NA Sports Entry Process

If Independent race directors were smart they'd brace for the NA-Sports overflow and ride this ultra-distance wave. 

Many of the Indie races are well done....but more needs to be done to draw athletes away from the NA branded races.

I agree that to make sure you can register it means getting to the location the year before to register in person which adds a lot of expense and time for the race. I haven't added up what it cost us to go up to IMLP for the weekend, ride the course, cheer our friends on and register.

It will be easier to get the voucher for the same race the day before since you are already there instead of say doing a different IM which means another trip like what you are planning on doing Lauren...IMWI '09.

I too wonder how many folks pick up vouchers but never officially register. Then there are those who so badly want to register but miss the on-line registration window. I think it is probably a numbers game that they know so many get voucher; certain % then register; then of those that register only a certain % actually show up to race due to injuries or other issues. I wonder what those percentages are.

Having those racing one year register the day before the race, I wonder if the % that will actually will register will go up or down? For me the idea of waiting in line the next day after an IM for 2-3 hours is scary...who knows if you can walk well. Most of the folks waiting in line that had done the race looked like they were doing okay.

I would think that just from a business perspective they would figure in the no-show rate.. just like an airline, gym or resturant... I'm sure they have a "math guy" that knows   x% are going to be no shows and they overbook.. 

plus they get the extra money since if I remember correctly there are no refunds

know I'm interested in the no show rate, as well as the reasons ratio of repeat IM'ers was it a +/-   reason with negative being  poor race, did not finish, etc.  and positvie reason  KQ qualify, loved the course etc.  

If people are signing up the a couple of days before the race will more people sign up, just in case they have a poor race and want to make sure they come back to avenge themselfs, then if they do finish or meet their goals will they now be a no show the next year. and since they are not putting up the money before hand [correct?] just getting a voucher will that lead to more people registering..

oh the life of a math geek

The non Ironman brand Iron distance races, I really thought I'd do one first. I'm not a big crowd kind of person. I dislike Disney World..the idea of a large cruise ship does not excite me...but 25 folks on a small cramped sailboat in Greece all who speak German that is my kind of vacation...we did that for our 20th...rode bikes on the Greek Islands...the idea of doing a huge event isn't one I'd jump up and down and say I want to do that.

I did sign up for an Ironman event for my first (IMLP '08) ...it is so about the money....everything costs...and costs a lot from entry fee, to pictures, to finisher gear, or anything that says IM; to banquets & everything. I'm not sure if I'll ever do another so the experience aspect and being able to get those cool things, and the crowds and support was impressive when I watched two different Ironman brand IM races. I'm not sure how I'll feel after I do one...cost is huge.

Doing an Iron Distance race where you can train; sign up a month before the race for $250 if you are injury free; and have a great race is appealing and financially less risky.

Well, I though I was doing okay (other than the usual post-race muscle soreness) while waiting on the 2008 registration line, until I started to feel a bit, uh lightheaded, for a bit.  Thankfully, that feeling soon went away before anything happened that day.  But as I found out earlier this month, the reason for feeling like I was going to pass out was not due to the stress of Ironman, but something else entirely (basically standing in one place for a while probably isn't the best idea for me not that there's anything wrong regarding my health). 

But there's something about getting up at 7:45 after not getting back to the hotel until 12:30?  1AM?  after finishing an Ironman, so one has enough time to get 1st breakfast, pick up special needs bags, and get to registration a little after 9 to wait on line for 2 hours.   So I personally really like this change.  

At IMLP you stood in line for a voucher. They took your name and some general information and ripped off the voucher and gave it to you. It had a link and dates that you could go on-line to Active and officially register...I think it was about 2 weeks later and open for 4 weeks. You went on-line with your voucher number and found your name on the list. My name was not there originally as they had entered Graves with the G as two other letters. I made a call to active who was in contact with NA Sports and within 24 hours my name was listed correctly and I could register.

So no  you pay later.