Forget about the logistics of cramming that many people onto a course.
How many people would the North American IM events have signed up if they did not have a capacity limit? Maybe cutoff registration 30 days before race date.
Would they be like the big marathons with 20,000 people?
No, I would be willing to bet that the numbers would maybe double from what they are now (sans a race like Kona where EVERYONE wants to race that specific race).
An Ironman is a much bigger challenge than a marathon that will keep 95% of people from committing to it.
Drew
Would they be like the big marathons with 20,000 people?
In the real world, away from Slowtwitch, you will find that Ironman triathlons are nowhere near popular enough to draw that many people.
No, I would be willing to bet that the numbers would maybe double from what they are now
I’d agree with that, though certain races like St. George might be 500 more than would have otherwise signed up and popular ones like LP would have nearly 5,000. Just my guess.
They might require tandems at FL.
-Jot
The number of entrants would be zero since WTC would not be able to get any insurance.
IMLP and IMSG would have 500 people racing, IMAZ and IMFL would have 10,000 people racing.
No, I would be willing to bet that the numbers would maybe double from what they are now
I’d agree with that, though certain races like St. George might be 500 more than would have otherwise signed up and popular ones like LP would have nearly 5,000. Just my guess.
You have a good point. How many people are online the morning of registration, waiting by the computer, and by the luck of the draw don’t get in? I’m sure there’s some, but not more than a couple hundred. Then tie in folks like me who often WANT to do an Ironman, but due to work/military obligations, legitimately don’t know where they will live in a year’s time (sure, no one knows for sure, but some jobs carry a higher degree of uncertainty). All told, you’re not looking at that many extras… not 20,000 at least. Double is probably about right.