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Be Extraordinary. All you need is to want it bad enough. And you have to find a race to enter.
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Ironman 2013 Schedule: Ironman and Ironman 70.3 2013 Events and Kona Slots

Based on our analysis (12/5/12) of Ironman and Ironman 70.3 events operated by World Triathlon Corporation, owner of the Ironman Triathlon brand and related branded races, here's our 2013 schedule forecast.

Races: 83 Events, 150,000 Estimated Registered Entrants*

28 Ironman races, 60,000+ entrants, averaging about 2200 per event*
55 Ironman 70.3 races, about 90,000 entrants, averaging 1600+ per event*

Kona Qualifying Events: 34 events offering 1700+ Kona Slots**

28 Ironman races, about 1500 slots, averaging 53 per race**
6 Ironman 70.3 races, more than 200 slots, 30 per race (except Hawaii)**

Las Vegas Qualifying Events: 55 events, 2,000+ slots, averaging 38 per race**

[Important Notes: 1. Our estimated of entrants per event listed are the total number we expect on race day, not necessarily current entrant totals; visit ironman.com to check latest race entry status; 2. many races sell out quickly, but many others are still open to entry; again, check ironman.com for the latest. 3. See more Important Notes and Caveats at the end of this post]

Important Notes and Caveats

1. Consider this analysis as best estimates based on current data;

2. Events, Dates and Kona or Vegas Slots -- are based on data published on race web sites as of 12/5/12

3. Our listed estimate of participants per race is the number we expect may have entered by race day

4. The listed estimate of participants is NOT necessarily the number currently registered

5. A unexpected wide variety of things can change between now and race day for certain events; examples:

-- a race's Kona slots have been known to change with little notice

-- weather or other conflicts may impact the race distance or race date

-- sometimes races open additional entry opportunities after being declared Sold Out

6. Mandatory: for latest and most accurate information, visit the event race sites or ironman.com

This year (2012), more than 100,000 triathletes will compete in 37 Ironman events across the globe, many of them hoping to earn one of an estimated 2,150 coveted Ironman Kona Triathlon World Championship Slots. Qualify for Kona (or win the lottery) and you earn the right to race with the best triathletes in the world. We've conducted extensive research to assemble what is perhaps the only comprehensive listing of estimated Kona qualifying slots on the web.

Want to go to Kona? Here's where you want to start. Be aware that WTC, owner of Ironman, often adds new events with additional slots (e.g., Cairns, Sweden), and occasionally subtracts slots from existing races, sometimes without notice.

[Also see our comprehensive analysis of Kona Qualifying Slots and Times by Ironman Race and Age Group]

(Also see how races offering slots have changed over time: Kona Qualifying Events 2005 vs 2012)

Lottery: 250 Slots. About 250 slots are distributed by 5 lotteries:

100 for 'Legacy' Athletes who have finished 12 or more Ironman branded racesi
100 for general lottery, providing entrants an extra chance for each previous year they entered the lottery
5 for physically challenged
24 for residents of the Big Island, Hawaii
20 for Hawaii state residents, not including Big Island

If you are selected in the lottery, you must validate that entry by completing a WTC-owned Ironman or Ironman 70.3 event within an established timeframe. We have not come across information regarding a 2012 lottery process as of mid-August.

Pro Division: 85 Slots. Beginning in 2011, pros earn Kona slots via a pro ranking system. Approximately 85 slots are expected to be awarded to pros this year. Additionally, pros who have won the Ironman World Championship within the previous 5 years are automatically granted entry.

Ironman Executive Challenge (XC): 25 Slots. Select business executives (roughly 12 to 16 per race) compete with age groupers in one of several Ironman or Ironman 70.3 races for the chance of winning Kona slots specifically reserved for the executives. In the 2011 season, Ironman XC included Ironman events in Arizona, Coeur d'Alene, Florida, Germany, and Louisville (typically 3 or 4 slots per race), and Ironman 70.3 events in California, Mallorca, New Orleans and Switzerland (1 slot per Ironman 70.3 event).

Other: 49 slots. Last, add around 49 -- a very rough guess -- slots distributed to NBC (for feature human interest stories), sponsors, a celebrity or two (IndyCar racers Tony Kanaan and Vitor Meira, e.g.), and an extra lucky VIP or two.

Other than trying your luck – against very long odds -- at the lottery (we estimate 7,500 enter the lottery), if you want to go to Kona, you need to qualify. An overview of the qualifying slot distribution process in 2011:

The 1500+ race slots are allocated among 27 Ironman qualifying races and 6 Ironman 70.3 events (was 5, but 30 Ironman China slots were awarded to Ironman 70.3 Philippines), as shown above, race by race

The slots each race gets (e.g., Wisconsin = 65 slots) are allocated among age-group divisions

Each age group in a race gets one slot; the rest are allocated based on number of participants per age group (e.g., if 20% of athletes are M30-34, that AG gets 20% of the remaining slots)

The slots in each race’s age-group division are reserved for the top finishers (e.g., the top 6 finishers in M45-49 are entitled to take a slot)

It may happen that some athletes will choose to not accept a slot they earned for some reason; any slots not accepted ‘roll down’ to the next finisher(s) who also have the option to accept or pass on the slot.

The ‘Roll Down’ process continues until all slots are taken

See official race rules for details and timing. It's very important to know who, where, when and how much, if you've qualified or have a shot at a rolldown.

Visit ironman.com and ironmanworldchampionship.com for any and all official information regarding qualifying for Kona.