The trend I speak of is the impending crisis of iron distance triathlons. Specifically WTC triathlons. As I see it, there are six events in North America that “just anyone” could sign up for (IMMOO, IMUSA, IMAZ, IMCDA, IMFL, and IMLOU). Each sells out easily. IMC has now started the disturbing precedent of having to travel to the race site to register. I’m sure people have gone to IMUSA and IMCDA for the same reasons, as the online registration windows have gotten shorter and shorter, now measuring only minutes at best. It doesn’t take someone with ESP to realize that soon there will be no online registration if current trends continue.
So then, what are your thoughts on how WTC will handle this?
Me first: I see several options. The first is to continue the registration onsite as it goes. This is not egalitarian, but does seem to favor the people who “want it the most” especially if you have to register yourself. Second, they could go to an online lottery like the NYC marathon. Third, they could create a massive silent auction for the spots, and take the top 2-3,000 bids. Fourth, they could create a qualifying system where you earn your way in through performing at the 70.3 level.
I like option four. It creates a reasonable system for qualifying, reduces the number of people not equipped to handle iron distance racing, and gives people a goal to work toward.
Also, an interesting side point to this is- why are the number of registrants in the 8 or 9 independent triathlons not increasing in size very much? Wouldn’t it be interesting if they created a competing brand by creating their own circuit?
This subject would make a great college marketing subject. Obviously the 101 series is trying to capitalize on those fed up with the whole Ironman(WTC)entry issue.
By putting on more WTC races they will continue to diminish the total Kona slots that would be available at a given race…assuming they don’t greatly increase the amount of participants that would be allowed in Kona.
Lake Placid used to advertise 100 Kona slots now it’s 80.
The independent triathlons should make the total distance be 150 miles, maybe 2/120/28 and then do some guerrilla marketing
at coffeeshops/gyms/etc where they have people talking loudly how they “used to do Ironman, but that just got
too easy. Now I do the 150s.” Maybe make the time cutoff 16 hours.
By putting on more WTC races they will continue to diminish the total Kona slots that would be available at a given race…assuming they don’t greatly increase the amount of participants that would be allowed in Kona.
Lake Placid used to advertise 100 Kona slots now it’s 80.
Yes, but they don’t necessarily have to give slots to every race. Afterall, most of the entrants have no shot at Kona. I like the idea of having some races as qualifiers and some as non-qualifiers.
I like the idea of having some races as qualifiers and some as non-qualifiers.
I think you will see at least one either IMNA or WTC iron event next season with no slots for Kona. You will probably see another IM out west near a major desert metro area.
The independent triathlons should make the total distance be 150 miles, maybe 2/28/120 and then do some guerrilla marketing
at coffeeshops/gyms/etc where they have people talking loudly how they “used to do Ironman, but that just got
too easy. Now I do the 150s.” Maybe make the time cutoff 16 hours.
You want people to do a 120 mile run and finish in under 16 hours? Damn, that’s harsh.
Why don’t the independant triathlons do as well? Because people like you, they are lemmings, driven to compete in overpriced, overhyped, oversold races by the mighty WTC marketing machine.
Triathlon has many amazing non-WTC races… maybe you should try one.
I like the idea of more races in different locations, even if they don’t have Kona slots. This will spread out the field. Those that just want the challenge of a full iron (that is well supported) and know they will not have a shot at qualifying will gravitate to those races, and those that are set on qualifying will continue to focus on the races that currently fill so quickly. I live in Hawaii, so the notion of traveling a year ahead of time just to register is out of the question.
Case study for your option number 4: Ironman Australia has always been a qualify only race - you had to qualify at any of a number of 70.3 IMs at various locations and times. They have just ditched this for the IMNA-style free-for-all entry system. For the reasons you point out, qualifying appeared to be a good system, but it doen’t fill up the bank account quite so quickly.
i agree that they just need more races, and i am surprised that WTC hasn’t figured this out yet. with races selling out within minutes, and entries running 500+ a pop, why not open a few more?
