IMs not Selling Out?

It's always a risk to leave but clearly this year IMs aren't selling out as fast as they have in the past. Only LP sold out quickly.

I'd go home if I was okay with doing another race if I couldn't get in or were willing to cough up extra for community slot. If those two options were not acceptable I'd stay and register.

If i recall correctly, it took 9 days for Wisconsin to sell out last year.
Louisville didn't sell out until a couple weeks before the race, the year I did it.

IMAZ and IMFL both sold out in <3 minutes, assuming there were any spots available for online registration at all.

I think the date move will help IMLOU sell out much faster.

My two cents....though I do not think we have reached saturation with the addition of other races and the movement in the calendar people do not need to sign up as quickly...Yes IMLP sold out fast but still a lot slower than prior years. If I remember correctly it was open til wed or thursday.

Also do not discount CHALLENGE AC.  Though some minor issues that as per RD's are going to be resolved it got overall great reviews and it is in the north east region also.  And with last weeks merger/aquisition they will be a player for awhile and would not be surprised if additional 140.6 races are coming soon from them.

Maybe very slightly faster...Kona spots only apply to about 7% of the people that register.  They could up the Kona spots to 100 and I don't think it would make that much of a difference in registration.  For 250ish people it would...but the other 2750 people are still going to decide the same way they always decide.

15% DNS rate is typical.

IM/WTC is not going anywhere especially in the US since they have had 35 + years of unimpeded marketing that has enamored everyone but with Challenge having 11 IM races Worldwide and growing (3 currently in NA) and they seem to be paying there pros across the board and not just  the top better than IM they are going to continue to grow and have more interest as time goes on.

Challenge will put a dent into the market share. Not saying Challenge will be the leader in 140.6, but they are a proven European and Asian brand and just recently making in roads with the US market.

Personally when people get their IM/WTC experience under their belt they are going to be open to trying the CHallenge brand

I'll gladly discount Challenge AC until proven otherwise.  There were what... 500 people that did the full?  Doesn't 1/3 of the population of the US live within a couple hours drive from there and they pulled 500.  Word of mouth after the race was mixed at best.  Not sure where you got great reviews from.  Super tough swim and an uncontrolled run course will not have people clamoring to do the race.  My guess is #'s actually go down next year.

Challenge should stick to halfs and olys in North America.  They have no chance against WTC at the 140.6 distance.  They don't have much of a chance at the 70.3 distance either but people are more apt to do a non-WTC HIM than a non-WTC IM.  They're a good alternative at 70.3, they're not even in the discussion from a 140.6 standpoint.  #'s for Penticton and AC are a joke.

Challenge can and should compete with WTC in Europe and Asia for the 140.6 market. The Ironman brand isn't as synonymous with triathlon in those places as it is in North America.

As a primarily sprint/ olympic distance participant I would love more quality races of those distances.  The local tri scene is managed by two companies in my area. One has ultra boring courses that I am tired of cause I have raced them a good bit and the other has a race director that is not worth two cents.  I dislike her as a person and her courses even more. (with the exception of one race that I love the course of but refuse to do because it's her race)