Should they do IM sign-ups 2 years out?

Rogillio - 2010-07-29 4:11 PM With so many of the m-dot races selling out in minutes, maybe they should allow people to sign up for races 2 years out instead of one.  Maybe not make the full registration due at sign-up for 2 years out but a non-refundable deposit of some sort....and if you don't pay the balance at the one year out day, then you forfiet your deposit and lose the slot.

I know for the NYC Marathon they have a lottery system for people to get in.  And if you go 2 years or something like that and don't get in, then the next year you are gaurenteed a slot.

Anyway, just a thought.  IM is a bidness and it would seem a good way for them to make a little more money...especially from impulsive people who have a few beers while watching Kona and think "Hey, I'm gonna do one of those!"

~Mike

mallen4574 - 2010-07-29 4:55 PM
From the standpoint of the WTC they know people are going to sign up regardless so it really doesn't matter.

furiousferret - 2010-07-29 5:07 PM
I don't think so.  Two years is a long time to wait, and by that time alot can happen. 

DanielG - 2010-07-29 6:54 PM That's just as silly as wanting all IMs to go to time trial starts

McFuzz - 2010-07-29 2:40 PM

I think the EC slots were a way to harvest "unsold" CF slots to people with more money than brains...(if the convert unsold CF slots into general entry, they remove much of the market for the higher priced slot)

Wasn't it 2 years ago that they were advertising CF slots up until a month or two before the race? 

brucemorgan - 2010-07-30 7:19 AM Do your math again for the Community Fund slots - using them is not as dumb as you think. IMTX is $1200 for a CF slot - $600 more than the regular entry fee, all as a charitable donation. Let's assume $600 is the whole amount for all of them for discussoin purposes. Many people work for companies that match charitable donations 1-1, so that $600 turns into $300 out of pocket for them. People talk about volunteering on race day to guarantee a slot for the next race. That means for many people a drive up and back, the motel room, restaurant food, etc. How much is that going to cost? If it's more than $300, than the CF slot makes more sense. I know people who talk about flying to IMAZ this November so they can ensure on-site registration. If that's more than $300 (or even $600, which it may be), then the CF slot makes more sense.

brucemorgan - 2010-07-30 5:19 AM Do your math again for the Community Fund slots - using them is not as dumb as you think. IMTX is $1200 for a CF slot - $600 more than the regular entry fee, all as a charitable donation. Let's assume $600 is the whole amount for all of them for discussoin purposes. Many people work for companies that match charitable donations 1-1, so that $600 turns into $300 out of pocket for them. People talk about volunteering on race day to guarantee a slot for the next race. That means for many people a drive up and back, the motel room, restaurant food, etc. How much is that going to cost? If it's more than $300, than the CF slot makes more sense. I know people who talk about flying to IMAZ this November so they can ensure on-site registration. If that's more than $300 (or even $600, which it may be), then the CF slot makes more sense.

scott h - 2010-07-30 6:56 PM
How would selling out 2 years in advance make them anymore money then selling out year 2 year.

bryancd - 2010-07-30 9:30 PM LOL!!! Clearly you don't know a great deal about the time value of money. They can earn interest or deploy on other projects with your cash, my friend.

ChrisM - 2010-07-30 12:23 PM

He can speak for himself, but I read that as meaning the Execs getting in on the Exec Challenge entry, end up paying $4,000 and up (accdg to http://www.ironmanxc.com/program.php) when they could get in for the $1100 and also take a charitable deduction.  Of course, there are other bennies to the EC program I suppose

I think, other than going and volunteering and getting a "feel" for the race, CF slots make much more sense than travel/time off work/hotels, etc incurred in volunteering to get a slot.  Plus the extra amount is a charitable donation, so it helps at year end. 

scott h - 2010-07-31 4:56 AM How would selling out 2 years in advance make them anymore money then selling out year 2 year? A lottery system for some percentage of the popular races would be nice for those not able to travel the year before and vol. But then again they get all the vol they need plus sell out the next year so I doubt that will happen. They have no reason to make it open to anyone else when demand exceeds supply. Im looking to do my first full next year. Most likey a non Mdot race just because I cant get into the Mdot races I would like to do.

jldicarlo - 2010-07-31 8:01 AM

The reason most races GO to a lottery system is because they have more demand than supply...

I actually think a lottery would be nice for the Mdots.  It would put an end to the pre-signup anxiety...do you need to go onsite?  Do you need ridiculously good internet connection and luck?  Just do a dang lottery and make some kind of rule like NYC that if you apply X number of years in a row you get in for sure on X+1.  X for NYC = 3, but I think the number for Mdot would have to be higher since NYC takes a lot more people than an Mdot race.

Back to the OP...two years out would be ridiculous.  I don't even know where I'll be in ONE year, nevermind two!  Yes, as a business decision it would probably be good for them (since they could resell the slot, etc.) but it isn't good customer service for sure.  Most folks can't plan stuff out two years in advance....

BamaDC - 2010-07-31 8:10 AM

I could see IM doing a lottery system.  Then charging 20 bucks to enter your name.