What event will be holding the 2010 long course National Championships?
I’m starting to look at 2010 events and would like to give it a shot.
Thanks!
Myrtle Beach in early November. I’m not sure if they are using an existing event or if it is a brand new one.
Great- thanks for the info!
Does anyone have any idea as to which events will be a qualifier for the race in Myrtle Beach?
Thanks!
In the past, you just had to sign up. Races apply to host a “championship” and recieve the title from USAT. Generally only the Olympic distance event run by USAT is very well attended based off its championship label.
Chad
Thanks Chad. In the article referenced above, it stated that athletes had to qualify for the long course (which is why I asked). Good to hear the the LC event is, maybe, a bit less competitive 
Note, I said, “in the past.” If they say there will be qualifiers then it may have changed. I’ve raced in Myrtle Beach a couple of times and its a nice place. It’s flat though, and windy and humid.
Chad
Gotcha- thanks!
While we’re at it, do we know the details for AG Nationals next year? Still in Birmingham? When?
edit - I mean Tuscaloosa. Birmingham, Tuscaloosa…to an Oregonian what’s the diff?
For what it’s worth, for the past two years the Long Course Nationals have been put on through some kind of partnership between USAT, TriSports.com, and Ultramax Events. It’s been called “Halfmax” at least for this year, where it was held just last weekend at the Redman Triathlon in Oklahoma City, and last year at the Pumpkinman Triathlon in Las Vegas. Both were dubbed a “National Championship” by USAT, and both required qualification either via meeting a given time standard, or by finishing high enough in your age group at a qualifying event (top 33% which is that same standard as used for the olympic distance national championship race). There were specific races that were qualifiers, but again, if you met the time standard, any race would qualify.
Having been at both the USAT Age Group (olympic distance) Nationals this year and last, and both Halfmax Nationals races, the competition at the olympic distance race is much stiffer (and goes deeper) than what you see in the long course race. But, the long course race does bring in some pretty good competition nonetheless, just not as much of it.
I think USAT needs to work on the long course nationals event a bit more. It’s definitely a step child at this point. Could be that there’s only so far it can go, given the high-level marketing that the 70.3 series is getting. But they could dress it up a bit and attract more competition. Possibly, we will see an increase in numbers with next year’s race being in Myrtle Beach, being on the East Coast near large population centers.
But, the long course race does bring in some pretty good competition nonetheless, just not as much of it.
I agree, but I also think that’s improving. In 2006 and 2007, long course nationals was the Halfmax (a USAT/Ultramax partnership then, I think TriSports.com joined in 2008) in Innsbrook, MO (a resort area just west of St. Louis). The course was excellent and challenging but it was not in a location that was a big draw and IIRC only ~300 raced each year. The move to Boulder City, NV in 2008 didn’t change the draw much and still only ~300 finished. But it looks like numbers were up in Oklahoma City with 574 finishers.
As for qualifying, generally there have been 16-20 races around the country that serve as qualifiers. The exact list changes a little every year but many are carried over from year to year. In the past, there have also been time standards that can be met at any USAT sanctioned 1/2IM or IM.
http://www.halfmaxchampionship.com/qualify.php
While we’re at it, do we know the details for AG Nationals next year? Still in Birmingham? When?
Still in Tuscaloosa. Last thing I saw was “date to be announced by December 1”
Looks like the Myrtle Beach date has changed to Oct 2-3, 2010 according to the USAT website http://usatriathlon.org/event/event/205
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So the Augusta Ironman 70.3 will be Sept. 26, the Myrtle Beach LC Championship Oct. 4 and presumably the SC Half one of those two weekends? It would seem the South Carolina / Georgia Half market is a little saturated. Maybe Setup Events will move the SC Half to the spring…