Thread by @tristupe

All good (and free) things came to an end. @IRONMANtri has introduced a more stringent requirement to compete in the coming weekend VR10. It is one of the qualifying race in series of 4-weekend to earn you a spot in the IM 70.3 World Championship.

To start with, you need to have:
1. You have raced in one Ironman or Ironman70.3 event previously; or
2. Raced in one of the Ironman Virtual Race or VR, either the 5150 (Olympic equivalent or 3-40-10 run-bike-run); or
3. Raced in IMVR70.3 (5-90-21 run-bike-run.

So if you are like me, been racing in the @IRONMANtri Virtual Club since it started in April with VR1, until VR9 just ended yesterday, you can consider signing up for the IMWC70.3 qualifying.

I am a big fan of these challenges and races. This been staple for me in COVID19.

While all the previous VR allows you any order of your section completion (you can run, run, bike, or bike, run, run, or run,bike,run), the IMWC completion is a strict Run3-Bike40-Run10.

Both runs must be outdoor in a route NOT with nett elevation loss. What this is...

If your usual 3km or 10km route has a resultant “nett elevation” in “negative”, even if you have ran up a big hill, it will not be counted. E.g. subtract the gain-loss and tell me which is a “nett loss” route. So do check your route profile.

I was doing well until I read that the cycling MUST ONLY BE VIA @gorouvy app, and ONLY ON A (list of specific) SMART TRAINER.

I won’t be able to sign up as I am using a DUMB trainer (Tacx Satori) that runs on resistance and can’t link to any augmented reality application.

The “control” of the cycling portion is really strict. That include setting it as “RACE”, riding on the specific course to be given by @IRONMANtri via @gorouvy, taking screenshot of your bike finishing, setting all tracking device (or just the activities) to “public”.

So even if I want to take the bike out for a ride to “qualify”, I won’t be able to do so as @IRONMANtri will only recognise specific course on @gorouvy . This level of control is required to “level the playing field”, and make it fair for everyone. I see this to be fair.

I did my 90KM on “race” mode yesterday for the VR9 challenge, using @gorouvy and on the Ironman Texas 70.3 route. And this is how the data looked like should I take a photo as an evidence. Going “race” earned me 2-spot up on the leaderboard.

I believe @IRONMANtri do this to maintain the integrity of the spirit of racing. A certain standard must be upheld. When an age grouper start to record world record timing that makes professionals shy... somethjng is really wrong - or these age grouper should really turn pro.

While I won’t be able to TRY and ATTEMPT to qualify for a spot in the @IRONMANtri World Championship 70.3, nothing will stop me from racing in the “CLASSIC” section where people like me, can do this indoor and outdoor. For as long as I race honourably.

I am happy to be able to had raced in two VR (VR8 and VR9) on the “Challenger” series meaning outdoor run, and outdoor biking OR indoor biking using @gorouvy in the past two weekends. For that two VR, finisher time looked believable. See you at VR10 (and beyond) Classic race!

@threadreaderapp unroll please. #SwimBikeRunRepeat