there would be no change in the top 10 in Kona this year(as in quality and speed of racers), I strongly disagree with that statement(and only that statement) as many of the very best in the world in each AG, will not be able to attend because of Covid restrictions.
Of course there will be other athletes filling in the top 10, 20, 100 of each AG, but the absolute fastest that would have been there, will not all be this go around. If you wish to disagree with that statement, go ahead and let me know your reasoning…
a lot of the rest of the world does not get to go to Kona this yearThis raises a super curious point… How many countries outside the U.S. have been able to host a race that could qualify for Kona 2021?
Athletes have 2 problems: 1) Ability to race in a qualifying race; and 2) Ability to travel to Hawaii in October.
I think that problem #1 is far greater than problem #2. By October, many nations will probably have lifted restrictions limiting travel to HI. Seems like there have only been 3-4 races total with 2021 Kona slots so far. And, I think they are mostly in the U.S. Any other countries have qualifying races yet? Any coming in the next few months?
You said there would be no change in the top 10 in Kona this year(as in quality and speed of racers), I strongly disagree with that statement(and only that statement) as many of the very best in the world in each AG, will not be able to attend because of Covid restrictions.
Of course there will be other athletes filling in the top 10, 20, 100 of each AG, but the absolute fastest that would have been there, will not all be this go around.
I agree completely.
It is unfortunate of course, but it is the truth. Sure, Kona will remain the IM World Championships but the quality of the field at the AG level will not be the same as in other years. And it’s not because people chose not to go, its simply because in many places (I am thinking largely of Europe) there have been, or will be, very few opportunities to qualify. Yes, there were a few qualifying events at the end of 2019, and of course nothing last year, and this year in Europe there will only be a handful of KQ events before the end of August (quite a few events have already been postponed to later this year or next year). Add to this the fact that even if someone in Europe were to qualify, they may not be able to actually travel and it becomes clear who might otherwise qualify and participate in Kona will not be there.
They did the same for Ironman Tulsa. Not surprised they are doing this as they have to fill the field. It either expand the number of slots or expand the amount of Legacy athletes. I am just glad I earned my slot the right way!
I am nowhere near Kona but this such a super obnoxious comment. There is no “right way”. Even if you got one of the few spots at X Ironman, there are others who then might say that X Ironman had weak competition, was flat, swim got cancelled…blah blah blah.
I suppose it must be nice to look down on other excellent athletes and be ignorant to how that is perceived.
a lot of the rest of the world does not get to go to Kona this yearThis raises a super curious point… How many countries outside the U.S. have been able to host a race that could qualify for Kona 2021?
Athletes have 2 problems: 1) Ability to race in a qualifying race; and 2) Ability to travel to Hawaii in October.
I think that problem #1 is far greater than problem #2. By October, many nations will probably have lifted restrictions limiting travel to HI. Seems like there have only been 3-4 races total with 2021 Kona slots so far. And, I think they are mostly in the U.S. Any other countries have qualifying races yet? Any coming in the next few months?
There would have been a few races late 2019 such as Barcelona, also the race Estonia went ahead in 2020, not sure if any others did in Europe. There have also been races in Aus, NZ, Asia, Argentina & Mexico. Therefore a reasonable amount of non Americans have qualified, but you’re right, many may not be able to attend.
It’s not ideal, but having a predominantly US field is better than nothing at all. If they allow the non US late 2019/2020 qualifiers to roll over the registration and then give those races the same number of slots for Kona 2022, that may even it out a bit, but then US athletes will be disadvantaged. There’s no perfect solution, I just hope everyone can get back racing as soon as possible!
Wow, sometimes life is about being in the right place at the right time! I wish I was doing IMLP instead of IMMD this year for sure!
I doubt any Sept 2021 IMs will have extra slots as they would be going for Kona 2022. But I’m happy for those who get one of these extra slots. (a bit envious but hopefully my time will come someday)
They did the same for Ironman Tulsa. Not surprised they are doing this as they have to fill the field. It either expand the number of slots or expand the amount of Legacy athletes**. I am just glad I earned my slot the right way!**
Can you help us mortals know where the authenticity threshold is? Let’s say there were 4 slots for your AG and you nab #4 -is that getting a slot “the right way� What if you get a roll down slot? That can’t be right, can it? What if there are 9 slots, and you’re 12th and you snag a rolldown? Or what if you’re the lone octogenarian and you qualify by virtue of being the sole competitor in your group, is that “a real way�
If I snag a KQ slot at CdA this year because I’m 17th in my group I’ll be over the moon and stoked. But it won’t be “the right wayâ€, and I’ll just have to learn to live with myself.
** I am just glad I earned my slot the right way! //**
Glad you got in, but where and how did you get your slot? Then I will decide if it was the right way or not…
No matter what number you finish and if you get in, you should be proud of that and stoked to race the World Champs. The “right way”…does that show up in the standings? It’s the experience and enjoy the process. You’ll still be top 1% who do the sport so who freakin cares. Get your slot, train hard, and enjoy the ride (and the mai tais)!