I qualified for Kona at IMAZ, however it has been a very difficult year for me career -wise (old office closed by my then boss, just opening a new office this month , so very little $ coming in right now and not a lot of training time) so I had decided that I wasn’t going to go.
However, the past couple weeks I have been regretting this decision and want to go just to experience the race. As I wasn’t going to go, I havn’t really been training properly so I will have to accept a slower result than I had hoped for in Hawaii.
I have turned down slots twice before due to $ reasons in college so I hate to do it again. But I really should be focussing on getting this office up and running and busy. Also who knows what the future holds, maybe I won’t get another chance to go for a while?
I’m thinking I’ll go there for a short a time as possible, to keep costs down, race and be happy with whatever the day brings on the training I can cram in between now and then and then in the future hopefully I’ll be able to go back and really race it and have a vacation with my wife.
I agree, you should definitely go given the chance. For most of us, we’re never going to qualify any time soon. I got my first chance through the lottery, and decided the next time it’ll be through a qualifying slot. Even if it takes me 20 years, I’m going back! Good luck!
Don’t go… get your house in order first. You’ll likely qualify again, if you already have done so 3 times. You are probably in it for the sport and the long-term, so why not go to Kona when your 100% ready and in peak shape.
Mike, It was great to see you kick butt in Arizona and I was very happy for you when you took the slot. From where I stand (or should I say finish) I can’t imagine not going if I ever got the chance. Of course thats me and I’m not you. I would love to see you race since I will be there anyway, but I understand that you would want to do your best and you have other things happening too. So if you decide to go I will be there cheering you on and I’ll even buy you the first beer after the race. But if you decide not to go, I’ll understand you made the decision you needed to make.
Of course that won’t stop me from questioning your manhood.
Gary Mc
PS. For the sarcasm impaired, the smiley means I’m joking. Mike is a friend of mine.
As someone who used to race you a lot I know that you can qualify pretty much whenever you want to. I turned down a spot 3 times prior to going last year. I think that you should give it a shot. Your leftover fitness from IMAZ will carry you through the day (although maybe not as fast as you’d like) and it will give you some experience on the big island for your next one. I will definitely be going back in a few years with some lessons learned from my first attempt in hopes of really having a good one there. As many state, it is difficult to have your ideal race there on your first one anyway.
Depending on what type of business you just started I would be very careful about leaving my bread and butter. Its your living that allows you to train and buy the stuff that goes with the sport. Sounds as though you can qualify whenever you like. I’d take a serious look at what you’d be loosing business wise if you take the time off.
As a business owner, for the first time in about 2 1/2 years I can trust my business to our Innkeeper and we can take vacations of short duration. I’ve found that what you do “today” does not effect your business until “tomorrow”. That said…we may be moving to Arizona in a few months. I’m selling my second Inn and buying a third in Sedona (hopefully). So I’m giving up a few races now so that I can race IMAZ in 2006.
Again…depends on if you can leave your business…spend lots of money in Kona…and then return to your business without a negative effect on your family or business.
I agree with this. Qualified three times, went once. It was so much more than I expected.
Decided not to go back this year…hoping to wait until I can give it an honest go.
If you have qualified 3x, you will again…if you can go now without major problems, do it. But if business worries will distract you, I’d suggest waiting until you can focus on nothing but the Kona experience.
FWIW, I got a lot of shit for not accepting every slot I got, but I had to do what was right for me.
If you’re already qualifyed 3 times, then i’m guessing it won’t be hard for you to get in a 4th time. Now focus on your work. Keep the eye on the ball.
