So how fast does one have to be to qualify for the new 70.3 world championships? What do people think?
Depends on your age group.
I’d just look at the races that have been held in the past and see what the top 3 in each age group is then assume you need to get a similar time.
i was hoping you wouldnt say that
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I don’t think it will be nearly as hard to qualify for this as it is to qualify for Kona. How many people are really going to want to go to Clearwater in November? There are not that many triathletes and those doing IM Florida will not be doing it, I doubt those doing Kona will do it. That’s already 4000 people out of the pool. Will people from Europe, Asia, or Australia want to travel to Florida for a 1/2? I would expect the slots to roll down quite a bit. There’s also 100 slots at each race, which is more than there are Kona slots at most races. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Its nice for slightly better than average age groupers to have a goal that is challenging without being unattainable, as getting a Kona slot is for many. If I had to guess, I would say at a race like St. Croix, where there are 100 slots, and 700 athletes competing, anyone who finishes the race and wants a slot could get one. At 1/2 Florida or Eagleman, you might have to go around 5-hours in one of the competetive age groups - challenging, but far different from 4:10, which is how fast you would have to go to get a Kona slot at Eagleman.
I don’t think it will be nearly as hard to qualify for this as it is to qualify for Kona. How many people are really going to want to go to Clearwater in November? There are not that many triathletes and those doing IM Florida will not be doing it, I doubt those doing Kona will do it. That’s already 4000 people out of the pool. Will people from Europe, Asia, or Australia want to travel to Florida for a 1/2? I would expect the slots to roll down quite a bit. There’s also 100 slots at each race, which is more than there are Kona slots at most races. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Its nice for slightly better than average age groupers to have a goal that is challenging without being unattainable, as getting a Kona slot is for many. If I had to guess, I would say at a race like St. Croix, where there are 100 slots, and 700 athletes competing, anyone who finishes the race and wants a slot could get one. At 1/2 Florida or Eagleman, you might have to go around 5-hours in one of the competetive age groups - challenging, but far different from 4:10, which is how fast you would have to go to get a Kona slot at Eagleman.
Considering that only 6 people broke 4:10 at Eagleman in 2005, I’d say that’s a bit of an exaggeration.
In any case, I suspect that it’ll be relatively easy to get a 70.3 slot.
You’re right. I just checked the Eagleman results and in my age group (men 30-34), the three qualifiers went between 4:12 and 4:25. At Florida, the times were between 4:18 and 4:20. Somebody who can go 4:25 in a 1/2 is still a mighty fast triathlete and on a different planet than most of us.
Contrary to the opinion of many on this forum and that I have known over the years, not every triathlete dreams of Kona and plans their entire calendar around qualifying every year. When I saw they were having a Half-IM championship I was pretty excited to participate because I have no desire to do an Ironman, and there was a large void at the Half-IM distance.
USAT puts on a pretty legitimate, at least in terms of competitive athletes, championship for the Olympic distance, but for those who prefer Half-IM there was a hodge-podge of other possibilities, to include the USAT Long-Distance championship and the US Half Championship, neither of which really drew a competitive crowd.
I would be very surprised if a large number of Hawaii IM participants don’t go. Money is no object for the Hawaii IM crowd, else they would not be in Hawaii anyway. They are already the richest of the fast. Not all of them will have had a satifying race either and will look for some redemption.
I have to admit that my enthusiasm for the 70.3 series and championships dimmed somewhat when I saw that their entry fees start at $210 (Vineman) and go up progressively the longer you wait.
Chad
“How many people are really going to want to go to Clearwater in November?”
I wondered why they did have the 70.3 championship in Kona or some other “Premium” venue. As you said many are going to go for the larger nut, Kona, so I’m guessing the competition won’t be quite as fierce for the 70.3 series.
~Matt
I still think the series is a great idea, and I have never been disappointed in a WTC event. I seriously thought about focusing my season on trying to qualify for this, but in the end decided to focus on full IMs instead.
I was pretty excited too. Thinking of adding it to my schedule since I don’t have the IM bug anymore.
Since I had Steelhead on my list it would strengthen my goals for the season if I had to qualify to get into another race I wanted to do.
jaretj
Anyone who goes to a 70.3 qual race, finishes and sticks around for roll down will get a slot. Call me a skeptic, but most people could care less about this so called self proclaimed world championships. Now if they had 100 slots for kona 2006 at Clearwater 2007, that would change things in a hurry, cause it would be your best ticket to Kona outside of doing a full Ironman. It would have a packed field.
Dev
Aren’t all world championships “self proclaimed.”
I mean someone or organization needs to proclaim it a world championship
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Hey Dev … not sure how it will play out here in the USA … BUT at Ironman 70.3 UK they gave away all slots easily and they believe they could have given away many, many, more … this surprised them and others involved. I think at first the slots will be easier to come by though.
As far as IMQ spots @ Clearwater for Hawaii in 2007? Yup, as far as i know … just don’t know how many and in what allocation etc.
My Best …
Hey Dev … not sure how it will play out here in the USA … BUT at Ironman 70.3 UK they gave away all slots easily and they believe they could have given away many, many, more … this surprised them and others involved. I think at first the slots will be easier to come by though.
As far as IMQ spots @ Clearwater for Hawaii in 2007? Yup, as far as i know … just don’t know how many and in what allocation etc.
My Best …
Are you saying that the 2006 70.3 Championships will have slots for IM Kona 2007?
Anyone who goes to a 70.3 qual race, finishes and sticks around for roll down will get a slot. Call me a skeptic, but most people could care less about this so called self proclaimed world championships. Now if they had 100 slots for kona 2006 at Clearwater 2007, that would change things in a hurry, cause it would be your best ticket to Kona outside of doing a full Ironman. It would have a packed field.
Dev
I think you meant to say 100 slots for kona 2007 @ clearwater 2006?
Hey Dev … not sure how it will play out here in the USA … BUT at Ironman 70.3 UK they gave away all slots easily and they believe they could have given away many, many, more … this surprised them and others involved. I think at first the slots will be easier to come by though.
As far as IMQ spots @ Clearwater for Hawaii in 2007? Yup, as far as i know … just don’t know how many and in what allocation etc.
My Best …
Are you saying that the 2006 70.3 Championships will have slots for IM Kona 2007?
From Ironmanlive.com
2007 Ironman Qualifiers (held in 2006)
09-03-06 - Monaco Ironman 70.3
09-10-06 - Ford Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon
11-04-06 - Ford Ironman Florida Triathlon
11-11-06 - Ford IronmanWorld Championship 70.3
11-26-06 - Ironman Western Australia Triathlon
Yes, Kona 2007 slots at Clearwater 2006. Now if they make is 100 Kona slots, you can bet that the qual slots for Clearwater 2006 at other 70.3 races will be snapped up in a hurry.
Do you know how many slots will be at the 70.3 races? I will probably do Cali 1/2 IM and maybe Stealhead if Cali doesn’t work out…