Ranking of Ironman courses by Finish Time (Page 3)

x2  GIGO

I got news for you, sport, at the top of the AG among the KQ ranks, EVERY race is equally cometetive, the finsihing time is meaningless. All that matters is can you be in the top 8 of the AG, that's it, and if you can't do that in Frankfurt or Stwizerland you won't be doing at Wisconsin either. If you are fast enough to be a top 8 guy, it doesn't matter which race you do.

Edited by bryancd 2010-08-12 1:54 PM

IMWI will qualify you for next years Kona.

Bingo!

That's clear for everybody. The point here is that I have several friends who had ZERO chances to qualify in Switzerland, Austria or Germany and they will race in Kona this year because they went to Malaysia or other esotic places to get the slot.
This is a fact. Zero discussion.

Maylasia and China are likely the two least participated races on the IM schedule, so yes, your odds there are better, but if you think you can come to any North American race and be a superstar, think again. Now, what is true is that there are races where the opportunity to get a roll down are much greater due to the costs of going to Kona. New Zealand and Brazil come to mind.

Edited by bryancd 2010-08-12 2:09 PM

I didn't know Malaysia was in the US?  I also didn't know IMOO was an 'exotic' location.   You start by saying it will be easy to qualify in the US then you jump to Malaysia as a reference?  Its not the same thing. 

I think Bryan is right, there are fast dudes in the US.  I do think China and Malaysia are 'easier' as they are destination races where the natives aren't really into the sport.  Those are the exception. 

fwiw, you should try to qualify at IMOO.  I'd like to see how it pans out.  Not saying you can't do it, but for once I'd like to see a baseless claim on the internet carried out.

Having done both, there's no comparison in difficulty between Vineman and IMSG.  I did Vineman with a major injury--basically on one leg--in 13:45.  Did IMSG essentially healthy (and with the benefit of the Vineman experience, to boot) in over 15 hours.

I don't know that there was a particularly high percentage of first timers at SG driving up the average finishing time--haven't heard or seen any documentation of that (though it could be true).  It's just not a fast course.  You'd think that a freshwater swim is a freshwater swim, but between some cramping from the cold along with what chop there was, my swim at SG was more than 5 minutes longer than my swim at Vineman.  I think my bike time was almost an hour longer--some of that was from dehydration and cramping the last 20 miles, but a lot of it was just the course (including the chip seal roads).

That's a really good note to make about that race.  I hate hate hate riding on that stuff. 

Wait a Ironman is easy or is it hard?


I am SOOOooooo confused. 

It's both.  It's Schroedinger's cat.  It's stuck in a quantum meta state of being both easy and hard until one reality is actualized by someone completing it.

The cat's dead in the box.

Edited by bryancd 2010-08-12 3:47 PM

I think the guys at ST killed it.

This user's post has been ignored.

so the problem is that you all guys are taking my comments "personally", being a North American. This is not the point. IMWI is giving the M35-39 at around 10h15 and this is probably because the race is close to Kona event and not so many people are interested in competing for Kona at IMWI.
My consideration is behind the North American triathletes performances.
Saying that the best europeans triathletes are concentrated in Austria,CH and DE doesn't mean that europeans triathletes are better than north americans!

For some reason (I can't put my finger on it) you remind me of Kurt Russell.  Except Kurt Russell would go to IMOO and qualify

It has to get pretty harsh to get personal.  This the internet.  You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

....and top 8 in AG doesn't matter if you're in an old lady category.  THEN you have to be top 2....or 1!

x2, even for young ladies!  What rolldown?  It all depends on who shows up.  1-2 spots leaves zero margin for error, and you'd better know the roster before toeing the line.  I envy the guys in M35-39 with way more spots, even if it is a faster AG. 

I will I always find the smartest way to get to the target.
I see you in Kona then not in 2010 because I will be busy in Clearwater first


Edited by Plissken74 2010-08-13 1:15 AM

This user's post has been ignored.

Edited by PennState 2010-08-13 5:22 AM

This user's post has been ignored.

Edited by PennState 2010-08-13 5:06 AM

I like your perfect interpretation. The only one who got it Thank you

The issue is your assuming a 10:0x qualifying time at Wisconsin is a time you think you can acheive but what you are not considering is the difficulty of the course which you may only be able to cover in 10:3x. The European races are fast becuase the courses are fast. IMFL and IMAZ are blazing fast courses but all that means is EVERYONE is going faster but it has no bearing on how competitive it is. Your making the classic mistake at looking at times of courses you haven't done and assuming you can do them. What I am saying is that it really won't matter, you either are good enough or your not. This idea that by crossing the pond you are suddenly good enough is what I find absurd.

Edited by bryancd 2010-08-13 7:19 AM