No, find a new dream. What’s so special about Kona if you’re not there on merit.
I wouldn’t be interested in playing Augusta National but I can understand why big golf fans would. As a long time triathlete and fan of the sport, racing in Kona on a Legacy slot was incredibly special. You may not understand why it’s special, but clearly many triathletes do.
I’m going to share this with my wife . . . I thought I was extremely wired until I read your post . . . you make me look reasonable!!
Kidding aside, you make very good points. It is worth it ONLY if it is a continuation of a chosen lifestyle. Sure there is a bit a sacrifice that has to be ramped up for the KQ attempt, but if it is a continuation of lifestyle it really doesn’t feel like a sacrifice to you or to those around you. It is not mutually exclusive to enjoy a healthy fitness lifestyle with wife, family, kids, job, etc and to also pursue IM/KQ. The trick is to weave it all together into a lifestyle that is not a sacrifice.
To the OP, help us understand why you got out of the sport and why you want back in . . . from a lifestyle perspective. I have raced triathlons every year for 36 years (27 IM) and other than recovering from a few bike wrecks have been extremely consistent. My formula (for everything) is that consistent execution over time always prevails. Most folks simply don’t have the discipline to do that (ST crowd excluded of course) and that typically show in other aspects of life too. I was tempted to write a swimming story, but I’ll save that.
Dev - you and me may be more alike than we ever knew!!
Take a trip to Kona in the off season. Swim at the pier, rent a bike and ride the route, run Alii drive and the energy lab. Do a peaman race (http://bigislandraces.com/extras/peaman-events/). You’ll enjoy it. That may help you decide if you want to commit to a decade of training.
No, find a new dream. What’s so special about Kona if you’re not there on merit.
I wouldn’t be interested in playing Augusta National but I can understand why big golf fans would. As a long time triathlete and fan of the sport, racing in Kona on a Legacy slot was incredibly special. You may not understand why it’s special, but clearly many triathletes do.
And I would argue that because you haven’t qualified you don’t know how much more special it is to kill yourself training and qualify, as opposed to being rewarded through a frequent customer program. And don’t compare qualifying for Kona to finishing 15 IMs in 10 years and getting in this way, it is in no way the same. I don’t race Ironmans but if I did I wouldn’t race Kona unless I qualified.
I don’t think so - that race looks like pure hell for several hours!
oh brother … now we are down to a my special is more special than your special competition.
I don’t think he’s is saying that getting in via legacy is more special than getting in by qualifying. He’s not stating which is more special. He’s just saying that getting in via legacy is special to him.
It’s cool that you don’t want to race Kona unless you qualify, just like some people wouldn’t race Boston unless they qualify. For those that do, it doesn’t mean that it’s not special to them. I’ve BQ and ran it. I would never run it without a BQ entry, but I don’t discount the specialness for those who are there via charity slots. I don’t go out of my way to tell them that the special feelings that I’m feeling are so much more awesome than theirs.
No, find a new dream. What’s so special about Kona if you’re not there on merit.
I wouldn’t be interested in playing Augusta National but I can understand why big golf fans would. As a long time triathlete and fan of the sport, racing in Kona on a Legacy slot was incredibly special. You may not understand why it’s special, but clearly many triathletes do.
And I would argue that because** you haven’t qualified you don’t know how much more special it is to kill yourself training and qualify, as opposed to being rewarded through a frequent customer program**. And don’t compare qualifying for Kona to finishing 15 IMs in 10 years and getting in this way, it is in no way the same. I don’t race Ironmans but if I did I wouldn’t race Kona unless I qualified.
oh brother … now we are down to a my special is more special than your special competition.
I don’t think he’s is saying that getting in via legacy is more special than getting in by qualifying. He’s not stating which is more special. He’s just saying that getting in via legacy is special to him.
It’s cool that you don’t want to race Kona unless you qualify, just like some people wouldn’t race Boston unless they qualify. For those that do, it doesn’t mean that it’s not special to them. I’ve BQ and ran it. I would never run it without a BQ entry, but I don’t discount the specialness for those who are there via charity slots. I don’t go out of my way to tell them that the special feelings that I’m feeling are so much more awesome than theirs.
No, find a new dream. What’s so special about Kona if you’re not there on merit.
I wouldn’t be interested in playing Augusta National but I can understand why big golf fans would. As a long time triathlete and fan of the sport, racing in Kona on a Legacy slot was incredibly special. You may not understand why it’s special, but clearly many triathletes do.
And I would argue that because** you haven’t qualified you don’t know how much more special it is to kill yourself training and qualify, as opposed to being rewarded through a frequent customer program**. And don’t compare qualifying for Kona to finishing 15 IMs in 10 years and getting in this way, it is in no way the same. I don’t race Ironmans but if I did I wouldn’t race Kona unless I qualified.
My comment was in response to his “you may not understand why its special”, well he doesn’t understand how special it is either if he has never had to work hard to qualify.
My comment was in response to his “you may not understand why its special”, well he doesn’t understand how special it is either if he has never had to work hard to qualify.
I know exactly how special it was for me to race Kona on a Legacy Slot. It may well be more special to qualify but I have no idea what your point has to do with this thread. Did you just feel the need to point that out?
I have a friend that is a recently retired pro cyclist and a DII All American swimmer in college. He could qualify tomorrow if he wanted to. I’m pretty sure the event was much more special to me than it ever would be to him.
Absolutely not (worth it)…to ME.
I’m currently training for IM LOU. I love the fitness level I’m at (and where I’ll get to). But, I’m not in love with 20 hrs/wk of training. Training for HIMs are more my speed…and then maybe 2X/yr only. I’m 52. I’m not a fan of 6-8 hr training DAYS.
I’m happily married. Might be a correlation (relax…I’m kidding…kinda)
Look, the simple answer to the OP is this:
None of us can tell you what you care about or what it’s worth to you. All we can do is tell you what we value, why and what we might or might not be willing to do to achieve it. That’s what we’re doing. My previous point was really that there’s no objective reason why you should consider Kona special and therefore we can’t say what it’s worth to you. For me, it’s not something I would put much value in and if I were you, I’d find a different goal in which you could invest as much commitment but with more confidence that you would be able to complete it. Not necessarily because it requires less of you, but because it may leave less outside of your control.
There’s no point arguing about how special something is to someone. It’s all in their own head and they can keep it or discard it as they see fit.
Is the one day in Kona worth the sacrifice of a decade of training?
I wouldn’t think so, especially since you consider the training to be a “sacrifice”. I’ve done 12 IMs (4 of those in the top 10 of my AG but no KQ), registered for #13 next year and Kona will just be a waypoint as I continue on. As Dev noted, it’s a lifestyle thing for some of us. If Kona is your only goal, then let it go…it will fade in importance.
And I would argue that because you haven’t qualified you don’t know how much more special it is to kill yourself training and qualify, as opposed to being rewarded through a frequent customer program.
Maybe everyone who thinks it’s “worth it” will chime in with how they got in. That would help (perspective).
You can also look at this another way. You will need at minimum 13-15 races to actually get the legacy slot.
On average I spend 4-5K on each race with entry fee, travel, coaching, training, food and all the other incidentals. I live in Canada so my expenses are higher because all (most) of the races that I do are in the US and the US dollar is about $1.30 more than the Canadian dollar. If you travel to Europe or the other continents the price per race gets even higher. Now do the math. 13 to 15 times 4 to 5k is anywhere from 52K on the low end to 75k on the high end over the 7 to 8 year period, if you do 2 races per year. You would be better off buying a Kona slot when they have the yearly auction on eBay.
Kona is just a hot, windy, overly competitive race on the “ugly side” of a beautiful tropical island.
You gotta like the training.
The hard races.
The whole process.
You get out of it … what you put into it.
Let’s just stop with the 12 races thing right now.
Most people are doing 15+ races to get in.
Once you complete your 12 you have to register in an Ironman race the year of your selection, plus have completed an Ironman in the previous two years.
And since there are so many people completing the 12 now, your chances of getting in get harder and harder each year.
So, the legacy program is a joke.
Better plan? Go do some of the world’s best triathlons instead.
Let’s just stop with the 12 races thing right now.
Most people are doing 15+ races to get in.
Once you complete your 12 you have to register in an Ironman race the year of your selection, plus have completed an Ironman in the previous two years.
And since there are so many people completing the 12 now, your chances of getting in get harder and harder each year.
So, the legacy program is a joke.
Better plan? Go do some of the world’s best triathlons instead.
The amount of money spent is just, well, … let alone the time.
And it really comes down to these folks have an addictive personality, and WTC knows how to keep their drug habit going and take their money.
Very smart business people, just like any other product which really are a drug and they keep folks hooked.
I love it when WTC says they are “rewarding” a lifestyle. Smart business move.
If a person really wants Kona, buy a spot on Ebay. One would save a lot of money, and get back so much more of their life back. Get addictive on being with their family and friends.
Let’s just stop with the 12 races thing right now.
Most people are doing 15+ races to get in.
Once you complete your 12 you have to register in an Ironman race the year of your selection, plus have completed an Ironman in the previous two years.
And since there are so many people completing the 12 now, your chances of getting in get harder and harder each year.
So, the legacy program is a joke.
Better plan? Go do some of the world’s best triathlons instead.
The amount of money spent is just, well, … let alone the time.
And it really comes down to these folks have an addictive personality, and WTC knows how to keep their drug habit going and take their money.
Very smart business people, just like any other product which really are a drug and they keep folks hooked.
I love it when WTC says they are “rewarding” a lifestyle. Smart business move.
If a person really wants Kona, buy a spot on Ebay. One would save a lot of money, and get back so much more of their life back. Get addictive on being with their family and friends.
Dave, as someone who races as frequently as you do, the same guy who paid a huge amount of registration fees to race nearly every event at the ITU MultiFestival in Penticton while some of us are actually having a life by enjoying the venue and not just the race, you might look in the mirror when you talk about an addictive personality.
And yes, it was an absolutely brilliant move by WTC. However, the comment about buying a Kona slot on Ebay is just stupid. You would lose all the travel, enjoyment, great food, and touring that went into those previous Ironman races. As an example, I toured Addo Elephant Park along with Ironman South Africa; Lucerne and Lichtenstein along with Ironman Switzerland; and Copenhagen and Kalmar Castle while at Ironman Sweden. And that just scratches the surface of what I’ve experienced on my ironman journey.
Let’s just stop with the 12 races thing right now.
Most people are doing 15+ races to get in.
Once you complete your 12 you have to register in an Ironman race the year of your selection, plus have completed an Ironman in the previous two years.
And since there are so many people completing the 12 now, your chances of getting in get harder and harder each year.
So, the legacy program is a joke.
Better plan? Go do some of the world’s best triathlons instead.
Just say it, you don’t like the program at all whether it is 10, 12, 15, or 20. Why is the program a joke simply because it is so successful? And your terminology is wrong. The legacy program is not about “chance”; it is merely a waiting line, and the line is growing. That line can grow to five years after initial qualifying without affecting a person’s ‘chance’. As long as you follow the program rules eventually it will be your turn. As to the world’s best triathlon’s…that is entirely subjective.
Next up for me: Ironman Norway 2018 … hurt me!
Let’s just stop with the 12 races thing right now.
Most people are doing 15+ races to get in.
Once you complete your 12 you have to register in an Ironman race the year of your selection, plus have completed an Ironman in the previous two years.
And since there are so many people completing the 12 now, your chances of getting in get harder and harder each year.
So, the legacy program is a joke.
Better plan? Go do some of the world’s best triathlons instead.
The amount of money spent is just, well, … let alone the time.
And it really comes down to these folks have an addictive personality, and WTC knows how to keep their drug habit going and take their money.
Very smart business people, just like any other product which really are a drug and they keep folks hooked.
I love it when WTC says they are “rewarding” a lifestyle. Smart business move.
If a person really wants Kona, buy a spot on Ebay. One would save a lot of money, and get back so much more of their life back. Get addictive on being with their family and friends.
Dave, as someone who races as frequently as you do, the same guy who paid a huge amount of registration fees to race nearly every event at the ITU MultiFestival in Penticton while some of us are actually having a life by enjoying the venue and not just the race, you might look in the mirror when you talk about an addictive personality.
And yes, it was an absolutely brilliant move by WTC. However, the comment about buying a Kona slot on Ebay is just stupid. You would lose all the travel, enjoyment, great food, and touring that went into those previous Ironman races. As an example, I toured Addo Elephant Park along with Ironman South Africa; Lucerne and Lichtenstein along with Ironman Switzerland; and Copenhagen and Kalmar Castle while at Ironman Sweden. And that just scratches the surface of what I’ve experienced on my ironman journey.
I posted I know I have an addictive personality, so what is the issue? I know what I am talking about.
I’ve got a decade worth of training, lots of IM’s, but never been to Kona. Take my answer with that grain of salt.
I don’t want to do Kona. Why? I don’t race well in 90 degree humid conditions. And I don’t like being around thousands of tri-yahoos as well (even though, yes, I am one). Don’t want to race on a lava-lunar landscape in the heat. Not my thing.
I DO love other destinations. I did Norseman last year. Done American TTT plenty of times. The hard courses. The classic courses. Savageman. Vineman. Alcatraz. That’s me.
But for friends who did do Kona, and it was an obsession to qualify for, and who like the tri environment at events and the Kona “big event”…it was like an adult Christmas. They loved it.