I qualified for Kona for the first time this year, but unfortunately had a bike accident two weeks ago that required surgery. Broken clavicle, broken ribs, six screws and a plate.
While I might be ready to SBR by October, a serious effort is out of the question.
Is deferral an option?
I am leaning towards doing whatever training I can handle in September and just trying to finish.
Gutted
You can always ask but generally no they will stick to the refund policy. Although you have spent $1200 or so the silver lining in just resting and healing is you don’t have to spend thousands more. Target IMTX with 165 slots in April 2023.
I’ve heard stories of IM cutting people some slack, but no promises….
You can always ask but generally no they will stick to the refund policy. Although you have spent $1200 or so the silver lining in just resting and healing is you don’t have to spend thousands more. Target IMTX with 165 slots in April 2023.
he may have only meant deferring to get to do the race at all. congrats on qualifying!
My first choice would be to defer to 2023. No guarantee that I will qualify again. If I can’t defer, I will probably give it a shot and just try to dial things way back
if IM says you forego the entry fee but say ok to being able to race next year, would you do it?
if IM says you forego the entry fee but say ok to being able to race next year, would you do it?
Use this year’s entry fee for 2023? Yes, I would certainly do that.
I had the same sort of injury in 2018 and IM allowed me to defer to 2019, but I don’t know if IM does it in all circumstances. However, IM did not notify about its deferral decision until well after the race. But there’s zero chance I could have competed in 2018 because of the severity of the injury, so I didn’t have the decision tree that you might have. I also suspect that you could actually race this year, as you’re still 6 weeks out.
If it makes you feel any better, I’m in the same boat. I qualified last October, and was hit by a car in June suffering a fx femur.
So I’ll be there to Swim Bike Walk.
There will be a lot of people walking the marathon, at least you’ll have a good excuse.
Similar situation for me, same injury but less severe. I had shoulder surgery 2 weeks ago, but no way I’ll be swimming in Oct, probably not able to hold aero for too long either and of course fitness will be gone.
We planned this trip for a long time with all the covid deferrals, got in-laws to come watch the kids, flights, hotels, car, etc. to have a trip with my wife for the first time since we had kids combined with the race. So for me, even if I could defer, it would just not happen. We’ll just make it into a romantic trip to Hawaii, experience the atmosphere of the race and not participate. Enjoy what I can out of it; I’m 100% happy with that with no regrets.
Similar situation for me, same injury but less severe. I had shoulder surgery 2 weeks ago, but no way I’ll be swimming in Oct, probably not able to hold aero for too long either and of course fitness will be gone.
We planned this trip for a long time with all the covid deferrals, got in-laws to come watch the kids, flights, hotels, car, etc. to have a trip with my wife for the first time since we had kids combined with the race. So for me, even if I could defer, it would just not happen. We’ll just make it into a romantic trip to Hawaii, experience the atmosphere of the race and not participate. Enjoy what I can out of it; I’m 100% happy with that with no regrets.
Thanks for that…I feel like I am in the same boat. I have people coming from around the world and it looks like it’s too late to cancel a big house we have rented. I am committed to the trip, but uncertain of what I will be capable of doing.
At this point I think I need to get my head around just finishing.
Similar situation for me, same injury but less severe. I had shoulder surgery 2 weeks ago, but no way I’ll be swimming in Oct, probably not able to hold aero for too long either and of course fitness will be gone.
We planned this trip for a long time with all the covid deferrals, got in-laws to come watch the kids, flights, hotels, car, etc. to have a trip with my wife for the first time since we had kids combined with the race. So for me, even if I could defer, it would just not happen. We’ll just make it into a romantic trip to Hawaii, experience the atmosphere of the race and not participate. Enjoy what I can out of it; I’m 100% happy with that with no regrets.
Thanks for that…I feel like I am in the same boat. I have people coming from around the world and it looks like it’s too late to cancel a big house we have rented. I am committed to the trip, but uncertain of what I will be capable of doing.
At this point I think I need to get my head around just finishing.
Good luck. Hope you are able to race.
Most important thing IMHO is to be happy with whatever outcome (even if you have to pull out after 2 minutes in the water) and enjoy the experience. Its counter-productive to feel bad and beat yourself up about what could have been.
i am sorta in this boat. got cut off by a car a few weeks ago, have back & neck issues, able to bike on a trainer, didn’t have much of a swim going, but will get it… thinking also of the swim, bike, walk with a good excuse… I think there will be lots of company on the walk…
Everything I have heard is that you won’t get any deferral… for me, my slot came from the absurd amount of slots thrown in last summer’s US IMs, so this is my one and only kona… bigger issue has been securing a bike which I think I’ve finally done…
I qualified at IMAZ without a roll down, but that is no guarantee that I will qualify again.
I have a good friend who got second in his AG 10 years ago and who will compete for the win this year, but it is still touch and go every year to get a spot (with no spot earned several years). Earning a slot is never a sure thing no matter how strong you are.
My decision is made at this point. I will go to Kona and do the best I can. It has been a 10 year goal to qualify and I will do my best to enjoy the week no matter what the final outcome is.
I had the same sort of injury in 2018 and IM allowed me to defer to 2019, but I don’t know if IM does it in all circumstances. However, IM did not notify about its deferral decision until well after the race. But there’s zero chance I could have competed in 2018 because of the severity of the injury, so I didn’t have the decision tree that you might have. I also suspect that you could actually race this year, as you’re still 6 weeks out.
I am injured and no longer going. I assumed deferral was a definite no go, but since you said you were able to I decided to ask, let’s see. Incidentally, this thread reminded me that I needed to cancel my hotel, which was at the Holiday Inn in Kona … maybe that went immediately back into availability? Someone here who needs a room should check!
I think the insurance is worth it.
I went to an event a few months back where i had the option of protecting the tickets and hotel, i did it, i didn’t need it, but thought the premium well worth
it. insurance coverage for races are reasonably priced. something so far out, with risk of injury, etc? seems a smart approach. it’s offered at checkout in most
cases. pretty simple.