Lance to race 2010 Kona (Hawaii) Ironman

[Chris]

http://www.firstoffthebike.com/blog/0/0/1035-lance-kona-bound-in-2011

Sunday, 18 October 2009
Lance Kona bound in 2011

The big talk around Kona and his coach Chris Carmicheal was that the great man Lance Armstrong was going to race Kona in 2011.

...........

[bosworth*]

afaik, the only way to enter the hawaii ironman world championships is to qualify (top few from each age-group in each qualifying race see link (http://www.runtri.com/2008/07/ironman-kona-kona-qualifying-times.html)), or to be picked from the lottery.

I doubt that The One will do a 10.00 Ironman in a qualifying race.

[Chris]

Boz you can buy an entry for around $20k i believe. But the great one would only need to ask and I am sure they would let him in, think of the PR.

[katev]

I've no doubt Lance will qualify for it. He wants to do more than win his age group. He'll smash it.

[j_young_80]

I think he'll qualify too - he was actually a world championship (sprint) triathlete back in the day. Even if he doesn't qualify, he'll get a wildcard slot somehow - organisers would be mad not too.

However, can you imagine the lead he'll get himself on the bike? He could run like Bozzie and still win!

[bosworth*]

haha! I'm very doubtful that The Immortal Emperor will win 35-39 in 2010, or even reach a qualifying time in 2010, for two reasons:

1) The Dark Lord's number 1 priority in 2010 is TdF - that means almost no running or swimming before August. TdF ends 25/7 and Kona is 9/10. 11 weeks is not enough time to prepare.

2) Triathlon is a runner's race. A strong runner/weak rider is more likely to win than a weak runner/strong rider.

3)If The Great One wants to achieve a qualifying time in a prior race, that means doing a 10.00 ironman during the 11 weeks of preparation, further disrupting His training schedule.

[bosworth*]

Chris, it's 2011, not 2010.

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/lance-armstrongs-coach-ironmans-the-plan-for-2011-23550

[SimonD]

1) The Dark Lord's number 1 priority in 2010 is TdF - that means almost no running or swimming before August. TdF ends 25/7 and Kona is 9/10. 11 weeks is not enough time to prepare.

Surely though, being an aerobic athlete who trains for 7 hours a day is going to put him in a pretty good stead. How many Ironman athletes are professional and can afford that much training time?


2) Triathlon is a runner's race. A strong runner/weak rider is more likely to win than a weak runner/strong rider.

His Darkness can run. He's done some reasonable marathon times already.


3)If The Great One wants to achieve a qualifying time in a prior race, that means doing a 10.00 ironman during the 11 weeks of preparation, further disrupting His training schedule.
I agree with Chris. It might not be fair to others, but surely the organisers would grant him a wild card. The publicity would be HUGE.

I don't like Lance the man or the rider, but I think he can do it in a good time.

[bosworth*]

A 2.46 marathon in 10 degree, low humidity conditions in New York, is roughly equal to a 3.30 ironman run, in 30 degrees, high humidity conditions.

There were 94 competitors in the 'pro' category in the 2009 Hawaii Ironman. I don't know how much training time they can afford. As much as they want, I would assume.

The 35-39 winner did: 09:01:32 Mueller, Christian M35-39 1:00:21 2:51(T1) 4:47:10 3:00(T2) 3:08:12

[katev]

I think I heard he wants to break 9 hours, I reckon he will.

[SimonD]

i reckon he will.

epo?

[bosworth*]

I tought microdoping was the new fad?

[Chris]

Lance will do it on a yellow livestrong bike, shoes hats and everything else. The organisers will let him in because they desperately want the PR to lift Iron mans profile above ITU - look at the difference in prize money on the international circuit. He won't do it as a pro, he is not stupid, and if he can't do it in a reasonable time will set it up so he can do it a more leisurely pace - eg think press stops along the way to talk about the big C or special friends ex C suffers that he can pace through the race ... Lance will use it to promote the big C, the private equity company that owns Ironman will use it to promote Ironman and everyone wins.

Boz I agree that he will have a hard time posting a reasonable time, but he doesn't have too. It is not cycling so he can down sell the expectations. Provided he finishes, which he will, they can sell it as a success. Anyhow he will be riding a Trek so he will be at least 10-20 km/h faster than everyone else, just check their website.

[j_young_80]

I'm willing to bet the pair of you now he'll post a good time - sub 9 could be pushing it but I don't think he'll be far off that.

I already owe one nude lap of Stromlo - what's one more.

[gsavage]

I'm willing to bet the pair of you now he'll post a good time - sub 9 could be pushing it but I don't think he'll be far off that.

I already owe one nude lap of Stromlo - what's one more.

Remind me not to be at SFP on the day you do it... :D

[bosworth*]

I'll bet with you jamie - what specifically are you predicting?

[SimonD]

There were 94 competitors in the 'pro' category in the 2009 Hawaii Ironman.

So these guys can earn enough to live off from Ironman? Talk about working hard to earn a living.

The outcome of this bet will be a long time coming.

[bosworth*]

I don't know how much money 'pro' triathletes get. afaik, Stuart Bardsley from bilbys was a pro ironman racer for a few years, and he had a job during that period.

[Chris]

If you listen to the IMTalk podcast you will get the strong impression that there is now quite a bit of $$ in sprint distances and not a lot in Ironman.

[j_young_80]

If you listen to the IMTalk podcast you will get the strong impression that there is now quite a bit of $$ in sprint distances and not a lot in Ironman.

ITU racers are starting to get the big $$ but the contenders for Ironman can make a living off it.

Agreed it's a tough way to make a living, especially when you get Golfers smacking a little white ball around while someone else carries their bags - earning one BAJILLION dollars every tournament.

All comes down to the fact the longer events aint so great for TV whereas the ITU races have crit style lapped bike courses that are draft legal.

Boz, I will do some research but i'll tentatively bet that he earns his qualifying spot honestly.

[katev]

I'm with Jamie. There's no way he would consider entering unless he thought he'd do well. And with so much time & money & fitness on his side...