With all the people out there who would like to do the Hawaii Ironman, you could bet that if someone like Sharon Ackles decided to organize an Iron Distance event on the big island, that it would be well attended by many age groupers who would one day like to do the Hawaii Ironman, but just can’t qualify after many tries, can’t get in through the lottery, did not star in Baywatch or play defensive line in the NFL or can’t afford to buy a charity slot on eBay.
After all, weather it is WTC sponsored or not, it really makes no difference to most people who would just like to go experience it. There are 364 other days of the year that this could be held. Better yet, have it on the weekend before the real Ironman, so we can go and do the “Iron distance event” and then hang around for a week to watch Peter, Tim, Norman and the boys duke it out.
I realize that there are logistic complications, but certainly, WTC cannot hold the right to an exclusive Iron distance event on the Big Island (unless they have managed to get it legislated in the state of Hawaii…) right !
However Kona is a very small town and splitting the resources of County, Medical, Police, and volunteers two times in one year would be asking a lot. Ironman pretty muches closes down that side of the Island for 20 hours. I am not too sure it would fly. Maui tried an Ironman race and failed badly. G
You are correct about the resources, but having volunteered this year, I do have to say that there were a lot of long-time volunteers wanting to see the new race director fail (they actually came out said said it). You have to remember that many of these same volunteers also work the Kona Half. Three times in a year might be pushing it, but there are a lot of people loyal to Sharon.
That only happened once…in 1982. They decided to move the race from February to October so that those athletes living in harsh winter climates could prepare more adequately for the race. Rather than wait more than a year and a half between races (Feb '82 to Oct '83), they held two races that year…February and October.
…And that was a different event, back in 1982, than it is now in 2003. Quite a few more logistics and demands on the community, volunteers and resources. The level of expectation has gone up quite a bit.
A second Ironman race in Kona would only be out of bitter revenge. The Maui Ironman race was just that and flopped. The Maui director was one of the original Ironman participants who sued Valerie Silk because he felt he should have gotten a piece of the pie when she sold the event to Dr. Gills (what is now WTC).
Unfortunately, as far as Keauhou Triathlon goes, Joe Ackles was too angry and bitter over his wife’s firing from Ironman and was not open to negotiations. He caused his own delimna and is blaming Lew Friedland.
Speaking of Keauhou - it is official - WTC just posted on theire web site that Keauhou 1/2 IM will NOT get any slots for IM Hawaii for 2004.
Joe Ackles is the race director for that event. Not sure what that really means re the slots, or politics etc.
I am doing it regardless of IM Q slots, but I just hope the level of competition does not decline, and I hope the typically numerous mainland athletes still attend.
I think it is a great idea. Do it on the same course. I want to do Kona, will never be able to qualify, besides possible connections It would be very difficult for me to get in. This was I could experience the lava fields, winds and heat for myself.
For folks like Paul who want to experience Ironman but feel they can not qualify/get picked, etc, this is where the current Keauhou Kona Triathlon fits perfectly. The swim is in the same place as Ironman, the bike is on the same course, except half the distance but still the heat, wind and lava, and the run course is on Alii Drive. Same location, very similar course, less expensive, same volunteers, much better banquet. It’s dubbed Ironman Lite, Same Great Taste, Half the Race.
if you really wanted to do another Ironman event in Hawaii, there already is another one. Ironman Revisited, it is a fund raiser for the Challeged Athletes Foundation. It is on the original Ironman course and is a low key affair, had about 40 entrants last year (including Dave Scott on a relay team). It’s in August each year. I’m turning in my entry today for it.
OK, rather than barking up the tree of the WTC to get Hawaii slots, they can offer a Kona Iron distance race on the same day as their existing half. The volunteers and logistics (to some extent) are already set up…ie the gears are already in motion. Many event have gone from a half to a full Ironman over time. Maybe it is time :-). It would take work, but it likely could be done ! I don’t imagine that this would be a huge event in the first year, but ~500 would be reasonable target.
If anyone knows them, feel free to forward the above suggestions
