HI…just want to confirm the process for signing up for IM LP 2008…I have my ticket that I got the day after the race. Is the first time you can sign up on active.com is Aug. 6…is this correct? just want to make sure
thanks
I wish I had a ticket
dirt.
Yeah, that’s how the certificate reads. I wonder why they don’t just let you sign up immediately.
I never dreamed that I would climb
Over the moon in ecstasy
But nevertheless, it’s there that I’m
Shortly about to be
‘Cause I’ve got a golden ticket
‘Cause I’ve got a golden ticket
I’ve got a golden chance to make my way
And with a golden ticket, it’s a golden dayhttp://i10.tinypic.com/4lt3c79.jpg!(file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Nicole/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg)
Sorry. Can’t help myself. It popped into my head.
I will be waiting until the last day to sign-up august 27th, why should I give NAS Sports my money earlier? Just imagine how much, interests that NAS make over one year 2500 registrations x $475 = $1,187,500 x 0.045 (GIC Interest Rate) that’s more $50k for having the money in there account. Personnaly, I don’t think they should get the money more than 2 months prior to the event.
Do you think its a good idea they start to plan the race 2 months ahead of time?
Have you ever hear of “cash flow”. Do you honestly think all that entry $ just sits in an account until the race. Most of the expenses are paid well in advance, as is overhead, equipment and the salaries of their employees. The only interest they “earn” is the amount they otherwise would pay in loans.
I’m personnaly involve in the organization of a local triathlon race (600+ athletes), so I know what I’m talking about… I do agree that there’s a need of some cash prior to the race, but there’s absolutely no way they spend more than 30-35% 2-3 months prior to the race. The required equipment either belongs to them or is reserved, and is paid up when picked. In some case they might leave a deposit… Please, don’t talk about T-shirt, medals, bib numbers… because they are produce only a few weeks prior of the race.
Even if the race as just ended they are already working on next year planning, we do the same… The basic activities required to prepare a race for 2,500 or 600 are pretty much the same. Yes, an Ironman as more activities to take care (Medical center, expo, provide light system after dark, pre-race carbo load, after race award banquet, close more roads, tv coverage, pro conference, etc).
Could you please explain me, how can 90% of races do it, in order to organize events… rare are the races that have their registration closed 3 months prior race day, and our race belongs to that category. Finally, if you have a successfull race you should be able to pull a benefit from it, I can tell my own experience is that we use that money (benefit) to put in our next year race as cash flow… I’m sure that every single NA IM pulls a benefit from his race.
I would be more than happy to pay a certain amount now and the balance something closer to race day, they have a refund policy, why not simply use it in the opposite way, we pay now the portion that’s not refundable and the rest at the cut-off date for refunds… I know this creates a lot more administration work but with computers/web and automatic credit card payment it wouldn’t be that difficult…
Alex
But perhaps they count on that interest when they figure the budget. I guess they could just have us all pay on race day, and have us cough up an extra 10%.
I usually don’t post, but have to this time. Lake Placid was my first Ironman event. Up until then it was sprints and olympic distance events. After being involved in the event and observing the set up, the event, and the tear down, the price to enter is extremely cheap. I would pay $600-$700 to enter this race again. Organization was outstanding, I would rate the volunteers at a 15 on a scale of 1-10. The only thing I could possibly complain about were the lack of flavors of Powergel. If that is the only thing I can complain about then that is a great race. I will be onsite to watch the race in 08 and sign up for 09, no matter what the cost. NA Sports puts on an outstanding event.
ok off topic (mainly because the topic of “how much money does NAS make” is stupid) but please help me out as I prepare for WI:
“lack of Powegel flavors”; which flavors did they have
Thanks
.
I am also very involved with our local Tri. You can’t honestly think comparing a local race (I assume a sprint) run by volunteers, comparison to a multi day IM event of IMNA standards? Just their annual operational costs are probably more than 30%. Salaries, benefits, insurance, taxes, office space. Equipment and vehicles, costs, maintenance, storage. And we haven’t even touched on individual race expenses, many of which are paid well in advance of two months.
Your entry fee is sortta like those “free interest” deals. You can pay the lower price with cash up front or the higher and pay it later. In our capitalist society the consumer pays or the business eventually fails.
Yes, there would be additional cost for processing payments later. Entry fees would have to be raised to cover that too.
They had chocolate or chocolate that I saw. I would carry your own if you want anything specific. Also I would carry my own nutrition for the bike as well. One less thing to worry about and there will be plenty of things to worry about.
It appears that the community fund slots are all gone now.
thanks that’s a big help. Could handle most any flavor of GU last year. This year I have trained with all flavors of Powergel and found the 2 toughest to swallow are (especially when warm out):
Tangerine (pukeage)
and CHOCOLATE (too heavy)
so that’s good to know. Was planning on carrying most of what I need but in case I need to grab 2-3 I’ll plan on Chocalate
In regards to Powergel, the only flavors I got were strawberry (only once and that is my favorite), vanilla, chocolate, plain and caramel. Not many fruit flavors which I like. Again, this is really nothing to complain about, but this should help you with your race.
I would be interested in a thread that actually posts tips for signing up for a IM. The training is certainly a challenge, but so is just figuring out the logicstics of how to get registered.
My work and family calendar is such that making a commitment a full 12 months out is a huge risk. In addition, there is significant travel (live in Hawaii - please no comments about Kona - been close but still no cigar).
The bottom line seems to be that for mainland (US) races, you need to register immediately or soon after the event…and yes, make the commitment and pay a full 12 months out.
The way LP went I would say your best bet is to make friends with someone who’s going to be on-site and beg/bribe them to stand in line again for you. I don’t know if the other races have the policy to let you sign someone else up.
Hello!
I competed in IMLP 2007 and I signed up for 2008. I got in line at 6am. The line was so long they opened registration at 7 or was it 8am? The procedure was that you could sign yourself up and a friend as well.
I signed myself up and was told to go to the back of the line to sign up my friend, where I waited like I was told for another 2 hours.
When I got to the table, my friend’s name was written on the voucher… Graham Fraser himself came up to the registering table and said “NO ONE SIGNS UP ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES”
And they would not allow me to complete my voucher for a friend.
I told him that I was told that the procedure was you could sign up a friend, but I had to wait in line again. I happily waited in line again. I was given a sigh and a shoulder shrug.
My friends were able to complete their vouchers and I was not.
I was told “They didn’t expect so many people” by the woman in charge of registration.
Didn’t expect so many people? Hello! Thsi is Ironman Lake Placid. Sold out in 30 minutes LAST year! Where was she?
In a way I would have loved to tear up my own voucher. But the truth of the matter is, 1000 people would love take the spot.
This is the same company that organizes Ironman Canada. They should be well versed in this.
Changing the rules *DURING *the process is horrid. I think it shows a lack of organization.
That being said IMLP is still my favorite race and I’d be one of the idiots who signs up when they hike the price even higher. 
Hey, Meggers, thanks for relaying your story about not being able to sign up a friend at LP. My friend tried to sign me up and was told the exact same thing as you, once at the sign up table, after he had stood in line to sign himself up. What blows me away, is that IMNA seemed to change the rules arbitrarily and people were told different things at different times that morning. That sucks. As a customer supoort professional, I find it highly unprofessional that they had different rules for different people at different times, and some people WERE able to sign up a friend, and others were told NO.
I am still pissed that I was counting on the pre-stated process to get me a slot for '08. I was having surgery on my back on Monday, and had absolutely no chance to get on a computer, or even get the cell message my friend tried to send.
Sue
I completley agree with everything you said. EVERYTHING.
The crazy part is… They don’t even need to care because… what’s the big deal if ***I ***don’t sign up? PLenty of people will. So in a sense they don’t need to care about customer service.
Every IMNA / NAS event I have ever done rocks. It truly is top notch. I would pay a higher price (and it will go up… just watch) becasue you get what you pay for.
But I have never found it more difficult and frustrating to hand someone $500 the day after I have done an Ironman.
I wish, really wish they could match their top notch ability to put on a race with an equally top notch fair method to signing up for the damn thing.
Mary