Just heard on IM talk that WTC is going to allow people that complete 12 IM races a slot to Kona. Great news? I’m wondering what the opinions are out there. I have been racing for over twenty years, got a bit burned out over the last 5 but this news is pretty exciting.
That doesn’t get me in, but I do not have a problem with it. 12 Ironman races is a lot of money that has been spent on racing, traveling etc. It does show some dedication to the WTC too. Sadly for me, I did a bunch of Vinemans that don’t count toward the 12 except for the one Ironman-Vineman if they count that.(doubt it). I do have a lot of lottery slot turn downs. Also, it has been 29 years since I raced Kona, doubt that helps either.
Congrats to those it helps. Enjoy the day if you get in. It is very special.
I wonder if you are ineligible if you have ‘ever’ raced Kona before. It seems like the program is designed to let people have the experience. If you have raced there, you may not be considered. Or did they clarify that?
Hmm, that’s really good question. The announcement was on the IMTalk podcast when they were interviewing Andy Messick the CEO of WTC. It was a short announcement with little detail. He said they still needed to work out the logistics but that they would work it out. Ruling out those that previously did Kona is a real legitimate question because I do think this is being put into place for those that have never qualified or raced in Kona. Most of the guys I do know that have qualified probably have at least 12 under their belt anyway.
Can’t wait to see all the posts this thread gets tomorrow.
I think thats pretty cool. Thats a good bit of cash, you deserve it.
Can’t wait to see all the posts this thread gets tomorrow.
I’m bringing popcorn to work tomorrow! 
Oh sweet so anyone who’s done 12 WTC IM races gets a slot to Kona?
I think I’ve done 12… Maybe 11. Better count up the medals…
sucks.
ive had season tickets to the Bills games for 12 years, do I get to play a down in the superbowl, I mean its not really fair to expect me to be good enough to-do so. I’m just a normal guy, doesnt seem fair I’m stuck playing in my local flag football league. I think I deserve the opportunity…dont you? LAME
Any word on whether oe not this will include 70.3 distance races?
seriously? there’d be a list a mile long if that were the case. seriously? you asked that? common sense…
I can’t be bothered listening to it again but I’m pretty sure he said 12 full distance races
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Whooaa, Simmer down there fella… the cost of 12 IMs is tough to justify with the better half. A combination of halfs and fulls when combined with dangling the carrot for a hawaii vacation is a little more doable for a blue collar guy like me… Can’t blame a guy for trying, can you? I gues I’ll just have to get there via the old school way of being faster than everyone else…
if you think wtc cares about what you have to justify to your spouse…
but really, I’m sure there are people out there who have done 12 70.3 races and not a one full IM
I wonder if past races will count or if it will be 12 from the date of the new rule.
it’s clear from the transcript it’s past races. I don’t see anyone doing 12 races between now and when they announce the lottery slots for kona next year
What does that mean ‘they will get a slot for Kona’? There will be a lottery for those people, they will have a first come first serve open reservation?
Just curious but regardless I think it’s a bad idea. If you can’t qualify there is the lottery. It’s not a little league baseball game where every little kid gets to swing the bat, it’s the World Championships of our sport.
Just heard on IM talk that WTC is going to allow people that complete 12 IM races a slot to Kona. Great news? I’m wondering what the opinions are out there. I have been racing for over twenty years, got a bit burned out over the last 5 but this news is pretty exciting.
Well, that would qualify me. I’ve done 15 with number 16 coming in six weeks. I would be willing to bet that if we could somehow quantify a training-input-to-racing-output model, I would be at the very bottom. I’ve worked my ass off and I’m still nowhere close to Kona qualification. But I probably wouldn’t take one of these pity slots if offered. I mean, I understand that the reason I feel that I ‘don’t deserve’ to be racing in Kona is because WTC has decided that is the case, but that doesn’t mean that I want to go the race that claims to be limited to the best of the best when a guy who finished 90 minutes in front of me is sitting at home. Racing in Hawaii in October isn’t the be all and end all for me. Racing to the best of my abilities is. If that never gets me to Kona, so be it.
-Colin
he said they’d take those who have the most races first, and they’d work their way through everyone…
not sure what happens to all the people who will have over 12 in the next few years.
He made it sound like they were using lottery slots for the over 12 group, so it’s gonna take some time…