Ironman Wisconsin vs. World Championships 70.3 (Page 3)

my perspective as well....

An ironman is just a long race.  They are in demand because people want to feel like they've accomplished something special but most people aren't really racing.  Almost anyone can sign up and muddle through one with proper training if they have the time and means to train for one.  Not almost everyone can go out and hammer a 70.3 in the world championships.  It may be less in demand to the general joe average but it's a real race with more people actually trying to race.

I think this is disrespectful to those out there that are trying to finish the race.  Everyone out there is racing...not everyone out there is hammering in Zone 3/4 because they would be done before they even got on the bike.  But everyone, according to their fitness level, is racing towards the finish line.

IMO, the OP's question was a rhetorical one.  He would not of grabbed the slot and plunked down the $250-$300 if he didn't want to do the 70.3WC race.  If he did take the slot and was still considering doing IMMOO instead then I believe that would be bad form since he effectively would be taking the WC slot away from someone else.  The real question the OP should have asked is "should I have taken the slot in the first place when I was already signed up for an IM on the same date".  Again I say is was the wrong decision, not just because I believe the IM to be a better experience, but once you have gained entry into the IM (especially those that close out within minutes of opening), you should have an obligation to fullfill that race entry, barring injury or family emergency.  That entry spot to IMMOO could have gone to someone else who wanted to do the race, who was at their computer once registration opened, but ultimately was closed due to the incredible demand by people like us.  Simply giving it up to do another more desirable race is (I'll probably get flamed for this, but oh well) poor form in my book.

You certainly won't get "flamed" for giving your opinion.  I signed up for Wisconsin with full intention of competing in it.  Maybe the original question was a little rhetorical, but I was definitely conflicted.  My entire tri year was based around performing better in Wisconsin and at least breaking 12 hours.  With that said, I had my best personal race in Kansas by breaking 5 hours and then stuck around to see my name called in the roll down.  At that point, you have 1 second the make the decision on whether or not to claim the spot.  I jumped at the opportunity only to have second thoughts about fulfilling my Ironman goal for the year.  And, I had to face my wife and tell her that I paid for 2 IM events on the same day.  Not a pretty sight.  If I could transfer my spot to Wisconsin, I certainly would.  I just wish the WTC would work with us to transfer spots as long as no one "profits" on the transfer (the net number for each event would therefore stay the same and wouldn't adversely affect the WTC).  If the WC was in Clearwater (held in November), there would be no conflict and I could do both. 

I don't think that I exercised "poor form" in claiming the WC spot.  The only "poor form" that I showed was my dreadful swim stroke...

Not meant to be disrespectful.  I put myself in that category.  semantics...

really just over valuing a race because it's long is what most people do.  I want to experience it like everyone else but I take it for what it is.  I'd rather go 15 minutes in a 5k than 12 hours in an ironman....it's cool but it's not the pinnacle of performance

I know your pain. 

You've missed my point.  This is no consolation to those that tried to get into IMMOO but were closed out.  25+ people from my club are doing the race, some of which had to pay the foundation fee to do so b/c general entry closed out.  I bet a couple of those people would have liked to take the OP's general entry spot at the regular price.

As to the bolded statement above... says who? An athlete has every right to bow out of a race and absolutely should not be judged on their PERSONAL decision. THAT is poor form if I've ever seen it.

As for those who didn't get in and see this as a "wasted" spot... it is well known that the only guaranteed way to get into a race like IMOO is to volunteer the year beforehand and get priority registration the day after. This is no secret, and there is no reason to hold a grudge against a stranger's personal decision simply because the approriate effort was not made on their part.

Still missing my point.

He is saying that I should have known last September that my training would pay off, I would have a great race in Kansas 9 months later, the roll down would work in my favor and I would get into the WC 70.3.

Or he is saying that because I signed up for IM Wisconsin, I should take one for the team and give up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in the World Championships.

Who was the pro one year at Kona that couldn't run anymore due to injury (Rutger Beke perhaps).  Instead of quitting he continued walking.  His reasoning was he didn't want to disrespect the slot that he had by quitting...a slot that could have gone to someone else.  He earned huge points in my book for this and from the IM tri community.

Another example...I remember reading in Triathete magazine a year or so ago about how Matt Fitzgerald signed up for multiple IMs in hopes of qualifying for Kona.  (I hope I'm getting the story correct...my memory is not what it used to be).  Anyway, ultimately he decided against racing one or two of the races due to poor form.  I remember reading some angry letters to the editor about his taking of those spots away from other eager triathletes.

As an aside, its no wonder that WTC is so huge and can command large race fees...people just sign up for the events but drop out for lame reasons.  If you intend to signup for the event make sure your are fully committed.  Maybe this way the race fees will be held in check.

IMO, a good excuse.  Family first.

You're missing my point

With the way those slots roll down, not once in a lifetime.

Rutger Beke walked because he had taken an AGer's slot?  I didn't know that.......I though he was racing as a pro

A pro slot not AG...the correlation is still relevant.

OK.  If you say so.  Although I thought this whole brouhaha was due to the bad form of an AGer signing up for a limited spot and taking away from another AGer who couldn't get in.....   I applaud Beke's resolve to continue, but that's not why he did (at least accdg to the news reports at the time)....

For those just tuning in, you can ignore the prior 3 pages as I can summarize this thread thusly:

"Chocolate ice cream > vanilla ice cream

No it's not, vanilla ice cream > chocolate ice cream

You disrespect the work in collecting cocoa beans

I don't get your point"

Some people would prefer to participate in WCs 70.3 over an IM.  Some people would prefer to participate in IM over WCs 70.3.  Neither is wrong.  Neither is right.

I certainly can't qualify for WCs 70.3 at my HIM times.  They may roll down some, but not to where I am.  I can pretty much enter any IM in the world that I want to, including NY today.  There's lots of ways to get into IM that don't require sitting in front of a computer.