we will not always necessarily be the first to break a story, and we’re okay with that, as long as we’re the most informative on that story. that’s been our goal on the ironman 70.3 world championship move to las vegas, particularly what seems to us the juiciest part of the story, which is, how is the ITU going to greet the news?
this, because 1 month after the sept 11 date for the 70.3 worlds comes the 5150 stop in las vegas (same race organization, same lake, same host hotel, same roads) and 1 month after that comes the ITU’s long course worlds race (same race organization, same lake, same host hotel, same roads).
otherwise, it’s a positive move to get a WC off that flat course and onto something challenging. otherwise…
Interesting. I respect Frank and the full Silverman is my favorite race because if for no other reason it allows me to explain away my bad times. When Frank moved the swim out of Lake Mead I thought he was reducing expenses by getting rid of all the busses that ran in the morning to get people out to the lake. That had to cost a fortune (we are talking multiple scenic cruisers and smaller busses). I also thought he was getting rid of the last 8 miles of 146 which was a bit sketchy both in terms of road surface and lack of shoulders. But perhaps he had bigger things in mind when going to Lake Las Vegas. What is obvious is that growth at Silverman was not coming from the full which has been pretty static over the last several years. Growth was in the Half and Relays. He also added a half aqua bike this year.
As a writer Dan, you obviously choose your words carefully – “Frank Lowery—the owner of the popular cult event Silverman—is the local producer of the race” and “strategic partnership with the Ironman organization.” I wonder how long Silverman will remain independent.
“I wonder how long Silverman will remain independent.”
i asked frank that very question. he’s over in kona right now, i got off the phone with him not an hour ago. i asked if the silverman half is going to become a 70.3 (remember, silverman in 2011 will not exist as a full distance race as i understand it, the world long course 4/120/30 replaces silverman for 2011). but, the silverman half will still be contested in 2011 if i understand everything correctly. so i asked him of that would become a 70.3. he said no.
i asked him about 2012. will silverman continue to exist in 2012? he said yes. so, there would still be these three race dates on the calendar: sept (70.3 worlds), oct (5150), and nov (silverman). he won’t move silverman to the spring, because the water’s too cold, it’s too windy, and the resorts really don’t need the help in mar/apr like they do in nov. but i think he might decide to keep the ITU long course distance.
of course, the whole ironman landscape is changing so rapidly that who knows? who can predict how sucked up into ironman frank might become by 2012? just remember that st. george is only, what, 90 minutes from vegas? 2hr at the most? so, it’s not like the vegas area doesn’t already have an IM. but i wouldn’t entirely rule out that silverman might become just a 70.3 in 2012. obviously not in 2011, because, i can’t imagine a bigger slap in the face to the ITU than to have its long course worlds and a 70.3 taking place on the same course, same day. but, in 2012, might silverman just morph into a 70.3? frank says no, but, i don’t think a year ago frank thought he’d be putting on 70.3 worlds.
monty and i were just talking about this. i did the hangover ride this year at i’bike, it started at 8am, 25 or 30 hilly miles, no problem. i was never hot.
if the swim started at 7:30, on the bike at 8, off the bike at 10:30 or 11, off the run at 12 or 12:30, i think the bike would be fine, but the run would be hot. but is it a hotter run than wildflower often is? i don’t know. i think it’s do-able. but it’s still going to be a hot race.
“(remember, silverman in 2011 will not exist as a full distance race as i understand it, the world long course 4/120/30 replaces silverman for 2011). but, the silverman half will still be contested in 2011 if i understand everything correctly.”
FWIW, that is my understanding as well.
“but, in 2012, might silverman just morph into a 70.3? frank says no,but, i don’t think a year ago frank thought he’d be putting on 70.3 worlds.”
All true. I shall try and get my money’s worth out of the 3 Sisters this November 7 in case that eventuality comes to pass….
So how hot is Vegas in mid Sept? I would think pretty damn hot…albeit a “dry heat”
I just did the Las Vegas Triathlon (half iron distance) a couple of weeks ago. I was in the very first wave of the day, at like 6:40am, and it was near, if not over, 100 degrees when I finished. The 70.3 WC could indeed be a scorcher.
So how hot is Vegas in mid Sept? I would think pretty damn hot…albeit a “dry heat”
I agree that Sept will probably be an oven there. Now that they have made the move from Clearwater finally, and partnered with one of the best RD’s out there, and have a great course and venue, I’m actually considering coming out of 1/2 ironman retirement. Any good excuse to go to Vegas is good enough for me, but with all these new developements, just makes it more enticing. I will definately be looking at the 5150 there later on.
Either one of two things will happen this first year, it will be a 105+ and folks will drop like flies, and they will have to consider the Nov date for the 1/2. Or it will be unseasonably cool and get stuck on the month before Ironman date forever. I would like to see the race move to the Nov date, but I guess it starts to get into the way of IMAZ. Maybe Frank can start the race at 6am, only one hour, but would make a huge difference in the overall heat equation…
Anyway, glad to see that the race is moved from Clearwater. Ever since that 1st year that I paid my money to go there, and ended up eating it once I found out it was to be a mass start, I have had 0 desire to get involved with 70.3’s. On a scale of 100, I now have about a 60. If it were Nov, I would get on my bike right now and do a 3 hour ride, double my year to date mileage…(-;
WTC launches the 70.3 WC in Las Vegas on the 10th Anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 where both towers of the WTC fell killing 2,606? Are they going to have the gun go off at 8:46 too? Sickening.
Arguably the dumbest post I’ve read on ST all year… and that’s saying a lot.
Well the change in dates will do wonders for the quality of the field. I’ve qualified for the Clearwater race but have not taken a slot as I’ve been hopeful for a Kona slot, and I wouldn’t want to do Kona then Clearwater…this changes all that…now I’d be much more interested in accepting a slot for this race being earlier on a course that’s a better test, and if I get a Kona slot, why not do both??..lobster AND cracked crab!
but is it a hotter run than wildflower often is? i don’t know. i think it’s do-able. but it’s still going to be a hot race.
I think that is a very conservative estimate. Vegas and 29 Palms are fairly similar in elevation and Vegas is always hotter when I drive through. I think the choices for weather in early September are going to be either a very hot race or a “people are going to die out there” hot race. I’m half tempted to do my first WTC event to qualify since I spend my summer baking in the heat here. I’m sure I’d be pretty acclimated, but even then I would be scared of racing nearly five hours when the temp is 100+ for much of the ride and the entire run. It becomes a death march then. I’m a little surprised, really. WTC is all about the money and you are going to have a lot of people either a) not signing up for fear of the heat or b) signing up and dnf’ing. The first makes less money; the second leaves unhappy customers not likely to come back.
So how hot is Vegas in mid Sept? I would think pretty damn hot…albeit a “dry heat”
I just did the Las Vegas Triathlon (half iron distance) a couple of weeks ago. I was in the very first wave of the day, at like 6:40am, and it was near, if not over, 100 degrees when I finished. The 70.3 WC could indeed be a scorcher.
What is the typical water temp there in Sept?
Thanks
