IMAZ frustration

line was massive to register onsite today.  seriously wouldnt doubt it sold out or close to that before online sales started. 

I've been waiting all day to register.

Within one minute I was told I couldn't register as the event had sold out.

Do you think this includes the foundation slots too?

You see Foundation slots open right now?

It makes me gag to see what I just paid to do this.  I guess that makes the drive vs fly decision a little easier.  Crossing my fingers for low gas prices in November of 2013!

Don't second guess your choice to go foundation.  Your money will help the cause.  Be sure to claim it on your taxes!

I'm in for IMAZ next year.  I plan this to be Ironman #10 for me (#9 will be Los Cabos in March). 

I knew it was popular, so I flew down Friday so I could volunteer on Sunday and guarantee sign up this morning.  Yes the line was immense and I was near the end of it when I got there at 7:30.  I got to the registration area at 10:30 or so.  So my registration cost about $1700 or so, what with airfare for my wife and I, hotel, rental car, etc., but we did get a mini-vacation out of it.  Plus the really cool experience of volunteering at a run aid station.  I handed out ice, water, and Perform and had a blast.

There are plenty of non-IM-branded races out there... here's a good list

Hopefully I don't get slaughtered for this but I have to ask:  

What's the draw with IM AZ?  Maybe it's because I live here but I really don't get it.  The swim is horrible and cold this time of the year.  The bike course is void of anything intriguing or scenic, which is a shame because it gets really nice if you go just a bit further north.  And the run, three loops around TTL...shoot me boring.  It has to be that it's simply a good spectator venue, right?  Every single one of my friends looked at me like I was crazy on Sunday when I said I had no interest in doing AZ next year.  

The draw for Ironman Arizona is:

• Close proximity to major population centers, including L.A.
• Late in the summer calendar making it perfect for Midwest athletes who train all summer for it.
• Good timing for "next year" qualificatioin for Kona, you get it out the way early and have a year to not worry about getting a Kona slot.
• Super flat, fast course.
• Great course.
• Urban setting with good infrastructure.
• Established base of legacy athletes to compare performances to.
• Mild, stable weatehr conditions- few surprises.

You think that swim is bad? That's a pool swim.

I don't think it's bad, I think it's boring and mind numbing  I'm sure I'll do it someday just because it would be great to have all my friends along the course but for the time being I'd rather spend my money in Cozumel or somewhere else.  

Most people do not pick a course for the "view", however a few do. Most pick a course based on it's difficulty level (PR type course), ease of logistics (travel, etc.), and time of year it takes place to name a few.

BTW, 20 of us from my local tri club got into IMAZ for 2013. 4 of us volunteered, 16 of us got in on line.

Which i think brings up an interesting trend with race venues.  It seems pretty difficult to find a place that can accommodate a race as large scale as an Ironman - but they seem to be shifting to resort type areas:  Tremblant, Whistler, Tahoe, Cozumel, Los Cabos ... this facilitates easier accommodation, spectator friendliness (at least in terms of things to do and places to go while waiting for racers).  And they make for nice travel destinations in general.   

I was in the general public line on monday towards the end, the lady said they would be lucky to put 200 spots up online.

I got on for next year, i had fun it was a blast.

I actually enjoyed the 3-loop aspect to the race...For me, it helped me plan my strategy as well as form "landmarks" telling me where I was at in each segment of the race. The same stuff over and over again that you're referring to was usually a large crowd of spectators or enthusiastic, dressed up and dancing volunteers. Parts of the race had a "tailgating" feel to it where you were the favorite sports team everyone was going for....mind numbing is not how I would describe it at all.

And, Big B...Yes, it is because you live here that you don't find the scenery on the course very appealing. You'd be surprised at how many comments I heard from people "oohing" and "awwing" about how beautiful the course was. LOL!

...oh, yeah. The water was not that cold.

Probably just my Soma experience talking  It's not the temp of the water that's off putting, just the visibility.  It's just kind of nice to be able to see something, even if nothing more than your hand.