Non-WTC brand 104.6 east coast races

Piranha sports has a new 140.6 that is point-to-point through the State of Delaware next year.

http://www.piranha-sports.com/Race381.aspx

Here are the issue with the non-branded 140.6 races:

1) There's barely any left in existence.

2) There are only two that are left that have more than 100 registered athletes: Great Floridian in Clermont, FL and Redman in OKC, OK.  The Great Floridian had less than 200 people but that was probably due to it being the 25th anniversary so there was some nostalgia involved.  Expect numbers to drop for next year.  Redman did not run normal distance races this year as they hosted the ITU AG Champs.  So the last 140.6 was in 2015 and there were only 97 finishers.  Expect that number to also drop.  I wouldn't expect either race to offer a 140.6 option after next year if my $.02 is worth anything.  Both will struggle to get 100 people for next year.

3) All other 140.6 races are pretty much the HITS races.  They struggle to attract 20 people for the 140.6 mile option.  If you added up every non-WTC 140.6 race I'm not sure the math would get you over 500 or 600 in total.  That's the M40-44 and M45-49 AG at a typical WTC race.

4) So it's a lonely day if you're not doing a WTC race.  With that comes worse logistics, worse volunteer support, and all that.

5) I don't expect there to be any 140.6 non-branded races after the next year or two  Literally not a single one.

I think the Great Floridian is the only option that meets your criteria.  It's October 21st.

I don't think the Great FL will happen next year. Fred had a poll up and I'm not sure about the results to date but from the hearsay it may not happen.

For the OP, why not a try a unique challenge of the Savageman 30 and 70 over two days.  I'm sure it would be just as much of a hurt as a 140.6 event!

https://www.vtsmts.com/race-calendar/

Okay.  That leaves Redman as the only 140.6 with more than 50 people.  My $.02 is that the Redman full will not happen next year either.

HITS only still exists because the owner is subsidizing the entire thing out of his own pocket.  There is zero chance HITS Tri is making money.  It's only a matter of time before he stops doing that.

All races.  Rev3 Knoxville was also canceled.  Rev3 Maine just became a licensed WTC race but still being run by Rev3.

Good news for Rev3 is that the Barrelman HIM in Niagara Falls, Canada will now fall under the Rev3 banner.

Bad news for Rev3 is there's almost zero chance they will be in business this time next year.  My $.02 but it you cancel two races and give another one to WTC in less than a week all signs point to you're going out of business.

Have you looked at the Titanium Triathlon in Michigan? Its been going since 2012 and it appears last year there where 70 finishers. I do believe it is pretty far from NC though. It is a USAT sanctioned race that is not IM branded.

http://mititanium.com/

I was actually looking into it. $375 for a full, thats a pretty good deal. Anyways thought it might be helpful.

I'm in the same boat, as I was planning on IMNC 2017 for my first 140.6.  

Is anyone else considering IM MD as an alternative?  It's two weeks earlier on the calendar than IMNC would have been.  It's also a good bit closer to me than Louisville.  For those who chose Louisville, what were the deciding factors for you?  Thanks!

IMMD has had a laundry list of weather problems that last two years.  It was postponed for two weeks in 2015 due to a hurricane.  Then come race day two weeks later the swim was cut in half due to another weather issue.  This year the swim was canceled, the bike course shortened, and parts of the run course ended up flooded.

I wouldn't touch IMMD with a 10 foot pole.  Registrations aren't going well unsurprisingly.  Ironman sent an email stating if you register for IMMD you can have a chance to win one of 10 slots to Kona for IMMD registrants.  That reeks of desperation.  Maybe IMMD goes off in 2017 but I wouldn't call it a sure thing at this point.  Just my $.02.

Ditto for me.