Lance to race Kona- Rumor... (Page 2)

See I didn't get this feeling about his attitude. I watched his interviews with his ex on the runner's world website and I thought he sounded appropriately humble. That he understood what it meant to people to run Boston.

I thought his "Nyah, I'm here, no big deal attitude" was more because he was running this race, not as a professional athlete, but just as a runner. I got the feeling he wasn't wanting to take away from those who where there to win.

But maybe I felt that way because I've never thought of him as coming across as egotistical, as others have. I just admire the heck out of him, and do not try to find fault with him. I mean, he's won the TdF 7 times. He has nothing to prove at this point about his athletic ability. I choose to see his running as an outlet for him to stay in shape- something different to focus on and a way to promote his foundation.

Of course, I had no problem with Katie Holmes getting a celebrity spot in the NYC mary either.

After the fact interview.  Hindsight is always 20/20.  He sure didn't come off that way before the race.  And the fact that it left a bad taste with all the runners around me shows that just MAYBE he isn't all that supported to begin with inside the community .......

Ah well, he will do whatever it takes to keep his foundation in the spotlight.  As far as that goes, it is good marketing on his side.  However, most people will still have 100 times more respect for the person who has busted there azz and gone for 15 - 20 attempts at getting their BQ and finally earning it then someone who is there with an alternate agenda.  And that will be the same type of thing if he ever does decide on the IMWC (which I'll still bet money he won't do).

sesh - 2008-04-28 2:24 PM

bryancd - 2008-04-28 2:17 PM From the press release: Santa Claus to race 2008 Hawaii Ironman Clearwater, FL - The World Triathlon Corporation is proud to annouce that Kristopher Kringle, known to millions of children around the world as "Santa Claus", will be racing in the 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on October 11, 2008. "It was time to lose some of these unwanted pounds", says Kringle. "So many children look to me as an example, and in this time of rising obesity rates and heart disease, I just felt it was time to set a positive example." Not everyone in Kringle's family agrees. Mrs. Kringle was quoted as saying "Eat Papa, eat. Nobody likes a skinny Santa". With the addition of Kringle to the 2008 race field, WTA also announced a new age group for Men ages 2,000 years and older. Other venerable Ironman veterans were intriqued by the announcement. "It will be good to have someone older than me in the race," says Frank Farrar. Sister Madonna Buder was quoted as saying "I am not usually supportive of pagan entities, but he is also known as St. Nicholas, so he can't be all bad." ...ok, I stole this from ST.

You serious, Clark?

LMAO, I watched Christmas Vacation while on the trainer yesterday (yes, seriously) and I love that line out of the movie....right up there with the lines, "I can't swim,Clark"..."I know that Eddie"  hijack over....resume the Lance thread

Don't forget that how Lance defines 'training properly' is likely to be different to how you or me would define it.  He's used to doing nothing but training so if he's doing anything less than that he will always feel like he could have done more, especially when suffering in a race.

Yeah, that what I mean.  It is a relative thing.  Just so long as the person does not disrespect the race.

It would appear so. Lance's Qualifying time was from NYC 2007 where he ran a 2:46:43. Several of my friends ran similar times and were placed in Corral #1 same as Lance.

This was not the elite corral, but the first corral of the first wave. (Where the fastest of the Age groupers ran) I don't know what the cutoff time was for this corral, but I know that a 2:49 would get you in.

Anyone who qualifies for Boston with a fast enough time can get into this corral

But the reality is, he is not really putting forth a lot of effort or giving the races he's participating in enough credit.  Talking with others about it at Boston he really came off as "I'm here to reap the benefits of exposure" and did not really care about the traditions and "importance" of running Boston to many runners.  He was given an elite number and got to start with the elite men, then ran a 2:50 with an entourage ....... If he really respected the race and appreciated being there he would have been with the masses in the 2nd corral where the rest of the people who ran the same sort of qualifying time as him started.

So it sounded like he was considered an elite.  It appears from your comments that he was were he was suppose to be so I don't see why people have a problem.  Yeah, he probably didn't train like he would have for the tdf but really doesn't need to.

I suspect that Rick knows more about this than I do because he has probably been following the story a bit more closely. I just did a few minutes of investigation to figure out if he earned his place or if the BAA was influenced by his celebrity. (Something well within the BAA's rights to do btw)

His Qualifying Time did appear to earn him entry into the corral. He finished 496th overall and so was right about the middle of the 1,115 Field he started with. (118 Elites + 997 Corral #1 Runners) It would seem that he ran the race within his class.

Back to the OP, I would expect that he would not get a free ride to Kona should he decide someday to run (He Should qualify just like the rest of us). That being said, I personally don't look forward to the chaos that his presence at a race seems to invite. (So I hope I am not at that race as a competitor or spectator)

Not to split hairs, but actually those interviews were done the day before the marathon.

Similar to all those who spend countless hours per day posting here when they could be training instead.  Myself included.

Heh. But seriously...even if you train 20 hours a week and sleep 8 hours a day, that still leaves 88 hours a week for BT (if my ciphering is correct).

This is great...

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/play.shtml?mea=27103

Mark

I personally admire the guy for his work done via his foundation and his athletic ability; I think is very impressive to see a guy run a BQ 2:46 hr. Not every one might admire him, but the reality is that MANY others do and he has inspired a lot of folks. Proof of it is the 350+ Million dollars raised by his foundation.  I think the IM thing is just a rumor but I wouldn’t mind if he gets to race it via a celebrity slot or earning an AG spot. He is a retired athlete and whether he chooses to race or participate in any event he is invited or allowed to, is his business.

I dont understand when peope get bent out of shape about celebrities entering the sport. Lance is someone many of us have looked up to. He has earned his star-status, and I personally dont care if he starts in a certain corral? If Michael Jordan wanted a corral spot... give it to him too. Britney SPears, sure... I dont care. In fact, if they end up in my corral and I pass them.. all the better.

Im probably in the minority on this, but really... I dont mind when these kinds of people dont "earn" their spots. If they perform poorly, they only embarass themselves, and make the sport look all that more difficult to the rest of the world.