Just wondering if anyone thinks there is an argument to have all August Ironman races allocate slots for the following year’s Kona World Championships. As it stands, if you qualify in August you will race in the same year’s WC, ony two months later (except Vichy and Coeur D’Alene on the very last weekend of August). The reason I ask is two fold:
Average age groupers probably need to save a bit of cash to travel to Kona, specially if they plan on taking family. If you race and qualify in August, you won’t be able to save much till October!I think most people would want to live the “I qualified for Kona” moment a bit longer than a month and a half.
Maybe it’s a brain fart, but I thought I’d put this out there to see what you guys think.
I disagree.
I would much rather qualify and go than having to wait over a whole year and let the hype die.
People who think they will qualify should have started saving up before.
My personal opinion the cutoff should be 3 months out so July really.
IMMT is a race on my bucket list but my only hesitation is that its less than 2 months out from Kona. If I didn’t care about Kona, I would sign up for the race in a heart beat.
My personal opinion the cutoff should be 3 months out so July really.
IMMT is a race on my bucket list but my only hesitation is that its less than 2 months out from Kona. If I didn’t care about Kona, I would sign up for the race in a heart beat.
Thanks, I didn’t find it on the site when I looked. July would be great, I agree. I also have IMMT on my bucket list since I raced 70.3 WCs in 2014. Great for the family but yes, too close to Kona should one qualify. Funny they would have two races on the same weekend allocate slots for different year WC!!
I’ve actually told a friend that if I’m going to go all in on an attempt to qualify the plan will be to pick one of these late season races with the thought that there maybe an additional or two roll down due to people not wanting to gear up/afford to do kona two months later.
I’m a realist, and if I ever get in I’m going to have to have everything go my way and probably cut down on a bit of my social life for a year or two so if I do get a spot, it will be more like going to a big century ride with a celebration run after it than trying to race in the world championships.
I agree. The August races are so close to Kona and there are such small margins to qualify. I live in Europe and doing Copenhagen in a few weeks. My only hope to KQ is if I have a very good race and a lot of rolldown. It’s a long trip for Europeans, but I don’t think fitness for Kona is the issue, budget and time for sure!
People who think they will qualify should have started saving up before.
+1
If I planned to qualify late, I’d save up from the start of the year. If no KQ happens, take a cheaper trip nearby in the same timeframe or buy a new bike. (Probably both)
I agree. The August races are so close to Kona and there are such small margins to qualify. I live in Europe and doing Copenhagen in a few weeks. My only hope to KQ is if I have a very good race and a lot of rolldown. It’s a long trip for Europeans, but I don’t think fitness for Kona is the issue, budget and time for sure!
I agree! I am also doing Copenhagen and feel really good, but I will need a perfect day to qualify. As you know, most people in Europe take summer time off in July/August and several of us combine a race in that period, just because it makes sense. If on top we need to take time off for Kona a few months later, it proves quite difficult professionally. Unless we quit and just go to Kona, obviously!
See you in Copenhagen mate! Look for the black guy racing!
People who think they will qualify should have started saving up before.
+1
If I planned to qualify late, I’d save up from the start of the year. If no KQ happens, take a cheaper trip nearby in the same timeframe or buy a new bike. (Probably both)
I agree with this all the way. If you are seriously thinking of KQ why wouldn’t you start saving from that time forward? I look at my races a year out and how they lay out financially for my family as well. Next year I am doing IM Chattanooga and know with the travel and hotels and everything else it will be a bit more than the other races I am doing, so I am starting to save now, not a couple of months before the race.
I understand that you can’t “plan” to KQ however, if you are seriously going after it, why wouldn’t you plan ahead?
