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Long Course Worlds?

Has anyone done the Long Course Worlds? I'm looking for cool things to do with my racing and new goals. Based on the last couple of years' of qualifying results it seems the long course worlds isn't the most competitive thing to qualify for. But it might be cool to do, in particular if the qualifier is (as rumored) close to me at Rev3 Cedar Point next year. That would be a qualifier for the 2015 Long Course Worlds in Motala (Sweden), which would be a cool place to go....I've always liked going to Sweden but I've never been in the summer and never outside of Stockholm. I'd be interested to know how the race experience is...is it competitve with lots of fast people, or is is basically all people who got deep rolldowns to 25th place who have the money to go race somewhere exotic? Thoughts and input on this idea are much appreciated!!

Comments

  • You could also go to Milwaukee next August and try to qualify for ITU Oly World's in Chicago 2015. ... I hear that's a great place to visit image
  • I might do the Age Group Nationals anyway, but no illusion of qualifying...I suspect it won't roll down based on the Worlds being in Chicago, and even if it rolled to the 25th place maximum, I'd need to be around 2:09...VERY TOUGH for me, esp given my weakness in the swim. My Olympic PB is 2:15. That 2:09 is because of the age-up rule btw...in M3539 the 25th place guy was sub-2:06. But in any case I might do the race, hopefully with my dad who is getting back into the training action after some setbacks this season.
  • Matt, I had a good source inside Rev3 that indicated it would be Cedar Point, but apparently it will be the Grand Rapids HIM on 8 June. Check their website. They have already announced it but USAT will not confirm until all contracts are in place. Up to 20 qualify per age group w roll down to 25th place. There were only 6 finishers in my age group at Grand Rapids last year so if I pretty much just have to finish.

    I did the worlds in Holland and it was very competitive but I got my slot at a secondary qualifying race, not US nationals. In long course they typically don't fill the team and will give some slots to a couple of other regional races. We toured Copenhagen before going to Kalmar, Sweden this year. I haven't been to Stockholm so that would be neat.

    Neat thing about world long course is that the distance is triple olympic. Longer than IM swim, about 75mi bike and 30K run. Sweden is going to use that format. I am very proud of my Triple O World shirt from Holland.

    Chicago...how exciting...NOT!
  • I have done Long distance worlds in Canberra, Australia a couple years ago. The competition at the race is significant and the distance is that in between IM/HIM which I learned is better approached as an IM NOT a HIM. I have qualified at least 3 times which is not very hard. It is a fun experience but some of the people on the US team were a little too into it(high strung and no other life and not fun to hang out with).
  • Robert - Karen and I blew off a team function to tour Amsterdam.    Then we blew off opening ceremonies the next night to tour even more of Amsterdam.   We were just there for the experience; but yes, we met some ITU snobs who were very anti Ironman. 
  • Anti- WTC is OK. image But non-stop talk about your sponsors and workouts and ignoring the international experience was too narrow minded.
  • See, this is what I don't understand. On the one hand it is a bunch of hardcore people, yet on the other hand it isn't too difficult to qualify. A bit strange. I'd love to go if it's really competitive and full of really fast dudes. But if it just really rich dudes or folks who think they're really cool becuase the "qualified" even though that isn't saying much then I'm a LOT less interested.

    The distance looks really cool too, and agree it is closer to IM distance than HIM.
  • Looking @the results of the recent USAT LC champs in South Carolina, it seems to be basically a local/regional race. I looked thru Mens 50-69, along with 40-44. A sprinkling of CA guys, a few from as far away as OK, MO, IN, OH, the rest from the Southeast. So it seems like a good race to do if its less than a 6-8 hour drive away. If you're going to a race to make friends, better to pick one in your neighborhood.
  • @ Al, yep. So if it's in Grand Rapids it's really only a 2.5-3 hour drive for me.

    It looks like there's an olmpic-distance event too, so might go up with my dad for the weekend. Here's to plotting and planning next season...............
  • Matt ... The real competition is going to come at worlds, not at nationals. Europeans will fight hard to get there. I recall from Holland that there were 4 waves - pro men, pro women, all AG men, and all AG women. Chrissie was the pro women's winner. Helicopter overhead at the start and all the yadda, yadda of a true world championship. The dichotomy is simply due to the collective yawn that American triathletes feel about ITU. It simply isn't that way elsewhere. I don't want to paint all Americans with the same brush...there are some really good ones who will come, but nationals simply won't pull the same caliber of athletes as WTC. That's fine by me. I am not rich, but can afford the trip at this stage of life, and am a "on the bubble" kind of guy in WTC races. I will be happy to represent again. In Holland when we were about 200 yards from the finish, one of the team handlers handed you a US flag to carry across the finish line. It was neat to be racing with folks from all over the world wearing their nations's kits, and I was proud to wear the US uniform. You won't get that at a WTC race.
  • Hey Matt...maybe I'll join you for the race in Grand Rapids.  I'm looking for a late May, early June HIM race within driving distance, and this sounds like an interesting distance.  Also, it would be fun to do another road trip with you.  Easy enough to take 2 cars if your Dad comes too.  and it might be cool to qualify for the worlds.

  • Posted By Bruce Thompson on 19 Oct 2013 09:45 PM


    Hey Matt...maybe I'll join you for the race in Grand Rapids.  I'm looking for a late May, early June HIM race within driving distance, and this sounds like an interesting distance.  Also, it would be fun to do another road trip with you.  Easy enough to take 2 cars if your Dad comes too.  and it might be cool to qualify for the worlds.
    GREAT IDEA!!! (and btw, we sold our second car and replaced it with what feels like a gigantic truck after the new baby came, so plenty of room for people and bikes!!
  • Bruce. grand Rapids will be a HIM; Worlds will be the Triple O.
  • So I'm confused.  Is the Worlds qualifying race (triple Oly distance)  in Grand Rapids the same weekend in June 2014 as the HIM, or do I have that incorrect?
  • The qualifier is an HIM. The actual Worlds is a differnet (longer) course.
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