Tuesday, January 15, 2008

You heard it hear first...

Everyone knows that Arizona has two Ironmans in 2008 and then one permanently scheduled to fall's starting 2009. It got me thinking a long time back about how lucky you Coeur D'Alene 2008 people are because of the way NA Sports now does their sign up for events. The race venue gets first come-first serve and the remaining slots are put online. For historical repeater M-Dot's like Placid and Canada you can expect only a couple hundred of the 2400 slots being available on Active.com. IMCdA will probably be able to put only 20% of slots online and those will sellout faster than a Hannah Montana concert.

It made me think more. Based on this current entry strategy, which further deludes the ability of first timer to race M-Dot's, (is a beginner going to fly to Lake Placid to buy a slot for next year?) is NA Sports really going to make CdA, in June, the first IM race of north America every year? I thought not and then considered the possibilities of warmer climes for a spring race. With IM-Florida, IM-Arizona and Vegas 140.6-Silverman in November, I thought Texas would be ripe for an official 140.6 M-Dot race and the gulf will be perfect for this event in the Spring.

I was WRONG!!!! A source told me over the weekend that Ford California 70.3 (Oceanside) held in late March is going to become a full fledged 140.6 race in 2009. Can you believe this!! According to my source, it won't cost NA Sports any more money and will simply become a two loop course.

This fills a big gap for those living south of Kansas and sea to sea that can train almost year round for 140.6 events. Until its announced, "Anything Is Possible."

9 Comments:

At 10:11 PM, Blogger Spokane Al said...

I believe it is all about supply and demand. As long as the demand continues to out strip the supply more and more events will continue to be added. Then at some point events will stop selling out and the build up will stop. And possibly, if IM events go the same way of the way the marathon did after the 1970s generated running boom slowed, in the future less popular events could be dropped.

And of course they could always raise the prices until market equilibrium is achieved.

 
At 6:22 AM, Blogger Sarah said...

Great job on the half! This is totally unrelated to anything, but...what was the brand of compression socks you told me about? I am in DESPERATE need of somthing right now! (OUCH!!) Thanks for your help!

Sarah

-great to meet you and your family -- Mo is the cutest little guy!

 
At 6:29 AM, Blogger Born To Endure said...

Ironman California...hmmmm...must do..must do...:-D

 
At 6:57 AM, Blogger Iron Krista, "The Dog Mom" said...

Very interesting, thanks for Sharing!

Something about CDA that is so perfect for me. The venue (I grew up there, it's home) and the timing. Not too much intense summer training, and not too much cool weather biking.

 
At 6:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

good to know-- thanks!

 
At 8:36 AM, Blogger SingletrackJenny (formerly known as IronJenny) said...

Oceanside used to be a full, then got cut to a half after somebody died on the bike course. Glad to know it will be a full again - I'd do that! Great seeing you this weekend - and you rocked that c ourse!!!!

 
At 9:05 AM, Blogger Tony said...

Yes Comm, this has been in the hopper for some time now. After Oceanside and Utah lost the Ironman, CDA and Arizona have only filled an empty void. The vision of Ironman has always to expand while keeping the quality standards at a high level.

 
At 3:38 PM, Blogger Anna said...

I was planning on doing the 70.3 next year. Couldn't they wait just ONE more year??

 
At 7:49 PM, Blogger faithrunner said...

Comm,
Just wanted to say THANKS for taking me and trimama all around Arizona! It was great listening to you jabber about the Ironman course. It was nice meeting you and your family. I've decided to blog, thanks to trimama!

 

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