General Discussion Triathlon Talk » HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why? Rss Feed  
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2012-01-12 11:04 PM

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Subject: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
I have not done a HITS race yet but I have worked and raced Ironman events and I thought Ironman was a bit over crowded and expensive but has great support and is very well run and organized for the most part. I volunteered at IM FL and then waited in line for 3 hours to get a race slot this year. Then paid a $625 registration fee plus a $50 convenience fee. Not sure what the convenience fee was for because it was far from conveniente to get a slot. However; I can't complain because it was my choice to do that race and I am happy and excited to have the opertunity to race in November. I was just thinking about next years races and was toying with the idea of doing a HITS. Looks nice, cheaper, age group awards for each year instead of 5 years, less people..... Doesn't seem like a bad idea. Comments?


2012-01-13 7:35 AM
in reply to: #3987707

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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

It's exciting a new option is available for races including short super sprint to IM distance in one weekend.

Thus far they have put on only 2 weekends of races both with some significant issues.

Doing a full IM distance race with less than 25 other athletes gives a vastly different flavor than doing a WTC race with 2k+ participants. 

Adding 12 new IM distance races in one year, is a big challenge.

Other non WTC IM distance races like Beach to Battleship or Rev 3 at Cedar Point, are put on by race companies with lots of experience and they offer 1 or 2 IM distance race a year which brings in more athletes. 

The vibe of a race is effected by the number of participants, spectators and such. WTC IM distance races are 2k+, B2B and Rev 3 are in the 500-1000 range, and compare that to 25 or less at HITS.

I did a new IM distance race in MA in it's inaugural year 2008 as a relay. I had fun with my friends and our support group but the vibe was far different than WTC race and I would not choose it as my A race.

Options of races is great, I hope HITS works out the issues they have had and becomes a great race company with lots of quality races.

2012-01-13 7:51 AM
in reply to: #3987707

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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

If you like to ride horses, HITS is a wonderful production company.Smile 

If you like to participate in triathlons, stick with the people who know what they are doing:  WTC, Rev3, Set Up Events. 

Speaking of Set Up, they just announced another Full/Half option in Key West in January 2013 called the Bone Island Triathlon.  Slots available for 500 people in the half and another 500 in the full.

2012-01-13 7:57 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
japarker24 - 2012-01-13 7:51 AM

If you like to ride horses, HITS is a wonderful production company.Smile 

If you like to participate in triathlons, stick with the people who know what they are doing:  WTC, Rev3, Set Up Events. 

Speaking of Set Up, they just announced another Full/Half option in Key West in January 2013 called the Bone Island Triathlon.  Slots available for 500 people in the half and another 500 in the full.



I wouldn't rule out HITS until they give me a reason.

I saw that Key West triathlon as well and, if it weren't in January, I'd be all over it!!! What a great locale for a race!
2012-01-13 8:10 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
mr2tony - 2012-01-13 8:57 AM
japarker24 - 2012-01-13 7:51 AM

If you like to ride horses, HITS is a wonderful production company.Smile 

If you like to participate in triathlons, stick with the people who know what they are doing:  WTC, Rev3, Set Up Events. 

Speaking of Set Up, they just announced another Full/Half option in Key West in January 2013 called the Bone Island Triathlon.  Slots available for 500 people in the half and another 500 in the full.

I wouldn't rule out HITS until they give me a reason. I saw that Key West triathlon as well and, if it weren't in January, I'd be all over it!!! What a great locale for a race!

 

i have to agree with this, and hope it gains popularity...they have just gotten started and im sure they will work out any bugs...even the "Ironman" had to start somewhere

2012-01-13 8:45 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

Can't even comment on the question with 2 events.

I want to do HITS FT. Collins. I was worried about cancelation, but with 21 participants at Naples I guess I don't have to worry about that.... but me and 20 other people on a long course.... wow, not sure what to think about that. Long lonely day. I would like to think FTC in summer would have a better turn out. I'm 80% sure I'm doing it... just holding off on pulling the trigger. The beautiful thing is it's 7 months away and I have the option to hold off on pulling the trigger.



2012-01-13 9:37 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
I would really like to see HITS get as big as Ironman. It would be nice to have more options and maybe a bit of healthy compitition between the two company's. With all the publicity I didn't realize there had only been 2 events. What were the main issues?
2012-01-13 10:06 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

Why so few IM participants I wonder.  I'm not in the market for a full right now, but for those of you who are, why not a HITS event? 

I hear tons of complaints about Ironman, but with another option available it seems almost no one is signing up.  Is it the lemming thing, and it will just have to build slowly?  I don't know how long HITS can go with these low turnouts, and I can't imagine how lonely an IM would be with 20 people.  But I guess there's no chance they'll run out of stuff on the course!

2012-01-13 10:13 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
wbayek - 2012-01-13 11:06 AM

Why so few IM participants I wonder.  I'm not in the market for a full right now, but for those of you who are, why not a HITS event? 

I hear tons of complaints about Ironman, but with another option available it seems almost no one is signing up.  Is it the lemming thing, and it will just have to build slowly?  I don't know how long HITS can go with these low turnouts, and I can't imagine how lonely an IM would be with 20 people.  But I guess there's no chance they'll run out of stuff on the course!

You ask a question and answer it within the same post.Smile

2012-01-13 10:18 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
They did run out of stuff on the course despite the low numbers.
2012-01-13 10:19 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

KathyG - 2012-01-13 11:18 AM They did run out of stuff on the course despite the low numbers.

Wow!  Now there's a reason not to sign up.



2012-01-13 10:25 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

HITS starts with the stigma of being done by a company that is new to triathlons.  If they were trully smart, they would partner with local organizers and brign in some experience.

B2B, Redman, and a few other non-IM branded races succeed because they were put on by companies that have put on other tris.

I would like to see HITS succeed.  They are putting on a IM where I could sleep in my own bed the night before the race.

2012-01-13 10:29 AM
in reply to: #3988387

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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
japarker24 - 2012-01-13 11:13 AM
wbayek - 2012-01-13 11:06 AM

Why so few IM participants I wonder.  

I can't imagine how lonely an IM would be with 20 people.  But I guess there's no chance they'll run out of stuff on the course!

You ask a question and answer it within the same post.Smile

haha, I guess I did, but this is the lemming/electability argument I hate.  If everyone wanting to avoid an Ironman brand event signed up, there would be plenty of participants.

 

KathyG - 2012-01-13 11:18 AM

They did run out of stuff on the course despite the low numbers.

Wow, now THAT'S a serious problem.

2012-01-13 11:19 AM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
wbayek - 2012-01-13 10:29 AM 

haha, I guess I did, but this is the lemming/electability argument I hate.  If everyone wanting to avoid an Ironman brand event signed up, there would be plenty of participants.

 

Well it seems plenty of people ARE signing up for independent races (Redman, B2B, Rev3, etc.) - maybe the HITS brand is too much of  a "me too" marketing strategy - which is really difficult to be successful in, unless you do it EXTREMELY well (which doesn't look like they are).

 

2012-01-13 12:55 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
KathyG - 2012-01-13 8:18 AMThey did run out of stuff on the course despite the low numbers.
2012-01-13 12:55 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

KathyG - 2012-01-13 8:18 AMThey did run out of stuff on the course despite the low numbers.

I believe they only ran out on the first day.  For the second day, the 1/2 and full distances they did not run out.

Granted I've only done one 1/2 distance race, and it was the HITS Palm Springs, I found it was as organized as the shorter distance races I've done.  I'll probably be doing another 1/2 this year with them.



Edited by Panda_Jack 2012-01-13 12:58 PM


2012-01-13 1:40 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

hromero - 2012-01-13 12:04 AM I I volunteered at IM FL and then waited in line for 3 hours to get a race slot this year. Then paid a $625 registration fee plus a $50 convenience fee.

That is just insane... From an outside perspective, seems like a lot of hoops to jump though, but I guess it's the old supply vs. demand thing.

2012-01-13 1:47 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
beebs - 2012-01-13 1:40 PM

hromero - 2012-01-13 12:04 AM I I volunteered at IM FL and then waited in line for 3 hours to get a race slot this year. Then paid a $625 registration fee plus a $50 convenience fee.

That is just insane... From an outside perspective, seems like a lot of hoops to jump though, but I guess it's the old supply vs. demand thing.

To be fair, some IM-brand races you can sign up online and don't *have* to volunteer the year before. But yes, if you're not ready or willing, there are 100s of other people behind you that are. Supply/demand at its finest.

2012-01-13 4:07 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

KathyG - 2012-01-13 11:18 AM They did run out of stuff on the course despite the low numbers.

Keep in mind that IM Lou ran out of water from mile 65ish to mile 106 of the bike in 2010, so it's not just the start ups.

2012-01-13 4:43 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
Canada did too this year, but they have like 29 years of good reports to counter with. With only ~25 people in the HITS race, it's a little more difficult to see how they could run out of water.  They are new, so I think it's better to watch the progression over at least several races.

Edited by brigby1 2012-01-13 4:43 PM
2012-01-13 4:50 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?
powerman - 2012-01-13 7:45 AM

Can't even comment on the question with 2 events.

I want to do HITS FT. Collins. I was worried about cancelation, but with 21 participants at Naples I guess I don't have to worry about that.... but me and 20 other people on a long course.... wow, not sure what to think about that. Long lonely day. I would like to think FTC in summer would have a better turn out. I'm 80% sure I'm doing it... just holding off on pulling the trigger. The beautiful thing is it's 7 months away and I have the option to hold off on pulling the trigger.

I'm looking at Ft. Collins too (Oly, not Full) but figure I'll wait and see how they do for the next couple races. Most of the problems seem to be for the FOPers.  Not my typical location unless the field is shallow.



2012-01-13 5:20 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

I would consider an Oly with HITS but a long course race with 20-ish people would be too lonely for me.  I am not against an IM branded race either but because of the cost I would definitely consider something else.  I am going to do a HIM distance this year and the 3 races I am considering are Steelhead, Muncie and REV3 at Cedar Point.  My choice will be based on the weather conditions at each location and not the cost.

(Right now REV3 is the frontrunner because the time of year.)

2012-01-13 5:39 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

I'm doing the HITS full at Cooperstown in September.  I'm hopeful that things will improve by then, but it sounds like they don't have too many issues on the second day other than just low numbers.

I really hope people give them a chance.  I know there have been issues with silly things that are easy to fix like FOP directions and running out of stuff for the shorter races, but those will get better and they need people to sign up for them to gain some momentum and keep it going/improve.

If people keep waiting for others to sign up before they do, then it's going to remain a small race, which would be a bummer.

2012-01-13 6:25 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

Too soon to tell about HITS. The first 2 events were in what many people consider the off season.

People seem to forget Ironman had less than 20 participants when it started. It was pretty much left to the athletes to support themselves too. Since Dave Scott is part of HITS and did the early IM races, maybe that's what they're attempting to do.

I hope it grows, but not to the point where there's a couple thousand people on the course.

2012-01-13 6:26 PM
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Subject: RE: HITS VS Ironman - which is better & why?

I can't remember when HITS went public...but my guess was 1st quarter 2011.  So naturally it was too late for them to attract many potential 2011 IM'ers...those potential IM'ers likely already signed up for their 2011 IM...or at least had one already in mind.

The vast majority of IM'ers need 12-18 months notice to plan out an IM.  Not only because they need to build up their training...but planning financially, with work, family, etc also takes some advance notice. 

 

 

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