Going to Kona as a triathlete is something you should certainly consider.
Taking part in an Ironman is the ultimate challenge.
It's one big adventure that you want to accomplish to the best of your abilities.
After a few days or weeks have passed since your first Ironman, you may begin to wonder:
Is it possible for me to compete in the big show?
Worry no more!
In today's video, we'll share some tips on how you can qualify for Kona.
So, if you're an aspiring triathlete, be sure to watch till the end of this video!
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The IRONMAN World Championship in Kona is the most difficult event to qualify for.
Thousands of age-range triathletes begin the year hoping to qualify for the Olympics, but
only a small percentage of them make it to the starting line.
So you may be thinking, how difficult is it to earn a spot in Kona?
Only 2,000 triathletes make it to the start line out of 100,000 who attempt to qualify.
That's 2% of the total.
Every IRONMAN race globally has at least one qualifying position for each age category.
Depending on the number of registrations and the age group, a race may be more slots.
Because the 35-39 and 40-44 age groups are often the most populous, they have the most
qualifying seats.
So, while you don't have to win your age group to qualify, winning does increase your chances.
So, which races do you think to provide you the best chance of qualifying?
It's a good idea to choose a race around the same time as Kona.
You'll be able to compete against a smaller field because all of the Kona qualifying athletes
will be absent.
Two to three weeks before or after Kona, IRONMAN Taiwan, Barcelona, Louisville, and Florida.
In 2017, less than 800 people competed in IRONMAN Taiwan.
So, if you're willing to fly to Asia, your chances of qualifying skyrocket.
Even though fewer Kona-bound triathletes in certain races, it doesn't make them "easier."
These four events (40-44 age category) had an average qualifying time of 9:20 to 10:10
for men and 10:10 to 11:10 for women.
Many of North America's best age group triathletes call it a season when September arrives.
However, if Kona is on your mind, this is your chance to qualify.
You can peak for a lot of the November/December Ironmans worldwide if you plan your training
well and attend a few late-season training camps in warm climates.
Well, what about the Kona Auction and the IRONMAN Legacy Program?
Three years ago, the IRONMAN Lottery program was introduced.
The lottery allowed 100 lucky age group triathletes to compete in Kona without qualifying.
HOWEVER, the US federal authorities put an end to this in 2015, declaring the activity
to be an unlawful gambling organization.
IRONMAN paid the authorities nearly two and a half million dollars without admitting any
wrongdoing.
There is, however, the Legacy Program.
In 2012, it was established as a means to honor IRONMAN's most devoted racers.
If you finish 12 full-distance IRONMAN events over your career, you may be one of a hundred
triathletes invited to Kona.
To be eligible, you must have the following:
A minimum of 12 IRONMANs have been completed (does not include Challenge races or other
brands)
Never competed in an IRONMAN World Championship before.
You've must complete an IRONMAN for the past two years.
You must be enrolled for an IRONMAN in the current year.
If you satisfy those requirements, you'll be entered into a lottery with a hundred other
triathletes.
Now with all that information given, these are some tips to consider on your qualification
for Kona:
#1.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Long-distance triathlon should be approached with caution.
First, you must establish a strong foundation and capitalize on it.
Listening to your body, tracking your statistics, and having a competent coach who can be impartial
about your training are all critical.
You could go to Kona in your first year of training, but I believe it is best to grow
slowly and gradually in the long run.
It will assist you in continuing to enjoy the sport.
#2.
Concentrate on the appropriate disciplines.
Spend time practicing in whatever discipline will provide you with the most benefits.
Focusing on the things you don't like can sometimes be beneficial.
And other things take a long time and yield little benefit.
For example, I'm a bad swimmer, and going to the pool takes a long time.
These are judgments that should be made with caution.
#3.
Consult a coach.
It's critical to have a coach who can take a step back and assess the situation.
If you're slacking or something happens in your life that prevents you from exercising,
a coach will calm you down and help you find a solution.
If things are going well and you have lots of time to work out, a coach can assist you
to hold back, so you don't overextend yourself.
#4.
Some people have a tougher time qualifying.
It's quite difficult for some persons and age groups to qualify.
Women have a tough time qualifying since fewer women are racing in Ironman competitions.
Typically, this implies that each age group has just one place available.
There are a lot of spaces in various male age categories.
You may still qualify if you place second, third, or fourth.
On the other hand, women will not be considered even if they finish second.
#5.
Choose the appropriate race.
A race's qualifying berths are proportional to the number of competitors.
Some races have much more spots than others.
There are races with a small number of extremely competitive entries.
In the United States, qualifying is generally easier.
And early-season events are generally less competitive, which means you'll have to train
through the winter.
#6.
Don't be fooled
People look to qualification times from prior years to see how quick a race was; however,
a race with a sluggish qualification time this year might have a very fast qualification
time next year.
The best approach is to assess your skills and limitations before choosing a race.
#7.
Concentrate on a single race.
It's difficult for ordinary working individuals to combine many races in a year with their
regular jobs and family obligations.
If you're in this situation, the best thing you can do is build on your foundation and
concentrate on one peak qualification race.
If it works out, wonderful; if not, try again next year.
As you can see, there are a lot of methods on how you can compete in Kona.
They do have one thing in common, though: they all need substantial training and preparation.
That ends our video for today!
I hope this information and tips will help you on your upcoming race in Kona!
Best of luck on your triathlon journey!
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