It looks like IMFL filled in 3 hours. Hardest thing might be getting in…
IM Florida - The Prologue. 3 hours TT of who can click fastest, fill out the form, type their credit card #, and submit.
Here is something I just don’t understand (well, I don’t understand why people want to do Ironman, but that is a different thread)–why don’t they just run races on back to back days, i.e, Saturday and Sunday. Have the pros and all the guys racing for the money on one day, but then have a second day for the rest of the age groupers. Everything is already set up and ready to go. Maybe it would be hard to find volunteers two days in a row, and you would need twice as many hotels, but if people are crazy enough to sign up a year in advance then you have to think you could fill up the race two times over.
Chad
You can always come down under and do Ironman West Australia. Only 665 starters, probably a better race as well from what I hear of Florida, I can’t believe the rate you Yankees sign up for Ironman, haven’t you all done one by now ?
Ah, but how much would it cost me to fly all the way down there? I think 600 would be a good number to try out a first IM, if the urge ever hits me, but you are half way around the world.
This Yankee has not done an IM. There are just a lot of repeat customers. I guess some people just can’t get enough.
Chad
Here is something I just don’t understand (well, I don’t understand why people want to do Ironman, but that is a different thread)–why don’t they just run races on back to back days, i.e, Saturday and Sunday. Have the pros and all the guys racing for the money on one day, but then have a second day for the rest of the age groupers. Everything is already set up and ready to go. Maybe it would be hard to find volunteers two days in a row, and you would need twice as many hotels, but if people are crazy enough to sign up a year in advance then you have to think you could fill up the race two times over.
Chad
If you’re talking just running the pros on one day, and everyone else the other, it’s not economically worth it to put on the first day for a small group of athletes. If you’re talking about having the pros run with a big field day 1, and then another big field on day 2, it’s still not worth it when you consider:
- Needing two days of roads closed.
- Needing enough hired police to cover both days.
- A 2nd set of medical for the med tent.
- Volunteers are burnt after one long day, you would need another entire crew.
- The voice of Ironman wouldn’t have a voice for day 2.
- Although a lot is already in place, you would still need to restock aid stations.
- Bike check-in happens the day before; logistically tough to stage day 2’s bikes when day 1 is still happening.
All you can really do is plan for the one big day, and set a field size. Of course, you can keep adding more entries each year.
I hate to admit it but I am one of he sheep. I have done IMF 4 times did not do it this year but signed up again for 2006. For me logistically its the easiest M Dot race to do living in the Southeast. After reading all the bike shipping horror stories, that confirms it.
Why M Dot IM’s, I am still chasing the Kona dream or is it nightmare.
As for registering this year, even with my dial up at home it was pretty easy. Signed on right at 10:00 am Eastern time was in by 10:15.
Peace,
RF