No, IMKY won’t be turned into a bike-run like Utah, and no, no one will die on the swim (let’s sure hope not).
But, after the carnage that will be this Sunday, add Louisville to the short list of failed location experiments for Ironman. The month-long heatwave of 100+ temps and high humidity surely has WTC concerned, despite being predictable. And, now having to bastardize their swim. It’s all over for IMKY. Get your gear now, it’ll become a collectors item.
WTC will find a different medium size city, conveniently located to a large percentage of nations triathletes in which to hold a mediocre event. My guess, Williamsburg, VA.
Nice job with the pre-event bitch. I’d like to go on record as saying that I have no faith in Ironman Arizona 2014 as there is a warm front stalling over the area. Additionally, the overwhelming number of crazed monkeys on the course will, no doubt, create havoc.
While the swim change is problematic, I don’t think it’s fair to blame the “predictable” heat on the organizers. We’ve been breaking heat records here in Chattanooga left and right it seems, as has a lot of the country. If I recall, historically the norm for Louisville at this time of year should have been mid 80s. This is an unusual situation that will unfortunately really tax not only the athletes but the race organizers as well.
I’m leaving tonight for IMLOU determined to make the best of it. Nearly all races have had their challenges (IMCDA swim this year) and it’s up to us to accept them and push through.
I agree,some locations are not good for a full IM(a river).I think Va. may happen soon.Will WTC become the Wallmart of tri races? I say more races ,yes.They have the customers,hey Im a capitalist go for it.
I predict that IM Hawaii will be a total failure. It is always hot and humid there. And the wind!!! It could practically knock the althletes off their bikes.
I predict that IM Hawaii will be a total failure. It is always hot and humid there. And the wind!!! It could practically knock the althletes off their bikes.
And its too warm to wear a wetsuit, seriously who’d want to do an IM there! LOL
That’s not a completely fair comparison though – the caliber of athlete at Kona is, on average, better than what we’ll see at IMKY. And salt water = more buoyancy too, so the swim wouldn’t be as worrisome.
I’m not saying IMKY will be a failure. But I do think the dropout rate will be high. I hope people take care of themselves out there.
Williamsburg is doubtful. Keith Jordan tried to get a 1/2 going there for 2 years. Some else got it going this year, but from what I gathered, there was a lot of difficulty with the local governments in getting course closures/etc.
Nice job with the pre-event bitch. I’d like to go on record as saying that I have no faith in Ironman Arizona 2014 as there is a warm front stalling over the area. Additionally, the overwhelming number of crazed monkeys on the course will, no doubt, create havoc.
I’m not racing. When I saw they chose Louisville in August with a swim in the Ohio, this outcome immediately struck me as very possible, and honestly I’m amazed they chose Louisville. I guess a central location trumps all other concerns, but considering they’ll sell out wherever they locate I can’t imagine why. Pretending the current weather is an anomal is simply denial: 90s and humid is not atypical for August, and however they dress it up a swim in the Ohio is risky. Kona is hot and humid, but also a different breed of triathlete than the open registration that is every other event. My day in the heat and humidity will be Kona, until then it’ll be races like IMLP, IMCDA, IMC, IMOO, or an international destination.
I hope the day is a success, but I suspect the dropout rate will be very high. Is that in anyone’s best interests? WTC will sell fewer Finisher products, they can’t want that.
If they had the 2005 weather in the inaugural version of IM Moo (sorry I don’t recall the exact drop out rate but it was remarkable) would people be trying to sound the death knell? I somehow doubt it…sure Louisville is Hot in the summer but I signed up knowing full well I’d be racing in the heat…the river issue is a rare set of circumstances…I mean c’mon Findlay Ohio is flooding…I doubt that was on the “average” weather trend for that area for this time of year…
“Is that in anyone’s best interests? WTC will sell fewer Finisher products, they can’t want that.”
In my goodie bag I picked up at registration, it had an Ironman finisher bumper sticker in it!, so I am golden on this one, bank it, count the money wha hooo!!!
I am here now now and it is great! The city is nice, the finish area at Fourth Street Live is really cool. The transition area is huge. From what I can see now, it is going to be great.
Yes, it is going to be hot. But you can either be an Ironman or a wuss. Make up your mind. So it is now a time trial start. Guess what, the fastest people will still go to Hawaii. Yeah, the river might be a little dirty, but I am not going to whine about it like a little kid. Suck it up, for God’s sake.
If this Ironman thing is too hard or too uncomfortable, people can always join the TNT group and do an easier race!
High: 94 °F RealFeel®: 96 °F Partly sunny with a shower or thunderstorm possible; hot and humid