Scam…?!
There are differing views, I think it’s gone off the site now…?!
So could be I guess.
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I’m wondering if I’d accept a roll down to 45th place or feel I wasn’t really worthy of a spot at the World Champs, on balance I might go for it knowing I’m unlikely to get anywhere near a top 10 spot let alone top 4 or 5 normally
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Its a good question, I needed 3 places to roll down, so feel that this is close enough. On one hand, it is a soft entry, however, it is also an opportunity as I think that the standard at Kona this year may be lower than usual, therefore a I could get a slightly better result overall
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It’s an interesting theoretical point but I’d be amazed if anyone who wanted to go to Kona turned it down in practice. There are a million ways you could miss out through bad luck, bad day, mechanical etc. even if you’re someone with the ability to qualify under normal circumstances.
Can’t remember which race it was but a friend went to the roll down on site and I think it rolled down from 3rd to 4th because the person in 3rd couldn’t afford to take the spot, apparently there were tears shed by a few, person in 4th was very apologetic while bouncing up and down in his lei
I’ve just caught up here. Amazing achievement Matt, I really hope you get to go👍
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Flights all booked for Kona. Going for 3 weeks, get there 10 days before the race, and leave 10 days after. Bit of a Family holiday
Now I just need to stay in shape over the summer. I decided that I’m not just going to experience the race, I am going to compete 100%
There is a good chance that this will be the end of my Ironman journey
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FTFY 
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Strangely flights were under £600 on United, with one stop. Hotel was $2500 for 11 nights right in the centre of Kona, I need to find a hotel for first and last week now. Although I think that we may not stay in Kona for the final week
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Guy in my club who is an absolute endurance machine has been trying for ages to get into Kona. He had a string of bad luck, one race he had a mechanical and lost his nutrition and the on course stuff made him ill, another the airline lost his bike and wetsuit.
He has just qualified at Hamburg
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What Hotel out of interest @Matthew_Spooner
Oh and definitely get out of Kona after, it’s a small town and you’ll have had your fill before and during race week.
In fact I’d recommend getting to another Island if you can, Kauai and Maui are both superb and very different geographically to the Big Island.
I am staying at the Big Island Retreat. I made a mistake, It is actually 5miles from the venue (my original hotel was in the town, but event was rescheduled). However, its on the beach
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That’s probably better if your going all-in and racing it. If you were just treating the event as a celebratory lap after qualification then being in the centre of town would be the better option.
Note: I’ve never been to Kona, just what I hear from those in the know.
We’re staying up in Waikoloa arriving 30th September, leaving the 14th…all of the crew plus parents
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I arrive 26th September and Leave 17 October
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