I was just looking over last year’s results for IMNZ. For my age group, M35-39, there were a lot of guys who were less than 10 hours. Just a quick count showed about 25 guys who were 10:10 or less and around 20 or so who were less than 10:00. With that in mind, why are there not more of those less than 10:00 guys accepting Kona slots? You look at Kona qualifiers for previous years and there is almost always one or two guys who are 10:00+ for my age group. That means a lot of guys (who were (9:XX) said NO to the Kona slot. With this being an early season race, it seems people would be snatching those slots any way they can. Is this typical for most IM races?
Where are they from? It’s pretty expensive going to Hawaii from NZ or Aussieland. Europe too.
If you think you’re around the 10:00 to 10:10 mark my advice is don’t start getting excited about getting a roll down slot. There’s a record field this year. Last year in 30-34 it rolled down about 3 spots (8 or 9 slots rolling down to about 11th) to a 9:42 or thereabouts. I’ve sinced moved up to 35-39 and would expect that a similar time is required. If you’re like me, try not to let the Kona slot cloud your thoughts. Try and put it out of your head and just focus on racing the best race that you can and see how the cards fall after that.
As the other poster has said, cost is probably the biggest factor. Maybe we’ll get lucky and the financial crisis will mean more people turning them back. Having said that I’d rather earn one outright and not worry about leaving it in other’s hands.
I know one thing for sure: no matter how fast or slow you are, you will NOT get a slot if you DON’T show up for the awards ceremony and have money in hand. Tim
I wouldn’t raise your hopes slots will roll down to 10:00 plus this year. The times required to get a slot at IMNZ seem to get faster and faster each year in most age groups. I’m not sure why this is - maybe it’s the more widespread use of tri bikes and race wheels, maybe people have a better idea of how to train etc.
There’s a lot of depth in your age group to and with the record number of entrants I think you’d need 9:40ish to stand a high chance of qualifying in that age group this year.
I just like to analyze data. Kona is a dream right now…not a reality…unless at least 176 or so of the other men in my 35-39 age group “mysteriously” fall ill or something.
This is my first year doing the full iron distance. I train hard like I want a Kona slot but my mind knows the reality of me going under 10:00 is just not that high. Poor swimmer and also slow in the 4th discipline…transitions.
Number one, as always, I am happy to just finish. Number two, I would like to beat my PB (12:32 which should have been more like 11:20 if I had not had some bad bike issues). Number three…a goal to strive for (for me at least), KONA one day
I’m excited to be going to NZ.
I know one thing for sure: no matter how fast or slow you are, you will NOT get a slot if you DON’T show up for the awards ceremony and have money in hand. Tim
one small correction on this: the normal procedure for IMNZ has been for all of the outright slot winners to claim their spots (that means pay your money) sunday morning, usually between 10am and noon. then the roll-down session is in the early afternoon—maybe 1 or 2pm.
as with just about all else in this race, it’s done nicely.
peggy