Kelly, curious if you have any predictions on the size of Kona and Nice next year, now that (as you mention above) IM has caught up on the deferral backlog. Does the "new normal" settle down at, say, 85% of the 2023-2024 fields, or does IM try to keep the numbers up by offering more AG slots?
I've asked them about it, and it sounds like they haven't made a decision yet on continuing the women's slots that they moved over to the 70.3s and the ones for this years AG podium at the world champs to auto-qualify for next year's world champs. If they don't bring those back, then it's way way less for the women, which seems crazy
It seems like it'd be smart to bring it down to like ~1800/2000 men and ~1800/2000 women, but I've got a bunch more I want to write about what I *think* is going to happen, reading between the lines and stuff, but I'd say right now they very much could go two different directions.
I don't think they ran out, but they're pretty used to how much they need in Kona, like they've been doing this for a long time, so I think they rarely run out in Kona
Jocelyn, funny you ask ... I was back of the pack at Nice last year, and there were two aid stations on the run that were out of water and ice. I think they got replenished, so maybe my timing was just bad, but it sure sucked.
Kelly, curious if you have any predictions on the size of Kona and Nice next year, now that (as you mention above) IM has caught up on the deferral backlog. Does the "new normal" settle down at, say, 85% of the 2023-2024 fields, or does IM try to keep the numbers up by offering more AG slots?
So right now the 2025 slot allocations are wack: they're offering ~1500 spots for women in Kona and ~2400 for men in Nice: https://www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-nice-slot-allocation-2025
I've asked them about it, and it sounds like they haven't made a decision yet on continuing the women's slots that they moved over to the 70.3s and the ones for this years AG podium at the world champs to auto-qualify for next year's world champs. If they don't bring those back, then it's way way less for the women, which seems crazy
It seems like it'd be smart to bring it down to like ~1800/2000 men and ~1800/2000 women, but I've got a bunch more I want to write about what I *think* is going to happen, reading between the lines and stuff, but I'd say right now they very much could go two different directions.
I want to hear from the back of the pack dudes if they had enough Coke and water
I don't think they ran out, but they're pretty used to how much they need in Kona, like they've been doing this for a long time, so I think they rarely run out in Kona
Jocelyn, funny you ask ... I was back of the pack at Nice last year, and there were two aid stations on the run that were out of water and ice. I think they got replenished, so maybe my timing was just bad, but it sure sucked.
Great write up! 🙌