By Rob Rakowski
When I started doing triathlons decades ago, I never thought I’d finish an IRONMAN triathlon, let alone go to Kona, Hawaii. For those poor souls like me condemned to IRONMAN purgatory and interested in covering the 12×140.6 = 1,687.2 miles (the distance from Hartford to Denver), here’s some answers to the actual questions I get.
What are the ways to get to Kona? 1) Win slot via age group placing, 2) legacy program, or 3) World Triathlon Corp. (“WTC”) selects celebrities / interesting individuals.
What is the Kona legacy program? Finish 12 full IRONMANs over a 12+ year period, apply to the WTC, and pay the $50 application fee.
What happens after the application? You’re given a slot and date which can be years out – WTC allows 100 legacy athletes per year with men on even and women on odd years.
So, you apply, you get in, and then you wait a few years? Yes, but it gets worse …in the intervening years you must pay for and finish even more IRONMAN events. You must “validate” your Kona slot by doing at least another full IRONMAN before Kona. Even once you have “validated”, you still need to finish a 5150 or 70.3 or 140.6 IRONMAN branded event every year until you reach Hawaii.
Hmmmm, sounds like you just said it’s really 13 full IRONMAN triathlons before you get to Kona? Yes, your math is correct. Last year I finished #13 at Lake Placid to “validate” and #14 at Maryland for fun with friends. This summer I’m only doing Western Mass and NY Jones Beach 70.3s to “validate”. In 2026, I must “validate” again with a 5150, 70.3 or 140.6 before Kona in October 2026.
What, you’ve done 14 – I thought you only needed to do 13? We’ll, I’ll probably do another full in 2026 to prepare for Hawaii so that will be #15 and then Kona will be #16.
Are you seeing a mental health professional? No, IRONMAN is cheaper than therapy.
How are you going to pay for the expensive trip to Hawaii? I have a few million airline miles / hotel points that will be cashed in since I’m always traveling for work.
Are you dreaming about hearing your name at the finish line like on TV? No, not really. But I am super excited about running straight through the finisher arch, ignoring the announcer, going immediately back into transition, and hurling my Cervelo bike off the end of the Kona pier and into the Pacific Ocean – I’ll never have to do another IRONMAN again!
