M51 here. I was kind of burnt out on the full distance races so I end up taking this year off, but I am 3 away from having completed 12 IMs. I could get there potentially by 2026 if talk myself into doing a couple of fall races in 2025 and an early season IM in 2026. Not enough talent to KQ, I am usually at the top range of the MOP segment, so legacy is the only realistic option for the foreseeable future.
So, I am trying to get a sense of how long it’d possibly take to get my legacy spot after 2025. I get that I’d have to commit to doing 1 IM per year while I am waiting for a slot… any idea how long it is taking these days? I will not take a Nice slot assuming that they will continue with a split championship model after 2025 (PTN podcast thinks that it’s done since IM is losing too much money on it).
Let me know if you have any insight, or are willing to share your experience with the legacy queue in the last year or so. Thanks!
I’m in a similar position…51, have 11 done. Should finish #12 next Summer.
A friend who I think applied at the end of 2023 got in for 2026. So I am -assuming- that if I apply at end of 2025, I’m prob looking at 2028, but who knows!
Edit - not sure if I am mis-reading your post, but just to be clear, I don’t think you can actually apply until after you have finished 12 (and has to be over a 12 year participation that starts with either a 70.3 or full). Also, legacy is only for kona, not Nice, and going to Nice via podium/roll down should not affect your ability to get a legacy kona slot.
Yes, I understand. Assuming that my 12th IM will be in the early months of 2026, I will be able to apply at the end of 2026. By then, it’ll be 13 years since my first IM branded race. So likely I’d be looking at 2030 assuming that they keep the dual championships until then.
Didn’t know that taking a Nice slot does not affect your legacy standing - that’s good info. Thanks!
I did Kona this year as a Legacy athlete, and it was amazing!! If you are a passionate triathlete who knows about the history of IM, I really encourage you to fulfill the current requirements.
This year there were 400 legacy athletes (as per their announcement at the legacy banquet). I think this is way higher than normal. I thought they took about 100 per year prior, but I guess there was more room on the pier this year.
I did Word Championship Nice last year as a legacy athlete and it did not affect my Kona eligibility. But i would definitely contact them to confirm this because maybe my year was a blip due to it being the initial “split” year.
Edit to add:
And you don’t need to do a full IM each year after you are accepted into the legacy program. You need to do a full one the year of your acceptance and then after that you need to do a IM branded race of some kind each year to maintain your spot. Wished I had read the rules a bit closer and done Tremblant 5150 this year instead of the disaster 70.3.
Have done 10, enjoyed them but not sure I have another 3 in me plus Kona.
I was fine doing 2 more (i.e. 1 in 2025 and 1 in 2026 then applying at 12 total done) but when they ALSO make you sign up for a 3rd in your acceptance year, ie. +2026…for some reason that pushed me over the top. So I am on the sidelines for a bit see if I fire up or move on in the coming years.
But one question, if I do the 12+1 sign up, will they let me in and then just give me a future Kona date or just saw your in well let you know the kona date later? Then just maintain status with a 70.3 (east I live close to a few of them). Is that how it works?
But one question, if I do the 12+1 sign up, will they let me in and then just give me a future Kona date or just saw your in well let you know the kona date later? Then just maintain status with a 70.3 (east I live close to a few of them). Is that how it works?
Yes that is how it works. I sent in the dates and bib numbers (or finish times) of all my races around late November and then in around Jan or Feb they let you know if you have qualified and give you a rough estimate of what year you would race.
I’m guessing that there is not a long waiting list anymore. There were 300-400 male legacy athletes at Kona last year.
I highly recommend toughing out a couple of more races, the experience was amazing. I have to admit the last two of my qualifying races were just about getting to the finish line. (but i still love the training).
One other note, once you have qualified (13 full) then you only need to do an IM branded race to stay in the queue, and that used to include 5150 races.
Cheers, and best of luck.
My understanding is you don’t need to complete the ironman in the year of your acceptance (ie the 13th race). You just have to be registered for it. Is that accurate ?
Then maintain status by completing an Ironman branded race afterwards.
In March of 2020 (just before shutdown) was accepted for 2023.
I emailed them in early 2022 to request 2022 because of the 2 day event and was declined.
2023 was in Nice(Male) and I deferred to Kona in 2024.
I was offered Nice in spring of 2025 for the fall but declined because I wanted time-off. Most legacy people were offered two opportunities. I had a few friends do Nice in 2023 and Kona in 2024 in the legacy program. I am sure that won’t happen again but wanted to share.
I was super lucky. I was offered a spot for the inaugural Men’s Championship in Nice in 2023 and used that as my “13th race”. I then got a spot in Kona for 2024. Both places were amazing. I’m guessing that these last few years of gender specific races will have really cleared out the backlog of legacy athletes. I would “guess” that the wait times now for new legacy athletes are reduced. I haven’t looked at what the new qualifying requirements are though in a little while. I took a break from triathlon after Kona, but have signed up for Ottawa next year. Need to get back into semi-decent shape.
Thank you for your reply. Currently, I believe the waiting period is two years. Let’s see if anyone can confirm this. Those who were added to the list in 2024 will go in 2026.
Thank you for your reply. Currently, I believe the waiting period is two years. Let’s see if anyone can confirm this. Those who were added to the list in 2024 will go in 2026.
Next year will arrive sooner than we think! (also signed up for Ottawa)