I know it’s early to start thinking about it, but I’d like to enter IM Florida in 2004. Is this race always on a Saturday? Does anyone know the 2004 date? How hard is it to get into that IM race? I’m asking these questions now because I want to get registered the day after this year’s race, if possible. Thank you.
Registration usually opens within a day or two after the current-year’s race. You got the bucks, and hit the head of the line…you’re in. It fills fast (as fast as a week or two–Canada fills in 1 day) so don’t delay. As for next year’s date, don’t know. IMNA may have the answer.
2003 is the last year of the contract with Panama City. Not sure if IMNA will keep it there or move to different location. Last year it sold out in a week. The race the past 5 years has always been on a Saturday, but if it moves it could change.
Rumor is that there will be no IM in Florida next year. But that’s just the rumor.
Personally, I think that the whole reason for introducing the race was to try and pressure Fred Sommer. IMFl definitely hurt GFT but it couldn’t kill it (kinda like IM Cali and Vineman).
I don’t ever plan to do a WTC race, but if I were going to do one it would definitely be/have been IM Florida as everybody seems to pull a PR there.
I wrote WTC directly and asked about the date of IM FL and about other full IMs that are held on Saturday. I got back an immediate replay:
"Our 2004 date for Florida has not been set yet. When the information is available we will put it on the website.
“All of Ironman North America full Ironman races are held on Sunday, except Florida.”
It sounds, to me, like WTC still plans on doing an IM FL, but who knows?
I hope it’s back in 2004 since it would be nice to do something Iron distance darn near in my backyard.(I’ll call 40 miles west on FL 20 of the bike course reasonably close) Last fall the local tv news was reporting that IMNA and the Panama City Beach Tourist Development Council were $250,000 apart in contract negotiations.
But Spring Break in PCB got extra ugly this year, and I’m wondering if the PCBTDC is now thinking about how nice and problem-free the tri crowd is, especially when they fill rooms on an otherwise dead fall weekend.
There has been some speculation of the race ending up in Buffalo Springs if the money’s better. Is the weather appropiate there for a late fall race?
There has been some speculation of the race ending up in Buffalo Springs if the money’s better. Is the weather appropiate there for a late fall race? <<
Are you talking about Buffalo, NY? I lived in Ithaca, NY, for four years and NO, the weather in upstate NY is not appropriate for a late fall race. Unless you like the idea of biking through 2 feet of snow.
I hope you’re talking about Buffalo Springs, FL.
I believe that would be the Buffalo Springs Texas race.
There has been some speculation of the race ending up in Buffalo Springs if the money’s better. Is the weather appropiate there for a late fall race? <<
Are you talking about Buffalo, NY? I lived in Ithaca, NY, for four years and NO, the weather in upstate NY is not appropriate for a late fall race. Unless you like the idea of biking through 2 feet of snow.
I hope you’re talking about Buffalo Springs, FL.>>> Nope - I’m sure he meant the IM qualifer in Lubbock TX. Wicked hot in late June; probably not much better in late September http://www.buffalospringslaketriathlon.com/
Yeah, Buffalo Springs, TX. How’s the weather typically there in early November? The thing PCB has going for it is that you can put it very late in the year.
Yikes! The weather in Lubbock in November is “iffy” at best. Can you say 'cold wind", as opposed to ‘hot wind’ like they have for the half now. A bit further south in TX might be possible, say Austin, San Antonio, etc. Personally, I hope it stays in FL.
What I’ve heard is that if they move IMFL at all, that it will still be in Florida. Which would only make sense mainly because of the weather and climate and because of the strong contingent of triathletes in FL & the SE & besides everyone seems to like to go to FL for vacation anyway. 
At that time of the year I think the weather would be too unpredictable anywhere else.