I am doing IMWI next month, and feel fairly confident that I have a decent shot at earning a spot to Kona.
Since I have not done an IM before I have a couple of questions:
At what point do they finalize the number of spots for each age group?
When do you know if you have earned a spot (not via rolldown)?
Allow flaming to begin…NOW!
Okay feel free to be a jackass for me trying to plan a potential logistics nightmare.
But honestly, I’m curious
What’s your age-group?
http://www.ironmannorthamerica.com/konaslots.html
Here is some information based on this years past Ironman USA. Hope this helps!!!
First rule of Kona Club. Don’t talk about Kona Club. 
This pretty much explains everything you need to know:
I do not know of to many people that go out on thier first IM and qualify for Kona. The two friends of mine that are going have been doing this for 5+ years and just now got the invite. but if you believe you will qualify and have the privilage all the more power to you. Most people here will rip you for it… just remember to back up this post on race day and get that spot.
Since IMWI is one of the last races to qualify you should know within 1-2. At least that is what it was last year. but it still will be near impossible to find a hotel and get ready to spend the $$$$$$
Wisconsin qualifies for the next year, not this year.
AG = M25-29
I’ll either back it up or I won’t.
I’ve read all of that info, and I know there will be 5-6 spots and yadda yadda yadda.
Do they post results someplace as the race is going on, etc? Do I need to recruit my wife to count people in my AG and guesstimate it?
Do I need to find a HotSpot and go to Ironmanlive?
Reason I’m curious, is that my wife has to work monday morning in milwaukee. So I have to drive her back there, and then have to return. I’d much rather only return if I have a spot, rather then to get there and find out I just missed it.
Gopher,
IMWisc qualifies you for 2006 Kona.
RE the original question, the number of slots per ag does not get completely finalized until race morning depending on the number of entrants per age group that start the race. Then thier is also the possibility of roll down slots afterwards. You can check the number of participants currently registered and do the math based on the slot qualifying formula on the IM Wisc web page.
Good luck with your quest for the spot unless you are in my AG 
RF
Slots are based on the # that start the race?
They will post the results on ironmanlive.com
they typically have kiosks set up so you can see if you are close. The day after the race they post the names of those that qualified and you can see if you are also close in case of a roll down spot.
good luck,
RF
yes on the number that start.
Thanks!
when i did IMAZ, they announced the numbers of spots per age group at the pre race meeting. I didn’t know before then that there were only 3 in my age group. They had results posted fairly quick by the massage tent and had penalty posted by 9. I did not know I qualified until after the fact, my coach is the one that told me, he was able to keep track better on ironmanlive.com or else it would of been a little while before i found out. does that help?
Here for to get a feel for the number of slots:
Slots are based on # that start the race. The older AGs may also all pass on a slot in which case more slots will be added to the other AGs depending on the distribution of entrants. Have your wife count athletes ahead of you, then doublecheck with ironmanlive results from a cafe somewhere. If you’re within a few spots and really want the slot you should return to the race site for awards.
I have only done one IM, at IMC, but last year I was in that age-group, had a total melt down, was 40minutes behind my ‘bad-day’ goal time and still qualified for Kona… I didn’t take it, so it rolled down even further.
So, you are in an ‘easy’ age-group to qualify… I went 10:17 and still got it… so, judging on your confidense, you are aiming for around 9:30…so you will have no problem.
Trev
the girl I am training with next week qualified on her first time (south africa) and she did her first marathon training for that IM… amazing.
9:30 is a little fast, I said a shot at earning a spot, not winning the AG.
I don’t plan to take a roll down spot, am looking to earn it, or try again next year.