As you probably know, a winning eBay bid will get you into Kona. Just checked, the current bid is at $30,000. This is a wonderful charity, but I can’t fathom the wealth of some people.
I wish my Ironman lottery money went to charity, as I seem to make an annual donation. Have fun bidding!
Interesting this eBay sale is for 2 slots!! Maybe the lucky winner will donate one to me…
Interesting this eBay sale is for 2 slots!! Maybe the lucky winner will donate one to me…
There will be 6 spots total.
the first one went for $45,100
I agree it’s for one slot but the way it’s worded could me a little misinterpreted
“This auction is good for TWO of six slots to the:”
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$30,000 may be cheap.
Let’s say the average guy spends 5 years to train and race to get to Kona qual fitness…add up all the equipment, race fees, nutrition and MOST importantly the opportunity cost of the hours spent training (when you could be making more money), and $30,000 actually is cheap for some high earners.
This is a large sum of money for me, but for someone who makes say $200 per hour, this is only 150 hours of less training and a certain Kona slot. Do the math and compare it to the money lost not “earning” and training and traveling to events and for lots of guys who make money with their intellect, it is an excellent trade off.
Guess it is all a matter of perspective. You’re right $30k is cheap. I am putting in a bid! 
What is it to get a guide and spot at on an Everest climb? Last I heard it was only $60k.
Maybe a Nun will finally do the entire course!
wait, are you suggesting the nun hasnt’ done the whole course? hasn’t she done something close to 50 IMs?
Guess it is all a matter of perspective. You’re right $30k is cheap. I am putting in a bid!
What is it to get a guide and spot at on an Everest climb? Last I heard it was only $60k.
Last thing we need is a bunch of M-Dotters on Everest…before you know it they will have the “official summit” at below 8,000meters to accomodate those who didn’t prepare adequately for the Death Zone…Bumper stickers come in your pre-climb schwag and there will even be a voucher for a tattoo…
LOL
If the WTC ran Everest, they would cancel the climb if the weather was before 50 degrees F. I wonder if you could do 1/2 Everest climbs? I have been to 10,000feet. Does that make me a 1/3 Everest climber?
Wow, too bad you can’t sell your slot. That’d make it easier to get up for those early morning training runs.
If this $30k+ “donation” for the right to participate goes to charity then the majority of the donation is tax deductible. So if a small business owner that is also an AG’er wants his chance to run in Kona and look for tax break this is a great opportunity.
ex: You own a $1M-$3M (annual revenue) construction or landscaping company and you could make a tax deductible donation that also allowed you to fulfill a life long dream OR you buy another F250 for your fleet. What do you choose on a 1-off basis?
It kind of becomes a toss-up when you put it in those terms depending on your priorities.
$30k is a lot of money to me
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I know it’s in pink, but you really shouldn’t throw out accusations like that…If you have some information to share about Madonna Buder, share it. Otherwise it’s poor form.
Bob
if WTC ran Everest, people at home would be able to track the progress of their loved ones online and see when they summited… about a week after they actually did
Let’s say the average guy spends 5 years to train and race to get to Kona qual fitness…
add in that your scenario is for a wager. those 5 years and all that money is just for a chance at a hope of a spot. if you have the means, then you’re crazy not to purchase the sure thing. what else are you gonna do with the money.
if i had the coin, i’d buy. in my opinion,
an “average” guy almost can’t get to the spot where he can win a spot. he can get close and hope for some luck or a roll-down, but there is no certainty at all. i didn’t swim D1, 2, 3. i’m a newbie cyclist, and i didn’t run in college OR high school. so my personal best, for this very average guy, is still gonna be an hour (or two) behind the lifelong athletes.
heck, i did Eagleman in 2010. the guy who won my age group was … Troy Jacobsen. he didn’t take the spot, but c’mon, when would an average guy like me EVER beat him? he’s gonna be beating me when we’re both 90.
Maybe a Nun will finally do the entire course!
wait, are you suggesting the nun hasnt’ done the whole course? hasn’t she done something close to 50 IMs?
Danger alert! Hope you’ve got a good flame suit! I always put my asbetos undies on every time I bring up her! Best O’ Luck, and it’s been nice knowing you! 
There’s one part time resident in Kona whose wife is a dynamite triathlete and could fairly easily qualify at many events. He’s bought her several slots over the years through the EBay auction.
So you can look at the other option too. 12 IM finishes gets you a Legacy Program slot. But you have to go through 12 Ironmans, spend probably in the range of $40K and amortize this over probably a 4-6 year journey. Or you can drop less money NOW and have the certain slot to Kona.
Some people work hard in training, and are moderately well blessed genetically and can qualify for a Kona slot. Others might be genetically better well suited to business and can make a ton of mony easily through their innovation, organization, ability to influence and win over business partners and customers. Seems like as long as WTC offers different paths to get to Kona, people have the option of going down the path where they have strengths.
Last thing we need is a bunch of M-Dotters on Everest…
If I did not already have the coolest sig-line in the world, this ^^^^ would be it.
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Last thing we need is a bunch of M-Dotters on Everest…
If I did not already have the coolest sig-line in the world, this ^^^^ would be it.
Hahaha…I seriously have in my head a picture of what base camp would look like and I can’t get rid of it.